We Are Wall Street

[wurgs]

So let them control this countries economy because I drive a truck? That's cool.

 

The mid-eastern countries control the oil whether we buy it or not, but we control how *some* of our personal oil consumption by our vehicle selection and driving habits. Nobody forced me to buy a 5500 lb truck as a commuter, and I sure wouldn't own/drive it if the cost of fuel affected me providing for my family. Do you believe that the Saudi's "owe" us cheaper oil? They control most of the world's supply, and price it however they want. An American company would do the same, if they controlled it. The reason we don't get gouged more, is because the oil profits get invested back into the world economy (stocks, bonds, food production, etc). If they hurt the economy too much via high pricing, they lose money and customers. We are dancing to their tune, and will for as long as they control the major world oil supplies. This is why we need to move towards other forms of power (CNG, wind, nuclear, etc), but there is no silver bullet in the short term.

 

Edit: we're focusing on cars here, but the same concept flows through our entire economy. Food is far cheaper to produce and deliver by diesel-powered tractors at $4/gallon than it would be to do it manually and horse/carriage. The "economy of oil" cuts wide and deep, into everything about how we live today.

 

 

I would agree with that except that when a barrel of oil was a little over $80 just a few weeks ago, gas prices were $1.10 per gallon more than when the price per barrel was the same a little over a year ago. That $1.10 isn't going over seas but into the oil companies pocket. Its when the companies are making billions in profit ( not revenue, straight profit into their pockets) every quarter that I get upset. There isn't another product that affects everything we buy like oil. When oil goes up so does EVERYTHING we buy.

 

It is kinda a catch 22 though. If it wasn't for the oil companies drilling up here in ND we wouldn't be as well off as we are now. Because of the oil companies we have the lowest unemployment in the nation and will have a state budget surplus of over a billion dollars.

[txab]

So answer this question, how did the U.S. Dollar get so "devalued"?

 

One thing is we're a bad credit risk. We spend more than we make. We borrow too much. We are getting to the point where paying it back our debt will almost be impossible on the course that we're on. Kinda scares off investors in the dollar.

 

There has been talk of changing from the US dollar to another of the World's currency. This would be very bad for us.......

[jdubya]

"unions" and "work" don't go together. LOL!

Amen to the OP.

 

Once corporate America dries up, so does the country and all the cushy union jobs. Think about it.

That's just ignorance talking. I forgive you.

 

 

I know plenty of union workers who agree with me.

 

And I know plenty who wouldn't agree and would also work circles around your ass...

 

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't be too sure Bubba. Now, that's ignorance. Please keep the chest pounding to yourself. When you get done watching the cop shows and firefighter shows, you can come back. The real world will be waiting.

 

Do I need to write out the entire process of how a Union shop changes a light bulb. LOL

 

 

I don't know what that is supposed to mean, but what ever.

 

And yes please write out the entire process so that we can see how little you actually know about unions.

[jdubya]

I bet ya that if these lazy protesters spent even half the time they have trespassing on job hunting, they might find themselves gainfully employed.

 

 

well it depends.. right now jobs are hard to come by. My wife had been out of work since the end of 2008, (just started a part-time job 3 weeks ago) she applied to 400 plus a month nearly every month (she kept very accurate records) she did get a few temp positions as an office manager or clerk, but nothing in her field (manufacturing accounting department manager).

 

She was signed up with nearly 30 temp agencies, on the EDD job site, had her resume posted on every job site out there, and actively applied to hundreds each month, and barely got anything in the way of call backs. I can name at least a dozen other people in the same boat, from IT guys to Restaurant Managers, to Office persons.

 

Right now companies have the ability to pick and choose, there are more workers than jobs, so they can take their time, pick and choose and hold out for a better (in their mind) candidate.

 

Also a lot of companies had to tighten up in 2009 and discovered they could run leaner and be just as productive, my company falls into that category, we leaned out our work force, and it's cheaper for us to pay a few people (who are more than willing) to work overtime to pick up the slack rather than fill that position with a new body.

 

The other thing to consider is a lot of private companies are on salary freezes (we have been since 2009) which also means hiring freeze for new positions that might be needed but can't be filled. The problem with being on a salary freeze for a great many people, is that your salary is frozen, but your expenses are not, I can personally state that my GROSS hasn't changed since Feb 2008 (my last raise) but my NET has dropped by over $200 per week, as the cost of my medical/dental/vision has gone up, as have the tax with-holdings, same gross but I bring home $9600 a year less, had we not been on a salary freeze; based on my last 3 performance reviews I would have received 3 raises of at least 5% per year and would have a gross that was about $15,000 higher than I currently do to offset the cost of living increases. But it hasn't happened, and when it does I will still be behind the eight ball because I will not ever get retroactive raises, they will just move forward from the point the salary freeze is removed.

