Oh, the irony of it all!!!!!!

I'm sure there are a lot of union and ex-union guys on here, and I certainly don't want to insult any of them. There was a time in America when the unions were really needed, sweat shop conditions and all that stuff. But sometimes they go too far.

Years ago I worked for a company that two guys started and it ended up being a big company. They took very good care of everybody, our wages were good, as were the benefits. Somebody got a hair and decided they needed a union in the plant. From that time on things were never the same. As an example, every year the company not only gave a Xmas bonus, but a turkey too. The union insisted that the turkey be put in the contract. The President said, we do that anyway, but they kept pushing. Finally he said "Ok, I'll put that in there, but you better specify if it is alive, dead, feathered, cleaned, how big, etc. because you won't like the turkey you are getting next Xmas!!" :eek:

Having a union there killed any team playership we had, the friendly atmosphere was gone. I used to be able to go into the plant and get stuff I needed, but suddenly they would stop me and tell me a "union" guy had to go get that for me. It became intolerable. I am the kind of guy who just goes and does stuff to get it done, and my hands, and everybody else's hands were tied and couldn't do anything because it might upset the union.

Don

Don Dalton wrote:

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It greives me to no end to see this country starting to look like a third world country.

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Actually I am of the opinion that we began looking like a third world country back in the 70's when they started dumbing down education.

Where I work we are required to only hire college graduates. You would be surprised how many of the ones we interview can not write a well constructed sentence or add a horizontal row (sometimes a vertical column) of numbers and get the same answer twice. We might as well hire high school graduates, because many of them are equal to or better than their collegiate counterparts.

It's just sad. I can only hope that the next generation is much better.

Don, I tend to agree with you. As to unions, many have past their prime. I know of several small auto body shops who treated their employees wonderfully. Then when the employees started a union, things when downhill. Within 2 to 3 years the shops had closed and the employees were out of work. Just to many union demands that drove business costs thru the roof.

Last year, the Union representing employees where I work (I'm not union elligible), wanted everone to pay union dues, even those who were not in the union.:mad: As far as I'm concern that was simply taxation with out representation.:eek: One of the reasons this country went to war with England in 1783.:D The effort failed.:D

well we sure need something, when jobs that SHOULD pay 12-15 an hour are paying 8.01-9.50 my ass nobody can live on that.

sure makes you wonder huh? http://amerocurrency.com/buyameros.html

Gasserule196,I honestly feel for your generation,as it's going to be tough trying to get ahead under the present situations that confront us.

I tried to point my three children (who are now in their 40's)in the right direction and tried to set an example for them to live by.They all (1 exception)have decent jobs and cannot afford or qualify for a home at today's prices.

My wife and I debate whether we should help them out even though we are on fixed income.

It takes so much money to live today ,that I don't see them getting ahead any time soon.

As for that 5 cent raise was that an error and should have been 5% ?
If 5 cents is correct that would be a slap in the face and I can understand your frustrations.

Try setting yourself a short range Goal and working toward it and it might,just might help your frustrations.

On a side note EXXON posted record profits today!!!!!!!:CRY:
Theye are rollin in the bux at our exspense and have been allowed to do so by our elected officials,withn us at thier mercy .
Have a sniff of whats just over the horizon...................and is ready to help us.
http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/taking_liberties.php

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Originally Posted by Don Dalton

As for that 5 cent raise was that an error and should have been 5% ?
If 5 cents is correct that would be a slap in the face and I can understand your frustrations..

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no they wanted to give me 5 cents for 6 months worth of work. i said :rolleyes: and quit:eek: that was one of the most chicken s**^ thing ive ever had to deal with.
righ tnow i am thinking of going into this business with a friend 12 bucks an hour to mow lawns edging etc.**)

[QUOTE=shawnlee28]On a side note EXXON posted record profits today!!!!!!!:CRY:

Oh sure, but they are doing us a favor by "reinvesting it" searching for new oil supplies. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Puleeeeeeze!!!!!!! :( :(

Don

I got word that the union in south cali was trying to raise their numbers by signing up illegals with the promise of making them legal in San Diego. What kind of crap is that. I dont care for unions, I have to use them all the time and 90 percent of the time they are like using labor ready. I think they hold the individual back but as a whole I guess there ok.

stock pile guns ammo and MRE's :LOL:

In an effort to stay on topic (before I wondered back off topic) I would love to be coordinated enough to ride a mororcycle. I have put my four wheel vehicles sideways too many times. I can't trust myself not to do something stupid and I am certain that I can't trust my fellow drivers to look out for a bike.

I have been thinking about fuel economy and have become quite intrigued with this car as an alternative fuel-efficient hot rod.
Attachment 31968
And I don't traditionally like VW's. This would also satisfy my urge to start cutting something up.

Now onto the soapbox. I have to agree with much that has been said here about our culture getting out of control and the overwhelming sense of entitlement. The pendulum has swung out so far that I can only hope it will swing back some time soon. The unions have gotten out of control and now spend most of their time attempting to extort employers and/or protecting the worst worker while doing nothing to support the productive or efficient worker. As for corporate America, they are an easy target but in many cases undeserving of the criticism. We beat up on health insurers about the costs of healthcare but refuse to take in to account the fact that medical costs are rising due to innovation and a severe lack of personal responsibility when it comes to taking better care of oneself. And finally, Exxon is everyone's favorite whipping boy lately, but the reality is they are an enormous company meeting our demand for fuel and attempting to compete in a very risky business. Exxon has lost money as many years as it has made money and as much as they are making in profits it is a small profit margin of less than 10 percent. We wouldn't fault anyone else for making a 10 percent profit on their good or service.

Here's how you build a third world nation from a first world nation, and if polls are correct you'll reward them with a stronger majority in November;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217...w_and_outlooks

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Here's how you build a third world nation from a first world nation, and if polls are correct you'll reward them with a stronger majority in November;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217...w_and_outlooks

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Bob,you are so right.I guess my question is why can't the younger generation see what is going on????

37Caddy - I have two Gold Wings in storage in the garage, but the way people drive these days I think I'm going to leave them there. Not so much worried about me getting sideways on them, more worried about being run over by a cell phone talking person who doesn't know what a mirror is used for.:LOL: :LOL: