Tags
2020 Election, Boycott, Corporate America, Empty Streets Empty Stores, General Strike, MLK Labor, NonViolent Strikes, Passive Strike, Poland's Solidarity Movement, Protect the Results, Solidarity, STOP TRUMP, The Tipping Point, Three Day No Shopping Strike, VOTE, Walk Outs, Wildcat Strike
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WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WENT ON STRIKE?! TO STOP TRUMP??!
Mark C. Eades posted an article on Daily Kos yesterday.
“Unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers are calling for a GENERAL STRIKE if Donald Trump attempts to subvert the 2020 election outcome or refuses to leave office after a Joe Biden election victory.”
“… to Ensure a Constitutionally Mandated Peaceful Transition Of Power as a result of the 2020 Presidential Elections.”
“… the Association of Flight Attendants: “We will have to Do The One Thing That Takes All Power And Control From The Government Or Anyone With Corporate Interests In Keeping This Person In Office, and that is WITHHOLDING OUR LABOR.”
“In this event, STRIKES and other forms of DIRECT ACTION — including NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS planned by organizations such as Protect The Results and Choose Democracy — could be the most effective ways of stopping him.”
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The thought of the entire United States shutting down to Stop Trump is really exciting! What happens to Corporate America when none of their employees come to work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday? What happens when no one goes shopping at a store or online? Maybe when they realize they need us in order to make their money…. maybe they will lose their enthusiasm in taking away our Rights by backing the Ultra Right GOP and Trump.
Read the following Comments. The more the Commenters join in on the forum, the more Exciting it gets. There’s a lot to read, but do hang in and read a few dozen! Remember, Greta Thunberg started a movement by Skipping School on Fridays!
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COMMENTS
theleftie Oct 31, 2020 at 06:21:20 PM
I’m not in a union, and I can personally grind a non-trivial chunk of a major corporation to a halt. I’m in.
Anne Elk Oct 31, 2020 at 06:29:39 PM
What percentage of the workforce is unionized?
Jeff Simpson – Anne Elk Oct 31, 2020 at 07:20:30 PM
You don’t need to be in a union to join a general strike.
Anne Elk – Jeff Simpson Oct 31, 2020 at 10:15:59 PM
People need to feed their families. I don’t see a general strike happening. Plus, if a Union calls a strike, it’s violating a contract. You think any union welcomes that kind of lawsuit. I mean, come on.
G2geek – Anne Elk Oct 31, 2020 at 10:41:51 PM
Don’t look for reasons to Not Do Things. Look for reasons To Do things. Solidarity means: everyone do what you can. CAN-DO spirit!
abenjaminc Oct 31, 2020 at 06:32:14 PM
I’m all in, for this one. I don’t know about our Teacher Union… this close to the election… but we could always Wildcat Strike.
rsunde Oct 31, 2020 at 06:39:10 PM
Work Strikes and Walk Outs will be more effective in this case than ‘hitting the streets.’ Trump’s supporters WANT confrontation. Decline.
April Dauenhauer – gddiver Oct 31, 2020 at 08:19:33 PM
I agree a General Strike, broadly supported, would win the day. I hope you are wrong about people not having the will. And yes, by all means everyone stay home in the strike, don’t give them a target.
JaimesBeam – letusvote Nov 01, 2020 at 01:33:30 PM
We should definitely be protesting “No Court Interference with Elections!” starting on Election Day! I suppose PA is the closest state to Maine to be likely to be interfered with? I have a shuttle bus (sort of) to transport people…
BlueDragon Oct 31, 2020 at 06:46:50 PM
Now we are talking!!!
gemdandyTX Oct 31, 2020 at 06:49:39 PM
Don’t have to be in a union to go on strike.
claude Oct 31, 2020 at 06:54:59 PM
There can be no greater noise made, nor concern given to the Oligarchs, than the Thundering Silence Of Cash Registers Not Ringing. There must be immediate public support for this course of action from the Democrats, and it must be unyielding and unequivocal. Support for labor is not optional in the Democratic Party. Organized or not. The single largest constituency of Americans is people who get the f*** up in the morning and go to work to keep the place functioning, one way or another.. Who just happen to come in every color, gender or religion.
