It was gratifying to learn that Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer
vetoed a toxic antigay piece of legislation known as Senate Bill 1062. This proposed measure would have allowed businesses to choose not to serve gay clientele so that their proprietors could honor their religious beliefs. A similar bill was recently vetoed in Kansas.
Apparently, the same dynamic is repeating itself in several states that have created similarly abhorrent bills. Antigay measures, justified by "defense of religious freedom" are being advanced, but then they crash, often by dint of a gubernatorial veto. Why? Because such legislation is bad for business.
It's good to know that legalized gay-bashing isn't going to see the light of day, even in the reddest of the red states. Yet I can't help being cynical. Non-Tea Party Republicans like Arizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake both declared their opposition to SB 1062. Good for them. But I don't get the sense that they or any other prominent Republicans opposed such legislation because they thought that it was morally repugnant and inhuman. Just bad for business!
Am I being too harsh?
Friday, February 28, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Union Drive in Chattanooga: Tennessee Republicans Didn't Do Their Homework
A recent attempt by the United Auto Workers (UAW) to unionize a Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga fell a tad short. The UAW is considering court action, citing undue meddling in the election effort by various Tennessee public officials, all Republican. (One GOP heavy, feeling his oats, growled a message at VW to this effect: "Nice tax break ya got there. It would be a shame if something happened to it.")
Among other things, the workers were told that Volkswagen's plans to expand the Chattanooga plant might be jeopardized if they voted for the union. Seems plausible except for one bothersome li'l detail: Senator Tom Corker, Governor Bill Haslam (the former Chattanooga mayor, by the way) and other Republican poobahs, evidently failed to communicate with the corporate folks at VW before making such brash --- and untrue --- statements.
It seems as if it never occurred to Corker and Company, that VW's European style corporate culture wasn't in synch with their own values. Among VW's 106 assembly plants world-wide, the Tennessee factory --- the only one in the US --- also happens to be their only facility without a Euro-style works council. The works council is an arrangement of regularly scheduled meetings between labor and management that encourages a free flow of ideas. A union provides the structure for the works council.
Officially, VW maintained a neutral stance prior to the election. But it seems as if they really wanted the union to succeed. In the wake of the defeat, VW has announced that they're reconsidering any plans they may have had for expansion in the South. It's a blatant contradiction to the Republicans' anti-union message. So it looks as if Mr. Corker's fibs are coming back to bite him, his fellow Republicans and all the good people of Tennessee.
What did he say again in the wake of the union's defeat? Oh yeah. "I am thrilled for the employees at Volkswagen and for our community and its future". It's probably true that some of the workers who voted nay are reflexively opposed to unions. But in light of widespread pro-union sentiments expressed among the rank and file before the election, many believe that some folks may have flipped their votes as a reaction to the Republicans' fear-mongering; perhaps enough to alter the outcome.
I think the union's challenge effort will sprout legs. Stay tuned!
Among other things, the workers were told that Volkswagen's plans to expand the Chattanooga plant might be jeopardized if they voted for the union. Seems plausible except for one bothersome li'l detail: Senator Tom Corker, Governor Bill Haslam (the former Chattanooga mayor, by the way) and other Republican poobahs, evidently failed to communicate with the corporate folks at VW before making such brash --- and untrue --- statements.
It seems as if it never occurred to Corker and Company, that VW's European style corporate culture wasn't in synch with their own values. Among VW's 106 assembly plants world-wide, the Tennessee factory --- the only one in the US --- also happens to be their only facility without a Euro-style works council. The works council is an arrangement of regularly scheduled meetings between labor and management that encourages a free flow of ideas. A union provides the structure for the works council.
Officially, VW maintained a neutral stance prior to the election. But it seems as if they really wanted the union to succeed. In the wake of the defeat, VW has announced that they're reconsidering any plans they may have had for expansion in the South. It's a blatant contradiction to the Republicans' anti-union message. So it looks as if Mr. Corker's fibs are coming back to bite him, his fellow Republicans and all the good people of Tennessee.
