mrballsonya
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Posts posted by mrballsonya
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What goes around, eventually comes around. Under the Bush administration, Toyota was essentially given the winning numbers to the "Mega-Billions" American car market lottery. Toyota had no legacy costs, they essentially had a closed market at home and to really complete the ass reaming tri-fecta, the Japanese government felt the need to artificially manipulate the value of the Yen.
In regards to our U.S. domestic vehicle export to Japan, there simply was no Fair trade or Free trade agreement. The only trade agreement we had, was to host Japans dick in our ass. Last year Toyota sold 2 million units in Japan, meanwhile the big three combined, only sold about 200,000 units in their country. How is this fair? No wonder Toyota overtook GM as the # 1 automaker. GM was basically shut out of the number two vehicle market in the world....... Fair trade.... my ass.
I really have no Idea why our past government was so eager to see Japanese and Chinese manufacturing companies succeed, while they watched American manufacturing companies fail. But it happened. The Bush administration never met with the leaders of the big three, until the wooden stake was sunk halfway into their hearts. Bush never cared about us, and I never cared for him.
Bush was the absolute antithesis of the average Blue collar worker. Blue collars were born with wooden spoons in their mouth and grease on their sleeves. W was born with a diamond encrusted platinum spoon in his mouth, and 1200 thread count Egyptian cotton, on his sleeves. I just can't imagine a worse representative for the working middle class. But Karl Rove made sure that issues like, Gays getting married, and Guns, were far more important than actually electing intelligent leadership.
Tell me why exactly, did we pay $4.50 a gallon for gasoline last year while Exxon was making 8 billion a quarter and getting millions in subsidies from the U.S. Government? Why? Because in Bush's nihilistic mind, the middle and lower class, are totally irrelevant as long as the rich are getting richer. The poor and middle class just don't matter at all, until the election years.
For the past 8 years, the working American middle class has been attacked from so many different angles, that I don't even know what our proper defense is. I'm thinking we need to somehow conger Sun Tzu from the dead in order to come up with a counter attack to this barrage.
Here's a toast, in the hope that we soon see Ford slap Toyota's ass all the way from Dearborn, back to Ann Arbor, and then back to Toyota City.
We beat the Japanese once, and with a little help from our government we can beat them again.
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It'll be real interesting to see how much of the 400 million construction budget, the laid off tradesmen get. I'm guessing none of it. But maybe I'm just pessimistic.
Why pay capable laid off Ford tradesman $30 an hour, when you could pay outside contractors $50 an hour?
Why? Because, laid off Ford tradesman don't offer kick backs, or Redwing tickets. We just complete the job, on time, with no warranty work.
Why overpay, for people that have no vested interest in the company at all? Because the other half offers no free Redwing tickets or meal tickets.
Just leave it all up to to the overpaid outside contractors.
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CONTRACT 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two or more persons or entities in which there is a promise to do something in return for a valuable benefit known as consideration. Since the law of contracts is at the heart of most business dealings, it is one of the three or four most significant areas of legal concern and can involve variations on circumstances and complexities. The existence of a contract requires finding the following factual elements: a) an offer, B) an acceptance of that offer which results in a meeting of the minds; c) a promise to perform; d) a valuable consideration (which can be a promise or payment in some form); e) a time or event when performance must be made (meet commitments); f) terms and conditions for performance, including fulfilling promises; g) performance. A unilateral contract is one in which there is a promise to pay or give other consideration in return for actual performance.
For the UAW, the idea of a binding contract was lost years ago. As the membership dwindled, so did our power. Without any power, the contracts we ratified were worth less than the toilet paper we use on a daily basis.
In the last 5 years, how many times have our contracts been broken?
If we worked on Wall Street, Lawyers would currently be billing $150 an hour in our successful defense. But even with our rock solid judicial case, we would still lose in the court of public opinion. Why? Because we are, what we are.
Everyone knows that UAW workers are just a bunch of undereducated, overpaid, lazy, laborers. Our knuckles drag when we walk, we can't communicate coherently with our fellow citizens, and we've never contributed anything to society.
We're all parasites. We suck all the life out of our employers until their dead, and then we move on to our next host. In our case, the only host left for a purported parasite of society, is Wal-Mart. I pray to god, that this is the case and that we suck the China Loving life out of this abomination of a Company. Unfortunately, I know this won't happen.
If you relocate a lone Parasite, and put it to work for a global conglomerate parasite, the lone parasite will simply get absorbed. Workers are not the problem. They are the solution. The U.S. needs to produce something, (other than debt) to remain a superpower. The trickle down economic theory doesn't work, especially when the Trickle goes to China and India.
