Even with all the wasted money and posturing the UAW and other Unions around the US (primarily the Great Lakes States) most are often referred to as the "Swing States" it appears at this hour (10AM ET on 11/3) probable that Bush will indeed remain our/your President.
For this, I am pleased and while the decision IMHO required significant consideration, I believe as do the majority of Americans who decided to vote that, Mr. Bush is the best man for the job.
Note to all the Union folks out there, look in the mirror for answers and solutions to why plants are closing across the Great Lakes (IL, MI, MN, OH, PA, and WI) not to the President of the United States. Neither Mr. Bush, nor any President can undo the mess (high wages, lack of human productivity, outrageous benefit costs for current employees, resistance to cross-training, inefficient use of overtime money, dedicated trades and job duties etc…) you have created and sustained over the past two decades.
Five States I mentioned account for 75% of lost jobs in the US over the past 4 years, guess where the most heavily unionized workforces are in the US? Anyone care to take a guess as to which States have lost the most jobs since 2000?
Exactly in those same States I mentioned above and will identify again here IL, MI, MN, OH, PA, and WI
See for yourself, http://www.bls.gov/home.htm
Where there are Counties within States (Allegheny (PA), Cook (IL), Cuyahoga (OH), Hennepin (MN), Milwaukee (WI), Ramsey (WI), Sandusky (OH), St. Louis (MN), Wayne (MI) etc...) with heavy Union jobs, every one of these counties voted approximately 60% to 70% for Kerry and 40% to 30% for Bush. There were a couple of surprising counties carried by Bush in Michigan (Macomb being the most significant). Cook County (70% Kerry vs. 30% Bush) in Illinois (Chicago) carries 50% of all votes in Illinois; no wonder there is an 11-point advantage for Kerry in Illinois. Kerry won Illinois by about 500k votes and Cook County alone had Kerry receiving over 800k more votes than Bush.
Yet, the heartland of America and fair thinking non-Union influenced popular vote was able to persevere. This Presidential election result and the result of many recent labor negotiations, plant closures and layoffs, I would think sends a direct message of change and flexibility to this group of overpaid, under performing companies and union members participating in the unionized workforce!
Until such a time Unionized Labor dissolves in the Great Lakes this trend of plant closings etc... will continue, no matter whom the President is and as I said please look in the mirror for answers and methods of changing if you want to see corrective actions and new trends to begin.
I respect commitment to traditional Union beliefs and agree there was a time in our Industrial growth and Global manufacturing dominance Unions offered a fair balance for employees. Temper that understanding with a realistic approach to how business gets done today and reaching the conclusion Unions are not a value becomes clear.
Simply look at manufacturing jobs today they along with the working conditions have improved tremendously with assistance from Union leverage and technology advancements. Companies are faced with a more complex and educated marketplace that is increasingly competitive and driven by profits, shareholder value and customer satisfaction.
Going forward there needs to be a realization that competitive influences and Global competition disallow the "same ole, same ole" approach which has carried through to this point.
Jobs are not lost by the President of the United States they are lost by companies being unable or electing not to become more competitive in every aspect of their business!!!!! Change if not committed to by the unionized workforce in the USA with their associated companies will occur naturally by the function of time. Already there is over whelming evidence of a changing view and participation and acceptance of Unions across America. Look at the numbers. Labor Unions lost just fewer than 25% of their populous in one year from 16.17 Million in 2002 to 15.8 million in 2003 a difference of around 369,000 jobs. Trust me and believe the Unionized Labor force in America will continue this spiral downward regarding membership numbers and value, this fact will unfold, it is simply a function of time and the clock is ticking…
For this, I am pleased and while the decision IMHO required significant consideration, I believe as do the majority of Americans who decided to vote that, Mr. Bush is the best man for the job.
Note to all the Union folks out there, look in the mirror for answers and solutions to why plants are closing across the Great Lakes (IL, MI, MN, OH, PA, and WI) not to the President of the United States. Neither Mr. Bush, nor any President can undo the mess (high wages, lack of human productivity, outrageous benefit costs for current employees, resistance to cross-training, inefficient use of overtime money, dedicated trades and job duties etc…) you have created and sustained over the past two decades.
Five States I mentioned account for 75% of lost jobs in the US over the past 4 years, guess where the most heavily unionized workforces are in the US? Anyone care to take a guess as to which States have lost the most jobs since 2000?
Exactly in those same States I mentioned above and will identify again here IL, MI, MN, OH, PA, and WI
See for yourself, http://www.bls.gov/home.htm
Where there are Counties within States (Allegheny (PA), Cook (IL), Cuyahoga (OH), Hennepin (MN), Milwaukee (WI), Ramsey (WI), Sandusky (OH), St. Louis (MN), Wayne (MI) etc...) with heavy Union jobs, every one of these counties voted approximately 60% to 70% for Kerry and 40% to 30% for Bush. There were a couple of surprising counties carried by Bush in Michigan (Macomb being the most significant). Cook County (70% Kerry vs. 30% Bush) in Illinois (Chicago) carries 50% of all votes in Illinois; no wonder there is an 11-point advantage for Kerry in Illinois. Kerry won Illinois by about 500k votes and Cook County alone had Kerry receiving over 800k more votes than Bush.
Yet, the heartland of America and fair thinking non-Union influenced popular vote was able to persevere. This Presidential election result and the result of many recent labor negotiations, plant closures and layoffs, I would think sends a direct message of change and flexibility to this group of overpaid, under performing companies and union members participating in the unionized workforce!
Until such a time Unionized Labor dissolves in the Great Lakes this trend of plant closings etc... will continue, no matter whom the President is and as I said please look in the mirror for answers and methods of changing if you want to see corrective actions and new trends to begin.
I respect commitment to traditional Union beliefs and agree there was a time in our Industrial growth and Global manufacturing dominance Unions offered a fair balance for employees. Temper that understanding with a realistic approach to how business gets done today and reaching the conclusion Unions are not a value becomes clear.
Simply look at manufacturing jobs today they along with the working conditions have improved tremendously with assistance from Union leverage and technology advancements. Companies are faced with a more complex and educated marketplace that is increasingly competitive and driven by profits, shareholder value and customer satisfaction.
Going forward there needs to be a realization that competitive influences and Global competition disallow the "same ole, same ole" approach which has carried through to this point.
Jobs are not lost by the President of the United States they are lost by companies being unable or electing not to become more competitive in every aspect of their business!!!!! Change if not committed to by the unionized workforce in the USA with their associated companies will occur naturally by the function of time. Already there is over whelming evidence of a changing view and participation and acceptance of Unions across America. Look at the numbers. Labor Unions lost just fewer than 25% of their populous in one year from 16.17 Million in 2002 to 15.8 million in 2003 a difference of around 369,000 jobs. Trust me and believe the Unionized Labor force in America will continue this spiral downward regarding membership numbers and value, this fact will unfold, it is simply a function of time and the clock is ticking…
