The Chicago Tribune reviews President Bush’s nine justifications for the war in Iraq and holds them against the current facts on the ground. The verdict? Some exaggeration and some intelligence errors maybe (and by maybe I mean maybe) but certainly no lies. And, in my opinion, what amounts to valid justification.

What I think of the Bush administration domestically aside (and honestly, not determined) I still think that it was and continues to be right.

When I was in junior high school I had a social studies teacher who tried to teach us to support unions. And because that was what I was taught, I grew up believing unquestioningly that unions were a good thing, that unions were always right, that unions were always about protecting the little guy.

The MTA workers, whose salaries average 50k with minimal education, who have full heath coverage, full pension at 55, and drive in circles for a living, are not the little guy.

The little guy is the hourly worker who takes the subway every morning to a retail job where they are on their feet for 9 hours taking shit from people and smiling through it for 25K if they’re lucky. The little guy can’t afford a taxi and can’t even dream of a car. The little guy works in Manhattan but lives way out in Brooklyn Queens or The Bronx because they can’t afford to live closer to their job. The little guy could concievably walk to work if they had four hours in which to do it and didn’t then have to be on their feet all day.

They want respect. MTA workers are some of the nastiest people around. Ask them a question and they huff at you and roll their eyes like you’re asking them to move the earth for you. I was riding the bus once with a friend of mine who is in an electric wheelchair, and it took her a little longer than the bus driver liked for her to maneuver her scooter into position to get off the bus… the driver yelled at her that she was making him late, grabbed the handlebars of her scooter and twisted it, catching her arm between the bar and the chair, and continuing to yell at her as she yelped in pain.

When MTA workers are expected to provide customer service, to stay awake at their posts, and to treat their customers respectfully… then they still wouldn’t deserve the kinds of things they’re demanding.

There has been a major terrorist attack in London.

Been checking Insta periodically, cause no one collects news and sources like he does. Also The Guardian has a Newsblog which is updated as developments… develop.

I may comment later. But for now… I’ve got to get on the subway and go to work like everyone else.