What exactly does your statement mean? Please explain.

“Ask the textile and shoe manufacturing industries as well as a host of others what the unions did for them. The unions priced the industries out of of business and thus we have the “cheap” substitutes.”

Well, the worker will tell you what the union did FOR them, while the management would like you to believe what they say the union did TO them.

While the pendulum has swung both ways, the ultimate decision has always been on the side of management, with government on its side.

Now they take their plant overseas and the only thing to agree on is how much government subsidies (our tax dollars) we will provide to the corporations in the form of unemployment benefits, welfare, housing subsidies, medical benefits, food stamps etc. to the growing numbers of all their former employees.

I know they don’t lose much sleep while we pay $100 and up for shoes made in viet-nam by people making $10.00 for a 65 hour work week.
http://www.saigon.com/~nike/news/ny110897.htm

If the COP is so “inconpacitated” that he cannot drive his own vehicle he should be replaced or………maybe when he attends his latino outreach meetings, they could provide him with a vehicle and/or driver. SURE!!

You’re right, union made and high quality do not always go hand in hand. But on the other hand Union did lead the way for better wages and safety for the American worker- union or not.

Ask the textile and shoe manufacturing industries as well as a host of others what the unions did for them. The unions priced the industries out of of business and thus we have the “cheap” substitutes.

I think Gerhart knows how to grow a Government, he just doesn’t now how to shrink a Government (think Seinfield).

Perhaps he’s the wrong leader for these troubled times.

Perhaps the BOCS will recognize these facts after they look at his recommendations this morning and look for the right person to lead us through the recession (its like the military… wartime leaders have skillsets different from peacetime leaders. Perhaps the same applies to our Supervisors?)

He should have proposed eliminating one Assistant County Executive. Unfortunately, staff size is a component of compensation.

“Soooo… if we are making significant cuts to the budget and reducing the size of Government, why do we need two Assistant County Executives (and their associated staffs)? I would propose that the County Executive’s office could “downsize” significantly to manage a much smaller Government in the future.

Also, why not promote working at home to reduce in-County commuting. Studies show that allowing employees to work at home significantly reduce costs of facilities, infrastructure, etc. If we downsized Government enough and allowed many of what’s left to work at home, perhaps we could rent out most of the new Developmental Services building to new businesses that need a place to create a start-up (thus creating jobs, revenue, expanding out tax base, etc.)?”

This comment is right on the money. Start with canning Melissa Peacor. She is totally incompetent and widely despised by rank-and-file County employees trying to do their jobs while worrying about being laid off because of PWC’s poor management under Gerhart. The only reason she has her job is her practice of kiss-up and kick-down. In other words, lick the a** of anyone above her (i.e., Gerhart and his developer buddies) to curry their favor and treat anyone below her like scum.

Second, Maureen Caddigan proposed at a recent BOCS meeting to increase work from home, increased use of flex schedules, etc. to reduce commuting and infrastructure costs. Gerhart shot her down unceremoniously. This move was nothing more than his empire-building drive and desire to sit on his throne controlling everyone. My only problem with Maureen was that she did not stick to her guns and stand up to this pompous jerk when she clearly had a good idea.

You’re right, union made and high quality do not always go hand in hand. But on the other hand Union did lead the way for better wages and safety for the American worker- union or not.

Allot of products are no longer made here because even non union wages cannot compete with the third world. Now their only obstacle is getting us used to third world wages and living conditions here in America.

The American consumer has been duped into thinking overseas labor is saving them money. They want the nice house, new car and a great paycheck for their labors. Yet at the same time they tell their fellow countrymen in the manufacturing industries they are not worth THEIR pay check.

Many American made goods cost no more, and some times less than imported goods. The reason they are not carried by the big stores is the high margins they make selling imports to American consumers at the same price they would sell American made goods.

As far as wall mart and the direction were headed as consumers:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/view/

a NEIGHBOR SENT ONE OF THOSE POST OFFICE CARDS FOR CHANGE OF ADDRESS,IT HAD A LARGE PRINTED ADDRESS,STREET ONLY AND THEN LAST NAME ONLY. THEN DOWN NEAR THE BOTTOM IT SAYS DELIVER ONLY SPANISH WRITTEN MAIL.

I saw it as it was delivered to the wrong address. Boy now we are going to rule the Post Office??????

