CWA Local 4319: IS IT BASHING...OR FREEDOM OF SPEECH?

Is It "Bush Bashing" or Freedom of Speech?

Why Is Dubya So Popular?

Kathleen Jones
January 2003

A few folks have asked me why I am always "Bush Bashing." First, I would like to clarify something. I don't see myself as "bashing" so much as being an American citizen exercising her rights and freedoms as guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. Remember that thing called the First Amendment? The one about freedom of speech? Or was that one of those things thrown out by Attorney General Ashcroft? In other words, I am simply voicing my opinion, but back to my original thought…

No matter how nice a guy George W may be, no matter how devoutly patriotic he is, when it comes to workers' issues, his policies stink! (I would have used another word, but want to keep this newsletter from getting a PG-13 rating!) So, what would it take to make me stop criticizing the president?

When he ceases to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to "settle" labor disputes;
When he stops siding with the pharmaceutical companies against senior citizens who want and need low-cost prescription drugs;
When he stops reneging on steel tariffs and by doing so further jeopardizes the nation's steel industry;
When he stops promoting tax cuts that benefit only the wealthiest - and smallest - percentage of this country's population;
When he stops raiding Medicare and Social Security funds, then turns around and says the system is broke and promotes privatization of these entities;
When he promises instead to support and strengthen Social Security and Medicare;
When he puts worker safety ahead of profits by promoting and strengthening OSHA ergonomics standards;
When he promotes extending unemployment benefits and job training for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own;
When he ensures that employees in the new Homeland Security Department will have Civil Service and collective bargaining rights;
When he stops favoring Big Business over Workers' Rights;
When he demonstrates the same determination and enthusiasm in standing up for the working class, as he does in fighting the war against terrorists.

When these things happen, when George W Bush becomes the president of all Americans and not jut of the Special Interest Groups with the deep pockets, when he speaks out for the American working class, then I will stop my so-called "Bush Bashing." Until then, it's open season.

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