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I worked for the railroad for 37 years.I was union.Maintainence of Way.That would be in the engineering department.I was a laborer, truck driver, machine operator,Section foreman,grinder,and Track inspector.
Just what did you do? If your bashing unions...I would say nothing,because all the manual labor is done by union members.Without some of those government regulations,OSHA,and the FRA...........I am sure more than a few of us would be dead.They make sure the railroads do not use unsafe work practices on its labor force.
So just what did you do? Trainmaster? Roadmaster,road foreman? with your grammer and demeanor,I am sure it was not too high on the ladder.
Perhaps you just worked on a short line or..........a Scab?
NS RR.... M OF W...SIGNAL COMMUNICATION...CONSTRUCTION my job required me to perform tests required by the FRA. If it wasn't for government regulations and the union M23 A forms [doing the dispatcher job in a localized area which means I was responsible for others in the limits with no extra pay more stress for a mentally stressful job]
my job would of been easier to perform like walking my bond wires doing a visual inspection of the power switches in an controlled OS.Now it takes too much time they run too many trains to get all your work done.I had no choice you have to join the UNION pay dues that they in turn give to a political party i no longer support.When i needed them over the years they weren't there for me [JOE SARTINI] WHO HAD HIS OFFICE AT HOME WITH ALL IN THE FAMILY WORKING FOR HIM. NICE TRY... i endured the same things you did hot cold long hours and the bosses BS which again the UNION did nothing about. I too ran equipment drove trucks[before CDL'S] so don't lecture me i moved up the ladder on the RR [signal dept] with a better more technology superior job can you read a blueprint and wire a case do the required tests? I woke up to their propaganda machine their threats because i won't have anybody telling me how and when to VOTE.
Last edited by Dumbdowndemocrats; 07-23-2011 at 07:34 AM..
I actually agree with that. That's the nature of business. I find it funny when people think that businesses need to act all altruistic just because? Do we pay our taxes out of altruism? No. But, when the system is balanced between government, business, and the consumer, it is the most efficient and best one out there. Perfect? Nothing is, but of course the biggest downfall is when any one of those three out-balance the others. Such is the nature of things.
And right now, my *personal* opinion is that things are out of balance. I think business is out of balance with government. I don't mean the size of goverment but I think with taxes and deregulation.
I also going to have a regular "lovefest" with you on your earlier post. I think Obamacare and other things that have been initiated are making the recovery harder as you said. That said, I'm not against them per se, because I think on several fronts "something has to be done." Healthcare is abyssmal for too many Americans now and that has been happening for many years. It can't go on like this. Our transition to a new type of system, whatever it is, is going to be hard, slow, and painful. The bottom line is, I don't think we can continue to let our citizens suffer so much with healthcare, both cost and access. I think during the transition of change, it is going to hard on business AND the citizens--no doubt about it. And, maybe this wasn't the best time to do it--economy-wise, but when would it be? (Rhetorically asking).
I actually agree with that. That's the nature of business. I find it funny when people think that businesses need to act all altruistic just because? Do we pay our taxes out of altruism? No. But, when the system is balanced between government, business, and the consumer, it is the most efficient and best one out there. Perfect? Nothing is, but of course the biggest downfall is when any one of those three out-balance the others. Such is the nature of things.
During the 50's and 60's taxes were many times higher on both companies and individuals. But using the excuses some have put here, every company would have closed down or would have left the country decades ago. But they didn't.
Today, many of the biggest companies, have pages of the tax code, written just for them (or their industries), and while under all those tears of the burdens they have to suffer, they are getting a sweetheart deal that smaller business & individuals can only dream of.
The problem isn't taxes, but the tax code itself and other industry dictated legislation.
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The king of corporate wall street (stock) growth over company growth 'Neutron' Jack Welch, former CEO of GE who grew the value of the company while killing much of the business, stated after retiring, "On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world. Shareholder value is a result, not a strategy... your main constituencies are your employees, your customers and your products".
During the 50's and 60's taxes were many times higher on both companies and individuals. But using the excuses some have put here, every company would have closed down or would have left the country. But they didn't.
Today, many of the biggest companies, have pages of the tax code, written just for them (or their industries), and while under all those tears of the burdens they have to suffer, they are getting a sweetheart deal that smaller business & individuals can only dream of.
What has changed since the 50s and 60s? Well, computer, technology, the internet, the fall of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Bamboo curtain (China), and the increase of college education. With those things combined, we have become a more global economy. Now, it is nothing for even a small business to work with a partner in China, Indonesia, or India. In the past, this was limited and have a much higher entry fee. What does that mean? That means that we have to care what our corporate taxes are compared to other countries. That we have to care if regulations and increased taxes will cause companies to flee for greener grass. So, you're comparing apples and oranges. You can't put the genie back in the box and trying to go back to the fiscal policy of that time will do nothing for our economy and would actually be devestating to our economy.
And right now, my *personal* opinion is that things are out of balance. I think business is out of balance with government. I don't mean the size of goverment but I think with taxes and deregulation.
