Michigan Smoking Ban about to Pass: Just Needs Senate OK

At this point, it’s futile.  But, if you think personal liberty outwieghts majority opinion, so long as that liberty doesn’t directly inflict harm upon the majority, please send a message to your senator or representative.  People have the right to avoid going to smoking establishments.  Plain and simple.  They have liberty regrding this issue, but they want to enact a totalitarian law that restricts the liberty of private business owner’s, because they want to avoid inconvenience.

 

I emailed this to each senator today:

I wanted to voice my disappointment in the Michigan legislature.  I realize we are on the tail end of this smoking-ban movement, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  It is entirely un-American to prohibit a legal act within the walls of a privately owned establishment.  Non-smokers are at Liberty to patron non-smoking bars and restaurants, while smokers are free to choose the opposite.  The market should be deciding the fate of smoking, not lawmakers.  And it is, but for some reason, as the number of smoking establishments dwindle, legislators feel the need to pre-empt the eventual fate with legislation that restricts the liberty of the private business owners, which I think is extremely contrary to what our system was built upon. 

 

I worry about these things more than a lot of people I talk to.  This isn’t about the health of the state.  I agree this will improve the physical health of this state.  That is the extent that most supporters – and even opponents – delve into this issue.  It is not about health.  It is about weighing whether the health of the public warrants the application of a totalitarian rule. If you truly respect liberty, you can see that this ban is inappropriate.  Just because the majority support something does not mean it should pass.  Just because the majority of your constituents support it, doesn’t mean it is right.  Our country and state should support personal liberty over majority rule, so long as it doesn’t infringe upon others.  People have an alternative to smoking establishments.  Don’t confuse inconvenience with absence of a choice, and don’t let an inconvenience to the majority cause restrictions of liberty for the minority. 

 

I know you’ll all pass it; I just think it is a shame.  I hope this is overturned by the state supreme court.      

 

Gus Burns

Here is a list of all of the Michigan State Senator Contacts:

President of the Senate Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry Office Location: S-215 Capitol Building Office Phone: (517) 373-6800 Jason Allen Republican of District 37 Office Phone: (517) 373-2413 Office Location: 820 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenJAllen@senate.michigan.gov Glenn S. Anderson Democrat of District 6 Office Phone: (517) 373-1707 Office Location: 610 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenGAnderson@senate.michigan.gov Jim Barcia Democrat of District 31 Office Phone: (517) 373-1777 Office Location: 1010 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenJBarcia@senate.michigan.gov Raymond E. Basham Democrat of District 8 Office Phone: (517) 373-7800 Office Location: 715 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenRBasham@senate.michigan.gov

Patricia L. Birkholz Republican of District 24 Office Phone: (517) 373-3447 Office Location: 805 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenPBirkholz@senate.michigan.govMichael Bishop Republican of District 12 Office Phone: (517) 373-2417 Office Location: S-106 Capitol E-mail Address: SenMBishop@senate.michigan.gov Liz Brater Democrat of District 18 Office Phone: (517) 373-2406 Office Location: 510 Farnum Building E-mail Address: SenLBrater@senate.michigan.gov

AAM Hi-Lo Driver. This is Earth Calling. You are not worth $29/hr to American Axle

I’d like to invite the American Axle workers to return from the cosmos to our fine planet named Earth?  Here on Earth, hard work is required to sustain life. Ingenuity and analytical thinking normally reap more rewards than monotonous physical labor.  Blue collar workers don’t make millions working as drones for fat queen bees; they merely become dependent on the cumulative outbut of the hive, every day finding it harder to be ambitious and reach for something more.  I’m not saying this is the case for all of the AAM hourly employees.  I realize that for some, it is a building block.  I realize that there are very capable intelligent people working in every rung of that company.  I realize that circumstances end people up in a variety of places.  But I know many people that have worked in assembly-line unionized environments, and I hear horror stories, too.  I hear about inefficiency and people with an over-inflated sense of entitlement. 

