Norseman82 Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 [quote name='ironmonk' date='Feb 22 2006, 10:28 PM']Ford and GM have been held hostage by unjust compensation by their unions forcing huge pension plans that they cannot keep going. Employement provided healthcare is fine. My company spends about $150/month for me... Ford and GM is not dying from healthcare, they'rd dying because of lazy union workers and pensions. Just tour the corvette factory and look in the boxes that union works can sleep as long as they want in... and when you ask "What are these for", the tour guide will tell you "We don't talk about that". [right][snapback]895352[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I admit that I was shocked when I read of the average factory workers that pull in $130,000 in wages/benefits, but one also has to consider bad business decisions. I didn't save the article, but I read in the paper that Ford also spent money acquiring Jaguar and Volvo that it could have spent on engineering and process improvements (such as hybrid technology) that could have made its core product line more competitive. As it is, Toyota is the only line that has a plan to have all hybrid cars (I think the target is by 2010 or 2012). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toledo_jesus Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 [quote name='Norseman82' date='Feb 23 2006, 01:09 AM']What kind of work do you do? Do you have a family to support? Or are you supported by parents? Do you honestly expect Americans to survive on two to three dollars a day like the sweatshop laborers who make the Air Jordans? Because that is what "competitveness" is turning into. Not all American workers are overpaid workers who rely on seniority to get by. [right][snapback]895386[/snapback][/right] [/quote] No. I don't believe we can be competitive with China or other nations who pay bare subsistence wages. But the unions are definitely ridiculous and our workers get paid too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quietfire Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 Well I will agree that the unions are out of control. But this isnt a racial profoling issue, at least not with me, this is a national security issue. Some of these countries have been linked with known terrorists and this should be cause for alarm. I dont want our elected officials to compromise our security just to make someone feel inclusive. We have had relations with the some of these countries for a very long time, mostly for oil, yet they have been unable to give the slightest concession on human rights. So what kind of message are we sending when we make a move such as this? This is politically motivated I understand, but in the end, I dont see these countries viewing us in a different light than the ones they already have just because we sell them these port rights. Do I buy American? Yes. Why? It keeps my American money in America. While my brother doesnt have a problem owning a foreign car, I made sure my first new car was American. Am I paid well for my job. Yes. Do I work hard for my pay? Yes. I have a vested interest in the very company I work for, being an assoiciate owned company. I also spend my money there, and that helps the bottom dollar as well. I am a company stockholder and although I may have issues with certain people there, I still care about my company and want us to succeed. We are not union and dont want to be, although the unions in our area dont seem to understand that. This port issue is a security issue. I cant honestly believe that the CIA and FBI will be watching them like hawks. Like I said, I may not be able to articulate this into words, but I dont have a good feeling about this. Something about it bothers me a great deal and I think it would be best to at least wait to do a thourough investigation on this company with some restrictions put into place if we then decide to go foward with the sale. In all honesty, they couldnt fault us for at least being cautious. I realize that we are selling these port rights to a business, and not to a country. But this business has had some questionable issues come up recently and these are also my concern. Pax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 This company already does most of our military shiopping to the Mid-east now. The Brits own our port facilities and are selling them to this company. Its not something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musturde Posted February 26, 2006 Share Posted February 26, 2006 [quote name='ironmonk' date='Feb 22 2006, 07:59 AM']It is our own fault that we are outsourcing outside of the USA. We should have listened back in the 80's when so many people kept saying "Buy American". We have only ourselves to blame. The only way to fix it is to buy things made in America, and when you will not buy a certain product because it is from another country, send an email to the company telling them why. If enough people would do that, then outsourcing would be cut down. The problem is that too many people do not care... all they care about is getting a cheaper product. Anyone who buys foreign goods when a more expensive American good is avaiable has no logical or moral right to complain about outsourcing. I would be the people in the public view screaming loudest about this are the most guilty. The answer to fixing the problem is not laws, it is people caring and buying American. God Bless, ironmonk [right][snapback]894664[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I agree, usually United Arab Emirates has more open minded muslims in it. I hear Dubai, a city in the UAE, is a lot like New York. Besides, we'll have soo many people watching it so it won't be easy for a terrorist to slip something on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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