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

Lately I have been seeing more motorscooters, motorbikes, motorcycles, and bicycles on the road than ever before. I would guess the high gas prices are forcing more and more Americans to seek cheaper transportation.

Now the irony. India and other countries that we always considered 3rd world economies are starting to produce more and more cars aimed at getting their citizens off of two wheeled vehicles and into affordable cars. We seem to be going backwards and everyone else is progressing. :confused:

It just struck me as a little odd. :) :)

Don

look at vietnam the motor scooter capital of the world hahah.

Isn't that the truth, as the World turns so do we.

Richard

Unfortunately, it's a hugh increase of inexperienced riders, with no driver training, on machines that can't get out of their own way. And if that's not bad enough, they can still talk on their cell phones! :rolleyes:

i agree don , its amazing the american motor companys are trying their best to get out of this country and all the rest of the world are building car factories here..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flh4speed

i agree don , its amazing the american motor companys are trying their best to get out of this country and all the rest of the world are building car factories here..

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Amongst other things the union contracts, especially for retirees, are killing them.

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

In my life time I have seen this country go from a (work together to get it done) to a care less attitude.

The politicians only want to fill their pockets and the heck with the system that we have built and enjoyed for so many years.

I'll say it again and again "Wake Up America". Whew, am I getting old or what?????

thats why this town is a complete dead end, all the industry has vanished the unions are gone people are to weak to stand up to get a liveable wage$ they keep you right where they want you, just barley and in my case not nearly enough to survive to keep you coming back and scared to say anything about $ for fear of getting fired. i am a screamer. last couple of jobs i had i tried to ralley the employs for the unions guess what i got tossed out. sumbitches :mad:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

thats why this town is a complete dead end, all the industry has vanished the unions are gone people are to weak to stand up to get a liveable wage$ they keep you right where they want you, just barley and in my case not nearly enough to survive to keep you coming back and scared to say anything about $ for fear of getting fired. i am a screamer. last couple of jobs i had i tried to ralley the employs for the unions guess what i got tossed out. sumbitches :mad:

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:LOL: :D :LOL:

There are a lot of interesting stories out there that made this country what was before the last ten years or so. We had child labor in this country, hard to believe but it’s true. Family’s relocated trying to have food for their families, look at some of the early days after the depression on documented film. People fought, and died so we could have decent wages. Then the war came, everyone was working on that effort to win. We made products for the World, and I might say damn good ones also. Quality made in the USA was on everything we made, people took pride. I can remember looking trough an encyclopedia and it gave static’s of how many workers from other Countries it would take to do the work of one US worker. If you have time look it up because I cannot quote the exact number but I believe it was three in some Countries and four in others. This went on for almost twenty years, when we had a good middle class, people started slacking off, they didn’t want to work as hard let some one else do it. To make a long story short you all know what has happened China now makes things so cheap sometimes we all, and I’m as guilty as everyone else you feel like it’s so cheap you can’t pass it up. Did you know the number one franchise in this country today is the DOLLAR STORE? Our main export in this Country is garbage/waste/-recycled trash. My wife bought me a 1-ton chain hoist at a yard sale about 3 years ago, it was made in New York, with the name of the City but it was a brand Cyclone 1 ton. I had been using a China sh-t 2-ton chain hoist and it was killing me. The chain would not go through the sheaves, I struggled with it long enough, and got the one my wife bought me, the chain operated as smooth as silk. I have a tendency to save things. It’s bad but I can’t help it anyway I was so happy I took the piece of sh-t down and put up the USA made hoist. Keep in mine this hoist is probably as old as me but they built them to last. The China hoist is a 2-ton, and weight’s less then half what the 1-ton weighs, the US chain is much heavier. I will stop or I’ll really get going.

Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don Dalton

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

In my life time I have seen this country go from a (work together to get it done) to a care less attitude.

The politicians only want to fill their pockets and the heck with the system that we have built and enjoyed for so many years.

I'll say it again and again "Wake Up America". Whew, am I getting old or

what?????

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You and me both, Don. And I agree with Gassersrule, people are just happy to have a job now and their raises are not even keeping pace with inflation. Things are so bad that Bush signed a bill extending unemployment benefits for 13 additional weeks, on top of the normal 26 weeks.

On another forum one guy said he works for the company that makes all of Sears Craftsman tools. Things are so slow they are working 4 day weeks, and are not working at all the last week of each month. Some workers are being sent home early due to no work.

