The Iraqi Central Government is afraid of being undermined by its own privinces.

We have no business in this fight.  BRING THE TROOPS HOME.  We are not the militia for a weak central government.

..The government of Iraq's (click here) semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region has criticized a draft oil law approved by the Iraqi cabinet last month which would centralize control of most of the country's vast oil reserves.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) called on Iraq's parliament to reject the long-awaited law, saying it contradicted the "essence of the constitution".

The new hydrocarbons law is seen as crucial to the Opec producer's efforts to rebuild after years of war by giving investors more solid legal guarantees. It has been in the making for years but has faced opposition over who controls the world's fourth largest oil reserves.

Much of the opposition has come from Kurdistan, where the government has signed its own contracts with foreign oil companies that the central government in Baghdad deems illegal....

FOX News took a leak, or so they say, spun it to create controversy to feed their political goals and never bothered about the truth.  End of discussion.  FOX is so hungry for 'their own truth' they robbed the dignity away from CNN's Nic Robertson and the actual work he did in Libya in relation to Magrahi.  That is so irresponsible and only shows how much they do not rely on 'the truth' to insure their viewership.  FOX is tabloid journalism and nothing more.

No troop decisions as Iraq withdrawal begins (click here)

By DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press – 3 hours ago  

WASHINGTON (AP) — The scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is on track, a Pentagon official said Wednesday, but the Obama administration has yet to decide how many troops might stay there on a revised mission to help train Iraqi forces.

"The drawdown has begun," Navy Capt. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. He referred to the departure from Iraq this week of about 700 members of a headquarters unit. Their departure marks the start of the withdrawal of the final 46,000 U.S. troops there.

Yet to be decided is the size and mission of any stay-behind contingent. The Iraqi government said last month that it is interested in negotiating the terms for a U.S. military group to continue training Iraqi forces beyond Dec. 31, when the last U.S. forces are to have departed under a 2008 agreement.

The administration is considering a number of options that could leave several thousand troops in Iraq to do training and possibly other missions....

Why not?

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.


Dig this, the Wall Street Journal is already announcing the next war in Iraq.  Murdoch knows no morality when it comes to human life.  Somehow the Murdoch media wakes up to a different Sunshine than the rest of the nation everyday.  The USA could never be a Hosni Murbarak.  It could never be hated.  It could never oppress, torture or kill innocent people for the sake of billionaires.  

MIDDLE EAST NEWS

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

U.S. Eyes Covert Plan to Counter Iran in Iraq (click title to entry - thank you)

…Compounding the urgency is the planned reduction in the U.S. military presence in

Iraq by the end of the year, a development that many fear will open up the country 

to more influence from Iran, which also has a majority Shiite 

population….

What 'many' is that exactly.  We are not fighting 

Halliburton's wars anymore. 

• 
  

When cities need lobbyists 'to be heard' at their State Houses there is something grossly "W"rong this democracy.

That is the job of the elected State Representative and State Senator.  


Wow.

City budgets are that tight?  A lobbyist is a good investment?  There is something very wrong here.

…The hiring of a lobbyist, (click title to entry - thank you) which would be a first for Iowa City, would cost $25,000 to $30,000, Markus said. With Johnson County traditionally electing a Democratic delegation for Des Moines, the city manager says a lobbyist would help build bridges with Republican leadership, as well.

Markus has said a lobbyist would be able to assist with Iowa City's push for an Amtrak line to Chicago, securing grant money and encouraging legislation against apartments changing to cooperative status to receive tax breaks.

Council member Connie Champion called it a "smart move," and Regenia Bailey said it would give the city "a single point of entry" at the Statehouse.

"It's certainly going to give us better access to what's going on," council member Mike Wright said.

Coralville, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines are among the many cities that already have contracts with lobbyists….

Default on Supercommittee, Lobbyists are just going work overtime to undermine the process.

...Charged with finding (click title to entry - thank you) more than $1.5 trillion in cuts to the national budget by Thanksgiving, the twelve members of the bipartisan supercommittee are fast becoming a target for special interest groups hoping to keep their pet projects off the chopping block.... 


Cut military spending.  That's the way I see it.