munbeam666 Oct 31, 2020 at 07:10:34 PM
Remember France in ‘68. Its easier than you think
BlueDragon- munbeam666 Oct 31, 2020 at 07:15:44 PM
I agree and have thought so for years. Just Not Shopping Can Create Havoc. A Massive Sick Out/Quarantine with a No Shopping and the guys with the money will call the relevant people and tell them to get their heads out of their a***. We need to stay IN under these circumstances because the fascists will attack in the streets, but it can really work — or rather we can really Strike Passively under these circumstances. In fact, just a three day no shopping anywhere strike would send a powerful message. Streets empty, people hunkering down in their homes.
munbeam666 – BlueDragon Oct 31, 2020 at 07:28:55 PM
You nailed it
Cowalker Oct 31, 2020 at 07:18:08 PM
Not just workers but consumers could participate. Don’t buy anything but the most essential essentials—pay rents and mortgages, purchase medical services and/or supplies, buy minimum food required. No ordering from Amazon or other on-line sellers. No buying from Home Depot or Lowes. I’m retired, but I could do this. Also, we could contribute to a strike fund the way we contributed to the Democratic campaigns.
DaisiesArePretty – Cowalker Oct 31, 2020 at 07:23:44 PM
I’ve always said a United Consumer Strike For 72 Hours would wield a lot of power. We can all live three days without buying anything. Especially gasoline.
Bogan – DaisiesArePretty Oct 31, 2020 at 07:52:28 PM
Tomorrow or Monday, buy each adult household member 4 lbs of rice, 3 cans of black beans, 2 jars of pickled jalapeños, 3 cans of green beans, some coffee, and a toilet roll. You’ll all be well-nourished without any further shopping.
Orswede – Bogan Oct 31, 2020 at 09:37:58 PM
Due to COVID, most people have already stockpiled food, toiletries, and other goods……I could survive for two months with what I have in my pantry and freezer!! No Shopping For Three Days, rather than a general strike…..
Cowalker – Orswede Nov 01, 2020 at 03:21:08 AM
Exactly!
DaisiesArePretty Oct 31, 2020 at 07:21:18 PM
AFL-CIO alone has over 12 million members. If affiliate unions and other unions join in, that’s a lot if people. Certainly more than white supremacist groups.
homogenius Oct 31, 2020 at 07:44:48 PM
I’m a furloughed union worker and I support this 100%. If they steal this election, it could well be the end of our democracy. IF TRUMP STEALS THE ELECTION, WE STRIKE! WE SHUT THE COUNTRY DOWN!
PREAMBLE TO DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain Unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments Are Instituted Among Men, Deriving Their Just Powers From The Consent Of The Governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes Destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to Alter or to Abolish it, and to Institute New Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under Absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
dryeyes Oct 31, 2020 at 07:47:38 PM
If Republicans attempt to throw the election, then we must make an overwhelming show of power. A General Strike, led by labor organizations, must be part of this. If things come to that, we must jump all in. Failure to do so means it will be much worse later on.
Bernindownthehouse Oct 31, 2020 at 07:53:06 PM
A General Strike seems like a much better alternative than Civil War, which I’ve seen some call for on this site.
demsin04 Oct 31, 2020 at 08:12:02 PM
If it comes to that, hell yes.
mycomputermachine Oct 31, 2020 at 08:20:59 PM
I will strike.
champaigncarl Oct 31, 2020 at 08:37:36 PM
Along with a General Strike, is there anything that can be done in the house or Senate to lean on Trump. Specifically, could there be a Senate leadership challenge during the lame duck session peeling off enough republicans if trump encourages violent disruption. Personally I plan to drive at 10 % under the posted AT ALL TIMES until Trump concedes. Please join me in that effort, an annoying active of civil obedience!
champaigncarl – BlueDragon Oct 31, 2020 at 09:00:16 PM
I realize this will be a nonpartisan annoyance. And that is sort of the point. It wouldn’t be like trying to run people off the road. Just a legal passive-aggressive poke that can’t be faulted or countered without crossing the line.
Gavno Oct 31, 2020 at 08:41:51 PM
Under the current Covid working conditions, it will be interesting to see just how effective a General Strike would be.
BlueDragon – Gavno Oct 31, 2020 at 08:44:40 PM
Very. No question. Especially along with a Stop Shopping Strike. I’d give it three days before the wall street guys scream trump out of his bedroom.
Noahvale Oct 31, 2020 at 08:48:20 PM
Absolutely!!
Lefty Coaster Oct 31, 2020 at 09:14:58 PM
As a union member I am on board.
JoeCarl Oct 31, 2020 at 09:20:06 PM
The most heartening news I have heard in a long time.
