Obama's 2nd Term

[Commando]

I'd have less a problem with unions if they would rid themselves of union leadership. I think when most people say that they hate unions, they're talking about dickheads like Hoffa Jr. and Trumka. I will also never support public unions until I, as a taxpayer, have some say in collective bargaining.

And I didn't know that about GOP members of unions. You're more in tune with what's going on, so I'll concede that you have accurate numbers.

Have you guys seen Waiting for Superman? It should be required viewing re: unions & politics.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Harry, your smack probably rolls in to work around 10:30, chats about the weekend for an hour, takes a two hour lunch, then a 45 minute smoke break, then refuses to work without a union coworker watching, then delivers a $2,000 bill for an aggregate of 4 minutes of work production. Your smack is fat and lazy, and probably headed for a heart attack, but it can't be fired without an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement.

My smack, on the other hand, is bestowed upon this board by the Grace of God and the Invisible Hand of free market forces. Sweatshop workers toil through 72 hour shifts with no urine breaks to deliver my smack to your table. If my workers complain, they only complain that I'm not working them enough hours. They deliver top performance every day or they are replaced with one of the hundreds of other workers waiting to take their place in my factory. You smack will soon be accusing my smack of "predatory pricing" as the market becomes flooded with superior, pervasive, low cost product available at your local Wal-Mart.

I've got to honest, Harry. That was a fine comeback by BK.

[frank ryan]

Have you guys seen Waiting for Superman? It should be required viewing re: unions & politics.

Isn't that by the guy who teamed with Al Gore to do Inconvenient Truth?

Bltiz, the guy in avatar was the last labor friendly GOP president.
Here is a quote:“Collective bargaining in the years since has played a major role in America’s economic miracle. Unions represent some of the freest institutions in this land. There are few finer examples of participatory democracy to be found anywhere. Too often, discussion about the labor movement concentrates on disputes, corruption, and strikes. But while these things are headlines, there are thousands of good agreements reached and put into practice every year without a hitch.”- Ronald Reagan

[il Padrino Ute]

Isn't that by the guy who teamed with Al Gore to do Inconvenient Truth?

According to imdb, the same guy directed both.

[frank ryan]

Frank, regardless of what might he might have said, In 1981, Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 air traffic controllers who ignored his order to return to work, replaced them, and imposed lifetime bans on rehiring the dirt bags. Seems like a good model for dealing with labor disputes to me.

He said lots of pro-union stuff before and after the air traffic controllers. He didn't like public unions, but neither did FDR. But yeah you and him are very different on collective bargaining.

[UtahDan]

I've got to honest, Harry. That was a fine comeback by BK.

You must not have noticed the use of the word "smack."

[Harry Tic]

Harry, your smack probably rolls in to work around 10:30, chats about the weekend for an hour, takes a two hour lunch, then a 45 minute smoke break, then refuses to work without a union coworker watching, then delivers a $2,000 bill for an aggregate of 4 minutes of work production. Your smack is fat and lazy, and probably headed for a heart attack, but it can't be fired without an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement.

My smack, on the other hand, is bestowed upon this board by the Grace of God and the Invisible Hand of free market forces. Sweatshop workers toil through 72 hour shifts with no urine breaks to deliver my smack to your table. If my workers complain, they only complain that I'm not working them enough hours. They deliver top performance every day or they are replaced with one of the hundreds of other workers waiting to take their place in my factory. You smack will soon be accusing my smack of "predatory pricing" as the market becomes flooded with superior, pervasive, low cost product available at your local Wal-Mart.

Masterfully done, BK. I can now see that your mastery of hyperbole applies to what I had assumed were serious points earlier. Touché.

[UtahDan]

UD, "Smack" is my case is an entity unto itself. By the way, I'd like to propose a ban on lengthy, overly burdensome signature quotes; it's like the board is being spammed by viagra ads every time you post.

It's an entity that lives in Jim Rome's closet. If you want to go around smelling like his socks, be my guest. And your proposal is duly noted.

[Uncle Ted]

He said lots of pro-union stuff before and after the air traffic controllers. He didn't like public unions, but neither did FDR. But yeah you and him are very different on collective bargaining.

Yes, there is nothing wrong with private sector unions as long as companies are free not to hire them and employees are not forced to join them...



As for public unions, I wonder how much shittier TSA is going to be in the near future and if the president will have the balls to fire them when they all go on strike and shut down the airports. I wonder how many airports will do what SFO did and hire a private firm to do the job (and save money):

A committee report found that private contractors could be more cost-effective than federal screeners. If the nation’s top 35 airports switched to private contractors, the report said, taxpayers would save $1 billion over five years.

[...]


Justin Harclerode, a spokesman for the House transportation committee, said the T.S.A.’s studies showed that the use of private contractors did not pose a security risk.

“They exceeded or provided the same level of security as T.S.A. screeners,” he said.

It seems that the TSA workers signed their own pink slips.

[byu71]

I wonder if getting along with fewer employee's. I have called two 401K sponsors and one credit union this morning. Everyone said they were unusually busy and put me on hold for 10 minutes or more.

[byu71]

Question for those of you who lean progressive or better yet those of you who voted for Obama.

As you look at the Greeks rioting to get back benefits taken away, where do you think they think the funds are to pay for restoring those benefits.

Maybe there is a way and if Obama can hand out all these goodies and not end up with someone down the line saying, sorry, the good machine broke down, I would like to know what is that way?

Let's start with the Greeks who are rioting. Get into their noggins. How do they think their government can restore those benefits?

[byu71]

Question for those of you who lean progressive or better yet those of you who voted for Obama.

As you look at the Greeks rioting to get back benefits taken away, where do you think they think the funds are to pay for restoring those benefits.

Maybe there is a way and if Obama can hand out all these goodies and not end up with someone down the line saying, sorry, the good machine broke down, I would like to know what is that way?

Let's start with the Greeks who are rioting. Get into their noggins. How do they think their government can restore those benefits?

Surely someone has an answer to this?

This morning I was shocked, just shocked I tell you. After things moving in the right direction the last month or so, we had a very dissapointing unemployment claims number this morning.

[snowcat]

Obama enjoying his trip to Asia:

[PaloAltoCougar]

I found this mildly amusing.

[Moliere]

He's soooo cool! I'm glad he's our president!