Election 2000 is at our doorstep. We can do the “same old, same old” nothing much and get the wrong people elected again to key federal and state offices. Or, we can snap the bayonets on our rifles and storm the enemy trenches. Wow! Sounds like I’ve been watching too many war movies. But this is no movie—it’s the real war.
The Union Pork Chop
I noticed my son David sticking his fork into a nice, juicy pork chop a few days ago. So I explained to him that he was eating no ordinary pork chop—-it was a “union” pork chop, paid for with his dad’s union labor at a union wage. I went on to explain to David that he needed to register to vote since he had just turned eighteen. I further explained to him that if the wrong people won key elections, how his delicious pork chop could easily turn into a bony chicken wing. After David confessed his deep appreciation for candidate Al Gore, I gave him his fork back. Smart young man, that David!
The Personal Stake
We need to convince neighbors and friends to vote for Postal and labor friendly candidates this year. “So how do we do this?” you ask. The answer may be found in explaining to all of our acquaintances that we as Postal workers do have a major stake in the 2000 elections. It will matter tremendously who wins for us, because the wrong candidates will most certainly plunder our retirement funds, bash our benefits, and make a wreck of our jobs.
Are you ready to retire years later than you wanted with fewer bucks? Are you ready to pay a “big fee” every month for your basic health insurance? Are you ready to let privatization trash our Post Office? Are you ready to let corporation management select our “representatives” instead of a democratic vote by the union workers themselves. Are you ready to let that company force you to work more than eight hours today and then force you to work less tomorrow, all for straight time pay? These are exactly the kinds of menacing ideas that our enemies are full of.
Your friends and neighbors will not realize how high the stakes are for you unless you tell them. So what if they look at you as if you were crazy. They already suspect as much because they know you work at the Post Office, remember? So just tell them that you’re not so crazy and this election really does matter. Ask them if they own any oil wells or other huge businesses. If they don’t, then tell them not to be duped by the nasty ads on television, paid for by people who do, about how Republican fat cat candidates will make America better for the average person.
Tell them they should vote for the party represents real Americans who actually do the hard and honest work of this country. Tell them they should vote for the party that genuinely represents all Americans, without regard to race, color, creed, or gender. Tell them they should vote for the party that appreciates the unique role that unions have played in improving the quality and justice of American life for each and every one of us.
Ask if they can spell D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-I-C? If they can, then they could be almost as smart as David. All kidding aside, we need an extra effort from every letter carrier family, everywhere! Please. It matters so much.