Troops out now ! There is no reason to leave troops in Iraq. The Iraqi government can hire private contractors.

Leon E. Panetta, left, and Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III in Iraq in July. Mr. Panetta is said to support keeping troops there longer (click title to entry - thank you).


These Commanders always manage to wrangle MORE WAR out of the civilian government.  They haven't got enough to do that they have to create and lengthen the USA government's expenditure of a military presence.


It always happens, as soon as there is a new head to the DOD or there is a change of President, the military goes into overdrive to protect its territory.


There are plenty of mercenary forces in the world that would love to continue to train Iraqi soldiers.  The USA does not have to be there.


This is an outrageous demand by the military on a country that has its own problems of which the military ambitions of the past are among them!


What's the strategy?  Because a military presence without a sincere purpose or strategy is unconstitutional.  Being a mother-hen to a training force is bullshit.


I sincerely doubt Former Secretary Gates would allow any extension based on a training team.  This is the tail waging the dog.  Wasn't it the Former Secretary of Defense that said, (paraphrasing) "Any President that goes to war in the Middle East is crazy."  Something like that.  I doubt he would prolong any operation that was suppose to end ON SCHEDULE.


The US Military doesn't know how to keep a schedule?  They CAN'T GET THE JOB done on time and BUDGET?  They need to do better and they can train themselves to do better right here in the USA!

A moon without an atmosphere accepts the permanent tracks of astronauts on its surface.

…Nearly 40 years (click title to entry - thank you) after the last Apollo astronauts left the surface of the moon, a NASA probe in lunar orbit has returned new images of the places where they landed. Below is what remains after astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt explored on Apollo 17….

The problem with liberal guns laws in the USA is that the crazies always get the guns anyway.

CARSON CITY, (click here) Nev, Sept 6 (Reuters) - A man with an assault rifle opened fire at a pancake house in Nevada's capital on Tuesday, killing three National Guard soldiers and a civilian and wounding eight others before killing himself, authorities said.

The gunman, in what investigators said appeared to be a random burst of violence by a grocery worker with a history of mental illness, opened fire at a group of uniformed Army National Guard troops as they ate breakfast.

Besides the three Guard soldiers -- two men and a woman -- who were shot to death at the Carson City IHOP restaurant, two of the wounded were also active-duty Guard members. A civilian woman in the line of fire between the gunman and soldiers was killed as well....

...Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval ordered flags flown at half-staff until Friday at dusk in honor of the two National Guardsmen who were killed....

, include the fact no city can protect their citizens more than any other city in Nevada.  That's the law.

Pre-Emption (click title to entry - thank you)

     Nevada has a "Statewide Pre-emption" law, so counties and localities cannot pass gun laws that are more stringent than the state law. The NSRPA had a lot to do with getting this law passed in Nevada.  Clark County (Las Vegas area) had some laws which pre-date the pre-emption (they were "grandfathered") and are still in place....

...Registration of Firearms

     Clark County (minus Boulder City) requires registration of handguns only.  All other counties have no registration of any guns.  For Clark County, the first handgun purchase includes a 72 hour "cooling off" period.  A handgun registration card (commonly known as a "blue card" because of its light blued color) is issued for each registered handgun, and must stay with the gun.  Examples: If you take the gun to shoot at the range, you must take its blue card also.  If you loan the gun to a friend, you must make sure he has the card with it.  You may register your handgun at any branch of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (bring it to them UNLOADED AND IN A SAFE MANNER).  If you sell or give away the handgun, you are obligated to have the registration transferred into the name of the new owner.  If you wish to purchase other handguns, your "cooling off" period is waived if you have your blue card present.

Brady Background Check

     All counties implement the national background check through the Nevada Highway Patrol.  By State Law, any private party may access Nevada's background check system for the purpose of checking the background of a potential gun purchaser.  Currently, the check costs $25.00.  Call your local NHP if you wish to access this system....

Let's get rid of Wasteful Government Spending !

Strange.  So much of the Wasteful Government Spending falls under Bush and Cheney's watch.