 

The fact of the matter, they were not economical.  They can say all they want, “we earn this company millions of dollars and there is no reason we need to take a cut and the executive officers get raises.”  I don’t agree with the huge separation of the pay, but that is the fallout of a capitalist economy that doesn’t put a corporation in check early enough.  No one has to work there if they think the company is immoral.  The stockholder’s will not respond until it starts hurting their pocketbook.

 

I work in an office where people make less than $10/hr without medical, 14 days vacation, pension, buyouts, buy downs, COLA supplements, etc. They realize that they will have to work to change their standing, but I’m sure, many of them would still be willing to take a line job at AAM. 

 

The auto industry is unique because of the divisive nature of the union.  At my company, you stay because you are valuable; you grow within the company because you are invaluable.  A lot of auto workers are invisible, because the work is monotonous and requires little skill in many areas.  It is difficult to separate yourself and stand out.  The union recognizes the combined worth of the workforce and has raised the individual rewards, apparently too high. 

 

The way capitalism works, if you can find equally skilled labor at a lower rate, you pursue it.  I haven’t heard many AAM workers argue that this couldn’t be done, that is why they are so threatened by scabs.  The only argument they make is that it simply isn’t fair.

 

Isn’t fair?  You are on a 4-year contract. That means nothing is certain when that contract ends.  My father worked under contract.  They could no longer quantify his value and offered him a significantly lower wage at renewal time.  He understood the circumstances and understood that it came with the territory as a contractor.  He moved on and looked for something better.  I think the main difference here, is that he had tangible skills that could translate into value at many other companies.  Now, he makes more and works less.  Auto workers can’t do this, so they freak out when they see their cash oasis dissipating into the air, leaving them high and dry in the dessert. 

 

I like to see all succeed, but you can’t live in a dream world.  Furthermore, this contract is not bad.  They have so many options. 

 

Here is the deal: http://www.clickondetroit.com/download/2008/0519/16323701.pdf 

 

Buyouts:           Less than 10 years = $85,000     More than 10 years = $140,000 (I make that in about 4 years)

 

Buy Downs:      Using the buy down, workers are really losing no wages over the next four years of this contract.  AAM is calculating the lost wage, times a multiplier to beef it up, times the average hours worked in a year, times four years; and dividing it into 3 lump-sum payments.  Workers are not losing any wages under this contract, but they are being prepared for the next contract, where there will be no buy downs. 

 

Poor guys now only get 14 paid holidays.  Cry me a greasy river; I get the fourth, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.  The biggest thing that will hurt the long-term workers is the frozen pension, but how many companies do you know that still offer a pension?  They don’t want these perks because it is fair.  Look at the rest of us; we don’t get it.  They want it because their greedy and don’t understand the laws of supply and demand. 

 

I understand that with the advent of the auto industry and the huge profits it once reaped, the unions provided a buffer against greedy corporate rulers and owners.  I love the idea of a union; it is what keeps things in check.  But, once you create that caste system, you will be at odds, rather than on the same team.  Co-dependency is not the same thing.  It is rather disgusting at AAM.  Their CEO made over $10 million in 2007, according to Executive Paywatch, an online watchdog for executive pay at public companies.  The company netted $37 million in 2007.  They could have boosted their profit over 20 percent if their CEO only made one million. 

 

I feel bad for families that are familiar with a certain lifestyle and have to watch it go, but they have to realize, this is just the market correcting itself.  I feel bad for kids that will have to stop shopping at Somerset and now shop at Salvation Army.  Actually, no I don’t, people brought up by parents with good character and without lots of material possession normally end up being the people I like. 

 

AAM offers skilled trade and education reimbursement programs.  I recommend you workers utilize that so that in 4-years you are prepared when the money stops growing on trees.  In the meantime, maybe you can use your tears to save on industrial lubricant costs for the machinery, while you waste time making axles for trucks that are going to continue to have a plummeting market share.  I hope, for the sake of AAM workers, they broaden their product line. 

The real story is the UAW and how they manipulated this situation.  This is the offer they were going to get all along.  AAM was just waiting for GM to kick in some support, and the UAW was trying to starve the workers to the point of acceptance.  They should be happy, though.  Most people don’t get 4 more years for reality to sink in.   

Bob Barr is not a Libertarian: A step back for the Libertarian Party.

Bob Barr is not a Libertarian.  He is an opportunist and an old-school right-wing conservative.  He has attempted to outlaw abortion, immigration, all use of marijuana and gay-marriage. He even tried to initiate legislation to outlaw Wicca religious practices by Military personnel (http://www.witchvox.com/military/bobbarr2.html).  He may have a slightly more libertarian stance when it comes to the handling of the economy, but this is not the guy for the party. 

Most “liberals” — I find that label inaccurate — fear the libertarian point of view because it is so closely identified with ultra-conservatism, which is far from the truth.  Libertarians will set themselves back at least a decade if they run this guy for president. 

I’ve spoken to a lot of Democrats who call me a right wing conservative when I say I agree with Libertarians.  They don’t understand that political philosophy is not linear, but at least 2-dimensional if not more.  Lets Take the issue of abortion:  Democrats want to legislate it and make it legal, Republicans want to legislate it to make it illegal, and Libertarians don’t want it to be legislated at all.  To them, it is not within the scope of the government’s duties, but the libertarian perspective is not represented in the exclusive political system of the U.S. which so many support.

Libertarians will get their chance one of these days, but not with Bob Barr as their figurehead.

 

California to Sanction Same-Sex Marriage. I forgot, why is the government even involved?

I am against legalization of same-sex marriage.  If two gay people want to make a formal commitment to faithfully spend their lives together I am all for it, though.  They are even free to name the act marriage.

I think the entire issue of gay marriage is so muddled by the precursor that marriage should be sanctioned by the government.  In actuality, there is more than one issue when this questions arises:

1. Should the government recognize same sex marriage?

2. Should the government recognize marriage at all: Is it within the realm of the government’s duties?

The first is what everyone seems to be focusing on.  The second and overlooked is worth addressing, too.

Marriage is so convoluted with its religious and traditional history.  It is outdated.  I support the environment purported by marriage, and I think that most mature people wish to establish a lifelong partnership with someone, generally of the opposite sex.  Without making marriage personally sacred, it doesn’t hold a lot of water, which is why I think a lot of fail-safes have been put in place by society to reinforce the meaning of the union. 

Don’t get me started on religion, but anything that uses religion and the bible, or any religious document, as its foundation loses a lot of credibility as far as I am concerned.  

I take a minimalist approach on government, so when someone says, “Should same sex marriage be legalized”, I find myself in an awkward ideological predicament.  I don’t think marriage should be legal.  I don’t car if gay people want to make a commitment to one another.  I don’t think the government should sanction heterosexual relationships, and I don’t think they should sanction same-sex ones. 

Let’s repeal all marriage laws and get the government out of personal decisions.  I think I want to marry Jameson whiskey, but I don’t need to pay the government to sanction the love I have for my soothing brown liquid, and I don’t think gays or heterosexuals need the government to sanction their love either.

Your thoughts? 

Detroit Public Schools Stink!

Detroit public schools are in shambles.  In this article (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NEWS01/803260323/1008/NEWS06) board president Carla Scott pointed at the state for the district’s economic woes.  In 2005 the district took out a $213-million loan to avert a deficit, or subsidize it rather.

 

I understand that the cash-strapped city and depleting population probably doesn’t help matters, but the approach of avoidance, and projecting blame, is exactly why Detroit is so lacking in character and integrity.

 

I read an article posted on Freep.com last January (also mentioned in this article) about over $300-thousand in spending that went to Definitive Concepts, Inc.  No one really knows what that money was used to purchase, and the follow up lead to a disconnected number and a warehouse devoid of any company sharing the same name  . 

