A Strong Middle Class=A Strong America!!

[wild deuce]

I'm not Deuce but by contract it is 2 1/2 times the hourly rate per month.:smilie_132: Money well spent for a pension and FREE health care. See i'm not all bad Larry!

Thanks for being there when I wasn't. I must have been dosing off somewhere!

[wild deuce]

Corporations survive when they make honest attempts to make thier corporation work. Going overseas and using (exploiting) people who are impoverished to manufacture or assemble products is only one part of the problem. When the corporation is able to cut costs because they are paying less wages, etc, but the product price is never reduced, that is a problem with me. Lowering wages, etc, should mean lowering prices. Where are the savings going? Getting the picture yet? I can only assume the greedy are getting greedier. The next problem (and the corporations have experienced this the past few years) is if the consumer is not willing to spend the money to buy the product because they don't have the money (out of work) or they are afraid to spend it (may be getting ready to lose job) the corporation doesn't get the compensation they need to keep thier product going. We need policies that are not lopsided toward corporate. The consumer needs some more protections. IE Middle Class or lower class (the working classes).

[mattjm]

I am sorry I don't see that the Card Check will help the Middle Class. The Middle Class is stuck between 2 classes that really don't change. The rich will remain rich in any economy,in a good one they spend in a bad one they save, so they remain in the upper class. They also have the ability and knowledge to be able to get back their loses. The Poor will remain there because they know how to use the system to get something for nothing. 2-3 generations have been raised in this conditions and have learned exactly how to utilize the system to their advantage.The Middle Class as a whole has the biggest problem they want wealth and live on credit cards. I am in the middle class, I'm sure not rich but the credit cards are not maxed out. I know its not as easy as that, its more complicated and deeper but the card Check isn't goin change the social makeup of any class.
If you want a change to help the Middle Class start with Tax changes,bring back the offshore money, give Industry a reason to come back but this won't happen with Card Check. I am sorry until Washington changes their outlook on Industry, Industry will not change its outlook on America. Make the USA a haven for Industry and it will come instead of leave then the Card Check will work and the Corporations will not have a problem with it but until it does change your just fooling yourself with stuffing this down the Corps throat. The workers might have the right to Unionize but were are they going to work as the work leaves. Change Washington, the Fair Tax.

I read that the average debt for the people with credit cards is $ 5,000 per person. I put the brakes on mine when it hits $ 100.

[mattjm]

I'm not Deuce but by contract it is 2 1/2 times the hourly rate per month.:smilie_132: Money well spent for a pension and FREE health care. See i'm not all bad Larry!

I bet it's less then paying part of your own insurance.

[larry retired]

As a matter of fact we were notified (by our local) that the dues will be reduced to reflect the 10% reduction(s).

Excellent point, and, of course, they will because it is contractual....a concept unfamiliar to non-union workers.

[larry retired]

Corporations survive when they make honest attempts to make thier corporation work. Going overseas and using (exploiting) people who are impoverished to manufacture or assemble products is only one part of the problem. When the corporation is able to cut costs because they are paying less wages, etc, but the product price is never reduced, that is a problem with me. Lowering wages, etc, should mean lowering prices. Where are the savings going? Getting the picture yet? I can only assume the greedy are getting greedier. The next problem (and the corporations have experienced this the past few years) is if the consumer is not willing to spend the money to buy the product because they don't have the money (out of work) or they are afraid to spend it (may be getting ready to lose job) the corporation doesn't get the compensation they need to keep thier product going. We need policies that are not lopsided toward corporate. The consumer needs some more protections. IE Middle Class or lower class (the working classes).

Not only are these cost savings not passed on to the consumer, the quality of the products is deteriorating, also. I can personally vouch for that. Add to that the fact that we are being sold poisonous food, drugs and toys from protectionist, Communist China.

[jdk1600]

larry_retired wrote:

Excellent point, and, of course, they will because it is contractual....a concept unfamiliar to non-union workers.

My union dues were reduced by 100%. Oh that's right, I don't have to pay union dues. A concept unfamiliar to union workers.

[larry retired]

larry_retired wrote:



My union dues were reduced by 100%. Oh that's right, I don't have to pay union dues. A concept unfamiliar to union workers.

Thank goodness for that, otherwise we would be like you. The idea sends chills down my spine.

[222lifer]

larry_retired wrote:



My union dues were reduced by 100%. Oh that's right, I don't have to pay union dues. A concept unfamiliar to union workers.

The dues equate benefits. The sum union employees pay in dues is minute compared to the benefits received. Oh that's right we have a legally binding contract, pension, health and welfare, and greivance machinery. A concept unfamiliar to non union workers.

You are in a unique situation that many are not able to take advantage of. Your wife has an excellent job with excellent benefits. You are a minority in this industry and I would assume at your employer also. The rest of your coworkers have to pay for their own benefits.

We all pay dues in one form or another. How long is that list of chores your wife has for you every week?

[jdk1600]

We all make choices in life. I don't apologize for any of the ones I've made. I guess I'm supposed to feel guilty that both my wife and I work for everything we have?

And by the way, FedEx has a pension, healthcare and a grievance procedure. We didn't need a union to give us those things, or pay someone extra money every month to think that they wouldn't exist without those dues. Who cares about a legally binding contract? I'd rather be at-will.

As far as a list of chores, my wife and I have mutual respect for one another, so we don't have lists for each other. We each pitch in to make things work. I feel sorry for guys who who aren't equal partners with their wives.