"Moron" was coined in 1910 by psychologist Henry H. Goddard from the Greek word moros, which meant "dull" (as opposed to "sharp"), and used to describe a person with a mental age located between 8 and 12 on the Binet scale. It was once applied to people with an IQ of 51-70, being superior in one degree to "imbecile" (IQ of 26-50) and superior in two degrees to "idiot" (IQ of 0-25). The word moron, along with others including "retarded", "idiotic", "imbecilic", "stupid", and "feeble-minded", was formerly considered a valid descriptor in the psychological community, though these words have all now passed into common slang use, exclusively in a derogatory context NOW Known around the World as Joe the Plumber on This April Fools Day 2009!
‘Joe’ the ‘Plumber’ Campaigning Against Employee Free Choice, Hasn’t Read Employee Free Choice Act EFCA Bill
by Seth Michaels, Apr 1, 2009
This seems like it should be an April Fool’s joke, but it’s not: Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher, who’s on a tour of Pennsylvania as a spokesman against the Employee Free Choice Act, apparently took the job without even knowing what it is he opposes.
So, let’s sum up: corporate front group “Americans for Prosperity” (AFP) has hired “Joe the Plumber” to be the face of their anti-Employee Free Choice Act campaign, which would be great, except that not only is he neither a licensed plumber nor named “Joe,” he doesn’t even particularly know what he’s advocating against. And after two days of being confronted by real plumbers, Wurzelbacher ran away from Pennsylvania, leaving his tour unfinished.
Michael Morrill, a blogger from Keystone Progress, catches Wurzelbacher on video admitting that “I don’t know a lot” about existing labor law and how the Employee Free Choice Act would change it. He dodges questions about the Employee Free Choice Act, showing that he’s not familiar with the bill or the issues involved.
When Wurzelbacher went to Pittsburgh, he was confronted by more than 100 union members, and by the time he arrived in Harrisburg, more than 200 union members came out to protest his appearance and show their support for the Employee Free Choice Act. He admitted to these union workers he hadn’t read the bill. Frank Snyder of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO reports that Wurzelbacher ended his tour and left the state without even showing up for his last scheduled appearance.
Let’s clarify this for him, shall we? The Employee Free Choice Act is designed to restore workers’ basic freedom to form unions. It allows both of the options that are currently legal under the National Labor Relations Act—majority sign-up and an extended election period—and lets workers, rather than corporations, pick which method they use to form a union. It protects workers from management intimidation and harassment by creating real penalties for unfair practices and illegal firings. And it guarantees that when workers choose to bargain, they can reach a first contract.
The 300,000 members of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA) union have a different opinion than Wurzelbacher on the Employee Free Choice Act, possibly because they understand existing labor law and how it infringes on the critical freedom to form a union and bargain for a better life. Real plumbers are rallying in support of the freedom to form unions and against the corporate disinformation campaign. Rick Terven, the legislative director of UA, had this to say about Wurzelbacher’s tour:
Joe the plumber is selling out real plumbers. Right now, labor law is stacked against real plumbers. Real plumbers want and need the Employee Free Choice Act as a way to empower themselves to join a union, without fear of intimidation or losing their jobs. Joe the Plumber doesn’t speak for real plumbers.
AFP, an oil industry front, is hoping to trick the press and elected officials into thinking that there’s a grassroots movement against the Employee Free Choice Act, but working people are too smart to be taken in by such a laughably transparent ruse. Sorry, Mr. The Plumber, but nobody’s buying what you’re selling.
Joe the Plumber in the News:
Joe the Plumber: Clueless on the Employee Free Choice Act SEIU Blog - 1 hour ago "Joe the Plumber" campaigned across Pennsylvania to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act - the only problem is, he has no clue what he's talking about. ...
Unions set to protest 'Joe the Plumber' The Patriot-News - PennLive.com - Mar 31, 2009 ... for a rally against the Employee Free Choice Act, but the man known as "Joe the Plumber" might find himself the subject of an even bigger protest rally. ...
Joe the Plumber, Octomom to marry Examiner.com - 10 hours ago In a move that elevates media whoredom to an unprecedented level, Joe the Plumber has announced that he will marry reproductive wonder Nadya Suleman and act ...
Joe the Plumber to speak at Michigan Taxpayer Tea Party
Joe the Plumber stumped on Employee Free Choice Act: ‘I don’t know everything about everything.’
Joe The Plumber Confronted By Union Workers, Gets Stumped On Policy (VIDEO)
Joe The Horny Plumber Video to be Released at Anti-Employee Free Choice (EFCA) Rally
Americans for Prosperity, Employee Free Choice Act, EFCA, Employee Free Choice, Free Choice, Free Choice Act, Joe the Plumber,Octomom