As worker ants, there are very few things that we can do to stem the tide of our ill fortune. We can vote, we can organize, and we can protest. Thankfully, every time another U.S citizens become affected by globalization, we gain another ally. Eventually the masses will organize and finally regain power over corporate greed.
Hopefully the Unfettered, short sited, outsourcing greed of corporations for the last eight years, won't culminate in a complete meltdown of the middle class economy here in the U.S.
Cross your fingers.
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I've got mixed feelings, regarding this post. I think both sides of the argument have brought up very valid points, and thus it's hard for me to be anything but ambivalent.
On one hand, from an investors point of view. I would sell every share I had, the day that the board of directors approved the hiring of someone with absolutely no experience in running a multi-billion dollar corporation.
At the multi-billion dollar corporate level, CEO positions are not easily attained. In order to even be considered for the position, the candidate's past managerial performance and decisions are all fully scrutinized and analyzed. Speaking from a laymen's point of view, even I understand that there are very few individuals in existence that are qualified to run a corporation as big as Ford. Given the current economic circumstances, I'd say that Mullaly was pretty prophetic in securing all the financial aid that he did, 2 years ago. I think he also made the right decisions in selling off Aston Martin and the perpetual loser that was Jaguar. I also believe that his decision to make the Taurus relevant again, was just what the doctor ordered in making Ford a healthy brand. IMHO, the best two decisions that Bill Ford Jr. made, were to fire Nasser and for him to step down and relinquish control to Mullaly.
On the other hand, speaking from someone that has had two straight UAW contracts broken and appended. And someone that had their plant closed (Wixom), at the same time that billions of dollars were invested in Mexico and China. I'd have to say that there is a very serious disconnect, between corporate America and main street America. The very idea, that anyone is worth 100 times the compensation of the average worker is utterly absurd.
If any good is to be had from the financial collapse of our Countries corporate structure, it's the fact that we all need to realize that Corporations will always take care of their own... and not us.
We've all lived through the $4.50 a gallon gas era. The very same era in which, companies like Exxon made $16 billion in one quarter. This was the utter epitome of unsustainable, unregulated, and unwarranted corporate greed. How exactly did our government let this happen? Who knows. I guess it was the same government that allowed companies like AIG to thrive. The last eight years of leadership, have been nothing more than a "payback" for all the corporate donations to a... moronic shill.
We've all donated, in one way or another. Some poor souls donated their life (Iraq war), Some donated there Jobs (unfettered outsourcing), others donated their earnings (Housing and stock Market collapse). Almost all of us have lost something or another.
If you haven't lost something in the past 8 years, then you probably should watch your back.
Be careful, because an awful lot of U.S. citizens have yielded their jobs, houses, and quality of life. This great transfer of wealth to China, was started by Wal Mart and perpetuated by the Bush administration. The trickle down economic strategy doesn't work anymore, and without decent paying jobs, eventually we'll all become nihilists.
What is a U.S. dollar worth? Exactly what others are willing to trade for it. If all we produce is debt, and all other countries produce tangible assets..then all we have to offer is toilet paper currency.
Don't blame 60 Day Obama, for this Shit storm.. blame a very pro corporation bush administration, for all the woes of our indebted Country. We now owe everyone...literally everyone. Take our word for it, we'll pay you back. Thanks for your money sucker!!!!!!!
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If the RS was sold in the U.S. with a $36K price tag, it would probably sell less than 1,000 units a year.
I'd love to see this as viable purchase option for us "Yanks", but there is virtually no market here for a $36,000, F.W.D., 300HP, Boy Racer. If somehow Ford could trim about $10,000 off the price, then I could see maybe, ten to twenty thousand sales a year...Max.
This vehicle is yet another good looking, great handling, critically acclaimed Euro-Ford that we will never see on our shores. Why is that? Because Americans just won't pay $36,000+ for a sporty, compact, great handling, non-BMW.
In the U.S., Ford is mostly equated with Trucks, Mustangs and 20 year old Crown Victoria Taxi Cabs. Ford really has, no sport compact car brand equity. The U.S. Escort GT's were a joke, the SVT focus' handled great, but had no power and virtually no upgrade potential (one of the key purchase factors, for most U.S. compact tuner, buyers).
In Europe, the Ford RS moniker has been a major player in the WRC rally racing championship for years, and correspondingly it also carries the brand equity and much of the technology that comes with such a sizable investment.
Here In the U.S, we would label the RS as simply "a souped up economy car", but in the U.K. they view the RS as an "affordable, daily driven race car". I think Both of these designations, are fully merited given past local assimilation's of the Ford brand here and in Europe.
