A Post for The Unions.

Indulge me for a moment, will you? We're going to travel to a far away land in which employees & workers have absolutely no rights.

It's 4:50 and you are just about finished with your work day.  Just as you are getting ready to retrieve your things and walk out the door your boss approaches you & informs you that you will be staying on for an extra 4 hours tonight. You will not be receiving any overtime pay, a dinner break, or any other kind of break for that matter.  It doesn't matter that you have a child in daycare who needs to be picked up by 6 or that you take public transportation that stops running at 7. Your boss needs you to stay. Your childcare and transportation issues are not their problem.  Now get to work.

What would you do?

Well, if you want to keep this job (& in this economy you do) you will stay and keep your mouth shut, because if you even argue your boss could fire you on the spot and s/he has the absolute right to.

Now let's travel back to our world & experience a similar scenario.

It's 4:50 and you are just about finished with your work day.  Just as you are getting ready to retrieve your things and walk out the door your boss approaches you & asks if you would be available to stay on for an extra 4 hours tonight. You would receive overtime pay (time and a half) and a dinner break.  You let her/him know that you have a child in daycare who needs to be picked up by 6 and that you won't have a way home after 7 due to public transit service ending at that time.  Your boss understands & asks if you would be available to stay tomorrow night? You say you will try to make arrangements for childcare and transportation and if you can, sure you'd be able to stay.

Which world would you rather work in?

Without the blood of unions there would be no labor laws in place to protect us from unregulated work days without breaks or compensation for time worked over 40 hours in a week.  Without unions there would be no OSHA to keep work environments safe. There are people who find unions to be obsolete.  The above scenarios should illustrate how they are not.

Union is a word with potential to stir up so much emotion and aggression. I am still trying to understand why so many are angry with union workers for having pensions, health care at a reasonable cost & the trigger point as of late, collective bargaining rights.  They are among the last to enjoy such luxuries and they deserve them.  Is that what the anger is about? Union workers having better benefits than others? But here's the thing, we all deserve great benefits so quit shoving. If unions lose their right to collective bargaining (as they did this evening in Wisconsin) they potentially lose it all.  If unions lose it all, eventually the rest of us will too.

It's sort of like we're all in elementary school again and Joey is mad at Sally because she gets cookies in her lunch while he only gets an apple. He makes such a big deal that the school outlaws cookies in lunches.  Now nobody can have cookies in their lunch just because Joey was jealous of Sally.

Ridiculous isn't it?

xoxx

OMG! She's Sleeveless!

Last week Michelle Obama's "Official" First Lady portrait was unveiled. I don't remember the unveiling of Laura or Hillary's even happening let alone being such a big deal. The unveiling of this portrait flooded the media.

The lack of sleeves was the most likely comment to be made, though it didn't seem to be with any criticism, just simply noted. Anderson Cooper headlined his CNN "360" show with something to the effect of "First Lady portrait unveiled, will she be sleeveless? Coming up." I laughed out loud at the sense of cliffhanger given over Michelle Obama's sleeves, or lack there of. While I wasn't surprised (her arms and our easy view of them has been a comment in the media for a while) I was a little dismayed by the attention that detail of the portrait received.

I understand the obsession with Michelle Obama's fashion and I too am guilty of it; she is the most fashionable First Lady in the White House in a very long time. I can sort of understand the curiosity behind her preference for sleeveless dresses as we are used the The First Lady dressing either ever so matronly or in the political attire of The Pant Suit. But really, does it matter all that much if she has sleeves or not? She is such a graceful presence and embodies so much class, I wish we would just appreciate that and move along.

I am relieved to have heard very little, if any, negative criticism of her appearance.
I shudder at the thought of Michelle Obama being berated as Hillary Clinton was early in President Clinton's term for wearing a headband. I do believe that criticism was so loud because she was such a presence and clearly a woman who speaks out. That cannot be criticized in this day and age, but her appearance can.

