OK, I've had it, (rant ahead)

[turbosam6]

I am getting so sick of hearing complaints of jobs going overseas and down to Mexico. I want jobs here in the US as much as the next guy, but heres what really pisses me off: Say a factory starts buying materials made in China or whatever. Its cheaper, and thats why they do it. I do not blame them! Could someone explain to me why a person working an assembly line doing a job a damn trained ape could do deserves $29 an hour?!?! And then has the nerve to go on strike for more pay?!?! News flash: If a person can be trained to do your job in 15 minutes, you don't deserve big bucks!

Why do people feel like they really perform a task worth $50,000 a year when damn near anyone could do the job? I think its rediculous that mechanics here make a little over half to fix a car some fat lazy prick gets to put like 1 wheel on. Mechanics have to be trained, they have to learn, and have to buy tools. Plus they need to know more than 1 car.

I know one reason is because of the UAW. The union is so out of hand. I have friends in the union, and while they make great money (when they have work), even they will tell you they don't earn a lot of it and some guys don't do squat all day. But they are the first ones to bitch when a company sends jobs to Mexico. Make the connection, idiots!

The worst people: Atheletes. Seriously. No one deserves $40 million a year to throw a god damned ball!!!! Sure, it takes skill, and lots of practice. Its still a GAME! Meanwhile the men and women who protect and serve this country make chump change. I can't be the only person sensible enough to see this is seriously messed up.

I've just heard too much lately and I'm getting tired of the finger pointing. Like morons saying "These Mexicans are taking our jobs!" Maybe if we as Americans had some work ethic like they do, that wouldn't happen. Its so much easier to cry and blame than to do something about it.

Sorry for the long winded rant, I guess a guy can only hear so much ignorance before he snaps. The lazier we get as a country, the worse its gonna get. If everyone would just take a little responsibility for their own actions, welfare would go down, as would crime, etc. But my bet is we will just blame everyone else.

 

[GN1587]

Nicely Said.

 

[DFAST1TTYPE]

Very well said!

I agree

 

[John Larkin]

Ron Gettlefinger is starting to figure this out. UAW made some large concessions to keep jobs, mostly with DaimlerChrysler at this point. Big companies are in general publicly held and are accountable to their shareholders regardless of what folks think. They exist to make a profit, period. It's not charity, it's business. There is a right to work but no one has a right to a job; it must be earned. As profit margins get squeezed further and further due to increased competition, people are going to find that they will have to answer the question, " What have you done for me lately?" with regularity. The strong, over time, survive. There are enough laws and gov't agencies these days to keep unfair labor practices from occuring so sweatshop-style labor is a non-issue.

 

[1QWIK6]

Who cares about a man supporting his family on a living wage?

Why don't we hear MORE bitchin about ABSURD AMOUNTS OF MONEY C.E.O.'s are paid.... MILLIONS upon MILLION... for what? Bad decisions and GOLDEN parachutes? common...

 

[turbosam6]

You wanna make good money? Learn a valuable skill. Its hard to feel sorry for people who never bothered to learn anything to make themselves valuable to an employer. Their families suffer. And thats who's fault? Right.

My opinion is that if you intend to start a family, you'd better be prepared to take care of the children you bring into this world. Its not everyone elses problem. Its yours.

I went to a trade school, a 1 year program, and now I have a job that CAN'T be shipped anywhere. And my field is hurting for people. Why? No one wants to work hard for their money. My friend makes $60,000 a year and earns it. He will never be without a job. He makes more than me, but he knows more and spent more time in training. He EARNED it. I go to our little weekly car hangout, and these kids are always asking me how I afford my cars. I tell them I have a job. I always thought it was wierd when they asked me, like duh, how does EVERYONE pay for stuff? Then I realized, they all make $6 an hour, because they won't take the time or make the effort to learn a skill or at least try to be attractive to a real employer. Well, thats what you get. They all think the HS diploma they got entitles them to 50 grand a year. Gimme a break. These are the future workers? Better get used to seeing more jobs leave the country. These kids are just straight up dumb. They can't even fill out a job application correctly and wonder why Mickey D's is the only place hiring them? I read and write at a college level. I went to public school, took middle level english classes, and never studied. Its not hard to at least sound like you weren't raised by monkeys. It goes far to be able to approach a perspective employer and not say "Yo G, yall's hirin' mofo's up in herr or what?"

