as the noose tightens...

[aristotle]

Freight rates still going down as fuel costs spike upward. What's wrong with this picture?

This industry is going to be placed on life support unless corrective action is taken soon. DNR. We need massive attrition. I am calling on 50% of all owner/operators to take early retirement immediately! You won't even feel the difference in your wallet.

You old geezers, go first. Do it for the children. I shall cling steadfastly to the audacity of hope.

 

[wimpy007]

Let me know the secret to retirement on S.S and a meager pension and not have to eat hamburger helper and mac and cheese

 

[aristotle]

Let me know the secret to retirement on S.S and a meager pension and not have to eat hamburger helper and mac and cheese

wimpy... there won't be any Social Security funds when I retire in about 20-25 years. Most pension funds are on shaky ground now. Wages are declining as cost-of-living goes up. I largely hold our government, both parties, responsible. Of course, our addiction to consumerism and instant gratification hasn't helped.

 

[greg334]

Oh just wait..... wait until rationed healthcare is a fact.

I was talking to someone who is pretty smart about this, sat on the board of BCBS for a few years and been involved with Obama's health care plan. He made a pretty good observation;

It seems that the push for universal healthcare is coming from the left but not just the left in general but the younger crowd. The people who don't use it, the people who look at England, Canada and other parts of the world and see what the other young people are going through. When they get into their 50's and time catches up with them, it is then that they experince the problems that others of about the same age experienced in the past under rationed healthcare, rationing.

Now I was listening to some left talk show this morning and the guy on it was pointing to Germany's health system and mentioned that is works and it is socialized medicine but failed to mention that in order for you to get health care - you have to pay, it is not free at all.

 

[Moot]

Of course, our addiction to consumerism and instant gratification hasn't helped.

Consumerism and instant gratification are what keeps the expediter's wheels turning!

Hey Wimpy, I will gladly pay you Tuesday for some Hamburger Helper today.

 

[aristotle]

Consumerism and instant gratification are what keeps the expediter's wheels turning!

Hey Wimpy, I will gladly pay you Tuesday for some Hamburger Helper today.

You have a good point there, Moot. ( Hey folks, keep buying those new cars).


I am reminded of my father's frugal ways. He raised six children, all college grads, on a coal miner's pay. He passed away recently, debt free and never owned a credit card. My dad would keep a car 15-20 years, almost exclusively Toyotas. He had to give up driving at age 87, Alzheimer's.
He harbored no ill-will towards the Japs whom he fought against in WW2. But, the thought of being in debt made ol' Dad see red. Does anyone know "The Coal Miner's Prayer" ?

 

[MrGautama]

Just to state the facts over the fantasy, Universal Health Care is in the public discourse now (meaning on TV and Congress) because of a conflict at the centers of power.

Auto manufacturers and other industries can't compete with their Japanese counterparts because of the cost the workforces' benefits. They figure that if the cost of health care is dumped on a public system their bottom line will be altered positively.

Just imagining that the left would be able to push something like that on it's own is naive and denotes a complete misunderstanding of the social mechanics of our country.

I don't really care how it happens as long as it gets done!!

 

[aristotle]

Just to state the facts over the fantasy, Universal Health Care is in the public discourse now (meaning on TV and Congress) because of a conflict at the centers of power.

Auto manufacturers and other industries can't compete with their Japanese counterparts because of the cost the workforces' benefits. They figure that if the cost of health care is dumped on a public system their bottom line will be altered positively.

Just imagining that the left would be able to push something like that on it's own is naive and denotes a complete misunderstanding of the social mechanics of our country.

I don't really care how it happens as long as it gets done!!

Mr Hawk/LRE/ NextOut/ MrG...... your multiple screen names and Sybil-like multiple personalities are giving me a headache. It is a deceptive practice to hide behind several names and undermines the integrity of this EO community. It erodes confidence and is an assault upon fair play. I really wish the moderators would make a judgment call as to whether this practice is going to be tolerated. It is phony, fraudulent and absurd.

 

[layoutshooter]

There is no public discourse on this issue. It is all one sided. You will not ever hear about all of the downsides of a National Un-Healthy system. Having been forced to use the British system for 5 years I can assure you that there is no way I want that here.

I still don't understand why health care should put our car makers at a dis-advantage. Health care is an individual repsonsibility, not that of government or industry. I provide for ours, you and everyone else should do the same.

I am tired of the lack of personal responsibility being pushed on us as social improvement. Socialism incourages laziness. Only bums would like it.

Using force, the only way it can be done, to push this is just not right. Force comes in many many forms, like taxes. Try to avoid the up coming massive tax increases and see how fast you end up in jail. Try to fight it and, well, most of us knows what will happen to anyone who does.

