Saturday, March 5, 2011

Shredded

Our cat Tater is a litter box whiz, unlike our previous cat Larry, who was less fastidious. When it came to distributing poop, Larry was a Democrat. But Tater is robust and productive and not at all private about pooping. She likes you to watch. After she's done, she turns around, looks at her output, and then scratches away. Not at the litter, but at the little plastic-lined wastebasket right next to the box. When we take the baggie out once a week to the garbage, it's shredded to ribbons. There's some kind of primal instinct going on here, but it's not very relevant. It's a little off-topic, in fact.

Tater's scratching of the bag and not the litter might seem like a case of cognitive dissonance, but that's only from our standpoint. From hers, she knows all she has to do is poop, and it's somebody else's job to clean up after her while she goes and sits in the sun.

This is one of the reasons we're pretty sure she's a Republican. She's got nothing at all on Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, for instance. Governor Walker took over a state with a $120 million budget surplus and immediately engineered a $140 million tax break for out-of-state corporations. Then he declared a budget emergency and said it was the fault of the unionized state workers. Scratch, scratch.

He's not interested in winning appropriate concessions from the workers. He's interested in taking away their right to organize altogether.

Unions seem to have a bad reputation these days, and they've got their problems, but they're a big part of what kept this good middle-class economic engine going for as long as it did. Until a bunch of people fought and died for the right to organize, workers didn't have much to say about their working conditions  or wages. Employers could pretty much write the ticket, especially if they were the only game in town. But, after banding together, workers were able to negotiate for a living wage, maybe health care, maybe even a pension put aside. Even their peers who were not unionized benefited from the standards they set. It wasn't a way to get wealthy, but it was a way to make a decent living, and all over the country, communities thrived, full of decently-paid workers and the people who sold them merchandise and services. Plus, most of us got weekends off.

Organized labor was one of the last remaining impediments to the concentration of all the wealth at the very top. But it has been much weakened, by design, resulting in a predictable narrowing of prosperity. People were encouraged to think of their homes as cash machines and the economy still raced around for a while like a cartoon coyote that zips over a cliff, before it notices that there's nothing holding it up.

This situation flourished because regulations were cast aside and a whole new pirate fleet set sail, folding and packaging securities into derivatives and other unrecognizable instruments. Nothing real was created. Some people skated away with all the money, and the rest of us were left buried under a collapsed pyramid of financial origami.

So the Republicans campaigned against regulation and cut funding to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Scratch, scratch.

Tax cuts in the Bush era diminished total income by almost three trillion dollars. So the Republicans concluded that tax cuts grow the economy and called for more.

They hate budget deficits, so they enshrined tax cuts to the top 2% and added $700 billion to the debt.

They're taking a good hard look at the laws of physics to see what might be done to loosen them up.

Undermining workers' ability to band together may have nothing to do with helping the economy, but it does help elect Republicans so they can sit in the sun.

They don't even care if you watch all this shit come down. They're not even covering it up, and it stinks. We've still got to clean it up and get it to the curb, but it gets harder and harder when the bag is shredded.

45 comments:

  1. Shit happens."
    Who first said this, I wonder?

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  2. Wonderful analogy of our government and misplaced cat scratching. The American worker is losing ground daily and has for years. I saw the unions lose power dramatically when Reagan broke Patco.
    We need to start scratching in the right place.

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  3. You did a great job with the visuals and telling it like it is in Wisconsin. You have a good way with words.

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  4. Your cat certainly is a Republican.
    And your conclusions about Wisconsin are right on. As long as Harper stays in power in Canada, Canadians will have to guard against the same thing.

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  5. Ah, very good analogy! I love it when I keep hearing about how unions hold so much power. I wanted to find out how many Americans are union workers...just 12% as opposed to closer to 40% in the 50s and 60s. Coincidence that the middle class has been disappearing???

    I'll always remember hearing my mom chuckle when I started working fulltime and complaining about how short the weekend was for running all my errands. When she was working in the late 30s and early 40s NO ONE had Saturdays off, only Sunday. How quickly we forget.

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  6. As someone who's been a trade unionist for over 30 years and a trade union rep for five, when I watch the way unions are being systematically undermined, the way the wealthy just get even wealthier, and the way ordinary people are too cowed to fight back, it makes me want to weep. The Tolpuddle Martyrs must be weeping copiously in their graves.

    I see several American States have declared war on trade unions. Unfortunately the dire economic situation will probably deter most employees from resisting.

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  7. All 6 of our cats are Independents. Some lean to the Left, some don't lean at all. But Stub, our three legged wannabe Lab is definitely a Republican. She is all about stealing the products of the cats' hard labor in the litter trays. And of course like any good Republican, Stubby does not know when too much of a good thing has reached its saturation point. She pukes and again like a good Republican, she leaves the nasty results of her selfish lifestyle for others to clean up. And the Cats, being the hardcore Independents they are, don't care. They know cleaning up is not their problem.

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  8. I do praise the day I found you, Murr! And we both seem to have attributed the same fecal metaphors to Governor Walker and his ilk today. I sure wish I could shred some SC politicians right now.

