Fast-food workers begin strikes across U.S. over wages

[a 1 player]

And you think education is free!!!

That's what some of them are doing, most fast food workers are students trying to pay for College or University. You how much does Stanford University costs these days?

I got my entire education while working full time and raising a family, paying child support and trying to keep a roof over my head. I know more that just about anyone the cost of education and living on a meager salary while doing it. It took me 15 years of night school to get my degree and 3 college diplomas. I paid my dues, but dammit I did it... and without help from anyone.

 

[a 1 player]

Something has to change or North America is in big trouble and the way I see it it's the lack of middle class folks. They've been wiped out and without a healthy middle class I don't see a bright future.

Mark my words that within the next 100 years we will be in another 'dark ages', all the signs are here.

As a matter of fact I'm so sure of it I have been writing a book about it for about the past year.

 

[Robintheboywonder]

The country is falling apart because there is a lack of compassion and it's becoming a me me society.

 

[a 1 player]

The country is falling apart because there is a lack of compassion and it's becoming a me me society.

Disagree.

The country/world is falling apart because:

Governments are taking away freedoms previously enjoyed
People will not take responsibility for their actions
The arts are being destroyed
There is no longer freedom of speach
There is no control on the power of government (which is controlled for the most part by lobbyists)
Marketers have brainwashed people since birth with convoluted ideas of 'value'
The 'free market system' no longer exists
The world has become a 'welfare state'
Achievement is hated for the sake of it being good
Mediocrity is admired

Basically a very few people have almost entirely destroyed the science of philosophy, and nobody has ever challenged the notion as to why, (not to mention has the foresight as to see the impact or the ultimate consequence). This has been done a few times in the past.

 

[Robintheboywonder]

Disagree.

The country/world is falling apart because:

Governments are taking away freedoms previously enjoyed
People will not take responsibility for their actions
The arts are being destroyed
There is no longer freedom of speach
There is no control on the power of government (which is controlled for the most part by lobbyists)
Marketers have brainwashed people since birth with convoluted ideas of 'value'
The 'free market system' no longer exists
The world has become a 'welfare state'
Achievement is hated for the sake of it being good
Mediocrity is admired

Basically a very few people have almost entirely destroyed the science of philosophy, and nobody has ever challenged the notion as to why, (not to mention has the foresight as to see the impact or the ultimate consequence). This has been done a few times in the past.

What freedoms have we lost?
I believe there is a consequence for every action we take.
What is being done or not done that you claim is destroying the arts?
I totally agree with you that our freedom of speech has been eroded.
I agree the governments are controlled by lobbyist and that governments main objective is to stay in power as opposed to doing what's right for society.
It's not the free market system that is being attacked, it's unions that are being dissected very slowly and methodically.
It's not success that is hated it is greed.

 

[a 1 player]

What freedoms have we lost?
I believe there is a consequence for every action we take.
What is being done or not done that you claim is destroying the arts?
I totally agree with you that our freedom of speech has been eroded.
I agree the governments are controlled by lobbyist and that governments main objective is to stay in power as opposed to doing what's right for society.
It's not the free market system that is being attacked, it's unions that are being dissected very slowly and methodically.
It's not success that is hated it is greed.

Excellent questions. If you don't mind I'll answer them in several posts, (hopefully tomorrow), but right now I have to sleep. Been up since 5.

 

[a 1 player]

Freedoms being taken away:

Freedom of ownership of private property or wealth. Not being able to keep what we earn because taxes are extorted which have nothing to do with the running of a country, and are redistributed to various 'places' which we may not agree with. Examples: Third world development, pride celebrations, increased payments for welfare mothers that decide to have more children. None of these things benefit society as a whole. One might argue that some are an 'investment' and will bring revenue to the coffers due to attracting people, but so could several other 'private' initiatives a person gets to choose.

Freedom of privacy. Patriot Act, NSA, gathering phone and internet records without a warrant, no fly lists

Freedom of choice. I have no right to my body if I want to commit suicide, I have no right to smoke pot if I am ill

Freedom of information. Do you know what percentage of what you read is censored by the government? I don't and it scares the hell out of me.

Ever been audited by the Ministry of Labour? One is believed guilty until due diligence is proven.

Black rights, gay rights, women's rights, children's rights, blah blah blah. It's all a bunch of horseshit. There is only one type of 'right' and it must pertain to all equally. Go give one group a benefit is to take something away from another group.

As a VERY short list. This is just the beginning, the weeds have been thrown in with the crops and have not really taken hold yet. Once they do, they will entirely strangle the garden.

 

[BuzzSaw]

Great post a1 and sound observations. I think it's time for a civil war and reclaim our rights.

 

[papasmerf]

When those who work and produce get tired of all the parasites, then we'll have some kind of revolution.

When the hell did the American dream become a government welfare check, food stamps, a free cell phone, a dozen kids from as many fathers, subsidized housing...etc?

Where is the pride of self reliance?

January1993

 

[Analme]

January1993

I guess you weren't a Bill Clinton fan LMAO.

