4 ms·

A rail wildcat today would result in the national guard out, it just is not the same as it used to be.

by dluan 4y ago

no_wizard 4y ago
and the national guard will do what? I'm serious, what will they do, run the rails in their place? Let them. That won't last forever either. Someone's gonna bluff. I think the biggest issue will be PR. Corporations have PR machines at the ready. Unions haven't always invested in smart PR for their causes. You'd need spectacular media management to ensure this doesn't get turned into a situation where workers get blamed for more rising prices and economic turmoil, even though they shouldn't be once you have a fairly straightforward understanding of why they're doing what they're doing. If you can manage public opinion effectively, it would probably work, honestly.
- WA9ACE 4y ago
  I'd like to introduce you to what has happened historically when labor was met with the national guard. Whether or not this would happen in the modern era I cannot say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_strike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_strike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre
  - no_wizard 4y ago
    I do think, in 2022, anything of this nature happening on US grounds would not go over well at all. See the counter example, such as the Kent State shootings[0] which lead to a massive public outcry. It would, from a PR perspective at a minimum, completely obliterate public support for the railroad companies & the government and immediately give it to the workers. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
    - WA9ACE 4y ago
      I do believe you are correct and that it would end up with a humongous outcry from the public in support of the workers.
- mike50 4y ago
  Counterpoint police unions have successfully manipulated the public for decades.
marcosdumay 4y ago
> it just is not the same as it used to be It's the other way around. That phrase could come straight from the 19th century.
sofixa 4y ago
Look into the Battle of Blair Mountain. Yes, it's not as it used to be because the striking workers won't be attacked by the army.

A rail wildcat today would result in the national guard out, it just is not the same as it used to be.

by dluan 4y ago

A rail wildcat today would result in the national guard out, it just is not the same as it used to be.

and the national guard will do what? I'm serious, what will they do, run the rails in their place? Let them. That won't last forever either. Someone's gonna bluff. I think the biggest issue will be PR. Corporations have PR machines at the ready. Unions haven't always invested in smart PR for their causes. You'd need spectacular media management to ensure this doesn't get turned into a situation where workers get blamed for more rising prices and economic turmoil, even though they shouldn't be once you have a fairly straightforward understanding of why they're doing what they're doing. If you can manage public opinion effectively, it would probably work, honestly.

WA9ACE 4y ago
I'd like to introduce you to what has happened historically when labor was met with the national guard. Whether or not this would happen in the modern era I cannot say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_strike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_strike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre
- no_wizard 4y ago
  I do think, in 2022, anything of this nature happening on US grounds would not go over well at all. See the counter example, such as the Kent State shootings[0] which lead to a massive public outcry. It would, from a PR perspective at a minimum, completely obliterate public support for the railroad companies & the government and immediately give it to the workers. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
  - WA9ACE 4y ago
    I do believe you are correct and that it would end up with a humongous outcry from the public in support of the workers.
mike50 4y ago
Counterpoint police unions have successfully manipulated the public for decades.

marcosdumay 4y ago

> it just is not the same as it used to be It's the other way around. That phrase could come straight from the 19th century.

sofixa 4y ago

Look into the Battle of Blair Mountain. Yes, it's not as it used to be because the striking workers won't be attacked by the army.