American Purgatory

Craftsmen who used to flock to this country to fulfill the needs of a manufacturing base flock here no more. 'Made in the USA- used to mean something. It meant quality. It was the definition of industrial capitalism. But now through the wonders of globalization we have exported our craftsmanship through an outflow of jobs to China and India as we turned everyone in the USA into real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and web designers - a perfect playground for bankers to ply their craft, lending money in every creative manner both thinkable, and unthinkable. 'Made in the USA- has been reduced to the status of punch-line - synonymous only with 'Mortgage Backed Securities- and other 'Toxic Derivatives.-

Nocal can wotakian my meep. The above quote holds more reality and truth than the last 200 nocal posts combined.

Yeah.. another meep that thinks he can predict markets.

Looking forward to seeing his 'thesis' on the pile with all the other failed guesses.

Also, guess what? Most people and businesses will always gravitate to the cheapest cost.

The above quote holds more reality and truth than the last 200 nocal posts combined.

lol

you mean...worthwhile things aren't manufactured in america?!

everyone outside of detroit ceased to be delusional about this decades ago

and this article says nothing new, original, or clever about that

but you want to beat the drum so badly that you don't care about that, do you?

Nice find. Awful premise, but nice find, just because it illustrates so clearly what no-meepin'-body will admit to. It's unfortunate no one of any influence will see this, and even more unfortunate that if they did see it, they'd 'pffft' it off as liberal bullmeep. I hope your kids'll prosper in their new collection of small countries, in the mid to southern portion of North America.

but you want to beat the drum so badly that you don't care about that, do you?

Nocal demands optimism because the glass is still only 1/16th full.

and this article says nothing new, original, or clever about that

Because only original and clever things should be said.

but you want to beat the drum so badly that you don't care about that, do you?

Ah, and while you badger me about my drum, I see you're still beating the same boring patterns on the same bullmeep drum. You are black, Mr. Pot.

But since you're so convinced that manufacturing employment is just fine in this country, let's look at the latest good news:

''Manufacturing employment fell by 41,000 in November. The average monthly decline for the past 5 months (-46,000) was much lower than the average monthly job loss for the first half of this year (-171,000). About 2.1 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since December 2007; the majority of this decline has occurred in durable goods manufacturing (-1.6 million).''

Of course, there are plenty of other options for these 2.1 million along with the other 13 million unemployed, right? I mean, heck they can all just go back to school and work at Burger King until the economy picks up again, right? Never mind the fact that this number doesn't even account for the many unemployed that have run out of unemployment insurance because, well meep, why would we bother counting them? And never mind the fact that the majority of these jobs are not coming back.

So, you tell me Nocal, how is it that the blue-collar working class in this country has nothing to worry about with this situation?

calm down.

I said I'd never comment on this site again but I will have to retract that statement you guys seem to be pretty intelligent and I thought being sarcastic and sick was the theme here... but you all are bringing up some very good points. maybe I do belong here.....dont say it..lol

OH LOL.

You think you can make (real) threats against people, then just traipse back in like nothing ever happened?

You're a bigger dumbmeep than I'd originally estimated.

This article actually contains the line: 'Think of our children...' which should sound alarms in your mind that everything to follow is going to suck.

There might be some good points in this thing, but once he went off in the direction of, 'Just look at how Flava Flav has corrupted the beautiful morality of our nation,' I checked out.

one day soon You'll get whats coming to you trust me and when It happens think of me meep....I'm laughing my meep off you really dont know who your meeping with and the joke will be on you...just remember please''' dont forget....I'm coming for you...ha ha!!!

dont forget....I'm coming for you...ha ha!!!

But since you're so convinced that manufacturing employment is just fine in this country

i don't want to speak for nocal, but my interpretation of his point is that manufacturing employment isn't just fine in this country. but this country has been increasingly moving away from manufacturing industries so maybe that shouldn't be much of an actual surprise to anyone.

i suppose those people out of jobs can go work 'service economy' jobs until, in the quest for cheaper labor, we outsource everything and then...

