| Author |
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Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 09:25 am: | 
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I don't care to read political propaganda. Just plain honest factual data is enough.
Had dinner with a lifelong union man, retiree from GM who remains active at the local union hall to keep in touch with friends and to keep active. He hates the union; says it just cares about membership; he complained about lazy do-nothing employees, asked why were they not fired and was told that the union needs people.
THAT exemplifies the big labor union issue in America today.
Disgusting. |
Milt
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 10:09 am: |
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Kevin Phillips is hardly a propagandist. His work is well researched and fairly presented.
He does have his biases, however: he was Richard Nixon's speechwriter, and an important Republican strategist in the 1970s.
Phillips, Kevin (1969). The Emerging Republican Majority. New York: Arlington House. ISBN 0870000586. |
Dannybuell
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 10:22 am: |
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The dismissal of ideas is nothing to brag about. Phillips does nothing but cite his sources, mostly US government statistics.
---Union mileposts---
1. After WWII NYC garment worker strikes caused factory migration to Texas and California, Japan was next and ...
2. President Carter broke up the striking teamsters and President Reagan fired the striking air traffic controllers. Two successive U.S. President's sent a clear message to business. Every U.S. President since then has followed that path.
Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutocracy
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Plutarchy
I apologize for this rant hopefully it's civil nature will inspire others. |
Orman1649
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 10:39 am: |
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Unions mean jack these days and are great ways to keep worthless trash employed. The only thing most unions these days are good for is raping their members for their hard earned money so they can overpay the "leadership".
Years ago being in a union meant something. They were there to help their members and they stuck together against the big corporations. Being worthless was not tolerated and you got "talked to" in hopes you would change your attitude. If not, your card was taken from you and you found yourself jobless.
Of course...this was back when Democrats wanted to help the WORKING MAN...not drive around throwing money at the lower class and allowing generation after generation to sit on welfare and spend their checks on booze and smokes rather than things they NEED. |
Wbrisett
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 02:28 pm: |
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I'm not a union man anymore, but I have paid union dues in my life. When I worked in the film industry, the union was either a good thing (camera crews, talent), or a bad thing (sound department). The union is exactly what the members and their leadership want them to be. That said, I think a few industries (such as the film world) still very much need their unions. But they in turn have to get better to help the members. In that they have failed.
Having run my own business for a time, I understand the dislike for them, but you know what, if employers treated employees with respect, unions wouldn't exist. Problem is the almighty dollar seems to get in the way of making rational decisions. I think the latest statements by HD simply bare out the real problem with corporations and the unions. Neither side trust or tries to work with each other. Instead they throw rocks at each other and make people pick sides. They need to learn to work together and keep jobs here in the US so people can buy their products.
As an avid runner, you almost can't buy any shoe from anywhere other than China. However, New Balance a few years back started making a shoe here in the US by figuring out how to simplify the process and use efficiency to their advantage. My new shoes? Made in the US New Balance. Built well and in line cost wise with the rest of the shoes out there from China. |
Dynasport
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 03:09 pm: |
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Growing up in the south, I have had very little exposure to unions. I am not opposed to them in principle. I have seen management mistreat workers enough to know that it happens. I have heard enough stories about union greed, however, to believe that at least some unions have inflated the expense of labor to the point that manufacturers can not be competitive and use union labor.
My personal belief is that the stock market is also a culprit in our economic situation. The market rewards short term gains, but has little patience for sustained, long term growth. There is constant pressure on management to show short term profits even if they are ruining long term prospects.
Anyway, back on the original subject. I am upset with HD for what they did to Buell, but I hope that in the long run it frees EB up to do something better than he would have ever been able to do under HD.
I also think that HD makes some nice bikes if cruisers are your thing. They have a premium price to them, but that is OK, as they are considered a premium product. I have drunk much HD cool aid in my time, but I am not really interested in any of their products now. Still, among my closest friends they are the brand of choice. I hope they survive this economic climate. I don't think anyone benefits when an American company like HD fails. Unfortunately, I think they will survive by buying more and more of their products from China and other third world countries. One of my best friends recently bought his first Harley, an Electra Glide, after wanting one for years. He told me the other day he would feel better about buying Harley branded clothing if it all wasn't made in China. As it is, he refuses to pay their top dollar prices for it, just to get a made in China label on a HD shirt, jacket, or boot. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 11:46 pm: |
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>>> The dismissal of ideas is nothing to brag about
What idea has been dismissed?
Reading comprehension is key to productive debate.
Being a smartass, not so much.
Back on topic: Harleybikes good. HDI sucks so bad that they've put me off of ever buying one. Liars. |
Chameleon
| | Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010 - 10:41 am: |
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I'm a fairly new rider, riding since 7/10/2007, yet have owned the following 3 motorcycles:
- 2007 Buell XB12R
- 2007 H-D V-Rod VRSCAW
- 2008 Buell 1125R
The XB had zero issues until the frame was damaged in a crash just after 5,000 miles. It was totaled by insurance. I miss that bike.
The 1125R has had many recalls (as we're all aware) and minor issues (Maintenance History here). The only thing I would consider major problems are when belts broke and when the clutch piston/seal gave out a couple times making it difficult, but not impossible, to ride. I currently have 52,993 miles on my 1125R and it's still doing great.
The V-Rod suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after 10,000 miles of a PLASTIC part inside the transmission which then distributed metal shrapnel throughout the transmission and motor, destroying it from the inside. Thank GOD it still had 2 months warranty left. H-D decided to rebuild rather than replace the motor. It now has a bit over 16,000 miles on it and seems OK.
Due to my experience with this, what I would previously have considered to be the finest engineered H-D model that is made, and H-D's treatment of Buell, I feel the same as Blake and have resolved to never again purchase a H-D motorcycle. |
Tpoppa
| | Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010 - 10:58 am: |
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I'm not a cruiser guy, but If I were to get one it would be a Victory.
Most likely, my next bike will be an CBR1000RR or an R1...unless there happens to be another American sportbike option. |
Dannybuell
| | Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010 - 03:18 pm: |
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If you were building widget's that had a variety of game changing issues, would you keep building or stop your losses right away?
Why hold a losing hand and wait for the next round?
If those game changers were resolved and the your widget's values raised to a respectable level, would you consider resuming production? |
Daniii
| | Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010 - 04:18 pm: |
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I have 80K issue-free miles on my V-Rod. Sorry some have had issues. The Buell has been trouble free as well.
You could spend $30K and get a new BMW. But put a couple thou in the bank for the eventual final drive failure. |
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