Socialism In My Neighbourhood

[BSmack]

If you equate organised labour and free education with Stalinism, you have a screw loose.

How is that organized labor working out for the longshoremen in Portland? We demand X, Y and Z. Since we aren't getting it we will slow down or not work. Wait, uhhh...what do you mean no more ships are coming to Portland...ummm...we are ready to work now. We have bills and mortgages and need food. Wait, you are really serious that we no longer have jobs. Ohh crap.

And that has exactly what to do with Stalinism?

[Dinsdale]

How is that organized labor working out for the longshoremen in Portland? We demand X, Y and Z. Since we aren't getting it we will slow down or not work. Wait, uhhh...what do you mean no more ships are coming to Portland...ummm...we are ready to work now. We have bills and mortgages and need food. Wait, you are really serious that we no longer have jobs. Ohh crap.

Those GED-toting fuckers were making serious coin, too. And them driving the container ships out of town put a measurable dent in the local/state economy, too.

And the one party that rules the city and state that believe the unions can do no wrong sat back and did nothing while it went down (although it wasn't his job in particular, the governor was too busy trying to scrub email servers at the time).


Ain't unions awesome? But as the libbies tell us, they're quite necessary, because no one else would want that job for a measly $150K a year, and working conditions in those government-backed workplaces are horrific.

[Left Seater]

Organized labor is all about the subordination of individual interests for the alleged greater collective good. This is Stalinism at its heart. Never mind that organized labor just cost the longshoremen their jobs or that Stalinism caused the famine in the early 30s.

[BSmack]

Organized labor is all about the subordination of individual interests for the alleged greater collective good. This is Stalinism at its heart. Never mind that organized labor just cost the longshoremen their jobs or that Stalinism caused the famine in the early 30s.

You just equated a collective bargaining stance gone wrong with Stalin starving out 30 million peasants? Yea, because they are totally the same thing.

[Jay in Phoenix]

Orwell (a committed Trotskyite) was warning about authoritarianism, but I'll grant it that Stalinism was in his sites primarily.

If you equate organised labour and free education with Stalinism, you have a screw loose.

Not even remotely what I was suggesting. As the book was concerned, i was referring to, as you indicated, overruling governmental authority and Socialism. Not to dismiss Orwell's personal history, it was the inherent message of the story that sparked my comments in regards to Wolman's first post

Not sure how you got the free education and organized labour out of what I wrote as my point. But as is, we're good.

[R-Jack]

1980s WWF Superstars

They're dead Jim.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

...it was the inherent message of the story that sparked my comments in regards to Wolman's first post

Wolfman spent his whole life training to be, then working as an educator.

And now he lives in a mobile home and eats cat food...whereas the people who looted your country live in neighbourhoods you can't afford to even walk through.

[Jay in Phoenix]

Wolfman kind of hit a solid point here, as the "Animal Farm" analogy is pretty right on.

Great book by Orwell and a lesson through analogy, that seems to have been forgotten, or ignored, over the years.

Especially in this country and this administration and the drones who buy into what they're selling.

I'm not shocked that Wolfie doesn't get Animal Farm. I am surprised you missed the point. Animal Farm is no more a critique of the Democratic Socialism than it is a an expose of 1980's WWF Superstars. Now had you said Stalinism, you would have been spot on.

Damn Bri, as with Marty, you didn't even come close to what I was saying.

How that relates to the WWF is lost on me, as I have never followed that specific excuse for "entertainment".

I'll own that I wasn't particularly clear in my response to Wolfman, but don't mistake that for thinking I wasn't talking about the books regard to Stalinism. However, with that said, the direction this administration is heading toward, and has been for some time, is a mirror image of Animal Farm's primary theme. If you disagree, then you're wearing your party loyalties a bit to close to the vest.

Apologies upfront if I have your intent wrong.

[R-Jack]

"You don't necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants or of 18 different pairs of sneakers when children are hungry in this country. I don't think the media appreciates the kind of stress that ordinary Americans are working on."

--Bernie Sanders

This is such an odd quote on its own

First off, I never see a spray deodorant on the shelves anywhere anymore. There is definately not 23 styles if there is. Also, what does the selection of deodorants have to do with anything? No child is going hungry because their parents bought all 23 types of deodorant.

Second, I agree about the shoes......until New Balance rolled out all those retro styles this year.

