New Year’s Resolution: Buy American!

Tony appeared on the September 18, 2011 episode of WADL’s television show, “Detroit Wants 2 Know” hosted by political consultant and advocate Steven Hood. The topic was the American Jobs Act and Tony debated Republican Stefano Milletello.

Rite Aid

And yet here I sit trying to figure out how to write something that I want to be profound and impactful. Oddly, I’ve been struggling with words which of course are the trademark of what I do because I feel some obligation to try to write something that has never been written before; try to write something that will have such great impact you will feel compelled to want to share with others. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for all the many things that my relationship with organized labor has given me over the years and I find myself fishing for words in a thesaurus sea and not getting even a nibble.

So let me begin by thanking some of the people and organizations that have made organized labor such an impactful part of every single person who lives in this great country:

Autoworkers, teachers, sheet metal workers, policemen, firemen, nurses, grocery store workers, pharmacy workers, operating engineers, professional athletes, steelworkers, truck drivers, bridge workers, roofers, hairdressers, garment workers, municipal employees, state employees, carpenters, plumbers and pipefitters, brick layers, printers, journalists, actors, radio broadcasters, electricians, custodians, food service workers, boiler operators, farmworkers, warehouse workers, delivery drivers, postal workers, stagehands, and camera operators. And, of course the thousands of others that I have forgotten as I give thanks to what they do and remembering on a daily basis what an impact they have on every single person’s life.

As I was pondering what to write here it occurred to me that probably what I want to say has been said many times before and probably much better than I will, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy of the effort. You see I think back to my childhood, I think to those days where my grandfather who worked for the city of Detroit many years ago as a union member; how he worked tirelessly with pride and dedication towards something that was worthy of his time and energy. That thing was pride in his work and as he reminded me often that he OWED them an honest day’s labor for what he got in return. As a child I’m not sure I really understood what that meant. As my grandfather’s days as a hard-working dedicated employee slipped into retirement and as he lived the rest of his life utilizing the same skills and excellence that made him a valued employee of the city of Detroit for many years, he took care of his home, his family, and ultimately his community.

How do you truly pay tribute to millions of men and women who sacrificed a great deal in order for us to enjoy things that we will hear about a great deal this weekend. Things like the 40 hour workweek. Like the three-day weekend. Like collective bargaining. Like so many other things that we have come to take for granted all too often in the modern world that doesn’t seem to value sacrifices of the past and the heroic vision of those who fought to give us those things we barely speak of any longer.

On September 5, 2011, I will be walking with the men and women of the historic UAW local 174, founded by the one and only union legend Walter Reuther. As if that weren’t enough to move me, I’ve been very thoughtful the last few days as I think that with each step I take along the parade route I will be walking where literal blood and sweat and tears helped form the very basis and foundation on which the modern-day union movement has been defined by. I hardly think I am overdramatizing the significance of the parade route or the men and women that I will be walking with proudly. In fact, I think the exact opposite is true. History books rarely tell the stories any longer of the struggle to bring sanity into the workplace. Sadly, I believe that as we get further away from the blood that was shed, the diligence that was demanded, the courage that went unquestioned, and the inner resolve of men and women who clearly understood that as Americans if we were to live and lead lives of great promise and purpose, if we were to give to our children much more than that that was given to us, that they would do whatever it takes to do the right thing. Can you imagine that happening again today? I can.

As I look to union leaders like Mary Kay Henry, or James Hoffa, Jr., or Bob King, or Roger Robinson, or Kevin Moore, or people like Richard Trumka, I really do believe that a new paradigm in organized labor is being defined even as I type these words. I am paying attention, and what I am typing fills me with great hope that a future that will be remembered by men and women and historians will be defined by the names I just typed above and many more.

As I’ve said on my show many, many times, if you are not in a union you need to get in one. If you are in the union, you need to get closer to that union. And at a time when the dialogue nationally seems to take us away from the rational argument that can clearly be made that without the leadership of organized labor in modern times not only will we not see progress without their vision we may not have a future at all.

