Governor Scott Walker(R)Wisconsin > Evil ! You Bet`cha !

SOMEONE CALL GOVERNOR WALKER !
Monday, February 28, 2011 Posted by Jim Hightower
http://www.jimhightower.com/

I wonder if Wisconsin's GOP governor, Scott Walker, is aware that some lunatic is dressing up like him, issuing a rash of stupid statements in his name, and making an unholy mess of his state's government ? The guy running around in Walker's suit has been mindlessly ranting about how he intends to crush the democratic rights of state workers in order to balance the budget. I know he's an impostor because no actual governor would make such patently ridiculous comments or push such an insanely destructive political agenda. "We don't have any money," the fake governor recently cried. The real Governor Walker would avoid any mention of this embarrassment, because it was he who pooh-poohed the state's $137 million shortfall just a few weeks ago by doling our $117 million in tax giveaways to business interests. But the bogus governor's stupidest claim is that fixing the budget problem requires him to take away the collective bargaining rights of public employees. Hello – suppressing worker rights will not cut a dime out of the budget. But it will cut the heart out of the state's historic commitment to economic fairness. A real governor would know that. The faux "Mr. Walker" then tried to camouflage his anti-worker assault, absurdly asserting that killing collective bargaining "doesn't alter worker rights." Come on – even right-wing, corporate-hugging Republican governors know that collective bargaining is what puts some measure of democracy in America's workplace, both producing and protecting the rights of employees from autocratic executives. The impostor really blew his charade though when he claimed that eliminating bargaining is what he was elected to do. Uh-oh, pants on fire! The real Scott Walker knows that he didn't even mention such a crazy idea in his campaign. If he had, he would not have won.

Editorial : Jim Hightower(UL) is funny, but factual ! Gov. Walker(UR) is just downright EVIL !

BREAKING NEWS -Wisconsin Police Have Joined Protest Inside State Capitol.

Isn`t it GREAT, when the good guys finish first ! "On Wisconsin" !

Middle Class Pays for Everything ! Almost !

House Republicans Vote to Cut Social Security Administration Dramatically

http://bit.ly/eu7iSq.

At 4:40 A.M. last Saturday, the House voted 235-189 in favor of a spending bill (H.R. 1) for the remainder of this fiscal year that would cut the funding of the Social Security Administration (SSA) by a total of $1.7 billion below what is needed to maintain promised service levels and current projects. This would shut down Social Security offices for one month of the seven remaining this year; eliminate 3,500 jobs; delay payment of earned benefits for hundreds of thousands of retirees, survivors, and disabled workers; and force SSA to ignore billions of dollars in overpayments that could be returned to the trust fund. The action came despite a veto threat from President Obama. A tally of how each House member voted on the spending bill is available at http://bit.ly/eu7iSq. Earlier, last Friday, the House had voted 239-187 in favor of an amendment offered by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) to block Congressional funding for implementation of the health care reform law. A tally of that vote is now available at http://bit.ly/ibYH8s.

Editorial : Why is it that"Cut the Budget" Always mean`s...the middle class ?

Democracy Under Attack ! You Bet`cha !

The War in Wisconsin !

by : Don Jones = Underdog

2/25/11

I`ve been following the war raging in Wisconsin. Most think of it as, big unions, hungry for more power. Not So ! It is actually a war save our way of life ! If this Governor Scott Walker, is a TEA party example ? I want no part of them. They are not only trying to deprive workers in Wisconsin their liberty's/rights. It kinda looks like it is a national attack by Republicans. Even here in Tennessee. Those states that went Republican last go round, are attacking free-democratic trade unions. They say, no collective bargaining. All the while it is camouflaged in balance the budget. Do not be fooled by this blatant attack on the working middle class ! Governor Scott Walker has been bought and paid, by the Billionaire brothers Koch. Governor Walker does not want to balance the budget, he wants to crush the union ! The Union in Wisconsin has already agreed to cuts. Gov. Walker wants blood ! What is Collective bargaining ? Definition = "Come let us sit down and reason together"! It has never been, do it my way or hit the highway ! The people of Wisconsin will help you Governor, if you want them too ? Gov. Walker is the point man in this war on the middle class. My guess is, he is a one term Governor ? I hope so. Americans do not like dictators ! Perhaps the people of Wisconsin, need to think about a recall of this tyrannical Governor ? I often wonder, how some of these so called elected representatives get elected in the first place ? President Obama said in a campaign speech, that he would walk the picket line with workers who were being declared war on. Mr. President, where are YOU ?Last night on the television news, I saw Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters are now getting into this war. All I can say is, it is about time. If we lose this war, we lose America ! I`m so tired of hearing that, "We do not need unions any longer". This event alone is proof enough that we do. If we lose now, who is next ? How about the American Association of Retired People (AARP) They stand up for the middle class. Ok, then we`ll go after Credit Unions. They are aimed at the benefits of the middle class. Alliance for Retired Americans, it goes on and on. We can have Unions, but they will be state unions. Think not ? Better think again. Unions were created out of necessity. Unions are the purest form of Democracy. Outlaw Unions, is to outlaw democracy in action. Have Unions made mistakes ? You bet`cha ! Has our Country/Democracy made mistakes ? You bet`cha ! I do not want to see either one of them lost. Both are the core of our American way of Life ! TEA party Republicans are dangerous. Be careful of those who come in sheep's clothing. Those State Senators in Wisconsin, who are hiding out, "God Bless You"! Standing up for Unions is to Stand up for America ! After all, We are a Union !