Then we blame the teachers for this. Bullsh!t. My stepfather taught public school for 20 years, and busted his ass for his students. He was (and is) a good teacher. But when he went to his students homes, and he did, he realized why they were having such a hard time: Their parents were on welfare, had no jobs, no education, and had become another one of our societies problems. of course, we took care of them. So here's the childrens options: Learn, try hard, work hard, and get a career to support you and your family. Or, just be stupid, useless, unemployeed trash, and get yo' muther f**kin check on da first, beeeatch. Public schools turn 'em out by the thousands all the time, and we blame the teachers, who make jack sh!t for pay. But illiterate athletes "earn" their millions a year? Theres no excuse. If we all would instill a little work ethic and responsibility into our children, maybe jobs would come back. But that will never happen. Lets point the finger.......

 

[zam70]

I hear ya Sam - and totally agree.

My Fater in law is a 40year union carpenter...I have seen his (and alot of other of his co-workers) work and I, an average do it for my self carpenter, can run circles around him in quality and speed...I just don't get it. His (their) work at best is subpar IMO.

I think the problem is ENtitlement. To many people think they are entitled to something...like the deserve/are owed something.


I recently had an encounter that kind of revealed the problem (but not a solution unfortunately)

When I was young, I was taught to be thankful I was brought into this world and should be appreciative to my parents and elders for the chance at a life.

When I posed that to a teen recently, they said "why we (the younger Gen) be thankful, I didn't ask to be born, it was my parents choice so, they OWE ME". I was speechless....and trying not to bend her over my knee.

 

[John Larkin]

The worst mistake anyone can make is comparing themselves or their standing in life to those who are "exceptional". I have learned this through the years. By my estimate only, I would say 1 out of 100 people would be considered "exceptional". "Exceptional" people appear to have it together, know what's going on, and make good decisions that the ordinary person would take longer to or could never resolve. This is why they progress more quickly and generally attain higher positions where they work. Of those "exceptional" people, they too see folks above them as "exceptional". This pyramids upward until you reach levels of CEO and such. A CEO who can organize an entire company to increase or attain profits and goals that no one else could get done is worth alot in terms of compensation. Largely, they earn their pay. I'm about 30 layers from the top of my company; I don't get a huge paycheck and that's the way it is. My risks are much lower than the ones at the top, hence the disparity in compensation. So I've resigned myself to just being happy to be me and take care of my portion of the business. It's not a bad thing. I bet big Ron gets a hefty paycheck too for organizing all those workers. What's the difference?

 

[turbosam6]

Oh, and as far as C.E.O.'s go. I believe whatever you earn is yours. Sure, some of them make crazy money. If its legal, why don't they deserve it? Theres nothing stopping anyone from joining them, just gotta work and earn it. And yes, some of them don't earn it, they are criminals or whatever. They are no better than a common thief. I run a small business. If I'm successful and earn millions, I deserve it.

I have friends now who scream how its not fair I make more than them. They are dropouts with no real skills, and can't figure it out. I hate to hear the "Its not fair crap". Whatever.

I tell them, maybe if they spent 1/2 the time learning or working as they do bitching, they would earn more than me! Its pretty simple.

 

[turbosam6]

Very well explained, John.

Scott, I hear ya. Its hard to even keep my mouth shut when around some of these kids today. Sometimes all I can say is "Wow", and shake my head. Sad.