In the U.K., Ford stands for Rally Racing and handling; in the U.S., Ford stands for Trucks, Mustangs and Nascar. I really hope that the Ford Global management team can come up with some sort of profitable, symbiotic, product and marketing, master plan for the world market. Boy, what a coup that would be. Imagine that, pleasing all the people, all the time. It's probably a pipe dream, but I'd like to think that someone in the Ford system has the magic formula for the next "model T".
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Ah yes.... Seniority def. The state of being older than another or others or higher in rank than another or others.
In a Utopian world the physically weaker, but much wiser elders would rule and the younger and stronger would provide and serve the elders. Unfortunately the cut throat Global manufacturing economy, in which we all compete; could care less about how old, young, or wise we all are. The global manufacturing economy cares about only one thing, and that is...... cost per unit. What will it cost Acme Sprocket Co, to produce one widget? That is the grand question.
Believe me, I absolutely love the whole concept of Seniority rule, but in this day and age, and in this hyper competitive manufacturing environment, I just don't see it lasting a whole lot longer. At some point, in order to compete with countries that pay a tenth of what we make. Our Company/Union will either have to cut the weak performers (old, young, fat, lazy), or they will simply close up shop and move to the next country. I love the concept of skating into my last 5 years of retirement without a care in the world, but in this current environment that's now an untenable aspiration.
Being Manufacturing workers, we're all human Robots. If you don't think that your job can be replaced by automation, then you're either really stupid or you're really smart. If you're really smart, then you're probably creating new job eliminating technologies as we speak, and you don't have to worry about being replaced. If you're really stupid, then obviously you haven't paid attention to the fact, that automation has been responsible for the loss of millions upon millions of manufacturing jobs in the last 30 years. If you're, really, really stupid, then you still believe that, what you do every day can never be replaced by quicker, stronger, cheaper, faster automation/labor. If history is any indicator of future results, then it's fair to say that technology increases exponentially. Every time Intel releases a new chip or another scientist perfects a new process, we human robots lose more of our viability, and yet another good paying manufacturing job.
We're a dying breed, just look at the UAW membership numbers. We're declining faster than the value of your 401K. With every mid contract renegotiation, and every subsequent layoff, we (the UAW) become that much less relevant. After 8 years of, anti-union governance, terrible fair trade enforcement, and a laissez faire corporate mandate, the working middle class of America has virtually evaporated. Is it just coincidence, that our evaporation seemingly occurred at the same time as the worst economy since the great depression? Who knows, I wish I knew.
I do honestly believe that in this global manufacturing environment, if we (the UAW) continue to subscribe to the the belief that seniority trumps all, including merit, accountability, attendance and work ethic...... we'll all be looking for new jobs very soon.
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Personally, even though I'm entirely out of the new car market right now. Even if I was. I'd still decline on buying a GM product because they don't have what I'm looking for. The biggest mistake they did is by getting rid of RWD. The 1980's under Roger Smith was bad enough. But as far as I'm concerned. The beginning of the end was when they elimated the RWD lineup back in 1996 and have no plans to revive it even though there was talk of them doing it in the not so distant future.
Another mistake: Killing the Camaro and Firebird back in 2002.
Bored,
Much like every other U.S. citizen, you evidently haven't been paying too much attention to GM's recent products. The RWD Pontiac G8 has been widely acclaimed as the poor mans BMW. The G8 has greatly exceeded the expectations of more than one scrutinizing automotive journalist. It has received many accolades and praises, in some of the most import loving publications in existence. From everything I've read the G8 is a great RWD car.
The New RWD Camaro looks great, and much like its predecessors, it seems destined to be another bang for the buck champion. You also have the RWD Pontiac Solstice and Saturn SKY as well as a host of other RWD Cadillacs to choose from.
If you want RWD, GM will sell it to you.
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Fantastic!!!!!
At least there's one politician left, who gets it. Our Country was created by the people and for the people, not by by the government and for the corporation. Producing debt is not sustainable, producing tangible goods is. Our Country needs to produce something other than debt, in order to remain a superpower. Letting thousands of outsourcing corporations, pay their top executives millions of dollars; doesn't make up for paying Million's of American workers, a living wage. This trickle down economic formula just doesn't work.
Fox News represents every thing that has gone wrong with our Country. The slanted filth they preach, is an affront to the toil of every hard working American. Fox News absolutely Brainwashed America into electing G.W...... TWICE. Unfortunately for Fox.. the dwindling middle class has learned from their mistakes; and their force feeding Bullshit engine, has almost come to a stop.
Every day as more Blue and White collar workers loose their jobs, Fox News becomes more irrelevant. Very soon, even the most ardent White Collar Fox News supporter; will realize that he's been "Okey-Doked", and he'll stop drinking the vile Kool-Aid that they serve.
