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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHey, Wisconsin, What Do You Think of Union-Busting Now?
Last edited Wed Sep 26, 2012, 05:00 PM - Edit history (4)
Scott Walker is a union buster. So are the owners in the NFL.
Let's just review what this job action is about. The NFL Refs are not on strike, they are locked out. That's a big difference.
They don't want anything more than they have, they just don't want to lose what they already have and have been promised through the years.
The NFL makes billions and their brand hinges on the integrity of the game. The Refs safe guard that integrity, and a pension is a small item in securing that integrity.
Now you can see how important experience and competence is at such a high level, pressure job.
Monday night's game was just an example of what football fans from all over America are going through.
Sunday night, we here in Boston went through a similar evening.
Our owner, Bob Kraft, is one of the biggest culprits in all of this. He's been an anti-union maggot in everything he does (he built "Patriot Place" with non-union labor). His son, Jonathan, is worse than he is.
Now, I know that 35% of my union brothers and sisters voted for Scott Walker in his recall. I know that was more than the margin of victory. I also know that if Scott Walker was removed from office, it would have had no baring on last night's game.
However, the dispute between the NFL owners and the NFL Refs is a perfect example of a very rich corporation that makes billions but doesn't want to share a small portion of that profit with some of those that are responsible for helping to create that profit.
Monday night, that point was brought home, vividly, to the people of Wisconsin, and the irony should not be lost on anyone.
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)pintobean
(18,101 posts)Chiquitita
(752 posts)k and r
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)with the nfl. the total disgust at how so much has dissolved with integrity, and what it all looks like.
listening to them pre show and the anger from dikka and some of the others.
the calls over the last couple weeks.
i didnt see that call. but hubby told me about it after turning off the tv
just once, i want to see the greedy get it. just once i want to see a win for the little.
i want ALL the football players to just walk next week and force the hand.
it is their health. as was being said, someone is going to get hurt.
louis c
(8,652 posts)and the call should start with Tammy Baldwin.
how's that for political leverage?
RegieRocker
(4,226 posts)to correlate anything.
louis c
(8,652 posts)12AngryBorneoWildmen
(536 posts)EVERYTHING!!!
caraher
(6,279 posts)I'm a bit mystified as to why the players - themselves unionized, right? - are going along with this charade? This is affecting their careers (and potentially health!), and this would end immediately if they walked out.
mac56
(17,574 posts)Ownership does it all the time among its employees. Setting one union against the other. Shameful.
fishwax
(29,149 posts)Many players were vocal in support of the real refs in the buildup to the season, and as the season has gone on players have been increasingly vocal in their criticism of the replacements, however.
louis c
(8,652 posts)that the players are part of the AFL-CIO and they can file a grievance for safety.
If they do this, it would really cause the owners a problem.
It may be in the works.
fishwax
(29,149 posts)Here's hoping they push the owners' hand in any way they can. Everyone is saying the NFL cares more about the money than the integrity of the game, but I think the owners care less about money than simply busting the union.
Sirveri
(4,517 posts)Be horrible if a bug went around and all the players got sick...
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Next Sunday, if the strike has not been resolved, every NFL team should (for at least the first possession) start their second teams on both offense and defense.
And then I'd like to see Roger Goddell sandwiched between Clay Matthews and Brian Urlacher. Who says Bears and Packers fans can't agree on anything?
eqfan592
(5,963 posts)malaise
(269,157 posts)Rec
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)And within both football and education, Wisconsinites--and Americans in general--, are suspicious of authorities, cops, teachers and NFL officials who as part of their job are required to cite us for infractions of rules or otherwise criticize our performance.
If we responded to religion that way we respond to cops, teachers and NFL officials, we'd have a nation that tells stories about nuns being sour and hateful.
Astazia
(262 posts)K&R (wooooohoooo) wicked smaaht (smart)
*~*~*~DUER'S~*~*~*
Please HELP me get the link below posted properly, because this is so important to know how fans are unwitting accomplices in this. LOUIS C can you help me? The link below was posted 18 min ago. Another article posted after the Sunday night game.
I've been reading all about this (nt) & the article listed below NEEDS to be online to all, especially DU brothers & sisters. I just don't know how to turn blue link thingie to fix my copy & paste.
Thanks, Taz
~~~~~~~~~~link below~~~~~~~~~~
http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-25/the-nfl-fiasco-why-referees-are-like-chicago-teachers
VenusRising
(11,252 posts)4lbs
(6,858 posts)keep Walker and his union-busting.
VenusRising
(11,252 posts)mcctatas
(13,755 posts)I'm kind of tired of Wisconsinites being broadly blamed, it was a close election (not withoout hinkiness) that many people threw their heart and soul into so while I don't presume to speak for all of WI, THIS 'scorning girl is as pro union as ever.
King_Klonopin
(1,306 posts)Hey Wisconsin, did you know your team is "Socialist" ? omg!
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)The greed is astounding
TahitiNut
(71,611 posts)Nearly ALL of American business is now under the control of people who are ONLY about the money ... and have absolutely NO OPERATIONAL interest or aptitude. These are NOT "craftsmen" ... just 'crafty.'
