The Terror in NYC Continues

The New York Transport Workers Union doesn't seem to be backing down from its campaign to terrorize New Yorkers into meeting its demands. It's really hard for me to believe that there are people in the world who are so selfish and evil that they're willing to inflict pain and suffering on millions of people to get what they want. How many people will die because ambulances couldn't get to them in time because people are driving to work instead of taking the subway? How many working class people will lose their jobs because they couldn't get to work on time? At the end of the day, there is very little difference between the Transport Workers Union and Al Quada. Both groups believe it's ok to hurt innocent people to get what they want. That kind of sick narcissism has no place in a civilized society.

With that said, I hope the media begins shining a spotlight on the acts of terrorism being committed by Pataki and Bloomberg. People have a right not to show up for work. They also have a right to encourage other people not to show up for work. The state has no right to threaten people with fines and jail time for striking or organizing others to strike. Pataki and Bloomberg's attempt to use the guns of government to give them an edge in negotiations is thuggishness at its worse. (To the extent the Transport Workers Union is using the guns of the government to prevent transit workers who want to work from working, they are engaging in thuggish behavior too. People have a right to work, even if limousine driving union bosses don't think they do).

I hope this strike ends soon. Unquestionably, the city should stop threatening to fine and jail strikers. But, it should still play hardball. A small group of people cannot be allowed to shut down an entire city. Bloomberg should give strikers 12 hours to return to work. Those who don't should be fired and permanently banned from working for the city. Union bosses who encourage the strike to continue should be permanently denied access to Bloomberg and the public transit management, effectively ending their careers as union representatives in New York City. If the union was engaged in a controlled strike, in which the lives of management was made harder, I would be sympathetic. But, a full strike that shuts down the entire city and hurts millions of innocent New York is immoral. It's economic terrorism at its worse.

Shame on both Bloomberg and the union!