tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post5755726939153117443..comments2024-01-03T05:18:54.650-05:00Comments on CDR Salamander: Mid-Summer Free For All, on Midrats?CDR Salamanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05981221786954902349noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-55890895481957032272011-07-26T09:55:18.750-04:002011-07-26T09:55:18.750-04:00In full disclosure, I have been a member of 2 unio...In full disclosure, I have been a member of 2 unions in my life - when I worked for UPS while in college I had to join the Teamsters, and then as a member of the minor league hockey players union.Aubreynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-6002332386520581092011-07-26T09:53:06.862-04:002011-07-26T09:53:06.862-04:00And therein lies the problem Skippy - I agree with...And therein lies the problem Skippy - I agree with you that in no conceivable way are union members a monolithic voting bloc. You pretty much have the spectrum from end to end in their membership. Yet the unions themselves (as individual entities, not as the sum of their members) <strong>are</strong> a monlothic bloc for the Democratic party, which does a disservice to those of their members who may not want to give money and support to politicians they oppose.<br /><br />Although their voting impact through their dues paying members is declining*, they are still the biggest single source of money in politics...<br /><br /><em>*well, the private sector unions are declining - the public sector seem to be in pretty good shape</em>Aubreynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-14204737346950837062011-07-26T08:32:33.146-04:002011-07-26T08:32:33.146-04:00"...Marxist world view of endless class warfa..."...Marxist world view of endless class warfare."<br /><br />That about sums it up.UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-69959511509929668802011-07-26T08:24:37.112-04:002011-07-26T08:24:37.112-04:00A union which gets in bed with a political party w...A union which gets in bed with a political party winds up becoming an ATM for money and votes with little influence. It's smart to support candidates who support the unions interests on issues vital to the union.<br /><br />A party which sets itself up by anti-union bias loses funding, votes, and becomes beholden to groups with little or no interest in the well being of a prosperous middle class, and foolish scorn for the skilled trades. It volunteers to be the caricature for the marxist left, and falls for picking a side in the marxist world view of endless class warfare.<br /><br />In both cases, the result is a loss of a feedback loop which sooner or later winds up with them well out of the bouyed channel and on the rocks. <br /><br />The devil is in the unions, the devil is in management, because the devil is everywhere, hard at work all the time. We all recruit from the human race, we all can call on angels to assist us, we all are bedeviled, mostly by our own imperfect nature.<br /><br />Put not your faith in Princes...or political operatives. Grandpa Bluewater.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-43358143056464211282011-07-26T01:32:42.243-04:002011-07-26T01:32:42.243-04:00But are union members really a monolithic block vo...But are union members really a monolithic block voting for the Dems all the time? I doubt it. I suspect there are plenty of folks who vote GOP because that is what they believe. The money may be being funneled to the Democratic party by their PACs but I doubt individuals can lumped as voting a certain way all the time. Besides with unions only being about 15% of workers and going down their influence will too.Skippy-sannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-26243138447764229522011-07-26T00:13:35.122-04:002011-07-26T00:13:35.122-04:00I've worked for employers where I thought that...I've worked for employers where I thought that company was the reason for the existence of unions, and I've worked for places that have been badly impacted by unions. Heck I've worked for places where I have thought "Dear God, please get a union in here!"<br /><br />I don't begrudge the existence of private sector unions, but I do have a major issue with the public sector ones.<br /><br />That being said, I think the stupidest thing the unions ever did was aligning so closely with the Democratic party. By doing that they inherently made opponents of 50% of the population and the government. With a bit of forethought, and some adept navigating by those in command, the unions could very well have furthered the non-political agenda of supporting and enhancing the lives of their members. Instead they chose to further a political agenda of bureaucracy, statism, and thuggery...<br /><br />Their mistakes show in their in their anemic and declining membership - unions are now an afterthought for much of America as they are not seen as furthering the interests of their members and the working class, but instead of furthering the political machine of the Democratic party.Aubreynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-15835755218226646172011-07-25T20:24:20.327-04:002011-07-25T20:24:20.327-04:00I was going to say, DB, "You keep using that ...I was going to say, DB, "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means." :)LT Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-52785234668790073132011-07-25T17:56:53.124-04:002011-07-25T17:56:53.124-04:00Sorry... trillion.Sorry... trillion.DeltaBravonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-52286191165199449162011-07-25T16:49:17.981-04:002011-07-25T16:49:17.981-04:00Coupla things.
