Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life

"Outstanding…Moore Triumphs! Publishers Weekly

Mike's Letter

September 4th, 1997 12:00 AM

Labor Day weekend

IT'S LABOR DAY WEEK and what better time to kick off this web site! According to Princeton University (as quoted in this weekend's USA Today), 70 percent of all workers feel they have less job security than what they had 20 or 30 years ago. So how come the "great economic miracle" taking place isn't being felt by the average Joe or Jane?

I think it's because most people now realize they've been had. While workers gave back huge concessions to companies during the 80s in the form of reduced wages and benefits, those same companies have now gone on to become filthy rich in the 90s. Corporate profits among the companies on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are up 174 percent. CEO wages are up an astounding 250 percent! Yet, since 1990, the average worker's wage, adjusted for inflation, has actually dropped 45 cents an hour.

Most people do not feel secure. The Federal Reserve Board loves this kind of insecurity because it keeps wages (and supposedly inflation) down. People are less likely to ask or strike for higher paychecks if they ultimately fear losing their jobs.

So none of this will change unless we all get over this "insecurity", take some risks, and wrestle our future back from the hands of Corporate America. The UPS strike was a shining example of what we all need to strive for. And the American public will support us, as they did with the Teamsters, if the message is properly communicated. No one sitting at home watching Larry King or Nightline, be they liberal or conservative, was ever going to buy that line from the chairman of UPS when he said that someone working 35 hours a week is a "part time worker." CEOs are so drunk and giddy with their record profits that can't even lie very good anymore. A lot of this is common sense and we all need to start talking that way and convince others that we're all in the same boat and we all better do something soon.

-- Michael Moore

P.S. Sixty years ago, in 1937, Victor Reuther and his brothers Roy and Walter, came to my hometown of Flint, Michigan, and led the workers in a revolt that lasted for 44 days. At the end of it, the United Auto Workers union had their first contract with General Motors. It was the beginning of the modern-day labor movement in this country. Last week, the UAW in Flint held a gathering to honor those who participated in that first strike. They refused to invite Victor Reuther, now nearing 90 years old. Victor has been critical of how the UAW has been in bed with management over the past 20 years which cost many workers their jobs. Dissent is not allowed in the UAW, even if it comes from one of its founders. Happy Labor Day, Victor, and dad, and all who worked those assembly lines so we kids could have a better life!

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
The Awful Truth

You must log in to comment.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register

Still crazy after all these years: Half of all likely voters in the U.S. believe it's OK to attack Iran http://t.co/z1wYgV7J

Feb 9th
3:03 PM
Retweet This

Even now, only 27% of Republicans believe Barack Obama was born in the United States: http://t.co/lW46Gc6P #blackhistorymonth

Feb 9th
1:17 PM
Retweet This

RT @OccupyWallStNYC: Lessons Learned from #OWS http://t.co/T0pqkRYb

Feb 9th
12:45 AM
Retweet This

RT @billmaher: Atlantic City casinos, the USFL, the birther movement, NBC, and now Mitt Romney: everything #Trump endorses or touches go ...

Feb 9th
12:37 AM
Retweet This

It's great to watch Hannity and the right wing try to reconcile the real world with the crazy world inside their own heads.

Feb 8th
11:45 PM
Retweet This

Sean Hannity Says If Obama Had His Way, Bin Laden Would Be Alive -- And He Can Prove It!: http://t.co/GufOyh43

Feb 8th
11:43 PM
Retweet This

(From The Onion) "Obama Openly Asks Nation Why On Earth He Would Want To Serve For Another Term" http://t.co/BjTfIxHR

Feb 8th
6:09 PM
Retweet This

The state of California has eliminated ALL state funding for every library in California. http://t.co/1gHskesI #OWS

Feb 8th
1:25 PM
Retweet This

An active-duty Lt. Colonel says Americans haven't been told the truth, that the war in Afghanistan is lost: http://t.co/oJ1bcMPy

Feb 7th
9:36 PM
Retweet This

RT @dankildee Wow! A packed house in #Flint for our supporters get-together. Lots of people fired up and ready to go! #MI05 #DanForCongress

Feb 7th
9:27 PM
Retweet This

Went to the Morgan Library to see original manuscript of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." My favorite writer, born 200 years ago today.