OK, I'll bite. Please consider my comments academic. I recognize that unemployed manufacturing workers are in a major bind, both financially and with career prospects. I just want to understand what the alternative was?

Would domestic manufacturers be barred from using substantially cheaper locations/labor sources around the world?

Therefore, would you force domestic companies to use only domestic labor at any price?

Would you force consumers to purchase only domestically manufactured products, if they could also obtain foreign produced products at a substantially cheaper price?

Would you ban or make imports too expensive via tarrifs, so foreign produced materials couldn't be sold in the United States?

In this system, the federal government would be solely responsible for providing the regulatory and financial support to this system.. because domestic manufacturers would be losing their shirt on costs, while US citizens would be paying more for these products.

Therefore, would you require the government to provide subsidizes to manufacturers (to produce and employ US workers) and to citizens (to buy these more expensive goods)?

What would you do if foreign countries countered with the same tactic, thus damaging prosperous domestic industries? Would the government need to further subsidize the loss felt by these companies that were once prosperous in foreign markets?

After that, how would sustain this system? Increased taxes?

How long do you think this system could sustain itself?

mundhra understood my point

wotak did not

and no one is surprised

I recognize that unemployed manufacturing workers are in a major bind, both financially and with career prospects. I just want to understand what the alternative was?

Are you implying that exploitation of third world labor is the only way to manufacture things?

You do understand that the only people who benefit from this business model are the ones at the top of the pyramid, right?

Or are you suggesting that free trade with China is a sustainable business model even though there is no possible way for America to compete with a financial system that was purpose-built to undermine our own?

You do understand that without tariffs in place to balance world trade, all corporations are now in the business of outsourcing everything to the worlds most exploitable poor, right?

The alternative was already in place before any of this was rubber-stamped and Globalization became the acceptable and unregulated business model.

Unregulated world commerce will fail in America with violent consequences and the only people who won't get meeped when it does are the people at the top of this mega-corporation pyramid. If you think the current system is sustainable, you should stop drinking the koolaid because there is no end in sight for the job losses this country is on track to suffer.

But when there are enough poor, disgruntled and hungry American citizens this free-trade meep heap will be toppled and it isn't going to be pretty.

Where can you buy American Steel?

Now that we are all doomed to the spiral mercury bulb, where are the domestic mines?

Why are there no Realistic American tool manufacturers?

Now you see why we're meeped.

99% of all the steel still produced in the USA is made anywhere from 2-20 miles from my house. The decline that this area has experienced over the last 30 years as companies have moved toward buying cheap Chinese steel is staggering. Both of my parents worked their entire working lives in the steel industry, and were lucky to retire with their pensions intact. Many of their friends & coworkers have not been as fortunate.

As for tool manufacturer's, there are still plenty out there, if you know where to look. Of the 100K+ products that I carry, just under 1/2 are made in the USA. For some it's a selling point, for others a cost concern.

While this is by no means an extensive list (nor all strictly tool makers...some are just metal/steel/iron/brass construction supplies mfgs), here are a few that I do business with regularly:

Pratt-Read
Seymour
Dasco
Cooper Tools
Cequent
Klein
Milwaukee
Swanson
Cal-Van
Makita
DeWalt/Black & Decker/Skil
MTD
Gilmour
United States Hardware
Channellock
American Yard Products
Arnold
Great Neck Tools
Union Tools
Weed Eater
Ames True Temper
Agri-Fab
Brass Craft
Ali Industries
Johnson Level & Tool
Husqvarna
Genie
USP Structural Connector
Chicago Die Casting
Simpson Strong Tie
Arrowhead Brass
Eton Electric
Square-D
Mueller Plumbing Supply
Dremel
Shop-Vac
Gilpin Ironworks
Leatherman Tools
Adjustable Clamp Co
Marshalltown Trowel
Peterson Manufacturing
Irwin Tools
National MFG Co
Stanley
Decker MFG Co
Brady Products
Wilson Supply Co
Mr. Heater
Little Giant/Franklin Electric
Gleason Industrial

[soapbox]The US was the worlds most trade protected nation for more than a hundred years. It was during that century of trade protection that the US ascended to it's all time economic high. In the very short time since the abolishment of these trade protections, the US has literally suffered an unprecedented economic collapse. There has been no recovery for anyone but the richest of the rich, and there is no domestic economic growth.

