American Political Economy Has the Ricketts
By 
Joe Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs and guilty of even more heinous acts, has some views about labor:
From: Joe Ricketts
To: B.G.
Date: March 3, 2011
Subject: RE: Wisconsin Racket’s Bluff Called
I met and visited with Gov. Scott Walker yesterday. He is one of my heroes
From: Joe Ricketts
To: F.D.
Date: March 12, 2011
Subject: RE: WHERE UNION DUES GO
It is terrible and shouldn’t be allowed to happen. My tax dollars go to the government which in turn pay the public employees, which in turn pay my dollars to the Unions which then use the money to support candidates that I do Not want. It is a crime and in a roundabout way makes me a slave. We should pass a law NOT allowing Public Service Unions as they are a disservice to the tax paying citizens.
“I am intrigued by your views and would like to make them federal law.” –Sam Alito
His hatred of his workers is sufficiently intense that it causes him to skip right by the racism in the bad email chain jokes he gets sent:
From: D.P.
To: Joe Ricketts
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Subject: I just couldn’t help myself I had to sent this one
John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock
(MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 am.
While his coffeepot
(MADE IN CHINA)
was perking, he shaved with his
electric razor
(MADE IN HONG KONG)
He put on a
dress shirt
(MADE IN SRILANKA),
designer jeans
(MADE IN SINGAPORE)
and
tennis shoes
(MADE IN KOREA)
After cooking his breakfast in his new
electric skillet
(MADE IN INDIA)
he sat down with his
calculator
(MADE IN MEXICO)
to see how much he could spend today… After setting his
watch
(MADE IN TAIWAN)
to the radio
(MADE IN INDIA)
he got in his car
(MADE IN GERMANY)
filled it with GAS
(from Saudi Arabia)
and continued his search
for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging
and fruitless day
checking his
Computer
(made in MALAYSIA),
John decided to relax for a while.
He put on his sandals
(MADE IN BRAZIL),
poured himself a glass of
wine
(MADE IN FRANCE)
and turned on his
TV
(MADE IN INDONESIA),
and then wondered why he can’t
find a good paying job
in AMERICA
AND NOW HE’S HOPING HE CAN GET HELP FROM A PRESIDENT
MADE IN KENYA !
Y’all gotta keep this one circulating, please!
—-
From: Joe Ricketts
To: D.P.
Subject: RE: I just couldn’t help myself I had to sent this one
Yea, this is because of unions
In conclusion, I present to you “American plutocrats and Donald Trump: a play in one act”
In 2016, Ricketts and his wife Marlene were among the top 20 contributors to federal campaigns, donating over $15 million. When Donald Trump found out they had spent $5.5 million in an attempt to block his nomination, he was furious; after the now-president was officially nominated, they donated or raised many times that sum as a contribution toward his effort.
Roll over Thomas Frank and tell Glenn Greenwald the news.