Not a Good Trend

I have always been a labor-union guy due to the positive impact on my home life while growing up.
Let me explain: My father was born in 1918 and entered the work force with an eighth grade education. In time he would develop labor skills as an operating engineer of heavy equipment, welding, lead-burning, sales representative and eventual partner in an industrial fabricating corrosive protection company.  I also observed my brothers benefit in the 'labor trades' protected by unions. They were all good at developing and honing manual skills. They earned every dime they made and they made 'more' dimes because they were blue collar union guys! Can I get an Amen?

This union strength (in numbers) assured my father and brothers that they could demand fair and equitable wages and conditions for the special skills brought to the table. In recent years the corporate folks have moved productions to foreign countries to realize greater profit from cheap labor. Also, the Conservative party of America has successfully weakened this nation's unions.

As was the case in 1917, when  my hometown (East St. Louis),  experienced one of America's ugliest race riots when the corporate guys secured Southern 'black' scab laborers to fill in for striking 'white' union workers in that city's industries.

Throughout our American history big business enterprises pitted lower-income folks against one another, especially if color and/or ethnic differences were obvious. This of course drives the single-minded-issue voter. Come on, we just witnessed the 'game' as Trump made continuous degrading blanket-statements about Hispanics and Blacks.

All the while, we Americans blow smoke up our own butts with a misguided notion that we are a nation of 'exceptionalism' and God's favorite. That's hogwash. Jesus does not sit on the throne shouting 'USA, USA' during Olympic Games. We indeed have been a blessed nation with a great land filled with wonderful natural resources. However, the Holy Scriptures tell us that His chosen people are not white, blue-eyed Americans.

If we are so exceptional why can a family go broke or die unnecessarily due to an insufficient health care system? Why does our exceptionalism  allow our education system slip to all time lows in worldwide rankings?

Before our eyes, we are watching the nation's wealthy become more wealthy and the middle class, without organized unions slip deeper into poverty levels.