 

In this case, the board pointed as some possible weaknesses in their procedures.  That’s more than a weakness, which is down right negligence that they cannot justify where that kind of money went.  It also reeks of fraud.  Bring in the state.  Pay extra to bring in trustworthy people and let’s try and build some character in Detroit.  The way it looks now, they’re all a bunch of absent minded crooks.

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

Steve’s Place

Throw your skin cream in the fire and head to Steve’s Place.  It’s a bar in the Greektown Detroit area, just next to Saint Andrew’s Hall.  There is no other place like it.  Steve is the proprietor, although Ithink he might just be a front for the greek mafia, but he is sweet old Greek man, on his last legs. 

Beyond the twilight zone-esque ambiance of the place, they have a street musicsian named Travelin’ Blues that playes some really authentic sounding stuff.  raspily wretching his vocal chords as he smacks his well-played guitar.  His real name is Steve, also.

A few months back I went in there.  Steve was gone and a non-english speaking Greek guy was working the bar.  I asked to cash out and he brought me two more beers. I found out that Steve was in the hospital with some kind of infection.  It took me a couple weeks but I came back with a gift; I intended to go see him.  The non-speaking Greek guy said he’d be back the following day.  I decided to wait.  I didn’t make it the next day but I did the next weekend.  I sat with Steve as he at his salad.  He looked like he was about to cry, but that was just the old struggling man glaze in his eyes.  I think he is too tired to cry.  I don’t have the time to explain it now, but if you live near Detroit, head to Steve’s Place.  Tell his wife Sophie I said Hi. 

Michigan Smoking Ban: Is it a Communist Bill? Does it Threaten Liberty?

The Michigan Smoking Ban, as it has been amended and passed by the state senate, does not allow smoking in any place where employees work, including: bars, restaraunts, casinos (Unless on reservations) and cigar parlors.  The House may amend this to add exemptions, but the most they will probably exempt would be casinos and cigar parlors.  The way it is currently written, bars cannot even have an outdoor smoking area. 

 

I’m interested in your take on the Smoking Ban issue.  Most of the people I have talked to, Smokers and non, are not addressing the fundamental impact of the ban.  I think the ban will ultimately be good for me and society as it relates to aspects of health, but bad for our freedom and liberty.  I don’t want to smoke, and I spend lots of time at bars smoking, hence; I will benefit on the surface.  I think, even if I never touched a cigarette, I would be adamantly against this.  My whole philosophy is that liberty requires personal responsibility.  Capitalism relies on consumer accountability to work properly.  The more government intervenes, the less citizens practice their role in that scheme, which is to shape conduct and standards of their society.  The core issue is: Should the government set the standards of conduct for privately owned business which condone a legal act by their patrons; or should consumers affect that change if they dislike it?  Non-smoking establishments already exist in Mich.  If they are more profitable than smoking establishments the laws of capitalism say that the business owners will move that direction, which many are.  Proponents also say that allowing smoking discriminates against employees, who do not have a reasonable choice because they must work for their livelihood.  I think that is entirely untrue, but it will require a sacrifice to stand up for themselves and affect change in their workplace.  If people don’t want to work in a smoking environment, and they stay true to their convictions – which means they may have to take another job for less money or move – then the labor supply will decrease, thereby increasing the necessary wage to get workers, eventually forcing the owner to ban smoking to compete.  It comes down to whether we want to affect change from the top down or the bottom up.  You can be lazy and choose the former, but you’re going to lose liberties along the way.

 

Two reasons I second guess my stance: 

 

First, I might agree to outlaw smoking in restaraunts or places children are allowed.  It is obvious that second hand smoke contaminates the air, no matter how little, and children don’t have the ability to decide whether to expose themselves to it.  But then, should that go for their home environment, too?  Where do you stop?    

