weirdelf

Jun 06, 2010 ⭐ See this poem's read count — a supporter feature

OH&S

Occupational healthy and safety was invented by unions
Equal opportunity employment was invented by unions
Joe McCarthy was a dickhead.
then end.

— weirdelf, Jun 06, 2010

About the Author

Region, Country: Sydney, Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: The Romantics, The Mersey Sound, The Beats and, of course, The Bard

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Critiques

judyanne

16 years 1 month ago

is this a particular form jess?

where does the man who sought communist subversion fit with OH&S? - or is there another joe mccarthy? I believe he was a heroin addict??? (just a bit of useless info) can you tell me where you're coming from here? love judy xxxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html

lyz

16 years 1 month ago

Dear Jess,

I am giving you 5 whether you like it or not, you have put a much needed smile on my face with your matter of fact write. Never change. Then end. XX

Geezer

16 years 1 month ago

Is that...

the end? I just am not seeing if you are for, or against Unions. Maybe I should go read up on McCarthy, LOL ~ Short, succinct, poem, [even though I didn't get it]. LOL ~ Gee

weirdelf

16 years 1 month ago

ta Judy, lyz, geezer, just a mini-rant really

Joe Macarthy, and macarthyism, was an hysterical anti-communist witch-hunt that forever damaged unionism and all liberal/socialist movements in the USA with consequences felt even here. The rant is pro-union and was prompted by the fact that we now learn OH&S and EOE as part of most college course, and yet many unions have been disembowelled. Cheers, Jess, Reprehensibly irrepressible,

DawningDaytripper

16 years 1 month ago

I actualy agree Jess, You

I actualy agree Jess, You may have known that already. My hubby is Union. Better educated workers who band together to make sure they are properly reimbursed for all of their hard work with a good wage and benifits. Something close to a good foundation on which to build a family and acheive the worldwide dream, not having to worry about job and finacial security. With out Unions injury and death rates would be much higher, and wages would be much lower. Capitolism does not co exist with Unions, another words. Corporations make more money when there work force is undereducated and unorganized. Considering in EVERY other aspect of the workforce we incourge MORE education and rules to follow, but when it comes to making the workforce knowledgeable and give them a place to bargin from and a little economic and job security, labor's and other organized workers get stomped on and told they are wrong for sticking up for thier own rights and demanding decent wage for a hard days work, and job security. Sucks, let me tell you. The current recession instead of breeding common sense, has only breed more greed, which is just driving the wages down, and asking for accidents. Stupid. I am coming to appreaciate your political poetry. As for its poetic flow, well... Julie D.D.

weirdelf

16 years 1 month ago

thanks Julie, really well put.

The problem with political poetry, of course, is that it is informed by an education that no-one gets in school, so it is difficult to compress meaning and present arguments. Sometimes it's enough just to stir up a little debate. What really really sucks is that the recession caused by the greed and recklessness of corporations is being paid for by a downward pressure on workers wages and conditions! Cheers, Jess, Reprehensibly irrepressible,

Beauregard

16 years 1 month ago

"The problem with political poetry..."

Yep. It's true. I couldn't comment before because I couldn't remember a damn thing about what we learned when we discussed McCarthyism or unions. I remembered the guy's name and the term he spawned, but nothing else. YAY American education! Kelsey "In criticism I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me." -Edgar Allan Poe

Race_9togo

16 years 1 month ago

Jess

"The problem with political poetry, of course, is that it is informed by an education that no-one gets in school..." One of the many reasons I home-school my children. Respectfully Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

barbsdad2003

16 years 1 month ago

I'm ...

with you all the way on this, Julie. Thanx for such cogent response on Jess's content. Of which there is much to ponder/consider. And, Jess, I think it's Joe McCarthy, last name spelled thusly. Regards as usual, Chuck

barbsdad2003

16 years ago

Thanx, Julie

I'm with you on this. And, oh, by the way, thanx to Jess, too. Short blunt cogent nicely fit, I think, your piece here. Spare no words; that's the way I like it! Yours, Chuck

Damo

16 years 1 month ago

Cheeky little provocateur!

Cheeky little provocateur! Nice work ElfMan!

weirdelf

16 years 1 month ago

ta damo

Cheers, Jess, Reprehensibly irrepressible,

Candlewitch

16 years 1 month ago

Dear Jess-Elf

Actually, I think you are being much too kind to the dickhead... Love, Cat

weirdelf

16 years 1 month ago

too true

Cheers, Jess, Reprehensibly irrepressible,

barbsdad2003

16 years 1 month ago

OK, Cat

Up till now I've avoided commenting on the ultrakindness of Jess's poem in this regard (don't know on earth why). What you say's sooo true (re Joe Dickhead) ... and now I'd like to climb aboard. If I may. In appreciation, Chuck

Race_9togo

16 years 1 month ago

I believe

that you are being far too kind to Mr. McCarthy. "Dickhead" is a waste of a good insult on the likes of him and his ilk, of which we still have many in the USA. I am actually hoping that these greedy bastards that have caused this latest economic collapse will do it again soon, because I believe that it will be the camel-back breaker, and we'll see some upturn in union power and membership. Good rant. Respectfully Jim "Laws and rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" : Race

weirdelf

16 years 1 month ago

Cat, Chuck and Jim! Go for it! Heap all the invective you can

think of on his evil head. My country didn't have to live through his reign of terror, though we got near as hysterical about the "reds under the bed". Glad to see this tiny rant provoking some thoughtful response. Another thing that amused/chagrined[can that be a verb?] me is that in this course we have to write job applications, part of which demonstrate a knowledge of equal opportunity employment laws, but on no account mention in the application that you might be a member of one of those oppressed minorities! Go figure. Cheers, Jess, Reprehensibly irrepressible,