Unless Fox News, starts reporting on how to make a home out of old appliance boxes, or how to keep warm using your local newspapers sports section. I'd say they aren't in tune with Real America.
I have a fairly simple analogy to describe Fox News. If Fox News was a person..... a person that never learned how to swim. He would dive head first into Lake Michigan based on Faith.
Unfortunately, after he drowned.... Fox News's owners would try to sue the waters of lake Michigan for killing him. Very Shortly after that, Fox News would air a story on how dangerous water can be; and how you can prevent another "terrorist attack" from the "evil" water.
It's not News, it's entertainment... and it's what they want you to believe.
Pick up a newspaper, glean your information from someone that's been schooled in the AP style of Anti-biased writing.
Fox News = Bullshit.
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Hey Ford/UAW,Here's a novel idea.... how about retraining the hundreds of tradesmen that are currently laid off or in JSP. Seems to make a lot more sense than hiring off the street.
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So LEVEL, Thiw is what I get for asking you a question?? I would have thought you were better than that. I was asking about what I was told and what I had found out for myself and thought that you being a person with international connections and alot of knowledge about the contract that you would at least a some kind of answer instead I get stupid bullshit!!! And you wonder why nobody cares about the UAW reps. anymore!! Thanks for nothing.
I agree.... but with a caveat. As inane as this might sound, a lot of us view Level as our only "real" UAW representative. Level routinely answers questions that our local reps, just don't seem to be able to.
Because of his accessibility, and also his seeming credibility, we place Level on a higher pedestal. We probably shouldn't be doing this, without knowing who he is. But he seems to be right 99% of the time.
I'm fairly certain that Level doesn't get compensated for his time on these forums, so we have to put our feet in his shoes. Would you sincerely answer the same question for the 5th time, or would you loose patience like most people would, and answer sarcastically?
I'm as guilty as the next guy, when it comes to propagating shit house rumors. But when you want the bullshit to stop, and you want real answers..... you ask Level. We shouldn't be berating him, we should be thanking him for being the only conduit to the truth. Currently the UAW is a really messed up organization, but I do believe there are still some who care, and I think Level is one of them.
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Yet again, sorry to be taking this thread in a different direction, but I've got a question for LEVEL. Under the last contract, I seem to remember a provision that would allow for a committee to be assembled, that would discuss possible retraining of the Trades. Level do you know if this committee was ever formed? If so, have there been any recent breakthroughs, that might get the "retraining" ball rolling any time soon.
In a perfect world, I'd love to remain a Millwright for Ford Motor Company. But it has become increasingly clear over the last couple of years, that I don't live in a perfect world, and my chances of ever working as a Ford Millwright again, grow slimmer by the week. It really seems a shame, that Ford has such a glut of certain trades (Millwrights,Toolmakers, Machine Repair) and yet such demand for others (Electricians, PSO's).
I know I can't speak for all of my fellow laid off tradesmen, but If it would get me working again, I'd love to go through another apprenticeship.
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Look here, post #10 for the Tentative Millwright Job awards.
http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index...mp;#entry463068
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results of the trades posting were posted totoday millwrights 1 to ford land 1 to the rouge 2 to buffalo from rawsonville but we need to know who the outher one is who is going to ford land
and who the outher 5 are who are going to the rouge. seniority and plant would be good thank you.
Here are the Tentative Millwright postings as of Friday, Feb. 6th.
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I hate to totally change the subject, but I've got a burning question for my fellow tradesmen at Rawsonville. Can anyone tell me the exact date, when your Millwrights were placed in JSP?
There seems to be a very auspicious trend happening when Trade Job postings go up. It seems that the week before the job postings go up, all the usual JSP'ers will be on the seniority list, but the week after; POOF!... Magically plants that are still working and have powerful union representation, suddenly have people in JSP.
The latest Rawsonville JSP incident isn't the first time for these Local Union Shenanigans, the last occurrence happened about a year ago with Woodhaven Stamping.
Maybe I'm just a total moron, but it sure seems like the timing of these JSP placements is unbelievably impeccable. It really makes me wish, that my Wixom representation had nearly as much union clout as the big boys from other locals.
I guess If you don't have any bargaining power I.E. (Plant Closed), you don't have any pull with International, or the Company.
Good luck to everyone else, because evidently us Wixomites are stuck in Seniority purgatory. Maybe I'll flash my worthless U.A.W millwright card to you, when you're ordering a Big Mac in my drive through. Please give me a tip, After all...... It's hard to feed 5 kids with an $8 dollar an hour job. God bless Bush's America... Err.. I mean Wal-Mart.
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Yet again....... Level steps up to the plate, and provides answers that most of us just can't get from our Local reps.
It's a pretty sad state of affairs, when I depend more on a Faceless forum poster to answer contract questions, than I do my Local representation.
