Re: [Phys-l] SOLAR , NUCLEAR ENERGY etc.

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

Three points here one cause.

1)  Toyota was profitable, IIRC, it's having it's first downturn  
since Japan's monetary crisis the previous century.  Continuing:  
because it is not burdened selectively by pension and health  
obligation.  It, and, of course, all Japan's industry, benefits from  
Japan's nationalized health and pension, like the rest of the  
civilized** developed world.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/japan/socsec/maruo/maruo_5.html

> ... negotiations, which were unfairly strengthened by federal law,  
> and ...

2)  What law(s)?  The US has the most anti-labour laws in the Western  
developed world.

http://www.dickmeister.com/id89.html

http://www.aclufl.org/take_action/download_resources/info_papers/12.cfm


> >  ... amazing success
> > Wal-Mart has attracting employees.


3)  any employer of unskilled labour has no difficulty finding  
workers when unemployment is above 10%.  It is not amazing.

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat1.pdf

http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data

The cause?  Unfettered capitalism.  Unfettered by law or labour  
combinations in restraint of trade.

** I do not consider the US a civilized country.  It is a rogue  
nation both externally and internally.

bc former union negotiator.

p.s. I suppose Bob, et al. are into the politics of the privileged.



On 2009, Apr 14, , at 06:29, David T. Marx wrote:

> The US automakers are now in big trouble because their obligations for
> health and retirement plans eat up more than their gross income.  In
> addition, they have historically paid very high wages, considering the
> skill levels of many of the jobs.  This happened because of union
> negotiations, which were unfairly strengthened by federal law, and  
> the car
> makers had to give in to their demands.  A short time ago, GM and  
> Toyota
> had the same gross income, but Toyota was profitable because they  
> were not
> hindered by the same union contracts as GM, Ford, and Chrysler.   
> Toyota
> offers decent wages and benefits, but not to the point of being a  
> losing
> entity.
>
> > That's the stock answer supplied by those heavily into the  
> > "politics of
> > the underprivileged", but it doesn't explain the amazing success
> > Wal-Mart has attracting employees. Unions cover such a small  
> > fraction of
> > US workers that their use as an example is basically irrelevant  
> > except
> > as an anachronistic anecdote.
> >
> > Bob at PC