United Automobile Workers of America (UAW)

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Comments

  • cooterbfdcooterbfd Member Posts: 2,770
    "..... Germany spends $12k per student per year through High School. LA spends $25k per student per year. Over twice spent and a much worse level of education. Money wasted."

    Money wasted or money spent on things like ESL, something Germany may not have to. According to world salaries.org, their average salaries are within $1000/yr of one another.

    Our district spends about $14-15K per yr per student. Even in bankrupt Central Falls, it was only like $18K per yr, and that systen is HEAVILY hispanic.

    My son is a senior. He is Autistic. They WASTED his entire sophmore year teaching him 10th grade subjects like Algebra and Chem/ Biology for science, because the law says he HAS to partake in the common assesment tests that ALL students partake to evealuate the proficiency of the school (thanks No Child Left Behind). SURPRISE!!!! 99% of all students scored higher than him, and his score actually counts AGAINST the high school!!!

    It is difficult to measure us against other countries in that respect as other countries aren't educating OUR kids, like we educate THEIRS.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    It doesn't help that the Supreme Court has become just as partisan as Congress. There don't seen to be any Sandra Day O'Connor's any more. Reagan may have been a conservative, but I think he understood the need for a moderate, non political court system.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    We need to go back to when American schools were leaders in the world. In the 50's and first half of the 60's schools were local, run by the superintendent and local school board, accountable to the local community. There was no political correctness in the curriculum, grading, or discipline and lawyers were not seemingly ever present in school affairs and decisions.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    But corporations are people, too.

    When both sides create the same result (endless debt, same foreign policy debacles, same profiteers striking gold, no change in the worst union abuses which are public sector), you know it's all broken. No matter who wins, the same buying off takes place. And few seem to want to admit it.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    I wonder if the requirements for becoming a teacher were different then, and that helped change things and make the mess. A close friend of mine described the PC bullcrap he had to deal with when looking to become a teacher (he is a math whiz who gets along very well with kids - good math teachers are hard to find). He would have been an awesome HS math teacher, but got fed up with the BS, and went private sector, now working as an actuary. The education system took a big loss there. And I bet it is repeated daily in every state in the union.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    ...you know it's all broken

    This.
  • dallasdude1dallasdude1 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited November 2012
    Perhaps the fact that Germeny is one of the most socialistic countries should be noted. They and China has money to loan, ironic? Does this have anything to do with the teachers are a poorly compensated professin in America? The compensation issue attracts something than the cream of the crop. So this cost issue is absurd if you look into the parochial school system which spends less and delivers a superior product. There is other varibles which come into play. Those with and or able to do a STEM education are few. These are the real innovators who have gifted us with the creature comforts and not the Wall Street intellectual crowd who are a no value added/touch labor sector as a whole. They have a special math for them "Math for the business major", then they are required to take an ethics class/course (little good that does), the business schools are also known as the biggest cheaters on campus and then we have empirical evidence that these money managers have a poor track record; as few than 90% meet and or exceed their prospective benchmarks. I rest my case.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    This teaching to national and state tests is all nonsense too. Asia does that and gets high scores. But America's strength has always been creativity and initiative. America develops and Asia tends to refine. Our gov educational intrusion is going to ruin this also.

    I'm not sure about some of your business school claims though. I think things like math for business majors is just calculus and advanced algebra like linear programming and multivariate math geared to business applications. I'll agree with the money managers poor track record though!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Many school districts in CA the teachers average close to $100k per year. Fairly low starting pay. But top pay is through the roof. And you said Catholic schools offer better education for less money. Which I would agree with. My ex worked in a private school and made less than half of the public school teachers. I don't think teacher pay is the issue. It is the Federal government making one size fits all. We need to abolish the US Dept of Education. Reagan promised to do that and got shot down by the Democrat majority he had to deal with.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    >this cost issue is absurd if you look into the parochial school system which spends less and delivers a superior product.

