The Night Before Christmas, Soapboxes Were Hung...

I heard a report on BBC News this morning about the protests in Egypt. From what I understood, it is a labor dispute - or rather, a very large protest in opposition to government attempts to subvert and/or ban any type of collective labor movement or workers' unions or formal protest of the government en masse.

One man apparently set himself alight in defiance of a fine received, which is hard to reconcile, but seems to suggest an extreme level of desperation, hopelessness, and/or rage he must have been feeling.

It made me think about the current disputes going on here in the U.S. about the big three auto industries and whether a government bailout is feasible or necessary. I keep hearing arguments against a bailout and in favor of declaration of bankruptcy based on the premise that the labor unions are the reason these companies are failing to keep up in the world economy.

I tend to believe it is somewhat ridiculous to suggest organizations in place to protect workers' rights should somehow be circumvented by using paperwork and economic manipulation to ensure the very rules and regulations fought for by these unions should be disregarded so that these companies can survive.

Certainly, seeing thousands laid off due to the collapse or dissolution of Ford, Chevrolet, or GMC would be terrible. But why is it any better to say the companies can be allowed to continue on by ignoring all contracting previously put in place (paying workers less, requiring more hours, cutting hours, etc.)? Surely there is a better way.

It is a great thing that we have organizations that work on behalf of laborers. A great thing to have unions, workers' rights, workman's comp, etc. And even though the situation in Egypt looks very different and is much more dangerous right now, there is a brotherhood and commonality in the fight for equality among all workers - rather than a trickle down hierarchy wherein those in power make poor decisions while still receiving ample compensation... and then look to use a trickle-up approach when things fall apart.

Sorry for the soapbox. I'm just so tired of the displaced values and questionable morality that seems to underpin so much of the world lately. Government, industry, healthcare, etc. We need a shift in priorities and a shift in consciousness that takes so many of our religious lessons to heart and allows us to live a more equitable and ethical existence.