How many war protests make the airwaves in the U.S.? How many of those that do make the airwaves have teeth and are not just “young hipsters” (not my quote) causing trouble? Yesterday marked an important shifting point in our country and yet no major media outlets covered it….why? Let’s take a minute to reflect on yesterday’s events as it was May day/Law day (LOL!).

The ILWU and it’s 25,000 + members chose this day to stage a complete work stoppage in 29 west coast ports. “Longshore workers are standing-down on the job and standing up for America,” said ILWU International President Bob McEllrath. “We’re supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it’s time to end the war in Iraq.”

McEllrath says rank-and-file members made their own democratic decision in early February when Longshore Caucus delegates voted to take action on May 1. Employers were notified of the plan, but refused to accommodate the union’s request despite plenty of advance notice. The employer group, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) consists of large carriers and port operators, most of which are foreign-owned. ~~~no wonder they didn’t approve of the work stoppage, they are too busy figuring out how to ship more full containers of “goods” in to our country and wondering what the hell to do with all the empty containers once they are unloaded as god knows we don’t produce shit in this country anymore.

Read the ILWU PDF version of their statement

Anyone out there see the show called America’s Port on the National Geographic channel? If you haven’t seen it just watch one episode and it will scare the bejesus out of you. Whenever they talk about a deadline they seem to always drive the point home that “Consumers need these goods and the retailers are relying on them for the holiday season.” Hmm, really? What is even more funny is when they try to gloss over the fact that it takes them days, yes days to unload a single ship but it is loaded in mere hours…..we don’t produce much in this country anymore….can anyone say NAFTA or GATT? N-A-F-T-A, G-A-T-T…..hmm easy.

I have a friend that is a longshoreman in CA. and he is currently looking for new work, not that he doesn’t have job security but because he feels he is helping to destroy this country. I talked with him when the show America’s Port premiered on the tube….He says that it is much worse than they portray. Workers are angry, tired of unloading foreign crap and depressed as no Made in the U.S.A. goods are being loaded. He as well as a lot of his co-workers are flat fed up and by the looks of it most longshoreman are. He was telling me during a Christmas phone call in 2005 that he and his crew worked 6 straight weeks on one client alone, the one time in recent years he can remember loading ships rather than unloading them. Any guesses on whom the client was? < insert jeopardy music here >

Let’s spend 20 seconds on our beloved leader WARLORD and his statement he made for Law Day. (I think most people are aware of what May Day stands for but do you have any idea what Law Day represents? Check it out, you may be surprised, or not)

Here is a highlight from the wonderfully intelligent and may I add hypocritical great warlord Bush:

The right of ordinary men and women to determine their own future, protected by the rule of law, lies at the heart of America’s founding principles. As our country celebrates the 50th anniversary of Law Day, we renew our commitment to the ideals on which this great Nation was established and to a robust system of ordered liberty.

The American legal system is central to protecting the rights and freedoms our Nation holds dear. The theme of this year’s Law Day, “The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity,” recognizes the fundamental role that the rule of law plays in preserving liberty in our Nation and in all free societies. We pay tribute to the men and women in America’s legal community. Through hard work and dedication to the rule of law, members of the judiciary and the legal profession help secure the rights of individuals, bring justice to our communities, and reinforce the proud traditions that make America a beacon of light for the world.

You can read the whole joke here

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What the hell can I say to that? I won’t even try.

A simple man who is cheering the longshoreman while trying to keep the Bush throw-up in my mouth