Is the Michigan thing the death knell of the American labor movement?

[Cal Carpenter]

14. No.

I was in Lansing today surrounded by at least 10,000 people called on short notice, mostly union workers.

I have been to a lot of protests, strikes, events, and I have *never* seen this - representatives from just about every union in the state of Michigan, including from several hundred miles away in the UP. People from WI, OH, IN, and who knows where else. Labor leaders ranging from locals to Jim Hoffa Jr. People came together today. Conservative plumbers from Petoskey and young service workers from Detroit. Nurses and pipefitters and teachers. Oh my. (The 'larger population', if I may be so bold) The real sense of solidarity. The understanding that even those union workers who are doing great still need to be there with their brothers and sisters. That a rising tide lifts all boats. That it is the power in numbers that transcends the ballot box and brings people into the streets. There were people there, standing and fighting, people who will be back the next time the call goes out with even more of their fellow workers and family and friends, for a rally or a general strike, using the one real bargaining chip that we have - our labor.

I know, I am diving deeply into sentimental hyperbole and I always get a sort of buzz from events like this, but I'm not totally full of beans

I was there most of the day, it seems like it has gone on (and maybe continues to?) since we left this afternoon...

It is not over. This is a long, long fight and there is a new wave of battles. This part is just beginning.