Every time a free-trade agreement is established with America, more jobs leave America, more corporations avoid our fair wage laws and the rich get richer. Every time a free-trade agreement is established with America, the American working man's standard of living is lowered while another country has agreed to allow our rich to exploit it's poor. None of this does anything to help America or the exploited nation grow and it is an unsustainable situation for everyone involved, except the rich who are allowed to maximize their profit margins because of it.

Trade protection is what allowed America to grow into the successful economic powerhouse that it once was. Deregulation and free-trade is what caused the collapse of that powerful economy. The reason it caused the collapse was because the rich were finally given a a free pass to abandon American workers and the labor laws and environmental protection laws that protect them in favor of exploitation without regulation. For them, it is a win/win situation. For the other 90% of Americans, it means we have become more exploitable.

Any American that subscribes to the nocalian idea that free-trade is a good thing for America is meeping retarded and naive.[/soapbox]

wotak,

You speak from a worker's perspective and you immediately assume that if a business owner wanted to make the most profit, they should just forget it.

Explain to me how a business would go about competing with companies using foreign labor. Just stick to that question before you go all Norma Ray Whackadoo

everyone relax

You speak from a worker's perspective and you immediately assume that if a business owner wanted to make the most profit, they should just forget it.

Yes I speak from a workers perspective. Has it become uncool in this millennium to speak from the labor perspective? I've spent 25 years of my life in the labor force and in those 25 years I've watched it crumble. The reasons have been simple, 1- Unions taking advantage of the system and 2- Corporations being granted the freedom to exploit the poor of other nations.

I have no problem with corporations being able to flourish as long as they do so by doing business within the confines of laws that protect the American worker and the environment. When all of those laws are cirmeepvented and corporations are allowed to abandon American workers in favor of exploitation of another nations poor, yes, I have a serious problem with that and you should too.

Explain to me how a business would go about competing with companies using foreign labor. Just stick to that question before you go all Norma Ray Whackadoo

Again, you assume that because I hold a strong pro-labor stance that I'm pro-union. I assume that this is because you think that all manufacturing is done by union labor. Let me be the one to break the news to you that it hasn't been that way for well over 2 decades. I have never worked for a union plant and have never belonged to a union. I have always worked for private enterprise with non-union labor. I have always held an anti-union stance for the simple fact that a solid 50% of the contracts that I've supported throughout my career were contracts that were either removed from a union shop because of skyrocketing labor costs or they were created as third-tier work to lower production costs by utilizing shops with non-union labor in order to support corporations with overly expensive union labor.

Now, I've already stated how America should go about competing with foreign labor. Put the trade regulations back in place to protect American workers. It worked for 100 years, it can work now.

If this isn't done America will continue to collapse because without a strong labor sector in this country the middle class will cease to exist... and it's happening right now.

Ah, you are assuming that trade regulations worked for 100 years, but fail to take into account the change in global markets and labor supply. Also, you generalize that all labor pools from foreign sources are 'exploited', and this my friend is a blatant lie. For political and marketing purposes, this belief may be convenient, but it just isn't true.

Now, you have failed to answer, how can one support a system of competition, when one of multiple businesses can deliver a product or service at substantially less than the others.

To date, your multiple replies, which are mostly emotional have failed to indicate how a domestic business could compete in a free market. Your belief in tarrifs and protectionism for one sector fails to reveal that another sector will be equally impacted in a negative way, as responsive tarriffing will be implemented.