Feb 7th
5:38 PM
Retweet This

RT @MikeElk: how bittersweet that on the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens - candidate favoring child janitors is losing

Feb 7th
1:26 PM
Retweet This

RT @BrentALang: In honor of François Truffaut's birthday, the final, shattering scene from "400 Blows" http://t.co/k4cHsPSx

Feb 7th
2:55 AM
Retweet This

RT @crooksandliars: New At C&L: If Obama Administration is 'At War' with the Catholic Church, So Are Most American Catholics http://t.co ...

Feb 6th
10:43 AM
Retweet This

RT @thinkprogress: NEW POLL: "More than 7 in 10 support increasing the taxes of those earning more than $1 million a year" http://t.co/C ...

Feb 6th
10:36 AM
Retweet This

RT @BrianFWright: @MMFlint We know there were #Reagan #Democrats... Maybe #ClintEastwood is an #Obama #Republican...

Feb 6th
10:29 AM
Retweet This

And Clint, the consensus is u done a good thing standing up 4 Detroit--& your sermon seemed 2 b a call 2 give O his "second half." #sellcars

Feb 5th
11:29 PM
Retweet This

Congrats Giants! A great game. Hilarious ending - have never seen a player bummed out because he scored a touchdown.

Feb 5th
11:24 PM
Retweet This

RT @ZKWC: @MMFlint sounded to me like he was going to get all Dirty Harry on some Republicans by calling for another Obama term.

Feb 5th
10:23 PM
Retweet This

Eastwood ad started great-but it ended like America was gonna go all Dirty Harry on the world again. Jeez. Props tho for representin Detroit

Feb 5th
9:32 PM
Retweet This

Silent State ...by Peter van Buren, State Department FSO www.michaelmoore.com The number of cases in play suggests an organized strategy ... The Obama...

Feb 9th
2:25 PM
Read More

Angelides: 'Gluttons of privilege' rule Wall Street www.newsreview.com "The Wall Street reactionaries are not satisfied with being rich. They...

Feb 9th
9:18 AM
Read More

The Battle for Vermont's Health -- And Why It Matters for the Rest of the Country ...by Wendell Pott www.michaelmoore.com I have observed in Vermont over...

Feb 8th
4:02 PM
Read More

Just the workers at Republic Windows & Doors (as seen in 'Capitalism: A Love Story') had to occupy their Chicago factory in order to get what...

Feb 8th
2:15 PM
Read More

From Mitt Romney's alternate reality, via Andy Cobb and Second City: Super Bowl Ad (Alternate Reality Take) www.youtube.com Mitt sure did feel strongly...

Feb 7th
9:59 PM
Read More

Powerful article by an active duty Lieutenant Colonel: "How many more men must die in support of a mission that is not succeeding and behind an array of...

Feb 7th
3:57 PM
Read More

The Great Carbon Bubble ...by Bill McKibben www.michaelmoore.com If we could see the world with a particularly illuminating set of spectacles, one of its most...

Feb 7th
11:30 AM
Read More

Why the Right May Be Right to Be Offended by Chrysler's Clint Eastwood Super Bowl Ad ...by Joe Lapoi www.michaelmoore.com A year from now, we may be...

Feb 6th
9:08 PM
Read More

Offshore Everywhere ...by Tom Engelhardt www.michaelmoore.com A new way of preserving the embattled idea of an American planet is coming into focus and one...

Feb 6th
2:27 PM
Read More

Daily Kos: The rightwingoverse www.dailykos.com In the Rightwingoverse, doubt must be cast upon facts, science, and basic reality, in order to sustain an...

Feb 6th
1:41 PM
Read More

Thanks to the Record of Bergen County, New Jersey and reporter Lindy Washburn for doing the kind of important, in-depth journalism that's disappearing all...