GrannyCT Oct 31, 2020 at 09:23:51 PM
Well thank god. Some Concrete Calls To Action. We are retired Carpenters Union and we definitely support this action. We must do everything in our power to fight what we can all see is coming. Strike, take to the streets. Surround the White House while that as… cowers in his hidey hole. It’s going to take us all. They are already starting with the intimidation by stopping Biden’s campaign bus. We have to be ready for a constant barrage of lunacy. Good luck to us all!
tallen387 Oct 31, 2020 at 09:30:49 PM
…and for the people who are already unemployed due to Trump’s enduring brilliance, can we get a list of local protest sites or picket lines?
Christopher Oct 31, 2020 at 09:31:18 PM
Also, I like the “Strike And March *During* The Workday i.e., *daylight*, because that makes it harder for people to disrupt it and recede into the cover of darkness” aspect. Given what we know Barr thinks he is entitled to do, that may matter a lot.
Ozawa Oct 31, 2020 at 10:14:54 PM
I found myself thinking of the shutdown in late 2018 into 2019. IIRC what seemed to end the shutdown was the flight attendants union threatening to strike as well as the flight controllers…. It seemed when that happened the shutdown ended fairly quickly. A General Strike would be effective in slowing everything down…
gimmie truth – Ozawa Oct 31, 2020 at 11:32:09 PM
They cannot operate airlines without flight attendants. Shut down trains, busses, and shut down the postal service. Aren’t UPS Teamsters?
yunohu Oct 31, 2020 at 10:29:53 PM
We have to bring business in this country to a halt if Trump subverts the election.
CASnyder Oct 31, 2020 at 10:43:35 PM
Striking is far better than street protests, which gather all dissenters into a group where they could get gunned down by DJT’s violent base, as well as increasing the change of getting COVID-19 for the peaceful defenders of democracy. Leave massive assemblies for DJT’s witless base; let them give themselves Darwin Awards. Striking is something we can do safely from home, which makes it very difficult for DJT’s violent base to harm many of us, because we will be dispersed. And a General Strike will get Corporate America to side with Democracy, because that will be the only way they can get America back to work and return to profit making.
6412093 Oct 31, 2020 at 10:45:54 PM
The lead picture of the last General Strike hints at the crucial lessons behind it. The department store clerks, mostly several thousand women, went on strike. The brave Oakland police beat up the women with their clubs to remove the picket lines. The irate teamster members witnessed this odious behavior and quit work, and stopped deliveries. The other unions gratefully followed suit. Twenty thousand folks strengthened the picket lines. The moral being: You need the Teamsters for a General Strike.
BlueDragon – 6412093 Oct 31, 2020 at 10:49:05 PM
Maybe. We don’t have to picket; we have the innertubes and zoom, etc. to organize on.
BlueDragon – 6412093 Oct 31, 2020 at 11:56:20 PM
Don’t be snide. This is an unprecedented time on Planet Earth: a global pandemic, runaway climate change, fascism rising in many places. I generally don’t have an objection to taking to the streets. I just think we need to try widespread Passive Resistance off the streets first. It would hardly hurt to do so. Far more people might participate than ever go to a demonstration which generally do not have much of an effect in recent years — until this summer and BLM which is a miracle.
6412093 – BlueDragon Nov 01, 2020 at 12:58:45 AM
I apologize for the tart remark. Anything is possible, as more people work from home.
JaimesBeam – BlueDragon Nov 01, 2020 at 01:42:03 PM
If you stand outside Walmart with a Sign “General Strike to Protest Interference in Free Elections; Don’t Buy Anything Today!” How many people would pay attention? I would guess at least 10%, maybe as much as 30%! You don’t need to block the store, just let people know how they can protest!
gimmie truth Oct 31, 2020 at 11:29:31 PM
I am self employed in insurance. I will shut down as well. Shut down the money. Shut down the economy. F*** Trump.
jjohnjj Nov 01, 2020 at 01:15:29 AM
Social historians have examined successful revolutions and those that have failed. I can’t put my hands on the article that I read earlier this year, but I recall what the authors said: Revolutions usually fail unless industrial workers take part. Peasant uprisings are routinely crushed. Student strikes are brushed aside. Women’s marches are ignored. Successful movements require Participation From Broad Coalition, but they generally don’t bring down governments unless essential parts of the economy are threatened.