So, is it a matter of not my hommies, but its OK with others? Do you think that protectionism and tarrifs have no negative implications for other domestic industries?

If you notice, I'm not advocating for or against labor and/or business. Being both a businessman and recently a worker, I support and understand both sides.

Not to attack your vigorous defense via emotional and personal attachment, but you haven't provided me with one practical solution, just the 'magic bullet' approach of The United States Must Protect Its Workers By ......'

Now, that is all well and so, but how can you apply that magical belief in a dynamic of complete self-interest by consumers and businesses. It just doesn't work and it never has. Yes, some may abide, but not enough to sustain.

In short, it just seems senseless to rail against something that you can't change, and that even if you could achieve 'The United States Needs To Protect Its Workers', it wouldn't last all that long, as markets would eventually destroy the equilibrium. Don't blame markets and self-interest for the pain, because you are just trying to apply the same, but to your liking.

just chill out

Now, you have failed to answer, how can one support a system of competition, when one of multiple businesses can deliver a product or service at substantially less than the others.

Yes, I did: Put the trade protections back in place.

How many time's would you like me to repeat this?

To date, your multiple replies, which are mostly emotional have failed to indicate how a domestic business could compete in a free market.

To date, your multiple replies, which have been fact free, have failed to indicate why our domestic businesses need to compete in a free-market.

Your belief in tarrifs and protectionism for one sector fails to reveal that another sector will be equally impacted in a negative way, as responsive tarriffing will be implemented.

...and your opposite beliefs are currently in practice and failing in all sectors.

Do you think that protectionism and tarrifs have no negative implications for other domestic industries?

Do you think that having 20 million unemployed Americans (and growing) is a sign of a successful free-trade model for America and Americans?

If you notice, I'm not advocating for or against labor and/or business. Being both a businessman and recently a worker, I support and understand both sides.

You can't support both sides. If you support free-trade and unregulated globalism, you are not supporting the American labor force. How can you be supporting the American labor force when you advocate sending American jobs overseas without replacing them with economic growth and employment for disenfranchised American workers? This makes no sense at all and it is exactly what is happening to the labor pool in America today.

Not to attack your vigorous defense via emotional and personal attachment, but you haven't provided me with one practical solution, just the 'magic bullet' approach of The United States Must Protect Its Workers By...

And again, you have failed to admit that trade regulations were in place when this countries economy was at it's highest point in history and since they have become cirmeepvented it is quickly approaching it's lowest economic point in history. When business are allowed to operate outside of labor protection laws, they exploit labor. Period.

So I would counter by pointing out that you have not produced one single solution and are instead pointing to obvious failure (our current failing job market in ALL sectors) and calling it worthy of support.

... and how you can assume that my input to this discussion is any more emotional than yours by reading the text on this page, is beyond me. I would suggest that it is the reader that places the emotion into the text rather than the writer.

In short, it just seems senseless to rail against something that you can't change, and that even if you could achieve 'The United States Needs To Protect Its Workers', it wouldn't last all that long, as markets would eventually destroy the equilibrium.

Untrue. You have absolutely no proof that this is the case. On the other hand, I have proof that domestic labor protection laws create prosperity for American labor: It's called historical evidence and it's something that you can not change.

Don't blame markets and self-interest for the pain, because you are just trying to apply the same, but to your liking.

Yes, I am. You'll have to forgive my obvious prejudice for American labor over cheap foreign labor. You see, I'm an American and I support prosperity for Americans. I could give three meeps about the economic state of other countries. I do not believe that hard working Americans should forgo their way of life so that American corporations can replace American labor with cheaper, more exploitable labor.

This is an unsustainable business model for the majority of Americans and the proof is in the headlines right now. Check out the job market that Americans are currently being offered in any sector, not just manufacturing, and you'll be looking at proof that it is unsustainable, is failing and the American worker is suffering because of it.

Here is a piece by Stewart Acuff, circa 2006 that put's together quite well my feelings toward globalization.

