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January 26, 2006
Unions
The International Coal Group, which busted the union when it bought the Sago mine, is now trying to shut the UMWA out of the post-disaster inquiry. Hmm, where have I heard anything else along these lines recently? Oh, yes: On Donna's blog. It also brings to mind the lyrics to "Mean Talking Blues," a Woody Guthrie number from the 1940s that is given a 1965 date here:
I'm the meanest man that ever had a brain, All I scatter is aches and pains. I'm carbolic acid, and a poison face, And I stand flat-footed in favor of crime and disgrace. If I ever done a good deed -- I'm sorry of it.I'm mean in the East, mean in the West,
Mean to the people that I like the best.
I go around a-causin' lot of accidents,
And I push folks down, and I cause train wrecks.
I'm a big disaster -- just goin' somewhere's to happen.
I'm an organized famine -- studyin' now I can be a little bit meaner.
I'm still a whole lot too good to suit myself -- just mean...I ride around on the subway trains,
Laughin' at the tight shoes dealin' you pain.
And I laugh when the car shakes from side to side,
I laugh my loudest when other people cry.
Can't help it -- I was born good, I guess,
Just like you or anybody else ---
But then I... just turned off mean..I hate ev'rybody don't think like me,
And I'd rather see you dead than I'd ever see you free.
Rather see you starved to death
Than see you at work --
And I'm readin' all the books I can
To learn how to hurt --
Daily Misery -- spread diseases,
Keep you without no vote,
Keep you without no union.Well, I hurt when I see you gettin' 'long so well,
I'd ten times rather see you in the fires of hell.
I can't stand to fixed... see you there all fixed up in that house so nice,
I'd rather keep you in that rotten hole, with the bugs and the lice,
And the roaches, and the termites,
And the sand fleas, and the tater bugs,
And the grub worms, and the stingarees,
And the tarantulas, and the spiders, childs of the earth,
The ticks and the blow-flies --
These is all of my little angels
That go 'round helpin' me do the best parts of my meanness.
And mosquiters...Well, I used to be a pretty fair organized feller,
Till I turned a scab and then I turned off yeller,
Fought ev'ry union with teeth and toenail,
And I sprouted a six-inch stinger right in the middle of the tail,
And I growed horns...
And then I cut 'em off, I wanted to fool you.
I hated union ever'where,
'Cause God likes unions
And I hate God!Well, if I can get the fat to hatin' the lean
That'd tickle me more than anything I've seen,
Then get the colors to fightin' one another,
And friend against friend, and brother... and sister against brother,
That'll be just it.
Everybody's brains a-boilin' in turpentine,
And their teeth fallin' out all up and down the streets,
That'll just suit me fine.
'Cause I hate ever'thing that's union,
And I hate ever'thing that's organized,
And I hate ever'thing that's planned,
And I love to hate and I hate to love!
I'm mean, I'm just mean...
Posted by senioritis at January 26, 2006 08:32 AM
Comments
And how about this bit: Head Mine Safety Federal Official Walks Out on Senators.
Posted by: Donna at January 26, 2006 10:22 AM
That is just bizarre. And in the opposite corner, here's one that I find surprising:
Federal mine safety officials on Wednesday sought a court order to force International Coal Group to allow union representatives onto company property to participate in the Sago Mine disaster investigation.Don't they know they're working for the B*** administration? But back to your link: what are the chances that this issue, too, will become impeachable? The Senate is going to stay Republican through the next election, which means B*** wouldn't be convicted. But the House could go back to Democratic control, in which case there will be quite a shopping list to work from on an impeachment agenda.
Posted by: senioritis at January 26, 2006 10:30 AM
I'm loving the upswing in the number of posts you have about the whole range of subjects you're covering. You make me think, as always.
Posted by: Nels at January 26, 2006 10:33 AM