consumeronstrike

GM Could Benefit from Bankruptcy

I made descent money, but also spent it in the community. The church the bowling alleys the department stores restaurants, ect. Not only will the auto suppkiers be affected but all things connected to what we spent money on. Even the retirees money is spent in every community whether it has auto jobs or not. It will definitly be a nationwide trickle affect. Maybe they wont need that extra restaurant worker anymore or the bowling alley or Kmart or Joe the plumber worker as often or at all. I see our country turning into a 3rd world countrywith no middle class if this is left to happen. We were the heartbeat of the middle class. If we got a raise it trickled down through the communities
Gee. I never realized how truly noble you all were when you had all that money to go out and spend on yourselves. You guys'll never get it. You actually feel, and your union encourages you to feel, that you are somehow ENTITLED to make as much or more in pay and benefits as many successful doctors and engineers, no doubt because you "work hard." Cry me a river. I've worked hard all my life. You are no better than most of us in the rest of the country. And we've all had the pleasure of driving by your picket lines knowing that there must be a thousand people a week driving by that would love to take your damn job for half the money you were already making even without the benefits you already had.
Think I alone feel this way? Look through the feedback from the other non-union people above. A large part of the country is fed up with your sense of entitlement. Many will never buy anything you make. And guess what, Robin Hood? Guess where the money you so graciously spend came from in the first place?

Pre-packaged Bankruptcy Is GM's Only Option - Barron's

Concessions? Starting in 2010 with "new hires?" How many "new hires" are there compared to the rest of you, anyway? And the rest of us are supposed to not mind keeping you afloat till then?

Pre-packaged Bankruptcy Is GM's Only Option - Barron's

So. Some of you are pointing out that your real wages/benefits are "only" about $50/ hour? Tell ya what. I'm a restaurant cook making about $9/ hour. It happens to be pretty good money where I live for what I happen to do. I think I'll wake up tomorrow and decide I want more. I want $20/ hour, full medical and dental, and a nice pension plan. My boss, who has always been real good to me, is sure to understand. She'll just have to raise the price of a hamburger to around $20 to pay us restaurant workers the same proportionate amount above what the market will bear that you union people are getting. Now, after she raises the price of a hamburger to around $20 and still has trouble making ends meet after meeting our health care and pension demands, maybe she can stave off bankruptcy for awhile by issuing bonds till she eventually owes 25 times what the restaurant is worth. Then, when she's finally mentally and financially exhausted to the point she's about to close the doors and declare bankruptcy, our idiot union rep can issue press releases blaming the economy and stating that there will be "no more concessions."
Hell, if you can do it why can't we all do it?
Because the rest of us know better, that's why.
What if we were all union workers? Welcome to socialism.
Your biggest problem today isn't defending yourselves. Most of us in the rest of the country won't buy it anymore anyway. Your biggest problem is that these aren't isolated conversations among scattered groups of people any more. And your biggest problem right now is that maybe millions of people are reading this and nodding their heads in agreement.
Many of us don't have it a fourth as good as you do and you feel, and your union encourages you to feel, ENTITLED to as much in pay and benefits as many doctors and successful engineers. You will no doubt get your bailout money, and I won't hold it against any politician I like and support for not throwing his career away taking on the unions. None of my money will ever again be part of your paycheck, though. Read the feedback from all the non-union people above. Think I alone feel this way? We all work hard for our money. Think you work hard? Cry me a river. I’ve worked hard all my life. Most of us do NOT get, or ever have an opportunity to get, a job that pays like that and allows them to retire at 50 with a nice pension and medical for life, already having made far more money than most of us will ever see working till we’re- well, too old to work. And all of us have had the pleasure of driving by one of your picket lines on our way to work when our communities have lost enough jobs that there were probably thousands of people driving by that would have loved to take your damn job for half the money you were already making even without the benefits you already had.
So a large part of the country has had it with you and your sense of entitlement. Many will never buy anything you make. YOU did this.
Companies pass these costs on to consumers. When the consumer price index goes up, you, of course, get your cost-of-living increases you negotiated into your contract. The rest of us, which HAPPEN TO BE THE MAJORITY, didn't participate in the mechanism which just drove prices up, even though our money is now worth less, too. When you drive prices up for everyone and protect yourself from the resulting inflation, all you've done is maintain your (artificially and unfairly) elevated economic position while at the same time making the rest of us poorer.
. YOU"LL get "no more concessions" from many of us in the rest of the country. And the bailout? Won't matter in the long run.

