Elephants and Donkeys . . .

Alright... this is getting to be enough. I am getting so tired of people fighting over how it's fair and correct for corporations to do nothing but focus on making as much money as possible. That is no way to live... for anyone. Corporations should have a fair chance of making profit, competitiveness and all that but should equally feel the burden to provide for the culture and people that brought them up in the first place... starting with education.

Nobody in this country would be where they are without an education. And I'd say, what, at LEAST 75% of all 'functioning' people from public schools. Why take away anything from a teacher? Why be worried that they have TOO MUCH?!? They have the biggest responsibility and we give that to them by putting our children's future in their hands... why not just work out what is fair, what is right, rather than what they have too much of?

The crisis in Wisconsin has reached the point where it's no longer a fight for justice, there are outright lies and pandering to corporation greed with the governor there admitting he's gone hypocritical on everything that's happened. He was raised on a platform of budget reform, 'tightening the belt' so to say, NOT union busting. Then he pushes a corrupt, snappy bill through that he publicly admits had NOTHING to do with fiscal matters. None. But they HAD to push it through while the democrats were gone... disgusting, and sad.

I was in a discussion about this on a forum today and responded to a post as such:

"Originally posted by dolphinfan

It is not a companies obligation to create jobs.   It is a companies job to deliver share holder value.   Ideally they have enough confidence in the future prospects of the economy to hire people as they pursue a growth strategy, but they are not obligated to do so.
Let me get a chalk board and draw it out for you.   Revenue/profits does not equal jobs.   It may, but it may not.   A clear economic policy and some competence in the governance of international affairs creates economic stability which encourages firms to embark on growth strategies.   We have an absence of both at the moment.   In light of that the right corporate strategy is to hunker down and ride out the uncertainty.   If a company has x people and is generating a healthy profit and sees organic growth which they deem sufficient, should they hire?   Of course not.
Profits are up because inventories are low and firms have cut waste and streamlined operations to maintain profit margins (the same thing government should be doing). "

AND MY RESPONSE...

And being that your opportunity to make this money, to start this huge successful corporation was because of America. Because it was America who raised you, created the culture you thrived in and the ability to create your own empire you shouldn't feel you have any dues? It was the people around you, that made you. It was the teachers that when you were young inspired you, your hospitals and fire departments that responded when YOU needed help or your life saved, just so you could go on tomorrow and create a big business.

It's great that people have the intelligence, skill, and aptitude to be CEO of a huge corporation and reap massive benefits. All the power to you, but do you not feel any need to give return to or just live amongst your countrymen and peers? I personally imagine, knowing that eventually it will come to reinforce me in the end (through business model) that sacrificing 5% of my profits to make their lives better is similar to our government giving the rich a tax break, so they aren't concerned as much about how much they spend.

Apple creates a product that Americans enjoy, they outsource to China for cheap parts and sell it back to Americans. That's great and all for the corporation, but couldn't that CEO feel a little responsibility and warmth to his country to give the opportunity to create jobs for his own people who made him what he is today?

I don't see any problem with big corporations sacrificing some to give back to those who made them what they are. And certainly don't take away from those who are continuing to provide a quality of life you expect and do receive. Why would you want to take anything away from our teachers that educate your young? The brave, daring firemen who rescue your family and belongings when YOU or someone else mess up.

The situations with unions may not be perfect, but by no means should we take ANYTHING away from our infrastructure and our citizens. It's immoral. Why not be civil and democratic about the situation and DISCUSS the collective bargaining to where it makes sense for both the government AND, God forbid, the people. You know, the people actually have a say in what's fair for their tax money to be spent on?

No, go ahead and continue these illegal actions because the CEOs and huge corps had just as much opportunity as the teacher who passionately educations and furiously fights for fair rights, and resources. Let's keep piling on the demands for our public workers. Let's kick 'em to the curb, and not listen to them or give them a chance. Let's just listen to the big corporations who fill our pockets, not to the people. They aren't struggling with over burdened class sizes, hectically long work weeks, improving their plans and quality of teachings, lack of resources or anything like that. They could give up their job and go be an analyst with their education and make mega bucks, unfortunately a lot of them feel passion and just want to be able to live comfortably doing what they love and what people NEED in society.

