It's the Labor Day Weekend...the time that was created for mattress sales. It is supposed to be about celebrating the efforts of labor
unions who have made the lives better for millions of Americans but, for some reason you have allowed corporations to dictate and in many places ceded our right to organize. Congratulations. Jeff Bezos wins and you...don't. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee...warning, I'm in a mood today.
FreeDumb
And it continues as millions of people deny the rights of the majority and demand their FreeDumb from vaccination efforts. It's September and soon we'll head back inside there will be Halloween Parties, Thanksgiving Dinners, Christmas Gatherings and funerals. It makes no sense...none. Meanwhile businesses are starting to get the hint that vaccinated people contribute more to the economy than dead people so they are doubling down on vaccine mandates. Some are even hiking insurance premiums for those who are unvaccinated. Good for them. You want your FreeDumb from vaccination? Pay up.
Ya gotta wonder how long it will be before Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) or Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) ban that practice...right?
Speaking of Texas
This is interesting. The Texas anti-abortion bill is causing all sorts of issues…one of the latest involves Uber and Lyft.
Lyft executives plan to create a legal-defense fund for drivers in response to a Texas law that severely restricts abortions, and rival Uber Technologies is doing the same. Lyft CEO Logan Green made the announcement on Twitter adding that the ride-hailing company would also donate $1 million to Planned Parenthood.
Less than two hours later Uber released a statement that they too were starting a legal fund for drivers.
They Cheered
Recently Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) was in Iowa stumping for the 45th president. He's the guy who talks to "45" often but can't remember if he spoke to him or how many time he spoke to him on the 6th of January. Anyway, he was in the Hawkeye State for a GOP event and when he said that he believed "45" will mount another campaign for president the people cheered. So, nope, like COVID it ain't over. Weary...
Oh yeah...guess who introduced Jordan? Dan Gable...I wish I had better news.... (Image: KCCI TV8)
Unemployment & Jobs
Very soon lots (millions) of people will lose their enhanced unemployment benefits. It's the way we force people to get off their lazy butts and get a job. Except it doesn't seem to be working that way. In the states that have already stopped benefits the job numbers are about the same as the states that did not. In other words that stick ain't workin'.
On Friday the Labor Department released the August Jobs Report and the U.S. added only 235,000 jobs last month…well off the mark set by Wall Street economists…they had predicted the creation of 720,000 jobs. Getting the blame in all of this is the rising cases of the Delta Variant of COVID19 as employees and employers continue to register concern about getting back to normal.
Meanwhile record numbers of Americans are voluntary quitting their jobs. Why? Because they have had it with low wages, lousy working conditions, crappy benefits...what they should be doing is organizing. (Image: Yahoo News)
Nursing Home Training
Back in the day I was taken to task by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals because they saw me delivering food trays to people in the long term care facility where I held the license. Actually, it was more than that. They witnessed me actually feeding a resident who could not help herself. They took me aside and said, "You can not do that you are not a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)." No, but it's my name on the administrators license... No matter, rules are rules. "You have to be trained to do direct patient care." You see, the State of Iowa requires 75 hours of training time, including 30 hours of clinical work. CNAs must then take and successfully pass the CNA competency exams.
Except now you don't.
The nursing home industry has successfully, for years, been guilty of underpaying staff and running their facilities with fewer and fewer CNA's. Now, rather than actually pay the people more they have convinced the state that folks don't need that mandated education to do direct patient care...so it's been scrapped. So if you're tired of cutting up meat at the packing plant head on over to the nursing home. You're still an "essential worker" who will be paid...squat.
House District 37
Hello Ankeny...we're talking about YOU! Friday night saw folks flocking to the stadium as Ankeny took on Ankeny Centennial in a football game. Centennial won 14 - 7. Lots of folks turned out for this the first head to head local match up. They were, shall we say, motivated.
In my time knocking doors for Andrea Phillips, who is running for an open seat in the Iowa Legislature there, I was (not) surprised at how many people had no idea there is a special election on September 14. But there is...and we've got a great chance of flipping that seat. Andrea has name recognition, she's a seasoned campaigner and she has veteran organizer Mary McAdams running the show there. The issue is not lack of "want" the issue is a lack of motivation...or maybe people just do not...care.
I do...and so should you. We've seen what happens when the state puts their future in the hands of the back-sliding Republican group who is in the majority in both the House and Senate. Iowa moves in a very bad direction from health care to voting, to education. You can make a difference Ankeny. You. Here is the website for Andrea Phillips...go...volunteer.
Partly Personal
Later today it's Flash Dine Des Moines. My Bride and her friend Carla Pope have been up to their necks in planning the event. It's not a huge crowd and everyone is expected to be in their "pod". Last year the event was cancelled...this year it's on. Perhaps we'll see you? Rules are pretty simple: 1) Everybody wears white; 2) You bring your own table, chairs, decorations; 3) You bring your own food and drink and we're out of there by 8PM. Where is it going to be held? You need to head to FlashDineDSM on Facebook.
Heading to Mason City tomorrow for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. And, nope there will not be hats and horns. It is the start of the ten days that leads up to Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement and the most holy day on the Jewish Calendar. We did not meet last year and this year social distancing and vaccinations are required. Sorry governor.
Have a great Sunday and let's try to remember what Labor Day really means. Thanks for reading.
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