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EDITOR:
I hope that all the Obama worshipers out there took heed of his recent statement that the private sector is doing fine; what we now need is more government jobs. The dire economic conditions we are in require more private sector jobs not government jobs. Government employees constitute a drain on governmental budgets as they draw more in wages and benefits than they pay in taxes. Their overdraft from the country’s coffers can only be made up by taxes paid by private sector workers and the businesses that employ them. So why would Obama say what he said? Government employees are controlled by the governmental bodies that hire them and this leads to the control he wants of the population so that government will eventually completely control the entire country. It is time go get him out of the White House before he completely destroys the democratic republic that was the corner stone upon which this country was founded.
The increase in private sector jobs will only happen if labor unions are stopped from running up the cost of labor for American companies. The cost of government fees and taxes compose a significant cost of doing business in America but these can be handled if the cost of labor was not driven so high that American companies cannot compete in the now worldwide market. Labor unions were important many years ago in fighting unjust working conditions especially in child labor places like the garment factories. But now they are driving the American manufacturing facilities off shore where the cost of labor is more reasonable. That results in a reduction in the number of jobs available here and thereby reduces the opportunity for the unemployed in this country to get a job. They also are responsible for the sale of old standard American companies to foreign invertors so that they get away from the union dominance in the workforce here and let some other country fuss with the union mess. Somehow we must wake up the American public that this country was founded upon hard work and self-sufficiency, not to provide a handout from a government who can borrow trillions of dollars to supply the lazy a means of support.
RAY LABAHN
Placerville
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RichJune 27, 2012 - 6:54 am
It's not that simply... The standard line of many folks on unions is that it might be nice to have protection at work, but they cost us jobs in the global economy. Before you buy the usual rightwing ramble about unions sinking the economy and driving jobs overseas, note two basic realities. First, look at Sweden, a country where almost all workers are unionized yet it has lower unemployment than the United States, better health care and more leisure for its workers. More dramatically, look at southern states in the US where unions are almost non-existent, yet manufacturing jobs are hemorrhaging overseas. Myths about Unions: The myth that unions cost jobs comes from the fact that manufacturing was heavily unionized when the first bout of global competition hit in the 1970s. Today, with large chunks of manufacturing in the right-to-work South, there is still massive job loss despite lack of unions. We are seeing that if the game is who can drive wages down the most, the US can't go low enough to compete with China. So the only answer is increasing productivity and innovation. And unions drive growth by improving both.
kggJune 27, 2012 - 7:43 am
Labor unions are still needed because most companies are concerned with dollars and not the well being of their employees. Ask anyone who works 32 hours/week just so their employer won't have to pay benefits. Jobs going overseas is caused by greed. Why pay someone here $12/hour when you can obtain workers in another country for the poverty wage of $2/hour? These companies screw our economy and our country and then go abroad and screw foreign workers.
Arnold LangeJune 27, 2012 - 8:23 am
"Government employees are controlled by the governmental bodies that hire them and this leads to the control he wants of the population so that government will eventually completely control the entire country." Yes, the president is using mind control. He wants to employee as many gov employees as he can so take over the country and then the rest of the world. Ray La Bahn....TAKE YOUR MEDS!
Reality CheckJune 27, 2012 - 9:57 am
Phrases like "take your meds" and "tin foil . . . " serve only one purpose; you feel witty. Reality Check: You're too lazy to think through issues.
James E.June 27, 2012 - 10:23 am
The "Job Creators" are not going to create jobs because demand is not there. Ergo, during a recession, the government must create jobs (jobs that are necessary for the good of the nation -- for example, infrastructure). Our infrastructure is crumbling, what are we waiting for? Oh, now I remember, the Party of NO whose priority is keeping the economy in duress so as to cause President Obama to be defeated in November. What patriots they are!!
James E.June 27, 2012 - 10:46 am
Mr. or Ms. Reality Check,it appears Mr. Labahn thought through the issues and has come up sounding irrational and delusional. President Obama wants to completely control the entire country? Really? Really?? In this case, Mr. Lange's reminder to Mr. Labahn to take his medications may well be valid.
Ken SteersJune 27, 2012 - 11:10 am
America is hurting. Very little impact regarding unions in private sector. Unions do nothing and you can't name anything a union does to increase productivity and innovation. But we can thank the original unions for forcing government to set mandatory labor laws. An answer as to why are public sector unions needed should be asked. Unlike our last 9 presidents and congress have believed all the way back to JFK, neither an individual nor a government has ever in history been able to spend it's way out of debt. We all have a price to pay because the best and brightest amongst us no longer run our Republic. The impact of Stockton filing bankruptcy will affect our society in untold ways for generations. For if it is OK for government to ignore it's financial obligations and welch on services rendered why isn't it OK for it's citizens? I thought we all came to the understanding that it's aluminum foil hats? I guess we'll just argue and debate and ignore while we watch our standard of living slip away.
Dink LaneJune 27, 2012 - 4:45 pm
Why do public sector jobs need Unions?..... Look at the pay-cuts, and reduction of retirement benefits.... They are ALL with janitors, clerks, and secretaries...... NOT ONE UPPER-MANAGEMENT jobs... They have NOT had their pay or Benefits cut.....THEY AREN'T UNION..... If janitors didn't have unions who would speak for them??? They don't have lobbyist..... Here is one... go on http://assembly.ca.gov/sites/assembly.ca.gov/files/Salaries/Assembly_Staff_Salaries_05.31.12.pdf.... Find ONE PERSON...staffer to our ASSEMBLY MEMBERS.... find ONE that makes what a UNION WORKER MAKES..... These guys are NOT union... They have NOT taken ANY CUTS IN PAY OR BENEFITS... If unions didn't fight for them...they would get minimum wages-no benefits and hr a week..... and STAFFERS would still get $223,000 PLUS a full package... NON-Negotiable... Let's go kick a janitor... It makes some feel better...
Arnold LangeJune 27, 2012 - 5:17 pm
Public sector unions were originally created mostly for job security. A new administration would come in and start replacing public employees(school principals etc.) with their friends. Unions put a stop to that.
Sly GirlJune 27, 2012 - 11:00 pm
A big problem that drives up labor costs is that too many people believe they are entitled to benefits simply by virtue of employment. When this model changes (and employees create their own benefits via taking charge of that sector of their lives) then we will have a more competitive labor market. Bottom line: The pervasive entitlement mentality needs to be flushed out of our society.
robertdnollJune 28, 2012 - 5:46 am
Labahn should have studied before he took his aptitude tests the unions require