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Georges Kids

By Naomi Klein

In 1968, the legendary U.S. labor organizer Cesar Chavez went on a 25-day hunger strike. While depriving himself of food, he condemned abusive conditions suffered by farm workers. The slogan of his historic union drive was: “Si se puede!” Yes, we can! In early May, George Bush went on a four-day bus ride. While stopping for multiple pancake breakfasts, he praised… return to article

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    As I read this article, I’m broadcasting an episode of Becker in my station’s control room. This job pays 75 cents less an hour than what I was making at age 21.
    Others in my same field have given up and are now working as prison guards. Imagine my seeing this article and being able to relate—the jobs just aren’t there.
    My friend and 20-year veteran of the Air Force is also working as a prison gaurd. You’d think someone with so much time and supposedly doing such a service for “freedom” would be able to find a better job.

    Worse, the numbers of jobs lost are staggering:
    Job Loss or Gain by President and Party

      Roosevelt 5.3
      Johnson 3.8
      Carter 3.1
      Truman 2.5
      Clinton 2.4
      Kennedy 2.3
      Nixon 2.2
      Reagan 2.1
      Coolidge 1.1
      Ford 1.1
      Eisenhower 0.9
      G. Bush 0.6
      G.W. Bush -0.7
      Hoover -9.0

    note: numbers are percentages
    source: US Dept Labor Report

    We’ve got to vote this son-of-a-bitch out. If not for the murders caused by lying to the public to invade a nation, the 9/11 scandal, the Florida debacle, Enron, EPA, mudslinging at a vietnam vet, (jeesh, it goes on and on) at least for the -0.7 job growth.

    United States Posted by Ammonia D on Jun 3, 2004 at 4:29 AM

    There seems to be something wrong in bashing McJobs. There is something inherently good and noble in all work. Is it better to have a McJob or not to have a job?

    Many seem to forget who was president when NAFTA was enacted. It seems but one more wart on this Character that too many on the left are willing to overlook. Need we even discuss his many other warts?

    Why were so many Democrats willing to support the Debacle in the Desert?

    Yes,we have a real choice: a rich Democrat or a rich Republican!!!

    United States Posted by eddiej on Jun 8, 2004 at 4:32 PM

    Why did so many Democrats support the war? He lied to Congress, the nation and the world. False evidence that he’s trying to pin on the CIA or any intelligence organization they can. It doesn’t excuse the Democrats, though.

    McJobs, as you say, are one of the reasons the economy won’t grow.
    Recently, someone told me they admired Wal-Mart “because they hire people no one else will hire.” So, the elderly, handicapped and other “unhireables” deserve crappy jobs?
    Higher paying jobs are moving overseas, weakening the economy, eroding the middle-class and keeping the lower class without hope. A college education is the answer? What jobs will be left if this “pResident” is re-elected and further restrictions are relaxed?

    I was against NAFTA when it was signed. Though I supported Clinton, I didn’t back everything he did, like his dumping of 10 tons of Depleted Uranium on Kosovo. Or his continued sanctions against Iraq, starving thousands.
    But as long as we’re comparing actions, the Bush family is responsible for dumping 395 tons of Depleted Uranium on Iraq—chemical warfare at it’s worst. Source: Campaign Against Depleted Uranium.
    Let’s compare jobs. Jr. and Sr., as you see in my previous article, are responsible for a combined total -0.1% job growth. -0.1%!!! McJobs indeed.
    Warts? Except for the blowjob, I think Clinton had this nation’s interests in mind, unlike Bush.
    Bush warts: A recession, roll-back on EPA regulations, an illegal war, torture of prisoners, erosion of civil rights, inflation, higher gas prices, budget deficit, Enron, fixed election, murder….So let’s here it from the man who is the leader of the free world, the most powerful man in the world:

    “Then you wake up at the high school level and find out that the illiteracy level of our children are appalling.” óGeorge W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004
    “See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don’t attack each other. Free nations don’t develop weapons of mass destruction.” óGeorge W. Bush, Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3, 2003
    “Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace.” óGeorge W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 25, 2003
    “As Luce reminded me, he said, without data, without facts, without information, the discussions about public education mean that a person is just another opinion.” óGeorge W. Bush, Jacksonville, Florida, Sept. 9, 2003
    “It’s very interesting when you think about it, the slaves who left here to go to America, because of their steadfast and their religion and their belief in freedom, helped change America.” óGeorge W. Bush, Dakar, Senegal, July 8, 2003

    United States Posted by Ammonia D on Jun 9, 2004 at 2:46 AM

    Excuse me, where in my post do I lead you to believe that I espouse anything George Bush stands for? Because I dare say something about slick Willie, I must be a Bush supporter specifically, or a Republican in general?

    You seem to be pissed about jobs. A succession of both Democrat and Republican administrations have stood by while our industrial base has moved overseas.

    You didn’t support Clinton on NAFTA, you didn’t support Clinton on Kosovo. What did you support Clinton on? Let’s face it Clinton was co-opted by Newt and his contract for America.

    United States Posted by eddiej on Jun 11, 2004 at 5:04 PM

    I don’t recall anywhere where I said you were pro-Bush or Republican unless you take my answering your questions about Democrats as meaning you’re a Republican. I was comparing the bad things Clinton has done to Bush and it’s no contest. I’ll have to defend Bill on all but the earlier things I mentioned and these that I supported:

    Family and Medical Leave Act
    Expansion of Earned Income Tax Credit
    Justice Department crackdown on deadbeat dads
    Deficit Reduction plan
    Economic Plan (Cut taxes to 15 million low-income families and cuts to 90% of small businesses)
    School-to-Work Program
    AmeriCorps
    Northwest Forest Plan
    California Delta Estuary Conservation Plan
    $760 million more to Head Start
    Assault Weapons Ban
    Brady Bill
    Violence Against Women Act
    Low-Income Housing Tax Credit made permanent
    Mortgage Revenue Bond Program made permanent
    Reformed Pension Guarantee Corp., protecting 8.5 million pensions
    Pollution standards to cut pollution from incinerators by 95%
    New standard to cut pollution from chemical plants 90% by 1997
    Executive order to require polluters to disclose information to the public and expanded the public’s right-to-know about toxic releases
    Child Immunization Plan
    WIC on full-funding
    More funds to adoption and foster care programs
    Motor-Voter Registration
    Eliminated the tax deduction for lobbying expenses
    Barred top officials from becoming foreign lobbyists after leaving government
    Lead the effort to make the NPT indefinite

    I know Clinton had a lot of conservative ideas. Overall, I think he did a better job.

    You’ll have to forgive me, I’ll bash W. on every occasion I can. Since your comments excluded anything seriously negative about Bush, I provided my opinion. I’m not angry—I’m just giving you some info.

    Jobs. Yeah, I’m upset about jobs. Despite my degree, my wage continues to drop. Everyone I know is looking for something better with little to no luck. My past two careers have been eliminated (due to technology and nothing to do with administrations). But, the recession forced lay-offs from the best paying and most secure (well, I guess it wasn’t THAT secure) job I’ve ever held. That was in 2001. So, I’m starting over again and it’s okay. But I do really empathize with those struggling and it pisses me off to almost no end that the surplus was given away when it could have been used to help people other than just extending their unemployment.

    Kucinich is who I was for, but I knew he had absolutely no chance.

    What do you think about the rumor McCain may be Kerry’s VP?

    United States Posted by Ammonia D on Jun 12, 2004 at 10:01 PM
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