Granting unregulated freedom to corporations does not in turn create freedom and prosperity to workers. In fact, it eventually does exactly the opposite. It creates extreme prosperity for corporations at the expense of the freedom and prosperity of workers.

One must only understand the definition of greed to understand why this is so.

Any American that subscribes to the nocalian idea that free-trade is a good thing for America is meeping retarded and naive.

where did i say anything remotely like this?

To be fair, you didn't in this thread.

let's not get excited here

wotak,

you are living in a dream world. There are many markets in America that are prospering w/o tarrifs and artificial markets. Just because yours has been royally meep-meeped in the past thirty years is no reason to assume the whole economy is doomed to meep.

Your approach is that anytime competition negatively affects any market, you should intercede fully via protectionism and tarrifs to prevent the eventual death to be prolonged.

In short, your industry is dead, but you aren't buried yet.

Your solutions aren't solutions, just short term fixes. Throughout economic histories, markets fall and rise via innovation and competition. Nothing you can do to stop the inevitable, although I would agree that you could help soften the blow.

Your 'solution' has you wanting an ideal return to normal for you and all laborers, but it just isn't going to happen. There will be a lost generation or two of workers that won't or can't adapt, and for that I'm sorry.

I have asked for an answer multiple times, because your solution just isn't one.... just a fantasy.

you are living in a dream world

And I contend that you are living in the dream world. Do you actually believe that there are Americans making or building products for the global market that can't be profitably replaced by Chinese labor? I contend that these jobs include all markets from software to automobiles to military contracts.

There are many markets in America that are prospering w/o tarrifs and artificial markets.

Ok, name 5 of the many and explain why these markets are only prospering because of unregulated globalization.

...and explain to me how these ''prospering markets'' are creating prosperity and job security for labor and not just the business owners. Facts and figures would be nice because I honestly think your dreaming up the positive effects of the free global market on US labor.

There simply is no labor a US citizen can perform on a pay scale that makes them competitive on the free market. When a Chinese laborer gets paid 60 cents a day, I'd like you to explain to me how any US labor market can compete with that while employing Americans in a sustainable situation.

Your approach is that anytime competition negatively affects any market, you should intercede fully via protectionism and tarrifs to prevent the eventual death to be prolonged.

Competition is good for any market. Unfair competition on an un-level playing field is suicide. Unless you're willing to work for 60 cents a day, you can not compete with a Chinese laborer. Ever. ...and even if you are willing to work for 60 cents a day, you'll never be able to live on that income in the USA. So, you tell me, how do you plan to compete with Chinese labor on an unregulated market? Seriously, I'd like to know what you plan is.

In short, your industry is dead, but you aren't buried yet.

Is this actually supposed to support your argument? 20 million Americans are out of work and this is a positive argument for free-trade? Please explain this to me.

Your solutions aren't solutions, just short term fixes.

And I counter that your proposed solution (the current system) is the problem, not a solution.

Throughout economic histories, markets fall and rise via innovation and competition.

You talk as if our economic history is a global one when it isn't. I have no problem with this statement when you're speaking of the economic history of the US because one industry losing US jobs means the competition has created US jobs. You see, the jobs are still there, just moved within the country.

But your statement is bullmeep if you think that the US economic history contains data regarding the current, unregulated free-trade market because it doesn't. This is a whole new market that is currently writing it's history into our headlines and it's results are obvious in our job markets.

The US can not compete with Chinese labor when it is being paid 60 cents a day. Ever. Not in any market, ever. If you believe it can then you must think that Americans should work for a comparable wage, which makes you wrong and your argument null and void.

Unless you are competing with countries that have comparable economic systems, there can be no fair competition. The Chinese economic system was purpose built to undermine our own. Their currency is purposely devalued and their internal cost of living is carefully controlled to allow it's citizens to live in this manner. The only people who prosper in this market are the people with the means to exploit that Chinese labor pool for profit. ie, not you or any other US laborer.