Last night I was on the internets pretending to be productive and decided to look up the First Lady portraits of the past. I am struck by the backgrounds chosen, the poses, and of course what they were wearing. Obviously there is in image one tries to project and uphold when they are First Lady and I suppose the Official Portrait is the way set that up and set in stone forever. Fresh cut flowers seem to be a common prop and I suppose the kind of flowers chosen is something that is as well thought out as wardrobe and background.
As I look through these portraits I am reminded of standing in Art Museums through out my life and staring at the antique portraits of Royalty. When I was a child I would bide my time with those portraits by imagining the life the person led, and the moment captured (or invented) on canvas - what that moment meant for them. I always made note of those who went against the grain by smiling and decided that I would have smiled too.

It is in that vein that I salute our First Lady, Michelle Obama for not wearing a sleeved dress in her portrait. It seems so silly to see someone as going against the grain for not wearing sleeves, but it is just what she did. Her quiet determination to stay true to herself despite her latest station in life has spoken volumes to me and says so much about the entire First Family. And that is just one of the many factors that gives me so much Hope for the next 4 years.

P.S. Former First Ladies L to R: Betty Ford; Rosalyn Carter; Laura Bush; Hillary Clinton

Pride.

January 22, 2001. President Bush re-institutes the "Global Gag Rule*". Upon hearing this news I was deeply offended and surprised (though I knew I should not have been). Women's rights, specifically Reproductive Rights were an issue that I had been adamant about since I was old enough to understand what Roe V. Wade was. I still embody such adamance & always will.
On January 22, 2001 I was in my final year of college and immersed in the backlash of the 2000 election. I was consumed by NPR & their coverage of the latest developments from Hanging Chads to the Inaugeration. On January 22, 2001, I don't remember, but I would guess that I probably heard of Bush's actions for The Global Gag Rule alone while driving home from or to school on the Tacoma, Washington stretch of I-5. If I would have had a cell phone (I didn't back then) I probably would have called Jenny on the spot to commiserate. I'm sure I called someone the moment I got to wherever I was going, or found someone to rant to. I don't remember who or what that entailed.

What I do remember is being moved to tears. I was fearful for women around the world who would no longer be allowed to know all of their options. I was fearful of what this re-institution signaled for the years to come. I was disappointed in myself for being so naive to actually believe that Bush might actually try to be bi-partisan as he promised. I was horrified that this man was who I now called My President.

Well, we all know how the following 8 years went. The rights infringed upon over and over, the corruption, the lies. I needn't go on because that is all over now.

January 23, 2009. President Barack Obama rescinds The Global Gag Rule. I am more than elated to hear the news.

January 23, 2009. I am well into my adulthood and still consumed by NPR, this time due to our recently sworn in president and all of the exciting changes he is making. I can't wait to hear about the next one. I read about the rescinding of the Global Gag Rule online upon coming home from work. I haven't spoken to a soul about it because it is the middle of the night, so I am writing instead. But tomorrow, oh tomorrow! I cannot wait to revel in the news with like minded friends.

I am euphoric. I am hopeful. I am in near disbelief. I am excited! But above all I am so very proud to call Barack Obama OUR President.
xoxx

*The Global Gag rule is the U.S. government policy first instituted by President Reagan in 1984 that prevents all NGOs who receive US Government funding from giving information about or performing abortions in other countries. It was rescinded by President Clinton in 1993, reinstituted by President Bush in 2001 and rescinded again by President Obama in 2009.

MN Elected Officials are Making Me Proud.

Not really.
US Representive, Michele Bachmann (Republican, MN 6th district) is concerned that Barack Obama has Anti-American views.
Bravo Michele, you have finally illustrated to the world that you are certifiably crazy. This is the woman who once hid in hedges at protest of a same sex marriage amendment (against same sex marriage) that she authored. How anyone could take her seriously after that let alone elect her is beyond me. She may be from Minnesota, but she's not my congress person.