Politicians Play Word Games ! You Bet`cha !

Politicians & Word Games !
2/23/11

From : Budman Mosley

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Americans have always been cockeyed optimists, but lately we’ve begun to wonder if we can afford the future.

Instead of seeing endless opportunities and working to achieve them, all we can
seem to think about is the mountain of debts and unfounded promises. The budget crisis in Washington and around the states forces us to re-examine
our priorities. We may be more prosperous and comfortable than 99% of all humans who ever lived, but even we can’t afford to do everything. We must make choices. Unfortunately, by acting as if we were flat broke, we seem to be making all the wrong choices. We have limits on what we can spend, but we’re not broke. We shouldn’t act rashly without thinking things through — which is, of course, just what partisans like House Speaker John Boehner and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker are urging us to do by declaring this to be an emergency. We must not let short-term budget constraints blind us to our longer-term goals. The choices we make today will have a big impact on how ready we are to meet the future. It’s not enough to just shift costs from the public sector back onto individuals; it’s more important that we make sure we’re making the right investments so the economy can deliver what we want it to. The budget squeeze comes just as the 75 million baby boomers approach retirement. The budget crunch wasn’t caused by the aging of the baby-boom generation (it was the recession, of course), but those demographics do make our budget problems much worse going forward. For all the wailing about $1 trillion in unfunded public-pension plans, the situation in the rest of the retirement system is much worse. According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston University, the total shortfall between what we’ve saved and what we need to maintain our lifestyles in retirement is a staggering $6.6 trillion The biggest shortfalls aren’t at old-fashioned defined-benefit pension plans, but in the defined-contribution ones such as 401(k) plans, which were supposed to give average American families access to greater wealth. It didn’t turn out that way. When people talk about cutting spending, what they really mean is shifting spending. According to an analysis conducted for The Wall Street Journal, the typical household hasn’t saved nearly enough. For those near retirement, the median 401(k) balance of $149,400 would provide less than $10,000 a year in income — about a quarter of the savings they’d need to keep their lifestyle. For all of the very serious talk in Washington about the absolute necessity of cutting Social Security benefits, Social Security is actually the part of the retirement system that’s in the best shape. Without making any changes to benefits or taxes, the Social Security system can pay all promised benefits for at least the next 25 years. Small changes would fix Social Security for good. Public-sector pensions are the least of our worries. Even if we eliminate them entirely, we’re still in a huge hole when it comes to paying for retirement. Lots of times, when people talk about cutting spending, what they really mean is shifting spending. Ending government support for retirement income or health care doesn’t make those costs go away; it merely shifts them to back to the individual, or to companies or charities. Shifting costs may be appropriate in many cases, but we shouldn’t be under any illusion that these costs will simply disappear if we take them off the government’s books. The economic bang for the buck can be much less than we expect if we don’t recognize that. For example, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., wants to “fix” Medicare by shifting costs back to the individual with vouchers. That may solve the federal government’s budget problem, but it would create a new one for us. Unless we can figure out how to reduce costs and not just shift them, we’d still be spending an increasing proportion of our income on health care. The national economy would still be hobbled by excessive health-care costs, even if the federal government could boast that its budget is balanced. Any discussion about prefunding all future spending also needs to take this macro view into account. From the point of view of the individual, or of a company or agency, it makes sense to talk about saving money for the future. We can put a little aside today to spend tomorrow on the goods and services we’ll need. But for the economy as a whole, saving up for a rainy day makes no sense. We can’t just put the money under a mattress today and pull it out in 40 years. The goods and services we need in 2051 must be produced, for the most part, in 2051. If we want the economy of 2051 to be ready to produce the things we’ll need, we have to invest in it now. Unfortunately, we are doing a terrible job of preparing our economy for the future. We are starving it of the investments needed to build tomorrow’s economy. It’s not enough to put money aside in a 401(k) if that money is not productively invested in new capacity, new equipment, new ideas, better techniques and better
workers. Mostly it isn’t being invested. Corporations are sitting on cash, or
buying established companies or buying back stock — anything to avoid actually investing in the future. It’s the same on the public side. It’s not enough to cut the budget deficit this year if that means that long-term investments in education, health, infrastructure and research and development aren’t made. Cutting the budget recklessly can be just as destructive as reckless spending.

Rex Nutting is Washington bureau chief of Market Watch

Editorial : I`ve been saying this for some time now ! I wish, I could write as intelligently as Mr. Nutting, I can`t ! Thanks to Budman Mosley for this one !

Koch Millionaire : Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

Gov. Walker Says "But, I`m not NEGOTIATING with them" ! "Them", thats US ! The Union !
Dear Gov. Walker > Negotiating = Come Let us Sit Down and Reason Together ! Stop selling out to millionaires !

Republicans Attack Freedom, Undermine America !