Nothing you can do to stop the inevitable, although I would agree that you could help soften the blow.

Yes there is: abandon the unregulated global market and reinstate the trade protections and labor laws that kept the US out of this type of situation for nearly 100 years. The same system that allowed our economy to grow to it's highest point in history and the same system that, once cirmeepvented, has put American labor in the unemployments lines to the tune of 20 million and growing.

Your 'solution' has you wanting an ideal return to normal for you and all laborers, but it just isn't going to happen. There will be a lost generation or two of workers that won't or can't adapt, and for that I'm sorry.

Adapt to what? 100 years of no work available in this country? That's your plan? That's the new norm? That's the new American way of life? Unemployed people on welfare because only business owners and corporations that can use Chinese labor can prosper in this country?

Brilliant.

I suggest we forgo your concept of where the US should be headed and get the meep out of a market we simply can not compete in.

I have asked for an answer multiple times, because your solution just isn't one.... just a fantasy.

lol, really? Because your idea of where this country should be headed and mine are completely different, I must be the one that's wrong, right? If you truly believe that generations of ''normal market fluctuation to reach an equilibrium'' (which is the thrust of your entire argument) doesn't mean that this country is headed for an extended term of unemployment for perhaps a hundred of million US citizens, you are the one living in a complete fantasy world.

The only way for a world market to compete with Chinese labor is if the rest of the market adopted the Chinese economic system, and guess what, that ain't never going to happen.

An unregulated global free market is unsustainable and only benefits the richest of the rich.

shhhh, it's OK

To be fair, you didn't in this thread.

my father recently declared bankruptcy because his personally manufactured product can't compete with a bevy of cheap chinese knock offs

if you think your point of view is some kind of revelation, then you probably also think the smarmily pedantic link is worth an oily wotak fart

if you think your point of view is some kind of revelation...

I don't. I just think it's a topic that needs to be discussed more often so that the dummies among us will stop believing that everything is ok and the system is working just fine.

I feel bad for your Pops. I personally know quite a few people that are in similar situations and it's wrong that they can not compete in this market by no fault of their own.

so, we're cool?

As long as Wotak is unemployed, we aren't cool.

Hey, you answered your own question... this is a new paradigm and expecting things just to got back to the old factory worker earning $18+ / hour is delusional. Those days are gone and the sooner you accept that (Step 1: Acceptance), the sooner you'll shut up.

As for your prospects and the other 20 million, I really do hope they turn out positive.

In all of these long posts from Wotak, I just envisioned Grandpappy Wotak shaking his gnarled fist at the nasty Steam Powered Buggy that was going to marginalize his chain of stables across the midwest. I bet he scrawled out numerous, wordy missives to the Daily Telegram's editor.

Hey, you answered your own question... this is a new paradigm and expecting things just to got back to the old factory worker earning $18+ / hour is delusional.

You are meeping retarded and out of touch with reality but I would expect as much from a dummkopf that actually thinks that allowing corporations to operate without any oversight is good for American labor.

Those days are gone and the sooner you accept that (Step 1: Acceptance), the sooner you'll shut up.

...because everyone that disagrees with you should just shut up, right? It's so much easier than you actually having to properly discuss the validity of anything you type into the internet, right?

As for your prospects and the other 20 million, I really do hope they turn out positive.

lol, you are retarded. How can you be hoping things will turn out positive for American labor while supporting jobs being exported to China and India by the million?

Your meeping logic is not only flawed, it's literally a self-igniting brain-fart in a paper hat.

In all of these long posts from Wotak, I just envisioned Grandpappy Wotak shaking his gnarled fist at the nasty Steam Powered Buggy that was going to marginalize his chain of stables across the midwest. I bet he scrawled out numerous, wordy missives to the Daily Telegram's editor.

Your weak creative attempt at one final insulting, dismissive wave of the hand is not only unfunny and pedantic, it's about as creative as a meep on a plate, which ironically, is exactly what your opinion on this topic has proven to be.

Dear Wotak,

You have so seriously assumed so many things in your replies, it makes me think that you have tremendous amounts of time, sitting around unemployed, typing endless streams of meep from your brain into the keyboard.

Almost all your assertions are wrong, but I don't really care to undo your meep-knot.

What I will say is this... my argument has been mostly from a pragmatic view of most likely outcomes. Your views are all valid and well reasoned, but your solution just will never, ever happen.

So, when you and your 20 million bretheren get re-employed at decent wages because of tarrifs and government protectionism, I'll buy each one of you a beer.

Dear bigdinwaunakee,

You have so brilliantly underlined your pro-corporate lemmingness in the above posts that I'm quite sure that you couldn't see reality if seven men used seven pry-bars to prod your head from your meep and stapled the facts to your eyeballs.

All your assertions are wrong, as you will see in time.

What I will say is this... my argument has been based on reality, current events, domeepented history and from the rightful point of view that corporations without oversight are unethical enemies of the common man. Your views are all invalid and read as if they came directly from a corporate PR manual. They observed and even pointed out the many failures in your own arguments and attempted to puppet those failures as evidence that there is nothing wrong with the current economic system.

So, when you join 50 to 100 million of my brethren and I in the unemployment pool, please feel free to go meep yourself.

Dear godevillivedog,

You're welcome for the 1000 reads.

Love and kisses, 'Tak

(sigh)

Wotak,

I own several businesses... so I don't think I'll be filing unemployment forms anytime soon. I would say on average, most of my employees are well paid and enjoy their jobs. Fortunately, we don't occupy a sector of the economy that is dead or dying, but being rationale human beings, we are aware that could happen to us. But if it did, we wouldn't be venting on some site, crying like some little meepes, hoping for some dream unicorn to restore our rightful place of employment.

Now if you could sell your populist rage, heck, you could too be a biznessman. You could be the man, at which angry whities could shake their fists. meep, you seem so sure of a better way, that you should start your own business, employ American workers, and compete in a global economy. Your way may be a better way. And if you can pull it off, I'll buy you and all your employees a beer.

As always, thanks for sharing your love and insights.

ha ha, OK, you undercover tycoon.

Tanks fo hangin' out wid us po-foke an settin' us meepas straight on da ways of ya'll rich and successfo peepos. We's all be glad fo you takin' da time away from runnin' yo corporate empire long enough ta edumacate us, yessiree.

No seriously, I own several businesses. From a family that has owned their own business since 1908. I'm the only one that didn't stay around. Struck out on my own. I have worked in over five distinct industries in my short career, mostly technical. I have owned / been involved / invested in businesses of various success since I was a sophomore in college.

Not an employee, although I once was.

Nice try at sarcasm though.

What you don't know is quite extensive.

And although you might find it hard to believe that someone how actually owns a biz would hang on this site, it is true... very true. My reasons are my own. I have never felt like I'm slumming.. it never crossed my mind. I learn something new here, once in awhile. Overall, my experiences here are quite compatible with being an entrepreneur.

If I'm not mistaken, a Mr. CA is/was once involved in business, and too was 'the man' to some employees.

So, with that information share, I bid you all a very Merry Christmas.

Thanks for the rads guys, it was truly a beautiful thing to watch. Saving this one to my Linkswarm folder.

One of my sisters owns an entrepreneurial bizness. She makes a lot of deliveries in parking lots.

this is a new paradigm and expecting things just to got back to the old factory worker earning $18+ / hour is delusional. Those days are gone and the sooner you accept that (Step 1: Acceptance), the sooner you'll shut up.

I can't agree more.. tak explained it well in his comment..

There simply is no labor a US citizen can perform on a pay scale that makes them competitive on the free market. When a Chinese laborer gets paid 60 cents a day, I'd like you to explain to me how any US labor market can compete with that while employing Americans in a sustainable situation.

gville,

Good to hear. Next time I have $25 and traveling by your sister, I'll swing into the Shopko lot for a BJ. If I tell her that Pimp Bro sent me, can I get a discount?

