THE BEAR SALUTES OUR LABOR FORCE

In 1935 Robert Wagner, a great Congressman and Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor, put together a bill that allowed for the labor folk of the United States of America to collectively bargain for wages, benefits etc., a bill, which would allow for many American to advance his life style in the years to come. With legislation setting a minimum wage at .40 an hour and a variety of other perks, the United States of America was able to move the Industrial Revolution in this country forward in a dignified yet controversial way.

Republicans battled every social program introduced by the Democratic Party under the great FDR but because of the laissez-faire that had existed before the advent of Roosevelt, and the suffering of the American people in the early thirties, Democrats controlled both houses of the Congress and this led to what became the New Deal, a series of laws, which to this day, have been a source of controversy but no doubt aided in the growth of this country economically.

Today, the major issue socially is: HEALTHCARE! There is no doubt that in the next ten years a bill will emerge which will, after much debate, fiibustering in the US Senate, speeches by fear mongers that we are becoming a Socialist country, but it will come. In what way it will be fashioned only the times will tell. The Bear has always supported the "single payer" program, which has been espoused by people like Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. We need to get rid of the private sector completely when it comes to healthcare.

Is healthcare a right? You better believe it! We must allow equality in service to every American when it comes to protecting our health. Almost every progressive country has some form of socialized medicine but for some reason, we are under the impression, the world would come tumbling down on us should we adopt a national program.

So as we stop today to focus however slightly on the advance of Labor or the decline of their influence on American life, remember that in the mid-thirties, the Republican Party opposed Social Security, in the mid sixties Medicare, and in the 21st Century National Healthcare!

Congrats to the pioneers of American Labor, men like Walter Reuther, John L. Lewis, yes even Jimmy Hoffa, wherever you are, for the fight for the common man!

Politically, I urge every independent, who labors every day to create a better America to remember the candidate who will be standing with you in the years ahead. It won't be John McCain and his Repub Party.