This is about fairness, democracy, and being enough of an adult and American to discuss with the people what is right to do. By hastily sneaking bills under the people's noses... treating them like dirt... what are you accomplishing at all?

We'll just let the corporations suck us dry then they can pick up everything, move over to India and continue on selling services back to the US when we get back on our feet and start expanding again. What then will you say, that's their total right. They shouldn't feel any obligation to be an American company, and serve the American people? Everyone can do a lot more to help our their fellow man. You can redistribute your wealth, just as someone else may redistribute their time priorities to donate time to volunteering, helping the needy. Nope, make them worker harder for less and give back less.

We are accomplishing corporate level perfectly. What does a country mean, when you can be competitive and just wait for Google to be the next country, maybe Yahoo will follow and then Wal-Mart can get a chance. Vicious, glorious cycle of money and opportunity to make yourself more and others less!

I don't see why we can't break it down to a fundamental level and see that this isn't working for everybody. We need to handle this more humanely, take time and patience and do things RIGHT long term than what will get us through until the next party can take over in 2012 blah blah blah... fuck it. We're all people... Living in a great country with great opportunity and people, let's reinforce that by structuring our teachers and making sure our kids are taken care of first... that will never happen if we continue fighting over who is making TOO MUCH money, than what is right for everybody and their respective responsibility, working conditions, and benefits.

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I'll go back and say this much... the biggest problem that people have, as far as I can tell, with the public workers is that they aren't up to snuff. That when they are marked with a similar profession, they have to out perform them for 1/4 the benefits and blah blah blah... Well, my main thing right now is this...

"GOVERNMENT'S POSITION IS NOT RESTRICTION, IT IS REGULATION"

And that should apply to controlling their workers, too. I think if you represent the state you should be held to highest standards of requirement, as they have the most resources available to dedicate a quality job takes place. I think collective bargaining is good, not only in terms of negotiating wages but work environment regulation on how many resources are available, what requirements they need to make (such as whiteboards for a classroom, and what dimensions they need to be. How many desks need to be available, sizes of classrooms) as well as what would be a comfortable wage and expenses and such... why can we not look at this as people, as Americans, all as once society and respect each other and our skills, work, dedications...

Instead we have corrupt parties, going for corrupt actions, for corrupt corporations and corrupt people who wouldn't know what helping a fellow man meant other than throwing some change in a homeless man's cup. That isn't providing for your fellow man. That isn't creating an equal playing field. Pity for the weak, praise for the strong... and cut out the middle class completely.

Unfortunately that's where I, and many other Americans find the true American dream. In that we have the opportunity to chase almost any career imaginable, go to a multitude of education establishments, see such a huge diversity in hill sides, country, big cities, forests, deserts, mountains all wrapped in a bundle of freedom to be ourselves... I don't want to be RICH, I don't want to work 80 hours a week. I want to make a decent wage, working decent hours in a career that I ENJOY where I'm enjoying my career and providing a service rather than working. Where I can balance professional time with family, vacation, helping my neighbor and building up a house to be a functional part in a good looking neighborhood to bring a sense of self-satisfaction to myself and a sense of pride to my neighbors by living in such a good place.

Where I know my children will have a good education from a teacher that doesn't want to sit in front of a class and BITCH about their job for 45 minutes, and half assedly assign you Algebra homework for the other 15. Those were my middle school years, seriously. People get into teaching because they are passionate, want to make a difference but everything about the current system downplays that as we should be run like a streamlined, sleek corporation not a do-well cornerstone of success...

THE AMERICAN DREAM IS DYING FOR THE AMERICAN MAN. And it saddens me, as when we're left crumbling Convergys, Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft, etc. can pick up everything and move to another country in the blink of an eye and continue profits. That they can, right now, take the investments from American people and tax moneys and develop jobs for other countries... and still have Americans drool over your product for a 5% profit margin... makes me sad. Because you gain everything, but have given nothing back...