Relative greed
How to say this nicely. I’m bombarded with negative feedback about the municipal strikes in Toronto and Windsor. It’s mostly over the top, often violent, homophobic and abusive. It seems to come from a limited number of voices – men almost universally.
It’s mostly about garbage. Fair enough. It’s the service that affects everyone, so just by law of averages there are going to be more people cranky about that than child care, parks, social service et al – you know, services that have a huge impact on people’s lives?
And I think CUPE members need to recognize there’s a double standard for bad behaviour on the picket line and accept the greater burden placed on them to be civil in the face of rudeness. For the sake of public and community relations.
But I totally get the anger they feel because I’m feeling it now. And I’m in Ottawa. And I’m not even facing the demands to take away things they’ve had for years.
I get feedback from people who resent the strike because they resent the fact that they pay property taxes because they want that money to spend on themselves. The city workers (who also pay property taxes) are merely the battleground over which these people wage their campaign to keep every penny they make and not give any of it to garbage people, day care workers, lifeguards, etc etc.
“I don’t use these services,” they type (except the ones they do use. And there has to be one otherwise they wouldn’t be so cranky), “so why should I pay for them? Get back to work and be thankful you have a job.” And the kicker? “Quit being so greedy.”
The person trying to take money out the garbage man’s pocket is denouncing the garbage man for keeping his hand there? Who’s being greedy?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Listening to news stories, I have to say I've heard inane comments from women as well. My perception is that the most frustrated tend to be those most self-entitled who simultaneously won't examine the real costs of their lifestyle; in their minds everything should be cheap and easy for them, with out thought of the work that goes into a comfortable life.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
terrible, shameful and ignorant behaviour
July 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Why homophobic? What am I missing?
July 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Some of the loudmouths on Twitter have some homophobic epithets for Dave Miller and use that word that means bundle of sticks to Brits to describe picketers, etc etc.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
The gender police tend to be very cruel.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Whaddya mean?