[Peace-discuss] Fw: Fight for just treatment of all workers

Wed Dec 17 17:07:15 CST 2008

On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 3:21 PM, Jenifer Cartwright <jencart13 at yahoo.com>wrote:

Well, that wasn't MY take on the story -- Conyers tho't the activists should
> have been protesting in the offices of those members who weren't already on
> their side, not pushing him, Conyers (who was on their side) and expecting
> him to accomplish miracles on his own -- he was working on getting necessary
> support from others in his committee but didn't have the votes. Here's the
> link:
> http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/34921
>
> Imho, this is a perfect example that some activists need to learn
> when/where/how to apply pressure, and remember who their friends and enemies
> are. No possible good can come from humiliating and pissing off those who
> already support you!! These guys lost a whole lot more than they gained,
> duh.
>  --Jenifer
>

I'm mildly disturbed that my personal message to Dave ended up on the
Peace-discuss list.  Since then I've sent him a couple more articles about
the situation, privately.

None of us was there at Conyers' offices, of course, to witness what
actually transpired.  But if Conyers was really serious about impeachment,
all he needed to do was to coordinate his efforts with those of the
protesters.  Instead of getting mad, he needed to explain things to them and
give them their marching orders, so to speak.  Tell them which
Representatives specifically needed to be pressured, etc.   Conyers has been
in office long enough to know that if he truly wants to get something done
in Congress, there are large national organizations of citizens who will
help him.  And I'm quite sure that the protesters, if told how they could be
most useful, wouldn't have said, "No!  We just want to stay right here where
it's warm and protest in the comfort of your office!!"  Most of 'em, at
least, would have done what Conyers told 'em to do.

That said, your point is well taken, Jen.  Activists DO need to learn
when/where/how to apply pressure.  But they need to be taught.  When I and a
few other readers of this list were working on the Citizen Police Review
Board issue locally, we were aided immeasurably by a couple of Urbana city
council members (and one in particular) who patiently explained to us what
our role in the process, as ordinary citizens and as "activists", should
be.  One Champaign city council member was similarly helpful, though the
results there were ultimately disappointing.  It was a "community
organizing" lesson I'll never forget.  It's a bit more difficult on the
national stage, though.

John Wason

>  --- On *Wed, 12/17/08, unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net>* wrote:
>
> From: unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net>
> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Fight for just treatment of all workers
> To: "Peace-discuss List" <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>, "John W." <
> jbw292002 at gmail.com>
> Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 7:26 AM
>
>
>  When and what situation was that John ?
>
> Not that I am doubting you, just wanting to know some facts for my own
> info.
>
> David J.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com>
> *To:* unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 17, 2008 6:39 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Peace-discuss] Fw: Fight for just treatment of all workers
>
> "The single most important thing that we can do to help manufacturing, to
> help retirees, to help working people, to help our children and
> grandchildren and our communities is fight for universal health care."
> Can't disagree much with that.  But I'll just mention that the last time
> the "grassroots" tried to provide John Conyers with support/pressure for one
> of his own initiatives - the impeachment of the Butcher in the White House -
> Conyers turned on them like a rabid dog, and then ran away from his own
> former principled position like a scared rabbit.  So much for grassroots
> support...
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 11:14 PM, unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net> wrote:
>
>  ----- Original Message ----- *From:* GreggShotwell at aol.com
>> *To:* undisclosed-recipients:
>> *Sent:* Monday, December 15, 2008 11:41 AM
>> *Subject:* Fight for just treatment of all workers
>>
>>
>> Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Detroit's Big Three automakers
>> have a $2,000 per vehicle cost disadvantage over their foreign rivals --
>> largely because of legacy and benefits costs. *"Let's get rid of that
>> cost disadvantage," Romney told "Meet the Press."
>>
>> *The Republicans want to destroy the unions. The Democrats want to keep
>> them in the corral. We do not have a Labor Party in America. We are the
>> leaders we have been waiting for. This issue isn't solely about auto
>> workers, or union organized workers, it's about all workers.
>>
>> The single most important thing that we can do to help manufacturing, to
>> help retirees, to help working people, to help our children and
>> grandchildren and our communities is fight for universal health care.
>> Retirees don't have any excuses not to show up for marches, sit-ins, or
>> letter writing campaigns. The Obama health care plan is inadequate for our
>> needs. John Conyers' bill HR-676 is set up and ready to roll. He just needs
>> support from the grass roots. Conyers will be pressured to back down and go
>> along with Obama's plan. We should all write to John Conyers, express our
>> appreciation for his perseverance in this struggle for Health Care Justice,
>> and encourage him to stand his ground and don't back down. Half way measures
>> will not work. All retirees need assurance of health care. All workers would
>> be in a better bargaining position if they were assured of basic health
>> care. Our children and grandchildren will have a brighter future if we
>> fulfill our responsibility to them. The generation that introduced two tier
>> wages owes it to the next generation to fight like hell for universal single
>> payer health care. Let's make HR-676 our legacy to them.
>>
>> Thirty-nine state AFL-CIO federations, over 100 Central Labor Councils and
>> 400 local unions have endorsed HR-676, John Conyer's "Expanded and Improved
>> Medicare for All" bill. [www.johnconyers.com/healthcare] The first step
>> is to unite the huge reservoir of support for single payer in thousands of
>> local unions and labor bodies.  To take that step, a number of labor
>> federations and unions are planning a national meeting of labor
>> organizations that
>> *support HR 676,"Medicare for All."* >  *Labor for* *Single-Payer
>> Healthcare Meeting *
>> *                                                   January 10-11, 2009*
>> *                                                   The Crowne-Plaza -
>> Downtown St. Louis*
>> For additional information> www.laborforsinglepayer.org
>> or contact Organizing Committee Coordinator Mark Dudzic at  201-314-2653
>> or mdudzic at igc.org
>>
>
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