Don’t petition the White House, Use Change.org

Nov 18, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

Secessionists. I first want to say thank you for finally learning something from history. The last time so many desired to rid themselves of a tyrannical president they declared war on the Union. Thus, your use of a peaceful means through petitions on the White House’s site is commendable. Furthermore, each state now finds themselves represented by a petition and signatures from people possibly wanting to secede from the United States. Texas leads the way with more than 100,000 people asking the White House to address the issue. This is the same state governed by Rick Perry who drummed up his base of supporters with calls for seceding prior to his Republican bid for President. The irony seemed lost on him. Governor Perry is obviously not a viable option to lead the cause. He hardly put up a fight against a weak group seeking his party’s nomination. I also question...

The Country Moved to the Left Last Night

Nov 7, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

The whole campaign season did not just depend upon the presidential race that finally came to an end last night. Yes, the country voted clearly to give Barack Obama another four years in the White House. He received more than 50 percent of the vote and won handily in the electoral college. Yet, it is what happened down the ballot that shows the nation’s move toward progressive values. It appears that Democrats will pick up a couple seats in the lower chamber but the real change happened on the senatorial level. Voters said no way to Republicans Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock after they attempted to scapegoat women and downplay the trauma of rape and sexual abuse. Furthermore, women won in Massachusetts, North Dakota, Hawaii, and Wisconsin for their first terms. All four of them will be more progressive legislators than their predecessors. In Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin will be the...

Republicans, Rape, Life, and Control of Women

Oct 24, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

During last night’s Indiana Senate debate the Republican candidate, Richard Mourdock, did more than stick his foot in his mouth. I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen. Mourdock joined a club made exclusively of Republicans but a club that seems to be growing as the November election nears. Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh made a reprehensible comment about exceptions for the life of the mother following his debate. “There is no such exception. With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance.” Complete crap as this woman explains. Of course who can forget Missouri...

Janitors Vote to Strike, March & Rally in Spirit of MLK

Chicago / politics

Apr 5, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

Yesterday marked the 44th anniversary of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The bullet brought him down in the midst of a sanitation worker’s strike in Memphis, TN and cut short the life of a man set on changing much of the world.

In a small way to honor him and to bring attention to their current struggles, janitors marched with signs saying “I AM A MAN”, “I AM A WOMAN”, and “I AM A JANITOR”.

Contracts in eleven cities, including Chicago, expire for janitors in the Service Employees International Union. The contract expires on April 8 for Chicago janitors. Earlier this week they voted to go on strike if an agreement could not be reached.

The Local 1 contract, which will continue to be negotiated Thursday for suburban janitors and Friday for Chicago-based janitors, will affect about 22,000 members in 11 cities, with about 13,000 of those custodians currently working in Chicago.

The group, including SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff, did not to give specific numbers regarding what they’re looking for in a wage increase, but laid out its position in a press release. According to the release, Local 1 janitors in Chicago average earn about $31,000 annually. The average yearly cost of living for a family of four in Chicago, according to the Economic Policy Institute, is about $48,800.

“Some 13,000 janitors who clean downtown and suburban commercial buildings, Chicago Public Schools, City of Chicago facilities and Chicago’s airports are fighting for wages that would enable them to pay their bills and the health care needs of their families,” said Nell McNamara, a spokesperson for SEIU’s Local 1. “As the janitors struggle to keep their families out of poverty, building owners and office space tenants like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase are making huge profits.”

The stark contrast of a janitorial salary and what it takes to live in Chicago should seem appalling. Critics might note that another parent could work as well and bring the family up to the EPI estimate mentioned above. But that estimate does not do the costs of Chicago justice. The calculator used by EPI is for the whole Chicagoland area. To rent can easily run $1,500 to $2,000 in a decent Chicago neighborhood for a two or three bedroom. You want your kids to go to a good school or live in a safe area. It will cost you.

Why should a janitor not be able to provide that for his or her family?

Large corporations continue to leverage their enormous power and vast sums of money to influence their tax rates. They use the economic recession to push wages lower and lower for their employees. Yet, the balance sheets show them flourishing.

The slowness in the economic recovery shows the real hurt happening in American families.