There are stark reminders all around us that the battle for America, a new and bold battle, must be fought. It seems clear as the political divide has sharpened its edge and as political parties have taken sides that there will be a body count when this is all said and done. Oh, I would hope I don’t mean that blood will have to be shed once again, I would clearly love to believe that words, poignant, progressive words will be able to bridge any divide it seems clear as of this writing that they should, but have now been around long enough to know that what seems clear and rational does not necessarily mean victory for the majority of us is close at hand, in fact, I believe what I have learned, is that anything but that is true.

Yes, we can talk about people voting against their own best interest, and we have enough evidence to prove that that is true. We can talk about legalities and the lack thereof; we can talk about common sense and the lack thereof. We can even pretend that if we speak long enough and passionately enough that even the most conservative amongst us will see that the right thing to do takes very little sacrifice at all because as greed and partisanship and the result of those have become about only one thing and that one thing is winning you must begin to wonder has common sense died in today’s world?

Of course Labor Day can mean many things to many people. Of course it’s a reflection of time gone by and the importance of what Labor has done for this country. It’s also a reminder of our current day struggle and fight to both win back lost accomplishments and begin to define a new starting point for the future. But today this writing is about the future, it is about the fight, the worthy fight, to once again ask the hard-working men and women of this great country of ours to stop keeping score and start fighting for basic rights and a secure future for all of us.

Seemingly, what I have written seems quite easy and clear and it is. But the path to establishing fundamental and basic rights is at a crossroads with an extreme ideology that says every man for himself and as much is that irritates and frustrates many of us the truth is money is winning.

So what does this mean? Well it means if we pay attention to our past and we embrace the lessons that history taught us then we know that it is time to stand up to the tyranny and draconian dictatorial philosophy of the uber wealthy in this country who are demanding more of our money, more of our time, and more of our rights. It means that you no longer have any luxury of thinking that someone else will fight this fight for you, in fact if you believe that is what will happen then you have already lost and if you continue to think that we are just one election away or the next fight away from winning then again you are setting yourself up to lose. Oh, you don’t have to believe me, in fact I will suggest that most of you will agree with me but what does concern me is how many of you will do just that: just agree with me and nothing else.

You see, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day I am connected to a majority of people who do agree with me. That’s a good thing. I do not discount that. But it is not enough. You see, in order for us, You and I, the majority of us, what we need to do is to start organizing, educating, deliberating, and then we need to act swiftly. You need to grow a social conscience, you need to volunteer for committees, you need to join your Democratic club, you need to volunteer to circulate petitions, you need to seek out find and convince people who have like-minded beliefs and an ability and desire to run for public office to do just that. You need to help those people raise money, because money at the end of the day is how this game is played. You see we have to stop acting like just because we are in the majority, at least as society goes, that if we can just get those people out to vote, we win. And to some extent that is true, but it’s not enough and if there’s anything about that you don’t understand then ask somebody that does, learn it, and then teach it. We no longer have any luxury as it comes to waiting for our future to find us. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that unless and until all of us decide we want tomorrow to look different than today and we make a genuine effort to turn this thing around, this thing by the way we call democracy, and we actually show up and standup and do the backbreaking work that needs to be done, nothing will get done.

What does all of this or any of this for that matter have to do with organized labor? Everything. They get it. They always have. But without our help, without you when I showing up and dedicating ourselves to be agents of change there just aren’t enough people to win this war on the middle class. You don’t only have a responsibility but I believe an obligation to showing up and standing up for this fight. And again, if there’s anything about this at all you don’t understand, please ask me or anyone that might know the answer.