What did he say again in the wake of the union's defeat? Oh yeah. "I am thrilled for the employees at Volkswagen and for our community and its future". It's probably true that some of the workers who voted nay are reflexively opposed to unions. But in light of widespread pro-union sentiments expressed among the rank and file before the election, many believe that some folks may have flipped their votes as a reaction to the Republicans' fear-mongering; perhaps enough to alter the outcome.
I think the union's challenge effort will sprout legs. Stay tuned!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Harrumphing Old White Dudes Love Their Porn: An Opportunity for Democrats to Take Back the House
A 2009 survey commissioned by the Harvard Business school has revealed that the greatest demand for pornographic ogling per capita is in red states --- particularly ones with heavy concentrations of evangelicals.
The state at the very pinnacle of the list? Blood-red Utah!
Other top contenders consist of the following states, all playpens of lust featuring a deep scarlet pigment: Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
My gut hunch* is that the most prolific consumers of on-line porn consist of a cohort I refer to as "Harrumphing Old White Dudes". These folks share some common traits; (1) they don't like unions, (2) they hate big government, and (3) they particularly detest That Socialist from Kenya Who Lives at the White House. (So you know how they're gonna vote). But they love their on-line porn! They simply can't ever get enough of that visual whoopie!**
Here's my proposal: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will need to get involved. Their task will be to marshal the resources of the eighty most popular premium pornography websites in the nation. Next on the agenda? Organize a Free Premium Porn Day. Arrange for pop-up ads on all major sites. Those Harrumphing Old White Dudes will get wind of it just as soon as you can say Tiffany and Her Barnyard Pals! The date? Tuesday, November 4th, of course --- which, by sheer coincidence, just happens to be the date of the midterm elections this year.
Here's what I envision. As soon as that calendar flips to the Fourth Day of November, all those porn-lovin', Obama-hatin' Harrumphing Old White Dudes will be hot to trot! At the crack o' dawn, they'll be glued to their computer screens. Remember now! --- Eighty premium websites! Free from dawn 'til dusk! They can have it all, and by gum, they will have it all!
Once all them Harrumphing Old White Dudes recover their poise long enough to take a break from their non-stop ogling, they'll look out the window. Dag-nab it, it's dark out! They'll check the time: Holy moley, it's seven o'clock! The polls have just closed! Thousand names of the devil! They've forgotten to cast their ballots!
The election results come pouring in. Fast forward to 11:03 PM, Eastern Standard Time. Every major network has declared victory for the Democrats. Seventeen Congressional seats needed to flip in order for the Democrats to regain a House majority: That's exactly what they got! All because thousands and thousands of porn-lovin', Obama-hatin', Harrumphing Old White Dudes couldn't tear themselves away from their pornographic whoopie long enough to vote. Mission accomplished!
Hey, it's worth a shot, don't ya think?
Here's what I envision. As soon as that calendar flips to the Fourth Day of November, all those porn-lovin', Obama-hatin' Harrumphing Old White Dudes will be hot to trot! At the crack o' dawn, they'll be glued to their computer screens. Remember now! --- Eighty premium websites! Free from dawn 'til dusk! They can have it all, and by gum, they will have it all!
Once all them Harrumphing Old White Dudes recover their poise long enough to take a break from their non-stop ogling, they'll look out the window. Dag-nab it, it's dark out! They'll check the time: Holy moley, it's seven o'clock! The polls have just closed! Thousand names of the devil! They've forgotten to cast their ballots!
The election results come pouring in. Fast forward to 11:03 PM, Eastern Standard Time. Every major network has declared victory for the Democrats. Seventeen Congressional seats needed to flip in order for the Democrats to regain a House majority: That's exactly what they got! All because thousands and thousands of porn-lovin', Obama-hatin', Harrumphing Old White Dudes couldn't tear themselves away from their pornographic whoopie long enough to vote. Mission accomplished!
Hey, it's worth a shot, don't ya think?
* If Congressman Darrell Issa can rely on his gut, I guess I can, too. (See the post on this blog dated 6/8/13: Chairman Issa's Digestive Tract is Working Overtime).
** Also eyeball an earlier post from 7/20/12: Repressed Feelings in Romneyland: Just Gotta Have It.
** Also eyeball an earlier post from 7/20/12: Repressed Feelings in Romneyland: Just Gotta Have It.
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