Detroit's Big Three and the Democrats' Economic Illiteracy

So. Some of you are pointing out that your real wages/benefits are "only" about $50/ hour? Tell ya what. I'm a restaurant cook making about $9/ hour. It happens to be pretty good money where I live for what I happen to do. I think I'll wake up tomorrow and decide I ewant more. I want $20/ hour, full medical and dental, and a nice pension plan. My boss, who has always been real good to me, is sure to understand. She'll just have to raise the price of a hamburger to around $20 to pay us restaurant workers the same proportionate amount above what the market will bear that you union people are getting. Now, after she raises the price of a hamburger to around $20 and still has trouble making ends meet after meeting our health care and pension demands, maybe she can stave off bankruptcy for awhile by issuing bonds till she eventually owes 25 times what the restaurant is worth. Then, when she's finally mentally and financially exhausted to the point she's about to close the doors and declare bankruptcy, our idiot union rep can issue press releases blaming the economy and stating that there will be "no more concessions."
Hell, if you can do it why can't we all do it?
Because the rest of us know better, that's why.
What if we were all union workers? Welcome to socialism.
Your biggest problem today isn't defending yourselves. Most of us in the rest of the country won't buy it anymore anyway. Your biggest problem is that these aren't isolated conversations among scatterred groups of people any more. And your biggest problem right now is that maybe millions of people are reading this and nodding their heads in agreement. Many of us don't have it a fourth as good as you do and you feel and your union encourages you to feel ENTITLED to as much in pay and benefits as many doctors and successfull engineers. You will no doubt get your bailout money, and I personally won't hold it against any politician I happen to like and support for not throwing his career away by taking on the unions. Think I personally will ever contribute to you having such a better life than the rest of us again, though? I don't think so. Read the feedback from all the non-union people above. Think I alone feel this way? We all work hard for our money. Most of us do NOT get or ever have an opportunity to get a job that pays like that and allows them to retire at 50 with a nice pension and medical for life, already having made far more money than most of us will ever see working till were- well, too old to work. And now all of us have had the pleasure of driving by one of your picket lines on our way to work when there were enough jobs lost in our communities that there were probably thousands of people driving by that would have loved to take your damn job for half the money you were already making even without the benefits you already had. So a large part of the country has had it with you and your sense of entitlement. Many will never buy anything you make. YOU did this.
Over-the-top union wages. Companies pass these costs on to consumers. When the consumer price index goes up, you, of course, get your cost-of-living increases you negotiated into your contract. The rest of us, which HAPPEN TO BE THE MAJORITY, didn't participate in the mechanism which just drove prices up, even though our money is now worth less, too. When you drive prices up for everyone and protect yourself from the resulting inflation, all you've done is maintain your (artificially and unfairly) elevated economic position while at the same time making the rest of us poorer.
You have cost your company dearly. For decades their balance sheets have stunk and they were unable to fund enough research & developement. Now they can't compete. You did this. No pity from many of the rest of us. YOU"LL get "no more concessions" from at least many of us in the rest of the country. And the bailout? Won't matter in the long run.

Let GM Fail

Tell ya what. I'm a restaurant cook making about $9 an hour. No complaint there, that happens to be pretty good money where I live for what I happen to do. I think I'll wake up tomorrow and decide I want more. I should get $20 an hour, full medical and dental, and a big fat pension and all the Viagra I want. Just like you autoworkers. My boss, who has always been good to me, will surely understand. She'll just have to raise the cost of a hamburger to around $20 to pay us restaurant workers the same proportionate amount over what the market will bear that you union idiots are getting. Now, after she raises the cost of a hamburger to around $20 and still has trouble making ends meet after meeting our health care and pension demands, maybe she can stave off bankruptcy for awhile by issuing bonds till she eventually owes 25 times what the restaurant is worth. Then, when she's finally mentally and financially exhausted to the point that she's about to close the doors and declare bankruptcy, our idiot union rep can issue press releases blaming the economy and stating that there will be "no more concessions."
Hell, if they can do it why can't we all do it? What if we were all union workers? Welcome to socialism.
Your biggest problem today isn't defending yourselves. Most of us out here in the real world won't buy it anyway. Your biggest problem is that these aren't isolated conversations among scattered groups of people any more. Your biggest problem is that maybe millions of people are reading letters like this and elsewhere and feeling the same way.
There's no stopping the bailout, if there is to be one. I personally wouldn't want any politician I happen to like and support to throw his career away by taking on the unions. So where does that leave us? Many, many people are probably reading this, and many may be thinking the same thing: " OK. Bail them out if you have to. We can't help what they do with the taxes they take from us. But not penny of the money I get to keep will ever contribute to one of those ridiculously big paychecks again."
You might think about getting real. A lot of people are really getting mad. We are the people. And the people don't have to fear losing your votes - you only have to fear losing our dollars. You think you're entitled to more pay and benefits than some doctors and engineers get, because as some of you have said on other discussion boards, you "work hard?" Sorry. Got news for you. Some of the hardest work there is doesn't pay very well. Outside of Michigan's parasitic little UAW empire that's the way it is. Most of us do NOT get, or have an opportunity, to get, a job right out of high school that pays like that and allows them to retire at fifty with a big fat pension and medical for life, already having made far more money than most of us will make working till we're - well, too old to work.
How does this hurt us? Companies pass on these costs to consumers. The consumer price index, our primary measure of inflation, goes up. You, of course, get your cost-of-living increases which you negotiated into your contract. So the purchasing power of your selfish overpaid butt is still intact. But the rest of us, which happen to be in the majority, didn't participate in the mechanism that drove prices up in the first place, even though our money is now worth less, too. You drive prices up for everyone then protect yourselves from the resulting inflation. By doing so you only maintain the purchasing power of your oversized paycheck while at the same time making the other 80% of us poorer. You have no incentive to study and do well in school because when you graduate, with luck, you'll make more money than someone who did...probably a lot more. The end of all you've known may be coming and you won't even understand why. Because, you see, going on strike won't help you against us. You'll get no concessions from the people who are so fed up with what you've been doing to them that we will no longer buy anything you make. And the bailout? Won't matter in the long run.

