What is the problem?
 

Had a bad day?

I do both. But here in California the biggest political problem is the unions and the public employees are the worst of the unions. They are the ones that have pushed our budget out of control (the prisoner guard union has made is so they can retire after twenty years with a full pension and it is almost impossible to investigate prison guards even when a prisoner dies), it is the teacher's unions that have prevented any real education reform, and it is the policies the unions in general have pushed that have been driving businesses out of this state (like workers comp before Arnold reformed it).

They are some Dems that are not slaves to the unions and I don't mess with them. I target the Dems and sometimes the Repubs that are union controlled.

Most of California's problems can be laid at the feet of union lobbying.

What is the problem?
 

Baiting like this will NOT bring Tyrone back any quicker.

If I am a member of the union, I have to pay dues and what the union does effects me.

If I am not a member of the union, I have to pay dues and what the union does effects me.

What the hell is the difference? The only difference I can see if I join I can actually influence the union I am forced to pay into. So in reality I really have no choice in being a union member.

What is the problem?
 

You would be more successful if you specified that it is CA's public employee unions that you see as a problem, rather than saying "Unions bad. Ugh. Me no like union."

I would argue that the bizarro property-tax restrictions y'all have are at least as much to blame for economic (and probably educational) woes. I really need to learn more about state economy stuff here. Totally different from TX, but just as irrational. From what little I've seen, y'all have the most fucked-up tax and state employee systems ever. Are all teachers employees of the state, and not local school districts?

Vote no on Proposition 73
 

The thing is, what Wonk and the other haters fail to realise is that I inspire this board. It was my creation. Without me it will look like the Infirm PB of today. Sad.


Yes, go for it. You have to be in it to win it.

Why the hate? We were so close to the elusive common ground.......

What is the problem?
 

Ahem. My grandfather was a coalminer for a few months when he came over on the boat. He guaged very quickly that only a dope would stick it out in such work, so he opened a store. And things went from there. He despised unions because he saw them as bastion of what he called "Shanty Irish," who didn't work hard enough. He also claimed income tax ruined the country and wouldn't do business with people who wouldn't have a drink with him, so maybe my views come from a damaged source...

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

I don't know. I did a quick google search, and didn't find anything that answers your question.

What is the problem?
 

The biggest opponents of free trade agreements are Unions. In addition, the unions always support quotas and any other trade restrictions. They are also almost always against any environmental initiative. So they wreck havoc on the national and international level.

Again, I have no problem with what the unions do internally, but I have rarely seen unions on the right side of any public policy issues (except when it comes to minimun wage increases, which I support, or workers safety).

And thus, by arriving at this conclusion, you have now made a rather insightful comment on this issue.

aV

What is the problem?
 

If there had been no one working at the mine, who would have bought his wares?

And, god spanky, you bitch about the unions when your property tax system, which is what funds schools and local stuff, is described like this:

On June 6, 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a property
tax limitation initiative. This amendment to California’s Constitution was the taxpayers’
collective response to dramatic increases in property taxes and a growing state revenue
surplus of nearly $5 billion. Proposition 13 rolled back most local real property, or real
estate, assessments to 1975 market value levels, limited the property tax rate to 1 percent
plus the rate necessary to fund local voter-approved bonded indebtedness, and
limited future property tax increases.
After Proposition 13, county property tax revenues dropped from $10.3 billion in
1977-78 to $5.04 billion in 1978-79. As a result, many local governments were in fiscal
crisis. Keeping local governments in operation the first two years following Proposition
13 required legislative “bailouts” to offset property tax revenue losses. A first-year
stopgap measure costing $4.17 billion in state surplus funds was necessary to directly
aid local governments. A second-year bailout, a long-term fiscal relief plan, cost the
state $4.85 billion.
Prior to 1978, real property was appraised cyclically, with no more than a five-year
interval between reassessments. Since property values were systematically reviewed
and updated, assessed values were usually kept at or near current market value levels.
In contrast, Proposition 13 generally limits annual increases in the assessed value of
real property to no more than 2 percent, except when property changes ownership or
undergoes new construction. Essentially, Proposition 13 converted the existing market
value-based property tax system to an acquisition value-based system.

ETA they are hamstrung. Hamstrung!

What is the problem?
 