I also going to have a regular "lovefest" with you on your earlier post. I think Obamacare and other things that have been initiated are making the recovery harder as you said. That said, I'm not against them per se, because I think on several fronts "something has to be done." Healthcare is abyssmal for too many Americans now and that has been happening for many years. It can't go on like this. Our transition to a new type of system, whatever it is, is going to be hard, slow, and painful. The bottom line is, I don't think we can continue to let our citizens suffer so much with healthcare, both cost and access. I think during the transition of change, it is going to hard on business AND the citizens--no doubt about it. And, maybe this wasn't the best time to do it--economy-wise, but when would it be? (Rhetorically asking).
And, yes, the GE thing is just baffling.
I agree that we are out of balance. I think you and I differ on that direction of that balance. The funny thing is that while the differing sides disagree on the execution of the solution, they pretty much all agree on the problems.
For example, if one says that health care is perfect in today's age, they're an idiot. I see the problem as cost. My personal opinion is that making the insurance companies be more competitive would be beneficial to the costs. I never could understand why we limit health insurance to the state lines. Obamacare is a mess because it addressed all the wrong things, barring a few exceptions. I think not being able to cancel someone's insurance policy once they get sick is a very good policy but that was just a small part of the package. Okay, I have an issue with getting a bit off topic, but that's my thoughts on the subject.
For example, if one says that health care is perfect in today's age, they're an idiot. I see the problem as cost. My personal opinion is that making the insurance companies be more competitive would be beneficial to the costs. I never could understand why we limit health insurance to the state lines. Obamacare is a mess because it addressed all the wrong things, barring a few exceptions. I think not being able to cancel someone's insurance policy once they get sick is a very good policy but that was just a small part of the package. Okay, I have an issue with getting a bit off topic, but that's my thoughts on the subject.
Still off topic, but would you agree that rather than Obamacare, that the health insurance industry should be better regulated. I mean here we have a "for profit" industry trying to make money on people's illness. I can deal with that but, I think in order for that system to work, they need to have much tighter regulations. For instance, while they are for profit, they can't be dropping people because they got sick. Yes, that regulation would cut their profit margin but would also offer protection for the consumer. I'm just using this as one example. There are probably many others.
Still off topic, but would you agree that rather than Obamacare, that the health insurance industry should be better regulated. I mean here we have a "for profit" industry trying to make money on people's illness. I can deal with that but, I think in order for that system to work, they need to have much tighter regulations. For instance, while they are for profit, they can't be dropping people because they got sick. Yes, that regulation would cut their profit margin but would also offer protection for the consumer. I'm just using this as one example. There are probably many others.
As a healthcare professional I can tell you the fact that a third party pays for almost all healthcare causes costs to skyrocket. When the consumer of a product doesn't directly have to pay for something, there is no incentive for rational use of that product.
As a healthcare professional I can tell you the fact that a third party pays for almost all healthcare causes costs to skyrocket. When the consumer of a product doesn't directly have to pay for something, there is no incentive for rational use of that product.
Gosh, I don't want to get too off topic but this is an interesting perspective. Please tell me why you believe that?
Gosh, I don't want to get too off topic but this is an interesting perspective. Please tell me why you believe that?
If you are paying for healthcare out of your own pocket you are much more likely to have a serious discussion with your doctor about the necessity for a $1,000 medication than if someone else is paying for it. Frequently there are less expensive options in medicine. They are not always taken for a variety of reasons.
Indeed he is. Most people are totally ignorant of the new regulations obama is putting in place, through the HHS, Interior and especially the job-killing regs from the EPA.
More and more business leaders are speaking out against this anti-business, anti-capitalism administration....which is a good thing.
All true. Obama has never worked in the private sector and neither has the vast majority of his minions...which is a problem.
Well, who can blame them? From the very start, obama has played class warfare, rich vs poor and demagogued virtually every sector of this economy. It has trashed and attacked the very people he needs on his side - the job creators. No wonder they are sitting on their hands, waiting for this disaster to vacate the WH.
His instincts are socialist in nature. He is also vindictive, petty and will go after those that speak up.
Some might argue that giving tax breaks to "job creators" who kill jobs in America by creating jobs in China is not necessarily advantages to the long term success of the American economy. Case in point, Home Depot as guided by its CEO regularly sends copies of American innovations to Chinese factories to get them to manufacture (copy) these products at lower prices so they can create more short-term profit and increase his stock bonuses. Not such a good deal for America.
I like clean air and water. I want my kids to have clean air. If I didn't I would go to China or India. I appreciate the efforts of the EPA; reigning in those that would produce profits at the expense of the environment is a GOOD thing. Turning a well paying American manufacturing job into a minimum wage customer service job is a BAD thing.
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I think Obamacare and other things that have been initiated are making the recovery harder as you said. That said, I'm not against them per se, because I think on several fronts "something has to be done." Healthcare is abyssmal for too many Americans now and that has been happening for many years. It can't go on like this. Our transition to a new type of system, whatever it is, is going to be hard, slow, and painful. The bottom line is, I don't think we can continue to let our citizens suffer so much with healthcare, both cost and access. I think during the transition of change, it is going to hard on business AND the citizens--no doubt about it. And, maybe this wasn't the best time to do it--economy-wise, but when would it be? (Rhetorically asking).
