Strike Over!,
all is good again in the apple. I think!
The trains are running the busses rolling and the cabs are aggressively cutting across two and three lanes of traffic for one and two passenger fares again, all “on or near schedule” as the saying goes. The city is back on track, ready to go shopping, dinning out, shopping some more, see a show, perhaps check out the tree at Rockefeller center, pick up an item or two, stop for cocktails and maybe shop a little more.
To think, New Yorkers lost three whole days of opportunities to spend the cash they have and don’t have on things they will soon forget, quickly fall out of fashion/style or into technical obsolescence, only to start the entire cycle of self indulgence to keep the economy chugging along all over again.
All considered, the transit workers strike might have done us all a favor this Holiday Season, as they forced New Yorkers to get to know each other up close and personal. As we found ways to car pool with neighbors share cabs with strangers, wait on long lines, New Yorkers did what ever it took to make what had to happen in this town happen. All the while, showing the globe that New York truly is the greatest city in the world. Well that’s the hype anyway.
The true heart of the citizens showed as they appeared to see through the efforts of our business interest only Mayor to drive a wedge between fellow workers simply because they were striking to maintain a decent benefit/retirement package to protect themselves and their families.
At a time when the American worker is being forced to contribute more and more to receive less and less each year, the Mayor’s strategy was simple, keep the public aware that these “thugs” have benefits far better than they will ever have and let human nature do the rest. Wow, these people can retire at 55 and don’t have to pay for benefits, while I have to work until I am 62 with no guarantee of anything when I am used up and no longer able to compete with someone younger and willing to work for less.
The mayor called the leadership of the transit workers union selfish, but that’s a difficult charge to make stick, when the union was willing to take this unpopular action at this unpopular time to fight for decent wages, benefits and retirement packages of those not even yet hired. This was a philosophical stand that needed to be taken so all workers can see that they are more than simple tools for the business machine to use up until useless with little regard for the aches and pains breathing conditions, the varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome, the strained eyes and so on that will plague them for the rest of their lives.
One must remember, our mayor is a shrewd and successful businessman, as it’s been reported that he’s worth more than a billion dollars. It’s difficult to imagine one reaching such a financial plateau without finding creative ways to get the most out of a worker while giving as little as he can in return. 
It’s “The Cool Guy’s” opinion; that New Yorkers could see that they shouldn’t be angry the T.W.U. has these benefits, they should be angry that they don’t. When it comes to your retirement, is that light at the end of the tunnel a decent life or just another train to run over cause you’re to old to get out of the way?
Merry Xmas & Happy Holidays
To All, And To All A
Happy New Year!
Lee “The Cool Guy”
C-YA 2006
