Congrats on the 6th place Super D finish. 7 seconds from the podium? Ouch. There would be some agonizing over that. Lucky for me, the occasional world’s slowest racer, I never find myself in such situations. I’m usually a few time zones off the podium.

Our 3 weeks of summer was actually a bit longer then usual. Incredible streak of insanely nice weather. Now the switch has been thrown, officially dumping us into fall – 42 degrees and rain. Joy.

Fall does mean ‘cross though – which is cool. I’ve discovered photographing ‘cross is much less painful then actually racing ‘cross. You can even wear boots and a warm jacket, no dumping slightly above freezing water from Sidi shoes required.

Don’t wait so long between posts. You’re pretty good at the writing stuff…

Son Ian qualified for the Junior XC race, but we didn’t make the trip over. Did a bunch of local riding over the week showing an old NJ pal the area. Less pressure, more fun.

I’d agree with the far right trying to put the blame on unions and other factors to move the blame from the forces that created the current economic picture. It seems most media coverage from the right and left skew the facts towards their side. The truth lays somewhere in the middle.

Dan O makes some points I agree with. Unions have been far from perfect. Some are good, some are not. Like people most waiver in the gray area. It does take a lot to keep any group or organization constructive. I’ve been involved with several unions over the years. It’s important to be honest about the strengths and weaknesses of a specific union so members can improve it and make it effective.

But this is the 21st century and the unions have changed quite a bit. The old power dynasties and associations with organized crime are largely gone. Unions tend to be smaller and more suburban since American manufacturing was out sourced offshore.

Unions are one place where average working people have a chance to get together and get some momentum behind their needs and priorities. Sometimes members rattle the union cage first so they know they are strong when putting on rallies or solving day to day issues at work.

Right now the people who messed up the economy are trying to shift the blame to unions and union employees. There is a specific business, Republican, Tea Party campaign to bust public sector unions. Letting them run disinformation un-opposed is a slippery slope for all of us.

Don’t give up on us Dan O. Unions carry the torch because unions are the members.

I grew in New Jersey/NYC area. Unions, right or wrong, had the reputation for being tied to organized crime and cushy, overpaid jobs. I’m sure some of this image was blown out of proportion, but it was there. I heard stories from relatives about being paid for absent work days, etc – though I can’t validate those tales..

Having said that, I think with the current economic climate, some union influence may not be a bad thing. With jobs being outsourced, pay levels not keeping up with inflation, increased cost (or loss) of benefits, the majority of wealth moving towards fewer people – having a collective labor voice and power can be a good thing.

The conservative argument is that unions force higher pay rates and companies can’t “be competitive” in a global market. I buy some of that debate, however, the alternative is drive U.S. wages down to lower levels to “compete”. And that in end, that doesn’t help anyone expect boost company profits – who are supposed create jobs and trickle down the wealth. Over the last 25 over so years, I don’t see that happening to the extent of what was supposed to occur.

Pensions no longer exist, everything is dependent on personal 401K plans – which were tied to a smoke and mirror economy – that’s now collapsed. Remember a few years ago when Bush and crew attempted to privatize Social Security? That would have been another economic disaster for the working class.

Media coverage over this issue – especially over teacher’s salary levels – I find disturbing. Working for the school system (and other government jobs) used to considered lower wage, but backed up with good benefits – pension, etc. Now many people (media hype anyway) consider teachers overpaid with overkill benefits. Instead of trying to tear them down to a lower level, people should be asking “Why don’t I get better benefits?” “Why is okay for my company to outsource jobs while many here are unemployed?”

Economy whiz I’m not and I’m rambling a bit. But to me, what went down in Wisconsin, is just another punch to the working class. The punch delivered by big money interests who in the end, really run everything – directly and indirectly.

It’s still possible to do well in the US, for sure, however it gets harder and harder. We’re in an era that’s redefining what the American Dream is – or how it was sold to us anyway. Things won’t change for the better until people, working class people, start putting up a stink about the current state of affairs.

And if unions carry that torch – so be it. Let’s make some noise.

If that doesn’t work, I rely on the full sized, old school frame pump. Ever try stopping a charging Rottweiler with a CO2 cartridge? It’s not pretty.

Another reason why old school rules.