The moguls have a cold-eyed view of this. Their bean counters calculate the costs of a strike down to the penny, and they know just how long a strike they would like to weather before seriously negotiating a deal. Any pre-negotiation hand-wringing by politicians only plays into the moguls’ plans, along with fighting between the creative guilds and factionalism within them.

SAG doesn’t want a strike. The WGA did not want a strike. The moguls took one strike already in the hope the WGA would crumble. If the moguls think they can get a better deal with SAG & AFTRA by forcing a strike, then that’s exactly what will happen.

The WGA strike was settled for several reasons, and not simply because of the Oscars. (Although this was an undoubtedly large concern) Another major factor was the health insurance fiasco that loomed as of April 1 and July 1 for the WGA members whose coverage would have run out, and for whom the clock did not stop as they had been promised. And there is also the simple fact that both the networks and the writer/producers wanted to save what they could of the TV season.

With the end of the WGA strike, multiple TV series jumped back into production, in many cases being compelled to film with multiple units to bring in as many as 7 new episodes before the end of the season. I have currently been hired to work on one such series due to the overflow, while I wait for my own series to start back up in May.

You are correct to note that several shows are starting their new seasons early and banking new episodes for the fall just in case anything unfortunate happens in June.

But it’s actually quite busy right now in terms of television. Almost everyone I know in TV work is currently either back on their series or helping on another series. And I know a few people working on the pilots that actually came to film this year.

I should also note that the SAG members with whom I have spoken over the past three weeks, both in terms of cast members, and stand-ins and background players, to a person have said to me that they do not believe there will be a SAG strike. And, to a person, they all also supported the petition drive within SAG regarding voting status. To be specific, I’m referring to people actually working in the business - not the many acquaintances I have who are SAG members but work in other businesses. So I’m hopeful that the SAG negotiations will go well, and that SAG will have a contract by mid-June.

Nobody ever went on strike to benefit others, or for the sake of ideals. Everybody’s just as cynical and self-interested as you. Thanks for setting me straight.

Now give me back the money I lost — since according to you, I should have it.

And having said that: what’s really disgusting is the wedge some people try to put between those of us who ought to be working together.

Ummm, yes. He realizes that what’s at stake are literally millions of below the line jobs for people who desperately need the money to live. All at risk so first writers and now actors can try to get enough cash to buy a second house. I’m tired of these union members adopting evil Republican like stances masquerading as a fight for the people. It’s disgusting.

As for the city, we’ve built our fortunes on the backs of mundane ideas. Hollow growth means collapse. Better now than later, when our financial health is even more over-extended and unsupported. Let’s not treat the symptoms of disease, let’s start promoting actual, bona-fide health.