On September 5, 2011, with every single step that I take along that parade route a part of my mind will be thinking about tomorrow, and the part of my heart will be aching for yesterday. But all of me will be focused on that moment because I understand the gravity of what we do from this point forward and I have immersed myself in the world of organized labor because it does not just bring safety, it doesn’t just bring clarity, it doesn’t just bring bodies, and it doesn’t just bring leadership; it brings a chance and as long as we have a chance then we have hope and as long as we hold onto hope as strongly as we can and we will win.

Please join me, please.

Happy Labor Day.

This song and video was written and created by one of my amazing listeners and he allowed me to share it with all of you. It is still a work in progress but it rocks as is. Enjoy and share

TheBanksters -UNTITLED PROTEST SONG
Words & Music By John Marra c. 2011 P. EdSongs Music

I am an American worker – but I work in Hong Kong
I should’a seen it comin’ – should’a known it all along
That you would devise a way to – outsource me

But here we are, on a slow boat to China
all lookin’ at each other, like; “Dude, what happened?!”
What gets me is how you sold it to us, man!
Corporatocracy…brought to you by;
The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce – and Jesus

We’ll blame disease on the poor – and poverty on the sick
Cut their wages
Raise their prices
Take their houses
Blame it on “THEM”

We’ll turn:
Neighbor against neighbor
And worker against worker
And church against church
State against state
Sons against fathers
Salts against Peppers
And Bed Wetters against Pants Poopers!

I’m a UNION autoworker – on your assembly line
I’m tired, but a hard day’s pay got me feelin’ mighty fine
BUT THEN YOU CALL ME A CONSUMER!
Now listen to me, Stan!
I’ll spell it for ya, college-boy…
I’m a – H U M A N
It’s only the dogs who think it’s a dog eat dog world (ruff)

Well you don’t need no book learnin’ – to read between the lines
(sucker)
And all that crap you buy at Walmart…
(sucker)
was made by COMMIES, in China and good ol’ Vietnam
The American worker is overpaid (and guilty)

Jesus came to see me – and he told me he’s mad at you (halleluiah)
He said; “I told ‘em what I told ‘em – then I told ‘em what I said.
That’s when they all betrayed me – just like y’all doin’ right now.”

I hate it when union haters say we’re lazy and not too bright.
And I hate it even more when a union brother or sister comes along
and does somethin’ stereotypical, and proves those fascists right!

I hear-tell they even got some o’ y’all votin’ Republican now.
That’s a bit like bein’ a vegetarian cannibal, ain’t it?

You know I’m an actual person – you’re a corporation hain’t.
When General Electric shows me his privates, I’ll believe you ain’t
just tryin’ to steal all my money – and all our property, too.
You talk about “FREEDOM AIN’T FREE”
Ah, phooey on freedom, it’s all about me!
You sold our towns and factories, to Communists!
Now you’re tryin’ to privatize our roads – and fire the government.

We’re Citizen’s United – into an Army Of One.
But we can’t be united, cuz they’re ain’t no WE in ONE!
We’re all Libertarian Christ’es
Without the cross, or love, or charity.
But I am all-knowing and omnipotent.
And after thorough investigation, I’ve come to the conclusion
that MY God created everything for me.

I’m going to have to ask you to leave now
For you are trespassing on MY universe.

Let’s first talk about a miracle that allowed the people of Wisconsin to gather enough signatures to place 6 Republicans on a recall ballot to begin with. For those of you who are reading this think long and hard about what a miracle that is, because it is a miracle. Normally when we hear the word recall a large percentage of people will just roll their eyes, maybe slug you on the arm and say good luck, or say “I’m with you”, or whatever. Others become out right outraged because they think that there’s no chance in hell that you will be able to accomplish what you want to accomplish. So what did the passionate people of Wisconsin do, they rolled up their sleeves, put on a comfortable pair of shoes, and went on a door knocking spree showing up at every event and eventually succeeded in placing 6 Republicans on notice that their jobs were in jeopardy.

