JM>>> What is a living wage? Is it the same in New York City as in   
    DD>> Live Oak JM> FL.? "Living wage," is a worth less phrase, it means   
    DD>> nothing.   
      
    DD>> Typical straw-man argument. Living wage varies   
      
    JM> Yes, anyone who brings up a non-starter like "living wage"   
    JM> is presenting a straw-man argument. Thanks for pointing   
    JM> that out.   
      
    IOW, DD is right.   
      
    Anything less than a living wage is a death sentence wage. If   
    you can't live on it all you can do on it is die slowly.   
      
    DD>>> And there, my fine right-winger we have a basic disconnect.   
    DD>> Keeping and DD> strengthening the unions (yes, and getting them off   
    DD>> their arses to do DD> what their original purpose was) is the basis   
    DD>> of an improving economy DD> and a growing and healthy middle class.   
      
    JM>>> I'm sure you believe that.  I'm not sure anyone that truly   
    DD>> thinks about JM> it would agree. I certainly don't.   
      
    I'm sure agreement doesn't determine truth, results do. As   
    unions have declined the country's workforce has lost ground,   
    and the country as well.   
      
    DD>> I certainly do. As do nearly all economists - including Paul Krugman   
      
    JM> So what?   
      
    They are the professionals.   
      
    ...   
      
    DD>> Certainly one with a unique or marketable skill will do better "on   
    DD>> the economy". Like rock stars. But, most of the work force are not   
    DD>> rock stars. Some are barely competent to put money in a juke box -   
    DD>> but, can perform useful and necessary work. Having a union to   
    DD>> protect their rights   
      
    JM> What rights? 40 hr week, two week vacation, sick time,   
    JM> company car? Here's a CLUE, none of those are rights.   
      
    They are if the contract says they are. Oh, and where do you see   
    unions contracts providing a company car?   
      
    DD>> only makes sense. And prevents people with   
    DD>> attitudes like yours from the "divide and conquer" tactics that   
    DD>> management has used since time began.   
      
    JM> My attitude is not "divide and conquer." My attitude is it   
    JM> is always better to be an individual than a member of an   
    JM> out of touch collective like a labor union.   
      
    I have often told you your thinking is wrong. It is better to be   
    an individual, working with other individuals, in an in touch   
    collective like a labor union.   
      
      
   BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn   
      
   ... Christ died for our sins, so let's not disappoint him.   
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