Honest conversations are easy

I've been having a lot of conversations recently, what with the close gubernatorial election race in Connecticut. 

Lots of phone calls and house visits.

At the same time I've had lots of recent conversations about the future of the union movement.

These discussions start around trying to gain support and usually end with a frank discussion about our mutual hopes for the future.

I was commenting on all these conversations to a good friend and saying how enjoyable and easy it is to have them and she said to me, 

"Having honest conversations isn't hard."

So simple, yet so profound.

It all comes down to this.

Do you place the good of the many above the good of the self?

Do you believe that all work has dignity and all people deserve to be treated with respect, free of discrimination and bullying in all it's forms?

Do you believe what we are our brother's keeper?

We may disagree on the right path to these goals, we may disagree with the right leadership to elect to get us there, but if we do not first agree to these principles, then we are oceans apart in our thinking.

Unions, civil rights groups, faith based groups and others should share these goals.

Honest conversations can lead to an achievement of these goals.