Thanks for all your help Level!
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Wow!!!. These technicalities just keep on getting better and better.
For me, I think this latest loophole is the straw that breaks the Camels back.
I've now, officially given up any hope of ever getting placed at another Ford facility. How does this garbage keep happening? Seniority is one of the hallmarks of unionism, So why are these Tradesmen able to bypass arguably the most important tenet of our brotherhood?
Apparently, while I've been sitting in JSP waiting for the seniority due process placement system to occur; others have been scouring the new contract language, finding anyway they can, to bypass trade seniority.
Kudos, to those that took advantage of this obvious loophole. I must say I'm very angry, but I'm also pretty impressed with their advantageous behavior and obvious acumen for contractual understanding. In fact, I think these seniority by-passers might want to take a long, hard look at a future career in Law.
Hey... Speaking of Law, I think it might be time to start rallying the troops, and retain a good labor lawyer. I'm sure I won't be the only one pissed off about this.
It's now obvious to me, that the UAW (be it at a local or international level) FAILED TO PROPERLY REPRESENT ME. If the UAW chose to re-write a portion of the contract, with a provision that allowed possible circumvention of the Trade Seniority placement hierarchy, than they should've made the aforementioned changes crystal clear. Maybe International did issue a Local update mandate, but at our local we never heard anything other than the usual "Contract Highlight rhetoric". If this loophole had been exposed to all members, I guarantee you that this situation wouldn't even be an issue right now. Why? Because the higher seniority employees, would've done exactly what these guys did... and thus, all would be right in our tiny seniority driven world.
This really is, yet another low point for our Union.
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I watched the movie after hearing all the award hype, and must say I was very disappointed. I thought Eastwood 's acting was decent, however I wasn't a fan of his overly raspy voice. My biggest complaint about the film was with the supporting actors, In my opinion they were brutally bad. In fact the supporting actors were so bad, I never could get into the storyline. I must say, I didn't find out until a couple days after I saw the Film, that Eastwood specifically picked non-actors for the supporting cast. I guess I understand what he was trying to do, but in my opinion it just didn't work.
All in all I'd say it was just an average movie, not terrible but not good.
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Divide and Conquer. Companies just love this type of infighting.
As the singular word definition seems to suggest, a Divided Union is not only contradictory; but at the same time..... absolutely useless.
As much as I despised the few slugs that I encountered in my short 9 year tenure with Ford Motor Company, I must say that they couldn't be quantified by age or seniority. I've worked with complete Slugs that had 2 years of seniority, and workaholics that had over 35 years.
My main UAW reform issue isn't with seniority, it's with accountability. I think this is one area that the new "Modern UAW" needs to really take a look at.
In order for us (the UAW) to remain viable in the new global economy, we can no longer expect fellow hard working brothers and sisters to carry the dead weight of lazy slugs. In an environment where everyone is paid the same wage, a slug is absolutely cancerous. Not only will the slug do next to nothing, he'll also create a work environment....where even the hardest workers will start to question their own devotion and work ethic.
Since everyone is paid the same, what motivation does the workhorse have to work hard; when the slug can get away with doing nothing? I'll tell you.....absolutely NONE. And in my opinion this is the main problem with the UAW. I know we're all brothers and sisters in solidarity, but in reality..... all of us are different people, with different work ethics. There should be some type of reward/demerit system in place, to acknowledge those that work hard.... and penalize those who don't. You can't be a competitive entity, without some competition.
If there's any onus to be placed on the UAW, I'd say it's a simple lack of accountability amongst our membership.
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Listen up salary dude, you didn't give up anything....it was taken from you...that's a little different than giving. So quit acting like you gave at the till...and now it's our turn.
1. Remember one thing.....the only reason you even had most of those things...at the level of coverage you had them...was because of this union. You salary pukes always gained a near mirror of what we gained for our folks....and the Union was just fine with you then......
2. Now you have things taken from you........and you expect us to just give up/in or it's the UAW's friggin fault? You oughtta run for Senate with that friggin mentality.
3. YOU REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO FORD MOTOR? I'd like to try and see you live on the 40% of your pension that the government guarantees....dummy. YOU HAD BETTER CARE.
4. You disagree with us sticking together...but you agree with us that your superiors need a cut???? PICK A SIDE AND STAY ON IT.
Peddle your sorry ass crap somewhere else.
Well said; as always Level.
The corporations have already won. I don't know how they did it, but they did.
Sometime in the last 60 years, Corporations managed to turn a once Nationalistic, and unified workforce into a bunch of spoiled, selfish 5 year olds. They waged a relentless war against Unionism from day one, and they never let up. These Corporations somehow figured out a way to create a "Wage Hate" mentality, that pits worker against worker, neighbor against neighbor and brother against brother.
