It's hard for me to imagine they're not teaching this in Business School now. This looks like a near-classic example of a 'turnaround' - taking a negative and selling it as a positive; or in this case, defining your competitor's action as a negative and using it to bolster your own image by portraying yourself as the underdog.
This really looks like UPS is trying to level out the playing field by lobbying for a change in regulations so that all the package delivery entities come under the same set of labor laws. But we've got this website (brownbailout.com) complete with a parody of UPS's white board guy using all the negative buzzwords - bailout, monopoly, etc - trying to whip up a little counter-frenzy against UPS's efforts. BTW: who owns brownbailout.com? Why, FedX of course.
They all talk about healthy competition and fairness, but when it comes time to nut up or shut up, they're looking for cover behind whatever politician they can get at a discount.
These people have no soul and no honor.
Xspot by Mixpo
Mar 20, 2010
Mar 19, 2010
Majority Now
Caveat: It's a little semantic, but I've never liked the popular notion of "Majority Rules". In a democracy the majority decides the question at hand; the decision of the majority carries the day. But in a democracy, nobody 'rules' anything or anybody at any time.
Also, I think it's important to remember that we've seen some bad shit going on because of Majority Rules. Jim Crow for one example. And let's not forget that the most popular car in the world in 1971 was the Ford Pinto.
Just because you can get 51% to go along with your idea doesn't necessarily mean your idea is a good one.
That said, here's a pretty good one from Mark Fiore:
Also, I think it's important to remember that we've seen some bad shit going on because of Majority Rules. Jim Crow for one example. And let's not forget that the most popular car in the world in 1971 was the Ford Pinto.
Just because you can get 51% to go along with your idea doesn't necessarily mean your idea is a good one.
That said, here's a pretty good one from Mark Fiore:
Mar 18, 2010
Who Speaks For "The Church"?
Catholic nuns urge passage of Obama's health bill
WASHINGTON — Catholic nuns are urging Congress to pass President Barack Obama's health care plan, in an unusual public break with bishops who say it would subsidize abortion.
Some 60 leaders of religious orders representing 59,000 Catholic nuns Wednesday sent lawmakers a letter urging them to pass the Senate health care bill. It contains restrictions on abortion funding that the bishops say don't go far enough.
The letter says that "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions." The letter says the legislation also will help support pregnant women and "this is the real pro-life stance."
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
As usual, big organizations have factions; people who aren't just gonna go along with whatever the suits decide. So the nuns are standing up and calling 'bullshit' on their leadership. Go nuns!
As usual, big organizations have factions; people who aren't just gonna go along with whatever the suits decide. So the nuns are standing up and calling 'bullshit' on their leadership. Go nuns!
Mar 17, 2010
Hooda Thunk It
This is Dick Armey? The guy who "oops-ed" on Barney Frank's name, calling him Barney Fag? This is that guy?
That Magnificent Bastard
Alan Grayson, in response to Sarah Palin's appearance at a Lincoln Day fund raiser in Grayson's district; when Palin told the crowd she'd like to take a few shots at Grayson, but she didn't want to say anything that her daughter Piper shouldn't hear. This is always a good way to avoid the simple truth that you're just not quick enough to come up with anything good that can then go on network TV. Or was she admitting she's really a potty-mouth?
Grayson knows a good opening when he sees it, and he shot back, saying that he was impressed she was able to fit his entire name on her hand.
"I look forward to an honest debate with Governor Palin on the issues, in the unlikely event that she ever learns anything about them," Grayson said. His campaign added that "[s]cientists are studying Sarah Palin's travel between Alaska and Florida carefully. They hope to learn more about the flight patterns of that elusive migratory species, the wild Alaskan dingbat."
Grayson knows a good opening when he sees it, and he shot back, saying that he was impressed she was able to fit his entire name on her hand.
"I look forward to an honest debate with Governor Palin on the issues, in the unlikely event that she ever learns anything about them," Grayson said. His campaign added that "[s]cientists are studying Sarah Palin's travel between Alaska and Florida carefully. They hope to learn more about the flight patterns of that elusive migratory species, the wild Alaskan dingbat."
Mar 16, 2010
Climate Change
Here on the east coast, we're just coming out of a tough winter. And of course, some folks have had lots of fun ridiculing Al Gore because of it. (the guy practically invites abuse - it would be rude to deny him) Anyway, aside from the Politics of Schtoopid, there's an attitude here that seems to get people thinking a) whatever is happening here is happening everywhere; and b) whatever is happening here is all that matters, because the East Coast of the USA is the center of the universe and everybody secretly wishes they were us.
In the meantime, some interesting things were actually taking place up there in Canuckistan. Here's that story.
In the meantime, some interesting things were actually taking place up there in Canuckistan. Here's that story.
Mar 15, 2010
Smartly Sexy
If there's anything hotter than a smart chick being smart, it hasn't been discovered yet. Wouldn't it be nice if we got this kind of programming on TV instead of crap like Judge Judy and Jersey Shore?
God And Country
The 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco says the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance is OK because it's a patriotic thing and not a religious thing. Fine. But the ruling itself is a nice bit of hair-splitting - aimed at mollifying both sides rather than trying to get to a point of Settled Law - and so it's mostly bullshit.
I'm conservative, so I think first and foremost, that there's no way I'm going to hold myself liable to taking a Loyalty Oath.
Second, even if I go along with this crap, I much prefer the original.
Third, I have no allegiance for bed sheets or underwear or upholstery, so I intend never to pledge my allegiance to a flag. The ideal itself is what's important - not the symbol.
Finally, if I ever feel the need, I'll recite my own version:
"I pledge allegiance to The United States of America. One nation; indivisible; with liberty and justice for all."
I'm conservative, so I think first and foremost, that there's no way I'm going to hold myself liable to taking a Loyalty Oath.
Second, even if I go along with this crap, I much prefer the original.
Third, I have no allegiance for bed sheets or underwear or upholstery, so I intend never to pledge my allegiance to a flag. The ideal itself is what's important - not the symbol.
Finally, if I ever feel the need, I'll recite my own version:
"I pledge allegiance to The United States of America. One nation; indivisible; with liberty and justice for all."
Mar 14, 2010
The Cost Of "Living"
"Healthcare Reform" right now is all about "reforming" the way we do the insurance part of it. I've been thinking the process has to deal with 2 main parts - the cost of insurance, and the cost of care itself. Now I think we're looking at breaking it down a little further and directing the effort first at getting as many people covered as possible, and then taking another look at what it all costs so we can start trying to figure out ways to push down on those costs.
Here's a look at what's been happening to the premiums we pay if we get insurance thru our employers:
Quote For The Day
The Mustache of Understanding gets one right.
“Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And right now, you’re driving drunk. You think you can embarrass your only true ally in the world, to satisfy some domestic political need, with no consequences? You have lost total contact with reality. Call us when you’re serious. We need to focus on building our country.” Tom Friedman - NYT
“Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And right now, you’re driving drunk. You think you can embarrass your only true ally in the world, to satisfy some domestic political need, with no consequences? You have lost total contact with reality. Call us when you’re serious. We need to focus on building our country.” Tom Friedman - NYT
Mar 11, 2010
Mar 10, 2010
Mar 8, 2010
Mar 6, 2010
Ahh - Now I Get It
I've had a nagging suspicion for a while now that we weren't seeing quite the whole picture of how our economy was changing over the last 15-20 years. Turns out it's mostly because we haven't been measuring (or reporting) things like Productivity very well. And actually, you could make a decent case that while our fearless leaders have known about this all along, they've steadfastly refused to explain it to us clearly - instead, we just get the usual happy-talk about how great everything is and if you're not able to participate, then you must be doing something wrong.
Above all, if offshoring has been driving much of our supposed productivity gains, then the case for complete free trade begins to erode. If often such policies simply increase corporate profits at the expense of American workers, with no gains in true productivity, then they don’t necessarily strengthen the national economy.
The Op-Ed piece homes in on the disconnect between stagnating wages and the big increase in productivity that we keep hearing is supposed to drive up a worker's earnings.
Above all, if offshoring has been driving much of our supposed productivity gains, then the case for complete free trade begins to erode. If often such policies simply increase corporate profits at the expense of American workers, with no gains in true productivity, then they don’t necessarily strengthen the national economy.
The Op-Ed piece homes in on the disconnect between stagnating wages and the big increase in productivity that we keep hearing is supposed to drive up a worker's earnings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)