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Rant

American workers vs The wealthy and Government

Posted 14 months ago|10 comments|510 views

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Jobs , government , wealthy

Written by

Kqm2010

There was a time in American when the workers of this country were respected. We were the backbone that made America what it was. We were a country that invented the future. We praised our workforce for being the best in the world. Through out the years we have lost sight of the American dream. We have forgotten what was important to the people, a good job with decent pay so we all could prosper for a better America. There were at one time companies with benefit packages that are unseen today. Companies took care of there employees and had respect for there workers. Times have changed since then. From the backs of the working class we have made these companies so rich they lost sight of who fills there pockets. We no longer have there respect, we no longer are seen as the backbone of this country. No benefits with decent pay for the working class anymore. No good jobs across this country no more. Why you might ask, where the jobs are for our future. Well it comes down to the rich business owners. You see having a nice house with more money in the bank then you could ever spend in a life time isn't enough anymore. It's all about greed power and politics. We are no longer in the equation. We are no longer a working class. We are owned and bought for pennies on the dollar, to feed the greed in this country. Our jobs are sent overseas for cheap labor to fill the greed of big business in America. Now they attack unions that protect American workers. Take away the rights of the working class of America. To bow down to big money big business and our very own Government. This good buddy system between big money and politicians are the down fall of our great country. We need change in our government. We need to bring back a moral government with values for the benefit of the people. They need to stop fighting for the rich and start helping the little guy with good jobs for the benefit of this country. We can not be a better America if the government puts the rich greed and next election first.

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Out Of The Box

Moderator

14 months ago: Americans want great jobs with great pay. That drives up manufacturing costs. It drives up the cost of everything.

Americans want cheap merchandise. Americans allowed Walmart to dominate the retail market in almost every area. How did Walmart do this? By importing the cheapest stuff they could get their hands on, where ever they had to go to get it.

Companies that were manufacturing in the US were going broke trying to compete with Mexico, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.. So they worked it out so they could set up factories in other countries, so that they could sell their products at a competitive price. Now they sell their stuff to Target and Walmart and Sears, and Americans were happy. They could by a 46 inch TV for $600.

But then the manufacturing base hit a tipping point. There were no longer enough jobs in the manufacturing sector to support our own people. Then the support networks started feeling the crunch, not loaning out money, not collecting the outstanding loans, not planning 401k accounts, not doing the setup work for new businesses.

Then the American people started to cry. "Where are our jobs?" And the manufacturers said "Where were you when you were demanding cheap goods and high wages? You've Walmarted yourselves into this predicament."

And the sad thing about it is, we cannot afford for manufacturing jobs to come back home. When the factories are paying their employees 5 times what it takes to get a foreign worker, they won't be able to compete with the foreign goods.

So what is the answer?

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sunny2

14 months ago: Box - When people are educated, they need better jobs because they have to pay back their educational cost. If the Government cripples the youth of this country by not allowing them to go to school, then we will have a big problem. If you have something to offer, why wouldn't you want a good job with higher pay. We didn't have a problem with it before. The American Dream was there for anyone. I heard the other day that there is a movement to abolish the child labor laws. I'm in disbelief. These manufacturing companies are taking the liberty of being sweatshops again; including low pay and verbal abuse and bad working conditions. I'm seeing them take away the individualism of the employee's personality. You have to dress down and be all alike. They will have it all for sure.

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sunny2

14 months ago: I think the answer lies in keeping our laws intact, rights intact, and fighting for what we deserve. The Government is controlling everything at this point.

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Altruist
Eugene, OR

14 months ago: OOTB thinks the only answer is to do as the big corporations say and eliminate all benefits work for pennies and do away with all rules and regulations so the corporations are free to exploit the workers, destroy the environment and put out unsafe and poisonous goods. He wants us to become like China.

But while the right wing here is tring to move the nation backward China is moving forward. They are finally giving more freedom and higher wages to their workers and starting to instate safety, regulatory and environmental protections.

