The Scape-Goat

According to ancient custom the scape-goat was a relatively worthless animal selected by the community upon which the sins,crimes and guilt of that community could be heaped.
It was then sacrificed as a way of placating the local God and expiating all that bad stuff from the community. Of course, the truth was that the scape-goat was merely a ploy, a distraction, and all the sin, crime and guilt remained with the community. God was never fooled for a minute, but the community felt cleansed and vindicated by it's "selfless" sacrifice.
Talks between SAG and the AMPTP have been locked in stalemate for months over a few core issues involving New ( or NOW) Media, Product Integration and Jurisdiction. I will not go over the details here, as I am sure you are all very familiar with the reasons we are at this impasse - and if you're not, you really ought to find out. Suffice it to say that the "offer" on the table since June was unacceptable to any reasonable, working actor who wished to make a living in his or her profession.
Recently, a new leadership sat down once more with the AMPTP. The basic offer remained the same, but here came the sleight of hand. A worthless animal was selected by the group. With much wailing and gnashing of teeth the sins and crimes of the community were heaped on its back ( the evils of this Term agreement,) and it was sent out into the world to be kicked and abused. Watch what happens now as the High Priests of the AMPTP ( with the encouragement of the new SAG leadership,) solemnly sacrifice this poor beast in the name of peace and selflessness. The Term demand will be removed, the deal will be signed and the community will be allowed to live on, free of the sin and crimes that have threatened our health and well-being. Except, as has always been the case, it's a ploy and a distraction. Those sins and crimes will be as present and toxic as ever. The Term dispute is nothing more than a distraction and a ploy. There is no guarantee that any other Union will be interested in negotiating contemporaneously to SAG. The DGA has its own agenda, the WGA has its own agenda, even AFTRA might have its own agenda at that point. We have seen, all too recently, how the other Unions might view us as "extreme" and "selfish." Ultimately a Union's responsibility is to its own members not some other Union's membership.Those fatal provisions that rob us of our future earnings on the internet and compromise us in commercials as they move off TV and into Integration are STILL there.Those sins and crimes are as present and weighty as they ever were. "Term" is a scape-goat; we are only fooling ourselves.