Wis. Teachers Ready to Help–But Not Forfeit Rights
by Donna Jablonski, Feb 20, 2011

Wisconsin’s public employees have agreed to Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) demands for pension and health care concessions–but they won’t give up their right to bargain collectively, says Mary Bell, Wisconsin Education Association Council president. We have been clear–and I will restate this again today–money issues are off the table. Public employees have agreed to Governor Walker’s pension and health care concessions, which he says will solve the budget challenge.
But Governor Walker’s bill goes too far and he has chosen polarizing rhetoric. He refuses to come to the table to discuss the issue our members care most deeply about: protecting their rights, as they are a voice for Wisconsin’s students and their schools. Teachers are committed to serving students and their communities, Bell says, urging those who would normally work tomorrow to return to duty. But, “A fire has started–and we need to remain active in these efforts to have the voices of the people heard throughout Wisconsin. We will not be silenced and though we move to the corners of our state, our intensity grows.”

Editorial : Only 5 states do not have collective bargaining for educators and have deemed it illegal. Those states and their ranking on ACT/SAT scores are as follows: Does this say something positive ? I think so !

South Carolina - 50th
North Carolina - 49th
Georgia - 48th
Texas - 47th

Virginia - 44th

Gov. Walker and the Republicans see a chance to end free-democratic unions. They have underestimated Freedom ! However, they are dangerous. We`ve paid too high a price to stop now ! "Keep America Free" Vote for Democrats !

Saving the American Dream !

" Saving America"
by : American Citizen

2/21/11

> http://goodyearontrack.com/news/13-july-2008/142-goodyear-to-build-a-new-pla <


All across the USA governments at each and every level are broke. Why ? Well they have ALL done their fair share of exporting family supportive jobs to the Kings of the East! These jobs PAID all the taxes they are not collecting, NOW. So the enemies of labor have stomped the working class into submission on job exports and now the chickens have come home to roost. The private sector jobs are gone, maybe forever. It seems Republicans think it is time to attack what’s left, Public Sector working people. I just wonder in Ohio and Wisconsin how many of those who are protesting this attack on school teachers, etc, etc, etc. Actually voted for these Republicans who are fast tracking their livelihood? We are up to our necks in TN and elsewhere in $100 Republicans. These descendants of Pontius Pilate wash their hands with working people’s blood that got them elected in the first place. Go figure? In my humble opinion working people do not and never will have a place at the Republicans’ table…..however working people may or may not get a job at Waiting on the Republicans’ table. Coffee, tea, milk oh and of course Champagne, Sir / Madam?

Editorial : This piece was wrtten by American Citizen, I could have written it, but I did`nt ! If you wish to be a guest writer on this blog...write one and send it to me ! I`ll probably publish it. It must be factual ! Note: cost to close Union City Tennessee Plant $200 million to $300 million bucks ! Of course no one 'knows' how much of this amount is coming from us? The American Taxpayer ?

Check out the link below, it is Goodyear`s New China Plant. Still think those tires from Union City will be made in the USA ? If you do, please come visit me, I have a bridge in Weakley County, I want to sell you !

> http://goodyearontrack.com/news/13-july-2008/142-goodyear-to-build-a-new-pla <

Coffee Shop Chatter !

Coffee Shop Philosophers

by : Don Jones =Underdog = Philosopher ?

2/19/11

I visited my local coffee shop this morning, Damrons Meat and BBQ. My usual rounds. They have the best sausage and biscuits in Tennessee ! The usual`s were all there. Politics and Goodyear seem to be the hottest subject lately. A lot of people will be affected by Goodyear's Union City Closing ! Including Damron`s. Everyone wants to blame someone for the plant closing and that someone seems to be "The Union" ! Not So ! Now Ricky and Pat are truly nice people, they just are not well informed as to the workings of free democratic trade unions. Ricky is retired from the military and Viet-Nam Veteran. I believe he is truly one of America`s hero`s ! Not only did he fly choppers in Viet-Nam and was subjected to agent orange and of course lead. He as well as others did their best to protect American interest`s and our freedoms. "Thank You" Ricky. Having said those facts, Ricky and Pat are Republicans. It seems it is what he and Pat believe. So be it ! It is the ideals, he fought for and defended. I have no problem with his political belief`s. I may not agree with him, but I have no problem with them. It is his God given right. Now Bob on the other hand blames the Union, and does`nt have a clue ! However he too, has the right, as an American to believe as he see`s fit ! Bob, so do I ! We do not agree on unions and probably never will. We can remain friends. Now Huey on the other hand, believes as I do, that free-democratic trade unions have in the past, the present and will in the future serve our United States of America well ! Men like John L. Lewis, Walter Reuther, Jimmy Hoffa, are pioneers in the free labor movement and are true American hero's. If you do not know who these men are ? I would suggest that you google them and find out. One of today`s Labor hero`s is, Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO. Google him also ! If you do not wish to join a union? do not join. In Tennessee we have a "Right to work Law" I call it a right to work for less. Simply stated, in Tennessee you do not have to join a union. I don`t agree with that law, however being a law abiding citizen, I honor it for others ! Just some thoughts from a coffee shop philosopher. I`m sure you do not agree with some of my philosophy, but will honor my right to it ? As I will your`s !

In Deo Fiducia Nostra

Mike Stanley, Former 878-Goodyear Union City President

Saving Union City ! We Must Lose, To Win !

By: Kevin Bowden, Staff Reporter, U.C. Daily Messenger
February 17, 2011 9:00 pm

Mike Stanley’s name and reputation are very familiar to the workers at the Union City Goodyear plant. So when he speaks about last week’s announcement by Goodyear that it will be shutting down the local plant by the end of this year, people listen. Stanley retired after a 30-year career with Goodyear. He served as the international vice president of the United Rubber Workers from 1990-96. Prior to that, he served as the local union president from 1983 until 1990 and was vice president from 1980 until 1983. He actually worked in the plant from 1970 until 1990. During his service with the local and international unions, he was one of the local plant’s strongest advocates. “Like everyone else that got the bad news about Goodyear announcing our plant would close, I felt like the wind just got knocked out of me,” Stanley told The Messenger today of the text message he received shortly after the announcement was made. “After a moment or so, I thought, ‘Wait a minute, we didn’t make the decision to close it, so it’s up to all of us, collectively, to fight to keep it open.’” He has been conveying the message to local plant workers that it must be business as usual for the plant and its employees. He is also encouraging workers at the local Goodyear plant to keep doing what they have always done the best — “And that is continue to be world class employees, at a world class plant, producing world class tires.” “While the announcement is to be taken seriously, it doesn’t mean we give up.” said Stanley, who retired in 2006 as special assistant to the Steelworkers international president. “We have never viewed failure as one of the options in our tool box.” He said the local union leadership is in the process of conducting informational meetings with the membership and he said he believes it’s very important to allow that process to proceed as often as deemed necessary. “Everyone should understand, the plant closure for Goodyear-Union City is something we were not prepared for. It is not what we’ve been trained to do,” Stanley said. “No one person will have all the answers. The process will take some time.” He said he still takes great pride in his 30 years as a Goodyear employee prior to his retirement in 2000. He explained his current role in working with the local union leadership and union membership is “to give all the support I can.” “Any positive contribution I can make or have in support of our plant, our friends and families in the area communities of Tennessee and Kentucky, I will do all I can. Union City will always be home and the people of Union City will always be important to me and my family,” he said. Stanley went on to express his confidence in United Steel Workers Local 878 president Ricky Waggoner and the local union leadership team and said he believes they will provide the best possible leadership in the tough days ahead. “I am also confident that current plant manager Terry Tennyson has the best interests of the Union City Goodyear plant at heart and has worked with Waggoner to do all that was possible to keep the plant open,” he said.

Published in The Messenger 2.17.11

Unions Under Attack ! Tennessee Republicans Declare War !

Is There No End Too it ? Unions are Not The Enemy !

Tennessee Republicans take first swipe at teachers union
Vote to end bargaining rights comes day before Haslam plan
Feb. 17, 2011
Written by Chas Sisk

e-mail > bill.haslam@tn.gov <

Gov. Haslam will present his education reform package today. Related Links
Haslam seeks tougher teacher tenure, more TN charter schools
Haslam proposes no cap on charters, teachers to wait longer for tenure !

Thousands protest Wisconsin governor's anti-union bill

Republican lawmakers have pushed ahead of Gov. Bill Haslam in the race to shape the state's agenda on education and provoked a confrontation with Tennessee's biggest teachers union.

The state Senate took the first step Wednesday toward rewriting Tennessee's education laws this year, when a committee voted to reverse a 1978 law that gave teachers the right to bargain collectively through a union. The bill is one of several proposals being promoted in the legislature that would reduce the power of the 52,000-member Tennessee Education Association. They are being pursued without the backing of Haslam, who has been working for the past several weeks on education reforms of his own. "We're here to do the people's business," said Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, the bill's sponsor. "We don't need to wait until April to start moving bills." The Senate Education Committee voted on party lines 6-3 Wednesday to advance (Senate Bill 113), a measure brought by Johnson that would end the requirement that local school districts negotiate contracts with collective bargaining units organized by teachers. The Tennessee School Boards Association backs the legislation, and the TEA, which represents teachers in all 92 of the Tennessee school districts that have created collective bargaining units, opposes it. Supporters say the bill would end litigation over teacher contracts, make it easier to fire bad teachers and give teachers who are not members of the union more say in discussions over pay, classroom conditions and education reform. Opponents say the bill would strip teachers of their ability to negotiate with school boards, and it is little more than payback by Republicans for the TEA's past support of Democratic candidates. "I think it's unfortunate that that went right down party lines," said Jerry Winters, TEA's director of government relations. "We don't consider this an education bill. They need to be talking about the real issues facing teachers in this state, and if they want to say they've taken away teachers' voice and take credit for that, they can take credit." Scores of TEA members and retired teachers — as well as several conservative activists who support the measure — packed the committee meeting room and corridor outside to witness the vote. "It feels like every time I turn around they're taking another shot at us," said Christy Daniels, a ninth-grade English teacher in Coffee County who attended the committee meeting. The vote took place a day before Haslam presents his slate of education reforms, a package of legislation that he has been touting since taking office a month ago. Haslam says his reforms will focus on toughening tenure requirements and loosening restrictions on charter schools.
Haslam and Republican leaders in the legislature have said the two efforts are not at odds, but GOP lawmakers also have shown an eagerness to take on education bills beyond those that Haslam would propose. "We certainly want to work with the governor," said Hendersonville Rep. Debra Maggart, the House Republican Caucus chairman and a co-sponsor of the collective bargaining bill. "But there are three branches of government, and as legislators, we are certainly allowed to push for our own agenda." Haslam shows plan :
Haslam will unveil his education reforms at a news conference this morning in the Legislative Plaza office building. The governor has been putting his plan together without a state education commissioner. Haslam says he is conducting a nationwide search for candidates for the job, but one of the presumed front-runners, Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre, withdrew from consideration this week. Meanwhile, lawmakers have several bills dealing with education, many of them targeting the TEA. One measure, sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham, would strip the TEA and the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association of their seats on the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, replacing them with teachers chosen by the leaders of the House and Senate. Another, also sponsored by Gresham, would take away the TEA's seat on a financial literacy board. So far, the legislature has taken up only the collective bargaining bill. Johnson said he spoke with the governor before presenting the measure. "I've had a number of conversations with not only the governor, but with my leadership in the Senate," Johnson said. "He indicated he was fine with that. … At some point, we probably do need to sit down and map out how we're going to move forward with this stuff." Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said lawmakers would take up Haslam's legislation when it is presented Thursday but would not delay the collective bargaining measure to give the governor's package priority. "You have to start with one bill," Ramsey said. "We felt strongly this is the one we wanted to start with." Wednesday's vote sends the measure to the full Senate, which could vote on the matter as soon as next week, Ramsey said. Winters said he was not surprised by the measure's support in the Senate and expressed hope House Republicans will stop the measure. "There are some reasonable Republicans over on the House side that absolutely are not going to want to vote against the teachers of this state and the teachers in their district," he said. "This battle is not over." Winters also said the bill could poison efforts by Haslam to work with the TEA on tenure and charter school rules. "My sense is that this is not the kind of thing the governor would want to be going on in this state right now," he said. "I hope the governor will insert himself into the process before this comes to a floor vote in either the Senate or the House." But Haslam has been noncommittal — neither expressing opposition to the collective bargaining bill nor saying he would make it one of his priorities. "I think that should be part of the discussion," Haslam said last week. "I'm not ruling it out. We'll wait and see."

Contact Chas Sisk at 615-259-8283 or csisk@tennessean.com.
The Associated Press contributed.

Editorial : Not just Teachers Unions are being assaulted, all unions are being declared war on, by the Republican Party ! Wisconsin, Tennessee says "Thank You "! Tennesseans listen up, When free democratic trade unions lose, everyone lose`s ! Unions are not the enemy, Those who oppose them are ! See how your elected represenatives vote Here > http://www.tennesseevotes.org/ <

Goodyear Union City TN. Closing, Elected Representatives Fiddling as it Burns

Goodyear Union City TN. ~ Never Give Up !

by: Don Jones = Underdog

2/17/11

http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/topics/Elected+Officials

While our politicians fiddle, Goodyear Union City TN. Plant burns ! I have now lived with this announcement, that the Union City Goodyear Plant will close. I did`nt like it, when it was announced. I like it less now ! This writer will never give up ! Perhaps our politicians are busy. Maybe, they just don`t care ? Perhaps they do not know what to do ? I`m sick and tired of making excuse`s for them. It is time they stepped up to the plate and do something, even if it is wrong. I have found that Mayor Terry Haily of Union City, is really interested. The reason, he did`nt attend the press conference at the Hampton Inn, he was not notified ! The other Mayor Benny McGuire, of Obion County was at that meeting. State Senator Roy Herron 24th. District was there. State Rep. Bill Sanderson 77th. District was not present ! State Rep. Andy Holt, was not present ? Governor Bill Haslam, not Present ? Congressman Stephen Fincher, not present.Perhaps those not present are working on a plan to save the plant ? Sure they are ! My guess is they do not know where to begin. Listen up Sanderson, Holt, Fincher and Haslam, start with Union President Ricky Waggoner, then include Plant Manager Terry Tennyson. Do not be afraid of the Union, they are hard working family orientated people, who want to work and make a living for their family. Do not blame the Union for plant closure. It just shows that you are not well informed. If you have a pre-conceived idea about our Union, you are wrong. Try talking with Union officers...rank and file or for that matter this writer. We are not the enemy. As to what to do to prevent this plant closure, do something with unfair trade. Do whatever it takes to stop these tires from going to China and Chile and keep them in Union City. Gadsden Alabama, you say ? Just watch, it won`t happen. Lawton Oklahoma, maybe ? But, don`t count on it. I repeat do not blame the Unions, they have given and given and are willing to give back some more, I`m sure. If you do not know what to do ? ASK whoever you wish. But, those working there are and should be your first concern/priority ! Ask those involved. Put Union City first and you put America first ! Contact them and inform them of your displeasure in Closing the Union City plant and sending these tires to China and Chile !

If you wish to contact your elected officials look below > >>>>>>>>>>>>>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam (R)

e-mail > bill.haslam@tn.gov <

Tennessee State Government

1st. floor Capitol

Nashville, TN 37243

Phone#(615) 741-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Sanderson TN State Rep. 77th. District(R)

e-mail > rep.bill.sanderson@capitol.tn.gov

301 6th. Avenue North

Suite 32 Legislative Plaza

Nashville, TN 37243

(615) 741-0718

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andy Holt TN State Rep. 76th. District(R)

e-mail > rep.andrew.holt@capitol.tn.gov <

301 6th. Avenue North

Suite 23 Legislative Plaza

Nashville, TN 37243

(615)741-7847

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congressman Stephen Fincher (R), District#8 TN >

His/your, web-site > http://fincher.house.gov/office/washington-dc <>You can e-mail from here.

