Retired From G.M. at 54. Pensionless at 74?

New York Times ^ | June 30, 2009 | Mary Williams Walsh

[St. Louis Conservative]

“Dying with dignity” will become the new patriotism.

[Paige]

Hopefully Rahm’s closing of all Republican car dealerships in America will be remembered and repaid, with interest.

I pray people DO NOT forget what that Marxist did.

[kcvl]

I don’t remember the NYT whining about ‘the workers’ when Enron failed. I also don’t remember anyone bailing them out!

[RobbyS]

Well, I agree that the worst things about unions is that they remind me of animal farm. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Leaders start out as workers but they end up living as high as the capitalists. The worst unions are the public employee unions. I was a long-time member, and local leader in a teachers’ union, and it was interesting to see how one evolved into autocratic institutions that spend most of its resources on matters unrelated to the welfare of the members. But most teachers went along, wanting to be taken care of, and uninterested in playing a role in the governing of the union.

[RobbyS]

Well, I agree that the worst things about unions is that they remind me of animal farm. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Leaders start out as workers but they end up living as high as the capitalists. The worst unions are the public employee unions. I was a long-time member, and local leader in a teachers’ union, and it was interesting to see how one evolved into autocratic institutions that spend most of its resources on matters unrelated to the welfare of the members. But most teachers went along, wanting to be taken care of, and uninterested in playing a role in the governing of the union.

[bestintxas]

Isn’t it remarkable that what you described regarding union leaders is exactly how most members of Congress evolve as well?

Once they leave their states and surround themselves with the D.C. crowd, they forget who elected them and work for their own interests.

I believe it is an intrinsic human trait that only a few overcome.

Our founders recogized this trait and created our government in a way to suppress this instinct. Right now it is not suppressed, as people who should be paying attention are not, and the politicians are getting away with it.

We need people to wake up.

[bestintxas]

“I don’t remember the NYT whining about ‘the workers’ when Enron failed. I also don’t remember anyone bailing them out!”

Enron being in Texas was not a Wall Street Company, so it had to be dissed. Big difference. NY considers itself the hub of everything exciting and you cannot let a Texas company succeed, can you?

Did any of the families of the dead folks in Oklahoma City get million dollar payoffs from the govt like the ones in the World Trade Center?

[Eva]

No, the stupid label was just out of frustration. The unions will be the ruin of the country. That's what Obama has planned.

Did you read that Obama told Columbia that they were moving closer to the free trade agreement, but that still had some work to do on unionization? Yeah, I guess Obama wants them to unionize the drug cartels.

[RobbyS]

The arrogance is what you most notice. A congressman when first elected is pretty much the was he presented himself. But then, as time wears on, he becomes phony. Either he pretends to be “one of us,” and the act soon wears thin, or he doesn't bother to hide his sense of superiority.

[nascarnation]

Interesting to me that no Republican seems to be able to grab the ball for a slam dunk campaign issue:

Joe taxpayer is shelling out tens of billions so 50 yr old UAW members can get $3200/month and silver (formerly gold) plated benefits.

Maybe they can’t cut through the media clutter of Michael Jackson........