I am not nessiarly anti union. But I think the days of "Joe the Joker" walking into a factory and really have no skills, and start making $15 to $20 a hour just because it is a union job, are slowely comming to a end. There are many skilled construction trades men who just barley make that. As I said I dont mind paying a little more for a good american product that will last. Look at the quality of some of the Japenise cars. In 1954 I bought a American Flyer bycycle. I worked over a year (I was a kid) picking up coke bottles along the road, sellling fire wood.) Dad made $48. a week then. The bike cost $55. I rode it for several years, then when went into the Army, my brothers rode it. At todays inflation rate that same bike would be close to $400. I dont want to pay $400 for a bike for my grand child to ride, just because it is union made and American made. So China unfortunately has givem us many products that we could not afford otherwise. But I think we need to come down off our high horse and see that we cant continue to put people on welfare, with all the freebies, because they wont work for a reasonable affordable wage. Years ago I would have two or three boys a week stop by my business, wanting to know if they could mow the lot, sweep the shop floor, wash the trucks, windows, paint, any thing to get a couple of dollars, (and if wasnt for a joint or crack). Now kids and grown ups have completely lost their work ethic. Most jobs I have taken in life, I never asked what it paid. I was happy they even gave me a job. Here is a is a example of what happened to me some time ago. Wife and I, decided to down size and sell our house. We bought two acres and with my equipt. developed it and started bulding our own house. There are some things I can do and some I cant. Our provious house I did the dry wall myself and a good bit of the bulding but on this house we were sort of on a time schedule and I had to run my full time job. When it came time for the dry wall. I contacted three dry wall co. that I know of and they never called back. I contacted two different dry wall men that were laid off and had no work. I offered to pay them the going rate. Neither was intersted because it might mess up their welfare and food stamps. I finally seen a ad in the local shopper of a drywall hanger. I called him, he came out the next day, gave me a price. I called him the next day and said go to it. I was just glad to find any one who would do it. A day later at 7 in the morning two vans and a truck with drywall showed up. Out piled about 10 Mexicans. Plugged their radio in and turned up the Mexican music. I said "oh crap, what have I got myself into". I went on to work, come home at night, all the drywall was hung. Next day, it was all taped and spackeled. Next two days was sanded and cleaned up. One fellow who could speak a little "spinglish" wanted to know if there were any big horse farms that needed help. He said he would work for free if they would provide him a horse stall to stay in. I am not defending what I did or the way they live. I just admire a man who rather work, that live off the freebies.