1118 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4714
Fax: (202) 225-1765

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roy Herron, State Senator (D) 24th. District TN. >

You can e-mail > sen.roy.herron@legislature.state.tn.us
10-A Legislative Plaza

Nashville, TN 37243-0024

(615) 741-4576 <>Fax# (615-253-0161

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terry Hailey, Mayor of Union City TN.

e-mail >thailey@wenkwtpr.com <

WENK Radio

Union City, TN 38261

(731)885-1240

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benny McGuire, Mayor of Obion County TN.

e-mail > obioncountymayor@ken-Tennwireless.com <

Obion County Court House

Union City, TN 38261

(731)885-9611

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R)Tennessee

His /your web-site > http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public <>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R) Tennessee

His/your web-site > http://www.corker.senate.gov/public <>

Goodyear Union City Plant ~ Facts & Figures !

Think You`ll Mi$$ Goodyear Plant in Union City TN. ~ You Bet`Cha ~!

By: Don Jones = Underdog

2/14/11

First of all, listen up ! The Union did not cause Goodyear to make the decision to shutdown ! I make no apology for that statement of fact ! The biggest factor in the corporate decision to close the Union City Tennessee Plant was money, it is/was not the fact that we at Union City made too much money. It is the simple fact that, Goodyear has a plant in China and are at present building another one. You see, American Labor, union or non-union cannot compete with third world Chinese wages ! Our politicians have made it so lucrative for American Industry to pull up and go to other cheap labor country`s, not only does the move not cost them anything, you and I, as in tax-payers subsidize their move. It all began with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Then came SAFTA, it comes down to (SHAFTA) Our politicians today call it Free Trade. Not So ! It seems to this writer that our so called political leaders are selling our birth right`s for a few bowls of pottage. How many Tennessee family`s will be affected by the Goodyear Union City Closure ?(Obion County - 934)( Weakley County - 384) (Gibson County - 146)(Dyer County - 72) (Carroll County - 29) (Henry County - 23)(Lake County - 22) Kentucky Family`s (Graves County - 142)(Fulton County - 121)Calloway, and (surrounding County`s - 90) These are real working class/middle class people, such a tragedy. Payroll for GY Union City, $132 million dollars.The 2009 tax`s paid by Goodyear Tire and employee`s $4.5 million direct and indirect. Payroll for related jobs because of Goodyear employee`s $50 million ! Take this revenue out of the picture, not a pleasant thought. Between corporate America and our very own politicians, the middle class is being eliminated. I have more bad news, but will withhold it until tomorrow, too much bad news in one day is sickening, even for this writer.

In Deo Fiducia Nostra

Goodyear Union City Closing/Shut Down...Greed~Greed~Greed !

An Atom Bomb Has Been Dropped on Union City Tennessee

By : Underdog = Don Jones

2/12/11

I`m not sure where to begin ? How does one write about a Catastrophic/Horrific event happening where you live ? When I learned of the closing of our Goodyear Plant in Union City Tennessee, it felt like someone hit me hard in my stomach. I cried, I prayed. The lives this will crush. The family`s this will destroy. I received the news of the plant closure on-line around 7:30am. Thursday February 10, 2011 ! Goodyear Corporate, specifically CEO-President, Richard J. Kramer had made the announcement to the press. He did`nt have the guts/courtesy to inform those employee`s at the Union City Plant. I knew, before they did. Now, that`s sorry ! The afternoon of 2/10/11 there was a press conference at the Hampton Inn, in Union City. I`m not sure who was invited ? But, it was kinda like a wake, no one showed up. Mr. Clint Smith, public relations for the Union City plant must have draw`ed the short straw ? He conducted the meeting. I actually felt sorry for him. He was well coached on what to answer and what not to answer. His voice actually quivered on some answers.There was no one from corporate Goodyear. There was no one from the Plant Management team. If there was anyone from the United Steelworkers of America, they were not vocal. I listened to the press conference on the radio. The only political representatives present were Obion County Mayor, Benny McGuire and 24th. District Tennessee State Senator Roy Herron. Where was Congressman Stephen Fincher, District#8-Tennessee, the plant is in his district ? Where was Andy Holt, Tennessee State Representative 76th. District ? Where was Bill Sanderson 77th. District Representative, the plant is in his district ? Where was Governor Bill Haslam ? Where was Mayor Terry Hailey of Union City ? I make no apology for saying, that these elected officials have their priority`s all messed up ! This writer has had conversations with all of those mentioned above. They were aware of this possibility. When asked about the repercussions this would have on Obion County, Benny McGuire, said, this is terrible. This writer learned that Senator Roy Herron, was in Nashville and when he was informed, he immediately returned to Union City for the press conference/meeting. When asked about the plant closure, he said, the employee`s need to be told the truth, these tires are going off-shore to be built ! Thanks Senator Herron, you had the intestinal fortitude (GUTs) to tell it like it is ! Listen to this, CEO Kramer has made almost 7 million dollar$ for his personal bank account, since the announcement of Union City`s Closing. How/why ? Part of his salary is in stock options, when he announced that Goodyear Union City was closing, investors figured it out quickly, These tires would be made in China and shipped to the good ole USA for sale. Cheap Labor ! Folks, this is not capitalism, it is GREED ! I keep hearing the number 1900 employee`s be bandied around. The number of employee`s affected will be closer to 2,800 ! Union City prepare yourselves, it is going to get rough. Now, before you blame the Union, get your facts straight. The Union, specifically President Ricky Waggoner, gave and gave and gave some more to save their plant. Terry Tennyson, Union City Plant Manager, I believe, did all he could do to save his plant. The original culprit was Tennyson`s predecessor Plant Manager Todd Turner, Mr. Turner came to shut Union City Down. I do believe that the United Steelworkers of America in Pittsburgh PA, specifically President Leo Gerard and Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson, like Nero, sat on their hands and fiddled while Union City Burned ! Shame on you both ! I am an eternal optimist, I say, do whatever it takes to save these jobs ! Until the last lock is put in place, I ask all to work diligently to keep those jobs in America and specifically Union City Tennessee ! Did you watch the revolution in Egypt ? Politicians, listen up. It is TRADE, UNFAIR TRADE that is killing our middle class. Labor in America cannot compete with third world labor, and keep our present standard of living. What part of that, don`t you understand ?