Reading Between The Lines: 101

I own several businesses... so I don't think I'll be filing unemployment forms anytime soon.

• Let me start off by asserting my dominance over your social status. I am immune to the economic illnesses that effect people of your caliber and I will remind you of this each time you anger me with your pesky facts.

Fortunately, we don't occupy a sector of the economy that is dead or dying, but being rationale human beings, we are aware that could happen to us. But if it did, we wouldn't be venting on some site, crying like some little meepes, hoping for some dream unicorn to restore our rightful place of employment.

• This discussion is below me. It is so far below me that I will only comment here to assert my dominance over your kind. I am not commenting here because I care about this discussion. I am only commenting because you are stupid and believe that laborers somehow deserve jobs. I say, nay! If those people want jobs, let them start their own business like we do!

No seriously, I own several businesses. From a family that has owned their own business since 1908.

• I am now reasserting my position of economic stature and reminding you that it is above yours. This is to remind you that you are a loser and are stupid. I want you to keep this in mind as I tell you that your opinions as a laborer are irrelevant because it is I, as an employer, who is responsible for speaking for you, as a laborer. Now shut up and admire my successes

• My Family is very ''well to do'' and has been for a century. In fact I was born into money and always got the cool toys that all the stupid laborer kids wanted for Christmas. Remember that awesome ''FAT WHEELS'' remote control jeep you wanted but didn't get because your parents were poor and stupid? Well I got two, and I broke them both in front of some stupid laborers kid just to show him who was better.

I'm the only one that didn't stay around. Struck out on my own.

• I didn't want to have to get a job like some common laborer so my Father financed my first business.

I have owned / been involved / invested in businesses of various success since I was a sophomore in college.

• I didn't have to put myself through college like you did. While you were busy working two part-time jobs and studying, I was busy investing my Fathers money and slumming for poor chicks to meep meep. That's when I became an entrepreneur.

Not an employee, although I once was.

• I spent one summer working for my Father. It sucked so I talked him into financing the rest of my education and, later, my first business.

And although you might find it hard to believe that someone how actually owns a biz would hang on this site, it is true... very true. My reasons are my own. I have never felt like I'm slumming..

• Again, I need to reassert my social status and it's proximity to your lower standing. I don't come to linkswarm because I'm like you, I come here for my own secret reasons that you wouldn't understand because you're not like me. Don't get me wrong, I have some laborer friends, so it's not like I'm slumming. I just like to come here to see how lowly you people are and to puff up my self-esteem by reminding you that I'm the man when you get out of line.

I learn something new here, once in awhile. Overall, my experiences here are quite compatible with being an entrepreneur.

• Coming up with profitable ideas is a hobby of mine and when I'm not doing it in the real world, I like to come here and point out to the little people that I do it in the real world. I also like to invent new realities right here on linkswarm, which is kind of the same. For example: Unregulated global corporate entities are now a good thing for domestic laborers... Yeah, I know, isn't it awesome!? I just invented that little gem since this discussion began. meep, I'm a genius.

If I'm not mistaken, a Mr. CA is/was once involved in business, and too was 'the man' to some employees.

• Excuse me while I establish common ground with someone other than you.

Next time I have $25 and traveling by your sister, I'll swing into the Shopko lot for a BJ. If I tell her that Pimp Bro sent me, can I get a discount?

• You see there are always options for you unemployed laborers. For example: sucking meep in a parking lot isn't below your social standing, so buck up and get to work. Everything is fine. Just let us corporations worry about the little things like laws and foreign economic policy and you get back to doing whatever it is you people do. Now if you'll excuse me, I have my Fathers money to count.

Sorry Bigdin, but that's not what she's dropping off.
But if you ever want your hair to stand on end, by all means, give her a call.
She's always looking for additional investment capital.