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It is fair you understand who and what I am.  I am 65-year-old Vietnam era veteran who served as an enlisted sailor from 1964-1974. I rose to the rank of director with major defense contractors, IT companies and shipbuilders.  Over the decades I realized that business must have a check and balance system similar to our government to insure success and fairness for U.S. business and U.S. workers alike.   Big business and unions left uncheck could become tyrannical.  We need to meet often and respect one another.

The objective this election by a few was to crush not only unions but any who would stand up and be heard in opposition.  This was not a Republican Party take over as it was a few controlling the GOP similar to DC Stephenson GOP control in Indiana 90+ years ago.  He too used signed pledges to control. These new GOP hijackers attempted to divide our citizenry by religion, race, gender, education and finances.  Thanks to the union organization and ground game in Ohio, Wisconsin and other states, these radicals were defeated soundly.  The GOP should not be angry for the USW and other unions have given the GOP the opportunity to recapture their party.

I encourage our tenacious organizational ground game to continue the fight where others are committed to marginalizing the civil rights, collective bargaining, women’s health, education, religious freedom, and countless others for profit and control.  We may not agree with those of other parties, faiths, races, sexual orientation or genders but I believe we all agree that we all should have the rights of freedom and individual choice.

In the early part of the 20^th Century our government enacted the Jones Act recognizing that a strong merchant marine was good for the economy and national security. The legislative intent was that U.S. shipyards would enjoy construction contracts, the treasury would enjoy tax revenues, U.S. shipyard workers and U.S. merchant mariners would enjoy employment, and U.S. ships would operate under high standards of safety and crew competency.  I encourage the USW organization ground game armed with the Jones Act to address the shipbuilding industry in the Gulf States where there is construction of vessels for the government and for the oil industry.  We should partner with government and business to support those contractors. The oil industry is flush with cash so should they oppose fair wages and safe working conditions?  Federal contracts require government vessels be made with U.S. steel including all forgings.  Union labor would be a safeguard to insure U.S. steel corporations were getting this business rather than foreign suppliers circumventing the system.

Fairness will not win over the government or big industry.  However the intent of the Jones Act should as it is good for the economy and national security. All political sides agree that the economy and national security are of paramount concern to our nation.  This should be our battle cry as we move forward in this quest.  This will be a win for all Americans, not just a few.  More tax dollars earned by U.S. companies and U.S. workers will enhance the nation’s qualify of life and strengthen our national security.

Posted November 12, 2012 at 12:35 pm, in Free Speech Zone

Tags: defense contracts, Republicans, union labor