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THINK ABOUT IT
Twelfth in a
series of newsletters by former Local 150 Financial Secretary Ray Connors
DUGAN THE DICTATOR
Often
during this election campaign, you have heard me refer to Bill Dugan
as a dictator. Believe me I do not use that term lightly.
Throughout
history, and all over the world, we have had an assortment of
dictators. Some are more powerful than others, and some have
kingdoms larger than others. Bill Dugan’s kingdom is Local 150, and
his power within his kingdom is absolute.
Many times
during the last year, you have heard Bill Dugan say something like,
“We all agreed” or “Everyone there agreed” or some such comment.
Well, I wish I had that proverbial nickel for every time I have
heard Bill Dugan say, in response to someone who disagrees with him,
“I’m still the President-Business Manager of this local, and that’s
it.” That, brothers and sisters, is the kind of agreement that
occurs in Local 150.
Now, let’s
see, what are some of the other things that a dictator does to
control his kingdom? The first thing on his list might be to rid
himself of all of those who might have objections to his agendas.
Check that one off as done.
Next, he
insulates himself with those who, for fear of retribution or for
their own selfish reasons, will do all within their power to appease
and promote him. Check that one off too.
Next step
is to control the media. Dugan’s plan there has been twofold. He
already had control of the monthly paper, so by continuing to censor
anything or anyone who didn’t promote him, and then using the paper
as a campaign medium, his control in that area was complete.
When he
realized that so many of our members were actually learning the
truth and becoming informed about the issues of our election on
www.150election.com,
his next act was to prevent anyone who did not back him in the
election from airing their views on the Internet. As first
vice-president of the International, he helped spearhead the
adoption of an International resolution preventing a web site about
our local election without using an expensive, complicated password
protection process. This process was established and is maintained
by a contractor chosen by the International. As expected, this
process has proven to be unreliable and frustrating for many who
have tried to log on to Team 150’s site.
Obviously,
this action has become a freedom of speech issue, and the
International has been sued by Public Citizen and by members from
across the country. But, what the hell does the UEP care? They
only have to try to keep us silent until after the election, and
then it doesn’t matter to them what happens with the web site.
So, on the
control the media issue, we’ll give Dugan’s list an extra big check
for not only using our monthly paper to campaign, but for also using
the International as a means to stifle free speech.
What’s
next on Bill Dugan’s dictator list? We all know that every dictator
feels the necessity to immortalize himself. So he must build a
suitable monument to himself. Dugan’s monument is his new training
site. Like any other dictator, his monument must be the best in the
world, a creation in which he takes great pride. But like those
other monuments built by those other dictators, it’s the people who
pay for all of his great pride. So, now, with his monument for
which we are all paying, complete, we can check off this item on the
dictator list also.
Finally,
we come to the arrogance that defines a dictator. They believe that
they should and will rule forever. But, you know, it’s a funny
thing about these dictators. Eventually people get fed up with
them, and decide that it’s time for a change. Let’s hope that come
election time, we can also check this item off of the list.
THINK
ABOUT IT.
Think about
it #13
Think about
it #14
Think about
it #15
Think about
it #16
Think about
it #17 |