The California public employee unions do all that? Wowza.

Fuck Bush and the Republicans
 

Hastert and Frist make a big show of calling for an investigation into a leak allegedly affecting national security -- the locations of the CIA's secret "black site" torture prisons overseas. Lott just said, Tuesday afternoon, that he thinks it was a GOP Senator who leaked the info to the Washington Post last week. He says the details had been discussed at a GOP Senators-only meeting last week, and that many of those details made it into the WaPo story.

Money quote from Lott; "We can not remain silent. We have met the enemy, and it is us."

CNN now. Ed Henry:

Trent Lott stunned reporters by declaring that this subject was actualy discussed at a Senate Republican luncheon, Republican senators only, last Tuesday the day before the story ran in the Washington Post. Lott noted that Vice President Cheney was also in the room for that discussion and Lott said point blank "a lot of it came out of that room last tuesday, pointing to the room where the lunch was held in the capitol." He added of senators "we can't keep our mouths shut." He added about the vice president, "He was up here last wek and talked up here in that room right there in a roomful of nothing but senators and every word that was said in there went right to the newspaper." He said he believes when all is said and done it may wind up as an ethics investigation of a Republican senator, maybe a Republican staffer as well. Senator Frist's office not commenting on this development. The Washington Post is not commenting either.

Thanks to Penske for the subject line!

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

Believe it or not I have a friend that is a lawyer in Jakarta. I believe he makes about 80K a year, which means he lives like a king (the same lawfirm turned me down because my Japanese was not good enough). He told me he makes like five times as much as his indonesian counterparts.

I realize that does not really help, and it is hearsay. But I thought I would throw it out there.

What is the problem?
 

Just think of what could be done if they used their powers for the forces of good!

What is the problem?
 

No - that would be the national unions. You said that I would be better of if I had said I just don't like California Public Employee Unions, but I was trying to point out why I don't like most all unions in this country. So I stand by my earlier statement that most all unions in this country promote bad public policy.

What is the problem?
 

Pssst!

SAM - I have a position. Sometimes its just a theory. I throw it out. I'm interested to hear someone refute it or maybe agree with it on a basis other than the one I offer. I actually take away some insight from the process.

Don't tell anyone. I wouldn't want them to think I'm swayable or consider other's views.

Yours,
Sebby

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

Yes, it helps. Thanks.

So, if he makes $80K a year, then his Indonesian colleagues make, what, around $16K a year?

There you go, Penske. No word on whether they get filet mignon at the printers.

What is the problem?
 

Idiot liberal socialist types hate America and the notion of the American DReam so much they pretend it never existed and that there was never a nation of workers who pulled themselves up by the bootstrap without the nanny state shoving its full fat milky teat down their throat.

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

I am not sure but that indicates a lot of good opportunity in Indonesia. I would take their free market over the socialism of the demo party.

What is the problem?
 

I agree that the unions need to exist, but there's something so repulisve to me about a mindset which would embrace limiting yourself to a guaranteed c-grade existence. I mean, I don't like fighting as I do to make money, but I couldn't just give up and settle either. There's gotta be something to shoot for or there's just no point. The unions I see picketing in Philly aren't trying to better themselves economically or intellectually through any creative means. They just want to preserve their Archie Bunker status and have this attitude that they deserve everything they get.

Well, their sense of entitlement has driven business out of this city, and now they're crying because they realize they've killed their only source of revenue. But they weren't smart enough to think ahead, and I guess we couldn't expect that of them, could we?

What is the problem?
 

Why? Is it like if there was no oxygen, we would all die? Without unions, commerce, indsutry, life would cease to exist?

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

Even once you realize that the market there wll bear only a billing rate of $25/hour?

What is the problem?
 

I would say that your lack of relatives who were part of unions has limited your world view.

I remember someone I knew as a teenager who was a firefighter. He was a friends Dad. He was also shop steward for his union, and one of the most intellectual guys I'd met - while my middle class, college educated parents watched Archie Bunker, he was reading history books. But he never went to college, didn't have the background to become a white collar worker, liked very much what he did and took pride in helping people, and enjoyed the prospect of his son going to the best schools. He wanted to make enough to read some books, send his kid to an Ivy league school (on scholarship) and retire in security, but whether he would have enough was always in question.