GM Could Benefit from Bankruptcy

Someone, think his username was Turbogrande, suggested "the cheapest bailout ever?" The idea being that with GM stock only being worth a total of about $2 billion now, the bailout should consist of buying it all up, handing it to the UAW, and saying, " Here. You run it."
Hey, come on, people, that's hilarious! And if the UAW tried to run it at a profit?
Can't everyone just imagine... when they form a new union...to tell their old union there will be "no more concessions?"

GM Could Benefit from Bankruptcy

Tell ya what. I'm a restaurant cook making about $9 an hour. No complaint there, that happens to be pretty good money where I live for what I happen to do. I think I'll wake up tomorrow and decide I want more. I should get $20 an hour, full medical and dental, and a big fat pension and all the Viagra I want. Just like you autoworkers. My boss, who has always been good to me, will surely understand. She'll just have to raise the cost of a hamburger to around $20 to pay us restaurant workers the same proportionate amount over what the market will bear that you union idiots are getting. Now, after she raises the cost of a hamburger to around $20 and still has trouble making ends meet after meeting our health care and pension demands, maybe she can stave off bankruptcy for awhile by issuing bonds till she eventually owes 25 times what the restaurant is worth. Then, when she's finally mentally and financially exhausted to the point that she's about to close the doors and declare bankruptcy, our idiot union rep can issue press releases blaming the economy and stating that there will be "no more concessions." Hell, if they can do it why can't we all do it?
What if we were all union workers? Welcome to socialism.
Your biggest problem today isn't defending yourselves. Most of us out here in the real world won't buy it anyway. Your biggest problem is that these aren't isolated conversations among scattered groups of people any more. Your biggest problem is that maybe millions of people are reading letters like this and elsewhere and feeling the same way. There's no stopping the bailout, if there is to be one. I personnally wouldn't want any politician I happen to like and support to throw his career away by taking on the unions. So where does that leave us? Many, many people are probably reading this, and many may be thinking the same thing: " OK. Bail them out if you have to. We can't help what they do with the taxes they take from us. But not penny of the money I get to keep will ever contribute to one of those ridiculously big paychecks again."
You might think about getting real. A lot of people are really getting mad. We are the people. And the people don't have to fear losing your votes - you only have to fear losing our dollars. You think you're entitled to more pay and benefits than some doctors and engineers get, because as some of you have said on other discussion boards, you "work hard?" Sorry. Got news for you. Some of the hardest work there is doesn't pay very well. Outside of Michigan's parasitic little UAW empire that's the way it is. Most of us do NOT get, or have an opportunity, to get, a job right out of high school that pays like that and allows them to retire at fifty with a big fat pension and medical for life, already having made far more money than most of us will make working till we're - well, too old to work. How does this hurt us?
Companies pass on these costs to consumers. The consumer price index, our primary measure of inflation, goes up. You, of course, get your cost-of-living increases which you negotiated into your contract. So the purchasing power of your selfish overpaid butt is still intact. But the rest of us, which happen to be in the majority, didn't participate in the mechanism that drove prices up in the first place, even though our money is now worth less, too. You drive prices up for everyone then protect yourselves from the resulting inflation. By doing so you only maintain the purchasing power of your oversized paycheck while at the same time making the other 80% of us poorer. You have no incentive to study and do well in school because when you graduate, with luck, you'll make more money than someone who who did...probably a lot more. Some of you autoworkers, judging by some of what you've written on other boards, probably can't even understand what I just wrote. The end of all you've known may be coming and you won't even understand why. Because, you see, going on strike won't help you against us. You'll get no concessions from the people who are so fed up with what you've been doing to them that we will no longer buy anything you make. And the bailout? Won't matter in the long run.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