[Jay in Phoenix]

...it was the inherent message of the story that sparked my comments in regards to Wolman's first post

Wolfman spent his whole life training to be, then working as an educator.

And now he lives in a mobile home and eats cat food...whereas the people who looted your country live in neighbourhoods you can't afford to even walk through.

Blah blah whatever. Care to actually make a salient point Marty? Very unfunny, very wrong.

Go squeeze a milk bag and come back after your US lactose intolerance has abated.

[Dr_Phibes]

And what, exactly, have you done in service to "the real thing" other than squirt off in your Che Guevara jammies?

Volunteer work for the KFA in a onesie. Slippers on? Old Spice Game Day? Yep. More than that fraud ever did.

[mvscal]

"You don't necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants or of 18 different pairs of sneakers when children are hungry in this country. I don't think the media appreciates the kind of stress that ordinary Americans are working on."

--Bernie Sanders

This is such an odd quote on its own

First off, I never see a spray deodorant on the shelves anywhere anymore.

He's old. He's older than dirt. He's even older than Goobs. He's a fly preserved in amber in 1969. Unfunky and obsolete...and he's out of time.

[Goober McTuber]

Damn Bri, as with Marty, you didn't even come close to what I was saying.

This may just be a reflection on your communication skills.

[Jay in Phoenix]

Damn Bri, as with Marty, you didn't even come close to what I was saying.

This may just be a reflection on your communication skills.

I can own that, to a point. But only to a point.

As you again have butted into a thread with no other seeming purpose than being an ass, what is your impression of Animal Farm and it's relevance today, especially with our current administration?

[R-Jack]

you again have butted into a thread with no other seeming purpose than being an ass

What the BillyBobButtfuck is wrong with that?!?

[Left Seater]

Organized labor is all about the subordination of individual interests for the alleged greater collective good. This is Stalinism at its heart. Never mind that organized labor just cost the longshoremen their jobs or that Stalinism caused the famine in the early 30s.

You just equated a collective bargaining stance gone wrong with Stalin starving out 30 million peasants? Yea, because they are totally the same thing.

Just because you don't see them as the same doesn't mean they aren't. Subordinate your interest for the greater collective good.

[Dr_Phibes]

Considering labour unions were outlawed under Lenin and Stalin makes your position a bit tenuous.

[Left Seater]

Considering labour unions were outlawed under Lenin and Stalin makes your position a bit tenuous.

Considering the party was one big labor union, individual unions seem redundant.

[Dr_Phibes]

So it seems that Stalin recognised the self-interest and egotism in a local union. It functions the needs of its members and not the greater good. And he took steps to eradicate it.

[Goober McTuber]

Damn Bri, as with Marty, you didn't even come close to what I was saying.

This may just be a reflection on your communication skills.

I can own that, to a point. But only to a point.

Well, that's a start. It's just that in the past couple of weeks you've said that gambling ruined football but you really meant it's ruined families, you've misused "penultimate" and "eschew", and now this. I was beginning to think Felix stole your password.

In the interest of fair disclosure, a few days ago I misinterpreted a smackaholic post.

[Jay in Phoenix]

This may just be a reflection on your communication skills.

Well, that's a start. It's just that in the past couple of weeks you've said that gambling ruined football but you really meant it's ruined families, you've misused "penultimate" and "eschew", and now this. I was beginning to think Felix stole your password.

In the interest of fair disclosure, a few days ago I misinterpreted a smackaholic post.

Gambling has ruined individuals, families and on occasion, games.

That is of course not the norm, yet it has and DOES happen. Pete Rose ring a bell?

Goobs, I make grammatical errors on occasion and this has only been enhanced by the hamstringing of the auto correct feature of this freaking iPad I am stuck using. Not to make any excuses, but fuggin' shit happens. At least I own up to it bro.

You said yourself you did it in the above quote.

It's all cool Goober. At least you are aren't going full Poptart here.

[Moving Sale]

Civil servants should not be able to unionize.
Everybody else? Have at it. If people can band together to form companies then why shouldn't people be able to band together also?

[Left Seater]

Civil servants should not be able to unionize.
Everybody else? Have at it. If people can band together to form companies then why shouldn't people be able to band together also?

Can't really argue with any of that. Let employees unionize as long as employers can let workers go at any time for any or no reason.

[Moving Sale]

Not any reason. You shouldn't be able to fire someone for being white or a male or from Texas.

[Left Seater]

Why shouldn't I be able to fire anyone who works for me at any time?