 

 

And of course the last thing, and the most poignant thing to consider is that while there are a lot of "lower end" type jobs (I just saw an ad for 1500 jobs picking fruit for $150 at day) a good percentage of the people out of work that are protesting with OWS would never consider working such a low level job as they feel it is beneath them, as we have developed into a society of entitlement and most people wouldn't do work like that.

 

I love my wife, but I know that unless she was desperate, she would never consider it, where for me I would jump on it if I had no work regardless of how desperate I was. I've done worse jobs for a lot less money in times of hardship.

 

So to make a global statement that the lazy protesters if they looked would find work is rather ignorant of a great many of the things that are keeping people unemployed. Fact is times are tough, and as such people need to humble themselves and tighten up and do what it takes to make sure they have what they need to survive, but yes I agree most won't.

 

I agree with you 100% These off the cuff comments are easily made by people who have jobs. If the tables were turned I think they would have a different attitude.

[jdubya]

"unions" and "work" don't go together. LOL!

Amen to the OP.

 

Once corporate America dries up, so does the country and all the cushy union jobs. Think about it.

That's just ignorance talking. I forgive you.

 

 

I know plenty of union workers who agree with me.

 

 

 

You get slackers in any profession, Union or non Union, blue collar or white collar but people who dislike Unions choose to focus on those few individuals to generalize the entire group.

 

 

 

 

Umm, don't the Unions strive to look that way anyways.

 

Oh and UM, no not necessarily.

[Mizz]

So answer this question, how did the U.S. Dollar get so "devalued"?

 

One thing is we're a bad credit risk. We spend more than we make. We borrow too much. We are getting to the point where paying it back our debt will almost be impossible on the course that we're on. Kinda scares off investors in the dollar.

 

There has been talk of changing from the US dollar to another of the World's currency. This would be very bad for us.......

 

 

 

 

+1

 

FIAT currency backed by nothing worth no more than the paper it is printed on. What gives our currency purchasing power is the BELIEF it is worth something.

 

If you price gas in gold (which the dollar was backed by until the early 70's) it is actually getting cheaper. Think about that. Gold is currently $1726.56 per ounce.

[Roofer]

"unions" and "work" don't go together. LOL!

Amen to the OP.

 

Once corporate America dries up, so does the country and all the cushy union jobs. Think about it.

That's just ignorance talking. I forgive you.

 

 

I know plenty of union workers who agree with me.

 

And I know plenty who wouldn't agree and would also work circles around your ass...

 

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't be too sure Bubba. Now, that's ignorance. Please keep the chest pounding to yourself. When you get done watching the cop shows and firefighter shows, you can come back. The real world will be waiting.

 

Do I need to write out the entire process of how a Union shop changes a light bulb. LOL

 

 

I don't know what that is supposed to mean, but what ever.

 

And yes please write out the entire process so that we can see how little you actually know about unions.

 

 

Aight..........

 

Union member notices a burned out light bulb in the hallway while on his mandatory break in the state of the art lunch room. This person reports it to an officer, who then puts in recommendation to consider a work order. It is put before a committee who notices that this burned out light bulb may be a safety concern to a worker and might also turn into a law suit with the Union. The committee passes a a notion to actually create the work order.

 

Now for the labor......... Laborer is sent to the site of the burned out light bulb. He ropes off the perimeter and set up a scaffold and step ladder to get to the scaffold. Next, a union electrician is called to the scene equipped with a brand new one dollar two ninety eight light bulb that the public paid for 3 times already. He approaches the roped off area and high fives the laborer and they talk about their weekend for a few minutes, well maybe 15 minutes or so. He gets inside the enclosed area, steps up the step ladder and safely steps onto the scaffold (this is only a 10' ceiling mind you). Union electrician carefully replaces the light bulb, making sure he don't drop the old one, which could possibly bring in the HAZMAT team. The job is complete once the bulb is properly disposed of. The electrician exits the site, giving the laborer another high five and the josh around a bit more. The site is cleared by the laborer quickly before his afternoon break.

 

The final work order is completed and sent in for inspection.

 

 

 

Now, there is a little fibbing in there, but seriously this is the absolute truth straight from a union shop here in MN. The workers even laugh about it.

 

 

And yes, jdubya, all unions donate to certain elections and are all on the same side. They all want to be looked at like a big happy family of socialists. I'll say though, that the workers usually have no clue. They are just making a living for themselves, and get brainwashed into the way unions work. Believe it or not Andy is your boss.

[redjewel2ss]

http://blog.gasbuddy.com/posts/Why-is-gas-...469782-652.aspx

 

look at the price difference between West Texas Intermediate and Brent Oil prices. that is why it "appears" like oil companies are lining their pockets. WTI has been the benchmark for oil prices, but that oil is landlocked. most of the oil going into gasoline is imported, and sold at Brent prices. you can't look at just one oil price and call it the gold standard anymore, because their prices have grown further and further apart recently.

 

So let them control this countries economy because I drive a truck? That's cool.