The answer is not to allow the corporations to strip away our rights, the answer is to become more like Germany. Germany's government invested in the future and now they make 60% of solar cells. They invested in their workers during the recession so when there weren't enough jobs to go around, the government helped factories split jobs so workers worked less hours but the government picked up the difference so they still made a decent wage. Instead of making cheap crap they concentrated on quality control so they can sell their cars for more and their economy withstood the recession and is now doing well.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/busi...

While union membership has gone down in Germany as it has everywhere, the unions in Germany have made innovative use of modern information and communications technologies to deliver services to members Now 2/3rds of all workers still have collective bargaining.

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Kqm2010

14 months ago: That is true people do look for the best deal when buying things. And it true that people don't need to make 50 bucks a hour. But you can't just put all the blame on the people. Companies had a big part of this, they made the decision what deals to make and what to pay there workers. As well as what they pay them self's with million dollar bonuses. Yes they moved out of our country just to put more money in there own pockets. I don't blame them everyone wants money. But you know when money is more important then the people in your own country it becomes greed. I don't know the answer. But do see the problem. What I see is the top 20% in this country living real well and the bottom 80% working for slave wages they pay over seas in the near future. Then the companies will return and pay you 7.25 a hour, that's if the republicans don't get rid of that. All I know our future don't look good for the working class in our own country.

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Out Of The Box

Moderator

14 months ago: KQM

That's the first step to recovery, is admitting you may be part of the problem. Our country was founded on representative democracy. Why should business be any different?

I can only tell you why it is different. We have been divided, and sub-divided, to the point that we don't trust each other. We don't have co-operative businesses where a hundred people get together and pool their resources, and allow others to buy into their company as partners. We don't have businesses that devote a portion of each work week to a group discussion that includes everyone that works there.

People have the wrong idea about the American dream. It's been fed to us, to keep us down. The American dream isn't supposed to be like a lottery, where you might come up with that great idea and get fabulously rich. It's about being able to make a living, free from government interference. I know hundreds, maybe even thousands, of forefingers that come here, not in search of the American dream, but full well expecting to live the American dream.

They pool their resources. They work long hours until they get established. They make sacrifices to get where the want to be financially. Many Americans think they must be working the system, because six months after they get here they are better established than lifelong citizens. But they are just using the tools of freedom.

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Altruist
Eugene, OR

14 months ago: Our country was founded on representative democracy because of poor communications. Now we have the technology to give more power directly to the people.

Corporations back then were very suspect and limited in scope. We also need a new type of corporation that is not just driven by greed and profits, but rather by what is best for the community.

We need Corporations that are non profit or which channel profits to the workers and community. Corporations which are owned by the workers, that provide decent health care and pensions and day care for the workers and low cost housing and apprenticeships and education programs to train the communities chronically unemployed.

In the past corporations served the people, now people serve the corporations.
That is just not right. Corporations are at best amoral and at worst immoral. We need a different type of corporation that is dedicated to doing good and which is sustainable and does not harm the environment.

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Out Of The Box

Moderator

14 months ago: That's exactly what I said. We need co-operative corporations founded on democracy. People should pool their resources and get into the marketplace and compete. Put some skin into the game, so to speak. They should start money wheels, and when each one's turn comes up, he can buy his way into a business.
Above all, we need to learn patience and thrift, and start making the abundance of money we already have work in our favor, and not against us,

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Kqm2010

14 months ago: Where I live my electric company is a co-operative corporation. It's great owned by the people. after ten years they pay you dividends once a year for the rest of your life even if you move away. And they spend a lot of money too helping the community. We also have one company I worked for that is owned by the employees Publix Supermarket it's been in business since 1930 and they also promote and spend a lot of money helping the community. They give you stock every year and its yours to take anytime after five years. Some people I know that worked there they retired after 20 years with million dollar retirements. Companies like these would make this country a lot better. To bad there are not more of them.

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sunny2

14 months ago: That is a good way to go. We need more of it. Did you ever work for a foreign company? Oh boy can't even describe it. Their philosophy on how to treat workers is cold.

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