Social WR Lounge 326: where are we at?

[lsa]

You're a dogo.

Thats just rude!

 

[The Diplomat]

Yeah I just don't want people to think that anything is fair game, there are limits and some posters push it. P-word accusations for example and over the top flaming will get you carded or banned(the former). Not to mention slurs.

You're a p word.

I have immunity, btw.

And the p word is pretty cool guy.

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

Thats just rude!

Hey can I have $5?

 

[lsa]

Hey can I have $5?

Do you accept vCash?

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

Do you accept vCash?

Yes

 

[Islam Imamate]

Collective bargaining for higher wages is price fixing?

Basically yeah, you're colluding with other workers to set compensation higher than it otherwise would've been.

Unions might be a necessary evil absent the robust public goods and redistribution I mentioned but in a perfect world they're not desirable imo.

 

[Limbo Pete]

Basically yeah, you're colluding with other workers to set compensation higher than it otherwise would've been.

I guess I still don't get the equation of bargaining and colluding
Why should people be obligated to simply accept wages, rather than negotiate

 

[The Diplomat]

Yes

Do you accept vNutz?

Newest form of Sherdog currency.

 

[The Diplomat]

Basically yeah, you're colluding with other workers to set compensation higher than it otherwise would've been.

Unions might be a necessary evil absent the robust public goods and redistribution I mentioned but in a perfect world they're not desirable imo.

Anti union *and* pro burka?

Clearly in a utopia (which is one of the rare vowel words without an an), everyone is paid Ideally. But in realistic unjust world, you need unions. Are they perfect? Nope. But try living in a right to work state that enforces the employer's ability to pay over the worker's worth.

Complaining about unions is counterproductive. But I guess it's irrelevant. Soon, they'll want AI to build houses...

 

[Islam Imamate]

I guess I still don't get the equation of bargaining and colluding
Why should people be obligated to simply accept wages, rather than negotiate

They can and should negotiate individually but unions that collectively bargain mainly exist to extract rents and pass the cost to others so they're bad and should be discouraged.

Part of the reason I support robust cash transfers and public goods is because it's an alternative way to strengthen the bargaining position of workers without the rent-seeking of unions, the hope is if you have access to robust public goods and cash transfers you will be less likely to have to accept a crappy job out of necessity. If healthcare is covered by the government, you have access to reliable public transit, and receive cash transfers you're more likely to switch from or turn down bad jobs because your access to healthcare isn't dependent on employment, you have access to more jobs via efficient public transit, and have some cash to stay afloat in between jobs.

Remember quiet quitting during the pandemic and record setting numbers on business formation? That was fueled by demand side stimulus of cash transfers; people could afford to pay hardball with employers or take a risk on their own business because of the cash transfers(stimulus check, PPP loans which were forgiven, enhanced unemployment).

That was a special case so you wouldn't want transfers to be so robust in normal times and instead you'd have more focus on providing healthcare, public transportation, and other public goods that improve quality of life. That is a better social contract than supporting rent-seeking by particular constituencies which is basically what unions are

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

Do you accept vNutz?

Newest form of Sherdog currency.

I’m afraid to answer this because I don’t want people sending me pictures of their testicles.

I accept 3 forms of currency
dank reefer
V cash
Feet pics

 

[The Diplomat]

I’m afraid to answer this because I don’t want people sending me pictures of their testicles.

I accept 3 forms of currency
dank reefer
V cash
Feet pics

Feet pics over vNutz? Interesting.

You can convert vNutz into SherCash. Which can then be exchanged for Cuban cigars. That can be used to buy Euros, which then can be traded for US dolla dolla bills, yall.

 

[Gamer2k4]

I always answer phone surveys by saying I'm "very conservative" and "slightly Republican." I would rather support policy because it makes sense to me than because my "team" backs it.

Strong Feelings:
Border security/deporting illegals
Broad seasonal work visa program to allow non-citizens to work during periods of high demand with the expectation that they're tracked while in the country and will leave once their work season concludes
Pro-life (except ONLY when the mother's health is severely at risk)
Pro-gun/open carry, with reasonable licensing and background checks
Pro-law enforcement, but mandatory bodycams and harsh penalties on improper officer conduct
Women's sports for biological XX only; no restrictions on "open" (men's) sports
No foreign wars/foreign intervention (including aid/disaster relief); spend American money on Americans only
Free speech with no limitations (though outright ordering someone to commit a crime should still be criminal)
Right to privacy and anonymity
No DEI, no affirmative action, no demographic quotas
Reward academic excellence and recognize (instead of denying) academic failure

