Friday Fish Wrap: November 5, 2010

Your Name: Anonymous

Your Email: anonymous@aol.com

Subject: Last Tues,

Message: Really a sore looser!

Where did you think Harry, Barbara and Jerry got their financial support? 

Ever hear of the labor unions? 

Libs are going to have to sit this one out until 2012. 

-Anonymous

Actually, this wasn’t sent by ‘anonymous’, but since he’s still a practicing dentist and upstanding citizen, I thought I’d protect his identity. He’s one of those ‘conservatives’ that never seems to get it, but we like each other despite our differences. We’re both cancer survivors, so I guess that has something to do with it.

But, jeeze, Ard … do you think I’m really that simple? No, really … of course labor unions had something to do with Harry Reid’s victory. I’d have gone ballistic if they hadn’t.

Here’s the difference between you and I, though.

I don’t automatically see labor unions as a bad thing. I were part of one (ITU/CWA). So was Mr. Airline Captain Maven (ALPA). Just because the GOP doesn’t like them, doesn’t automatically make them evil. I don’t like cauliflower, but that doesn’t make it evil. Smelly, but not evil.

Should anybody be fearful of influence by labor unions? As a percent of employed workers, union membership peaked in 1954 at 28.3%. In 2003, 11.5% of employed workers were union members. I think the obvious point here is that labor unions can’t possibly generate enough dollars - especially considering that a growing percentage of union members are now service industry workers rather than higher paid workers from the auto and steel industry of yesteryear - to substantially influence our elections.

As usual, these numbers are a meaningless talking point unless put into some sort of context - which the ‘right’ almost never does.

If it’s all about number of dollars spent, then the unions - AFSCME, NEA and SEIU didn’t spend enough. Dems lost. On the other hand, Crossroads America and United States Chamber of Commerce must have spent enough, since they got better results. Right?

Unfortunately, we’ll never really know since the Citizens United decision took care of any dangerous notions of transparency vis a vis the electoral process. It certainly needs to be fixed, with the DISCLOSE Act, and I haven’t heard a single union complain about that. Gee, the unions are okay with transparency and the other side - the ‘right’ - not so much. Perhaps because the ‘right’ has so much more to hide?

SEIU spent $15.7 during this election cycle, mostly against Republican candidates. According to OpenSecrets.org, the conservative, Karl Rove-backed sister political groups American Crossroads and Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies have together spent $36.5 million, edging out the U.S. Chamber of Commerce when combined.

Hmmm. Does that seem a bit lop-sided? The Koch billionaires against the dishwasher/waiters union. What do you think?

And let’s take a look at lobbying efforts from ‘Big Labor’ - also according to OpenSecrets.org “Still, the $23.5 million federal labor unions spent on lobbying through the entire first half of the year is $7 million less than the $30.9 million the U.S. Chamber of Commerce itself spent during the first quarter of 2010 alone, according to federal records.”

Again, pretty damn uneven.

Jeeze, SEIU couldn’t even manage to get Dina Titus, D-NV re-elected. That’s how scary and powerful they are. Get real, Ard.

If you’re still uncertain as to which outside groups gave how much to influence this election cycle then take a look at the top contributors, as listed on OpenSecrets.org. Of the top 10 groups, only four were considered Liberal. The money breaks down like this: $133 million by Liberal leaning groups, and $167 million by Conservative leaning groups.

That’s even, isn’t it? Not. And the difference of tip money from service employees and pin money from teachers doesn’t even begin to compare to the pin money from the like of the billionaire Koch brothers and a Saudi prince or two.

Do you think the Citizens United thing pisses me off? Just the same way as when people take ‘information’ for granted and don’t question it or put it into context.

This leads me to another rant: the media and their ham-fisted attempts at balance.

I’m really tired of how the mainstream media thinks they’re being fair and balanced by assuming that the ‘left’ harbors just as many zany ideas and loony people as the ‘right’, or that the ideas of the ‘left’ (can you say ‘nanny state’?) could be just as bad for America as those proposed by the ‘right’ - who would dismantle everything that now defines ‘civilized society’  from social security to the EPA and send kids back to one-room, home-based religious schools.

This only goes to prove that Jack Russell Terriers are smarter than the mainstream media.

I’m not biased about dogs at all. Nah.

Talking about inequality, have you heard about the $1 billion house in India?

Now, if they could just figure out how to get the electricity to work on a more or less reliable 24/7 basis, so guests won’t be stranded in the elevators. Actually, that is a daily fact of life for the rest of India, although I’m assuming this self important asshole has plenty of on-site generators to run this bizarre tribute to Blade Runner style.

Call me odd, but I’m simply not impressed by staggering monuments to personal wealth, and would be far more inclined to offer applause if $1 billion had gone toward permanently solving the problem of equally staggering poverty in India. That would take actual, uh … ingenuity and strength of character.

I’m still managing to put in some miles on the bicycle, despite the cooling temperatures and cloudy days. That’s especially true since the motor on the treadmill went south. Yikes. Mr. Maven was on the phone this morning, after a visit by the repairman yesterday, ordering parts. Wouldn’t you know, the motor is backordered.

Mr. Maven got a hearing aide this afternoon. I’m jealous. Actually, I’ve been wearing a hearing aide for several years now (and love it) but they never seemed to work for Mr. Maven since his hearing loss isn’t quite as severe as mine. How weird is that? He got one of the new Lyric fully in the ear hearing aides, and he’s in love. There’s no taking it out at night or in the shower, no fussing with batteries. You put it in and leave it in for up to four months, then get another. It’s for more minor hearing loss and the inability to distinguish certain frequencies like voices, and is much more like natural hearing.

I asked if it would work for me, but alas, not. Sigh.

Oh, and since it’s allergy season, you might want to try this: Chloraseptic Allergen Block gel. I’m not that allergy prone, but Mr. Maven is. You simply prevent the allergy symptoms in the first place by rubbing this gel round your nose. I guess it ‘catches’ the allergens before the go up the old schnozz and create problems. This is a good thing, especially if you don’t like taking drugs for allergies, and would also think it might be outstanding for small children. I think I’ll keep it around here for guests that say they’re allergic to my cat. Oh, and it’s much, much cheaper from Amazon.com.

See, it’s knowing about things like this that make me a ‘maven’.

Oh, and finally, you might notice some changes on the blog. I’ve taken everything that is not a recipe or restaurant review related out of the Lifestyle and Food category, and moved it to the new Lifestyle and Health page. Food is just that. Food. Wow, I hadn’t realized what an awesome job I’ve done there. It’s almost a stand alone food blog within a blog. Yikes. But I think this will make navigation much simpler for my readers and make the blog easier to use.

Additionally, I’m going to keep the Impurely Maven page mostly to showcase articles by other authors, such as those by Robert Reich and Paul Krugman. Everything else in the way of my opinions will fall under the Purely Maven: Main Journal. Yes, that includes posts with words you might not like the kiddies to see. Oh, well.

Have a great weekend and remember to set the clock back before you hit the sack on Saturday night.

-maven