While people discuss fictitious bulb changers for 60$, here a real example of corporate greed. Another example while we need strong worker representation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/aol-chief-ignites-firestorm-over-401k-cuts-and-distressed-babies-remark/2014/02/07/2116c03a-9012-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html?hpid=z1
28 comments:
What a mess...
I understand that some don’t mind that the rich and powerful continue to stack the financial deck but I’d like to think that most are finally starting to get tired of being treated like dung.
I understand that some don’t mind that the rich and powerful continue to stack the financial deck...
February 10, 2014 at 8:23 AM
See, I don't mind the "rich and powerful" - I've spent my whole life trying to be one of them. Almost there... Success is available to everyone. I know lots of those folks who are neither overly intelligent nor overly privileged. It's about ambition, hard work, and grit. Quitters lose and losers quit. If you don't want to be "treated like dung" stop acting like it. Why would you choose to work for someone like that anyway? Your self-esteem must not be as high as you make it sound.
It was just a matter of time before one of you "extreme greed is good" types found a sliver of justification for AOL's actions.
The rich and powerful don't frequent sites like this so the likelihood that you'd be one of them some day is a dream that you'll never realize.
(I believe that it's safe to assume that you're not in the Bechtel upper-management chain.)
I don't get treated like dung.
However, as this story shows, some do.
If it was all "about ambition, hard work, and grit" then 90% of the undocumented who come to this country would be rich.
I'm doing fine.
Thanks for asking.
Without my union, I wouldn't get $50/ hour to change a lightbulb. Without that money, I would have to cut back on my Taco Bell runs, monster truck rally tickets, and dirt bikes.
If it was all "about ambition, hard work, and grit" then 90% of the undocumented who come to this country would be rich.
I'm doing fine.
Thanks for asking.
February 10, 2014 at 1:50 PM
So a strong desire to succeed is "extreme greed"?? "The soft bigotry of low expectations." It's not about "rich," it's about "success" - re-read the post. And as far as I can tell, no one asked.
"So a strong desire to succeed is "extreme greed"?? "The soft bigotry of low expectations." It's not about "rich," it's about "success" - re-read the post. And as far as I can tell, no one asked.
February 10, 2014 at 7:23 PM"
Greed is indeed good however it must also be coupled with the rule and the spirit of the law. Perhaps what the person means is that by "extreme greed" is that one becomes so greedy that they are willing to break the law, cheat, subvert the systems, or use dubious means to get ahead. One of the consequences of an increasingly corrupt system is the decrease in economic mobility. Hard work, ambition and grit pay off in fair capitalistic societies, but become ineffectual in crony or corrupt societies.
So a strong desire to succeed is "extreme greed"?? "The soft bigotry of low expectations." It's not about "rich," it's about "success" - re-read the post. And as far as I can tell, no one asked.
The person fantasizes about being just like Tim Armstrong when he grows up. I.e. "rich and powerful", ~$12m annual income, willing to screw his underlings with the hope of more for himself, using sick babies as the justification for screwing his underlings, tax code favoritism, etc.
That IMO goes well beyond the simple and normal desire to succeed and well into the realm of extreme greed.
I’m not one of those who considers extreme greed to be a positive human characteristic when it entails screwing other people (or the country for that matter) out of their fair share so that they can have even more.
The person fantasizes about being just like Tim Armstrong when he grows up. I.e. "rich and powerful", ~$12m annual income, willing to screw his underlings with the hope of more for himself, using sick babies as the justification for screwing his underlings, tax code favoritism, etc.
February 11, 2014 at 8:58 AM
Funny, reading back over this thread, no one actually said that but you. There you go again.
"Funny, reading back over this thread, no one actually said that but you. There you go again."
You should work on your reading comprehension skills.
"See, I don't mind the "rich and powerful" - I've spent my whole life trying to be one of them. Almost there...
February 10, 2014 at 9:16 AM"
Still don't see your words anywhere there.
BTW, who the hell is Tim Armstrong?
February 11, 2014 at 7:15 PM
Sad commentary on your intelligence:
You obviously have not read the article. So here you go, talking about something you even admit you know nothing.
Why would anyone want to know anything about Tim Whatever? He's a putz; the world is full of them, rich and poor. So what?
There is strength in numbers. In nature,animals herd together for protection from predators. No your company won't eat you, but their goal is to get you to work for them as cheaply as possible. It is sad from a worker's perspective that so many other workers just don't get it or are brainwashed by big business propaganda. O well if God didn't want them sheared, he wouldn't of made them sheep!
No your company won't eat you, but their goal is to get you to work for them as cheaply as possible.
February 17, 2014 at 10:44 AM
You are surprised or upset by this? What do you expect? Companies should put their workers' interests before their own? Workers' goal is to get paid as much as possible for as little work as possible. Who's wrong? Answer: neither; it's just human nature and the nature of free enterprise and capitalism. And before you decry capitalism: Theodore Roosevelt: "Capitalism is unequally distributed wealth. Communism is equally distributed poverty."