...“The government has known for 20 years that contractors (click title to entry - thank you) would be a key part of any major response to large or sustained hostilities or major disasters,” said Commission co-chairman Michael Thibault. “Yet the government was not prepared to go into Afghanistan in 2001 or Iraq in 2003 using large numbers of contractors and is still unable to provide effective management and oversight of contract spending that will have exceeded $206 billion by the end of September.”...

Nooo, we don't need Medicare for All. That would be a sin to be sure people have health care.

CINCINNATI -- Doctors at University Hospital in Cincinnati said a 24-year-old father died Wednesday from a tooth infection.

Patti Collins, wife of famed local musician Bootsy Collins, said she couldn't believe what happened to her nephew, Kyle Willis, who left behind a 6-year-old daughter.

"I said, 'What do you mean they're calling the family?' (My daughter) said, 'Mom, the infection (Willis) had in his tooth has gone to his brain," Collins said....




The Citizens United Supreme Court decision made sure that corporations had enough to say about getting their $700 Billion bailout, but, to actually elect a Legislature that cares about the health of the poor and unemployed is just something no one seems to be able to achieve.


The great USA can save Billionaires from crying, but, it can leave a six year old child without a father without a second thought.


I am so proud to be an American. 


Why is it a less than one percent drop in the DOW is something I just don't give a damn about?  I wonder.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (click here)	11,139.30	–100.96 –0.90%

"There won't be enough troops in Iraq to preserve the USA footprint."

"Ya think?"

Iraq’s Shiite Leader congratulates Libyans (click here)
8/23/2011 1:26 PM

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The Leader of Iraq’s Shiite Trend, Muqtada al-Sadr, has congratulated the Libyan people on Tuesday “for the success of their Revolution and the entrance of the Revolutionary Forces into the Libyan Capital of Tripoli, calling upon the Libyan People to build up their new Homeland, away from narrow-party trends.”

“Thank Allah (God), Who blessed his Believers and planted courage, sacrifice and love of Religion in their hearts; Thank Allah, who achieved Libya’s liberation on the hands of the Libyan Revolutionaries and not on the hands of occupiers,” Sadr said in a statement, copy of which was received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

Sadr called on the Libyans to build up their new state, “away from narrow-party trends, in order to achieve a united Libya, proud of its people and Islam, whilst we, your people in Iraq, confirm to continue resisting the occupier, whatever happens, to liberate Iraq, in order to be on your side for the victory of the right.”

In conclusion, Muqtada al-Sadr, highly assessed the efforts of “the heroic Mujahidin (Holy Fighters) in the dear sisterly state of Libya, appealing for Allah to keep the occupation, terrorism, foreign interferences, especially American, away from them.”

SKH (TI)/SR


To paraphrase, "And if that isn't enough those Shi'ites will take over and Iran will be involved."  Of course the White House is saying that isn't true.  So the "Dirt Bags" at FOX are at it again.  I really think this is about hating and fearing Muslims more than anything else, but, if this is a sincere concern of the Republican Presidentials candidates, who needs 'em?  Slow news day?  Nothing else to lie about maybe?

Sources: Obama Administration to Drop Troop Levels in Iraq to 3,000 (click here)

Published September 06, 2011

FoxNews.com

The Obama administration has decided to drop the number of U.S. troops in Iraq at the end of the year down to 3,000, marking a major downgrade in force strength, multiple sources familiar with the inner workings and decisions on U.S. troop movements in Iraq told Fox News....

Breaking News, "FOX has discovered there will only be 3000 US troops in Iraq by the end of the year."  


Who confirmed this?  Journalist I suppose.


Wait, let me guess.  This is a really cool way to call the PRESIDENT a liar.  Deep throat and all that kinda stuff.


Why leave any?  We should have pulled them out all together, but, Bush paid all that money for the Embassy, so I guess some will have to stay after all.  10,000 contingency?  For an embassy?   

The USA Embassy in Baghdad. (click here)  Self contained.  No one has to venture in or out.  Sort of like the Green Zone.  Someone has to guard the Billion US real estate.

...It is the world’s most expensive embassy, (click here) costing more than $700 million (£427 million) and designed to withstand earthquakes and insurgents. Yet only nine months after being opened, the US Embassy in Iraq is riddled with problems expected to cost more than $130 million to fix.