"Wage Hate" is a term that can be best described by a jealous sibling. Example.. Jealous Sibling "Why is Billy's sucker slightly bigger than mine? After all I'm a 2nd grade graduate and he's just a 1st grader". Instead of being happy for his brother about getting an extra big sucker, Jealous Sibling hates him; and hopes that the next time, Billy gets a much smaller sucker. As simplistic and ludicrous as this analogy may sound, it's exactly what's currently happening. The Corporations love every minute of this in fighting, this type of hatred plays right into their hand. Nothing helps them justify lower wages more, than the hate from Jealous Sibling A.K.A. the American Public.
We've all been duped, hornswaggled, hoodwinked, bamboozled...whatever you want to call it. As we fight amongst ourselves over dollars an hour, the Boards of these corporations are rewarding their top executives with million dollar raises. If I read this in an ironic fairy tale, I'd be laughing...Unfortunately this is reality, and I'm as dumbfounded as you are.
Now is not the time for us to become apathetic, we need to fight. We need to fight as representatives of a dwindling middle class. We need to wage a war on the crooked CEO's and politicians that have created this huge void. We can no longer stand idle, while our American dream is ripped from our hands. Our Country is not set up for a system that involves 95% of the population serving the top 5%.
In order for the U.S. to be a viable super power the middle class must prosper.
I really don't want to be the one, that has to explain to my grandchildren why they must speak Chinese. We were once the greatest nation on the face of this earth, but now we're just a bunch of debtors who depend on other Nations to keep us afloat.
If G.W. Bush weren't such an idiot, I think he would've hung himself years ago in shame. Our country literally fell apart under his presidency, but he's such a fool, I don't think he even realizes that.
Good luck Obama, you've got a lot of cleaning up to do.
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The guy that should get the axe is the person who allowed this veichle to go into production. This thing is ugly...and way over priced. I bet they won't sell 5000 of them. It looks like a coffin on 4 wheels.
I agree 100%, the Ford Flex is a cruel joke. I honestly feel bad for my fellow workers at OAC, It's not your fault that you're building the next Pontiac Aztec.
Ah ..Yes....The Ford Flex.... the answer to the question that nobody asked. Who wants to buy an Overpriced, Ugly, Under performing, Non Mini-van, Non SUV, that delivers just mediocre gas mileage?. Unfortunately I think it'll be next to no one. I think the average Flex buyer will be a Geritol popping 60 year old, who think this car will bring back his hip youth. Given Fords eroding dealer network, I'd say the flex will sell about 75,000 units in the first full year. That may be generous.
Fire the designer, fire his manager, fire anyone who OK'd the production of this vehicle. I can only hope that Mullaly will put this beast out of it's misery, sooner than later.
The Flex=Edsel...wrong vehicle...wrong time. (Interior is nice though).
Cross your fingers for the success of the incoming European invasion and also the arrival of the next Taurus. These vehicles will either be true saviors, or will simply be another misstep leading to the collapse of Ford Motor Company.
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check this out.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move..._im0_mbbl_m.htm
Great Site!!!
It seems my OPEC accusations, aren't entirely merited. If accurate, that site seems to provide more evidence against this "ridiculous Enron Loophole", than I ever could in a year of my drunk ramblings.
It's interesting to see all the various Countries that supply us with our "liquid Crack". According to these figures, it seems that the American People should be more concerned about a steel pipe bursting in Alberta, rather than random violence in the mid east. According to these statistics we should all be kissing Speedy Gonzales' and Bob and Doug McKenzie's ass, rather than the Saudi Royal Family's.
As an Oil consumer, I'm glad to see more oil production/ U.S. consumption out of Iraq, but the overall price paid wasn't worth it. This Iraqi oil, is tainted with the blood of thousands of our sons and daughters. To me as a parent, the price of a dead child isn't worth all the oil in the world.
I won't even get into the specifics of how much a 2 trillion dollar infusion would've improved the life of the average American citizen. I think most of you can figure that out for yourselves.
The Bush administration has been the epitome of a giant shell game. Bush lured us all in, with one year of prosperity(Hope), after that he showed us seven years of how it feels to be a Mark(regret). Bush's agenda was resolute... Make the rich richer and the middle class poorer. This was the only memorable thing that he accomplished in 8 years of governance. His decisions have caused all of us to contribute our savings into his obscenely rich acquaintances bank accounts. Bush's presidency will be reviled only by the richest 5%, to the other 230,000,000, he will go down as one of the worst presidents in our great countries history.