Moderate Feelings:
Sensible controls on capitalism and monopolies, especially in healthcare and education (there's no reason college tuition and textbooks should be so expensive)
A "price tag" on health care costs (I think this was called "single payer" back in the Obamacare days); the cost to me should be based on the cost of service, not what agreement the hospital and insurance company worked out
No minimum wage
Politician term limits
Ranked-choice voting
Lawmaking on the state level, not federal level
Pro-death penalty, ideally by firing squad (no joke; it's statistically the fastest and most reliable method)
Limits on welfare/food stamps; if you're able to work, you should work
Privatize education where possible, but fund public schools adequately, especially for food and child care programs
Sensible food service rules in schools (no forcing a student to take an apple, for example, when he's just going to throw it out at the next trash can)
Vaccine schedules but no mandates
Anti-union

No Feelings:
Global warming/environmental protection mandates

I'm sure this list will grow as I consider it further, but that's what I've got for now.

 

[Islam Imamate]

Anti union *and* pro burka?

When did I say I'm pro-burqa? I think I need a rebranding, some very interesting assumptions about me even from people who (I think) don't hate me like you.

Clearly in a utopia (which is one of the rare vowel words without an an), everyone is paid Ideally. But in realistic unjust world, you need unions. Are they perfect? Nope. But try living in a right to work state that enforces the employer's ability to pay over the worker's worth.

Complaining about unions is counterproductive. But I guess it's irrelevant. Soon, they'll want AI to build houses...

Even in our world they're bad. I disagree with Biden taking the side of the Longshoreman's unions for example. US ports are some of the most inefficient in the world and the unions play a part by insisting on labor intensive methods that protect their jobs but are less efficient which acts as a bottleneck for a chuck of the economy. It's not just ports either, if you care about public transit know that unions extract rents from them in the same way and that screws us all over when transit projects are consistently run over their budgets and experience delays. Sorry but automation is good actually, if you can replace a parking lot employee with a ticket machine you should.

 

[Limbo Pete]

They can and should negotiate individually but unions that collectively bargain mainly exist to extract rents and pass the cost to others so they're bad and should be discouraged.

My union isn't negotiating to extract rent, they keep and improve my benefits. I know these people. Saying it's an argument of scale makes no sense to me. If one person negotiating is appropriate, how many until it becomes... whatever else? Two people? 10?

 

[Islam Imamate]

My union isn't negotiating to extract rent, they keep and improve my benefits. I know these people. Saying it's an argument of scale makes no sense to me. If one person negotiating is appropriate, how many until it becomes... whatever else? Two people? 10?

I'm not going to cast judgements on your union in particular, what I'm articulating is the liberal critique of unions which I've come to buy more into over time but which you can agree or disagree with. I would even concede that in the interim they might be a necessary arrangement under the immediate political circumstances. A lot of us would like single payer healthcare but also realize that in the short term extending the ACA credits is what's important. I don't buy that unions are always that necessary evil which creates the fairest possible outcomes in the short term but that's probably true at least some of the time and thus judging any union in particular requires looking at the particulars of the arrangement.

 

[LangfordBarrow]

My union isn't negotiating to extract rent, they keep and improve my benefits. I know these people. Saying it's an argument of scale makes no sense to me. If one person negotiating is appropriate, how many until it becomes... whatever else? Two people? 10?

I think he mentioned in a perfect world but as we know the world isn't perfect and before collective bargaining the working class was exploited by the rich and corporations.

 

[Limbo Pete]

I'm not going to cast judgements on your union in particular, what I'm articulating is the liberal critique of unions which I've come to buy more into over time but which you can agree or disagree with. I would even concede that in the interim they might be a necessary arrangement under the immediate political circumstances. A lot of us would like single payer healthcare but also realize that in the short term extending the ACA credits is what's important. I don't buy that unions are always that necessary evil which creates the fairest possible outcomes in the short term but that's probably true at least some of the time and thus judging any union in particular requires looking at the particulars of the arrangement.

Well, for whatever it's worth, the previous union I worked with actually _was_ full of scumbags. But then again so was administration, and everyone else involved (very bad job).

 

[Limbo Pete]

I think he mentioned in a perfect world but as we know the world isn't perfect and before collective bargaining the working class was exploited by the rich and corporations.

I mean unions are a shadow of what they once were. And things have only gotten worse for workers.

 

[Mr Holmes]

Don't know how to approach this next question I have for you guys, but I'll just lay it on thick.

Did anyone else not know that, we as a society, know the Mona Lisa's identity? I just learned this like 10 minutes ago and my mind is blown.

I can't be the only one who thought she was still some mystery girl that no one knew.

I think it might be just you.