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From: ken@ihuxq.UUCP (ken perlow)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.flame
Subject: Re: Enforced socialism?!?!?!?
Message-ID: <858@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Apr-84 18:21:14 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.858
Posted: Thu Apr 12 18:21:14 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 20:58:01 EST
References: <2702@rabbit.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 49

--
>> Talking about the suppression of labor by management is fine and
>> dandy, and gets lots of votes and lots of sympathy, most of
>> it from the DAMN WELL NOT ILLITERATE union members who you
>> affect. <I suggest that you NEVER make that comment in a steel
>> town, unless you have police protection!>  Talking about
>> the responsibility of labor is, needless to say, almost as
>> unpopular as calling the union members functionally illiterate.
>> It certainly won't get you elected, and passing up the
>> subject just might, so...  <of course, you better vote right, too,
>> or else...>

>> Ken, please get off your pedestal and go to an old heavy industrial
>> town, and look around you.  Look past the breadlines and the
>> lines of (literate) unemployed. (If you see a line, talk to the
>> people in it.  See if they are literate, and if they
>> read anything.  Might just be the sports section, yes, but at least
>> they READ.)    Talk to them and find out what their attitude is while
>> working.  Listen to them, they know which side the bread has always
>> been buttered on.  Look for yourself.  <Dare I suggest this?>
>> Talk to management.  Listen to THEM for a while, too, if you
>> are willing to allow equal time.

Well, it looks like I gave an impression other than having worked
on factory assembly lines and doing union organizing, which, of course,
I did.  (Note to my employer:  Hey, it was a long time ago--I'm a
yuppie now.)  And I have served as a shop steward, albeit in the
relatively safe confines of state service.  I've walked a lot of
picket lines, and some turned into more than walking.  I've also run
a business.  The problems of our economy are not black and white--
I think I said that before.  My postings on unions have been in
response to the notion that unions are to blame for the state of
our economy, and useless to boot.  Anyone who thinks so should take
jj's advice quoted above.

When I spoke of "illiterate" trade unionists, I meant their not
having the command of the language (including tactics of persuasion)
to respond to Madison Avenue right-to-work hype in slick magazines.
I didn't mean "unable to read", and certainly not stupid.  I'm
on their side, remember?  In fact, I use the term "illiterate" as my
dad does--retired from a lifelong career as a reporter and editor,
he now teaches communication skills to trade unionists.
-- 
                    *** ***
JE MAINTIENDRAI   ***** *****
                 ****** ******    12 Apr 84 [23 Germinal An CXCII]
ken perlow       *****   *****
(312)979-7261     ** ** ** **
..ihnp4!ihuxq!ken   *** ***