 

[azgn]

for the most part, in today's world, you'll earn what you are worth......and that is all

even the Unions have figured this out

the notable exceptions are in education and the military....but I feel they will catch up soon

 

[Drac0nic]

I hate to talk about my generation in a bad way (I'm 20) but there sure are a lot of people in it who don't know a hard day's work. I'm a part time worker for college spending money, I paint. Quite frankly, it's the @$$ end of the labor market, hot messy and nasty and doesn't pay sh!t. But I keep at it. Know why? Because unlike the probably half dozen people who have come through about my age (some of which didn't last a full week) I decided that life isn't easy. Some people need to get over the idea that one day champaign will fall from the skies, and they'll trip over the roots of a money tree or something. Right now I'm searching for another job, but I've had this job for over 2 years, through thick and thin. It's not that I mind the work either, it's nice to be outdoors and everything, plus the perks are all right. It's just that as much as I value work, I hate the fact my boss is treating me like crap just as much and I have to fight to get resources I need to get my work done. Oh well, maybe I'll go back to computers (man, I need the beating the head against the wall smiley now)

 

[bruce]

It's easy to try and blame the Feds, large corporations, etc, etc...

Trouble is, that's not the core problem.

As long as Americans are trapped into saving money at any cost, foreign workers will always win.

And now things are really getting bad, since so many laws are being written by politicians that have been bouught off by foreign interests.

Pick an item. Any thing where the parent firm is located in a foreign land, and a product is even manufacted here in the US. When all is said and done, the profits (everthing left after costs) go back to their parent land. There's it's used to improve their infrastuture. Not to mention that money means less working capital here.

If anyone wants to keep more jobs in America, it means first having enough pride to buy American. If you think some --- car is better, fine, go ahead and buy it. Just remember there's no free rides. You can't send the profits from your purchase without some penalty.

The *world class* economy, just means everyone having the same least common denominator. Your not going to raise the standard of living of 3 trillion Chinese, without dropping our's some/alot.

 

[ledzeppac]

Yeah we had the same problem in Socal with all the stupid GROCERY STORE CASHIERS bitching about their f-ing pay!!! They get paid so much and do absolutly nothing.

My friends and I had fun with them night after night after night. We made it so they didnt want to strike anymore.

 

[Mygn421]

Amen This is a good thread

 

[chevyII]

Sam your right and your wrong to. Dont blame Union workers for the pay they get. Every contract is negotiated by both parties. Your right in that there are some high paying nonskilled union jobs but most are paid what there worth. I work the utilites and the job is technical but not hard. The work is when tornados and high winds hit thats when we earn our keep. P.S last time I checked auto sales were way down but profits were in the black for most American car man. except ford. I dont understand why most non union hate unions,when its one of the last ways for an individual to make a good single working income period. Our society has changed drasticaly over the last 60 years. Most will say todays society is poor whats changed? Mom doesnt stay home to teach little tommy because shes at work maybe two jobs. Tommy drops out and flips burgers.What will tommys kids be like? You quessed it. Whats changed a single man being able to provide for a family on one check. Jobs go to mexico so the CEO's make more money. If product costs 100 dollars to make. And then goes to mexico and is made for one third,IS that product less on the shelf???? HELL NO. Where did the money go? F*@K NAFTA,MEXICO,AND ALL ILLEGAL ALEINS.

 

[Otto J]

Im not big on the illegal aliens taking american jobs, But MOST americans want top dollar to do less work, THe more you make the less you expect to do.SO it seems. But you see some Illegal alien working for someone, these guys will work as many hours as asked for less than half the pay most americans would work for and never complain about it. I am a damn hard worker and can say everywhere i have worked most employees try to do as little as possible during there work day,And take as amny breaks as possible.
Well thats how iw see it.

 

[Dan Buick Man]

This thread will go deep. Rights and wrongs anyway you look at it. I think the unions are not as essential as they were when they were formed in the '20's or '30's but they still serve a purpose. There are problems with them, GM stock was recently downgraded because of excess inventories. But it is cheaper to pay union workers to build cars than it is to pay them to sit home while the plants idle. At the same time, they do provide good paying jobs that keep the economy running. Imagine the affect if one of the big 2 or 3 went out of business. The short term effects would be huge. I think the problem with Unions is that they keep the bad workers employed. I used to work in front of a Union facility, one day one of my light bulbs in my office burned out. As I was pulling a bulb out of the supply room, someone informed me that changing light bulbs was a Union job and I would have to fill out a 'request form'. Three days later, the bulb was changed. EVERYTIME I walked into the Union facility, I saw the guy who changed my bulb, sitting in his chair, reading a newspaper, under a big poster of a competitor's product. FIRE HIS A**. Nope, he's Union.