    Not even close as an assessment of how well one is doing. To compare, the factors all need to be the same except one.

    My wife is a retired, effective teacher in an effective system. The parochial schools get to pick whom they admit and whom they keep. The parents are more motivated. As to cost, the parochial schools don't education those with special needs, especially physical needs. I recall one student in my wife's classes who was on a hospital bed with a paid aide--all at the school district's expense. I missed if they did that kind of special needs teaching at St. Mother's of Perfect schools in the area. Neither do the charter schools, which the one party really pushes as a way around the teacher union as a way to get cheaper schools. It's comparing apples and oranges. Maybe like comparing Apple to Motorola phone products?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    Does this have anything to do with the teachers are a poorly compensated professin in America?

    For a lot of public sector teachers, they are NOT a poorly compensated "professin". Work till 60 and retire at 80% pay with healthcare for life - while having 3 months off/year during their careers - is not what I'd say is poorly compensated. Just loaded to the retirement side.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    But corporations are people, too.

    Let me know when one gets shot in Afghanistan or hurts their back lifting wheels on the assembly line. :P
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Not all people do manual labor or fight wars. Some like George Soros manipulate currencies and spend $100s of millions to control our government. People do control corporations. I don't recall that many corporations that donated money this year to politics. Whether it is Monsanto or the UAW some PERSON signed the check.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Maybe like comparing Apple to Motorola phone products?

    A lot of people would say the Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx is superior to the iPhone 5. Myself I think Samsung has the best Smartphones on the planet.

    The parochial schools get to pick whom they admit and whom they keep.

    Maybe Public schools should be a little more selective in who they allow to stay in School. I know a couple kindergarten kids in my SIL's class that should have gotten the boot when they cussed out the teacher, bit and spit on her. If the parents had to stay home with the little monsters they may learn how to discipline them. Or legalize abortion up to 18 years of age.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    >Work till 60 and retire at 80% pay with healthcare for life - while having 3 months off/year during their careers

    My wife's still looking for that job. It may be nice urban myth, but most teachers work 30 years and more and are pretty much burned out by dumb parents more than dumb kids. They retire will less than 80% by a lot and in Ohio DON'T have social security. And my wife pays $400 per month for healthcare. When you find that mythical generalization, she wants to know where it is, so she can apply. Now social security, which she does not have based on her own teaching job here in Ohio, is closer to "free healthcare" than her Ohio teacher retirement is.

    Let her know. She's not happy these days suffering with recovery from painful knee replacement surgery, so she's up to a good grip session. :grin

    As for the 3 months off, she's still laughing. 2.5 months and most teachers are studying to improve themselves and preparing materials for her classes in the fall. She made her own units to supplement and improve the district mandated materials. District usually ranks 22 on all 22 criteria for the state evaluations.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Work till 60 and retire at 80% pay with healthcare for life - while having 3 months off/year during their careers - is not what I'd say is poorly compensated.

    It's also not a description of what a typical teacher gets.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited November 2012
    On the bright side we got Gary to admit that George Soros is human. Next he'll be inviting Bob King to play a round at the Black Lake Golf Club. :-)

    The UAW supposedly turned out at Walmart for Black Friday but few customers were steered away. Union backers lead protests outside Walmart stores (MSNBC)
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    I didn't see one protestor at the local Walmart when I stopped in for eye exam today. The parking lot was like a normal weekday as for number of cars.

    I'd think there would be all these past , dedicated UAW workers from the area out picketing after the way the local union IUE was cut out of things in the government bankruptcy.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    UAW picketers or not, I'd question your sanity for making an appointment at a big box store on Black Friday, but as usual the media made a big hullabaloo about a non-event. My sister-in-law reported no crowds at the mall in Chattanooga this afternoon. And certainly no UAW members standing around.

    I'm saving my Walmart run until Wednesday - cat litter probably wasn't a door buster item today anyway. :shades:
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Ok, Soros is a Sub-Human at best. I still do not buy all the hullaballoo over the Citizens United SC verdict. The UAW and Public Sector Unions would be screaming even louder if the finding went the other way. Corporations are NOT people same as Unions are not people.

