The Case for a General Strike

[Irredentist]

Given the failure of the American Congress to provide adequate relief for the millions of struggling members of the American working class, who even now are being crushed under the weight of massive socioeconomic inequality, low wages, and the ever rising cost of living, it is my belief that only direct action on the part of workers will provide the impetus necessary to enact real change.

Historically, those with wealth and power will almost never surrender even a fraction of it for the sake of those beneath them, unless they are forced to do so. And so this is exactly what I propose. A nationwide, general strike of all American labor, for the purpose of obtaining those benefits which are taken for granted in almost every other developed nation, but which are systemically denied to the American worker: universal healthcare, paid parental leave, a higher national minimum wage, improved working conditions and protections, and federal subsidies for daycare and housing.

It is time to stop waiting for the day when the ruling class, the politicians and businessmen, deign to offer the working class their fair share. Unless we stand up and do it ourselves, that day will never come.

 

[ttwtt78640]

It would make more sense to refuse to pay (or avoid paying) federal taxes than to refuse to continue working if the intent is to get the federal government to change the law.

 

[TheParser]

Well, yeah, one has to fight for one's "rights."

The labor union movement in the 1930s was met with violent opposition. It finally won and did a lot of good for workers. Sadly, some unions became controlled by mobsters who stole the money and sold out to the employers.

Yeah, the health care system in this country is in a mess. But socialized medicine is not the answer. I hear tell that in England, the system is now so overburdened that many Brits have to go to private doctors for timely treatment; we all know that in the old USSR, bribes were necessary to get any treatment.

If doctors and nurses work for the government, can you just imagine the kind of service that you will get? The attitude will be the same as it used be in post offices, until the postal workers realized that email might result in their losing their secure government jobs.

Yes, FIGHT is the word to describe how how human beings are forced to interact with other human beings.

Four-legged animals physically fight; two-legged animals fight with words, boycotts, & elections.

(I live near West Hollywood. It now has the highest minimum wage in the nation: $18. But some people are fighting to raise it again.)

Yeah, I guess that obnoxious AOC is right: If you want something, double down on your demands.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

It would make more sense to refuse to pay (or avoid paying) federal taxes than to refuse to continue working if the intent is to get the federal government to change the law.

Why?

 

[ttwtt78640]

Why?

You would then still have an income.

 

[Integrityrespec]

Given the failure of the American Congress to provide adequate relief for the millions of struggling members of the American working class, who even now are being crushed under the weight of massive socioeconomic inequality, low wages, and the ever rising cost of living, it is my belief that only direct action on the part of workers will provide the impetus necessary to enact real change.

Historically, those with wealth and power will almost never surrender even a fraction of it for the sake of those beneath them, unless they are forced to do so. And so this is exactly what I propose. A nationwide, general strike of all American labor, for the purpose of obtaining those benefits which are taken for granted in almost every other developed nation, but which are systemically denied to the American worker: universal healthcare, paid parental leave, a higher national minimum wage, improved working conditions and protections, and federal subsidies for daycare and housing.

It is time to stop waiting for the day when the ruling class, the politicians and businessmen, deign to offer the working class their fair share. Unless we stand up and do it ourselves, that day will never come.

"Workers of the world, unite!" Karl Marx, How'd that work out.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

"Workers of the world, unite!" Karl Marx, How'd that work out.

For the USSR? Not so great.
For the free world?

Well, let's go back to 1956, where this (verified) actual Republican poster was found.



That's right!
LESS time lost because of strikes BECAUSE American labor worked together
and unions led the way.

Right now we live in a world where unions have much less power and
corporate management is driving pay, benefits and working conditions DOWN
while the cost of living goes up.

And therefore, a strike may be necessary to force management to do the
right thing by labor.

 

[joluoto]

Strikes has over time proven to be a sharp weapon in the hands of the workers. If you can actually get enough unions/ workers to join it would have an effect for sure, the economy grinding to a halt is not something anyone wants. But that's a big IF.