NLRB tried to save America from dumb, unskilled Southern workers

Hotair ^ | June 20, 2011 | J.E. Dyer

[Hojczyk]

I had to check my paper copy of the Wall Street Journal today to make sure this wasn’t some elaborate prank. Then I double-checked what year it is, to make sure I hadn’t been slingshotted around the sun and found myself back in 1975.

That’s about when I remember it last being routine for Rust Belt lawyers to publicly disparage the skills and education of people from the South. The only thing missing from the op-ed by Chicago-based lawyer Thomas Geoghegan is the word “hick” or “hillbilly.” WSJ is to be applauded for its determination to feature different viewpoints, but Geoghegan’s piece certainly pushes the envelope.

The topic is the NLRB ruling against Boeing moving its assembly plant for the Dreamliner to South Carolina. And it really is as bad as my intro suggests. Go read it, if you think I may be cherry-picking or making a mountain out of a molehill. I’ll wait. OK, here’s that last paragraph again:

Most depressing of all, Boeing’s move would send a market signal to those considering a career in engineering or high-skilled manufacturing …: Don’t go to engineering school, don’t bother with fancy apprenticeships, don’t invest in skills.

In case you miss the point of the piece, here’s another go at it: “We should be aghast that Boeing is sending a big fat market signal that it wants a less-skilled, lower-quality work force.”

Here’s a weird fact, though. There is already a plant manufacturing rear-fuselage elements for Boeing in South Carolina. (The Dreamliner final-assembly plant that opened 10 June is located next to it.) South Carolina also has a BMW plant, a Honda plant, a Bosch plant, a Caterpillar plant, an American LaFrance plant (fire engines and ambulances), and a Daimler plant, all employing highly-skilled labor to manufacture big, intricate stuff

[Army Air Corps]

According to what I have read, the plant would influence employment in the neighbouring states, so this more than just SC.

[Moose4]

Dear Mr. Geoghegan: Do you, or any of your friends, drive a BMW X5 or X6, or maybe the new X3? Nice cars, aren’t they? Luxurious, fast, well-built? Well, sir, every single one of those big Beemers were built at a plant in the beautiful Upstate of South Carolina, halfway between Greenville and Spartanburg right off I-85. Your X5 was not, in fact, built by mythical Bavarian supermen named Klaus and Gunther. It was built by drawlin’, NASCAR-lovin’, good ol’ boys named Dale and Billy. And I’ll bet you couldn’t tell the damn difference between a BMW made in Greer, SC and one made in Germany.

BMW: Bubba Makes Wheels.

}:-)4

[reg45]

appendicitis - I’m certain that TG would prefer to get his medical treatment in Cuba.

[Kickass Conservative]

Birds of a feather, him and our Dear Leader.

BTW - Did you catch the video on Yahoo of The One miraculously calming a baby? Obama is the new Benny Hinn.

Look forward to Journalistic hero worship on Steroids from now until November 2011.

[Kickass Conservative]

Make that November 2012. LOL

[ilovesarah2012]

Greenville, SC (upstate):

Corporations based in or with a major presence in the UpstateThe following corporations have a major presence in the Upstate: Adidas Group, Bank of America, Bi-Lo, BMW of North America, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System [2], Bosch North America, Bowater, SunTrust, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Charter Communications, Denny’s Restaurants, Dunlop Slazenger Group, Ernst & Young, Fluor Corporation, Freightliner LLC, GE Power Systems, Greenville Hospital System [3], IBM, Liberty Corporation, Mary Black Health System, Michelin of North America, Microsoft, Milliken & Co., Perrigo Company of South Carolina, and Spartanburg Regional Health System.

• BMW’s only North American manufacturing plant is located in Spartanburg County, with an investment of $3.7 billion. [4]

• Fuji Film located their first manufacturing facility in the U.S. in Greenwood County. [5]

• Michelin of North America has five manufacturing plants and their R&D facility located in the Upstate. [6]

• Walgreens has their southeastern distribution center located in Anderson County, which employs mentally handicapped workers as nearly 40% of their workforce. [7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upstate_South_Carolina

[bert]

My nephew is an engineer with BMW. He recently spent two years in Germany learning how things are done.

Aside, I visited two plants near the BMW plant. They make products unrelated to cars but the sight is awesome. There are industrial parks more or less out in the country ie not in a city with manicured grounds and neat as can be. They are new. They fly the flags of many nations and represent various subvendors/contractors who have set up shop and are thriving.

Freepers whine and complain about “buy America” and rice burners (kraut burners) but the American companies had the same chance, even better chance but didn’t take it. GM built Saturn in Tennessee in the same manner and then allowed the UAW to come in and destroy it all, including the whole line.

When you buy an American made car you are buying UAW welfare

South Carolina is pointing the way and is succeeding beyond expectations. The Boeing fight with the union is proof that the lefties see it all unraveling and will do all they can to stop it. There is palpable fear. Ratland is disintegrating into deserted and unrebuildable ruins.

[ilovesarah2012]

I live in Greer, SC now and it is really nice. We have high tech manufacturing and large companies, but still the Southern feel. It is amazing to see how the area has grown. And downtown Greenville is just beautiful. I never get tired of going there. The best of both worlds.