...."the difference between a welfare state and a totalitarian state is just a matter of time".

House passed H.R.800 to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations and to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair (who's unfair, union or management) labor practices during organizing.

Vote passed with 241 ayes and 185 noes. Republicans 13 ayes and 183 noes and Democrats 228 ayes and 2 noes. This is naturally expected because according to Federal Elections Commission Labor union PAC donations go 86% to Democrats. Ten of the top 20 PAC donors are labor unions. Please see www.opensecrets.org/pacs/topacs.asp. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

The main provision of this bill is to disalow secret ballot for the workers when voting whether or not to join the union. Secret ballot has always been the case and having been on both sides, employer and union member, this change seems that it would be giving unions an unfair advantage over management.

My personal experience goes back to 1974 while working as a pharmacist for Snyder Brothers Drugs we decided to organize with the union representing Snyder Drugs Inc. Our only reason was to try for higher pay, though we were being treated very well. During the process managemant did everything they could to prevent as did union do everything to organize. Both sides used tactics that could be called unfair by the other side. The union had people waiting in parking lots and visited people at home to convince them to sign.
At my store I had all signed up except one and that person told the manager, Harry Rosen, that I was responsible and he fired me. I don't know if it was his decision or that of Mr. Snyder, but that doesn't matter.

We went to court and I lost the case because I was considered Management as the pharmacy manager. As it should be, I was able to see both sides of the issue and never spoke against Mr. Rosen, I even invited him to lunch. When it was all over they re-hired me to work at a different location.

To make my point, we had a very large majority of employees sign the organizing cards , 27 of 28 at my store, mostly as a favor to me. This was the case at all the other stores out of respect to the pharmacist. Given some time to think and talk to parents, spouses and friends most of them changed their opinion, and knowing they had a secret ballot, voted against the union.

I would like to hear from anyone how this bill can possibly be justified, especially Betty McCollum and other Democrats.

I report and you decide.
alanrph2@msn.com

Also known as military tribunals, a bill that facilitates bringing to justice terrorists and othert unlawful enemy combatants through full and fair trials by military commissions. This bill was passed by a Republican congress with roll call as following. House Yea by 218 Republicans and 32 Democrats and nay by 7 Republicans and 162 Democrats. Senate, yea by 53 Republicans and 12 Democrats and nay by 1 Republican and 33 Democrats.

President Bush sez, "Today, the senate sent a strong signal to the terrosists that we will continue using every element of national power to pursue our enemies and to prevent attacks on America. Under this program suspected terrorists have been detained and questioned about threats against our country. Information we have learned from the program has helped save lives at home and abroad. By authorizing the creation of military commissions, the Act will also allow us to prosecute suspected terrorists for war crimes."

Patrick Leahy sez, "Passing laws that remove the few checks against mistreatment of prisoners will not help us win the battle for the hearts and minds of this generation of young people around the world."

Pick one that makes you feel more secure.

I report and you decide.
alanrph2@msn.com

Recently a baby was released from the hospital and taken home, born 22 weeks after conception. Roe v Wade allows abortion through the second trimester which amounts to 27 weeks of the gestation period. That live helpless baby could have been called a fetus at that point and aborted. At that point, if decided to abort, the mother's cervix doesn't dilate so they have to crush the baby's (not fetus) head to pull it out and throw it in the garbage can. This is called partial-birth abortion and bills to ban this were passed by a Republican congress in 1995 and 1997 and subsequently vetoed by President Clinton. This bill had provisions to save the mother's life. At this time a revised bill is waiting for review by the supreme court.

Thank God for Little Olof, Justin, Jena, Michael, Evan, Emily, Laura, Bethy, Danielle, Chrissy, Michael, Joseph, Patrick, Basil, Joey, Jenny and possibly more.

God bless Bill(deceased). Lora, Del, Jane, Mary, Barbara and Jill.

I report and you decide.
alanrph2@msn.com

..."I have only one Republican friend". That petty thought is shared by many Democrats seen by myself at White Castle. I am able to see both sides of all issues and don't dislike those of the other side, as does Mr. Franken.