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Monday Open Thread

Busy day. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Judge: Strauss-Kahn, NYC hotel maid settle suit (none / 0) (#1)
    by MO Blue on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 03:54:31 PM EST
    NEW YORK (AP) -- Former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid settled her lawsuit Monday over sexual assault allegations that sank his political career and spurred scrutiny of his dealings with women on two continents.

    State Supreme Court Justice Douglas McKeon announced that after lengthy negotiations in the suit brought by Nafissatou Diallo, the parties "came together and put terms of a settlement on the record." The amount of the settlement was kept confidential. link



    Obama to states: No partial Medicaid expansion (none / 0) (#2)
    by MO Blue on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 05:17:22 PM EST
    The White House's top health official made clear on Monday that it would not fund a partial Medicaid expansion for states that choose not to embrace the new funding under the Affordable Care Act.
    ...
    In an accompanying blog post, she declared that "the law does not create an option for enhanced match for a partial or phased-in Medicaid expansion to 133 percent of poverty."

    In other words, the states must take all or nothing......link



    Anyone here from Michigan? (none / 0) (#3)
    by christinep on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 07:31:12 PM EST
    What the he!! Is going on there?  A " right to work" state...during the lame duck session, with no open hearings or any give  & take?  

    Aargh!  I just watched a brief interview on the PBS News. Rep Carl Levin (D) & a strange (almost now stereotypical) Repub John Proos.  Proos appeared to smirk & jerk as he talked like a Koch devotee of union-busting.  What is the prognosis in Michigan this coming year?

    They had the rug pulled out from under them (none / 0) (#4)
    by Rojas on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 09:32:47 PM EST
    20 years ago...
    and you just got around to noticing.


    Parent
    BTW - Just to rub some salt ... (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Yman on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 09:57:46 PM EST
    ... in the wound, there's this from the UAW website:

    "Clinton thrills UAW activists"

    Former President Bill Clinton hit the stage Thursday morning looking fit, trim and ready to do battle for middle-class America.  Naturally, UAW delegates were on their feet showing the beloved former leader appreciation and adoration that only a friend of labor can garner.

    Heh, heh, heh ...

    Parent

    "20 years ago" (none / 0) (#5)
    by Yman on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 09:51:16 PM EST
    I think Christine means this, not whatever CDS theory you're trying to tie it to ...

    Parent
    I think when we shipped Delfi (none / 0) (#7)
    by Rojas on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 10:41:33 PM EST
    To Juarez and failed to open up the EPA to the most qualified people regardless of immigration status it was patently unfair.
    I'm pretty sure the right to work measure was already passed when we decided 2 cents on the dollar was ok if you're not a federal or municipal employee.
     

    Parent
    You "think" (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Yman on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 07:43:19 AM EST
    You're "pretty sure" ...

    Gotta love the wishy-washy qualifiers when someone's just making it up.

    BTW -

    I think when we shipped Delfi to Juarez and failed to open up the EPA to the most qualified people regardless of immigration status it was patently unfair.

    "We" did no such thing.  Delphi is a private corporation and moves where they choose.  Moreover, they still employ 18,000+ US workers.  Both of your issues have nothing to do with the right-to-work law in Michigan.

    I'm pretty sure the right to work measure was already passed when we decided 2 cents on the dollar was ok if you're not a federal or municipal employee.

    Again, "we" decided no such thing.  The US government doesn't get to set minimum wage laws in other countries and private sector workers make far more than that in the US.  Right to work laws began over 65 years ago with Taft-Hartley, but for some reason, you're going through contortions to blame them on a certain Democratic President.

    Wonder why that is ...

    Parent

    I live in Indiana (none / 0) (#14)
    by Slado on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 10:11:24 AM EST
    And we passed the same bill.  I have friends in  unions and the world didn't come crashing down.

    The only difference is they choose to be in their union now rather than being required to be in it.

    Funny thing about this debate is progressives basically are fighting for the right of an employer to be required to take money from an employee and give it to a union.

    Interesting times indeed.

    Parent

    Because the union, once certified, represents (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by christinep on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 11:11:26 AM EST
    Everyone, that means that those who won't pay dues get free representation...they are guaranteed representation when they need.  Trans:  When it involves the non-union worker in the so-called "right to work" state, union representation is giving those who don't pay dues a free ride.  Over time, as well, experience in "right to work" states might lead your acquaintances to experience the same type of lesser working conditions reportedly associated with the non-union shop.

