President Ronald Reagan , when federal air traffic controllers walked off their jobs in 1981 , said : `` Government can not close down the assembly line . Bob Greene : D.C. pols should heed advice of then - future MLB owner Giamatti during the strike . The said public not interested in baseball 's ` ` squalid little squabbles '' Greene : Labor leaders should be worthy of public trust . Greene : If federal workers shut down government , there 'd be an uprising .
Bob Greene : D.C. pols should heed advice of then - future MLB owner Giamatti during the strike . The said public not interested in baseball 's ` ` squalid little squabbles '' Greene : Labor leaders should be worthy of public trust . Greene : If federal workers shut down government , there 'd be an uprising .