    I wonder if any of the Protesters actually work for Walmart? Or is it all a big show for Union power? I would expect any Walmart employee to be fired on the spot for protesting. And 3000 applicants to take their places. They pay better than the Mom & Pop stores would be my bet.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    Appointment made for 9:30 am since son would be here to babysit his mother--6 days after knee replacement. I expected to park in the middle of the lot or further out. Nope.

    There are more cars in the parking lot the first 5 days of the month than there were today. All the specials were over. The optometrist (a friend) said only the first year they were open as a new store was it busy by the time he comes in for appointsments on Black Friday.

    There weren't even any semis illegally parked in the lot.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    >Corporations are NOT people same as Unions are not people.

    That's what I would have said but I promised not to post.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I just don't get the thinking about corporate contributions. That is as old as the Republic. Whether it was a newspaper publishing derogatory cartoons about the candidates they did not like or whatever.

    Was there any protestors at WalMart. The liberal blog I visit to harass Rocky was all a twitter about shutting WalMart down with protestors.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    My wife's still looking for that job.

    As we've discussed in the past, perhaps Ohio is a state where the teachers are actually compensated sensibly rather than in CA, where "that job" is the one my SIL just retired from. And her husband continues the pension and healthcare if she dies before him, too. That's what a good corrupt union and state legislators will buy you. Obviously Ohio doesn't have enough of that good old CA corruption.

    As far as 2.5 mos/year and studying for skills, most jobs other than UAW types (you know, jobs that actually retire a significant degree of education and training) require continuous study and skills development unless the employee wants to be on the street or flipping burgers in the future. No difference. In fact I'd say teachers in the elementary levels probably see far less change in their jobs than high tech workers like in chemistry or computer science. And those people don't get anywhere near 2.5 months off a year, or pensions when they retire.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    you know, jobs that actually retire a significant degree of education and training

    The continuing education thing applies to many fields of endeavor. When I talk to the people I worked with just 6 years ago I am lost with the new technology in the phone business. Think how much the cell phones have changed in the last 6 years. The equipment they are tied to changed along with it. And our company expected the technicians to keep up with the changes. They would give us online or CD courses that we could work on during slow work times or after work on our own time. Along with the Internet came online training and our schools out of state went away. School districts in CA pay tuition for extra courses taken.

    Anyone should be able to see from the below why Californians are so much against Public Employee Unions. They completely control the state with their self serving ways. They got their Puppet governor Moonbeam elected without him spending a small fraction of his opponent.

    California's Six-Figure Pension Club Surges 25 Percent In A Year


    What is the best part of a nightmare?

    When you wake up and it is over.

    The folks in California do not have that luxury as they get to live the nightmare that defines their public pension system everyday. In fact, the nightmare is getting scarier. How so?

    The “not so exclusive” California $100,000 Club continues to experience explosive growth. Let’s check in on this club which since last we checked a year ago has seen close to a 25% increase in size.

    12,199 retired California government workers receive pensions in excess of $100,000


    http://www.fixpensionsfirst.com/calpers-database/
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    edited November 2012
    > teachers in the elementary levels probably see far less change in their jobs than high tech workers

    My wife disagrees. She suffered through a change in teaching methods for various elementary subjects every couple of years. Usually the new methods were the brainchild of someone who needed to do a dissertation so they come up with a "new" version of an old method different than the current methods pushed by the State Department of Education. So it's training in the summer (on unpaid time) and new books, new lesson plans for that subject, and then when the new method doesn't work, the district (and State) look for a new, different method that will be effective and make the politicians in the legislature feel that the schools are actually trying to teach the children. That's based on the theory of politicians that if only the teachers did it right, all the students coming out would be Rhodes Scholars and the state would test first in education. BTW, the same legislators who took some of the early state-mandated proficiency tests did not pass them.