 

[ttypewe4jim]

Originally posted by turbosam6
You wanna make good money? Learn a valuable skill. Its hard to feel sorry for people who never bothered to learn anything to make themselves valuable to an employer. Their families suffer. And thats who's fault? Right.

My opinion is that if you intend to start a family, you'd better be prepared to take care of the children you bring into this world. Its not everyone elses problem. Its yours.

I went to a trade school, a 1 year program, and now I have a job that CAN'T be shipped anywhere. And my field is hurting for people. Why? No one wants to work hard for their money. My friend makes $60,000 a year and earns it. He will never be without a job. He makes more than me, but he knows more and spent more time in training. He EARNED it. I go to our little weekly car hangout, and these kids are always asking me how I afford my cars. I tell them I have a job. I always thought it was wierd when they asked me, like duh, how does EVERYONE pay for stuff? Then I realized, they all make $6 an hour, because they won't take the time or make the effort to learn a skill or at least try to be attractive to a real employer. Well, thats what you get. They all think the HS diploma they got entitles them to 50 grand a year. Gimme a break. These are the future workers? Better get used to seeing more jobs leave the country. These kids are just straight up dumb. They can't even fill out a job application correctly and wonder why Mickey D's is the only place hiring them? I read and write at a college level. I went to public school, took middle level english classes, and never studied. Its not hard to at least sound like you weren't raised by monkeys. It goes far to be able to approach a perspective employer and not say "Yo G, yall's hirin' mofo's up in herr or what?"

Then we blame the teachers for this. Bullsh!t. My stepfather taught public school for 20 years, and busted his ass for his students. He was (and is) a good teacher. But when he went to his students homes, and he did, he realized why they were having such a hard time: Their parents were on welfare, had no jobs, no education, and had become another one of our societies problems. of course, we took care of them. So here's the childrens options: Learn, try hard, work hard, and get a career to support you and your family. Or, just be stupid, useless, unemployeed trash, and get yo' muther f**kin check on da first, beeeatch. Public schools turn 'em out by the thousands all the time, and we blame the teachers, who make jack sh!t for pay. But illiterate athletes "earn" their millions a year? Theres no excuse. If we all would instill a little work ethic and responsibility into our children, maybe jobs would come back. But that will never happen. Lets point the finger.......

There are SOME cases when a student has a learning disability such as ADD, ADHD, or dyslexia they learn differently then a common teacher is trained for there are special schools for this (such as www.dvfs.org where I go) that understand this and try and work around their problems….. I am Not trying to make this sound like a excuse but it is NOT always the students/ parents fault. I REALLY struggle in school because it is very hard for me to express my self and do it correctly. This can make working for hard for us because we have to do things our own way or it will not work so sometimes I think that the schools ARE defiantly to blame for this. Hell if some kids can barely make it threw high school wtf makes you think they can do college like this (yes I know there is help their to but still) you cant really understand unless you have a disability like this.

 

[ALXTTA 1]

Slightly off topic, but I remember last summer being stuck in traffic on one of the expressways. I was minding my own business and listening to some music when the guy in the car next to me (can't remember what kind it was, must not have been exceptionally nice or bad), says something to me, which I couldn't quite hear. I turned the stereo off and politely asked, "What's that?" thinking he's going to ask for directions or something.
"Nice car" he says.
"Oh, thanks" I replied with a wave.
Then he says, "Did your mommy buy it for you?"
Ok, now WTF? I take pride in the fact that I worked my tail off for every penny this car cost me and this jerk is gonna say that? Of course, the smarta** side of me didn't hesitate to reply...
"No, yours did..."
Traffic opened up in front of me so I was able to take off and not wait for his reaction. No telling today who's gonna pull out a gun or something.