Robert Reich: The Union Way Up

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  • GAR
    Banned
    • Jan 2004
    • 10881

    #46
    Originally posted by Nickdfresh
    Oh, and what about the huge salaries of management and university presidents, coaches, and huge projects ...
    Because you'll be none of those things, last night we donated $500 to the Salvation Army in Santa Monica in your name.

    When you see that kitchen tile with your name on it while standing in the soup line, you'll know I was thinking about you.

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    • Nickdfresh
      SUPER MODERATOR

      • Oct 2004
      • 49570

      #47
      Incidently, Robert Reich was on NPR today...

      Comment

      • Nickdfresh
        SUPER MODERATOR

        • Oct 2004
        • 49570

        #48
        Originally posted by Big Train
        No shit, management is a cost too. However, their headcount is usually not anywhere near that of union employees. Theoretically, they are worth their higher salary based on responsibility and in some cases the amount of business they can generate. Cost/benefit says those salaries are justified (before you go off and soil yourself, remember I said theoretically). Education is a PRIME example. Every year it becomes less affordable to the middle class you speak of. Soaring costs, for what? Mostly salaries, in terms of tuition.In terms of fees, it's the kickbacks to the university from loan companies that needs a serious looking at. Upper management, alumi directors bring in giant amounts of money, so they are worth the price. It keeps tenure as a viable option, their model can afford it. The only one who eats it at the end of the day is the consumer...the student.

        Obviously, in a state school these numbers are much lower and different, but the point is still the same. I'm not blaming anyone for making what they make. You are free at any time to do something more profitable. But to say it's always "the big machine's fault" is just a distortion.

        The world and economic model is changing. I honestly don't believe there will be many large employers in the future. We will be a nation of small individual companies, with a few large ones. With the advances in automation and software large numbers of bodies just arent needed. Unions or not, that does not change.

        Except the point you're missing that Reich is making that the median household income in the US has fallen. So, even if goods are cheaper, who the fuck can afford anything? And tuition at state schools is entirely reasonable, at least here once we got rid of ex-NYS Gov. Pataki. And higher education is not "less affordable" due to professors, it's the massive projects on campuses and the elaborate sports programs that take up much of the funding. I don't know the avg. income of a college professor, but I think it's probably less than many high school teachers make in more affluent districts and they're starting salaries are around 30K a year in most places, and that's IF they can get in full time.

        The very provisions in the bill, and key ones supported by one of Reagan's key economic advisers, is making community colleges especially inexpensive and adept retraining workers in high demand skills...

        What makes our consumptive economy go is the provision of a wage that allows us little people to be consumers.

        And I don't know if I agree with your last paragraph at all. I keep seeing consolidation, not pluralism...

        Comment

        • Nickdfresh
          SUPER MODERATOR

          • Oct 2004
          • 49570

          #49
          Originally posted by GAR
          Because you'll be none of those things, last night we donated $500 to the Salvation Army in Santa Monica in your name.

          When you see that kitchen tile with your name on it while standing in the soup line, you'll know I was thinking about you.

          Why thank you GAR! How sweet of you! Collecting all those empty beer cans and donating the proceeds on my behalf!

          Comment

          • Big Train
            Full Member Status

            • Apr 2004
            • 4013

            #50
            Originally posted by Nickdfresh
            Except the point you're missing that Reich is making that the median household income in the US has fallen.

            The very provisions in the bill, and key ones supported by one of Reagan's key economic advisers, is making community colleges especially inexpensive and adept retraining workers in high demand skills...

            What makes our consumptive economy go is the provision of a wage that allows us little people to be consumers.

            And I don't know if I agree with your last paragraph at all. I keep seeing consolidation, not pluralism...
            I get Reich's point entirely, but I disagree with it. It's swimming against the current. I just think the path to a living wage is a business you own, even a small one, rather than a union job with a large company. In this "knowledge" economy, it will be far less disruptive to the needs of a family than working for a factory or tech company, where the dagger will always be over your head. The more technology advances, the less bodies are needed in most industries. Mining would be an exception to the rule.

            Comment

            • Nickdfresh
              SUPER MODERATOR

              • Oct 2004
              • 49570

              #51
              The one-size fits all thing ain't gonna work. The US needs a diversified economy, and we need to repair the infrastructure rot that will negatively effect the US economy eventually....

              Comment

              • WACF
                Crazy Ass Mofo
                • Jan 2004
                • 2920

                #52
                Originally posted by Big Train
                I get Reich's point entirely, but I disagree with it. It's swimming against the current. I just think the path to a living wage is a business you own, even a small one, rather than a union job with a large company. In this "knowledge" economy, it will be far less disruptive to the needs of a family than working for a factory or tech company, where the dagger will always be over your head. The more technology advances, the less bodies are needed in most industries. Mining would be an exception to the rule.

                You still need the worker bees to make things work...

                Cops, Firefighters, nurses ect...then industry...we can not all be business owners...and to think that a living wage is only gonna happen with a business owner leaves alot of people below the wire...people you need.

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