My response:
@Timothy... its a little late for "buying American made." We can't even go to the grocery store and purchase American grown meat, vegetables and fruit.
@Barbara... the question is joining with the "communities of faith" to do what?
Richard Trumka makes a mockery out of all of this... the UAW has supported Obama's new trade pact with South Korea, the USW is going to be following--- and by all accounts Trumka has already given his "blessing" to this trade pact that will destroy more jobs here in this country... throwing more people into the unemployment lines.
I'm glad to see Trumka finally included child care as part of a public jobs program--- a National Public Child Care Program would provide jobs for around 5,000,000 people.
What Trumka continues to refuse to support is a National Public Health Care Program providing the American people with free health care through over 30,000 community health care centers which would be the biggest job creation program of all--- 10,000,000 new jobs!
What Trumka also refuses to come to grips with is that we can't achieve any of this as long as this rotten government continues to piss away our tax-dollars and resources--- the wealth of our Nation--- on these dirty wars killing our jobs just like they kill people.
I find it completely hypocritical of Trumka to be talking about the need to support the unemployed with food stamps after he just got done supporting Obama's legislation protecting the jobs of some teachers at the expense of cutting food stamps to the poorest of the poor who are already the long-term unemployed.
This entire "green economy, green jobs" is one big fiasco that is never going to pan out for working people--- we have already seen the jobs involve lower pay and less benefits with increased electric bills for consumers (consumers who are--- by and large--- working people). The only way this "green economy, green jobs" can work is if it proceeds as a complete government project similar to the Tennessee Valley Authority--- manufacturing and energy production must be done through public ownership not Wall Street's dictate.
We need to open up a broad public discussion bringing working people fully into the decision-making process--- instead, we only learn of decisions once they have been made.
I am highly offended that a leader of organized labor would not include a moratorium on ALL home foreclosures and evictions as part of this kind of program... in fact, the demand should be to put people back into their homes retroactively to when this fleecing and scamming of the people--- again mostly working people--- actually began.
The time has come for Richard Trumka and the union leaders of this country to break with Obama and make a sharp turn left.
Richard Trumka keeps making all of these posts on facebook and he is so damn arrogant he won't even engage i discussion with working people here... he is afraid to defend his worthless, do-nothing, Obama-loving policies leading to increasing misery for working people.
Either mobilize the working class to take on Obama and Wall Street or just sit and pray... but, don't pretend something is being done when its only a nice sounding press release intended to make people think something is actually being done when nothing is being done. We have heard this big talk before of "coalition partners" joining forces to do something... only to have these efforts never materialize because actually mobilizing people to fight until these things are won would prove to be an embarrassment to Obama and the Democrats.
How damn stupid does Trumka take us for?
Here is Trumka’s statement… he still doesn’t ask working people how Obama’s war economy is working for them--- all hype, no substance--- one more farce when a struggle is needed:
Faith Groups Join In Jobs Campaign
by Richard Trumka on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 4:30pm
In times of crisis, many American families turn to their religious faith for inspiration and hope. With millions of people unemployed, America’s faith community, which includes many union members, is mobilizing to provide tangible, hands-on aid to families as well as spiritual solace.
Under the leadership of Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), faith groups, political leaders and progressive activists have come together in the Faith Advocates for Jobs Campaign, which was launched today at a Capitol Hill meeting. The campaign will help combat the severe unemployment crisis that is devastating so many working people and families and help rebuild the foundations of our nation’s economy.
In its mission statement, the campaign says:
As people of faith, we call for an economy that provides a job for everyone who wants and needs one. We affirm that all jobs should be good jobs, paying living wages and benefits, allowing workers dignity and a voice at the workplace, ensuring workers’ health and safety, and guaranteeing their right to organize unions.
The campaign will begin an ambitious effort to organize 1,000 congregation-based unemployed worker support committees in 2011. The committees will support working people and families economically, emotionally and spiritually, while also educating members about the unemployment crisis and advocacy avenues available to them.
The committees, composed of both the employed and the currently unemployed, will be part of a nation-wide network that will push for new policy initiatives to address the jobs crisis, including
An economic stimulus package to create and retain millions of jobs, including revitalizing the manufacturing sector.
A public jobs program as a component of the economic stimulus package.
A public jobs program that will create vital and sustainable jobs: jobs that will rebuild our nation’s infrastructure; green jobs; mass transit; jobs that the private sector cannot create, such as expanded child care and clean-up of toxic dumps.
Support for unemployed workers and families. This support should include extended unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, COBRA subsidies, food stamps, and other safety net programs.
Support for states and municipalities to maintain and strengthen social safety programs, retain teachers, police, fire fighters, and other essential public workers.
Development of educational programs in support of job creation and retention and a restored economy.
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