A little good news: awakening from a coma

Finally, some folks are wising up. Finally, some people are realizing that when it comes to political and social power, words alone won't cut it and even criticism, unconnected to action, is unavailing.

AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka, who heads of one of the nation's most powerful labor unions, today[, Friday,] called current state and federal budget proposals a "despicable canvass of cruelty" and warned of consequences for politicians who even indirectly support them.

"It doesn't matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside," said Trumka in an address at the National Press Club. "The outcome is the same either way."

I have for I don't know how many years been saying is that there comes a point where even what is supposedly "pretty good" is simply not good enough - and when the best you offer people is the hope that with you things might get worse more slowly than they otherwise might, when your best argument is "god forbid" the "other side" should win an election, that is not good enough.

"If leaders aren't blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families' interests, working people will not support them. This is where our focus will be - now, in 2012, and beyond," [Trumka] said.

The message, clearly aimed at the O crowd and the rest of the Dimcrats, came down to "If you're not there for us, we won't be there for you." Damn well about - in fact, past - time. Now we just have to see if it's more than words.

Eugene V. Debs famously said "I'd rather vote for what I want and not get it than vote for what I don't want and get it." Let's hope that labor has at long last absorbed that wisdom.