[Ducati] Strike at Harley (NDC)

[Art Ramos]

On 2/3/07, Bruce Bellm <bruce19 at charter.net> wrote:
>
> Where did that $10 an hr. thing come from? Not in my post. You made that
> up
> didn't you? It certainly isn't how I understand the term. Find me a
> definition of "working class" that says it's related to making less than
> $10
> an hr. and I'll agree I misused the term.
>
> bruce19
>
>
>
> I hate this sort of topic, it's like taking a side against someone you
> know. Unless you don't have a family or are a hermit. Whether it's unions or
> non union worker, or right or left in the political area, someone has a
> point of view. As well as we all should. I just draw the line when it starts
> to belittle my fellow man. It seems that there is a lot  of this going
> around in the last couple of years.


  Somewhat rightfully so.

  Right after WWII we sat right on top of the economic world, we reaped the
rewards of nations that had been devastated by the war. We took their labor,
their smartest people and their natural resources. Sure we paid, but at a
very reduced price. We grew as a nation from this. We sat at the head of the
global table when it came to world wealth. Today it isn't the same, right
now we at the middle of the table and the world is catching up very fast.
Just look at the goods your purchasing and were they come from. Things have
changed. We used to produce the brightest students and engineers that kept
us at the fore front. For decades many of the world brightest wanted to come
and live the American way, it isn't so today. We gained wealth from these
folks and from the products they designed and produced. Now they can do so
in their own country comfortably and with great wealth and at a lower cost
of living. It's a real Global World now! It made all the news last week at
the New York Auto show, China can produce a car at a labor rate of 1 dollar
an hour! How do you compete with this? Oh and don't tell me we make a
better car than they do, we might make some right now, but give them five
years and let's see what happens. All the American auto makers are in a
world market bind and it going to get worse. We love to point fingers at the
worker for our countries problems, but it's really us that we have to blame.
We are too arrogant to see the writing on the wall. Your going to see more
knockoff motorcycles coming to the states, give them time as well. We'll
blame imports, cheap labor, bad economy, unions, political parties, our
foreign neighbors, Drugs, the Goverment, on and on. Not until all is said
and done will we really wake up.

We are fat and lazy compared to the rest of the world, they are lean and
hungry and fighting for their share of the world market. This is something
we have lost over time. The Romans, the Spanish, and the Britts all sat on
top of the world at one time, just like us. China I feel will be the next
great economic engine in the worlds future. I wonder were that will put us?

I live in Phoenix, AZ. By our state law the local waitress or waiter earns
$2.13 an hour. It's only in the food service industry though. No health
insurance, retirement, Blah, Blah....Why should we as patrons have to
subsidise the owners payroll with tips? I can get the same plate of food in
California for the same price and I still tip. Not all pay this wage, but
most do here. It's greed, but we as a nation donate to world causes more
that any group of countries combined. Go figure? Where and when will it all
end? Hell I don't know. Having fifty tears behind me gives me some insight
to world change. We've had some great times, I just don't see them happening
with the broadness like they did years ago. So next time you kicking the guy
that's on strike at the HD plant, remember you or your neighbor put him
there by paying $30,000 for a tractor motor! : ) All he's doing is trying to
hold on to what he's been used to. Rest assure he won't have it for long,
as most of us won't either over time.......

Just my 2 cents.......