eolesen
Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2003
- Messages
- 15,959
- Reaction score
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Bear, you can't even spell Luciano's name correctly.
Sure, the Government negotiated with the mafia, primarily to rat out Axis sympathizers but also to deal with the work stoppages.
To me, that's just creative problem solving during a time of war. Luciano still wound up getting deported (which arguably was better for him than staying in a US prison), and under those set of circumstances, I don't have a problem with what they did. They worked out a plea agreement to essentially commute a sentence for an informer whose influence resulted in saving soldiers lives, and probably curbing espionage. Compared to what happened with Japanese Americans, this was a far better approach.
Had Luciano not played ball, I have little doubt that those on the docks would have been drafted as able bodied men, and with that the union dues would have stopped. Instead, the longshoremen got to sleep in their own beds, and not worry about being replaced.
It's hardly the same situation as what's being talked about, though.
You can't try to compare today's labor situation with the stigma that was cast on Italian, German, or Japanese Americans over their homelands being at war with the US. Nor can you try to draw a parallel with the national pride that cause both labor and management to put down the gloves and simply deal with the war effort.
And... make no mistake... the Govs of CA, WA, and OR know full well that choking the golden goose ends badly. If they allow the unions to play hardball, the state ultimately loses when that business permanently leaves their state. And coming full circle to the Canal discussions, leaving used to be an empty threat.
Now, it's not too far out of the question. Even moreso if the superport ever gets built down in Baja.
Sure, the Government negotiated with the mafia, primarily to rat out Axis sympathizers but also to deal with the work stoppages.
To me, that's just creative problem solving during a time of war. Luciano still wound up getting deported (which arguably was better for him than staying in a US prison), and under those set of circumstances, I don't have a problem with what they did. They worked out a plea agreement to essentially commute a sentence for an informer whose influence resulted in saving soldiers lives, and probably curbing espionage. Compared to what happened with Japanese Americans, this was a far better approach.
Had Luciano not played ball, I have little doubt that those on the docks would have been drafted as able bodied men, and with that the union dues would have stopped. Instead, the longshoremen got to sleep in their own beds, and not worry about being replaced.
It's hardly the same situation as what's being talked about, though.
You can't try to compare today's labor situation with the stigma that was cast on Italian, German, or Japanese Americans over their homelands being at war with the US. Nor can you try to draw a parallel with the national pride that cause both labor and management to put down the gloves and simply deal with the war effort.
And... make no mistake... the Govs of CA, WA, and OR know full well that choking the golden goose ends badly. If they allow the unions to play hardball, the state ultimately loses when that business permanently leaves their state. And coming full circle to the Canal discussions, leaving used to be an empty threat.
Now, it's not too far out of the question. Even moreso if the superport ever gets built down in Baja.