Rightwing alliance plots assault to 'defund and defang' America's unions
Source: The Guardian
Rightwing activists across the US have launched a nationwide campaign to undermine progressive politicians by depriving them of a major source of support and funding public sector unions.
A network of conservative thinktanks with outposts in all 50 states has embarked on a breakthrough campaign designed to strike a mortal blow against the American left. The aim is to defund and defang unions representing government employees as the first step towards ensuring the permanent collapse of progressive politics.
The campaign carries a powerful echo of the populist creed espoused by Donald Trump. The president was propelled into the White House last November after unexpected victories in several previously Democratic rust belt states including Michigan and Wisconsin, both of which have endured withering attacks on trade unions in recent years.
The new assault is being spearheaded by the State Policy Network (SPN), an alliance of 66 state-based thinktanks, or ideas factories as it calls them, with a combined annual budget of $80m. As suggested by its slogan State solutions. National impact the group outlines an aim to construct a rightwing hegemony throughout the US, working from the bottom up.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/30/rightwing-alliance-unions-defund-defang
Skittles
(153,220 posts)American workers no longer have any power
elleng
(131,197 posts)and without apparent response from the left, from what I can see, for a long time.
zentrum
(9,865 posts)not fooled
(5,803 posts)until now. They are coming for them next. Government jobs have been the last decent type, with decent benefits. They want to drag those workers down to the level of everyone else who has lost their benefits.
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)Never understood why somebody is against having a good job!
red dog 1
(27,875 posts)..in San Antonio"??
I wonder if they'll have to postpone their evil meeting due to the fact that San Antonio is now experiencing major flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey?
mopinko
(70,268 posts)not gonna be as easy as they think these days.