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> Who can trust union leadership at this point? Leadership betrayed the rail workers. I can't find detailed statistics in a quick search (and am uninterested i

> Who can trust union leadership at this point? Leadership betrayed the rail workers. I can't find detailed statistics in a quick search (and am uninterested in spending more time), but it appears that overall the majority of rail union workers voted to approve the contract, and IIRC 8 out of 12 unions voted to ratify. [0] >> the Senate has taken it upon itself to require 60 votes to pass most legislation > Of course the Democrats always need an excuse to avoid doing things while they have power. I suppose Biden should have just broken out his Green Lantern power ring and willed ten or so recalcitrant Senate Republicans to support more pro-labor legislation in defiance of wealthy business-PAC donors and the MAGA base, which has never primaried a Republican officeholder who strayed from the party line by exercising independent judgment — oh, wait .... [0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/11/21/rail-union-strike-white-house/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/11/21/rail-unio...

lapcat 4y ago
> it appears that overall the majority of rail union workers voted to approve the contract Yes, this was actually discussed in the article: "In the BLET, the second-largest union involved in negotiations, members ratified a deal, but many members were unhappy with the outcome. In an interview, Hall said his election spoke to rank-and-file frustrations that leadership failed to listen to the membership throughout the negotiations." > I suppose Biden should have just broken out his Green Lantern power ring and willed ten or so recalcitrant Senate Republicans to support more pro-labor legislation This completely missed my point, which is that the filibuster can be abolished at any time. It's a self-imposed constraint. The ultimate irony is that the filibuster can be abolished with a simple majority vote. It's just a stupid senate rule.
- dctoedt 4y ago
  Ah, you’re right, I forgot that Biden would need his Harry Potter wand to get Manchin and Sinema to agree to ditch the filibuster.
  - lapcat 4y ago
    Biden, the longtime Senator, doesn't want to abolish the filibuster. He's never said he wanted to abolish the filibuster. He only suggested carving out a few small exceptions to the filibuster, such as for abortion. I'll go back to your earlier comment: "Rome wasn't built in a day." The current situation is the result of actions over many decades. The Democratic party is an incumbent protection service. Before the election they sneer "Vote blue no matter who!" (because they know their candidates are crappy, otherwise they wouldn't need to say it) then immediately after the election turn around and cry "But we can't do anything because Machin and Sinema!" They always have an excuse. Remember how the Democratic leadership dragged anti-abortion Henry Cuellar across the finish line against his pro-choice primary opponent? Democrats hate primary challenges. The reason that Republicans have much more ideological conformance than Democrats is that Republicans are much less afraid to primary their incumbents. Many Republican incumbents fear a primary challenge from the right more than they fear a "moderate" Democratic opponent.
    - dctoedt 4y ago
      So again: What would you have Biden and Schumer and Pelosi (soon, Jeffries) do? Berating meteorologists because you don't like the weather in your locale is not exactly a hallmark of effective advocacy.
      - lapcat 4y ago
        I'm not here in the HN comments for "advocacy" or to offer future advice to Democratic leaders who aren't even reading the HN comments. I'm simply denying the claim that Biden's past actions indicate strong support for unions. Anyway, "What would you have them do?" is the wrong question. I don't believe that Democratic leaders have the same values and goals as I do. So as a start, what I would have them do is... fundamentally change who they are. ;-) Or maybe easier than that, resign from office.

lapcat 4y ago

> it appears that overall the majority of rail union workers voted to approve the contract Yes, this was actually discussed in the article: "In the BLET, the second-largest union involved in negotiations, members ratified a deal, but many members were unhappy with the outcome. In an interview, Hall said his election spoke to rank-and-file frustrations that leadership failed to listen to the membership throughout the negotiations." > I suppose Biden should have just broken out his Green Lantern power ring and willed ten or so recalcitrant Senate Republicans to support more pro-labor legislation This completely missed my point, which is that the filibuster can be abolished at any time. It's a self-imposed constraint. The ultimate irony is that the filibuster can be abolished with a simple majority vote. It's just a stupid senate rule.

dctoedt 4y ago
Ah, you’re right, I forgot that Biden would need his Harry Potter wand to get Manchin and Sinema to agree to ditch the filibuster.
- lapcat 4y ago
  Biden, the longtime Senator, doesn't want to abolish the filibuster. He's never said he wanted to abolish the filibuster. He only suggested carving out a few small exceptions to the filibuster, such as for abortion. I'll go back to your earlier comment: "Rome wasn't built in a day." The current situation is the result of actions over many decades. The Democratic party is an incumbent protection service. Before the election they sneer "Vote blue no matter who!" (because they know their candidates are crappy, otherwise they wouldn't need to say it) then immediately after the election turn around and cry "But we can't do anything because Machin and Sinema!" They always have an excuse. Remember how the Democratic leadership dragged anti-abortion Henry Cuellar across the finish line against his pro-choice primary opponent? Democrats hate primary challenges. The reason that Republicans have much more ideological conformance than Democrats is that Republicans are much less afraid to primary their incumbents. Many Republican incumbents fear a primary challenge from the right more than they fear a "moderate" Democratic opponent.
  - dctoedt 4y ago
    So again: What would you have Biden and Schumer and Pelosi (soon, Jeffries) do? Berating meteorologists because you don't like the weather in your locale is not exactly a hallmark of effective advocacy.
    - lapcat 4y ago
      I'm not here in the HN comments for "advocacy" or to offer future advice to Democratic leaders who aren't even reading the HN comments. I'm simply denying the claim that Biden's past actions indicate strong support for unions. Anyway, "What would you have them do?" is the wrong question. I don't believe that Democratic leaders have the same values and goals as I do. So as a start, what I would have them do is... fundamentally change who they are. ;-) Or maybe easier than that, resign from office.