BMW gets bailout from US govt, now poised to lay off workers and outsource production

[cyranothe2nd]

BMW layoffs exemplify the evisceration of the middle class
Every working American should be dismayed by - and afraid of - what BMW is doing.
By all accounts, BMW's

Comments

[erunamiryene]

I was talking to my grandmother (she's 85) today while we were looking through old papers and pictures; I saw my grandpa's union contract from when he worked on the pipeline in Alaska in the 60s and 70s (... if I remember the time period rightly), and was like "I've never even seen something like this. I don't expect that I'll ever be in a union." My grandma was like, "because while unions can have their problems, corporations have taken over everything." She actually got pretty heated about how American workers are basically treated like shit now, and how my grandpa wouldn't have been able to retire at 65 if things then had been the way they are now.

I've already been told that I need to be "more patriotic" and basically "love the country or GTFO" and honestly ... fuck that shit. What do Americans have to celebrate now? What freedom? The freedom to be wage slaves and live paycheck to paycheck - if they can keep their jobs, that is - and hand-to-mouth for who knows how long? The freedom to be spied on by the NSA? The freedom to be arrested for having a miscarriage? The freedom to stand by and watch as our country is run right into the fucking ground?

Yes, I realize that there are many other places that have it worse. But if you're going to force me to swallow bullshit about how this country is so fucking great, and so amazing, and so full of opportunity, at least attempt to pay lip service to the idea.

/i have a lot of feelings this weekend

[erunamiryene]

TY. I've started to feel like I need a SOAPBOX INCOMING warning for all my comments I've made this weekend. XD

[bitchsdangerous]

A-fuckin-men!

[jetaimerai]

Tomorrow's supposed to be the day you're the most patriotic but I can honestly find very little to be patriotic about. I agree completely with this comment.

[mindrtist]

When I saw a flag during the reign of GWB, I would avert my eyes bcuz it made me mad. If I let myself wallow in it, I'd always go back to December when The Supreme court picked a President.

[mindrtist]

December 2000 I meant.

[romp]

I've already been told that I need to be "more patriotic" and basically "love the country or GTFO"

It's heartbreaking to see how many average USers have fallen for this con. If you love a country, you want to do right by the people of it.

[cyranothe2nd]

What do Americans have to celebrate now? What freedom? The freedom to be wage slaves and live paycheck to paycheck - if they can keep their jobs, that is - and hand-to-mouth for who knows how long? The freedom to be spied on by the NSA? The freedom to be arrested for having a miscarriage? The freedom to stand by and watch as our country is run right into the fucking ground?

PREACH.

Was talking to my partner about how totally awful the Transformers movies are and he said something to the effect that mindless spectacles always make the most money when the economy is going down the toilet because ppl want to think of something else, instead of focusing on reality. Fiddling while Rome burns, basically. :((

[mindrtist]

I saw a really great documentary about monster movies being a commentary of the times. I completely forget what they said about the differences during and after certain wars and who they were demonizing. It was really interesting the opinions on zombie flix - how it portrays "the masses" rising up in times whenpeople feel helpless.

[homasse]

Hunh. I wonder what sparkly vampires represent, then.

[cyranothe2nd]

Escapist fantasy, couched in misogynistic terms of 'purity.'

[normaltrouble]

It's hitting people at all levels-- from the person in their 40's-early 60's who is completely capable and willing and experienced--however, if she/he gets laid off, chances now that they will not get another job in their field, and if you're over around 55, maybe no job at all.

Entry level workers want entry level work, maybe not paying great, but in their field, and with an entry level of experience expected: an appropriate degree, and / or 0 to 1 year of experience.

People in the middle, and on the retirement end, ditto. If you are set up with a great pension, decent benefits, it must feel lousy 1-5 years before retirement to be advised --sorry pension: gone!
If you've worked 2-10 years somewhere, and wanting regular wage increases, growing a family, wanting some promotions, further training, deeper involvement, and are around 26-45, and to be told: hiring freeze and now you are your own secretary or we expect you to pick up half of your now absent cubicle neighbor's work as well...or...you can continue but you get a 7 % pay cut and have to move 2,000 miles ...

It's all frustrating for people, and to see the corporates keep somebody earning 3 mil, and let go people earning 25 $ an hour...
And accepting federal monies, but thumb their noses at taxes...

And sacrifices to them mean a 6 week vacation instead of a 2 month one, and 3 cars instead of 5 etc.

I hope we do pull on through, and get back to where everybody is expected to have ethics, not just those who earn say, less, than six figures. Because ethics, fairness and concern and compassion should be part of a businessman's vocabulary, not just capitalism and market share and shareholders.

Many of the bigger companies grew throughout the 20th century and part of their growth was concern for employees, and many also had to sit down with unions and cooperate.
Now they show neither a Fordian: "Let's make sure all my employees can afford my product". Or a Union, "You have your capital of investment and monies, we have out capital of time and labor, let's talk about the workers having advantages, too..."

It was never perfect, but business ethics are at a pretty low ebb, IMO.

[hoodoo]

iawtc

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[shoujokakumei]

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