Because they were smart and want to grow the Labor movement instead of being an ongoing source of campaign contributions for do nothing Limosine Liberals politicians who never missed a meal.
WTF does Ted Kennedy know about being working class except for trying to bang the help?
You power doesn't come from Washington, it comes from a growing and expanding unionized workforce.
AFL-CIO gives tons of money to Washington. The IAM PAC: MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE donated $1,940,000 all but $25,000 to Democratic candidates. So much for non partisan. The bigger question is what did the members get for that?
As far as that goes what do IAM members get for their dues? R Buffenbarger earns in total compensation $260,603/yr versus John Sweeney who is President of the entire AFL-CIO who makes $277,785/yr. Also of note: IAM lost about 120,000 members from 2000 to 2005 yet net assets increased from $230 Million to $248 Million during that same time frame.
So what do you as a worker get for your dues money? Seems like the IAM is keeping it for themselves. With an 18 Million dollar increase in assets you'd think they would be out organizing instead of beating people to a pulp.
IAM - Beating the Competition! Severely!
Don't let anyone kid you...MUCH POWER comes from Washington.
I think it unfair to knock Ted Kennedy because he is wealthy. The Kennedys have always been for the working class,for civil liberties, and minority equality. Ted Kennedy has been widly outpsoken and represents many issues that effect working Americans. You don't have to like him personally or politically, but he has been a unwaivering advocate for working Americans, reforming health care and protecting our social security. Those issues effect all workers in America and blue collar specifically.
You don't have to BE poor to represent working class.
The unions are very active on the "HILL" and legislative affairs. Lobbying is where the actions is. Having the representatives on your side, introducing legislation, and bringing light to the issues of labor is how change happens. And it cost plenty of money.
With regard to the Republicans, this year they are going to have a really tough time in November holding on to seats and I suspect that will be a good indication of what will take place in 2008. Don't forget, BUSH won his second term on a "shoe string".
I seriously think in retrospect that if the presidential elections would have occured 1 year later, the BUSH administration would have been TOAST. B) Nothing but a bunch of self-serving, arrogant, god-want-a-be's, narcissists and very dangerous people. I don't think folks are any less conservative as a nation, just think they are fed up with a Republican controlled House, Senate, and Administaration and all there ultra religious evangelical stance guiding every issue.
You know how I believe in "balance".