    My wife's MA is a Special in Reading, so she knows how to effectively teach reading. But she can't recall how many times the State BOE, run by the legislature/governor changed how that was to be done.

    California I'll give you as an outlier of sanity of spending for schools. In Ohio, the legislators have sought for years to reduce salaries to minimum wage because it's much more fun to spend Ohio tax money on roads or buildings where they can put their names or the names of a past comrade than to spend money on schools. There were maybe during her career 3 times that I felt the teachers in Ohio should have had a statewide strike because of the stupidity of the legislatures. Also, 22 years ago the DeRolph decision in the Supreme Court found the funding of public schools is unconstitutional. Upheld several ways and times. The legislators still have a system primarily dependent on property tax rather than other methodologies of taxing and then redistributing the money to various schools. The property tax method means some schools have much more money per student than others do available to use to benefit students, therefore the per student support needs to be equalized per the court decision. All our legislators should be in jail. :blush:

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited November 2012
    Our auto tech friend over in A Mechanic's Life - Tales From Under the Hood linked to a NY Times story about trying to hire skilled workers on poverty wages. Good read, as are the comments.

    Skills Don’t Pay the Bills
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    edited November 2012
    Yes, the article has good content, although the logic trail doesn't always support the point the speaker or the writer is trying to make.

    AND the comments are the most literate collection of on point comments to a public news article I've seen. The comments are better than the article. Shame on the writer (no sure he deserves "reporter" as a name).

    And in the NYTimes, no less. :blush:

    The pay mentioned in article for the skills needed makes the United Auto Workers look like banditos, making out.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    edited November 2012
    The comments are better than the article. Shame on the writer

    What do you expect it is the NYT? I think this paragraph sums up the whole dilemma.

    The industry is inevitably going to move some of these jobs to China, or it’s going to replace them with machines. If it doesn’t, it can’t compete on a global level.

    I have a hard time accepting that a worker in China, India or Mexico is not capable of doing just as well or better than a US citizen. For less money. And we know the current administration believes we have to compete on their terms. He has the Free Trade Agreements he signed to prove it.

    Now the other side of the story. Making $10 or $12 per hour unless you are living at home is not going to pay the bills. When you can get welfare that is equal to $18 per hour as head of a family of 4, the incentive to work is mighty low. There is a veteran that posts all over our neighborhood that he will work for $15 per hour. You can bet that is cash, which is much better than $15 per hour before taxes. Our society is devolving and I don't see any alternatives on the horizon.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    Imid, thanks to your wife for her years of teaching service. You should have moved to CA so she could ride the local union gravy train!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited November 2012
    The comments are better than the article.

    That's the whole idea. Write something half-baked, inflame a few passions, generate a bunch of page views and maybe some ad clicks. Pay the bills.

    (oh wait, that's my job description - never mind. :P )
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    Talking about devolving, the perpetual ignoring of the longterm repercussions of dealing with China is devolved, in and of itself. Of course, nobody will accuse the US of having any vision past next week or the next election.

    Moving towards a Chindian socio-economic reality is the real devolution.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    Moving towards a Chindian socio-economic reality is the real devolution.

    In an age of rapid transportation and worldwide data communications, economics is not going to ignore 2 billion people.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    They can built it themselves. Right now, nothing is really being created, only transferred.

    Again, a Chindian socio-economic reality is devolution, it is progress in no way.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Again, a Chindian socio-economic reality is devolution, it is progress in no way.

    That is a FACT. And I don't see the current or past administrations at all worried about it, except at election time. Probably the worst free trade agreement to date was NAFTA, signed by Clinton. Second worst is KORUS, signed and pushed by Obama. The UAW president backed KORUS in goose step behind Obama. Probably looking for a Czar position. Not a month after KORUS was signed Government Motors signed a $3 billion parts order with Korean companies.

