TWU Strike

So they finally did it. The Transit Workers Union is on strike. No buses or subways trains are operating today. NYC is estimated to lose $400 Million a day. The only way a car can make it below 96th street in Manhattan is to have four people in it, all other cars are turned away. Millions of students who depend upon the transit system to get to and from classes now have to find alternate modes of transportation.

The first thing I wish to say about all this is congratulations! Now I know that a lot of people are greatly peeved at the TWU for what they are doing, and I know that technically what they are doing is illegal, but what a lot of people do not remember is that this is capitalism. The TWU wants more money and benefits for their workers, can you blame them, wouldn't you want more money and benefits? The MTA does not want to give them everything they ask for because then the MTA won't have as much money for itself, thus they will lose the money and benefits that they want. Can you blame them, would you want to give away money?

The TWU realize that they have a huge bargaining chip, they have the power to cripple the city and cause ebough chaos and unrest that the MTA will have to sit up and take notice. Wouldn't you do the same thing? If you had the ability to bring a city to it's knees to get what you want, wouldn't you do it? This is our society, this is how we function, this is how we work. So all of those out there who are cursing the TWU right now thing about what you would do if you were in their shoes.

This strike is doing one really good thing though, it is forcing a lot of people to car pool. I wouldn't be surprised if today was the cleanest day in NYC history since before the gas powered engine became popular. No trains or buses were operating, and only cars that carried four passengers or more were allowed downtown. Everyone else was turned away. Many people rode bikes or walked to work. So not only has this strike shown people what a car pool is bt it also made many people more healthy even if just for a day.

Maybe, just maybe (if one dares to dream so high) this strike will last just long enough that car pooling will become ingrained in more people and people with just keep doing it after the strike ends and maybe this will allow for a cleaner, healthier city. Wouldn't that be nice?