Archie Bunker mentality?

I think what is most revealing here is that most of the anti-union sentiment, like Mr. Spanky's, seems based on the fact that he disagrees with their politics and so wants to cut off funding. I understand that, it just will not convince me as it is not a particularly principled reason. Your hostility seems based on stereotyping, which is also unlikely to convince me. Hank believes unions have made bad economic decisions for the bulk of their membership and for the country, which strikes me as the best reason anyone has given for disliking unions.

But I still think the brunt of the question is: in a free market economy, should the government step in to regulate such a problem, or is it one to leave to the market. I would leave it to the market.

What is the problem?
 

Who are you trying to kid, here Sebby? You've made a point for years about how you've given up and you're just phoning it in, work-wise. The only thing that sets you apart is the price of your booze, your television set, and your house.

You even have the same sense of entitlement.

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

So you are saying Spank's pal bills 3200 hours a year (assuming he eating what he kills with no overhead. If not, way more). You are either high or full of shit or on the must oppose penske to fulfill the demon of hate of my liberalism.Spank?

Classic
 

No more lectures from the French (and other europeans) about racism.


http://www.expatica.com/source/site_...US+than+France

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

That is Mr. Spanky to you (Actually still trying to figure out why Captain called me Mr. Spanky). Usually only people that don't know me at all show me that kind of respect.

I don't know what you want me to say? I am a little confused by the argument and I alreadys stated the facts.

But my friend does not work 3200 hours a year. His job is definitely nine to five unlike corporate law jobs here. But he is an expat which distorts things a little.

He has a massive house and like six servants.

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

Exactly, Monsieur Spanky. Gatti is full of shite.

What is the problem?
 

I'm actually rather ambitious. I never phoned it in. When I have to work, I work. You're mistaking my bitching about how much I have to work for a sense of entitlement. The two are very different.

I don't like to work and hate doing it, but I realize that I am not getting anywhere any other way, so I keep doing it. Thats part of the answer to the question "Why doesn't he quit what he hates?"

What is the problem?
 

I submit that your firefighter is a rarity. Perhaps my view is jaundiced by the cesspool in which I spend my day... The union folk in this town are nothing more than a venomous, bloodsucking blight on our economy. More. More. More. Like little goddamned childdren before they get old enough to learn they can't behave like little parasites forever.

In fairness, the same attitude applies to many of our corporations. Walmart deserves what its getting right now.

People need to learn when enough is enough.

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

I once worked for the New York Times.

Did you ever see their article on Mr. Big (aka Nortorious Big)?

Vote no on Proposition 73
 

What is the "Infirm PB"? It sounds like something I might like?

Vote no on Proposition 73
 

You mean you didn't take that as a compliment? That is very unkind of you. Poor Paigow, betrayed at every turn.

WWJD, Penske, WWJD?

S_A_M

Fuck Bush and the Republicans
 

Cheney was there too, hmm? With previous knowledge?

I'd bet its that known leaker from his office. Charge Scooter!

S_A_M

Fuck Bush and the Republicans
 

That would have certain advantages. For one, you'd save the cost of another perp walk. The papers could just use the file photos.

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

Apologies. $50/hour. (Though if Spanky's alluding to his friend being an extraordinarily well-paid inhouse gig, I think you're barking up the wrong tree, too).

Still, would $50/hour buy you the French wine you desire?

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

In Indonesia it probably would set you up for a goddamned good life. Other than the kidnappings and the bombings of white folks and the places that they tend to frequent, that is.


[Now I scurry back off this Board. I know how dangerous the drive-by posting can be when you aren't really paying attention to the conversation here.]

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

I was once told that there is no word for "no" in the Indonesian language. Does anyone know if this is true?

(I went googling to try to find an answer - without success - but came across this cite: http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/b...icle315207.ece .

It seems like someting people here would like.

Vote no on Proposition 73
 

He would give the Paigow the keys to the moderator board to really rile the bear. I think we have seen intelligent design play itself out today on these boards.

Deal toys. It's all about the deal toys.
 

Thanks. You are gracious indeed.

1why couldn't I go inhouse of that is where the money is?

2. I make more than $50 an hour, although I am willing to trade some of it for lifestyle. Hookers are cheap in indonesia, no?