It’s done. America has elected Donald Trump, not without controversy. Hillary Clinton received 2.5 million more votes than Trump and the influence by the Russians on the outcome of the US election is both alarming and astonishing. Americans have accepted the results of the election and the process of the electoral college, so normally it would be time to move on. All’s fair in love and war, but what about the foreign influence on the election? And if it’s proven true, would the American people categorize it as a stolen election? Perhaps more importantly will they stand for it? Dirty tricks are nothing new to American political campaigns but how low are we willing to go?
It takes a backbone to stand up to a bully and vigilance to protect the principles of our democracy here in America. Despite how much we all want to live in a “Great” country it begs the question as to how much are we willing to close our eyes to or deny what’s really happening to justify getting there. The definition of “Make America Great Again” means different things to different people. For the 1 percenters “Great” will mean tax cuts, deregulation and more profits. For those below the poverty line “Great” would mean just having a job that pays enough to feed, clothe and house you family. For most of us, great would mean to continue to earn union wages, to continue to own our homes, send our children to college, have medical coverage and a secure pension in order to retire with dignity.
The dark side of “Make America Great Again” for some means make America white again and for them immigrants and people of color are often blammed for their economic stress. Ordinary Americans are becoming desperate. Their anger is misdirected; the income inequality in our country has grown proportionately to the demise of trade unions.
Americans are working for Walmart wages in right-to-work states and rather than organizing, they embrace the politicians who are eliminating collective bargaining rights for both private and public sector employees. The weakening of unions in America has meant lower wages, no medical benefits and no pensions. Who benefits from that? Certainly not America’s working men and women and it’s only going to get worse.åÊ
Symbols of Hate
What drives a person to paint a swastika on a synagogue? The swastika is a symbol that represents white supremacy, a racist ideology that is based on the belief that white people are superior to other races and that they should be above all others socially, politically and economically. The Nazis exterminated millions of Jews and others in order to purge those who would taint the purity of what they believed: that their Aryan race was the master race. Neo-Nazis groups exist all over the world including here in the United States. The Klu Klux Klan and the robes they wear symbolize white supremacy and racism which is systemic in America.
The United States was founded by a ruling class that exploited native Americans and African slave labor, as well as white indentured servants. Land was taken in the name of Manifest Destiny ‰ÛÒ the God-given right to create wealth by taking it. America’s values of freedom and democracy remain as a beacon of hope despite the inequality that has been ingrained into virtually all of our institutions.
There has been progress, not enough or fast enough for some and too much for others. This election has brought these feelings to the surface. Sadly, some think that symbols of hate like a noose on a construction job directed at African American members of our union is somehow ok now that Trump was elected. As long as the working class in America fights with each other over the crumbs the wealthy will never have to share the wealth that we have produced with our labor.
A divided union is a weakened union. We are going to need all of our collective strength to survive the challenges this administration is going to throw at the trade union movement. This union and its members must stand together, embrace our diversity, protect one another and reject symbols of hate. Racism, sexism and anti immigrant slurs grow out of the fear that the next person hired might be your replacement. This is not empowering any one group over another, but about protecting the collective interests of all Local 3 members and keeping our union strong.