Feb 5th
6:28 PM
Read More

Why Protests Should Be a Part of Super Bowl Sunday ...by Dave Zirin www.michaelmoore.com The people of Indiana are angry. I’m not sure telling them that anger...

Feb 5th
2:45 PM
Read More

Occupy the Super Bowl: Indiana’s New Anti-Union Law Sparks Protest at Sport’s Biggest Spectacle www.democracynow.org Occupy protesters in Indianapolis are...

Feb 5th
2:35 PM
Read More

The battle of McPherson Square ...by Jefferson Morley www.salon.com Rough police tactics rout 300 protesters from their tent city in the heart of Washington

Feb 5th
2:11 PM
Read More

Livestreaming of eviction at OccupyDC: OCCUPY DC BEING EVICTED NOW - Watch Live | OccupyWallSt.org occupywallst.org According to twitter reports, majority of...

Feb 4th
12:58 PM
Read More

Feb 4th: Day of Mass Action to Stop War on Iran www.antiwar.com February 4, 2012 Day of Mass Action to Stop War on Iran / NO war / NO sanctions / NO...

Feb 4th
12:30 AM
Read More

Here's a better link for the Freewayblogger contest: Tales of the Freewayblogger: Slogan Contest/West Coast Tour freewayblogger.blogspot.com I'd...

Feb 3rd
6:18 PM
Read More

Now's your change to Freeway blog -- enter the Freeway Blogger's contest for the best slogans about global warming, get your work seen by tens of...

Feb 3rd
4:35 PM
Read More

Paying For Cancer Treatment for Children in America With a Car Wash and Bake Sale ...by Wendell Pott www.michaelmoore.com In late November, Caroline Richmond...

Feb 3rd
11:33 AM
Read More

Four Reasons to Watch the Super Bowl ...by Robert Lipsyte www.michaelmoore.com You need to watch this game to fully understand how jobs, religion, leadership,...

Feb 2nd
3:53 PM
Read More

From Laura Flanders: The Deal That Saved Detroit (And Banned Strikes) | The Nation www.thenation.com Romney bad; Obama good; Big Three back. The Deal with...

Feb 2nd
3:26 PM
Read More

Divining the Truth about Iran ...by Ray McGovern www.michaelmoore.com Watching top U.S. intelligence officials present the annual “Worldwide Threat...

Feb 1st
11:22 PM
Read More

Anti-Wall Street protester's Twitter posts subpoenaed www.reuters.com NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prosecutors have subpoenaed the Twitter records of an Occupy...

Feb 1st
12:23 PM
Read More

If we ever get single-payer and decent health care for all in this country, one big reason will be Dr. Deb Richter: ...

Jan 31st
3:59 PM
Read More

I think we all breathe easier with unrepentant supporters of basic human decency like Frank Cordaro locked up: Occupy Des Moines trainer sentenced to 30 days...

Jan 31st
12:45 PM
Read More

Canada’s Labor Movement Digs in for ‘PATCO Equivalent,’ as Lockouts Drag On ...by Mike Elk www.michaelmoore.com "When PATCO happened [in 1981] we didn’t...

Jan 30th
5:16 PM
Read More

In the Washington area? Get down to OCCUPY DC to defend the encampment from a likely raid by police today: Jan 30th: Occupy DC will defend our home and our...

Jan 30th
12:51 PM
Read More

Here's one of the channels streaming coverage of the Occupy Wall Street march tonight in solidarity with Occupy Oakland: Timcast www.ustream.tv Timcast...

Jan 29th
8:12 PM
Read More

A Call For Mass Action Against The Suppression of The Occupy Movement ...by Emma Kaplan michaelmoore.com Now this movement faces a true crossroads. Will it be...

Jan 29th
6:48 PM
Read More

Events in solidarity with Occupy Oakland begin in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Tampa and many more cities at 7:00 PM ET --...

Jan 29th
2:26 PM
Read More

Subscribe to Mike's Blog RSS

Click here to suggest an article

Mike's Blog

See More Blogs

Vew the archives

View older articles