Oddbean new post about login | logout I feel like were fighting each other and forgetting that inflation, and the fed is the real reason we are always arguing about money. Corruption is a problem everywhere. So because I rely on these dock workers for supply chain, I have the entitlement to tell them what's acceptable for them and their families? I am however, entitled to have an opinion on how absurd some of the requests are. While I don't think all problems in the world should be solved with technology, I believe there is a maximization function to be applied. Many inputs are often ignored (due to (often progressive) biases when calculation impact and quality of life. Everyone loves progressive democracy until they're the minority.
We all know the inflation is just an excuse, because it's literally a creation of fractional reserve banking and fiat currency. Corporations do it all the time. They get around price gouging because they can hide behind "inflation", which is a load of BS. Yes, inflation exists in our current system but conniving companies and individuals take advantage of that to screw everyone else over. It's the most un-American thing I can possibly think of. Yes, we have a right to call them on their selfishness. They, like leaders and anyone in infrastructure, have a responsibility to the entire country. They have a responsibility and a direct impact. If they don't want people to call them out for being selfish, greedy individuals, then they have two choices: stop trying to extort the entire country for a freaking 77% wage increase (from their already sizable current wage), or find another job. They are not the victims. Not even remotely close. They "postponed" the strike until next January because they realized the sheer amount of people that would despise their guts for their actions.
IMO if they hated their pay rate so much they should have qust quit and go find another job where the wages are better, i bet some did tho, but you won't hear about that because it's not political ammunition having a shortage of workers in the industry would have forced the wage prices to be adjusted upwards anyway... if it actually was needed and that also brings up the point that everyone's wage slides down against inflation anyway, and this is by design for both the banks and for political ends (maintaining high wages for the incumbency) and the strikes are pretty much the incumbency
I have to go to sleep, will follow up in the am. I do feel like a point I want to argue is this. I don't think any American citizen (in private sector) has any duty to work for any other citizen. I understand unions have "industrialized" labor for a lack of a better phrase. I think I see what your arguing. I just can't get where "your job is important to me" therefor I'm demanding you stop whining. I have no obligation to work for you. People are allowed to be selfish in a free country. Full stop. Who am I do judge what's "selfish". I just want that argument off the table. I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, I'm speaking out loud here.
I would agree with you on about 85% of jobs, but there are jobs that have a heavy impact on other people. If these individuals want to take a job in that field, they should likewise have to take up the responsibility that position has. Their jobs aren't just important to ME, they're important to everyone in the country. Not only would their strike have decimated our already tattered economy, it would have prevented much-needed aid from arriving to the hurricane victims, and it'd sink so many families who are struggling to pay for groceries... all for them to receive a 77% pay increase from, as I said, their already considerable wages. Combining the lack of need for that high of a wage increase, and the fact that their job directly and severely impacts everyone else in the country, I cannot and will not be sympathetic to them in this case. Period.
the protesting is a dumb way to get a better income plenty of higher paid physical labor based jobs out there at different times, just, and this is the thing i think you are not keeping in mind about how this situation emerges in the first place: by constantly debasing the money, the banks and government get extra rent out of us, but they also disincentivise accumulating capital by the workers when they don't have any savings, they can't make a career transition or weather a time of no work, pile on top of that car, credit card and mortgage repayments, all of which are organised by the bank, who is complicit and benefiting from the debasement of the currency the entire edifice of labor unions is exactly a manufactured system to respond inappropriately to the situation created by the constantly debased money and the culture of credit addiction that is beneficial to the interests of lenders so, what does the dock worker do? if they can't save, they can't change jobs, so they go along with the union action this has been an achilles heel in the economy and you are voicing the exact reason why they even have so much power - transportation is the heart of commerce
The best part is that if we had more robust domestic production and shipping, we wouldn't have to worry too much about these kind of things, but unfortunately we are way too reliant on external countries for virtually everything.