The other key principle is “The Tipping Point”. You don’t need a majority to begin with, but to succeed, you do need to reach the tipping point where support begins to snowball, and then becomes an avalanche.
environmentalist Nov 01, 2020 at 01:18:43 AM
There will never be a general strike in America.
sweetthesound – environmentalist Nov 01, 2020 at 01:38:41 AM
There will never be a fascist dictator in America either, right?
sweetthesound Nov 01, 2020 at 01:37:31 AM
This is what I like to hear. Union solidarity is a powerful force. It freed Poland, it can free us too.
senorjoel Nov 01, 2020 at 01:44:52 AM
There’s a good chance this will be necessary, and the big unions AFL-CIO, etc. should be joining in NOW before the fact, as it might be a big enough club to prevent some insanity.
Casual Observer 2 Nov 01, 2020 at 02:07:22 AM
I’m in. Do I need to be a member of a union?
CleanAirMeister – Casual Observer 2 Nov 01, 2020 at 05:22:17 AM
Anyone can participate. Also, consider starting a union at your workplace.
pityd Nov 01, 2020 at 02:30:22 AM
Alongside peaceful protesters in support of said unions.
JohnsJ Nov 01, 2020 at 03:25:56 AM
Um, hasn’t he already been interfering with the election outcome, by installing DeJoy at the postal service?
ElectionCrime Nov 01, 2020 at 03:56:54 AM
We definitely have to see this Autocrat out now. It has been ugly, is horrific now, and worse is yet to come. But we absolutely have to stand up to this bully. Even if we avoid his reelection by voting him out successfully, after all the lawsuits, tantrums, etc., it is still an uphill battle to get this nation back on track. All the right wing judges appointed during his administration, the damage he has done to our top level organizations — FBI, CIA, DHS, NIH, CDC, VOA, etc. The violence that has arisen by right wing extremists, this list goes one. We will need to restore our institutions and address the violence. This country won’t survive another four years.
RolyPoly – Fishead Nov 01, 2020 at 04:27:31 AM
“ It may be time for another one.” MAY? No May about it, it will be effin time.
CleanAirMeister Nov 01, 2020 at 05:18:32 AM
Remember this? Poland. 1980’s. Solidarity.
CleanAirMeister Nov 01, 2020 at 05:37:50 AM
I would like to see high school civics classes teach the kids about the history of unions in a good light. Sad to say though, unions are under attack from every angle. Union members need to know that there are organizations which are dedicated to weakening and ultimately destroying our unions. For example, “Center For Union Facts.” This may sound like a benign site, giving facts about unions… in reality, they have a sinister purpose. Like the ubiquitous and misleading phrase “Right To Work.” Martin Luther King on “right to work.”
Powell Nov 01, 2020 at 05:49:40 AM
It wouldn’t be my first strike. I’m ready. And I see my local Labor Council is already on board. Good.
Shalonabena Nov 01, 2020 at 05:57:05 AM
Finally, some talk of Getting Serious About Demonstrating Enmasse, like the French and other Europeans do. The first Women’s March led the way for America. If they try to mess with our votes, let them eat freedom fries.
elfin1218 Nov 01, 2020 at 07:17:17 AM
More than just the Unions, the massive strike by all working people who voted for Biden would shake Corporate America. There is more than one way to make your voice heard.
elfin1218 Nov 01, 2020 at 08:52:36 AM
If Trump steals this election, boycott your job. Make Your Voice Heard With Your Pocketbook and don’t make any purchases except for essentials. Show how the American people can stand up against fascism. I Refuse To Be A Docile Citizen In A Corrupt And Dictatorship Country.
honeydo7 Nov 01, 2020 at 09:03:20 AM
The only thing that saved our country from Trump promising he’d keep the government shut down forever, during his last federal government shutdown, was when the FAA ordered all US airports to close because Trump’s shutdown had caused major layoffs of air traffic controllers & pilots and that agency told the country it was dangerous & unsafe for planes to fly without adequate staffing. If there’s a General Strike I hope the country’s air traffic controllers & airline pilots join in.
JaimesBeam – honeydo7 Nov 01, 2020 at 01:45:32 PM
Aren’t airlines already pretty much shutdown?
honeydo7 – JaimesBeam Nov 01, 2020 at 07:45:51 PM
Within hours of the FAA ordering all US airports closed, the tantrum-taking toddler’s hostage taking of the federal government ended.