I'm back. The restaurant cook making about $9 an hour ( and happy with his job). Would like to address a few 'joe sixpacks" who wonder how they're hurting any one else with their outsized wages.
Companies pass on these costs to consumers. The consumer price index, our primary measure of inflation, goes up. You, of course, get your cost-of-living increases which you negotiated into your contract. So the purchasing power of your selfish overpaid butt is still intact. But the rest of us, which happen to be in the majority, didn't participate in the mechanism that just drove prices up, even though our money is now worth less, too. You drive prices up for all of us then protect yourself from the resulting inflation. By doing so all you've done is maintain the purchasing power of your oversized paycheck while at the same time you made the other 80% of us poorer. We are unwilling passengers along for a ride that only benefits you.
Like I said above...what if we were all union workers? Welcome to socialism. Our political leaders can do nothing. I personally wouldn't want any politician I happen to be rooting for to throw his career away by taking on the unions. Nevertheless, you're time will soon be up. A lot of people are getting really mad. So as the end approaches go on strike to your heart's content. You'll get no concessions from the people who are so fed up with what you've been doing to us that we won't buy your stuff, And the bailout? Won't matter in the long run.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Tell ya what. I'm a restaurant cook making about $9 an hour. No complaint there, that happens to be pretty good money where I live for what I happen to do. I think I'll wake up tomorrow and decide I want more. I ought to get $20 an hour, full medical and dental, and a big pension plan and all the Viagra I want if that's what I want. Just like you autoworkers. My boss, who has always been real good to me, will surely understand. She'll just have to raise the cost of a hamburger to around $20 to pay us restaurant workers the same proportionate amount above what the market will bear that you union idiots are getting. Touble is, you actually can't understand why we, the rest of the country, have a problem with it. Now, after she raises the cost of a hamburger to around $20 ans still has problems making ends meet after covering our health care and pension demands, maybe she can stave off bankruptcy for awhile by issuing bonds till she eventually owes 25 times what the restaurant is worth. Then, when she's finally mentally and finacially exhausted to the point that she has to give in and contemplate bankruptcy because she's at the end of her rope, our idiot union rep can issue press releases blaming the economy and stating that there will be " no more concessions ". If any of this rings a bell it sure as hell ought to.
What if we all were union workers? Welcome to the fantasyland.
Your biggest problem today isn't defending yourselves. Most of us out here in the real world won't buy it. Your biggest problem today is that these aren't just isolated coversations among scattered groups of people grumbling around a water-cooler any more. Your biggest problem is that millions of people are probably reading this that feel the same way.
We know there's no stopping the bailout, if there is to be one. I'm sure most of us even know we can't even blame the politicians for not letting the auto industry go even though they may be starting to figure out that's what the majority of us want. Tired of your parasitic little empire we may be, but it is still far too much of a political risk to take on the unions. I understand that, and I hope everyone else does, too. Where does that leave us? Millions of people might be reading this, all thinking the same thing. " OK. Bail them out if you have to. We can't help what they do with the taxes they take from us. But not one penny of the money I get to keep is ever going to be part of one of those ridiculously big paychecks again ". We are the people. And the people don't have to fear losing your votes - you only have to fear losing our dollars. You might just think about getting real. And oh- by the way- did you notice? Correct grammar and no misspelled words? I doubt it. Your education level shows. And you think you have skills commensurate with pay and benefits worth $50,000 a year? Sorry. Hard work doesn't make you worth that. I haven't always been a cook. Many people work hard. Some of the hardest work there is doesn't pay well. It may not be fair, but that's a truth most people who don't live in Michigan's parasitic litlle UAW empire have come to learn. Most of us do NOT manage to get a job like that right out of high school, retire at fifty to a big fat pension with medical for life, after already having made more money than most other people of equal skills and equal ability to work hard in the rest of the country will make working til we're - well, too old to work. So as the end approaches go on strike all you want. You'll get no concessions from the people who are fed up with you to the point that we won't buy your stuff. Look on the bright side. Pretty soon you might have some free time on your hands. Maybe you can read a book once in a while.