Photo credit: Flickr user juggernautco
Rahm Emanuel is having a bad week. His anti-worker antics — like forcing the cancellation of a promised 4 percent pay raise — have brought about a massive teacher strike, and tens of thousands of people are marching against his policies.
But there is one group of people that have fallen in love with Rahm’s policies: Republicans and the far-right. Here’s a short and far from comprehensive list of some of the praise he’s gotten:
- The Washington Examiner:Ai??The teachers union is waging a “small war againstAi??Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.” [9/10]
- Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan: “I’veAi??known Rahm Emanuel for years. Heai??i??s a former colleague of mine. RahmAi??and I have not agreed on every issue or on a lot of issues, but MayorAi??Emanuel is right today in saying that this teacherai??i??s union strike isAi??unnecessary and wrong.” [9/10]
- News Corporation Owner And Fox News Kingpin Rupert Murdoch: “Three cheers for Rahm Emanuel standing up in Chicago.” [9/11]
- Former Republican Presidential Contender Mayor Rudy Giuliani:Ai??”I hope he wins.” [9/11]
It’s clear whose side Rahm is taking — Rupert Murdoch and Paul Ryan’s.
Rahm Emanuel remains an enigma to me. I understand why the right wing lives what he is doing but then a question is raised and that is where does Obama stand on this issue. I know Obama brought him into the White House because Rahm is a tough guy with connections in Congress but I think you don’t bring someone in if they totally disagree with you on major decisions.
Free market enterprise is the best system. It promotes competition allowing the best applicants and teachers to be placed in our school systems. Unions are a thing of the past and hinder progression, both in people and institutions.
Republicans and Democrats are just two wings of the same bird: the Corporate State, which is striving to exploit everyone and everything to keep existing and dominating. What we need are other parties strong enough with membership and convictions to restructure the sociopoliticoeconomic system in America. Progressives of all colors should join together. Strong unions could facilitate that.
This strike will be Mayor Rahmney’s Bilandic Blizzard. His lack of leadership and never ending quest to strip workers of all rights has brought us to this point. CTU negotiated in good faith with a published plan to improve education for ALL of Chicago’s children for 10 months. Rahmney’s team just stalled and created a “toxic” negotiating environment until a strike date was set. Suddenly, they want to cut a deal and do an end-run around CTU’s 35 member bargaining team. No way. That old shady approach to doing business is done where CTU is concerned. It’s time to temper Mayor Rahmney’s arrogance with a dose of reality from a united front of teachers, students and parents. There was a false rumor floated yesterday the JC Brizzard resigned. As bold progressives, I think we can aim higher.
21st Century Economic Collateral Damage, for example:
Outsourcing of jobs
Poverty
American teachers’ pay lagging most other rich countries
The Rich not paying their share
Root-cause: Our Trade Deficit, which bleeds us of both jobs and related tax revenue that formerly provided for the general welfare and economic justice; but now provided for the wealth-fare of the 1%.