Unions aren’t as commonplace as they were 20, 30, 40 years ago. Especially in the past decade, we have seen a very orchestrated dismantling of labor unions by corporations and right wing funded organizations. Many people were fooled into thinking that the richest of the rich would actually care about their employees and unions would not. And because of this, ‘right to work’ and other legislation have been pushed into many states virtually killing the power of the unions and, subsequently, a thriving economy.
The Covid 19 pandemic has been opening eyes and I can only hope these eyes are seeing the truth. Nurses are working without the proper equipment to keep them safe (or even, for some, alive). Essential workers are risking their lives daily and without hazard pay. Employees have been furloughed and fired without any job protection. Covid patients are having to recover for weeks with zero sick pay. Gig workers are left in the dust with no option for unemployment. And the virus is spreading because people cannot afford to stay home when they are sick.
We live in a society that worships profits over people, money over safety, dollars over ethics. People are defined by their paychecks, not their character. Success is measured by their bank account, not their legacy. Our economy is judged by the stock market, not the stability of our citizens. How is that really working for you?
When people boast about our robust economy – ask them on what basis are they measuring? Our economy should not be measured by the profits of our richest citizens. They should be measured by the security of our poorest. If our middle class is struggling to survive after the loss of only a few paychecks, that is not a well functioning economy. It is not trickling down. It will never, ever trickle down.
Many of us are realizing how short life can be. The Boston Globe had SIXTEEN pages of obituaries yesterday. Death due to Covid is a possibility for many and a certainty for some. And I hope people are shifting their priorities while we face this grim reality. Also, I hope they remember when post Covid life begins.
To those who are out there protesting for the re-opening of our states for financial reasons – ask yourselves why you have been put into a position of risking your LIFE for a paycheck. Shouldn’t the richest country in the world have business owners who can shut down in a crisis and still survive? Shouldn’t we be able to take care of our own during a life threatening pandemic? You are angry at the wrong people and for the wrong things.
So to those people who are at home trying to figure out how they will pay their bills in the coming months, please remember there are people who live this way daily. You can help change this reality. Support local unions. Vote for politicians who are labor friendly. Get involved. Don’t wait for the next crisis.
Our country will truly thrive when it is built from the bottom up. When we take care of the poor, when we value generosity, when we protect our labor force, when we keep our priorities in check – that is when our country’s economy and way of life will truly flourish.
Ramblings of a Neurotic Housewife 