    So the demise of American Exceptionalism goes further down the Toilet. The ironic part, it was the young that voted for this devolution that will be hurt the worst. Not us old dudes or the Boomers that follow us into retirement. We tried to save ya'll, but you will have to find out the hard way.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    And the neocon opening of China was a huge mistake, too. Not to mention the "most favored" status that no party has the cojones to tackle, nor the currency issues that follow.

    Who is this "we" who tried to save anything? Specific names and movements, please. The silent generation and their slightly younger boomer counterparts who made theirs while the getting was good and now sneer at the youngsters haven't helped anything, sorry.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Who is this "we" who tried to save anything?

    Both McCain and Romney would have taken the uncertainty out of the tax debate. Giving those with the money to generate jobs a little more confidence in our society. Why would anyone with money invest in the USA with Obama and the Democrat radicals in the Congress? You made your choice now you get to live with it. Whining will not change the situation. Yes many of US did ok when Democrats were not so much into enslaving the masses with welfare as they are now. The GOP makes no bones about being for less taxes on the Rich. So you get to live with that as well. I see corporate welfare as only slightly less of a problem than our welfare for those that don't want to work. They both feed off each other.

    We have had the China debate too many times. It is done and we have no adult leaders willing to level the playing field. Now that the election is over Government Motors can move production of the Volt to China, which has been the plan from day one. Most of it comes from that region anyway. Let the UAW whine as well. Serves em right for being so gullible.
  • cooterbfdcooterbfd Member Posts: 2,770
    ".....Maybe Public schools should be a little more selective in who they allow to stay in School."

    Therein lies the problem Gary. Laws MANDATE that these kids be educated. All that is required of public schools for students is that they have a pulse. If they don't cut it intellegence wise, or have other problems, then the school district MUST institute an IEP (individualized education plan), spelling out what steps they will take to accomodate the student ( speech therapy, teachers asst, phys therapy, etc.). If they can't accomodate the child's needs, then the school system is MANDATED to find and pay for a place that can.

    Wanna know why I believe public school teachers NEED a union??? In a nutshell, when the student fails, we blame the teacher for failing the student. In a private school, they blame the student for failing.

    HEre in RI we have a catholic school (Prout) that brags that 99% of their students get accepted to 4 yr college. I say that is a FAILURE, as 100% of the incoming students were considered college material going in.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    Again, a Chindian socio-economic reality is devolution, it is progress in no way.

    I'm sure you're using a computer with parts made in China, and a cellphone likely made in China, too.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I say that is a FAILURE, as 100% of the incoming students were considered college material going in.

    That may be a bit harsh, as some may decide college is not for them while in HS. I was offered a full ride by my great uncle, if I would go to law school in Chicago. He was a high powered attorney there. I did not want to be a lawyer. I would have taken him up on engineering school. Instead I went right to work for the phone company out of HS. I can tell you the direction we are headed the laws will become more intrusive in our lives and kids will not be given a choice what they want to do. I think CA has less than 70% HS graduation rate. That should tell someone our system is hosed up.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited November 2012
    school (Prout) that brags that 99% of their students get accepted to 4 yr college.

    The other 1% are Bill Gates types.

    Of course, the ones who don't cut it or never even accepted are sent to public schools.

    Getting back to the UAW, they fund scholarships and run training schools and apprentice programs. Instead of demanding college training for every kid, we could use more opportunities like that.
  • cooterbfdcooterbfd Member Posts: 2,770
    ".....That may be a bit harsh, as some may decide college is not for them while in HS."

    Not so much harsh as tongue in cheek. Point is, the PERCEPTION is that all you have to do is "send the kids there" and all will be fine.

    Reality says that only a certain percentage can actually get it. The rest must fend for themselves.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    I'm not hearing much UAW news these days. Are they less militant under the current leadership? Certainly quieter than during the BK proceedings. I heard they wanted to picket the foreign makers a year or so ago- but it seems not much happened. Are they neutered, or just a crouched cat ready to pounce?
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,691
    edited November 2012
    the UAW is very dogmatic as a union. But people also criticize the teachers' "unions."