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  9. the thing I don't understand is why so may of the working class are Republicans.

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  10. Backing off from the apt metaphor, I wonder if Tater needs a longer litter box and/or scratchables out of reach. Will either of those trials solve the scratching displacement issue, or is he too far gone on the obsessive-compulsive side of fastidiousness? It's not a practical solution for the elephants' scratching distractions--they need way too big a litter box--but it might help the cat.

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  11. The analogy is terrific! lol. and I so agree with you. Great post.

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  12. Murr As much as I like your writing style and as good a friend I am of Elayne and having been forced, along with my mother, to be a member of the Wisconsin PUBLIC not private sector teachers union [Wisconsin holds our pension money] and, running on, being a resident of the state that legally clearly elected Scott Walker to do exactly what he campaigned to do, and listening daily to first hand Wisconsin generated pro/con news and comments I have to let you know you need to get some actual facts. You have completely mis represented (probably becase you were watching the ''news''?) what is happening and will continue to happen in the proud great Cheesehead State of Wisconsin. We are looking at a 3.6 billion deficit and up to 12-15000 layoffs which Walker DOES NOT WANT but which will be surely happening if at least one of the 14 Democratic senator does not return to vote (I think they were elected to do that job...recalls in the making) Manufacturing is fleeing the state and we are attempting to plug that gap. Your report of a budget surplus is laughable at best...depends on how/who does the math.

    Your cat is not a Republican...nor am I. your cat '' ...knows all she has to do is poop, and it's somebody else's job to clean up after her while she goes and sits in the sun.''

    That is called welfare, entitlement, laziness, slovenlyness, disrespect and poor manners to mention a few things.

    Wisconsin is left with about 7 million $+ cleanup and repair bill to the Capitol building and grounds compliments of the mostly outside, non-resident protesters/aggitators and thugs pathetic behavior/actons.

    Any one care to give me attempt to bloody my nose? Please call 715 630 9099 John Mikels

    Jeeeeeeeeeesh

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  13. Oh, John, if anyone from here tries to bloody your nose, let me know. I've got union thugs I can call.

    Most of the problems I do have with unions involve the sense of entitlement they can foster among some portion of their membership. In fact, the only thing worse than organized labor is NO organized labor. And that's much, much worse.

    I'm honored you dropped by, and invite you to poke around the site--there's bound to be something palatable here somewhere. Thanks.

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  14. Murr I like you style ''poke around''? no pun intended, right?

    Entitlement...bingo...my parens put me to work on the farm when I was 5 tears old and I will never regret even a second of it or the many years to follow.

    I voted for Jimmy Carter...no more of that nonsense

    Wisconsin John

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  15. Anonymous - the workers are already making the financial concessions that the governor asked for. What they refuse to give up is their right to collectively bargain in the future. Collective bargaining does not involve simply pay - nurses bargain to make sure that they are not assigned more patients than they can safely care for at one time, teachers bargain to ensure that their class sizes do not exceed their ability to teach, etc.

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  16. Great analogy and a lot to digest. I've been less than thrilled at some of the actions unions have taken over the years, but I certainly believe workers have a right to band together. And I've never seen a photo of a cat in action. I'm impressed. And a little bit nauseated.

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  17. And here's a comment from the other Portland:
    http://www.kjonline.com/news/speaking-with-a-teachers-voice_2011-03-04.html

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  18. I don't really have the energy to get balled up in this argument as regards Wisconsin, but as to the overall economy, some things are irrefutable, 1) without unions we would all be slaves, 2) the reason Wisconsin, and the rest of the nation are losing manufacturing jobs is because the capitalist masters can indeed find slave labor elsewhere, re: the latest flap involving Apple manufacturing its lcd displays in a poisoned Chinese factory and 3) if we can't somehow find a way to curb and control the unbridled capitalist greed that infects all aspects of our culture, we're fucked!

    Dang it! I didn't want to get involved but these right wing morons who hide behind "Anonymous" are turning me into a Communist.

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  19. To Anonymous who posted the "other Portland link"

    That was absolutely inspiring. Damn I love the state I live in because people like Kelley McDaniel live here.

    To John Mikels from Wisconsin - Just because you live in Wisconsin does not in and of itself mean you know what is going on. You rehash the same old Right wing claims as if they are nothing but the truth. It seems to me, the "the truth" depends on the perception.

    I see this as an issue of the right to collectively bargain. How that one thing would add to the shortfall is not knowable. All either side can do is make predictions that have no basis in fact.

    Correct me if I am wrong here, but haven't your union overlords already agreed to the cuts? If so, then what is left? It looks like collective bargaining. I am no union lover as my own experience was negative, but I do recognize their right to exist. Their influence has not been the overall negative the Right would have us believe. What this is really about is more shifting of power away from the people to those who hold the purse strings. It is that simple in my opinion.

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  20. Murr, I had to have a second cup of coffee with this one......lots of passion to process first thing in the morning. Judging from the reactions this is your edgiest piece yet. THANK YOU. I love that you are funny but I also love that you are SMART. Actually, I think it makes you funnier. I love your readers too....every single one of them. I would suggest that you consider politics but it seems like politics take the funny out of a person.