It is YOUR life, YOU take care of it!!

Layoutshooter

 

[greg334]

I still don't understand why health care should put our car makers at a dis-advantage.

It doesn't!

What puts the car companies at a disadvantage is the union when it comes to labor cost is retiree benefits. The UAW who has made billions off of the companies and should have forced the take over of the pensions by the members of the UAW long ago, the teamsters and operating engineers have, and they seem to cover their retirees quite well. The cost to the car company has been an issue for a long time but the UAW has done the rank and file no favor by dragging their a** on the issue and by complaining about what happens in other companies in right to work states illustrates the union is putting up road blocks instead of helping the companies.

I think that what Chrysler did this past week to the white collar people should be done to all retirees, limit their benefits right down the line, most of them have Medicare to fall back on and there is no difference between a UAW worker or the engineer who worked there.

 

[layoutshooter]

It doesn't!

What puts the car companies at a disadvantage is the union when it comes to labor cost is retiree benefits. The UAW who has made billions off of the companies and should have forced the take over of the pensions by the members of the UAW long ago, the teamsters and operating engineers have, and they seem to cover their retirees quite well. The cost to the car company has been an issue for a long time but the UAW has done the rank and file no favor by dragging their a** on the issue and by complaining about what happens in other companies in right to work states illustrates the union is putting up road blocks instead of helping the companies.

I think that what Chrysler did this past week to the white collar people should be done to all retirees, limit their benefits right down the line, most of them have Medicare to fall back on and there is no difference between a UAW worker or the engineer who worked there.

I agree with the idea Greg. The problem I see is the exsisting contracts. I don't have the answer. I have had the rules of life changed on me many times. I would hire on under one set of rules and then they change. It is NOT good. The DOD was really good for that. They changed retirement laws more than I changed socks. You NEVER knew where you stood. I would like to see something like, what ever rule you hire in under is yours. If there is a need to change, that change starts with the next new hire.

This one is way over my head. All I know is no matter what happens I am likely to take it in the shorts. Layoutshooter

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Employers pay a percentage of their gross payroll into the health care plan...it is not free as many think....

 

[layoutshooter]

There is NO such thing as free health care. Also, remember the old saying, You get what you pay for. Well, that is even more true under a National Un-Healthy system. Just ask Mrs. Layoushooter how she feels about, "Conveinence Birthing". After she calms down so she can speak she will tell you the horror of it. Let us not forget the potential harm on the babies from the drugs they use to stop the natrual birth. All because it is 2am and they have no doctor on duty and will NOT call one in. Yeah, it's great!! Bet they don't tell you that stuff on the Nightly News ( Nightly Obama love in is more accurate) Layoutshooter

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I have never experienced any of that stuff of which you speak...
neither my family or friends...always got the immediate care due...

 

[iceroadtrucker]

Mr Hawk/LRE/ Next Out/ Mr...... your multiple screen names and Sybil-like multiple personalities are giving me a headache. It is a deceptive practice to hide behind several names and undermines the integrity of this EO community. It erodes confidence and is an assault upon fair play. I really wish the moderators would make a judgment call as to whether this practice is going to be tolerated. It is phony, fraudulent and absurd.

Another Computer Rambo found you have. Congrads
Hide behind the screen till you walk up to them and say
hey I know who you are.
OOPS.

check out the movie gladiator.

 

[layoutshooter]

Canada's system has not yet declined to the level that the British system is at. That is for a couple of reasons. First, it is not as old, all systems decline with age. Second, you system was sort of proped up by a very robust North American economy. Europe has very little economic growth compared to North America, long term, not just as we speak. IF the U.S. goes totally to a socialist system that growth will stop. We will then enjoy the 1 or 2 percent growth that Europe has as a norm. The cost of health care will continue to rise just as it does now and most likely increase. You will see the same stuff in Canada and the U.S. as in England soon. Also, a large number of Canadians cross the border into the U.S. when they are REALLY sick. Once we have a "system" there will be no benifit to doing that. Our care will be just as slow, with waiting lists etc, as the Canadian system is. Layoutshooter

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Thats why Canadas system is always changing....

Allowing private clinics for the first time....if ya got the money go for it.....which in turns shortens the waiting lines

Funny thing I had a few specialists and never waited that long as the were not emergency issues....3-5 weeks for a neuraligist for my carpal tunnel....but when I thought it was a heart attack...I was hooked up so fast and drs running around the wife thought it was serious...*lol*....nope...I can't see the problems Britains having.....

 

[layoutshooter]

I hope you are right but I don't see it. We shall see. Taxes are going to go way up. That will drive down employement and business in both countries. That will leave less money every year for health Then they will raise taxes, which will ...................... "And the beat goes on" Layoutshooter