    Has the UAW ever supported a teacher strike by not sending their kids to the schools while the other union, the teachers' union is on strike. I've never heard of them doing that. There've been a couple of strikes here by the city school district and elsewhere. Does the UAW follow through by boycotting the schools while teachers are on strike if the school district doesn't close?

    Or are they hypocrits?

    I did find this:

    http://uaw5810.org/?p=3669

    Where the UAW is the union of Post Doctoral Researchers in California.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    edited November 2012
    Neither of them could be bothered lay out any specific economic details, why do you have such faith? Why would I have faith? Talking about whine and gullible, it seems some others have those traits as well, especially the latter. Claiming that Geezer/Dingbat or Willard were there to "save us" straddles the line between insane and insulting.

    Trickle down policy has not been shown to work at any time it has been applied. It's that simple. "those with money...generate jobs"...might as well be talking about tooth fairies and easter bunnies. Seriously. So much malaise we have today is a result of pitying the rich, who haven't had it so good since before the depression. They got to have it their way, along with some who somehow identify with that group even though they have nothing near the means. Look what you have done.

    Who do you think determines the social welfare policy? Those who reap the windfalls of corporate welfare. Corporations control government, not vice versa. This is not some kind of egalitarian meritocracy, it is a low level relatively benevolent oligarchy.

    The Chinese cat is indeed out of the bag, and none of those supposed saviors could do anything more than the current empty suits. Why? See the previous paragraph. The UAW is just a pawn in the game like the rest of us. In the overall economic scheme, invisible.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    edited November 2012
    Only so some execs can reap even more unjust rewards.

    You won't deny that it is just a race to the bottom, will you?

    Meal ticket come from there, perhaps? Or maybe from a still-unnamed pseudo-nation tax haven? ;)
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,510
    We need a technical and vocational education system as seen in most other first world nations.

    Maybe then the UAW would have more skilled workers, and have something to stand on.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Claiming that Geezer/Dingbat or Willard were there to "save us" straddles the line between insane and insulting.

    What I find insane is believing the same failed policies will work if tried often enough. I agree it is an oligarchy. And has been for at least 100 years. Dribbling out welfare starting with the New Deal has not made it less so. Just harder on the middle class to pay for it. You are not going to hurt the rich in ANY country and that includes Germany. Their wealthy heirs emigrate to Switzerland and elsewhere to protect what is passed down to them. As far as the Social Welfare, of course the Rich dictate it. FDR was a 1%er to the max. They all love to hand out candy to the poor bought with someone else's money. That is how they got Obama elected. The rich like the Status quo. It is the middle class business men that are afraid to do anything for fear the states or Feds will pull the rug out. The rich are not going to invest in corporate bonds when they know Obama will circumvent the Constitution and steal their investment. And then hand it over to the UAW.

    I think the UAW is more like a Wart on our society. Difficult to get rid of.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I agree we need more technical schools that are not just scams to get student loan money. however if they can only make $12 an hour after completing Votech what is the incentive? Our society and the rest of the 1st world is going to stagnate or slide down to meet that of Chindia. I am seeing Germany cozying up to China as much as Obama and the USA. That will not bode well for the German Unions anymore than the UAW.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    You won't deny that it is just a race to the bottom, will you?

    When you have a high cost country (USA, including groups like UAW and other labor unions who distort even the high-priced US market by keeping labor costs high), and then the world expands travel (airliners) and communications (internet), it's silly to think that the high cost places won't have pressure from the lower cost places. As the bottom comes up, the top is going to go down somewhat.

    If we never traded a day in our lives with China, we do still export to other places. Those places would be choosing between USA goods and goods from lower-cost countries. There's no way to avoid the inevitable, a delaying set of tactics would only slow it down.

    It's mostly moot as the earth isn't going to sustain these types of lifestyles for very long.
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