General Motors recently stated they will temporarly shut down operations this summer. If you think this action will only affect GM's workers think again. This tempory shut down will probably affect GM's many parts suppliers. To cut to the chase, less money for all kinds of workers throughout the country to move our consumption-based economy! Many of these very same workers are saddled with high interest credit card payments and home mortages. Wall Street speculators and some finacial pundits have been harping recently that the worst of this recession is over. They see a slight uptick in the stock market and homes sales to folks who are in the market for their first home. Think again. Many of the millions who lost jobs and that means U.S. factory workers, may never again find jobs that pay a decent wage if the Wall Streeters don't stop outsourcing the American dream to cheaper wage environs overseas. Big bussiness in the U.S. doesn't even want to pay a poor bloke here a salary to answer a phone. Once again, we must confront the fact that our working class wages have stagnated to squat over the past 30 years. U.S. workers can no longer afford to move this rabid, consumption-based economy any longer simply because they don't make enough. Sure we can buy dissposable Chinese made DVD players, mp3's and cheap underwear from Honduras, but a new car (U.S. or foreign) or afford a mortage? Give us a break and a pay increase Wall Street! And Washington, there was a time when politicians spoke of a chicken in every pot. Now, you don't even offer us a pot to piss in! A temporary shut down of GM does not indicate the worst is over. It indicates that maybe the worst is yet to come. To rebuild America, lets start with decent, living wages and jobs for working Americans!

Angela Davis at the "Black Women and The Radical Tradition forum at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City.  3/28/09