In the film Key Largo, the mobster played by Edward G. Robinson when asked by Humphrey Bogart what he wants, he says “More”.
MORE. That’s what it seems that the rich want. Elon Musk wants more so he can be the worlds first trillionaire. And why do you suspect he wants to be a trillionaire? So he can have more than anyone else.
MORE. Oracle just had a massive layoff, trimming labor costs so Larry Ellison can have more. And why does Ellison court the favor of Donald Trump? Because he will have more government contracts.
MORE. Recently many NBA players have been accused of ties to gambling interests that may involve throwing games or altering their performance to better match large betting interests. Some of these players have grossed over $100 million in earnings over their careers. No doubt they need more.
MORE. The current POTUS creates a crypto currency that he encourages others to buy if they want more from the government. He is reported to have increased his wealth by more than $3 billion since being President. But Donny boy, that’s chump change compared to some of your pals. Were we you, we would correct that PDQ. Some of your pals should be ponying up a bit more for your favors.
MORE. That’s what football coaches are getting paid after being fired for their team’s mediocre performance. Brian Kelley just received a $54 million buyout from LSU. That is, $54 million to NOT coach college football. To put this in perspective, the stadium workers where his team plays would have to work over 1500 years to make that much. On a personal note, we at the Bozosphere would be happy to not coach college football for a mere fraction of $54 million that Brian is getting.
MORE. More trouble buying groceries. More financial worries for the people who have toiled to make the government work. More worry about busted by the people who work in the chicken processing plants, the fields, caring for the elderly and our children, and working in the housing industry. More increases in health care insurance. All because the people in power want MORE.
Not all of us want more. Here’s a famous interchange between Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller, published by Vonnegut after Heller’s death.
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money than your novel ‘Catch-22’ has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.” And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!”
Love this!
Preach, Marshall, Preach!
On the pedantic front, Humphrey’s writer got it from Sam!
On the current Tech Event Horizon, What does Gemini 2.5 Pro have to say on the subject of “Wanting More”
(Perplexity, beware intruding on Search an Idea):
Now back to the History of “More”
Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was a British-born American labor leader and the foundational figure of the American labor movement as we know it today.
His “story” is a pragmatic one: he wasn’t a revolutionary trying to overthrow capitalism, but a practical organizer who wanted workers to get a bigger piece of the pie. His primary achievement was founding and serving as the first president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
🏛️ The Story: From Cigarmaker to Labor Leader
* Early Life and Trade: Gompers was born in London and began working as a cigarmaker at age 10. In 1863, his family immigrated to New York City, where he continued his trade.
* Union Roots: The cigar-making shops were hubs of discussion and organization. Gompers joined the Cigar Makers’ International Union and quickly rose through the ranks.
* Founding the AFL: In 1886, Gompers led a coalition of craft unions to form the American Federation of Labor (AFL). This was a new approach. Unlike previous groups (like the Knights of Labor) that tried to unite all workers, the AFL was a federation of unions based on specific skills (e.g., carpenters, plumbers, cigarmakers).
* Long-Term Presidency: Gompers was elected president of the AFL at its founding and was re-elected every year (except one, 1895) until his death in 1924. He was the undisputed face and voice of American labor for nearly four decades.
💡 The “More”: His Philosophy and Legacy
The “more” of his story lies in his core philosophy, which shaped the American labor movement.
“Pure and Simple” Unionism
Gompers championed what he called “pure and simple” unionism (also known as “business unionism”). This philosophy had three main parts:
* Focus on “Bread and Butter”: He rejected the radical socialist or anarchist politics of many other labor movements. He believed unions should not try to radically restructure society but should focus on immediate, tangible goals:
* Better wages
* Shorter hours (he was a major advocate for the 8-hour workday)
* Safer working conditions
* Use Collective Bargaining: The primary tool to achieve these goals was collective bargaining—negotiating binding contracts with employers. Strikes were a last resort, used only when negotiations failed.
* Work Within Capitalism: Gompers famously said the goal of the labor movement was, simply, “More.” He wanted workers to have more pay, more time off, and a better life, all within the existing capitalist system.
Political Approach: “Reward Your Friends”
Gompers was politically pragmatic. He advocated for a policy of “voluntarism,” meaning the AFL would not tie itself to a single political party (like the Socialist Party or the Democratic Party).
Instead, the AFL’s official stance was to “reward its friends and punish its enemies,” supporting any politician from any party who voted in favor of labor interests.
His Lasting Legacy
Gompers’s model was highly successful. Under his leadership, the AFL grew from about 50,000 members in 1886 to nearly 3 million by the time he died. He is credited with legitimizing trade unions as a permanent and powerful force in the American economy. The AFL in today’s AFL-CIO (the largest federation of unions in the U.S.) is the direct descendant of the organization he built.