    Keep up the good work,
    Donna (showing up as anonymous cuz I am too lazy to figure out how to give myself a name!)

    PS: Trying to figure out a way to use "financial origami" into my conversations today!

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  21. I agree that the Other Portland Link is a must-read. It almost made me weep. And thanks, Donna, I think my commenters rock too. This is a non-violence zone. Politics is definitely out for me. There are too many photographs...

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  22. The shit in Wisconsin does stink. Walker has proposed slicing school aid by nearly a billion dollars AND then makes a provision that local property taxes CANNOT be raised to cover the loss. WTF? He will burn in hell someday, I'm quite certain of it.

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  23. kills me.... teacher's are making TOO much ??? but but but rolling BACK a tax break for those who make over $250K a year.... is unfair?

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  24. oh, and Anon ...
    //clearly elected Scott Walker to do exactly what he campaigned to do//

    per reform bill

    "16.896 Sale or contractual operation of state-owned heating, cooling, and power plants. (1) Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.705 (1), the department may sell any state-owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b)."

    ... nowhere did Walker "campaign" to sell state property without competitive bidding... and any price his appointees deem fair. Rolling back pollution standards and ending recycling mandates are nowhere in his campaign either.

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  25. And the sad thing is, they don't look anywhere as cute as Tater when they're up to their shenanigans, do they?

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  26. Mary, you ARE a liberal if you think that's a cute picture of Tater. Dave thought it was nauseating and one of the worst things he'd ever seen on the internet. Which is patently false.

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  27. You should comment on the shit that goes on over in Blighty...

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  28. Cat is a Democrat! Thinks the sandbox is the Governor of Wisconsin!

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  29. 'Comment on the shit that goes on in Blighty'

    Note Well : that's where the system of mock 'Speaking Place' for the proles came from.
    And its overriding authority to suppress real change undesired by the Authoritarian masters.
    Note I don't give a party label. Like the cat's box, the stuff that goes into it is nothing you want to distinguish between.

    Thanks Murr. I started with the post on Neufs and agree : one must contrive a sense of the ridiculous.

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  30. This is a brilliant analysis...and gave me a much-needed laugh!

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  31. Thanks for popping in, intelliwench. I'm listening to your vendredi funqui video right now!

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  32. Thanks for popping in, intelliwench. I'm listening to your vendredi funqui video right now!

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  33. This is a brilliant analysis...and gave me a much-needed laugh!

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  34. And the sad thing is, they don't look anywhere as cute as Tater when they're up to their shenanigans, do they?

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  35. The shit in Wisconsin does stink. Walker has proposed slicing school aid by nearly a billion dollars AND then makes a provision that local property taxes CANNOT be raised to cover the loss. WTF? He will burn in hell someday, I'm quite certain of it.

    ReplyDelete
  36. kills me.... teacher's are making TOO much ??? but but but rolling BACK a tax break for those who make over $250K a year.... is unfair?

    ReplyDelete
  37. I don't really have the energy to get balled up in this argument as regards Wisconsin, but as to the overall economy, some things are irrefutable, 1) without unions we would all be slaves, 2) the reason Wisconsin, and the rest of the nation are losing manufacturing jobs is because the capitalist masters can indeed find slave labor elsewhere, re: the latest flap involving Apple manufacturing its lcd displays in a poisoned Chinese factory and 3) if we can't somehow find a way to curb and control the unbridled capitalist greed that infects all aspects of our culture, we're fucked!

    Dang it! I didn't want to get involved but these right wing morons who hide behind "Anonymous" are turning me into a Communist.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous - the workers are already making the financial concessions that the governor asked for. What they refuse to give up is their right to collectively bargain in the future. Collective bargaining does not involve simply pay - nurses bargain to make sure that they are not assigned more patients than they can safely care for at one time, teachers bargain to ensure that their class sizes do not exceed their ability to teach, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh, John, if anyone from here tries to bloody your nose, let me know. I've got union thugs I can call.

    Most of the problems I do have with unions involve the sense of entitlement they can foster among some portion of their membership. In fact, the only thing worse than organized labor is NO organized labor. And that's much, much worse.

    I'm honored you dropped by, and invite you to poke around the site--there's bound to be something palatable here somewhere. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  40. The analogy is terrific! lol. and I so agree with you. Great post.

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  41. All 6 of our cats are Independents. Some lean to the Left, some don't lean at all. But Stub, our three legged wannabe Lab is definitely a Republican. She is all about stealing the products of the cats' hard labor in the litter trays. And of course like any good Republican, Stubby does not know when too much of a good thing has reached its saturation point. She pukes and again like a good Republican, she leaves the nasty results of her selfish lifestyle for others to clean up. And the Cats, being the hardcore Independents they are, don't care. They know cleaning up is not their problem.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Your cat certainly is a Republican.
    And your conclusions about Wisconsin are right on. As long as Harper stays in power in Canada, Canadians will have to guard against the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Shit happens."
    Who first said this, I wonder?

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