 

The mid-eastern countries control the oil whether we buy it or not, but we control how *some* of our personal oil consumption by our vehicle selection and driving habits. Nobody forced me to buy a 5500 lb truck as a commuter, and I sure wouldn't own/drive it if the cost of fuel affected me providing for my family. Do you believe that the Saudi's "owe" us cheaper oil? They control most of the world's supply, and price it however they want. An American company would do the same, if they controlled it. The reason we don't get gouged more, is because the oil profits get invested back into the world economy (stocks, bonds, food production, etc). If they hurt the economy too much via high pricing, they lose money and customers. We are dancing to their tune, and will for as long as they control the major world oil supplies. This is why we need to move towards other forms of power (CNG, wind, nuclear, etc), but there is no silver bullet in the short term.

 

Edit: we're focusing on cars here, but the same concept flows through our entire economy. Food is far cheaper to produce and deliver by diesel-powered tractors at $4/gallon than it would be to do it manually and horse/carriage. The "economy of oil" cuts wide and deep, into everything about how we live today.

 

 

I would agree with that except that when a barrel of oil was a little over $80 just a few weeks ago, gas prices were $1.10 per gallon more than when the price per barrel was the same a little over a year ago. That $1.10 isn't going over seas but into the oil companies pocket. Its when the companies are making billions in profit ( not revenue, straight profit into their pockets) every quarter that I get upset. There isn't another product that affects everything we buy like oil. When oil goes up so does EVERYTHING we buy.

 

It is kinda a catch 22 though. If it wasn't for the oil companies drilling up here in ND we wouldn't be as well off as we are now. Because of the oil companies we have the lowest unemployment in the nation and will have a state budget surplus of over a billion dollars.

 

[jdubya]

"unions" and "work" don't go together. LOL!

Amen to the OP.

 

Once corporate America dries up, so does the country and all the cushy union jobs. Think about it.

That's just ignorance talking. I forgive you.

 

 

I know plenty of union workers who agree with me.

 

And I know plenty who wouldn't agree and would also work circles around your ass...

 

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't be too sure Bubba. Now, that's ignorance. Please keep the chest pounding to yourself. When you get done watching the cop shows and firefighter shows, you can come back. The real world will be waiting.

 

Do I need to write out the entire process of how a Union shop changes a light bulb. LOL

 

 

I don't know what that is supposed to mean, but what ever.

 

And yes please write out the entire process so that we can see how little you actually know about unions.

 

 

Aight..........

 

Union member notices a burned out light bulb in the hallway while on his mandatory break in the state of the art lunch room. This person reports it to an officer, who then puts in recommendation to consider a work order. It is put before a committee who notices that this burned out light bulb may be a safety concern to a worker and might also turn into a law suit with the Union. The committee passes a a notion to actually create the work order.

 

Now for the labor......... Laborer is sent to the site of the burned out light bulb. He ropes off the perimeter and set up a scaffold and step ladder to get to the scaffold. Next, a union electrician is called to the scene equipped with a brand new one dollar two ninety eight light bulb that the public paid for 3 times already. He approaches the roped off area and high fives the laborer and they talk about their weekend for a few minutes, well maybe 15 minutes or so. He gets inside the enclosed area, steps up the step ladder and safely steps onto the scaffold (this is only a 10' ceiling mind you). Union electrician carefully replaces the light bulb, making sure he don't drop the old one, which could possibly bring in the HAZMAT team. The job is complete once the bulb is properly disposed of. The electrician exits the site, giving the laborer another high five and the josh around a bit more. The site is cleared by the laborer quickly before his afternoon break.

 

The final work order is completed and sent in for inspection.

 

 

 

Now, there is a little fibbing in there, but seriously this is the absolute truth straight from a union shop here in MN. The workers even laugh about it.

 

 

And yes, jdubya, all unions donate to certain elections and are all on the same side. They all want to be looked at like a big happy family of socialists. I'll say though, that the workers usually have no clue. They are just making a living for themselves, and get brainwashed into the way unions work. Believe it or not Andy is your boss.

 

 

I would laugh about this too as it is completely ridiculous and totally not representative of any construction site I have ever been on. Now with that said, there are places i.e. Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Oil refineries, and power plants that do have ridiculous restrictions as you describe in your enlightening description of the "proper lightbulb change". These restrictions however have been put in place by these owners (who I might remind you are not union employees in most cases) and the people working there are Union but the fact that the owner would rather not have anyone die on their property, because that would be bad for business.

 

You sir are the one without a clue, and the fact that you seek out a few people that are not happy with their union leadership and talk to one group of people at one manufacturing plant in MN does not make them representatives of the entire group. Yes their are sheep among the ranks of unions just as there are sheep among the tea party and all other Limbaugh followers such as your self. You should strive to be a little more open minded.

[Roofer]

I knew it. You're a liberal. Haha

 

Enough said.

 

Also, in case you missed it, I was criticizing Unions, not you personally.

 

 

BTW, what happens to employees who won't picket when they are on strike? I know, do you?

[Wingnut]

This entire thread was a bad idea from the start.