Why is it that every time someone says middle-class or union wages, they are always thrown under the socialism/communism bus! The great American lifestyle is/was based on a strong middle-class, not on the Lords and peasants of middle age England. What I am saying is that skilled American workers should get paid a decent middle class wage and not have to live the life of a peasant. So the owner of the company can live the life of a King. Capitalism doesn't sound that American when described as Lords and peasants does it?
Capitalism doesn't sound that American when described as Lords and peasants does it?
February 17, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Of course not, because that is not a description of America. Typical liberal crap, to distort and obfuscate the issue, rather than having an actual logical argument. "Skilled American workers" DO make a "middle class wage," and this is indisputable and no thanks to unions. If you think light bulb changers are "skilled" you are a little off. Try CAD machinists, auto technicians, computer techs, electronics fabricators, etc. High school drop-outs can change light bulbs. No one should expect to end up middle class if they drop out.
I keep hearing about "drop outs".
Who dropped out of what?
The poster said" High school drop-outs can change light bulbs. No one should expect to end up middle class if they drop out." No one said anyone dropped out of anything.
As an aside, there is a reason for the old jokes that go "How many _________ does it take to change a light bulb?"
"The poster said" High school drop-outs can change light bulbs. No one should expect to end up middle class if they drop out." No one said anyone dropped out of anything."
The light bulb changers who have swapped out "light bulbs" in my office seemed like nice folks.
I didn't get into a deep discussion about their pay or their education but they appeared to be intelligent folks doing a much needed job.
Should I have looked down my nose at them because some want me to?
Should I pretend that they aren't worthy of my time or my appreciation for the job they’ve been hired to do?
Should I curse them because they want to have a family and a place to live?
I'm not sure how some folks treat others but I do know that I treat everyone the way I want to be treated and that includes the kids who come when I need a bulb/light or a ballast resistor changed.
February 18, 2014 at 2:32 PM:
You sure do a lot of soul-searching over someone changing your light bulbs. I'm glad that in the end, you decided you are a good person.
Makes me wonder what you do when something important happens.
"You sure do a lot of soul-searching over someone changing your light bulbs. I'm glad that in the end, you decided you are a good person.
Makes me wonder what you do when something important happens"
You appear to be overestimating the amount of soul searching effort needed to treat people the way you want to be treated.
Then again perhaps it takes you more effort to do that than I'd expected and I should just thank you for your effort.
You appear to be overestimating the amount of soul searching effort needed to treat people the way you want to be treated.
February 18, 2014 at 2:44 PM
Just going by the number of seemingly agonizing questions you asked yourself in response to a simple bulb change.
"agonizing"
There's the problem.
Where you see "agonizing" I see simplicity.
Much like where you see a lack of value and worth I see market dictated compensation.
Overestimation the amount of effort it takes for me to respond to some of the idiocy that too many of you post is a great indicator of your lack of acumen.
"Idiocy." "Lack of acumen." Do you ever leave off the personal attacks? Or is that all you got?
PS - no one believes that union employees anywhere are paid "market dictated compensation." What a joke. There is no true market where a non-union alternative does not exist.
""Idiocy." "Lack of acumen." Do you ever leave off the personal attacks? Or is that all you got?
PS - no one believes that union employees anywhere are paid "market dictated compensation." What a joke. There is no true market where a non-union alternative does not exist."
I'm sorry to see that you're so sensitive about my willingness to point out the level of discourse that you bring to this place.
Perhaps if you tried to up your game I wouldn't feel the need to point out that truth.
You don't appear to understand that there are other plumbers, electricians, welders, AC mechanics, etc. right here in the Bay Area.
I know that must be a shock to you so I'll leave it at that.
You justify your need to personally attack anyone who doesn't agree with you by calling it "pointing out the truth." That tactic is not original, having been chosen by every despot and ruthless dictator in history, but at least you are consistent. Predictable, and therefore boring.
You justify your need to personally attack anyone who doesn't agree with you by calling it "pointing out the truth." That tactic is not original, having been chosen by every despot and ruthless dictator in history, but at least you are consistent. Predictable, and therefore boring"
I laughed when I read your original post comparing me to the Nazi's, Pol Pot, Stalin, etc.
It appears that the powers that be saw just how stupid the comment make you and the site look so they've thrown you a bone by "fixing" your idiotic comment.
I'm OK with it because it keeps the noise down a bit but it does add a bit of unwarranted and unearned credibility to posters like you.
And I am, after all, all for charity for the needy. LOL
PS There was no "personal attack".
There was however me pointing out an obvious truth.
PS There was no "personal attack".
There was however me pointing out an obvious truth.
February 20, 2014 at 7:51 AM
Boring...
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