Think about this: only 13 state legislators have ever been recalled in this country since 1908. Two were recalled in Wisconsin yesterday and another one almost one in a district that is mostly overwhelmingly Republican. Whether you believe it or not that there may have been voting tampering going on, the truly remarkable victory should not go on uncelebrated and surely should not go unnoticed.

Here in Michigan, where we have a variety of recall efforts going on and all of them worthy of the time and effort that volunteers are putting into them yet we have not seen near the successes the people of Wisconsin did. This is not to denigrate the work that is being done here in Michigan by those hardy volunteers that have struggled, fought, and succeeded in gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures to recall either a legislator or the governor of the state of Michigan. We in Michigan can only hope to be as successful of those in Wisconsin and of course it is my prayer that we are very successful. And again, I am not looking to denigrate even in the slightest way what the volunteers of what has been accomplished here in Michigan, and we should all be fueled by the success of what’s happened in Wisconsin because democracy worked exactly as it was supposed to.

I realize the mainstream media is reporting what happened in Wisconsin as some kind of blow to organized labor and democracy but they couldn’t be more wrong if they tried. Hundreds of thousands of people went out and voted on an August day and showed up in numbers that would rival a presidential election. How can that not be a victory for democracy? If you watched the coverage last night on cable television or read about it this morning in any one of thousands of places where you can read about what happened in Wisconsin, or if you happen to be fortunate enough to talk to any of the people that volunteered at the polls you’ll know that the vast majority of people that were involved on a volunteer effort yesterday were energized and excited by what was going on. Again, I realize the ultimate goal of turning the Senate back to the Democrats was not accomplished but that doesn’t mean again that there wasn’t great victory and great reward for the wonderful patriots and soldiers that have worked diligently to make sure that the middle class has a voice in this state that has a proud heritage.

I for one hope that the example that is set by the people of Wisconsin can fan the flames of the fight here in the great state of Michigan. I have faith, even in the face of evidence that may suggest that what we are trying to accomplish in Michigan with our recalls is nearly impossible, but I also know with all my heart that the people of the state of Michigan when they set their mind at something can be defeated by no one entity, no one company, and not one naysayer.

There are a plethora of flights that will take place between now and November of 2012 but if we stay committed to the cause and to the perfection of the idea of what democracy means to most of us than the only way we lose is if we quit and I for one believe that none of you have quit in you. How is it ladies and gentlemen, how is it that just over 7 months into a new Michigan legislative body that we have been able to ignite so much passion and so much purpose by so many people? The answer is really quite simple, it is because there are more of us than there are of them and we have finally had enough.

So I ask one more time, fellow patriots, and please understand that it is no longer just enough to show up, it is now time to stand up. Are you ready to take this journey with me? Stand up and let’s go!

LYRICS:

Raise da debt ceiling!
Raise da debt ceiling!
Raise da debt ceiling!
Raise da debt ceiling!

14 trillion in debt
but yo we ain’t got no qualms
droppin $100 bills
and million dollar bombs

spending money we don’t have
that’s the name of the game
they call me cumulo nimbus
because you KNOW I make it rain

bail out all kind of cars
got all kind of whips
ladies ask me how I get em
I tell em STIMULUS

Social Security surplus?
Oh, guess what? it’s gone
I got my hands on everything
like Dominique Strauss Kahn

ain’t got no Medicare trust fund
son, that’s just absurd
spending every single penny that
we see, son, have you heard?

ain’t got no moral objections
ain’t got kind of complaints
ain’t got no quantitative
statutory budget restraints

so…
[CHORUS]

Yo, we up in the Fed
and we living in style
Spending lots of money
while we sipping crystal

still making it rain
and yeah it be so pleasing
wait, not making it rain–
we be “Quantitative Easing!”

QE1, QE2
QE4, QE3
Dropping IOU’s
in every fund that I see

printing the cash
inflating the monies
callin up China
“a-yo we straight out of 20′s!”

in the club
we be louding out
while to the market, yeah
we be crowding out

on the beach getting tan
and sipping Corona
we got a monetary plan–
and it involves a lot of toner…

[CHORUS]

So if you look at the chart
and examine the trend
we borrow 40 cents of every
single dollar we spend

and non-discretionary spending
increases every day
do you have a comment for Committee?
I MAKE IT RAIN

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker
would you beam me up?
A Congressperson cutting spending?
Couldn’t dream me up

We’re gonna default
if we follow this road!
I should have thought of this
14 trillion dollars ago!

I’m the king of the links
I’m a menace at tennis
I’m sticking spinnaz on my rims
picking winnaz in business

if you’re looking for some cash
it’s about to get heavy
I got some big ol’ piles of money
and guess what–they shovel ready

[CHORUS]

Visit the links below for more Reason coverage on the debt, deficit and government spending:

Five Facts About the Debt

http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/25/five-facts-about-the-debt

The Facts About the Debt Ceiling

http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/18/the-facts-about-the-debt-ceili

Reason.com Topics: Government Spending

http://reason.com/topics/goverment-spending

“Raise the Debt Ceiling” is the third of a series of collaborations between Remy and Reason.tv. To watch Remy’s other videos, go to http:youtube.com/goremy

Music by Remy. Video shot and produced by Meredith Bragg.

My frustration of late stems from a variety of things, some of which include a more progressive vision that fits with my own personal vision of where our country needs to be than more traditional Democrats, and I get that. Disappointment that the Republicans did so well in the 2010 election cycle. An ongoing observation that although as Democrats we are very passionate in word we are not nearly as passionate in deed, and with the radio show I’m doing now, I’m hoping to change that somewhat.

Recently MichiganLiberal.com and First Shift with Tony Trupiano commissioned a poll from Denno Research of Lansing, MI where we asked 600 Democrats throughout the state of Michigan how they felt on a variety of issues that affect not just Democrats but all of us. Most of the questions were informational in nature and there were a handful that I had a specific passion for. Those two issues were basically leadership of the Democratic Party in Michigan and how Democrats saw the role of unions in that political process.

Now on the surface the results were neither surprising, shocking, or life-changing but they were illuminating for some reasons that I’d like to share with you now, and I’m hoping that in some way that poll will help move the conversation in a new direction, for reasons I’ll explain below.

Again, I love being a Democrat. I sincerely believe that the Democratic Party offers this country the best chance at a equality in any way you’d like to define that word equality. Although some might find that naïve, it is my learned opinion after years of observation that the Democratic Party works steadfastly to provide opportunities that Republicans would not even consider. There’s no question that at some level I would open my arms to all, and I get that I am a bleeding heart liberal. If money were not an issue I assure you I would make sure that everybody had a household, that we all had healthcare today, that we all had excellent education K through 16, and that if a higher degree were desired that we would provide it at whatever cost it would take. If it were up to me I would be the king of entitlements and I absolutely have no compunction sharing that with you, but I am a realist and I understand that at some level not only do we have to draw the line somewhere but I realize people would not appreciate everything given to them, and I do know that.

I guess at some level I want more from my political party. Leadership, again define it whatever way you would like to define it, it doesn’t seem to inspire as it once did. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s just the simple fact that as I get a bit older my romanticized idea of what political leadership is is fading into some distant darkness that I don’t want to recognize. Maybe it’s the simple reality that as time changes part of my mind hasn’t and that I can live with that, but that doesn’t mean that the dream that I have deep in my heart where presidents like FDR and John F. Kennedy captured the imagination and made us all believe that possibility was a good thing not some crazy idea for wide-eyed liberals who just don’t care about truth.

You see, as I look at my three sons, and my grandson, I do wonder at a very deep level what is being left to them. I know that sounds clichéd but for me it’s not. You see, I love a country that gave my grandparents and my parents something very special: a chance. I don’t feel that were leaving much of a chance to those generations that are immediately behind us and behind them. And maybe this newfound pessimism that I’m living with is what’s making me most uncomfortable, but the reality is I don’t believe that in a country where everything truly is possible where at the same time so much has been taken away from so many, that I don’t want to give in to a new reality that says only those who have access win. I’m willing to fight that. I’m willing to fight hard against that. And I’m betting if we can finally figure this out collectively we can all win.