Goodyear To Shut Down/Closing Union City Tennessee Plant

Bad News at Goodyear Union City TN.

Plant to Close/Shutdown !

2/10/11

by : Don Jones = Underdog

I have learned today that The Giant Goodyear Tire plant in Union City Tennessee will shut down some time this year 2011 ! This writer has tried unsuccessfully to bring attention to this situation for over a year now. Now, it is too late. Lives will be altered/shattered ! Things are about to change in Northwest Tennessee and Western Kentucky. I will write more, when I learn more. Thanks to those who tried to help. Especially those employee's`s on the floor who actually turned around that plant to a positive work place.

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AKRON, Ohio --

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s fourth-quarter sales jumped 14 percent for the fourth quarter, but the company lost $177 million as it disclosed plans to close a plant in Tennessee. The Akron, Ohio-based company, the biggest U.S. tire maker, said Thursday that its loss amounted to 73 cents per share, while sales rose to $5.07 billion for the period ending Dec. 31. In the year-earlier quarter, Goodyear had net income of $107 million, or 44 cents per share, on sales of $4.44 billion.
The company took a $160 million charge tied to its plans to close the 1,900-employee plant in Union City, Tenn., which was left unprotected in the latest labor contract. Excluding charges, the company would have earned 7 cents a share. Analysts expected a loss of 5 cents per share on revenue of $4.8 billion.

Thinking Too Much ? This is Good/Bad ?

Something to Think About ?

http://www.hisvoicemyhand.com/

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then--just to loosen up and be a part of the crowd. Inevitably, though, one thought led to another. Soon, I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone--to relax, I told myself. But I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me. Finally, I was thinking all the time.
That was when things began to sour at home. One evening I turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.
I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't help myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau, Muir, Confucius, Camus, and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly that we are doing here?"
One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..." "I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" "But Honey, surely it's not that serious." "It is serious," she said, her lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!" "That's a fallacious syllogism," I said impatiently. She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to deal with the emotional drama. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for some John Locke. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors. They didn't open. The library was closed. To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night. As I leaned on the unfeeling glass and whimpered for Emerson, a poster caught my eye, "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" "Stop before it's too late!" That line comes from the standard Thinkers Anonymous poster. This is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting, we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I feel the road to recovery is nearly complete for me. Today, I took the final step: I joined the Republican Party.

"Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often." - Jacqueline Delisle

Editorial : Thanks to my my friend in Hersey Mi. for this. Steve you are a nut. But, you always have been ! If you enjoy original poetry try this > click on link below !

http://www.hisvoicemyhand.com/

Corker Hit Man for Republican Seizure of Social Security

Good Ole Senator Bob Corker (R)Tennessee Just Wants to Cut the Budget ! Sure He Does ! Better be Careful...Social Security First !

http://www.corker.senate.gov/public

http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee last week began aggressively promoting a cap on spending by the federal government packed with reason and logic and teetering on shaky political terrain. As a deficit reduction measure, the legislation makes sense. But it doesn't preclude cuts in federal entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Search our databases. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is co-sponsoring the bill, spelled out the risk in a press conference last week. "I guarantee you, in Missouri, in the not-too-distant future, there will be a 30-second commercial that says I'm trying to take Social Security away from seniors," she said. Of course, the creators of those spots, the prospects for which make the bill a hard sell in Congress, don't have to mention that one of the purposes of the legislation is to save Social Security from collapsing under the weight of unfunded liabilities. As of late last week, the legislation had no House sponsor. It is adamantly opposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and, in fact, no Democratic senators besides McCaskill immediately jumped on board. "Let's be honest," McCaskill said. "There's a lot of folks around here that wake up every day and they think the most important thing they got to do today is figure out how they get to stay here." What's creating all the risk is legislation that Corker has been promoting for months in dozens of presentations to editorial boards and other groups across Tennessee and beyond. The bill would create a cap on federal spending as a percentage of the gross domestic product, now at 24.7 percent, reducing it gradually over a 10-year period until it reached 20.6 percent, the average over the past 40 years. Reaching that goal would require some $8 trillion in spending reductions, according to the sponsors. The simplicity and directness of Corker's proposal, as well as its practicality, add to its appeal.
No specific cuts are included in the legislation, but neither does it exclude anything from the chopping block. It would simply attempt to enforce a degree of discipline on Congress -- a "straitjacket," Corker said -- by making it necessary to say "no." It would require the approval of two-thirds of the House and the Senate to exceed the cap in an emergency. If Congress failed to make the necessary decisions, the Office of Management and Budget would be empowered to make across-the-board cuts. With additional political muscle behind it, the approach could be groundbreaking. It also illustrates the talent Tennessee's junior senator has for seeking bipartisan solutions to pressing national issues in a Congress that seems almost hopelessly divided. By itself, it doesn't dig the country out of its record $1.5 trillion deficit this year. Passage of the bill would create towering political waves. But it would start a necessary conversation about uncomfortable subjects that has been put off for far too long.