THAT’S what Wal-Mart used to be about. I’ll wager that old Sam Walton started spinning in his grave the moment those kids of his took over!

I guess you don’t go to many Country Western bars. They cater to folks who are mostly white and there are venues for every other race, culture, etc. on the planet. That’s an example of the free market I’m talking about… and that’s (IMHO) ok.

Shoppers Food responded to the market when it opened a Hispanic Grocery and when it closed it (i.e., the market changed and so did Shoppers Food). Its shareholders (the only folks Shoppers Food or any other publically owned business have to answer to) expect nothing less.

I also agree with the melting pot analogy. In the past, things came out of the pot a lovely shade of white (culture-wise). In the future, they will probably come out a beautiful shade of brown. I don’t think you are espousing something new, I think you are espousing something old. There is nothing in the constitution that enshrines what we perceive to be “our culture” (if such a thing exists).

It’s a math problem, Mighty Putty… and we “lose” (if you care to look at it that way) or we “adapt” (my preference).

There are enough legal Hispanics (and other minorities) in this country to justify businesses that cater to their needs. WalMart and lots of other companies are responding to the free market. Businesses are popping up all over the place that caters to specific groups (including old white guys and gals). That’s ok. Personally, I really like Global Foods (as one example).

Shoppers is a great example. They followed the market (and the money).

We (white folks) are slowly sliding into minority status. Get used to it… and its ok (as we join the rest of the world be evolving into a pluralistic society). Those two oceans just don’t protect us like they used to.”

Wow, a lot of assumptions on the part of Mr. Smith. Perhaps I am not old and white? Regardless, I can’t think of any store that caters to the whims of white folk exclusively.

I prefer a melting pot to pluralism, and just because the world jumps off a cliff doesn’t mean that the US should. The USA is not about protection and isolation, but has always welcomed immigrants who want to leave their mother lands and become part of something new. Shoppers Food made a poor decision that they later reversed. This goes to show that most Americans don’t like companies that cater to groups who don’t want to assimilate and become part of the greater American culture.

I don’t really know anything that I have that is ‘American Made’. My cars are all foreign, my pistols are Austrian, my clothes are central american, my electronics are Japanese… I really can’t think of anything??

…..Businesses are popping up all over the place that caters to specific groups

**********************************************************

Adam Smith, I believe you have stumbled onto a million dollar idea.

Shop at …………………Old Americans R’ Us

Weather your White, Black, Red, Yellow or Brown

and Ol’ Glory still fly’s above your piece of ground,

stop by Old Americans R’ Us, where value is found.

We’ve got isles filled with bibles and guns

And giant lawn darts, so your kids can share in the fun

All the things on our shelf’s, our displays and tables

Are tagged with red, white and blue

“Proudly made in the U.S.A.” labels

I think I’m going to the BOCS retreat Friday just to see what’s going on. I believe its open to the public (although the public can’t speak or participate in the process.)

Instead of a $40.00 fine for driving without a license up it to $500.00. If found guilty of any crime, plea bargains or not, you pay a restitution fee for the cost of arrest, processing, court appointed lawyers and incarceration.

Big business somehow convinced government that more bodies meant more people to pay taxes. While this helped business with lower labor cost, higher margins and expanded markets, it backfired on government. How? Because lower wages and under the table workers meant less tax income and a higher cost per capita delivering services.

Government needs to stop weezin’ off the citizens good fortune i.e. wind fall from property value increases. If they tie their cost of doing business to a more stable formula they would not find themselves short every ten years or so when the market takes a dump.

There are enough legal Hispanics (and other minorities) in this country to justify businesses that cater to their needs. WalMart and lots of other companies are responding to the free market. Businesses are popping up all over the place that caters to specific groups (including old white guys and gals). That’s ok. Personally, I really like Global Foods (as one example).

Shoppers is a great example. They followed the market (and the money).

We (white folks) are slowly sliding into minority status. Get used to it… and its ok (as we join the rest of the world be evolving into a pluralistic society). Those two oceans just don’t protect us like they used to.

The only people that really get ‘hurt’ by this are those that still believe that the police are around to ‘protect’ them and make them safe. Police exist to enforce laws and investigate crimes.

Massive government cuts are needed to avoid even higher taxation in this area. And, we need to stop looking at build this counties residential districts to the detriment of our business community.