I'm sure if you spread him Robin wouldn't mind sticking a cigar up there.:rofl!:

 

[lovelatinas]

Mark my words that within the next 100 years we will be in another 'dark ages', all the signs are here.

As a matter of fact I'm so sure of it I have been writing a book about it for about the past year.

"I don't always think about the dark ages, but when I do, I write a book about it." :LMAO:

 

[lovelatinas]

Here in Ontario there is call for $14/hr minimum wage.

 

[BEER]

[h=1]McDonald's Employee Confronts Executive: I Can't Afford Shoes For My Children[/h]Hmmmmmm

 

[Insertion]

Don't people realize that increasing wages is just going to cause the prices of products and services to go up. People will complain that the companies make too much profit...WTF...what is the correct amount of profit for a company to make? People forget that those profits aren't just used to buy mansions and jets either. Those profits are re-invested to grow the company, creating more jobs. They are used to research new products and services which may help people out and in turn produce more profits. Profits are good. If everyone just did what they had to to break even, we wouldn't have any innovation.

I believe it's a fine line between paying someone a fair living wage and taking advantage of cheap labor. The most notable issue today is the fact the jobs in question were usually meant for students and maybe the odd stay at home mom looking for some part time work, making the wage fair. Now it's regular folks working these jobs trying to put food on their table and maintain a roof over their heads. There seems a need for a more equitable balance among the population or a civil war will be in the cards if this gap between rich and poor keeps widening.

 

[papasmerf]

I believe it's a fine line between paying someone a fair living wage and taking advantage of cheap labor. The most notable issue today is the fact the jobs in question were usually meant for students and maybe the odd stay at home mom looking for some part time work, making the wage fair. Now it's regular folks working these jobs trying to put food on their table and maintain a roof over their heads. There seems a need for a more equitable balance among the population or a civil war will be in the cards if this gap between rich and poor keeps widening.

The fact is we need to return to manufacturing and quit trying to make flipping burgers or stocking shelves, skilled trades.

 

[dreamblade]

The fact is we need to return to manufacturing and quit trying to make flipping burgers or stocking shelves, skilled trades.

Bingo. North America has outsourced all primary and secondary sector jobs to cut costs and make things more affordable, but the cost is that in order to afford crap even at Walmart prices, we need to make money. The US doesn't have that, and Canada is quickly catching up to that state.

I got my entire education while working full time and raising a family, paying child support and trying to keep a roof over my head. I know more that just about anyone the cost of education and living on a meager salary while doing it. It took me 15 years of night school to get my degree and 3 college diplomas. I paid my dues, but dammit I did it... and without help from anyone.

The problem with this argument is that minimum wage has not at all been adjusted to inflation. To be able to afford the same stuff I could on MW when I was in College/Uni, people today would have to be earning 17$/hr. If you're talking about MW in the 80's, the number goes up to 22$/hr.

No one is disputing the right of anyone to make a profit. The problem is that companies keep preaching about tough economy and belt-tightening, while showing significant profits EVERY QUARTER. So which one is it? Tough times or profit? Shit doesn't add up.

 

[Ohwell]

Can you blame the paramedics?.

Fast food workers in NY just won a $15/hr wage.

I'm a paramedic. My job requires a broad set of skills: interpersonal, medical, and technical skills, as well as the crucial skill of performing under pressure. I often make decisions on my own, in seconds, under chaotic circumstances, that impact people's health and lives. I make $15/hr.
And these burger flippers think they deserve as much as me?

Good for them.

Look, if any job is going to take up someone's life, it deserves a living wage. If a job exists and you have to hire someone to do it, they deserve a living wage. End of story. There's a lot of talk going around my workplace along the lines of, “These guys with no education and no skills think they deserve as much as us? Fuck those guys.” And elsewhere on FB: “I'm a licensed electrician, I make $13/hr, fuck these burger flippers.”

And that's exactly what the bosses want! They want us fighting over who has the bigger pile of crumbs so we don't realize they made off with almost the whole damn cake. Why are you angry about fast food workers making two bucks more an hour when your CEO makes four hundred TIMES what you do? It's in the bosses' interests to keep your anger directed downward, at the poor people who are just trying to get by, like you, rather than at the rich assholes who consume almost everything we produce and give next to nothing for it.

My company, as they're so fond of telling us in boosterist emails, cleared 1.3 billion dollars last year. They expect guys supporting families on 26-27k/year to applaud that. And that's to say nothing of the techs and janitors and cashiers and bed pushers who make even less than us, but they are as absolutely crucial to making a hospital work as the fucking CEO or the neurosurgeons. Can they pay us more? Absolutely. But why would they? No one's making them.

The workers in NY *made* them. They fought for and won a living wage. So how incredibly petty and counterproductive is it to fuss that their pile of crumbs is bigger than ours? Put that energy elsewhere. Organize. Fight. Win.


A $15 Minimum Wage. But Why Just for Fast-Food Workers?


https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/29/...or-fast-food-workers.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1