and yetamuel gompers, consider the grandfather of the labor movement, created the afl and it thrived before fdr. it was not until the federal government took control the labor unions that we have become where the labor union is the party, is the democratic party. that is what destroyed -- i know you guys like to complain about right to work laws, but you like to complain about money going into these political organizations, which the uaw has been doing for decades. host: let me pause there and give thom hartmann a chance. guest: i was curious what his question. it was not uncommon beforthe wagoner act was passed, the ameran labor relations act. it was not uncommon for strikers to be beaten, killed. police were used against strikers. there was no legal right to strike in the united states, no legal right to join a union. i would encourage you to google the ludlow massacre. people understood this in the 1920's and 1930's. gompers and others were leading a movement at great risk to thselves and their own lives and many others union leaders did lose their lives in those battles. so the f