Comments of UAW Region 5 Director Jim Wells at the Retiree Leadership Retreat, 5/4/05, in Lake Ozark, Missouri. Recorded and played on KNON radio in Dallas on May 11
Regional Director welcomed about 80 delegates from the 17-state Region.
The Iraq war came up first. Wells said that the Iraq war is taking all the money away from American people. He has been cautioned not to talk about it. He told the crowd, "People say, 'don't talk about that' don't talk about Iraq." And yet, the war has become too important to pretend it doesn't matter.
Wells pointed out that one of the audience members was carrying around a clipping of his nephew, recently killed in Iraq. Wells complimented U.S. soldiers, "Nobody ever heard me say that they're not doing a brave job over there, and we're proud of them. But billions of dollars are being spent over there just so his oil buddies can make 200% profit. They make so much profit they can't even tell you about it!" He was interrupted many times by applause.
Wells went on to compare oil company profits with the problems that working people have, such as the ongoing attacks on Social Security and Medicaid. Here is his recommendation: "We should be standing up, we should be marching on Washington, We should be telling them that, by God, we're not going to take it any more!"
The Director pointed out that anyone who speaks up in America runs the risk of being called unpatriotic. He said, "The news media has been whipped in line." He said that he realized that not everyone agreed with him. He said, "There are probably some people in this room I make mad. Well, I'm not sorry. I'm going to speak my mind. If we don't speak the truth, this country is going to continue to go straight down. I don't know what's next after Social Security."
In the question and answer session, Ruth Hise of Greenville talked about a proposed Texas law that would put microchips on car inspection stickers. She said it was an outrageous assault on our privacy, because the government would always know where our cars are and where we've been.
People from Missouri talked about a big rally and lobbying effort they had the previous week at their state capitol. Jim Baldwin said that the United States has plenty of oil in reserve, and that there is no reason for a war overseas. Several people talked about the health care crisis. Ed Reach of Local 848 said that Americans are being treated, "like a toad in the water." Frogs don't notice it if the water is heated very slowly, until they are cooked. Several people proposed marches, rallies, or pickets. Wells responded, "I'm game for anything!" He added that we need to seek out allies for our public activities.
Wells encouraged everyone to continue thinking through proposals for action. He said, "Speak out and you'll be called a troublemaker. We'd better all become troublemakers!"
Back to "Study Problems" Feedback Home Page Headlines
Retiree activists at the May 4-5 conference in Missouri previewed a new video on Social Security. It is narrated by award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis.
She said that privatization of Social Security would cost the United States $2 trillion, which would basically have to be borrowed from foreign governments, especially China. Dukakis asked, "Who's going to pay all those debts? Our grandkids?"
The main proposal would cut Social Security benefits 18% for those who are now now 45 years old. The cuts would be even deeper for younger people. Dukakis predicted, "The only guaranteed winner, in my opinion, is Wall Street."
The video showed that Social Security is American government's most successful program. It has the lowest administrative costs for most the benefits. Social Security never missed a payment, and helped millions of seniors and disabled people's families escape from poverty. Privatization, it was explained, would increase risks and lower benefits. The video encouraged people to call a toll-free number, 1-877-762-8762.
UAW Education Rep JD Gray said that the video would be made available for UAW members across Region 5.
Back to "Study Problems" Feedback Home Page Headlines
Participants in the May 4-5 UAW conference in Missouri were asked to respond to the following 10 questions, then discuss their opinions:
1. Rank by importance:
__Improving public education
__Protecting the environment
__National security/foreign policy
__Economic'/tax policy
__Reproductive freedom
__Social Security reform
__Civil rights and liberties
__Health care affordability
__ National energy policy
__Other_______
Almost every group responded that Social Security was their most important issue. Health care was the second most popular choice.
2. Which of the following statements most closely matches your view when it
comes to extending the life of Social Security?
__Privatize the program to allow workers to invest some of their Social Security
payroll contributions in the stock market
__Cut benefits or raise the retirement age to extend the life of Social Security
__Use means testing to reduce benefits for wealthy or high income retirees
__No changes in Social Security are necessary
This question created an uproar among the survey participants. It contains most of the options being discussed in Congress and in the commercial news, but it does not even mention the most obvious solution to any problems in financing Social Security, according to Dr Nedra Kinerk of McAllen, who was the first one out of her chair when the discussion started. Kinerk said that people who make more than the present $90,000 cap on income should continue to pay Social Security taxes. She maintained, as did several others after her, that removing the cap would solve any future financial problems with Social Security.
3. Do you support new tax cuts targeted at working families?
__Yes, with our economy struggling, working families need a tax break.
__No, additional tax cuts at this time will only worsen the federal deficit
In the discussion, people pointed out that significant tax cuts for working families have not occurred and are not being proposed. The tax cuts are for the benefit of the most wealthy families; consequently, we don't want more of them.
4. Should the government put a high priority on stopping American manufacturing
jobs from being "outsourced" to overseas workers?
__Yes, the manufacturing jobs being lost are essential to our economy.
__No, American consumers benefit from cheaper goods made overseas.
All of the speakers opposed outsourcing.
5. Do you support raising the minimum wage from its current level of $5.15
per hour?
__Yes, the minimum wage should be increased to help workers make ends meet.
__No, raising the minimum wage will hurt small businesses and cost jobs
People felt that minimum wages, and all wages, need raising
6. Do you believe Medicare should be allowed to re-import less expensive drugs
from Canada to make prescription medicines more affordable for senior citizens?
__Yes, this will help millions of seniors who struggle to pay for their prescriptions.
__No, it is too risky as the safety of these drugs can't be guaranteed
People said that the drugs sold in Canada are often made in the United States. They just get them cheaper by buying in bulk, and sell them cheaper. The new "Prescription Drug Plan" being implemented in 2006 will not even allow the United States government to bargain over prices with the drug companies. By law, we have to accept their prices!
7. In your view, what is the best way to ensure health care coverage for all
Americans?
__Tax credits to help employers provide health care coverage for their employees
__Medical savings accounts that let families set aside money for health care
costs.
__A government-run system where everyone is guaranteed health care coverage.
There were differing opinions on the solution, but the audience was united on the problem and said that some kind of national health care needs to happen.
8. Thinking about the issue of education, which of the following is your number
one priority? Please select only one answer.
__Funding for early education programs like Head Start
__Funding for elementary and middle school education to reduce class sizes.
__Funding for tuition aid programs to make college more affordable.
A slim majority of speakers preferred increased spending in children's earlier years.
9. Do you support the use of vouchers that would provide parents with government
money to pay for private school tuition?
_-yes, parents deserve more options in choosing schools for their children.
__No, vouchers would destroy the public school system
The answer was "no."
10. How would you characterize our gun laws in America?
__We need stronger laws to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children,
and to keep military-style assault weapons off our streets.
__Our gun laws are about right. We need no new gun control legislation
__Our gun laws interfere with an individual's right to bear arms.
None of the participants felt strongly enough to argue this issue. If any opinion described the whole group, it was that gun control is a "hot button" distraction from the important political issues before us, such as Social Security.
11. What is your opinion about a woman's right to a safe and legal abortion?
__I support a woman's right to choose
__I support a woman's right to choose, but believe we need some restrictions
such as parental notification laws and mandatory waiting periods before having
an abortion.
__I oppose a woman's right to choose
See Question 10
12. When decisions about Social Security's future are being made what do you
think is most important?
__Keeping Social Security as a program with a guaranteed monthly benefit.
__Allowing younger workers to decide for themselves how their Social Security
contributions are invested.
__Both guaranteed benefits and investments are important
Most of the participants felt that keeping the guaranteed monthly benefit was the main issue.
13. Do you support increased defense spending to fight the war against terrorism?
__Yes, we need a stronger military to stop terrorist threats around the globe
__No, the money should be spent on domestic needs like education and health
care.
There were expressions on both sides of this issue, but a majority of the comments came down on the "no" side.
14. What is your opinion about our environmental laws in America?
__We need stronger environmental laws to protect our air and water, clean up
toxic waste, safeguard endangered wildlife and habitat and combat global warming.
__Our environmental policies are about right, no new laws are needed.
__Our environmental laws burden businesses, and hurt our economy.
Participants felt that improving the environment was a high priority.
Back to "Study Problems" Feedback Home Page Headlines