    If Ohio is any example of how this situation may backfire on the Michigan Governor, then (as the UAW president noted today) the Union will grow stronger from what-may-be short-lived anti-Union legislation there.

    Any info about the Kochs involvement in this latest Repub shenanigan?

    Parent

    I am very familiar with union vs. non union (1.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Slado on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 11:21:42 AM EST
    And the "conditions you speak of are trivial.

    The bottom line is the unions and their backers in Michigan went all in on the Nov. ballot initiative and it failed miserably.

    As dems like to say elections have consequences and the majority of Americans are quite unsympathetic to the special perks unions have gotten for years.

    They are going down in Michigan and deservedly so.

    Parent

    "going down"? (5.00 / 3) (#17)
    by christinep on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 12:37:35 PM EST
    So, you really are strong anti-union!  

    It is difficult--almost impossible, really-- for me to comprehend your position...especially if you are familiar with working conditions (historically & what the experience of history portends)in contrasting union or non-union plants over time.  My own background, I suppose, is too steeped in the positive contributions of the Union movement in this country.  In my family, the relatives grew from the UMW, Machinists/IAM, & the Steelworkers, primarily. What struck me early on, in addition to the anecdotes from family & their friends, was the sad & near-inhuman work experience of miners. (To see early twentieth century tabulations/records of human loss in the mines--prior to Unionization--one might visit mining museums in Ashland, PA or Leadville, CO, e.g.  A striking reminder of the battle for workders' rights is seen & felt in the UMW site of the 1913 Massacre of women, children, & workders in Ludlow, CO....it brings home the reality of the struggle workders have faced.)

    My latest "rant" here is to say: I take umbrage, disagree with, & am very offended by your cavalier remarks about Union members & their supposed "perks."  We should be thankful a strong organization, like a workers Union, can intercede on behalf of workers for good wages, healthcare, & some form of pension...thankful, and not envious.  It seems to me that the "perks" theme sold by the likes of the richest few continues an ugly pattern of pitting the working class components against each other.

    Your comment, IMO, reads like one borne of covetous envy.

    Parent

    Sorry for the repeated typo (none / 0) (#18)
    by christinep on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 12:40:54 PM EST
    in the description of Ludlow.  Clearly the word should read "workers," & not "workders."  Mea culpa...my emotion got in the way of the sentence.

    Parent
    BTW - The "majority" of Americans ... (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by Yman on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 02:30:13 PM EST
    ... are quite unsympathetic to the special perks unions have gotten for years."

    Wrong.

    Parent

    Is there a conservative out there (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 03:30:13 PM EST
    somewhere, anywhere in America whose vision of decency and justice in the workplace ever extends beyond a basic kiss-up, kick-down (hard) reflex?

    Parent
    Hard to imagine there is one (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by shoephone on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 04:13:09 PM EST
    After all, the conservative's mottos is "I got mine, now scr*w you."

    Parent
    The other differences (5.00 / 4) (#19)
    by Yman on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 01:54:22 PM EST
    Lower pay, lower retirement standards, lower benefits, worse working conditions.

    If you guys were honest, you'd call them "Right to work for less" laws... But that would be a harder sell.

    Parent

    Almost forgot (none / 0) (#23)
    by Yman on Wed Dec 12, 2012 at 02:53:24 PM EST
    And we passed the same bill.  I have friends in  unions and the world didn't come crashing down.

    The only difference is they choose to be in their union now rather than being required to be in it.

    You can't be forced or required to be a member of a union.  It's prohibited by federal law.  See the NLRA and Communications Workers v. Beck.  Workers that don't want to be a union member are (at most) only required to pay that share of the dues used directly for representation of the union contract they work under.

    Parent

    Gotta watch the language. It screws with the (none / 0) (#10)
    by caseyOR on Mon Dec 10, 2012 at 11:39:58 PM EST
    filters at various law firms, and messes things up for Jeralyn.

    No doubt (none / 0) (#11)
    by Rojas on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 12:21:59 AM EST
    and I appreciate it Casey. I'm on the 30/70 plan with TL.
    Jeralyn  seems to tolerate and I try to kick a few bucks back from time to time for her troubles.

    Parent
    Rojas, I just saw the comment (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 01:21:37 AM EST
    and deleted it. You can't use that language here and you can't call other commenters names. Thanks.

    Parent