Mike Cane 2008: Truckers Strike 2008: Albany, NY Protest & More

This is the longest post on this subject I've yet done. It has multiple videos in it, so I have to break it onto the next page otherwise the videos will clog the blog (something I can't do here at the Blogger backup blog).

Truckers protest in downtown Albany draws hundreds

Hundreds of truck drivers converged on the state Capitol Thursday and staged a noisy demonstration against soaring fuel prices.

About 110 tractor-trailer cabs, dump trucks and flatbeds lined streets outside the Capitol, their thundering air horns blasting the 109-year-old building. Even more were diverted to a nearby parking area.

Organizers said they came to call out the governor and legislative leaders to explain what they're going to do about what is becoming a crisis in their industry.

"With increased Department of Transportation audits, high fuel prices and obnoxious taxes ... they're putting trucking companies out of business and driving trucking companies out of New York," said Bill Sutton, a truck owner-operator from Batavia.

These days, Sutton says it costs him about $1,300 to fill his rig's tanks, more than twice what it did at this time last year.

Emphasis added by me.

I had to use Google News to find local coverage -- and it was in Newsday! Not the New York Times nor NY Daily News nor New York Post! Those bastards! The Times at least partially redeems itself with another story (see later in this post).

Meanwhile, here are screensnaps from an Associated Press video:

Here's that A.P. video:

Truckers Protest High Fuel Prices in Albany, NY

And here are some more videos covering the protest:

Truck Rally - Albany NY

Albany Trucker Protest

Trucker Protest Rally Albany, NY 6-19-08

So that's in Albany, the capitol of New York State.

Meanwhile, in New York Fascist City, the place that denied the truckers their right to protest, Billionaire Bastard Bloomberg said this:

'TAX-HIKER' MIKE'S FOUL GAS ODOR

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Let the little people pay higher gas taxes.

That was the harsh message for beleaguered motorists delivered yesterday by Mayor Bloomberg.

With drivers around the country fuming about rising gas prices, Bloomberg dropped a bombshell into their tanks yesterday by calling for increased fuel taxes to cut consumption.

Emphasis added by me.

This is the same guy who raised taxes on cigarettes in the City. They are now between $9.00-$10.00 per pack. Do you think he'd ever raise taxes on those who, for example, make more than $250,000 a year? You could hold your breath and die before that would ever happen. He wouldn't do it even as a temporary emergency surtax to help the budget. This bastard would rather do things like cut the budget for public libraries!

Here's how the New York Times partially redeemed itself:

South Korean Truckers Strike to Protest Rising Fuel Costs

SEOUL, South Korea — Thousands of South Korean truck drivers went on strike on Friday to protest rising fuel prices, threatening to paralyze the country’s ports and challenging the already unpopular government of President Lee Myung-bak.

Across Asia, sharp increases in fuel prices continued to stoke public anger. In Malaysia and Thailand, consumers and truckers demanding bigger fuel subsidies from their governments threatened to strike, and Thai fishermen warned that they would burn their boats.

More than 5,000 truckers blocked entrances to ports and cargo terminals in South Korea, demanding that the government increase subsidies, authorize higher freight charges and introduce a minimum wage.

Emphasis added by me.

How would it be if five thousand trucks converged on Washington, D.C.?

I want to go back to the first story about Albany to highlight this:

The Republican-led state Senate passed a bill last month to suspend state petroleum taxes for the summer, but it hasn't reached the floor of the Assembly, where Democratic leaders oppose it.

I don't want you truckers to be fooled by that. The Republicans up there aren't your friend. If you lived in New York City, you'd have seen your rent allowed to skyrocket because Joe Bruno -- the Republican leader -- is the landlord's hitman up there.

Democrat and Republican are nothing but two brand names for the same evil.

Let me repeat that:

Democrat and Republican are nothing but two brand names for the same evil.

I want you truckers to think about something. If you told someone about your protest actions earlier in the year and were told, "Don't bother. You can't win," what would have said?

I think all of you would have said: "We'll do it anyway!"

Ralph Nader, who is again running for President, was told, "Don't bother. You can't win."

And I reply: "I'm voting for him anyway. It's my vote."

With Democrat and Republican both being the same evil, don't all of you hard working truckers think your vote would have more of an impact if you voted for someone who puts everyday people first? How much of a difference do you think your vote for McCain The Insane or Obama-rama would make? You'd get lost in the shuffle.

Vote for Ralph Nader. Let the twin pillars of evil know you've had enough.

Make your vote have an impact this November.

Get mad!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Truckers Strike 2008: Albany, NY Protest & More

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