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Thorsten Veblen described the dichotomy over 100 years ago ... the dichotomy between the 'engineers' and the 'money men.' Folks engage in enterprise either because they're focused on the product or service (i.e. operations) or because they're focused on making meny (and don't give a shit WHAT the business does to get it). When the 'money men' take over, the business starts to deteriorate. General Motors is an example ... with Roger Smith. Smith was all about the money.
The insane thing about it is that the money orientation is destructive of the very enterprises that are sucked dry for the money. That's why it should be called "vampire capitalism" instead of "vulture capitalism." The money-oriented are blind to this if only because they have a 'zero-sum' world view. For them to 'win' they believe others must 'lose.' Thus, their enrichment from controlling an enterprise tends to always result in destruction .. and the impoverishment of others.
The NFL is a monopoly exempt from anti-trust laws. If you don't like the product, there's no other game in town. (Literally.)
4lbs
(6,858 posts)Mike Golic said that the billionaire owners don't care.
They aren't seeing the TV ratings go down, nor are they seeing a big significant dropoff in fan attendance compared to last year.
All the hundreds of thousands of Tweets, FaceBook posts, and forum posts, what percentage said "I am done watching the NFL or going to an NFL game!" ?
Of those that said that, what percentage ACTUALLY MEAN IT and decide to do it for real?
Almost no one.
So until they feel a real pinch in their pocketbooks, the owners will continue to not care.
TahitiNut
(71,611 posts)The Detroit area football fans are the most screwed-over fans in the country. William Clay Ford is the poster boy for peddling a mediocre-at-best product and charging top prices ... and GETTING IT. The Detroit area fans continue to pay insane prices to watch a clusterfuck of a football team. They inherit the white elephant of a stadium in Pontiac, abandoned in favor of an inner city stadium built for the convenience and comforts of the wealthy, and ease of separating the fans from their dollars in expanded vendor venues. (Oh... and it's handy for under-attended GOP political "rallies" too.) Ford has owned the Lions since 1963. The franchise has been to zero Super Bowls and doesn't have a playoff win since 1991.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2012/05/detroit_lions_owner_william_cl_1.html
October
(3,363 posts)This is an excellent essay. So glad to see it posted today -- especially after watching last night's football game. Wow. I don't live in Wisconsin or Seattle, but "Wow".
I just think it is wrong for us (47% or 99%) to think rich people are SHARING. They're NOT. This money is earned, and these contracts are negotiated. It is nothing less than disgusting on the part of the NFL to lock out the refs as some sick demonstration of their power. And that is all it EVER is about, POWER.
Aldo Leopold
(685 posts)Nice post. Let's hope this debacle brings the issue into immediate focus for the union busters and Walker supporters.
Viking12
(6,012 posts)Lugnut
(9,791 posts)Hubert Flottz
(37,726 posts)Blue Owl
(50,488 posts)Are you watching, Paul?
Are you happy, Paul?
How is that whole destroying unions thing working out for you, Paul?
eridani
(51,907 posts)The Packers are owned by the community of Green Bay.
BrainMann1
(460 posts)dsharp88
(487 posts)scumbag owners.
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)louis c
(8,652 posts)I really love DU and Democrats need to build a cooalition which includes Labor.
MindMover
(5,016 posts)Last edited Wed Sep 26, 2012, 02:19 PM - Edit history (1)
should be owned ...
The billionaire owners are simply "Greedy Bastards", nothing more, nothing less ...
Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)WestWisconsinDem
(127 posts)Let's not paint with such a broad brush.
cr8tvlde
(1,185 posts)for the NBA ... don't know much about it other than they won and Derek Fisher is an awesome player. Hopefully the NFL can get their players "into the game" so to speak, and with their multi-millions stand up for the support folk.
wakemewhenitsover
(1,595 posts)Yours, that is. Not the one last night.
Hamlette
(15,412 posts)Couldn't have happened to a more deserving group (those who voted with Walker).
WestWisconsinDem
(127 posts)Just a few of us wearing foam cheese wedges on our heads happen to be of the liberal persuasion, ya know.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)I heard Seattle news anchors admit the Hawks should have lost.
WestWisconsinDem
(127 posts)Question is, can he play left tackle? Please?
GreenTea
(5,154 posts)Support unions - including NFL refs unions....union workers are more skilled, knowledgeable & caring about working peoples health care & pensions....
Union people stick together against lower wages and benefit cuts by corporations who are NEVER satisfied, who always want more & more & more and workers pay is the easiest and first thing they go after....
The rich & their corporations are always taking away non union workers rights - Shut up they tell you and take what we give you or we'll get someone else high unemployment the corporations and republican love it keeps wages low!
Owners stop being so greedy you're already richer than shit....pay for good quality union working people.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)The Old Creak
(238 posts)Oops!
malaise
(269,157 posts)and they publicly backed the Wisconsin protesters.
That said Walker and Ryan have been further exposed as hypocrites.
47of74
(18,470 posts)....all my greedy insipid teabilly inbred docuhestraw fuckstick alarms go off.