Editorial : Better jump ship Senator McCaskill, Corker will sink you just like the Titanic ! I also like the way he has manipulated, so that the office of management and budget, Bureaucrats make the decisions, have`nt we been down this road before ?...Nice move Corker !

Right to Work Laws ! Actually, Right to Work for Less !

So-Called 'Right to Work' !

This is for my Friend Linda, in Alabama, Alabama and Tennessee have these so-called right to work for less laws already on the books ! Sad, But True ! Wake up and smell the Rose`s !

Legislators in at least 11 states are proposing laws that would prevent employers and employees from deciding to have "union security clause" agreements. These laws would require unions to fully represent workers who choose not to pay their share of the costs. If the union had to file a grievance or even go to court on behalf of a non-paying worker, the other workers would have to pick up the tab. By making unions weaker, these laws lower wages and living standards for all workers in the state. In fact, workers in states with these laws earn an average of $5,538 less a year than workers in other states. And that's just the start. Proponents give these laws the misleading title "right to work." "Right to work" for less is closer to the truth.

Learn More :

'Right to Work' for Less Laws : Q & A > >

> http://www.aflcio.org/issues/states/upload/RTW-Q-A-noncustom.pdf <

The Truth About 'Right to Work' for Less :

> http://www.aflcio.org/issues/states/upload/RTW-fact-sheets_1.pdf <

Governor Haslam ~ Not Too Interested, Would`nt you Say ?

Governor Haslam Very Busy ?

What Happened to Jobs, Jobs, Jobs ?

> http://www.tn.gov/governor/ <

I wrote this to him 1/21/11

Dear Governor Haslam ; 1/21/11

I write you in regard to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant, in Union City Tennessee. There is a very real possibility that this plant will close in the near future. I am a concerned citizen, we do not need to lose any more jobs. There is currently 1,700 hourly employee`s and 300 salary employee`s employed at the plant. I`m not counting the satellite plants servicing the huge tire plant. That is another 400-500 people employed. Every politician, I heard, talked about Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. I say, let us try to hold the ones we already have ? "A Bird in Hand is Worth Two in the Bush"! I am in communications with State Rep`s. Holt 76th. Sanderson 77th. They, like you are new kids on the block, (no disrespect intended) They too, believe it is imperitive to SAVE THIS PLANT ! Governor, This City and State need your help ! I am retired from that plant. I have no secret agenda. I just want it to be there and viable for years to come ! Both Terry Tennyson, Goodyear Plant Mgr. Union City and Ricky Waggoner, President USWA Local-878-L are working hand in hand to save this plant. In fact the cooperation between Union and Management, (because of these two men) may be unparalleled in working towards the same goal. I have also been in communications with Congressman Stephen Fincher, District#8-Tennessee. If I can be of any assistance, do not hesitate to contact me. Won`t you please HELP ? I do not have all the answers, but I have some. And surely between all of us, we can SAVE This Plant ? With warmest regard, I remain

Don V. Jones

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I received this/His e-mail today 2/08/11 from our Governor !

February 8, 2011

Dear Don,

Thank you for writing to me and sharing your concerns. I appreciate hearing from you. After careful review of your letter, I have determined that the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is the appropriate agency to address this type of inquiry, and therefore have forwarded your letter to their office for consideration. My administration is committed to providing effective and efficient service. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact my office at 615-253-6913.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write. I hope to hear from you again on other matters of importance to you.

Warmest regards,

Bill Haslam (R) , Governor Tennessee

Editorial : Dear Gov. Haslam"Thanks for Nothing" ! While Rome Burned...Nero Fiddled ! Why not give him a call ? All you will lose is a phone call ! Waste of your time...? You Bet`Cha ! He passed the BUCK ! He Just Does`nt Care !

Badyear at Goodyear ?

http://www.uswlocal878.com/

A Good/Bad Year For Goodyear ?
February 07, 2011

http://www.goodyear.com/

Shares of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) are moving 1.5% higher on strong volume today, on the back of some takeover chatter.

The Akron-based tire maker has been the subject of takeover rumors before, from Michelin, the French-based tire maker, as well as other auto-parts makers to complement their brands. David Tepper, of Appaloosa Management, has a 4% stake in the company, that was announced last week. Tepper filed a 13D, which is a passive stake, not an activist one. This means that Tepper believes there is value in the name, but is not going to do anything about with management. Tepper sees the values of Goodyear's (GT) financial strength, and perhaps others do as well. The company has roughly a 1.8 current ration, and it's EBITDA to interest coverage is greater than 5, meaning there's plenty of money coming in to pay off the company's debt. Wall Street expects the tire company to report 2011 earnings of approximately $1.38 per share, which would put the company trading at less than 10 times 2011 earnings. According to a research report from KeyBanc, the company has traded as high as 15 times earnings, and as low as 9 times earnings. This suggests there isn't much more room on the downside, and could be significant room on the upside.

If Union City TN. Close`s, Bad year for those who work there, but maybe they are expendable $ ? Top Goodyear Officers get bigger Bonu$ !