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what do you nerds do for living? - discuss career possibilities

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Fordman:
Do a little labor research first! I majored in History in general but the labor part was my favorite!

It worked in the 1940's and it will work today! In the 1940's workers had to 'stand up' by 'sitting down' for their rights on the job! The autoworkers told the companies that they wanted a job tomorrow! Not beg daily to able to work and then come back the next day just to beg again. That's where the term 'straw pool' and 'straw boss' came from. Your just a number at your workplace with no voice if you are hired as an 'Employee-At-Will'. The company can fire you without recousre for NO reason! Any lawyer will tell you that!

Companies today use the 'Divide & Conquer' metallity to divide the workforce. They have done a great job of this since 1981. They hire large law firms to come into your workplace and intentionally divide you! They want you to work for peanuts and make them billions, just to forget about you after you put your time in (just ask those at IBM)!
They want you to make one wage w/ benefits and the guy next to you to make another wage without benefits! They want you to gravel at their feet and for you to worhip them because they gave you a job.

Take a course in Labor history and I bet you change your tune!

United We Stand - Divided We Beg!

As far as thinking in 1940's terms, the Detroit 3 missed a boat in the 1990's with cars. They forgot about them. Lack of style and innovation with what they did have. The Ford Taurus was a great car, but forgotten then last 10 years. The Montego/Mystique were both mistakes. The Big 3 wanted it all, thats why they bought up all the European brands. Now they're trying to fire sale them. Shouldve re-invested their 1990's profits in ther products, not expand what they had!

 :cheers:

Fordman

Flake:
I think I came off a bit preachy in my earlier post so I apologize for that.  Fordman I love my truck and am equally satisfied with my wife's Explorer.  2 of my previous 3 vehicles were GM products but Fords truck design during 2006 was far and away more attractive (IMO) than GM.

You ask what is the US going to produce?  Well just because our auto industry isnt what it once was doesnt mean the US is out of the manufacturing business.  Small businesses employ over 50% of the US workforce and those numbers continue to rise.  The US is plenty attractive for businesses.  We have plenty of access to capital (and I'm not just talking about banks but also private equity groups), few barriers into industries, tax incentives, readily available consumers, etc.  There are many other industries outside of general manufacturing that prosper here in the states.

IMO the auto industry was crippled long ago by the UAW.  Unions are a thing of the past and will continue to lose their power even more so in the years ahead.  They served their purpose but times have changed and they are really nothing more than drag on the economy.  Yea individually some families would be better off but the economy as a whole suffers so some.....here come the stereotypes......unmotivated, often lazy worker can mail it in from 9-5 everyday, earn more than he or she is worth then retire fat and happy when he or she reaches 65 on a bloated pension.  I read an economic brief just yesterday estimated the UAW labor costs have added anywhere from $2,000-$4,000 additional cost per car.  Meaning Ford, GM and Chrysler are at a competitive price disadvantage right from the start.  

Fordman, I dont doubt you do good work and I know many a union worker who are very skilled at their craft.  But for every one of those I know, there are two who fit quite nicely into the typical union stereotype.

pinballwizard79:
I HATE when self righteous union people try to guilt everyone for not buying their crap.

Its my money, spent how I want, on what I want, on what I researched, on what offers the best ROI. People stopped buying certain products for a reason, learn the reason & emulate or better yet innovate it rather than cry. If you want me to buy what you want then give me your money, snaps!

Fordman better look at your dish towels, sandals, shoes, shirt, jeans, watch, alarm clock, tooth brush, wallet, belt, silverware, plates, tupperware, toaster, microwave, lunchbox, welcome mat, garage door remote, tv, dvd player, cable box, furniture, light fixtures, telescope, computer, printer, scanner, cookie jar, drink coasters, shelves, martini glasses, arcade PCB board, buttons, joystick, 401k & damn mutual fund.

Because none of that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- was made in America.

How dare you not buy a watch that will rust & break made buy a guy named Hank in Texas who adopted a beagle & belongs to a union & likes to eat hotdogs while driving a ford listening to willie nelson & takes off work to strike then deer hunt & yell at yuppies in toyotas while voting for American idol. Sheesh, damn commie!

One more thing: The unions have not been necessary since we established labor laws.

FYI: I work for a possibly failing bank so I feel your pain but am I blaming anyone?

Nope, I am taking it like a man.

boykster:

--- Quote from: ChadTower on June 04, 2009, 07:55:23 am ---You know how I know this ratings site is full of crap?  They rated the PT Cruiser best mechanical quality in its class.  I test drove one of those recently and it was a piece of cheaply built crap.  Even my wife, who knows jack about cars, was surprised by how lousy that thing was.

--- End quote ---

No kidding - I had one as a rental while my car was in the body shop, and MAN what a junky car that was.  It was a 2009 with only 4k miles on it, and damn that thing rattled like a mofo, the clock didn't work, and it was a gutless wonder on the freeway.

danny_galaga:

--- Quote from: Flake on June 04, 2009, 10:36:50 pm ---

IMO the auto industry was crippled long ago by the UAW.  Unions are a thing of the past and will continue to lose their power even more so in the years ahead.  They served their purpose but times have changed and they are really nothing more than drag on the economy.  Yea individually some families would be better off but the economy as a whole suffers so some.....here come the stereotypes......unmotivated, often lazy worker can mail it in from 9-5 everyday, earn more than he or she is worth then retire fat and happy when he or she reaches 65 on a bloated pension.  I read an economic brief just yesterday estimated the UAW labor costs have added anywhere from $2,000-$4,000 additional cost per car.  Meaning Ford, GM and Chrysler are at a competitive price disadvantage right from the start.  

Fordman, I dont doubt you do good work and I know many a union worker who are very skilled at their craft.  But for every one of those I know, there are two who fit quite nicely into the typical union stereotype.

--- End quote ---

You need to read a book called 'Going postal' by Mark Ames. In it, he explores the root causes of workplace rage in America. One of the things he mentions is the decline of unions. Another is the fact that big companies feed us this crap about profitability. Yet most of the cuts they make (sackings, erosion of privileges like paid holidays and sick leave. How much paid leave do you get? I get 4 weeks a year, and i've only worked at the same place for 2 years) go straight to the CEO's pockets. The pigs at the trough couldn't be happier that the average shmoe thinks he's better off nowadays. In the 70's the average CEO earnt 30 times the average salary. Now it's something like 500 times the average salary! Youre actually worse off now. I think someone here corrected someone else when they said 50 hours a week is a normal work load. When it should actually be 35-40 hours. They reduce the workforce so those left over can work harder for no extra pay. Where does that difference go i wonder?

Many people think of cars or heavy industry when they think unions. But unions exist to protect the rights of many types of worker, including administrative, clerical etc. I myself don't always join unions. I am currently in the Postal Union, and i have been in a Retail workers union.

In short, I agree with Fordman in general about unions. The pigs at the trough would have you believe unions are irrelevant now, but as soon as unions are gone, companies will have absolutely no compulsion to look after your rights. That $2000-$4000 per car? You think they'll sell the car $2000-$4000 cheaper? Hip pocket, my friend. But go ahead, work 20 hours overtime a week without any penalty rates. CEO's luxury yachts don't come from thin air. Take it like a man. In Australia, we don't have to ;)

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