Like a reporter on TV said the other night "if this isn't officially a recession, it sure FEELS LIKE ONE." Amen.

Don

and its especially bad when your young, you get shunned into the corner and given 5 cent rasies every YEAR oh wow you know what you can do with your nickel........... honestly i like to work hard and it does not bother me i just have an attitude problem sometimes:D when people start putting me down on the level with all other kids they get the impression of, you know pot smokers video gamers bums you know i am not like that and when i get treated like i am one of those i get po'd real quick.

It's not that we are going backwards, it's we've stalled out and everybody is catching up to us real fast.

Yeah, I've noticed the increase in 2 wheel riders and have seen some of these inexperienced rider. I don't see how they got their endorsement. Must not be giving road tests anymore.

No need to get pissed off , it will do you no good. Do your thing good things will come your way....

Don I know what you mean. Where I work I have excellent benefits. As a Nurse, we get a pension plan, good salary, and health benefits. For the last year, I have been working without a contract, because our Union and our Hospital chain are at war. The union is trying to expand nation wide, and has chosen this contract negotiation, to stick it to the Hospital corperation. It really pissed me off. I was happy with my current benefits and wages, and feel dambed lucky to be getting what I get. I have been very outspoken for the last year at meetings, and as a result, was patronized by coworkers when I pointed out how good they have it. I keep saying that their go for broke attitude is selfish, and the root cause of why health care is so outragious and that they need to learn from GM, that benefits kill companies. One nurse I worked with who works a fully benefited position 3 days a week (24 hours) wants a retirement health plan that will pay for 80% of her health care for life, that she could draw on and retire at 55 years old. She insists this is only fair. She also wants an increase in pension so she can retire at 55! People have become so greedy, that they seem to have a false sense of intitlement, that is ruining this country. It's funny, a year later(today) those same people who gave me a hard time, are now saying to me your right, we do have it good and I wish we'd settle a contract so we could get our cost of living raise, you should tell them this! It makes me laugh. I should.... not we should! Nobody likes to admit they were wrong!
I repect unions for advances in patient safety, and employer exploitation, but now days, it's the employees in health care here, that are going too far! I just hope I have a job, and the hospital doesn't go bankrupt!:CRY:

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

Quote:

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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

Quote:

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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:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don Dalton

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

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some do, but we are INSTANTLY silenced as crazys, nutjobs, or young and dumb.:rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don Dalton

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

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Some of us can see it, but like the rest of us there is not much i can do about it!

Its kinda funny to me , that 15 years ago, when i was a full fledge white power skinhead, all the propaganda i used to preach about the goverment, and immigration, is now coming true! All the common folks who snubbed me off as a stupid nazi bigot (which i was) are now getting what they deserve!

It really sucks for the honest hard working proud americans that bled and died for this once superb nation to watch it die like this, but in my small amount of knowledge, i see no way it could have been different. Look at all the small civil wars we have had thru the years, the honest man fought tooth and nail to keep the american standards up, but in the end greed wins!

As gasser said, grab your guns and mre`s, were gonna need em fella`s!:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dmw56

It's not that we are going backwards, it's we've stalled out and everybody is catching up to us real fast.

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This really hits the nail on the head! We used to be the manufacturer to the world....but nothing ever stays the same. Now the third world countries are providing much of the manufacturing, and that is the way it is going to be for our lifetime. The problem is that they don't have the standard of living that we have come to expect....they don't have unions....minimum wage laws...and so on. That is why labor is so cheap there, and guess what? We have to compete with that.

If you want to make a fairly good living here, you will have to work in a field that cannot be imported. Healthcare....services....one-of-a-kind, and custom products....and so on.

Also remember that much of what we have come to expect is not really necessary. How many cars to you really need to own? (I'm not talking about hot rod "toys") How new do they need to be? How many TVs?....telephones?....vacations?....luxuries?....Do you really need a pool?.....the latest barbeque grill?

I wonder how many asians or Mexicans even have single family homes, computers, or even one car?
We have come to expect these things, but are competing with people who just want to eat regularly!

I'm afraid we are in an "adjustment period" that will last a long time.

after the NAU become offical we will all probably end up in sema work camps as prisioners. :eek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoacYPa4mX8 this is a couple years ago, of course it wasnt on a national media channel but a local.

I tried to vote,but nothing happens..........a little stooges humor:LOL:

Meanwhile back at the ranch.......................
http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/daylight_robbery.php