I was asked the other day why am such a staunch supporter of unions. My answer is really quite simple, it’s because of what unions stand for, do, believe in, and create. Within the collective consciousness of union leadership something special grows that does not happen in most other places. When we speak of solidarity, collective bargaining, democracy, fairness, justice, and opportunity in my mind there is no better structure ever invented or designed that is more perfect than organized labor

Stop and take a look around. Allow all your senses to fully develop and appreciate everything you see, smell, taste, and touch. Our reality is not something that was created by a sitcom producer or a movie of the week director but by millions of men and women who no matter what strata they were in found a way to contribute to the very chair of which are sitting on or the eyeglasses you’re using to read this and the computer that magically brings you the world on your desktop. There is nothing in this country, literally nothing, where organized labor didn’t have a say

From the buildings in which our children are taught, and the teachers who teach them; from the cars that transport us to work on a daily basis, to the molds that make the tires that allow that vehicle to move forward, someone in organized labor had a hand in that. And, the immense nature by which we have created the universe that continues to astound and entrances all has become expected and unfortunately, not as appreciated as it should be.

I have a great many friends in organized labor. I am truly blessed to know some of the finest union minds this country has today. And to the person, it is not just their minds that motivates them, but their hearts. In my lifetime, I have grown to love the union movement because of what it has done for us, what it is doing for us and what it will do for us. As an example, this week the United Auto Workers (UAW) begin negotiations with General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and the state of Michigan. Now, I am not psychic, and I have no idea how these negotiations will eventually conclude. I do know that very dedicated, hard-working people will work diligently over the upcoming weeks to make sure that fairness, justice, and democracy is respected and adhered to. And I know, although it will not be perfect, that as I pray every night for these negotiators on both sides of the aisle, in management, and in labor, that their creative and collective thoughts will begin to restore some sanity to what has happened over the last 5 years in this country.

I do not believe that Republicans think the way I just wrote in the above paragraph.

Not only am I an optimist, I’m an idealist as well, perhaps a very dangerous combination. But I make no apologies for this because I still believe in the power of the union with a capital “U” and a lower case “u”. I realize there are skeptics who no longer believe in the power and beauty and structure of organized labor. I don’t claim to understand what their point of view is or from what angle they’re looking at what I’m saying because we obviously do not see the same thing. Where this disconnect happens is beyond me. And I will never be an apologist for those who have the other point of view because frankly I don’t believe they really do see the same thing I do. But I know this, without the vision, excellence, creativity, and commitment, the same things that I enjoy, the same chair that I sit on, the same television I watch, the same meal I enjoy, and the same place of worship we attend, would not have been possible without organized labor.

I could write this off to silly things like jealousy, but that would make no sense. I could write it off to envy, but that would seem less than logical. I’ve contemplated on many an occasion why there is this hatred for something so amazing and yet I never seem to come do a conclusion that makes any sense at all. I adamantly defended the actions of organized labor and I do it freely and without guilt for most of the reasons I’ve already shared. While the other side sinks their teeth in and like rabid animals refusing to relent seemingly for no other reason than that they don’t want to be wrong. I know I wasn’t raised this way, and I find it hard to believe anybody else was raised that way, but they were, that I now know. Now, as I continue to work diligently on a daily basis to undo that perception, and I promise you I will never give up that fight, I do believe, because actions do speak louder than words, which eventually some of those naysayers will come around.

