Although it happened on May Day, it is still significant due to its size and the workers' important position in commerce.

I disagree. A labor-sponsored May Day strike isn't news just because somebody decides to slap "against the war" in the press release. It's still a May Day strike by organized labor. There are a plenitude of other non-May Day opportunities which labor organizers could have used to join an anti-war rally, but didn't -- including the one on the 5th anniversary of the war a few weeks back.

Say 25,000 cops took the day off to protest the war. Would that rate the headlines?

Sure -- but mostly because cops can't ever legally strike.

Sure -- but mostly because cops can't ever legally strike.

But like The Police (not the band), a strike by the longshoresmen could shut the country down. Actually, a long term strike by the dock workers would probably be worse to the country than a strike by the cops.

a strike by the longshoresmen could shut the country down.

Only over the medium-to-long term, as I noted above. Eventually, warehouses would deplete stockpiles of stuff, sure. And if the longshoremen's union timed the strike correctly, some industries could get hit hard (fashion in March or August, toys & holiday-themed items in October.) But a one-day strike just doesn't have the necessary impact for serious concern in an economy rich and diverse enough to withstand a few jitters. I mean, think about it: the nation already weathers work slowdowns every weekend without impact.

A one day strike by police, on the other hand, is an immediate problem because every person with a significant enough criminal intent would think, "Woo-hoo! Free day at Best Buy!" or worse.

A one day strike by police, on the other hand, is an immediate problem because every person with a significant enough criminal intent would think, "Woo-hoo! Free day at Best Buy!" or worse.

In the cities, maybe. Then again, we have the National Guard, police reserves, and neighbors watching out for each other. After a few retards getting capped or beaten down with tire irons I think the level of opportunism will drop. During/after Katrina the neighborhoods that banded together seemed to have less trouble than the ones that did not.

In the country... I don't think so. Perhaps rural TnTers like Port can speak up, but those places tended to be more independent anyway. Who needs cops when the homeowners are all heavily armed, and in the event of civil unrest will likely be moreso?

Just saying. I could be wrong.

A one day strike by police, on the other hand, is an immediate problem because every person with a significant enough criminal intent would think, "Woo-hoo! Free day at Best Buy!" or worse.

In the cities, maybe.

I was stuck in Manhattan during the large blackout, and was pleasantly surprised there was no looting or any problems besides being stuck inside my office building overnight.

Katrina was a different problem since there were masses of people who had lost their home and all their possessions, without any notion of what the future would look like.  

I was stuck in Manhattan during the large blackout, and was pleasantly surprised there was no looting or any problems besides being stuck inside my office building overnight.

Blackouts are a different game. The people and (many) communications lines are still in place for law enforcement, even if their capacity is strained. During a strike, everything would work normally, save the certainty that no help would arrive. Also, blackouts are generally an unexpected crisis, whereas strikes are coordinated in advance.

Blackouts are a different game. The people and (many) communications lines are still in place for law enforcement, even if their capacity is strained. During a strike, everything would work normally, save the certainty that no help would arrive. Also, blackouts are generally an unexpected crisis, whereas strikes are coordinated in advance.

Yes and no.

There wasn't any help arriving from the police during the blackout since there was no light anywhere at night, including traffic lights.  So, pretty much the police could not get to anyone except by foot in a completely dark city without any light.

Most cities depend on electricity to an extent that is fully realized when the electricity is no longer there: public transit, the street lights, elevators in skyscrapers, traffic signals, air conditioners, computers and everything dependent on computer signals.  So when the blackout hit, no one was going far unless those who decided to walk home in the middle of a very hot summer day.

If the strike day was announced fully in advance, maybe some people would take advantage of it.  But I also think that people overall are pretty civic-minded and not all beasts restrained by fear of the police.  It's possible that even if there was a police strike and some people tried to loot, other people on the street might stop them.  

Perhaps rural TnTers like Port can speak up, but those places tended to be more independent anyway. Who needs cops when the homeowners are all heavily armed, and in the event of civil unrest will likely be moreso?

...yeah...I mean, my parents don't hunt and aren't gun nuts or anything, but they still have about a dozen hand-me down guns from my grandparents.  I imagine that situation is pretty common.  It wouldn't shock me if well over 50% of the population in the township where I grew up are armed in some way.

...yeah...I mean, my parents don't hunt and aren't gun nuts or anything, but they still have about a dozen hand-me down guns from my grandparents.

Yes.

I have the opposite problem. I have a case of 12 gauge shells, various boxes of 12 gauge 00 buck, two gun cleaning kits, and a palette of clay pigeons in my garage or basement...... but no firearms.

Yes, I have several family members who are big into shooting.

This wasn't a war protest; Iraq was just a convenient excuse for a show of union force that was going to happen anyway.  "At the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Thursday morning, however, there were no antiwar activities -- no protesters, no signs with antiwar sentiments and no indication of any large-scale opposition by dockworkers to U.S. policy in Iraq. The issue was discussed, union leaders said, during a private meeting of rank-and-file members at the ILWU Local 13 headquarters in Wilmington."