Bingo! Always amazes me when people I fly with complain about the union, negotiations and work rules then proudly says "I always vote Republican".

I wouldn't paint the picture so broadly with that brush.

Many an aviator served in the armed forces. Traditionally, Liberals and Democrats don't understand National Security or the Constitution, so those that have served look for candidates that "get it" on those issues.

Conservative candidates, who are't looking to re-write the constitution, or looking to turn the military into a GLBT camoflage fashion show tend to look for Republicans since to-date, a 3 party system hasn't really been viable.

I wouldn't say that I am anti-democrat. I am just in favor of politics that favor accurate interpretation and implementation of the core values of the constitution.

When you ask most Americans their view of airline pilots, they don't associate us with "labor" in the same tenor that they think of as the UAW, or the Amalgemated Meat Cutters Union.

I am all for labor, after all I pay 3 grand a year in union dues, but I am all for smaller government that actually reads the constitutuion instead of using it for a door stop.

Weighing in here very carefully since we're dealing with politics. My opinion only, but ..

As a labor union, we have a lot more influence with the Democrats then the GOP. All that said, if the country self destructs ala Greece due to runaway spending, all that influence is meaningless. What good is a friend in the Whitehouse if the economy is in total meltdown? My "co-workers" tell me, "you gotta vote your paycheck." My response is, "No, I gotta vote for my country and for my children's future." I'm, not here to argue "who's" vision of the future is better. All I'm saying is that, as much as I want to be fairly compensated, I'm not going to cast my vote for president based on that.

Is it not true that the last time the Feds had a balanced budget was under a Democrat in the White House? As a matter of fact...wasn't there a surplus until the most recent Republican President moved in the WH?

Many people associate us liberals/progressives with "big government" and that's just untrue. We're for efficient government, there's a difference.

Not gonna discuss who is best for what in this forum. Believe what you want, even if you think the sky is pink. My point is that there are far more important considerations than just, "I'm voting my paycheck." I'm voting for my country and my children that have to live in this country. As far as "efficient government", that's the most oxymoronic expression I've ever heard :).

Your for effecient government, go get em tiger, geez

Look at Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway...

The role of government in those countries is bigger than in the U.S. but it's also much more efficient and at the end of the day people are doing much better in nearly every aspect.

Socialism works very well until you run out of other peoples money.

Question
 

Question for my leftward-leaning brothers and sisters:

ALPA has long touted its close realtionship with Labor and, by association, the democratic side of the aisle.(Although not in every issue) In addition to my dues, I am asked to contribute money to "Back th PAC". Those that do contribute are championed by the union in the "Roll of Distinction".

I generally have no problem with this, as long as it produces tangible results and doesn't undermine unity, which I believe is the real strength of the union, above politics.

Today we have the perfect opportunity to see whether the money and loyalty we have spent as a union will have been worth it.

The question is, if the NMB, and by default the POTUS, defer or equivocate on our request for release does he still deserve our loyalty as Airline Pilots/Employees?

I seem to remember that during the NWA strike, the AFL-CIO helped to secure the release, NWA went on strike and than Clinton sent someone named Lindsay in to settle. APA around the same time period got a PEB and was not a member of AFL-CIO...its been a long time.