So, I watched this interview this afternoon & at some point I chose to be amused rather than agitated. And as I watched, especially toward the end, it was a challenge not to fall off my chair laughing. I do think she believes what she is saying, but at the same time it sounds as though she is making it all up as she goes along. On & on she goes digging herself deeper and deeper into the abyss all but saying that Liberal = Anti-American. Really Michele? Chris Matthews does a nice job of highlighting her faulty logic.

Here, you watch.



Laughing yet? Try - it goes easier that way.

The best part of all of this? Colin Powell has now publicly endorsed Barack Obama & spoken out against the character attacks the McCain Campaign has gotten so good at crafting in recent weeks. I cheered as I watched this one. Maybe you'll cheer too.



While I am enjoying the election immensely - due to recent events I am beginning to be at the point where I am counting the days til it is all over.
More sooner than later.
xoxx

Sarah Palin gives me Nausea.

Here is one of the many reasons why.

Warning: This video contains tough stuff.



If you would like to pass along, here is the link: http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinvideo

xoxx

DFL Saturday

I've been busy. Since arriving home from L.A. work seems to have consumed me. Oh, this is bittersweet as money is always nice, but it's always great to have downtime too. Today is Saturday & I had great plans for my Saturday night, but, I drank 2 beers this afternoon with not a lot of sleep under my belt and experienced an evening hangover. It really sucks being a light weight. But the beers were worth sacrificing my evening for; they were celebrating my aunt, Jill Davis winning DFL endorsement for her Minneapolis School Board Race.

It was a great day, DFL delegate conventions are always interesting and entertaining. As my grandpa said to me this afternoon as we wandered waiting to hear the results, "These conventions bring all kinds, people like you & me and then people like that old lady over there holding her dog. Who brings their dog to a convention?".

At these conventions you are required to sit with your ward. I live in Minneapolis' ward 6 and beside me sat my Council Member, Robert Lilligren who was pretty fun to sit next to. Not because we know each other well, we don't know each other at all, but because enthusiasm for the whole event was contagious.

The most entertaining aspect of these conventions is the anger that comes out of people. I saw people visibly shaking with anger as they approached the microphone to oppose a ballot measure being discussed. One man stood up screaming about the rules for voting (you had to sign your name on the ballot) & finally stated, "To hell with all of you, I'm outta here!" and out he went. During the Q&A one of the candidates stated that he would run even if he did not receive the endorsement (a major faux pas) and was actively booed only to be topped with, "There's no place for you in our party!" But I think the most interesting outburst occurred when we were waiting for the votes to come in.

County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin made a speech while we waited for the votes to be tallied. As he concluded his speech a man stood up and yelled, "I want my tax money back that went to the new baseball stadium!" The Commissioner politely ignored the man & urged us to continue our activism with public schools as he walked off the same man yelled, "And Carl Pohlad can go to hell!" (Carl Pohlad is the owner of the Minnesota Twins). Gasps were audibly heard around the auditorium and the moderator spoke sternly into the microphone of respect and there being a time and place for certain topics. She then apologized for bring out her "mama voice" but said it seemed like it really needed to come out just then.

In the end Jill received the endorsement with 77% of the votes (60% was needed) and if she is elected in November, I know she will do great things.

xoxx

I don't even know.

"Ralph Nader says he will run again as an independent for the US presidency." -bbc.com headline.

Seriously?

Unreal.

He has lost his f--ing mind.

These are the thoughts I experienced when I heard this on NPR late last night.

Read the article in its entirety and listen to the interview. It's quite stunning.

xoxx

My SUPERB Tuesday! Voting & Caucusing alongside Angsty Art Kids.

in the end I voted for Obama and I feel good about it. He was the only one who truly evoked any sparks at all from me and I think that says something.
so I voted and Handsome Randy voted too.

HR went home and I stuck around for the Caucus portion of the night. This was a pretty good time & quite entertaining for the most part.

Smack dab in the middle of our voting precinct (& a mere block away from our house) lies Minneapolis College of Art and Design thus the line to vote and the caucus itself was chalked full of uber hip art students who had a bone to pick. Unfortunately for our dry witted, fifty-comething precinct chair, a middle aged white man such as himself was just what they were looking for. They pounced, but I'm pretty sure he laughed.