Upon Election I'm Hoping that Obama will continue Bush's Imperialistic, Nation building ways. Maybe Obama will find even easier countries to invade, in which " The Oil will pay for the War". What a glorious day that'll be. I just can't wait to hear the premature "mission accomplished" statements from our next president.
HEY!! Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Venezuela..... Take Notice. There's a new sheriff in town, watch your back. We want your oil, and we're willing to pay up in blood.
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First off, let me apologize if this seems to be off topic, however I don't think it is. As a Ford employee, much like many of you reading this. I feel that this information is pertinent to Ford Motor staying viable, and to us retaining our good paying jobs. "Be aware dial-uppers", this is a 9 min. streaming video from msnbc.com .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677#25252591
I'm totally aware that Kieth Olbermann seems to be very biased towards Obama. But this goes beyond candidates, this hits the home and the pocketbooks of us all. The only ones benefiting from this "Enron loophole" are the trading speculators and the oil and energy companies. I don't know about you guys? But it makes me sick to think that my hard earned money, is paying for the Ferrari's, yachts and vacation houses; of all theses speculative traders, Washington lobbyists, and oil executives.
Our current corporate loving governmental system, MUST be amended. P.A.C'S need to be outlawed, and corporate lobbyists need to be booted out of Washington. The common peoples interests, MUST start taking precedence over high paying corporate lobbyists.
The "1980's trickle down economics" theory, just doesn't work for the U.S. anymore. The rich manufacturing corporations, are no longer trickling down their wealth to the U.S. worker. Corporations are trickling down their wealth to countries like India and China. Unlike other "National" Corporations.. i.e. Toyota, Samsung and others. It seems that U.S. Corporations have absolutely NO allegiance to their home Country. As long as the stock holders are happy, and our CEO's are making obscene amounts of money, everything is right in the world.
This is not the Country that our founding fathers had envisioned. Their United States was a utopia, A place to be sovereign, A place where freedom was paramount, A place where government worked for the common people, and not against them. A place where someone could work hard, get an education and remove themselves from a pre-determined designation. Our country is no longer this place. I'm fairly certain, that we as a Country are regressing back into a feudalistic, caste type system. Soon all the "good Paying" jobs will be gone, no one will own their home, and we'll all be working for food and sustenance. Who knows? Maybe the next president will revert us even further back in time. Maybe we'll go back to a communal, self sufficient "tribe" economy.
What a great Country.... A Country that has become corrupted by the very same things, that enacted a revolution 300 years ago.... taxation without Representation.
I know I'm an alarmist. But in this day and age, I just don't see how a U.S. working man can't be. The U.S. economy is currently being dictated by a handful of snot nosed commodities traders, U.S. politicians, and OPEC. Where do we rank in the hierarchy of things?
As of now, militarily speaking the U.S. is still the most powerful country in the world. Like anyone in a position of power, If we really wanted something, we would get it. Unfortunately for us, our politicians have been bought and paid for...... and now we're all paying the price. Here's to the great transformation of wealth. :beerchug: , I hope the rich, realize the bed they're making.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
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It seems Ford Motor Company has great aspirations to supplant Walmart, as the #1 private employer in Mexico.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8053002877.html
Remember Fellas'.... Buy Ford...Buy American.
I know..... (but the "Profits"... er' I mean losses, come right back here to the good ole' U.S.A).U.S. / U.A.W. made vehicles are becoming harder and , harder to find. I challenge anyone to try and find a Vehicle that they like, that's made here in the U.S. . It's my opinion, that you'd have better luck, trying to buy a plastic toy at Walmart, that wasn't made in China.
Mulally will do anything, to make Ford Mo.Co. profitable again, as a shareholder I can't blame him. Unfortunately for us Ford Employees, "anything" involves our jobs going to Mexico, China, & India.
Currently In the U.S., middle class Manufacturing Jobs are disappearing quicker than the Dodo bird. Coincidentally in the same time period, our consumer based economy has become utterly stagnant. Imagine that, "average people that can't find decent paying jobs, stop spending money." what a revelation. Oversimplification, I'm sure.... but It sure seems accurate to me.
Here's to :beerchug: :beerchug: "Multinational Corporate Governance in 08".
"God save the C.E.O."
"One Nation under a "C.E.O"
In the "C.E.O" we trust".
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We all knew this announcement was coming, it was just a matter of time.
For F*cks sake, the original statement said, that "it would be built somewhere in North America". Any sane person currently living in the "rust Belt" had to know that "built in N.A." meant ... built in Mexico. Come on fellas'..Imagine if you owned a business and you could get the same production out of a $6 an hour Mexican, or a $25 an hour U.S. worker; who would you choose?
I used to feel really guilty about being part of the ridiculous "Gen and JSP" programs. These programs seemed utterly absurd to me, I mean... who in their right mind, would pay me good money, to sit on my ass and do nothing. These programs just seemed totally inane. But even before my plant actually closed, my opinion started to drastically change.