Nobody praised its architecture when it was inaugurated in January — think Milton Keynes on the Moon. The cube-like structure, topped with razor wire, is the size of Vatican City and features a supermarket and swimming pool. But the 2,000 or so Americans moving in believed, at least, that it would keep them safe and comfortable.


The only reason to keep an embassy in Iraq is to have a venue for private contractors when they kill more people and protect the interests of Halliburton.  Otherwise, there is no reason for that embassy either.  A Billion+ US WASTED by Bush and Cheney for the sole purpose of ego driven profiteers.  The USA has no real interests in Iraq and for a long time we won't be welcome back.  THAT is why Iran will be available to discourage further Neocons from pulling the same stunt and kill more and more civiilans.

Report Projects Higher Operational Costs for U.S. Embassy in Iraq (click here)

By Ernesto Londoño

Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, August 29, 2009

BAGHDAD, Aug. 28 -- The cost of running the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is projected to rise in the coming years as the world's largest diplomatic mission weans itself from the support it receives from the U.S. military, the State Department's acting inspector general said in a report this week.

Harold W. Geisel also said an embassy office that oversees infrastructure projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars is chronically understaffed and may be unable to complete its work by May, when its charter ends.

In a separate report, Geisel noted that the State Department has no plans to open consulates in Iraq, despite the looming closures of provincial embassy offices as the U.S. military withdraws...]

Good bye, Iraq, may you all find peace.

There is only one journalist investigative team in Texas?m Really? I betcha they watch their step

e

This is the way a Red State handles the challenges of the Climate Crisis.  They allow the worst to happen, call it a mishap and point to FEMA to come in behind the fire line to hand out checks.  The responsibility of the States always falls to the federal government yet there is no funding in the federal government to attend to the entire nation, but, only the 'squeaky wheel' of the moment.  Governor Perry is good at being humble and handing out FEMA checks but he is not a leader, he follows the path of least 'fiscal' resistance and then complains about the lethargy of the federal response.

The National Guard that is necessary to fire these fires, save homes and people are AT WAR.  THAT State asset is not available for the people when they need it, but, hey Texans always take care of Texans by taking strangers into their homes.

This is outrageous how much the rights of citizens are oppressed and neglected only to fall back on the federal government to environmental neglect leading to this drought.  "Getting life back to normal, is considered letting people get back to their homes, AFTER THE HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED."  That's letting people 'get back to normal?'  I don't think so.  I am tired of picking up after the governmental neglect of the Red States.  At the state level 'if shit happens' then live with it ! 


Like Ron Paul says, we need to live like it is 1900 all over again.  Contribute to the economy buy fire insurance and hope the policy you bought covers it all.  Why FEMA?  Need trailers to live in?  There isn't anything for FEMA to do there.  What are they going to do plant trees?  Without rain there is no reason to even go that far, trees won't grow.  Call the churches and see if they have group fire insurances for drought ridden Texans 'after the fact.'

...Many people watching these horrific fires have been wondering about military resources and their response to the blazes.

Gov. Rick Perry spoke to the media from Steiner Ranch, where 24 homes have been destroyed and 30 more have been damaged. Some 125 acres are burning in a fire that is only 45 percent contained.

"Even with this tragedy, the good news is there are no lives lost in these neighborhoods," said Perry. "I'm substantial more concerned Texans are being taken care of ... The answers they're looking for is our response and saving as many homes and possessions as possible."

Perry said Tuesday morning during the briefing that the process to get federal help tends to be bureaucratic.

"So we're looking for ways to break that down," said Perry. "It's more difficult than it should be to get those assets freed up from the federal government."

Perry talked about the heavy equipment that's been needed amid the fire outbreaks....

With Lee reorganizing and moving fast up the east coast...

September 5, 2010
2030.13z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click title to entry for 12 hour loop - thank you)

...I would not expect Katia to continue to remain on the same trajectory.


I tuned in and out of the Republican debates.  They were the same as they always are, full of 'mind speak' and 'rheotric,' 'fire and brimstone.'  Nothing of substance and always disregarding the USA after 1776 and instilling fear,  it is a safe place for the economically  illiterate.

1 injured in possible tornado in Cherokee County  (click here)

WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say one person was injured in a possible tornado in Cherokee County as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee crossed the state.

Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff's department said the storm toppled trees Monday afternoon and several trees landed in homes. He said the victim was taken to the hospital but the person's condition is not known.

Weather officials say much of north Georgia is being hit with heavy rains and strong winds as the storm system moves through. Most of the state was under tornado and flood watches starting Monday afternoon....

There is this really great Lucas Marathon on today.  Good stuff.  Later.

It really is a very ugly picture when one reflects on the temper tantrums of the wealthy.

Billionaire tea party tycoons financed Wisconsin’s anti-union governor, records show (click here)

By Stephen C. Webster
Saturday, February 19th, 2011 -- 9:49 pm

Who were among the financiers behind Wisconsin's Republican Governor, now embroiled in a controversial attempt to destroy public sector unions?

None other than reviled tea party financiers Charles and David Koch, is who.

Turns out, the billionaire oil tycoons' political action committee gave Gov. Scott Walker (R) roughly $100,000 in campaign contributions during the 2010 election, according to campaign finance records highlighted by  Mother Jones.

The contributions came from the same source -- Koch Industries PAC -- and though through two channels which were both legal under current campaign finance law….

Ill mannered bunch of brats that throw out the USA Brain Trust for their greedy goals.


Engineered by desperate wannabe million-billionaire, now Chairman of the RNC.  


Anyone surprised how completely dysfunctional the Republicans are and remain?  

And back by Dirt Bags.  How can they lose?  It is a coupe against the government.  No one will convince me otherwise.  They are dismantling the 'national conscience.'

The "Near Shore" Phenomena started to really make itself known about 1999.

1999 Storm Track of Hurricane Dennis


It came inland and then went out to sea only to return to an inland presence.


Shortly after that in the very same spot that Dennis liked so much a whopping hurricane by the name of Floyd would make its presence.

1999 storm track of Hurricane Floyd.


Then it would be in 2002 when Kyle would make a visit in a similar pattern.  Oddly, though when Kyle left its 'offshore' run it dissipated out at sea in less than 24 hours.

2002 Storm Track of Kyle. 


It would be 2 years later, in 2004, when near shore storms would dominate the Atlantic hurricane season.

The 2004 Hurricane Season.


Alex and its beginnings near shore and then went out to sea, Charly began in the Caribbean and then hugged the eastern seaboard and Gaston was similar to Alex in its pattern.

The 2005 hurricane season would be the 'maximum' for 'the normal' hurricanes with record setting numbers and 'seasonal velocities.'  


After 2005 the water vapor moved from the surface of Earth to a higher altitude and the 'character'of the hurricane changed to something far less 'normal.'  2006 was a year of transition with very few storms and the only major storms would stay at sea where they had fuel.



2007 Storm Track of Hurricane Gabrielle.

In 2007 the only hurricane the continental USA would realize was Gabrielle.  Its presence to inland was ONLY near shore.


2008 would see two near shore storms Fay and Hanna.  Fay would have a pattern somewhat similar to Katrina but not close to exact.  Hanna was nothing but near shore.

2008 Storm Track of Fay

2008 Storm Track of Hanna.


2009 did not see any major storms that would effect the continental USA.  Again repeating a pattern between 2005 and 2006, but, with far lower 'seasonal velocities.'


2010 had only one major hurricane to touch the USA and it was a near shore storm called Earl.

2010 Storm Track of Earl.


That brings us to 2011 and the current dynamics with Lee and Katia are more than disconcerting.


Katia and Lee manifested after Irene produced huge amounts of water vapor delivered to a very hot troposphere.  Their relationship is indelible and quiet frankly I do not believe the relationship is over.  As Katia moves closer to shore it will benefit from the water vapor that Lee has deposited in the troposphere which makes its dynamics more than curious.


Have a better day.

Tha National Hurricane Center needs more personnel on duty. People are really stupid to vote for Republicans. They are a do nothing party catering to their wealthy financiers.

September 4, 2010
2230.15z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite


Interesting statistics on the Lee-Katia dynamic, but, Katia is only being measured every six hours.  That's not good.


People need to complain about the underfunding of their government, it shows.

Below are the statistics regarding the two storms.  Kindly note the central pressures.