ApolloniaJ Nov 01, 2020 at 09:35:53 AM
God bless our unions.
dryeyes Nov 01, 2020 at 10:25:05 AM
I see there is a lot of discussion here about whether calling a general strike is practical. To inject a little realism, I will post below the resolution passed by MLK Labor:
LABOR MUST PROTECT DEMOCRACY RESOLUTION – PASSED OCTOBER 21, 2020
WHEREAS, MLK Labor and our affiliates are committed to the defense of democratic rights and the institutions of democracy;
WHEREAS, President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence have refused to state publicly that they will respect the outcomes of the election and have repeatedly promoted conspiracy theories meant to undermine democracy;
WHEREAS, President Trump has refused, on multiple occasions, to denounce the activities of white supremacist and fascist militias and organizations that have stated desires to overthrow American democracy and instead has conveyed support for their actions;
WHEREAS, the Trump administration and Republican allies have a concerted campaign to obstruct, sabotage, and reject a fair and complete count of presidential ballots by creating barriers to voting targeted at people of color, immigrants, women and young people. These tactics include intimidation of BIPOC/ Black Indigenous People of Color voters at polling places and requirements to have two people sign a ballot that hurt women voters, as well as dismantling key infrastructure such as the U.S. Postal Service;
WHEREAS, the Constitution requires voting results and Electoral College tallies to be completed and submitted to Congress by the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, and the new 2021 Congress to validate the results, and voters should be determining the results, not courts;
WHEREAS, Trump has denied science, resulting in more than 200,000 Americans dying from COVID and millions more facing deep economic pain due to ongoing impact from the virus, and can do irreparable harm during a lame-duck session;
WHEREAS, the extreme risk currently posed to the historic institutions of democracy in our nation may require more widespread and vigorous resistance than at any time in recent history;
WHEREAS, the Labor Movement and trade unions have played a proud and vital role in protecting democracy and opposing authoritarianism in many nations throughout the world;
WHEREAS, united working people refusing to work across the nation have greater power than any political machinations of aspiring despots. The most powerful tool of the Labor Movement in our history has been the power of the General Strike;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MLK Labor will work with allies in the anti-racist, environmental justice, feminist, and poor people’s movements as well as the LGBTQ+, religious minorities, and immigrant communities to make contingency plans, in response to undemocratic actions by President Trump and his allies;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will take actions to prepare for widespread non-violent action including protests and work-stoppages by coordinating peacekeeper and other necessary training;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will encourage people to sign the Coup Preparation pledge;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will call on City and County governments to pledge to protect the protesters defending democracy and commit to not using police action or curfews to curtail these activities and to use all available resources to stand up against any effort by the Trump administration to steal the election;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MLK Labor will call upon the Washington State Labor Council and the AFL-CIO to coordinate the development of shared messaging by organized labor and community allies designed to get out the vote and counter misinformation to be implemented immediately and to support affiliate and community allies efforts to fulfill this resolution.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that MLK Labor, in collaboration with other labor and progressive forces, will take whatever nonviolent actions are necessary up to and including a general strike to protect our democracy, the Constitution, the law, and our nation’s democratic traditions.
It’s worth reading the whole resolution carefully. MLK Labor represents, as I understand it, about 175 member organizations, including locals for Teamsters, SEIU, UAW, and Machinists. Even a limited work stoppage on the part of these locals would get people’s attention.
Rosencrantz Nov 01, 2020 at 11:11:34 AM
While I support this in principle, the sad reality is that the right and the media have always hated unions and tried to paint them as un-Democratic thugs who only care about enriching themselves at the expense of everyone else. Because of this, I don’t think this action will have the result they think it should have.
CaliGal1 Nov 01, 2020 at 11:55:44 AM
Look at where we are with Trump—we’re literally having to plan to take to the streets because we’re worried with good reason that he will try to STEAL the election. The outcome of the 2016 elections is one of the biggest, most clear examples of Think Before You Act. Meaning, your VOTE has consequences. To all that didn’t vote for Hillary because they didn’t “like” her, I would imagine she doesn’t seem so bad now—hell no one seems that bad now. This last four years has been a daily, stressful, nightmare. I pray it ends this coming week and Biden/Harris is elected by a landslide, and we can begin to heal and have some hope for the future again—a SANE future.
Patricio Tomas Jeremias Nov 01, 2020 at 12:30:07 PM
I’m retired now but I’ll walk a picket line on a f*** graveyard shift. F*** Republicans!
JaimesBeam Nov 01, 2020 at 01:24:51 PM
Abso-f***-lutely! If Trump tries to interfere in the election, people need to protest, and even more have a General Strike! The powers that be don’t give a CRAP about protests unless it affects them. A General Strike that makes everything grind to a halt will be much better at getting their attention, because it has the potential to hit them in the wallet, which is all they care about!
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