Linda, your letter ends with this: "Reagan was also the architect of the destruction of American manufacturing, of the destruction of our environment and climate, of the destruction of our system of public education." I admit I remember little of what Reagan did, probably because I was so involved in bringing up two sons and not paying m…
Linda, your letter ends with this: "Reagan was also the architect of the destruction of American manufacturing, of the destruction of our environment and climate, of the destruction of our system of public education." I admit I remember little of what Reagan did, probably because I was so involved in bringing up two sons and not paying much attention to politics. Can you recommend some readings that would enlighten me on Reagan's "destructions." I think to many Americans at the time, Reagan was a reassuring figure because of his Hollywood charm and his position against Russia. Thanks, Linda.
The marquee act was his firing of the nation's Air Traffic Controllers and hiring scabs to replace them. This decimated the PATCO Union and signaled to the business community that it was open season on Unions. That was a turning point where Unions lost an immense amount of their clout in national politics.
I remember it quite differently, the head of PATCO called a strike which was a direct threat to the economy of the nation, the president ordered them back to work while negotiations were to continue, PATCO refused and the president terminated their contract, some members went back to work and others refused, I used to know some of them, the union ceased to exist, commerce in the US continued to grow and we still have the safest flight ✈️ management that I know of. I say this as a 30 year union member who flew often during those years. PATCO was wrong to try to shut down the US economy and they paid the price.
I was in my teens at the time and only know the broad outlines. Thanks for fleshing it out a bit. Negotiations are a hardball game and PATCO got squashed.
Linda, your letter ends with this: "Reagan was also the architect of the destruction of American manufacturing, of the destruction of our environment and climate, of the destruction of our system of public education." I admit I remember little of what Reagan did, probably because I was so involved in bringing up two sons and not paying much attention to politics. Can you recommend some readings that would enlighten me on Reagan's "destructions." I think to many Americans at the time, Reagan was a reassuring figure because of his Hollywood charm and his position against Russia. Thanks, Linda.
The marquee act was his firing of the nation's Air Traffic Controllers and hiring scabs to replace them. This decimated the PATCO Union and signaled to the business community that it was open season on Unions. That was a turning point where Unions lost an immense amount of their clout in national politics.
I remember it quite differently, the head of PATCO called a strike which was a direct threat to the economy of the nation, the president ordered them back to work while negotiations were to continue, PATCO refused and the president terminated their contract, some members went back to work and others refused, I used to know some of them, the union ceased to exist, commerce in the US continued to grow and we still have the safest flight ✈️ management that I know of. I say this as a 30 year union member who flew often during those years. PATCO was wrong to try to shut down the US economy and they paid the price.
Thanks for this perspective.
I was in my teens at the time and only know the broad outlines. Thanks for fleshing it out a bit. Negotiations are a hardball game and PATCO got squashed.