Were I to end this rambling here, and I promised to end this soon, maybe that would be enough. But there is one more point I want to make, because I need for you to understand amongst the many reasons that I wanted to do that poll was not to ever make anybody look bad, not that I think the poll did that, it was to prove my point of view or make my suspicions correct, which by the way they were. But the reason I did it is I needed some science, something tangible, that confirmed my belief. 83% of the people that were polled in this poll, clearly see that unions are under assault in this country right now. 83%! That is a number that is unheard of in any poll. The poll also told us that organized labor is not doing as good a job as we would like in explaining and expressing how they are leading us. So here’s the good news. If 83% of the people in this poll see that unions are being harassed, and a good percentage of them would like to see unions take a bigger role in our future, then I hope labor will see these results and respond accordingly. What does that mean? Well I’ll leave that up to organized labor, as it is not my job to tell them what to do but it is my job to tell you how they’re doing, and from where I’m sitting there doing awfully well.

Think about any other business that would be stressed, torn, and tattered, for so long and so strenuously as has organized labor over the last 5 years. How have they responded? Brilliantly! Eloquently! Compassionately! Bravely!

I am deeply proud that I am a member of organized labor. And I want to share with you that I am as committed as I have ever been to making sure their story gets told in every way it can be told and toward that and it is my hope and prayer that this radio show stays on the air as long as I’m able to utter a word.

We’ve all heard the saying, “those who fail to learn history, are destined to repeat it.” Maybe sometimes that’s not a bad thing.

Forty-seven percent of likely Democratic voters said that unions are not the future of the party, and 43 percent said that the party spends too little time preparing for that future, according to a poll conducted by Lansing-based Denno Research on behalf of radio show First Shift with Tony Trupiano and political website Michigan Liberal. The results were most striking in Detroit, where 56 percent of respondents said they believe that the party is out-of-date.

“This speaks to the need for the leadership of both the Democratic Party and organized labor to tell people how they are changing as Michigan changes,” said Tony Trupiano, host of First Shift with Tony Trupiano, and Eric Baerren, editor of Michigan Liberal, in a joint statement. “It’s clear that what resonated with voters in the past no longer works, and Democrats and organized labor need to try something new. For unions, who a vast majority of Democrats believe are under attack, this is both imperative and an opportunity to lead.” According to the poll, 83 percent of Democratic voters statewide say labor itself is being targeted.

In parts of the state, however, they might have some serious convincing to do. In the tri-Thumb region, and in northern Michigan – including the Upper Peninsula – respondents overwhelmingly believe that last year’s savage beating the party took at the polls was the result of a lack of leadership, poor messaging and bad candidates. Nearly seven in 10 of Upper Peninsula respondents thought that. In Detroit, 50 percent of Democratic voters chose this. It was the overall top choice for Democrats across the field with 46 percent of responses. Thirty-eight percent of participants believed that 2010 was just simply a bad year for Democrats. Four percent said that both were equally responsible.

This may also be reflected in questions about whether voters believe that their interests are being represented in both Washington D.C. and Lansing. Forty-four percent of poll participants said they believe that elected Democrats are not doing enough to represent their interests in Washington, while an even 50 percent say they are. In Lansing, where Democrats have no power, 52 percent of Democrats say their interests are being represented by elected Democrats against 38 percent who say it’s not the case.

The poll also found that Democrats overwhelmingly say they believe that public employees are not overpaid (51 percent to 40 percent) and that the law empowering emergency financial managers is bad (70 percent to 23 percent).

The poll sampled 600 voters identified with Census data and past voting records and was conducted July 16-18. It has a margin of error of 3 percent.

This morning during my show I reference the former television show The West Wing. I was actually quite surprised by the e-mail response I got just at the mention of that show. Even conservatives, who may not be all that warm to the West Wing, wrote and told me that they missed it as well. Why do we miss the show The West Wing? I think I have that answer.

The television show The West Wing made things feel possible. Yes it was made-for-TV and there’s no question that things don’t quite work that way in the real world as they do on television, but there was something about the West Wing that really made people think. Yes there were epic showdowns politically on The West Wing no question that’s true. Yes, the Democrats usually won, but it’s television after all and magic can happen.