 

Secondly, I think what makes this unique is the market force that drives the demand for smoking bars and restaurants.  The market force that drives the demand is not quality or price, but physical addiction to an activity that is not inherently connected in any way to the product or service provided by the business.  Still, I don’t think that is enough to support this law.

 

What are your thoughts?

American Axle: How Much Does Worker Gold Weigh?

American Axle Manufacturing workers went on strike shotly after 12:01 am this Tuesday.

Boy, they seem happy to be out of the shop.  For a second there, I thought maybe my Grandpa came back to life; he was pretty cool.  The other rpossibility being; the company caved to their contractual demands.  Alas, nope, just another unhappy, smiling, cheering labor union.  I support the rights of unions to exist.  Sometimes the powers of supply and demand aren’t enough in regard to fair treatement of laborers.  Sometimes company executives forget their’s a cook in the kitchen.  Labor unions remind them their bread and butter doesn’t make itself.  In this case, from what I’ve read, the union contract has expired and the company wants to reduce wages significantly.  The entire setup seems strange to me.  They are part of the same entity, yet they separate themselves as if they are contractors, hence their contracts.  Why aren’t manufacturing companies like the rest of corporate America: underappreciated, underpaid, and riddled with turover.  At least in corporate America you know you won’t make less next year.

I think most of these workers are overpaid.  For the most part, these are not overly technical positions.  That is where the inherrent need for a union arrises, because they are generally easily replaced.  The contract has expired and the compaany is not as successful as it would like to be.  We are talking many million dollars behind where they want to be.  Doesn’t Michigan have enough scabs to replace all these people?  If they are worth as much as they think they are, wouldn’t another manufacturer hire them for their current wage?  I would have an issue if my pay was all of the sudden cut by forty percent, but they knew the nature of their contactual position, and this is America.  We are clinging to the fibers of capitalism, and in doing so, companies need to adjust wages to the actual market value.  Sorry UAW, you deserve a pay cut, because there are others that would do you job as well for less.  I am still sympathetic to you plight, but thus is the nature of capitalism, and its necessary to preserve other liberties.  My regards to you and your families if times get tight.

Ah-ooga! The Freep Tooting its own Horn

As sick as I might be of the Kwame coverage — it’s an open-and-shut situation — the Free Press keeps tooting its own horn about how great a job it did of uncovering the scandal.  They did their job, and it is an important job, but they are devoting twice as much page content to this than is truly necessary.  

Firemen put out fires, milkmen deliver milk and reporters break news (I realize there are firewomen and milkwomen, too.  Are new mothers considered milkwomen?).  The information was bound to be released at some point.  The Freep did get it from an anonymous source, early, but it was inevitible.  I am proud of them, and they did reveal a significant scandal, but come on, lets be humble about it.  Other than the appeal proceedings, there has not really been anything significant reported in the last few weeks.  The first appeal was rejected as was the next.  Who expected otherwise? 

 The readers know that you did your job, so let’s just report news stop the Kwame repetition and get back to the disgusting reports about senseless violence.

Journalists are People Too

I think I might like it if reporters were forced to disclose their party affiliations and political stances on issues.  They could have a link on the web site and you could select the reporter to see what they think.  I know the idea behind reporting is that it should be as objective as possible, but the flaw in this logic is that people are inherently subjective.  Every story is relative to the writer and their perception, so it would be ignorant to believe bias is absent.  I understand why large papers would be against this, because it might alienate some sensitive readers, and they rely on economies of scale in large markets for profitability, but it just seems more honest that way.  A person can spend their life reaching for unfettered objectivism, but it will never be fully attained.  Decisions and biases are made based on a person’s biology, experience, and current frame of reference.  Through increased knowledge and experience those initial perceptions will change, but it doesn’t mean initial perceptions — or preconceptions – weren’t ever there.  Let’s not pretend reporters are anything greater than us commoners.  People have opinions, and that’s okay, but let’s divulge what they are if they are acting as the eyes and ears of the community.