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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#55326: May 29th 2013 at 8:58:26 AM

[up] Or go for the reverse? Find a specialist coal market, where a high price can be charged, and exploit it?

Keep Rolling On
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#55327: May 29th 2013 at 9:00:53 AM

[up]

Companies usually prefer going for the easier route of exploiting workers for making mass profit on the cheap unless forced.

Belian In honor of my 50lb pup from 42 Since: Jan, 2001
In honor of my 50lb pup
#55328: May 29th 2013 at 9:20:57 AM

Well, for one thing you are ignoring the cost of transporting everything (including the equipment to do the mining in the first place). While the people do work more cheaply, the transport costs are MUCH higher.

And I am saying that it is likely the local unions are asking for more than what is necessary for the employee's protection/benefits and could probably ask for less while still representing their members/taking care of their members' health. There is probably some room for compromise.

Random thought: I thank this thread for helping me define my politics: I think I'm a left-leaning (as defined by current US politics) centrist. I certainly prefer learning about/understanding both sides and playing devil's advocate than just having a "leftest" opinion.

Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
Belian In honor of my 50lb pup from 42 Since: Jan, 2001
In honor of my 50lb pup
#55330: May 29th 2013 at 9:51:36 AM

Big surprise...

Of course, the details are more interesting. In partial summary: an analysis of 100 "factual" statements that were checked by Politi Fact.com during Obama's 2nd term shows that Democrats were more truthful at a 2 to 1 ratio.

So, no surprise that the Republicans lied more, but a little surprised about how much more. Lots of room for discrepancies/other points to be made, but hard to argue with the overall conclusion.

Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#55331: May 29th 2013 at 10:33:11 AM

If you give a group to much power, be it Corporations, Unions, or the Government, don't be surprised when they start abusing it.

Eric Cantor says Obama ‘disconnected,’ has ‘lost focus’ in office

Tea Party groups that were targeted by IRS are called to testify

Independent Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has notified senior Democratic Party officials that he intends to switch his party registration and join the Democratic Party

edited 29th May '13 10:37:56 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
AnSTH Lawful Evil Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#55332: May 29th 2013 at 11:43:41 AM

While I might agree with Mr. Cantor there's not a whole lot we can do about it. He still has the rest of the term in office and however disconnected Obama may be I doubt he's the kind of person to do anything impeachable.

Guess we have to try and appeal to Congress. *gulp*

But that's a story for another time.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#55333: May 29th 2013 at 11:44:52 AM

If I recall correctly, it's Congress that is "disconnected", at least in public opinion.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#55334: May 29th 2013 at 11:52:15 AM

Assuming Obama is exhausted, can we really blame him?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
AnSTH Lawful Evil Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#55335: May 29th 2013 at 12:00:30 PM

His hair went from smooth shiny black to greying in just four years. No, I don't think we can blame him for being overworked.

But that's a story for another time.
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#55336: May 29th 2013 at 12:11:36 PM

I live right next to an example of a greedy union. My local Longshoremans union has been pretty quiet the last few years thankfully, but they used to hold this town by the balls. They have safe conditions because the Port Authority and DHS actively work with them, as well as the Do D(half of the port is US Navy) and so OSHA standards kind of have to be followed.

But the longshoremen get kick ass benefits and earn 30+ dollars an hour to perform unskilled labor in safe conditions. That just pisses me off. Most of these guys don't have any real college to speak of, and when a new slot opens up they go to the unemployment office and raffle away the job vacancy instead of looking for the most qualified person who might have a background in working with heavy machinery or somesuch.

Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#55337: May 29th 2013 at 12:24:31 PM

[up]

and I live right next door to the opposite. My town's held by the balls by factories that literally shuttle people up from the border to put them to work, then pay them at best, half what their time is worth and cant be reported because those people are afraid of being deported.

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#55338: May 29th 2013 at 12:29:09 PM

How about we chop 10 dollars an hour off my longshoremen and give it to your factory workers, that should even things out. tongue

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#55340: May 29th 2013 at 12:46:18 PM

I am sure I saw a McConnell ad today ... here (a positive ad, though).

Is it already 2014 midterm season? You really need to ditch these 2-year terms.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#55341: May 29th 2013 at 12:50:32 PM

So- they just wait six or nine months before putting out a new set of ads?

edited 29th May '13 12:50:52 PM by Xopher001

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#55343: May 29th 2013 at 1:00:52 PM

[up][up]

Pretty much. The us political scene runs on making sure the most ardent of voters (the angry white christian male) are always pissed off enough to come to the polls and fight for "freedom"

Hence the constant campaign season setup.

thatguythere47 Since: Jul, 2010
#55344: May 29th 2013 at 1:14:40 PM

@Belian: I'm interested in what you consider centrist. Do you just believe that the answer lies in what's efficient instead of whatever the party line is? Pragmatist might be a better word for it.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#55345: May 29th 2013 at 1:24:32 PM

Okay, this shit is getting scary.

In the press release, Kokesh called for "A new American revolution" where "the American Revolutionary Army will march on each state capital to demand that the governors of these 50 states immediately initiate the process of an orderly dissolution of the federal government through secession and reclamation of federally held property." Kokesh also gave the federal government a one-year deadline to comply with his demands before possibly taking violent action, writing, "Should one whole year from this July 4th pass while the crimes of this government are allowed to continue, we may have passed the point at which non-violent revolution becomes impossible."

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#55346: May 29th 2013 at 1:25:40 PM

Yeah, it's not so much that unions don't abuse their power, so much as companies abuse them more and we're observably worse off without the unions. For every batch of longshoremen who got enough of a foothold to extort the city for ridiculous pay, you've got ten more committing outright human rights violations.

AnSTH Lawful Evil Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#55347: May 29th 2013 at 1:30:06 PM

[up][up] HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!

[lol]

But that's a story for another time.
Enkufka Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ from Bay of White fish Since: Dec, 2009
Wandering Student ಠ_ಠ
#55348: May 29th 2013 at 1:30:08 PM

@Kostya: Yes, this will end well for him.

First place he tries that on, he and his compatriots will get hit HARD.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#55349: May 29th 2013 at 1:30:33 PM

[up][up][up][up]That's an old one, and we've heard it before. The first time, I (s)cared. Now? I'm completely dismissive. It's all hot air.

edited 29th May '13 1:31:01 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
AnSTH Lawful Evil Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#55350: May 29th 2013 at 1:31:39 PM

I just hope we get video of his "Revolutionary Militia" getting curbstomped by professional soldiers.

But that's a story for another time.

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