Are Workers Trading Down ?

The Portland Tribune ^ | 7/22/2010 | Steve Law

[markman46]

sounds like a fancy title for a claims examiner=pays the insurance claim

[EBH]

You might find this interesting reading, The Emergence of the Service Economy: Fact or Artifact?

It was written over ten years ago regarding the service economy. I find it pertinent today to our current discussions. A very interesting look into what we thought then and what we have now. It appears to me that Adam Smith was more correct than Richard B. McKenzie.

I also find it interesting that "conservatives" attempt to classify businesses as traitors or unpatriotic. Businesses are no such things and cannot be such things. Assigning anthropomorphic attributes to business is illogical.

I find no reason for business to remain in a place that is economically hostile to its own existence. Some on this very thread are supporting trade barriers and tariffs. Why? Those solutions are only temporary.

Until the American worker is willing to comprehend who their competition is, how their ability to compete has been crushed by their own government policies and special interests, we will not have the industrious American return to our country.

I shake my head in disbelief at some who say we need to force China to pay their workers more etc. Who are we to hold that "gun" to China's head? Really are we not just espousing the very Progressive Agenda we claim to be against here? China business is bad and needs to redistribute its wealth? Isn't that what we're saying and ultimately trying to force?

Conversely the voices that seek to demand I buy the higher priced American goods, for what reason? The claim is to protect American jobs? At what price? My freedom and the Progressive Unions ability to redistribute my wealth at both the point of purchase and now as "special interest taxes" in Washington, DC? Am I unpatriotic to refuse to buy such goods? Am I really a traitor for refusing to support the Progressive Agenda. This returns me to my first point...

American workers don't know how to compete on a global scale. In fact, most manufacturing workers if unionized refuse to compete. And then shake their heads in amazement and fists in anger as their jobs go overseas.

This is not the fault of business. It is the fault of the democrats, unions, liberals, progressives, and environmentalists. It is the direct result of their policies for which we have today's "service economy."

[Tolsti2]

Elsewhere it was reported that only 12% of manufacturing is unionized. If that’s the case, it’s a huge red herring. I just don’t understand the concept of giving companies such a free pass but attacking everyone from government to unions to people wanting to live a middle class life. But ok, go for it.

[EBH]

The figure you quote is from now, not then. In 1983 when unions made up 20% of the workforce employee, OSHA and the EPA were coming into existence as well. There were and still are many pressures forcing manufacturing business out of the hostile American environment. This downward spiral has been going on for several decades fueled by all the reasons I sighted.

Perhaps even now an article like this, Union Membership Rises, but Quality of Jobs Has Changed , might open your eyes a bit more...maybe not, but when one considers even our service jobs are outsourced to India...unions are but one part of the problem and the American worker to their own detriment continues to refuse to actively compete for those jobs. The unions did nothing to protect the manufacturing worker's job. And now they are doing what to the service worker's jobs?

But...go on and hold your beliefs as whole new sectors leave the country. Blame big bad business all you want. Sooner or later, hopefully sooner, one must realize why one is alone on that dance floor and the dance hall is empty.

[EBH]

PS...

Note in the article

that 12% is likely to be low-paid service workers these days.

Unions have failed America and the American worker.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

“I also find it interesting that “conservatives” attempt to classify businesses as traitors or unpatriotic. Businesses are no such things and cannot be such things. Assigning anthropomorphic attributes to business is illogical.”

-

That right there, is the “conservative” excuse-making which is going to destroy our beloved nation.

Businesses are people. Specifically, the owners and management of those businesses are - people.

If they feel above such mundane concepts are PATRIOTISM, then don’t be surprized when be as a nation decide, they have none.

Let them then explain to the Chinese Communist Party, how in fact those businesses’ factories and technology, which those businesses have moved to some sprawling “joint venture” complex outside Shanghai. 51% owned by the PLA.

In theory, belongs to the business. Not to the Chinese Communist Party.

As they nationalize it.

Then what? The business management abandon America. Where they were born and thrived.

Move to a nation without law or protections.

Screwing the American people in the process.

Then. Will no doubt be the first ones complaining when their business is taken over.

Because that is EXACTLY the next step.

China is offering all that cheap labor.

In exchange for becoming the new owners...

That’s the fact, which no otherwise patriotic, sensible “conservatives” seems to have yet grasped.

China is not captilalist.

Communist China, is intent on taking everything from us. Is remarkably doing so, with the *help* of alleged “conservatives”.

It is hardly “conservative”, to help them do that.

[Tolsti2]

I share the blame around, there’s plenty to go. I don’t care for unions one bit. I’m getting a sour taste for business in general lately as well. Neither side has any exclusive rights on sucking.

