First they killed a union town; now they're going after an entire state - Wisconsin

by: TwoPuttTommy

Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 10:33:49 AM CST

"Mother" Jones (1837-1930) was a tireless union organizer in the Appalachian mining states.  For this, that era's Boardroom Tycoons labeled her  "the most dangerous woman in America." In 1970, in her honor, Mother Jones Magazine was formed.  One of their stories that recently caught my eye is about a small union town in West Virginia that today, is really small - and headed for extinction.  You can (and should) read about it; it's called "First Big Coal Broke the Union. Then It Broke This Town."

Here's a teaser:

The (town of) Twilight (West Virginia) area's first coal mine opened in the 1940s. For a while, money from the mines seemed to coat the town as easily as the black dust that blew off the coal trains. Due in part to the efforts of the fiery turn-of-the-century labor organizer Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, the roughly 1,000 union workers who toiled underground during the height of the mining boom of the late '70s enjoyed some of the best benefits in the country. At one time, the Twilight area boasted two grocery stores, a company store called the Robin Hood, a movie theater, and a mine-sponsored softball league. That's all gone now. Lora can't even buy a loaf of bread in Twilight anymore.  (MotherJones.com)

So, you've read that whole story, and now you're asking: "Hey TPT, it looks like you're rippin' on "The Koch Whore" (a/k/a Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, R=BoughtAndPaidFor; on twitter, a/k/a #KochWhore) and The Sons Of The John Birch Society, especially David Koch; that story isa bout the notorious Massey Energy - whose blatant disregard for mining safety regulations allegedly led to 31 miners dying at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine."

That, Gentle Reader, is true; that's exactly what that story is about.  But what's not mentioned in that story is Koch Industries' involvement in West Virginia coal production (because that's not the main thrust of that story).  And IMNSHO, the Sons Of The John Birch Society's involvement in coal production in West Virginia is just as insidious as the Koch Bother's (especially David Koch) involvement in the attack on union workers in Wisconsin.

From  a ThinkProgress.com story, on 27 Sept 2010, entitled Koch-Funded Book Argues Against Mine Safety Laws In West Virginia:

The Koch-funded think tank recently started a phony news service in West Virginia, called the "West Virginia Watchdog." Americans for Prosperity, the fake grassroots group founded and financed by David Koch, has been running television ads in West Virginia attacking progressive reforms.

TV ads, financed by David Koch, in West Virginia?

Kind of reminiscent, say, of this ThinkProgress.org story, from just the other day: Koch Industries Front Group Americans For Prosperity Launches Ad To Support Walker's Union Busting:

Today, the Koch group Americans for Prosperity announced that it will air an ad smearing the protesters in Madison and calling on the state to support Walker's power grab. As we noted on Friday, Koch has demanded that collective bargaining rights be curtailed for both private and public sector unions, a step beyond Walker's already extreme move. The ad disparages the pro-labor protesters for allegedly bringing in "out of state political protesters." In fact, the small pro-Walker demonstration orchestrated by Koch operatives last Saturday included a number of out of state conservative activists, including Herman Cain (from Georgia), Jim Hoft (from Missouri), and Phillips (from Virginia). Watch the ad: YouTube

UPDATE It appears the AFP ad has been taken down. The YouTube video now displays only a black screen with words, "This video has been removed by the user," and the ad is seemingly vanished from AFP's website. It's missing from the ad's announcement as well.

Make no mistake - what's happening in Wisconsin is NOT about a "budget deficit" - it's about breaking the state - killing off the unions, and then plundering the people's property.  Except those assets won't be sold to the highest bidder; they'll be given away to corporate friends "sold via no-bid contracts" in such a way that might even cause Haliburton to blush.

I often referred to the misAdministration Of Bush The Lesser as Boy Blunder And The Plunderers.

I'm beginning to think those thieves were pikers, compared to what this gang has planned.

Because if they succeed in breaking Wisconsin, which state is next?  And just why might they pull it off?

Where, your guess is as good as mine; as for why, here's what I often say:  "Those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP."

Oh, and where is the John Birch Society's headquarters, these days?

Appleton, Wisconsin.