A 'systems guy's' smugness gets downsized

Houston Chronicle ^ | February 15, 2004 | Tom Glass

[akron]

But the Republicans had better start delivering lower spending, taxes and regulations. Or we will find others who will.

That says it all and everybody in Washington better pay attention or come the day after Election Day, they will be saying "What happened?"

[cripplecreek]

Seems like a good place to recall an old Jim Traficant speech from 97.

FAST TRACK IS A JOB LOSER FOR AMERICA'S WORKERS
November 6, 1997
Mr. Speaker, to pass fast track the President said he will expand job retraining and unemployment counseling by $1.2 billion. Unbelievable. The reason is very simple: More Americans will lose their jobs on yet another fast track.

To be more specific here, fast track is a loser, a job loser for American workers. What are we retraining these workers to do? How many more pantyhose crotch closer jobs are really out there, Mr. Speaker? Beam me up.

It is time to stand up and stop this madness. American workers do not want unemployment compensation, they do not want retraining, they do not want trade adjustment assistance. They want to keep their jobs and take care of their families.

[Who dat?]

The one that hit me the hardest was the competent, 50-year-old Vietnam veteran with decades of tenure just five years shy of getting medical retirement benefits.

I hate to tell this guy, but most companies don’t offer retiree medical benefits. It’s something you’re going to have to pay for out of your pension check – which you should be vested in with “decades of tenure.” You are eligible for MediCare at 65 though. I guess he’s worried about coverage between 55 and 65.

And those companies that do offer retiree health benefits usually have a lifetime cap. But the notion that you’re going to retire and get off scott-free on healthcare is a fallacy, mostly. Always has been, unless you were grandfathered in somehow.

[Iris7]

But the Republicans had better start delivering lower spending, taxes and regulations. Or we will find others who will.

Nah, this won't happen. The reverse is the future. Remember that half of the population has a less than median IQ. The idiot population, a clear voting majority, believes in Government, and expects politicians to come to their rescue when they cannot pay their bills. Some rough times are coming.

Bottom line is that you and I are not going to get a laissez faire government, but the reverse.

[cripplecreek]

Thats why i posted the Traficant speech. in 97 he was saying the same thing to a democratic president. Democrats assume conservatives are too stupid to recognize this.

[akron]

unfortunately you're probably right....

[stevie_d_64]

Why does this revelation from the Houston Comical not surprise me...

Oh yeah...I remember...hehehe (not really)

Betcha I know what company this is...And it ain't Enron...

Later,
Steve

[Tax Government]

Reducing government is the top priority; Republicans must walk the walk or prepare for massive defections to a new party.

Our problems have their root in our manipulated currency. The Federal Reserve is engaged in wholesale theft of national resources. The ultimate consequence is inflation and migration of jobs overseas. But Conservatives are dumbstruck, silent, and ignore this obvious source of the problem. Why?

Our best long-term interests are served by opening borders in the Americas. The opportunities in doing this far ouweigh the short- to mid-term dislocation caused by having people cross the border, competing for specific jobs. The Americas were colonized by adventurers. That was true 15,000 years ago, 500 years ago, and should remain true now. It's pathetic that this author whines over the "need to retrain." Of course he/we need that. In spite of his good views on the need for goverrnment reduction, if he thinks as a system program he deserves a safe job, then he's just wrong.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Thats why i posted the Traficant speech. in 97 he was saying the same thing to a democratic president.

And what did they do to reward him?

Sent him to the slammer, they did!

[grb]

Everyone should think how this will play out. The democrats will promise anything to get your vote, but once they start getting money from big corporations, who do you think they are going to choose. Republicans are no different, except they are not promising to keep your job here. Big business will send money to the ones in power. They have no loyalty to anyone. Thats just the way it is. I've been in IT for 25 years and now I'm selling real estate. Anyone want to buy some property?

[akron]

Steve, since you're from Houston, you surely can't believe that Republicans believe in small government do you? Instead of one law enforcement agency, the Commissioners fund 9 (Sheriff and 8 Constables). When Bob Eckels first was elected, he said that he would at least consolidate all the dispatch functions to prevent duplication of effort. That was what, 10 years ago, and he stil hasn't done anything.

How about the policy of allowing people to retire, and then remain on the county payroll as consultants? Wesley Friese "retired" from the toll road authority where he was making 150K. Now he collects his pension and is a consultant making 210K.

It hasn't hit the papers because the County stays under the radar but the budget director Raycraft got a 70K raise. Most of the other appointees also have received 30-50K raises. Maybe you should read court agenda now and then.

Paul Bettencourt always rags on the city of Houston for spending money but is silent about the County. Did you notice when the "Comical" ran the story about the County have a 270million surplus, Bettencourt "wasn't available" to comment on whether or not taxes should be cut.

Republicans for small government, look in your own backyard to see that's not true.

[A. Pole]

Maybe we can find ways to create new jobs with new technologies. Nanotechnology holds tremendous promise, although it may be slow to arrive.

Yes, China is getting ready.

[DJtex]

We've just survived a post-bubble recession and a slow, jobless recovery. It's amazing that the damage was not a lot worse (ie. that most of us kept our jobs and our lifestyles intact). Now there is strong evidence that the economy is taking off and years of understaffing will reverse with a hiring binge by corporate america.

I remind you that no clever person is ever without options and without hope. During the big layoff days immediately post-Y2k Houston was a hotspot of new business formation as systems guys and gals took their severance packages and founded new businesses--still the ultimate of the American dream.

[kenth]

But the Republicans had better start delivering lower spending, taxes and regulations. Or we will find others who will.

Unfortunately, we won't. We will continue, as always, to accept the candidates offered us and vote for them because they are not democrats. The complacent and disinterested outnumber us.

[A. Pole]

Remember that half of the population has a less than median IQ. The idiot population, a clear voting majority, believes in Government, and expects politicians to come to their rescue when they cannot pay their bills.

Hey, they are not idiots (it would be well below 70 IQ). This "idiot" majority is intelligent enough to know that they cannot compete with 100 million of Indian and Chinese with IQ higher than 125.

Why free traders think that it is OK to use government to protect their profits but it is not OK to help their compatriots?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

There are always service sector jobs i.e. McDonalds. In the alternative one can always set up one's own business such as cutting lawns, sweeping floors, shining the shoes of the politician, the illegal alien and sports figures. If one learns to sing and tap dance shoe shine patrons will tip heavily.

[null and void]

ping

[thedugal]

There are a lot of non-systems people reading this thread right now. Very few people are comprehending this situation, but this is not about computer programmers. Any job which deals with data that can be digitized will be outsourced within this decade. There will still be jobs, but there are going to be massive losses of professional jobs and a serious wage deflation.

[null and void]

There are always service sector jobs i.e. McDonalds.

AKA: "The jobs Americans won't do..."