[Tolsti2]

In a sense what these countries are doing is similar to market dumping, which is normally illegal. They’re doing it with labor though, so everyone looks the other way while they can get some cash out of it.

[bert]

Unemployment is coming to Bangladesh....

I went to look at some equipment Thursday at a closed down cotton mill. The equipment is a fully automated mill that takes cotton in bales on one end and outputs yarn for T Shirts on the other.

The mill was state of the art in 1992 and when closed in May, operated with a minimum of people. The mill is being disassembled and shipped to various mills in Bangladesh.

The labor saving machinery will mean loss of jobs for Bangladeshi’s in the existing mills.

[EBH]

That’s the fact, which no otherwise patriotic, sensible “conservatives” seems to have yet grasped.

Oh...I think we all grasp it. But until we address the issues of the hostile business environment here in America, we will continue to fail to map out a successful strategy.

Consider the drilling ban moratorium issued by 0bama alone. It really was nothing more than harassment by the government. We knew/know that such a ban will do what to our American workers?

So you think business should stay here and waste time, energy, and resources being what you consider a patriotic attempt to continue to do business? I guess that $5 or more gasoline is OK for you? Your expectation of how business should do business in America is illogical. You are looking to the wrong place for your hero to save America.

[kearnyirish2]

I would think it is because of the “Indian Adolf Hitler” scenario; they know Americans are disgusted by the obvious tight relationship between the US and Red China (despite all of the news detailing how they enslave and suppress their own people), and they’d like to keep those relationships as low-key as possible. Also, ANY Indian government has us over a barrel as our dependence on tech workers in India itself grows; we’d rather convert them to Americans here.

[kearnyirish2]

They’ve tried that here in NJ (raising taxes); it drove off even more businesses and wealthy individuals. Governor Christie is trying to slow the bleeding, but has been tarred & feathered for it. However it ends up (he doesn’t seem to mind that he’ll be targeted by a massive public sector and numerous socially liberal groups come re-election time), he has already publicized an often un-discussed problem by exposing just how much more they earn than private sector employees (despite all of the mass media claims to the contrary). Here in NJ our public sector employees have become the new upper class (since all our financial jobs went to Mumbai and Manila), and more and more of the true working class (as well as the remnants of the former upper class) are fleeing the costs of supporting them and their bloated benefits/retirement plans.

[1rudeboy]

Also note that, in the portion of the press release I posted, Daimler is moving as its union contracts expire. How much of a factor did unions play in its decision? No one knows. But it seems odd to dismiss it altogether on this thread.

[Toddsterpatriot]

100% should do it. Because government knows best. Just ask Dennis.

[EBH]

Oh there is much that should not be dismissed on this thread. In fact I think the whole discussion on this thread is very, very revealing.

Daimler moving as a union contract expires...

The article I posted indicates that the unions are no longer the safe haven of the skilled worker. In fact, they are recruiting the unskilled low-wage workers...who will foot the bills for those that came before them. I can’t even imagine what lies they are being told, building on the old glory of the union past.

If you want to see the future of America...really look at the failure of the unions. So now they work on jobs that can’t be outsourced like...teachers.

And let us not forget what happened to Andy Stern, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2530707/posts

Any conservative who is still willing to wave the flag for a union is not a patriot. They have become the tool of the regime. Funny how some of those words echo on this very thread.

[1rudeboy]

Compare the following two selections:

If there’s no jobs but stuff is cheap to make in general, I don’t see any way for there not to be some sort of serious issues coming up. It’ll be a tiny ultra wealthy on top with an unbelievable sized lower class and no middle.
The lowers aren’t going to eat grass for all that long.

But, in general, the protective system of our day is conservative, while the free trade system is destructive. It breaks up old nationalities and pushes the antagonism of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to the extreme point. In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution.

Which one appears on this thread, and which belongs to Karl Marx?

[EBH]

To burden foreign corn with protective duties is infamous, it is to speculate on the hunger of the people.

[Candor7]

You are exactly right. The US leftist disease drove business away, and thats the most powerful driver. As we speak, oil Companies are moving teir offices off shore out of Dalas Fort Wrrth to carribean havens and soon the jobs in Texas will go elsewhere. Oil companies just can't flourish in the unstablr environment created by leftists, th EPA, the politicsof failure on US energy policy. They are moving to where there is some sanity in government, where idiots likeelossi couldnot possibly drive politics.

Can't say as I blame them much, but it hurts the American people big time. The failure is in the hands of the left. Soon they will have no tax base left from this evolution, which is the exact moment they will try to take over private citizen investment and savings.They have already discussed in committee how they need to protect Roth accounts ant IRAs from alegedly unscrupulous hedge funds who supervise them ( TIAA CREF??), saying their tax lien on such funds justifies government taking them and 'investing ' them.

A big bang is approaching, Americans will not take much more.