I've been reading here and there that voice actors for video games are threatening to strike unless they get a share of profits from the games they lend their talents to. These actors are, of course, unionized, which is probably the only reason they can make such a demand. Apparently, some of the folks who are bitching and moaning about this are the folks who actually make the games, who also want a cut of the profits. This is fair, if you ask me, but:

Boo fuckin' hoo. Yeah, your labor conditions fucking suck, we know, but you know what? If you want a cut, stop working 80 hours a week for peanuts and either join a union or form one of your own. Who gives a fuck about the possibility of strikes ("oh no, it means I can't work!") and spending time negotiating contracts? Just fucking do it, and if you do it right, you've got nothing to do but get ahead. Besides, if your unionization means that the cost of the end product goes up, and possibly forces production to Europe or Asia or wherever, so be it. If you're so fucking worried about creativity, and you find out that some underpaid dude in China or Holland is making quality games, fine. You know what you can do? Urge him to organize his workplace too. Fuck, people, just cough up your union dues every month and guarantee yourselves some fucking security and decent compensation for working on crap games.

Yeah, this is an incoherent mash of thoughts, but it boils down to a couple things. One: if you hate your working conditions, either quit or unionize (or, if you're unionized, bust your ass to renegotiate your contract, or join a different union). Two: shit changes. You may join the union, watch things go well for a while, and then watch someone across the pond take your job. It happens. The same thing will happen to them sooner or later. It's not a very comforting thought in the short term, but you know what? History doesn't care how you feel, and if you do what you can, maybe you can at least some kind of mark and make things better for someone- be it yourself, a family member, or a complete stranger- somewhere down the line.

While I wish the best for everyone in the here and now, I just can't get worked up over the fate of one particular nation, group, or whatever when I think in terms of history and the future. Que será, será, folks. Protect what you love while you can, but don't expect it to last forever.