The more money I saw Ford pour into Mexico, the less guilty I felt.
Obviously Ford Motor knew about their contractual obligations with the UAW, yet they still closed plants here, and invested huge amounts of money into Mexico. As a stock holder, I really can't blame them for this. It's all about the numbers. Whats cheaper? Should we close this U.S. plant and pay their old workers to do nothing? Or should we invest in low labor cost Mexico? Should we keep the U.S. plant open and pay 4 times the labor costs for our given product? Or should we pay 200 people $25 an hour, to produce nothing, and pay 2000 Mexicans $6 an hour to produce something? Sometimes we all forget Ford Motor isn't a charity, it's a business, It's cut throat... the weakest die and the strong survive.
As a UAW member, I view Fords investments in Mexico as a personal abandonment of me, of my skills, of my middle class status, and of my Country. Yet, like a scorned lover, I just can't help myself from defending my EX- Beau.
Ford Motor company, has provided me and my family sustenance for almost 10 years now. I think, even the most defiant whore, would defend such a long serving, good paying, PIMP. Until Ford Motor Company ships the last job out of our Country, I'll always hold them in high regard. I may not always buy a Ford, but I definitely will never buy a Toyota , Ever... Period.
In my mind, Toyota directly affected my manufacturing employment status; much the same as Wal Mart has. Both Toyota & Wal Mart LOVE America, until we no longer have money to spend. When the money runs out, so will they.
I hate to segue here, but Wal Mart's Low cost, predatory purchasing demands are part of the reason why our country is so screwed up right now. Our inherent American penchant, for being thrifty, has empowered a whole Nation (CHINA). We just can't get enough of those $30 bikes (the ones, that the frame welds break after a year)....... And Whoa! don't forget about that 20" color Television for $90, thats a terrific deal, until it blows up after 2 years of service. We're currently buying cheap shit, paying cheap prices, and subsequently filling our landfills with cheap Chinese made plastics. There's absolutely no pride, in either the craftsmanship or in the engineering of all this Chinese made garbage that we're currently buying. It's all about Profit, how Cheap and Shitty can we make these products, before we have to start paying warranty claims or rename our company from Hang Shui to Sang Shui.
WAKE UP MIDDLE CLASS U.S. CONSUMERS.
We're currently giving almost every penny we earn, to China or Oil producing nations. If we hope to remain a superpower, this cannot be sustained.
Believe me, Our richest 5% will NOT continue to support this country, once our power is gone. The rich aren't stupid, they'll flee like rats in water to dry land. They'll survive in luxury, as we toil in the mire that our governments policy's have enabled. We, the working class will suffer as the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. THIS IS THE AMERICAN WAY.......To A Fault.
Get Angry Everyone.
There has never been a revolution, without injustice. If this current economic climate doesn't offer enough financial injustices to the masses, then maybe I've just become part of the problem, and not part of the solution.
Our country was founded on the basis of sovereignty (the exclusive right to have control over an area of governance, people, or oneself.) At some point, our government decided to abandon our forefathers hopes and aspirations for this Country and yield to rich corporation's wills.
In the last couple of decades, our country has become a virtual crack house for all the oil producing Countries (dealers) to sell their product. When we needed a fix, we'd give whatever we had to obtain it. Maybe we'd give a War, Ammunition, Anonymity, whatever. This system used to work, we used to stand at a point of power, but not anymore. These "weak" nations (dealers) , are now treating the American people like crack addicts. Now, no matter what we have, it's just not enough.
Our current economic climate already happened once in the 70's and in the early 80's. For history to repeat itself in this fashion is borderline criminal. I guess we as the American people, are just that dumb.
What was that incomprehensible statement, that our idiot president said? Fool me once.....
Our Government has failed us. It's time for US, to take this country back from the CORPORATIONS.
STAP TURNS DOWN CONCESSIONS!
in Ford Employee Forum
Posted · Edited by mrballsonya
I really apologize if someone already said this, but I just couldn't bear to read through 4 pages of meaningless rhetoric........ It really doesn't matter how you vote, your vote is absolutely meaningless.
Ford is in survival mode right now. Ford is currently behaving like a wild animal, they'll do whatever they can to survive this mess.
I hate to be such an asshole, but you're giving the CAW democratic process way too much credit. If Ford wants to shut down STAP, they will. Your CAW vote, is absolutely irrelevant.
So vote which ever way you think best, but please know that your votes are being cast on a pieces of toilet paper that are ready to be flushed.
I know I sound like a total Company Yes man, but If you think your votes are meaningful, then you really need to start paying attention to whats been going on lately.