History and Us

           Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad Company and Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States; remember these two.  They could, they will, have profound influence on your life, immediate influence.  Of course, this is just a average citizen talking, and I am sure there are also attorneys and lawmakers ready to espouse their learned opinions on these noted instances of American history.  However, during the political season, it really doesn’t matter what the lawyers and makers of law argue, it’s what the electorate perceives that becomes reality.

            You may ask; has Morris lost his mind?  What does an obscure county fighting a railroad have to do with me?  Well, lend me your attention and I will attempt to convey your connection.  This case, settled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1886, gave corporations the same rights as persons under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.  All hell has broken loose since then.  The Fourteenth Amendment, among other things, guarantees your rights under the Constitution, those rights not to be denied without due process, by any of the individual states.   The effect of the Fourteenth Amendment, as I see it, guarantees your rights under the First Amendment, for example, free speech.  Again, what in the world has this to do with any letter carrier? 

            Again, give me a little more latitude with this idea.  Recently, the Supreme Court overturned the McCain-Feingold campaign contributions and participations law, in part at least, removing certain limitations to how much corporations could spend in elections.  As I understand most pundits, part of the reasoning was the 1886 ruling.  Are you getting the picture now?  I assume the Supreme Court considered the McCain-Feingold law to have abridged corporate (personal) rights to free speech.  This is America; money talks, so we cannot hinder the rights of speech when it’s tied to the dollar in political campaigns. 

            Thus, corporations are released from many cumbersome limits on their campaign contributions.  Digressing, how does this affect you? 

            This is the modern age; most people watch and listen to political advertisement.  We are slaves to the sound bite; we are willing victims of video propaganda.  Truth is sometimes the victim, more often than we might wish to admit.  Letter carriers are no less affected than the general population.  Along with purveyors of righteous information, there are liars and cheats putting “information” on the internet every minute, hoping to influence your opinions and actions with their falsehoods and innuendo.

            Unfortunately, the most effective way to combat lies and misleading propaganda is to counter their efforts with truthful information.  Getting the truth out costs, a lot. 

            Corporate Boards and high corporate officials can afford to spend millions to get their slanted ideas to the masses.  Labor unions and ordinary people are hamstrung by limited resources when it comes to countering the lies and deceit of corporations.  Corporations and corporate officers, especially now, make thousands, if not millions, more than the average worker, the average union man or woman.   Now, these captains of the corporate world are relatively free to make any accusations they wish, to attempt to slant any idea, to propagandize freely.  The only way we can combat this assault is through our voluntary contributions to our political action fund, COLCPE. 

            Our contributions are used to educate our members, to contribute to candidates who have a record of supporting us, who will support us.  That’s it, pure and simple.  It’s all voluntary, it’s all above board.  But why is it so important to find and help candidates who will support us?  This is where the second part of the first paragraph comes in, Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.  Article 1, Section 8 states that Congress shall establish Post Offices and Post Roads. 

            As with all parts of the Constitution, there have been arguments back and forth concerning the meaning of this clause, and how that meaning is affected by technology and current political climate.  Does this mean that Congress is obligated to maintain a governmental entity addressing the need of Post Offices and Post Roads?  I think we helped settle part of that argument in 1970 when the NALC caused the re-organization of the old Post Office Department, then a part of the government, into the quazi-government United States Postal Service.  In order to help poor letter carriers (many letter carriers at the time actually qualified for welfare relief), we agreed to remove the Post Office Department from total government control.   Now, with the influence of changing society and technology, we are faced with having to adapt to new work methods, we are forced to look at new possibilities of revenue. 

            Most governmental agencies have been “outsourced” to virtual oblivion.  Even the military is dependent on contractors to literally feed their forces.  Is the military reduced in general knowledge of overall logistics, and thus, total potential effectiveness?  I think so, but this is open to conjecture.  Nevertheless, what does this all portend for the Postal Service and especially letter carriers?  By now, hopefully, you have heard or read NALC President Rolando’s visions of the future, or potential future, for letter carriers. 

            What you experience as a letter carrier now may be just part of what you do in the future.  It all boils down to this; the NALC will be working to insure employment for you for years and years to come, for generations.  To accomplish this move into the future we need the support of friends in Congress. 

            Will we be content to let the Postal Service go to contract workers, slowly replacing all letter carriers?  Will we be content to increase our contributions to our health care, so that you finally pay the full tab?  Will you be content to continue increasing route size?  These are questions on which you must give direction to our leadership.  Meanwhile, you must allow our leadership the means to fight on all fronts, especially politically.  This requires resources, this requires COLCPE.  Long past is the time you can spend on the wayside, watching as others give to protect your future.  Long past is the time you can expect to survive without contributing to the team. 

            Politics is life in America.  Politics is the means by which our system flourishes.  To not play in the game is simply wrong.  Do your part; join us.  Contribute to COLCPE.  Will you be part of history, or in the trash pile of history?  Join in and make history; sit on the sideline and become a footnote blurb.  The choice is yours. 

Keep It Simple

            I, like many, had thought that by now we would have some sense of resolution on issues of great importance to all Americans.  Health Care, the Federal Budget, banking, industry (especially the auto industry), Free Choice, the Postal Service; all are deeply profound to the American Way of Life, and all affect us to the core.  These do not even get into the issues of National Defense and military deployment.  We all have a stake in the above because they all influence the way we feel about the direction of our country.  I have my opinions, and so do you. 

            However, you elected me to lead you in matters pertaining to your job, your families future where affected by your job, and to help the NALC protect and continue your job.  Get it?  Your job, your job, your job. 

            Who, though, among us can get through a day without hearing about all of the other influences; and why do I even ask that question?  Because it is almost impossible to separate the different influences.  When you get treated badly by your boss and then come home, turn on the TV, and hear about the other factors, well, it’s hard to keep a positive attitude; but keep a positive attitude we must. 

            Okay, let’s get the joke out of the way, you are POSITIVE things are messed up beyond all recognition! 

            There are three areas on which we need to concentrate.  One, keeping friends in Congress and electing additional friends.  Two, working with those friends and convincing our less than supportive adversaries to support our jobs and the institution we work for.  Three, supporting the NALC in protecting our jobs and guarding against improper and unfair legislative changes to our jobs, and helping the House of Labor restore the middle class. 

            Three areas of concentration are not too much of a burden, they are simple, they are painless, they only take a little effort.  All I ask of you is to give a little effort, and help pass the message to others.  Your Board of Officers, Legislative Liaisons, and Branch Leadership will help you help yourself. 

            The issues can get complex, we have to be effective.  To be effective, we have to keep it simple.