This might be a special case (4.00 / 1)

  I agree that it's great that the public is strongly on the writers' (labor's) side in this dispute. And we might be tempted to pat the internet on the back for the effectiveness of the writers' message. There's certainly something to that.

  But I'm skeptical that this sudden pro-labor surge on the part of general public opinion is all that transferable to other industries. There are a few special aspects to this strike:

  1. Republicans hate Hollywood, so they're far less likely to side with the media industry than they are to side with, say, Wal-Mart or the coal-mining industry, should they be hit by strikes. 

  2. Writers, because few of them are famous, aren't generally perceived as self-absorbed prima donnas (unlike, say, actors or pro athletes), and thus are more sympathetic to the public.

  3. The lack of new entertainment product, especially in the internet era when we can punch up whatever we want whenever we want with a few keystrokes, doesn't really inconvenience Americans all that much -- not anything like a strike that paralyzes a more "essential" component of the economy. So it's that much easier to side with the writers on principle.

  I'm not saying that we shouldn't celebrate labor's apparent triumph in this work stoppage -- we need lots more like these all across the economy. Hats off to the writers for managing their strike so well. I'm just suggesting that this might not represent a sea change in attitudes towards labor among all Americans, as much as we wish it did. We still have a lot of work to do.

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

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by: Master Jack @ Sun Nov 18, 2007 at 01:13:27 AM UTC

#2 (0.00 / 0)

is not a special aspect of this strike.  Most striking workers are not professional athletes or actors.  And I'd imagine you're aware that most actors are not rich.

I support John McCain because children are too healthy anyway.

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by: Sam L @ Sun Nov 18, 2007 at 03:59:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Okay, this is the part I can't get passed (0.00 / 0)

Most people had assumed going into this that most Americans would be unsympathetic to the strikers because they are writers. Indeed, there is some historical reasons to believe that to be the case. I think this is a clear sign of where the American people are- they are more leftward- especially when taking into account where their sympathies lie.

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by: bruhrabbit @ Sun Nov 18, 2007 at 15:56:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I disagree (4.00 / 1)

Why do I disagree? Remember the transit strike in New York City? Most of the city's residents sided with the strikers, even though not being able to ride on the subway is a MAJOR inconvenience, to put it lightly.

I think this is further evidence that the american people have solidarity with the labor unions, because the american people, as a whole, know what it's like to work for a living and not see just rewards for the sweat of their brow. 

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by: Iron Curtain @ Sun Nov 18, 2007 at 17:19:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]