LEE

 11  29.60  -92.50 09/04/09Z   40   987 TROPICAL STORM

11A  29.70  -92.00 09/04/12Z   40   986 TROPICAL STORM

 12  29.90  -91.90 09/04/15Z   40   986 TROPICAL STORM

12A  30.40  -91.80 09/04/18Z   40   987 TROPICAL STORM

 13  30.60  -91.80 09/04/21Z   40   987 TROPICAL STORM

13A  30.90  -91.80 09/05/00Z   35   989 TROPICAL STORM

 14  31.00  -91.40 09/05/03Z   30   990 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

September 5, 2011

1130.13z

UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click title to entry - thank you)

The time mark 09/04/09z for both storms show two tropical storms with Lee's central pressure actually lower than Katia.

At time mark 09/04/12z which is three hours later for Lee.  (Each time mark is NORMALLY 3 hours apart to monitor the severity of the storm.)  But, for Lee there was  a millibar of change in pressure of 1 to 986 milibars.  That continued through time mark 09/04/15z.

In the same time marks in Katia there were alarming changes.

Katia

 25  21.40  -58.50 09/04/09Z   60   992 TROPICAL STORM

 26  21.90  -59.20 09/04/15Z   85     - HURRICANE-2

 27  22.70  -60.10 09/04/21Z   90   965 HURRICANE-2

 28  23.40  -61.00 09/05/03Z   90   965 HURRICANE-2

 29  23.90  -62.00 09/05/09Z   85   972 HURRICANE-2

At time mark 09//04/09z Katia was a Tropical Storm at a central pressure of 992.  Six hours later, not three hours, but six hours at 09/04/15z Katia had dropped its central pressure 

with no record made, but, its winds escalated 15 mph to 85 mph.  

The entire transition of this storm at what normally would have been time mark 09/04/12z was missed.  At that point Katia would have been recorded and NOTED to be changing 

dyanmics quickly to a Cat 1 hurricane.

By the time central pressure measurements resumed at mark 09/04/21z the Cat 2 hurricane had dropped its central pressure by a whooping 27 millibars and Katia was now screaming in the Atlantic with a central pressure of 965 and winds of 90 mph AND A VERY CLEAR AND 

DISCERNIBLE EYE.

The reason this is significant beyond the negligence of proper funding for sufficient and

QUALIFIED personnel it that it clarifies the Climate Crisis dynamic of these huge storms.  To say this is more than obvious is important, but, to realize both storms dropped their central

pressures at the same time is hugely significant. 

THEY MOVE AS if ONE and that is DANGEROUS and a new prediction science, because the future holds storms on both coasts at the same time increasing dangers together.

Katia will have a similar pattern as Earl from the 2010 season.  FOR NOW.  

And to realize 'the sameness' of two seasons running is an important factor to 

note.

This Labor Day, thank the unions

President Obama greets Hector Sealey, Safety Director, Ft. Myer Construction Corporation, as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka looks on. At a Rose Garden event Wednesday, Aug. 31, Obama urged Congress to pass a federal highway bill.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

All to often the average citizen doesn't realize how much their own lives are touched by unions.  If it weren't for unions the forty hour work week would not exist.


It is the will and spirit of unionization that brings people together to fight for bills such as the Family-Medical Leave Act.  

I hope everyone takes time this Labor Day Weekend to realize how much of the greatness of our Middle Class, the strength of our economy, is due to unionization and the demand for recognition for work done well.

....Over the past century, (click title to entry - thank you)  labor unions have fought for more than just this workers’ holiday, struggling to improve wages, hours and working conditions. Early on, the courts considered union and group bargaining to be illegal, and employers would not negotiate with representatives. Laborers didn’t give up. In 1935, under President Franklin Roosevelt, the National Labor Relations Act and other laws required employers to bargain with unions.



Forty-hour work weeks, workplace safety, vacation time, benefits, pensions, even lunch breaks — these rights were secured by unions. Whether you’re a union member or not, public or private sector, take a moment today and give thanks to those who came before us in the American labor movement. It’s time for our generation to carry the fight forward, and to renew and preserve the American Dream for the next generation — the workers of       tomorrow and our nation’s future....