In the real world what’s at stake is dire, stressful, dramatic, impactful, serious, and often times incredulous. But surely politics is never a game, not in the real world. The world of Jeb Bartlett and Toby Ziegler I understand is a fantasy world; there’s no question that’s true as well, but the part of me that romanticizes politics, that part that believes that magic can happen, that part deep down inside of me that says we can compromise, we can win, we can do the right thing! Well, that part never seems to dim in my world and I’m grateful for that.

Right now it’s the debt ceiling, and who knows what next week will bring. There’ll always be something at the center, at the real core, of what society needs. Issues are never lacking in the world of politics and unfortunately because the two major political parties have decided to paint themselves in definitive terms the idea of negotiating, or God forbid compromise, seems to be more of a joke than a reality anymore. I guess at some level I’m discouraged to be honest with you. At some level I’d like to think that sanity will reveal itself at some point in the political process and those who we have elected to lead us will actually do just that, but it rarely seems to happen anymore.

In 2010 when Barack Obama was elected president of these United States of America millions of Americans rejoiced for all the right reasons. You see, in my opinion we live in a very progressive country. Even those that believe themselves to be Republicans really do have more in common with Progressives than they admit. The three or five issues that really differentiate us have been painted in such a way that we are forced to believe that we really have little in common, but that is not true. And honestly we know that it is not true, yet we allow the conversation to define us instead of us defining the conversation. I remember episodes of The West Wing where I thought there’s no way they can make a situation work, there’s no way this situation will reveal itself in a way that makes sense for everyone, there’s just no way. And yet Aaron Sorkin, the brilliant writer that he was always had a vision, I dream, an idea, of what this country could and should look like and I believe ultimately that is why The West Wing attracted such a large audience. It bridged the debate for us, it allowed for a kind of discourse that never really happens in Washington, DC. You see in the world of The West Wing, that delicious television show that gave us goosebump moments, tears, laughter, drama, and a dose of reality from time to time, and in the end, as any great writer can do, things always worked for the best, and only on television I know.

But it’s clear we don’t live in that world. It’s crystal clear that today’s politicians care more about winning their point then winning for people. When big issues present themselves now I really do just breathe deeply, and wonder where the conversation will go. Of course the media feeds in all this, it’s their job quite honestly, and I get it they are in it for the ratings and ratings equal dollars and dollars equal nicer sets or more employees or greater corporate profits, and not unlike the politicians that we’ve elected, the media doesn’t care about the general public, they care about the bottom line. Of course those of you that listen to the show know that I have that three-word phrase, “follow the money” that I always use. Well it’s is true in media as it is in politic. And as I continue to romanticism about what could be I am all too often presented with the reality. And, heavy sigh, the reality just sucks right now.

Ultimately, I hate stagnation. I’m very much a guy that loves progress, I’m the kind a guy that wakes up in the morning thinking well today may just be that day where somebody makes a difference and it matters. But alas, the real truth always presents itself the way it’s supposed to and we end up ending the day more often than not the way we began it only we replace the optimism with pessimism, infused if we’re lucky with a little bit of hope.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a realist. Politics being the beast that it is has its own 14 heads 13 arms 23 legs and 93 I don’t know, maybe hearts, but I doubt it! Our republic is in dire need of Aaron Sorkin to write a script, don’t you think? I was mindful when I watched The West Wing that yeah he wrote the Republicans lines as well as the Democrats no question that was true. He created politicians that seemed to want what was best even while understanding their political priorities. And it wasn’t that Aaron Sorkin wasn’t a realist either, yes even Jeb Bartlett lost every now and then. The Democrats were always the good guys, and loyalties were sometimes fractured to the breaking point. But there was an underlying compassion to it all, and it was more in the way we felt when we watched the show and not necessarily what was said  but what was presented. Aaron Sorkin gave us choices. Real politicians don’t anymore. And that’s just the sad truth.