Comments on: Fortuño’s plans fought: lessons from protest in Puerto Rico http://globalcomment.com/2009/fortunos-plans-fought-lessons-from-protest-in-puerto-rico/ where the world thinks out loud Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:18:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Un Interesado http://globalcomment.com/2009/fortunos-plans-fought-lessons-from-protest-in-puerto-rico/comment-page-1/#comment-5484 Un Interesado Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:20:07 +0000 http://globalcomment.com/?p=3783#comment-5484 There was organized right-wing dissent against Bush. In fact, most of the grouplets nowadays getting media such as the various Libertarian outifts, were highly critical of Bush. This includes Glenn Beck himself. And this is recognized in the right-wing: http://www.amconmag.com/postright/2009/09/16/glenn-beck-we-need-to-mind-our-own-business/ Anyone who participated is local anti-war groups all over the USA knows about the collection of truthies, libertarians, and other assorted right-wingers in the wide tent under bush. Cringing at them as they sppewed forth conspiranoia and anti-immigrant and racist arguments against the war. It is worse than cynical of liberal Democrats to deny the existence of these organized grassroots right wing, with an existence independent of the RNC. It is worse, because it misidentifies the enemy: traditionally, the right-wing on the streets is called fascism... of the real, not theatrical, kind... There was organized right-wing dissent against Bush. In fact, most of the grouplets nowadays getting media such as the various Libertarian outifts, were highly critical of Bush. This includes Glenn Beck himself. And this is recognized in the right-wing:

http://www.amconmag.com/postright/2009/09/16/glenn-beck-we-need-to-mind-our-own-business/

Anyone who participated is local anti-war groups all over the USA knows about the collection of truthies, libertarians, and other assorted right-wingers in the wide tent under bush. Cringing at them as they sppewed forth conspiranoia and anti-immigrant and racist arguments against the war.

It is worse than cynical of liberal Democrats to deny the existence of these organized grassroots right wing, with an existence independent of the RNC.

It is worse, because it misidentifies the enemy: traditionally, the right-wing on the streets is called fascism… of the real, not theatrical, kind…

]]> By: Sarah J http://globalcomment.com/2009/fortunos-plans-fought-lessons-from-protest-in-puerto-rico/comment-page-1/#comment-5482 Sarah J Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:20:17 +0000 http://globalcomment.com/?p=3783#comment-5482 No, the discovery of organized dissent by the Republican party is cynical because during eight years of a Republican administration, dissent was painted over and over again as unpatriotic and dissenters were equated with terrorists. If there had been right-wing anti-government protests while the Bush administration was growing government powers to unprecedented levels, particularly in the executive branch, then it wouldn't be cynical, even if I would disagree with them. Also, the corporate funders stoking people's authentic anger are pretty cynical as well. No, the discovery of organized dissent by the Republican party is cynical because during eight years of a Republican administration, dissent was painted over and over again as unpatriotic and dissenters were equated with terrorists. If there had been right-wing anti-government protests while the Bush administration was growing government powers to unprecedented levels, particularly in the executive branch, then it wouldn’t be cynical, even if I would disagree with them.

Also, the corporate funders stoking people’s authentic anger are pretty cynical as well.

]]> By: Alfonso http://globalcomment.com/2009/fortunos-plans-fought-lessons-from-protest-in-puerto-rico/comment-page-1/#comment-5477 Alfonso Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:40:14 +0000 http://globalcomment.com/?p=3783#comment-5477 I suppose the “discovery of organized dissent by the Republican party” is only “cynical” because protest is somehow reserved for liberal, left-wing or otherwise non-conservative movements. If that isn’t cynicism at its worst, I don’t know what is. I suppose the “discovery of organized dissent by the Republican party” is only “cynical” because protest is somehow reserved for liberal, left-wing or otherwise non-conservative movements.

If that isn’t cynicism at its worst, I don’t know what is.