The voting ended and the caucus convened and all was good with some funny moments until the district convention delegates were elected. For those unfamiliar, this is Step One to becoming a Delegate at the DFL National Convention during the summer. At the district convention a delegate may choose to run for delagate-ship(?) for the state convention and at that event one can choose to run for delegation for the National Convention. The state convention is also where our DFL Senate candidate is ultimately endorsed and chosen. This is a big year for Senate and the DFL in MN. Republican Senator Norm Coleman is up for re-election after winning in 2002 in the wake of DFL Senator Paul Wellstone's untimely death only days before the election.

Needless to say, tensions were high at the old precinct caucus.

Over 600 people showed up to vote (awesome!!) which made for a very long wait in line (we waited over an hour) and many of those who actually stayed for the caucus were frustrated and not understanding why they didn't have the chance to vote for Senate as well as Presidential.

So, at the Caucus...
Our Precinct Chair announces that it's time to elect 62 delegates to send to the District Convention. In the agenda that he kindly provided to all of us it states what happens at said convention, quite clearly. Only 55 people want to go; everyone wins and are invited to sign up in the back of the room. A 10 minute break ensues and the art students talk amongst themsleves and are annoyed with our precinct chair's wit, but whatever, he knows the drill of a caucus and wants to get the show on the road afterall it's after 9pm and a lot people have been here for hours.

The Caucus reconvenes and just as Mr. Precinct Chair is about to motion to the next item a crabby art student raises his hand. When called upon he stands and is visibly shaking with anger, "Man, I feel a little betrayed here. I thought I was going to get to vote for my Senate candidate, the person I handed my ballot to said I would get to if I stayed to caucus,"
"I'm sorry," says Precinct Chair, "but that happens at the District Convention," he then goes on to apologize for the chaos and misinformation that happened while ballots were cast and then went on to explain the process outlined above. Meanwhile crabby art guy is becoming more and more angry and a guy in the back joins in by suggesting that everyone who signed up to be a delegate state which Senate Candidate their supporting so he can make sure his interests are represented. Okay, what?!

A thirty minute discussion/debate/whine session follows with our fantastic precinct Chairman entertaining all of the notions with a wry smile on his face. I was ready to get the F out of there. And I would have, but I needed be elected to be a City Delegate so I could endorse school board candidates (my aunt, Jill Davis is running and I have to be at that one to help endorse her). So I endured and sighed a lot exchanging glances with Precinct Chairman who smiled wider with understanding at each look.

In the end he tabled the discussion so the talliers could re-count the delegates signed up and moved to elect City Delegates. The motion was granted. He then asked for a show of hands of those who wanted to be elected to delegate at the City Convention.

My hand was the only one in the air.

xoxx

super tuesday

Tomorrow in my state (Minnesota) we are caucusing for Presidential candidates & I am in a quandry. I was all about John Edwards & my plan was to stand up for him tomorrow night at my caucus site. But he's dropped out and I am a truly undecided voter heading to the polls.

Hillary Clintron
I don't know about her. Once upon a time I thought she was so neat, I even read her autobiography in two days. A strong & admirable woman indeed. But, she's a little too slippery. And as my grandfather says, "She has her feet in the past and her hands in special interests."

Barack Obama
I remember when Barack Obama spoke at the '04 DFL National Convention. It was magical & I secretly wished he was our candidate then thinking we would be sure to win with such a dynamic person on the ticket. Now he could be and I could support him, and I always planned to in the event that Edwards dropped out, but the debate on MLK day made me feel unsure. The sparring between he & Clinton made me leary.

A friend recently urged me to think back on my initial response to both candidates when I first learned of them, and then of their presidential campaign. I am doing this and this, I believe will help me come to the conclusion for tomorrow night.

If you need to know where your caucus is tomorrow night, go here for DFL and here for GOP.

xoxx