August 26, 2004


Media Snark?

Pretty good...why isn't this in the WaPo?

New federal rules will ace some 6 million workers out of the overtime pay to which, until now, they have been entitled by law, according to AFL-CIO calculations. Or they will bring a million-plus low-wage workers into overtime eligibility that they have been denied, as the Bush administration sees it.
...
But if you think this is an administration that would set out to do workers a great big favor and pester employers' bottom lines, you ought to check your zip code. It may be time for you to move back to Earth.

Granted, it is a distinctly novel re-election ploy to cut the take-home of millions and expect to profit politically. But then the Bush White House has more than its share, not only of testosterone, but of chutzpah. (As in that term's classic example: the guy who murders his parents and pleads for mercy as an orphan.)

Chutzpah is putting it mildly...the 1600 Crew hopes and prays (just ask Snake-Handler Johhny) everyday that the average American will go to the polls in November in a trance and vote for their potted plant.

posted by Jo Fish on 08.26.04 at 12:01 AM





Comments:

Has anyone noticed that George W puts in no overtime, except vacations? Do these no overtime rules violate the 13th Amendment's proscription against involuntary servitude? Some would say it's voluntary, as was the case early in the 20th Century. But the job market is so weak that many hang on to lousy, low-paying jobs just to put bread on the table and pay the rent and other necessities of life. Is that voluntary?

posted by: Shag from Brookline on 08.26.04 at 06:53 AM [permalink]



Do you think that maybe W went ahead and put these rules into affect because he knows he needs to live up to his part of his bargain with big corporations while he still can (i.e. his backers are concerned he might actually lose in November and want to get everything they can from him before he loses power)?

or do you think that Rove and Co. are betting they can spin it so that the swing state electorate actually believes they are better off (e.g. the 1 million more eligible for over time pay meme they are pushing)?

If the latter, seems pretty risky, especially in West Virginia, Ohio and Missouri.

posted by: Edo on 08.26.04 at 01:20 PM [permalink]



mrs mullet has several potted plants that are more entertaining, and are of more use than this one.

posted by: the mullet on 08.26.04 at 10:15 PM [permalink]



The reason the WaPo and other media outlets aren't publishing this story is that they directly benefit from the new rules. The majority of their employees aren't salaried reporters, they're hourly workers.

posted by: BevD on 08.27.04 at 09:28 AM [permalink]



You nailed it Bev. This ranks right up with media consolidation as a vested conflict to not report...

posted by: Mr.Murder on 08.31.04 at 11:39 PM [permalink]






Post a Comment:

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember your info?



















usdemvet -at- hotmail.com
or
usndemvet -at- usdemvet.com (coming soon)






All the original material © 2002-2003 Jo Fish
steal what you want, all I ask is an attribution of some sort
Thanks