]]> By: Un Interesado http://globalcomment.com/2009/fortunos-plans-fought-lessons-from-protest-in-puerto-rico/comment-page-1/#comment-5469 Un Interesado Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:22:26 +0000 http://globalcomment.com/?p=3783#comment-5469 Interesting summation. However, it ignores the role the SEIU, Change to Win, and the AFL-CIO have played in generating the crisis and in disarming effective street-level opposition. It also inflates the number of those in attendance. 1) American Unions pushed for a labor law that eliminated the right to strike in exchange for exclusive representation (or whatever the technical term is in English) disarmed Puerto Rican workers of the most powerful tool to counter policies (as opposed to economic bargaining). Before Law 45 of 1998, while there could be multiple unions in the workplace, there was a right to strike for public employees. This right was mostly used to exercise pressure around policy, rather than economic, issues. American Unions disarmed the workers. 2) In doing so in the middle of a huge process against privatization of public services, it disarmed the opposition to privatization. This allowed the government to privatize the largest cash cow the government possessed, The Puerto Rico Telephone Company. This sale, done at a very low price, setup the present government credit crisis by eliminating the most valuable collateral asset the Government had. 3)American Unions supported the previous governor in instituting policies that led to the credit crisis in the government, and have opposed measures - such as taxing multinational corporations, increase taxes to higher income individuals, and the elimination of priviatized contracting - that would have resolved the short-term issues. Instead, they seek to ally themselves with the political forces that precipitated the crisis in the first case. 4) The attendance to this strike didn't reach the five figures. It was around 80-90 thousand. Except for the educational system - both primary/secondary and college level - the strike failed to stop work Island wide. It did however shut down the main financial and shopping centers in the island. It was ineffective and will not make the government budge. American Unions oppose the call of local private and public sector unions for an indefinite general strike - an alternative that while not guaranteed success, is definitely one with a better chance than the current strategy they are pursuing. 5) In the end, the current crisis is as much a fault of American Unions as it is of the current and previous governments. The main issue is colonialism, both political and from the American Unions. The SEIU has been a very negative influence in the situation in Puerto Rico, and seemingly continues to be one. Interesting summation. However, it ignores the role the SEIU, Change to Win, and the AFL-CIO have played in generating the crisis and in disarming effective street-level opposition. It also inflates the number of those in attendance.

1) American Unions pushed for a labor law that eliminated the right to strike in exchange for exclusive representation (or whatever the technical term is in English) disarmed Puerto Rican workers of the most powerful tool to counter policies (as opposed to economic bargaining). Before Law 45 of 1998, while there could be multiple unions in the workplace, there was a right to strike for public employees. This right was mostly used to exercise pressure around policy, rather than economic, issues. American Unions disarmed the workers.

2) In doing so in the middle of a huge process against privatization of public services, it disarmed the opposition to privatization. This allowed the government to privatize the largest cash cow the government possessed, The Puerto Rico Telephone Company. This sale, done at a very low price, setup the present government credit crisis by eliminating the most valuable collateral asset the Government had.

3)American Unions supported the previous governor in instituting policies that led to the credit crisis in the government, and have opposed measures – such as taxing multinational corporations, increase taxes to higher income individuals, and the elimination of priviatized contracting – that would have resolved the short-term issues. Instead, they seek to ally themselves with the political forces that precipitated the crisis in the first case.

4) The attendance to this strike didn’t reach the five figures. It was around 80-90 thousand. Except for the educational system – both primary/secondary and college level – the strike failed to stop work Island wide. It did however shut down the main financial and shopping centers in the island. It was ineffective and will not make the government budge. American Unions oppose the call of local private and public sector unions for an indefinite general strike – an alternative that while not guaranteed success, is definitely one with a better chance than the current strategy they are pursuing.

5) In the end, the current crisis is as much a fault of American Unions as it is of the current and previous governments. The main issue is colonialism, both political and from the American Unions. The SEIU has been a very negative influence in the situation in Puerto Rico, and seemingly continues to be one.

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