Unions. The forty hour week, ov...Coupla things. <br /><br />Unions. The forty hour week, overtime pay, viable safety programs in the industrial workplace, medical/dental/optical plans, a defined benefit retirement at age 65, pay which provides middle class status to the skilled trades and a living wage to semiskilled manual labor, and a measure of job security based on due process as a restraint on jerks as shop floor supervision, middle management and to a lesser degree company senior managers are the results of organization of the workers and collective bargaining. The existence of Unions keeps these things in place. <br /><br />Union abuses, corruption, racketeering and abuses of power by nepotistic union officials all exist and must be restrained. Stupid managers and stupid union bosses are equal threats to a company's success and workers well being. The bigger a business, the more a union is a good thing, if only to inspire management decency in order to avoid dealing with a union. Laissez faire (sp?) capitalism left unrestrained would result in all the abuses of the gilded age and much worse.<br /><br />Having worked union and non union, union is better. Far from perfect, but better.<br /><br />That said, the current crop of union bosses the Reuther brothers, they ain't. Not even close.<br /><br />No point in being knee jerk about unions. Lawyers, mmm, I'll get back to you....Grandpa Bluewater.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-84390575305108367632011-07-25T16:24:28.637-04:002011-07-25T16:24:28.637-04:00Actually the shooter is just a lunatic. Looking fo...Actually the shooter is just a lunatic. Looking for consistent policy preferences in expressed beliefs is pointless. He is full blown insane.<br /><br />The fact is that Arizona's mental health establishment is incompetent and the politicians who should supervise it are corrupt and village idiot stupid. Not to mention fiscally and morally utterly irresponsible.<br /><br />The kid doesn't know up from left from chocolate Tuesday.<br />midnight.<br /><br />His lawyers oppose involuntary administration of anti-psychotic medications known to be effective because it denies him reasoned choice in controlling his medical treatment. The Judge may be a grown up, stay tuned.Grandpa Bluewater.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-44567358511321648592011-07-25T16:17:05.536-04:002011-07-25T16:17:05.536-04:00Obvious to perhaps half of American adults is this...Obvious to perhaps half of American adults is this painful fact now:<br /><br />Our elected President is a deeply, deeply dishonest man. Can't wait until 2012 electrions.Retired Nownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-229639451969885372011-07-25T15:44:57.070-04:002011-07-25T15:44:57.070-04:00Hmmm, tastes like crow...Hmmm, tastes like crow...The Usual Suspectnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-75291936855065464212011-07-25T15:27:33.000-04:002011-07-25T15:27:33.000-04:00Hey DB. This is kinda funny:
"The fact that...Hey DB. This is kinda funny:<br /><br />"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government's reckless fiscal policies. America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means "the buck stops here". Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem, and a failure of leadership. America deserves better!"<br /><br />-Senator Barack Obama, March 2006UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-882255979490332232011-07-25T15:05:52.647-04:002011-07-25T15:05:52.647-04:00It is a "me" problem. I was 100%wrong.It is a "me" problem. I was 100%wrong.Skippy-sannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-10450450479418510492011-07-25T11:58:33.610-04:002011-07-25T11:58:33.610-04:00You got 50 points for the Battlestar Galactica ref...You got 50 points for the Battlestar Galactica reference, and now 60 points for quoting Forrest Gump. I need to remember to use that line if the cops ever show up to my house for a domestic disturbance...Salty Gatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-73316712437098716182011-07-25T11:56:59.615-04:002011-07-25T11:56:59.615-04:00I did call @ around 1736 or so says my cell phone....I did call @ around 1736 or so says my cell phone. Just rang and rang unfortunately. Maybe I dialed wrong. :(Salty Gatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-89788799332854044282011-07-25T11:44:34.000-04:002011-07-25T11:44:34.000-04:00"<span>It's just this war and that ..."<span>It's just this war and that lying </span><span>son of a bitch Johnson"</span>CDR Salamandernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-16772749837211078262011-07-25T11:26:55.000-04:002011-07-25T11:26:55.000-04:00SG - when did you call? I didn't see anyone b...SG - when did you call? I didn't see anyone but Lee's call. Sometimes you have to hold ... Lee did for 8 minutes.<br /><br />Also for all - if you have not read Skippy's blog in the last 48-hrs. You should. A nice cautionary note about drunkblogg'n.CDR Salamandernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-74323299040206328692011-07-25T10:09:54.148-04:002011-07-25T10:09:54.148-04:00"when people can get so angry that we cannot ..."when people can get so angry that we cannot find a compromise-and I get so angry that I say a bunch of stupid things, it is definitely not politics as usual."<br /><br />sounds like a "you" problem. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what is wrong with American society on BOTH sides of the political spectrum. No, no...I am not responsible for what I said...it's those damn lunatics on (insert opposing party here). They MAKE ME SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!Actus Rhesusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-55256346675087793352011-07-25T10:01:56.139-04:002011-07-25T10:01:56.139-04:00DB,
You are correct-it is not politics as usua...DB,<br /><br /> You are correct-it is not politics as usual. Something deeper is going on. But when people can get so angry that we cannot find a compromise-and I get so angry that I say a bunch of stupid things, it is definitely not politics as usual. I think it might have been better if Obama had never gotten elected, because this spiral is going too get worse. 2012 is not going to a good year for anyone.<br /><br />I suspect, the only way to win is not to play. I think the markets are going to take a beating in the next two weeks, and it appears Harry Reid just caved-so maybe there will be some sort of solution. Until the mext big fight.Skippy-sannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-18926605716865565182011-07-25T09:43:05.000-04:002011-07-25T09:43:05.000-04:00"URR-you do not get it. The United States is ..."URR-you do not get it. The United States is under economic threat from its own legislature. That is just as much a terrorist act as anything that has been done by radical Arabs."<br /><br />Can we make Godwin's Law 2.0 for illogical comparisons to fundamental Islamic Terrorism?Actus Rhesusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-61674632914314895162011-07-25T09:37:27.000-04:002011-07-25T09:37:27.000-04:00you forgot misogynist...
(I know, I know, playing...you forgot misogynist...<br /><br />(I know, I know, playing to type.)Actus Rhesusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-24309857801142869322011-07-25T09:19:52.285-04:002011-07-25T09:19:52.285-04:00Sooo... you joined because the Navy was your free ...Sooo... you joined because the Navy was your free plane and travel agent? Interesting motives. Nothing in there about love of country, desire to preserve and protect...<br /><br />We bought all those planes and ships, not just for Skippy, but for war.... the war we're in now (even the third one your messiah won't admit he's knee deep in.) Not war someday where we save all the stuff in the port and on the tarmac for years till we need them but the war where we need them now. War has a way of doing that.. using up all that equipment (which really wasn't bought to give future pilots toys to play with.)<br /><br /><span>I think there is a deeper question-this not politics as usual. It is a deliberate decision by democrats to pull the house down around us-just to make a political point and get their president re-elected. A system built on compromise has to have reasonable actors. The current democrat party does not-in any way shape or form-meet that definition. They are so opposed to the will of the American people to be fiscally responsible that they reject reasonable offers that give them most of what they have asked for. These folks have rejected potential deals designed to cater to their big-state fantasies and wish lists. They send the worst treasury secretary ever who didn't even pay his own taxes out to increase our taxes and say the DEFAULT word to rattle the markets. The President will not agree to cuts in taxes that will help business owners and he sucks up to many activists, leaders, union bosses and members of his Party. And yet, he keeps advocating the idea of compromise as an American virtue and a goal worth pursuing unless its his side that must compromise. Then he scares old people by threatening to take away their social security checks. That's more than just a simple disagreement-its a real problem for us.</span><br /><br />There. mefixie for ya!DeltaBravonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-39267731149071089632011-07-25T08:56:15.671-04:002011-07-25T08:56:15.671-04:00Obama has not put forward any plan or proposed any...Obama has not put forward any plan or proposed any cuts. To say that he has is simply untrue. He has waited for the Republicans in the House to do so and has then spent his time attacking them. As for harm. Obama flushed a trillion dollars down the shitter so that leftist government workers unions would stay flush with cash for an additional year or so. That was money either borrowed from China or taken from productive citizens. <br /><br />Most of the "social" and "redistributive" spending is a complete waste of money and time. It is used mainly to hook citizens on handouts and make them wards of the nanny state who can depended upon to vote to keep the money flowing. Entire federal departments could be shut down and we would be better for it. Obama can be depended upon to protect every iota of it. OldNFOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-41825813819210507742011-07-25T07:59:59.921-04:002011-07-25T07:59:59.921-04:00Finished with the man, Salty. He is a hateful, cl...Finished with the man, Salty. He is a hateful, closed-minded, anti-capitalist hypocrite and idealogue who believes himself my moral and intellectual superior. He is without honor. UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.com