Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Left is Right - Liberals and Progressives Stage a Comeback


Well Election Day 2011 has come and gone.  This year was a much better year for the American people and workers than Election Day 2010.  It seems that America is more progressive and left leaning than the GOP believed it to be.

The people of Ohio have voted to repeal a law, pushed by Governor John Kasich and passed by their legislature, which sought to take away the right of collective bargaining for public sector employees.  The measure was repealed by over 60% of the voters.  I guess the people of Ohio like having unions in place to stick up for their rights.  Andrew Cuomo in New York State showed that you can still bargain collectively with unions (CESA and PEF) and get what are perceived to me need cuts.  Although his actions have been heavy handed he was still able to negotiate with public sector labor unions and get the savings he wanted.

Mississippi voters rejected a proposal that would have greatly limited the rights of women to choose whether or not they want to have an abortion.  Again more than 60% of the voters rejected the proposal.  I guess the people in Mississippi believe in protecting what the constitution protects, the right to choose.

The Republicans in Maine sought to end the right of residents to register to vote on Election Day.  The people of Maine have been able to do this since 1973.  Republicans claimed that this led to voter fraud.  That was a bogus charge that is being used across the country in an attempt to make it harder for Democratic leaning voters to vote, thereby creating better chances for Republicans to win.  The Republican sponsored bill has been rejected by nearly 60% of the voters in Maine.

Voters in Arizona have for the first time ever recalled an elected official.  They have recalled the main sponsor of the Arizona immigration bill and State Senate President Russell Pearce.  He has been replaced by Jerry Lewis, not this one.

Overall it was a good night for progressives and liberals.  While conservatives seem to have overplayed the hand they thought they were dealt in 2010.  Hopefully, this portends well for the reelection of Barack Obama in 2012.