That said if I wanted to get rid of someone in my company I would build a case over the period of a few weeks/months and then bye bye.

[Moving Sale]

Because some things about your employees are none of your business.

[Left Seater]

Because some things about your employees are none of your business.

Sure, what they do when not a work isn't my business unless it could harm the image of the company, hinder their ability to perform at work, cause a disruption while at work, anger clients, etc, etc, etc.

Still doesn't answer the question of why I shouldn't be able to let any employee go at any time.

[Moving Sale]

You answered your own question.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

If you don't understand the implicit social contract between worker, employer and State in a western, liberal democracy...then it's obvious you were either asleep in class or never graduated.

[Left Seater]

You answered your own question.

Not so fast. Let's say I just decide to terminate Paul this afternoon. He is a nice guy but I decide it is time for him to go. No reason other than that. What would you tell him when he knocked on your door wanting to sue me for wrongful termination?

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

You answered your own question.

Not so fast. Let's say I just decide to terminate Paul this afternoon. He is a nice guy but I decide it is time for him to go. No reason other than that. What would you tell him when he knocked on your door wanting to sue me for wrongful termination?

What would you say about a government agency that yanks your license to operate, seizes your assets and does a forensic investigation of all your company's financial documents...because some bureaucrat has a political hatchet to bury?

See how that works?

[Go Coogs']

What would you say about a government agency that yanks your license to operate, seizes your assets and does a forensic investigation of all your company's financial documents...because some bureaucrat has a political hatchet to bury?

See how that works?

Bernie Madoff has made life miserable for BDs, IARs, and other financial investment firms. FINRA and the SEC have taken anal cavity checks to a whole other level on small firms and the big ones as well. After the Madoff and Stanford scandals happened the government created more oversight rules, but in all reality the oversight was already in place but it wasn't being properly carried out by SEC and FINRA at the time.

They really didn't have the resources or time to conduct proper audits in order to catch these Ponzi Schemes. So, do you blame Madoff? Or do you blame the SEC? Or do you blame the government for their lack of oversight on their own compliance entities?

[smackaholic]

Considering labour unions were outlawed under Lenin and Stalin makes your position a bit tenuous.

Considering the party was one big labor union, individual unions seem redundant.

Yeah, commie governments don't much care for competition. It is why they ban religion.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

They really didn't have the resources or time to conduct proper audits in order to catch these Ponzi Schemes. So, do you blame Madoff? Or do you blame the SEC? Or do you blame the government for their lack of oversight on their own compliance entities?

Corruption is systemic. People will get away with as much as they can until they're slapped down.

So either you participate in a civilised honour-system, or you fuck off and move to Somalia with all the other Libertarians.

[Left Seater]

You answered your own question.

Not so fast. Let's say I just decide to terminate Paul this afternoon. He is a nice guy but I decide it is time for him to go. No reason other than that. What would you tell him when he knocked on your door wanting to sue me for wrongful termination?

What would you say about a government agency that yanks your license to operate, seizes your assets and does a forensic investigation of all your company's financial documents...because some bureaucrat has a political hatchet to bury?

See how that works?

This happens daily. It is called the FAA, TSA and IRS in that order. So you are saying it is ok for the government to operate that way but not its citizens?

[Jay in Phoenix]

you again have butted into a thread with no other seeming purpose than being an ass

What the BillyBobButtfuck is wrong with that?!?

On the surface, especially when dealing with a smack board, absolutely nothing.

However, not to "paint with a wide brush" as I have said previously, it just often seems that this is Goober's entire raison d'être for posting in any thread other than a PET, cooking, alcohol or vacation one. I can't even remember the last time he got into an actual discussion about anything other than those topics. So that was why I said the above quote.

Most every other poster at least tries to be conversational on topics.

No big deal, just an observation and an answer to your response.

[BSmack]

Yeah, commie governments don't much care for competition. It is why they ban religion.

Whereas capitalists make the priests co-conspirators.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

I can't even remember the last time he got into an actual discussion about anything other than those topics.

Goober's contribution is the "secret ingredient" to the marinated steak...



...that is this message board.

[Jay in Phoenix]

Message board smessishboard, that image will require a thorough mind scrubbing.

Thanks for THAT Marty!

[Jay in Phoenix]

Ugh, why does a Cinder open faced roast beef sammie come to mind?

Hurling into bucket in 3, 2, 1...