Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 08:56:43 -0500
Reply-To: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Off topic: Proud (long semi-rant)
In-Reply-To: <000a01c283ec$94a384a0$e3ec8018@Dell1>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Dave--
You are obviously passionate about this issue, but also deluded.
Everyone thinks globalization is great when allows them to go
Wal*GD*Mart and save $7 on a blow-dryer, and to blow by Lowe's and save
$19 on an electric drill. (and don't even tell me you "only buy
American", because there are literally thousands of products that flat
out, are no longer produced in the USA L (United States of Astronomical
Labor)).
But when it comes to aircraft engines, taxpayers have to continue to pay
the high dollar for these so ornery American workers can have their
$25/hour jobs while Romanians will happily do the same work for $25 a
day??? Puh-leeze.
Clue: The transition to a global economy will continue as long as the US
continues to subsidize/protect the global petroleum
production/distribution system. If the government ever ceases this house
of cards, if the price of oil ever reaches its *actual* cost for use:
(including military actions, financial 'support' to corrupt governments,
toxic clean-ups, lung disease treatment, emergency medical support for
automobile crashes, and hundreds of other hidden, taxpayer-funded
subsidies for oil usage) you will then see light-bulbs and brooms and
aircraft engines made in the USA. As long as freighter fuel is $.69 a
gallon, enjoy the cheap prices at Wal*GD*Mart, but consider Romanians
you competition in the job market.
Bringing your ideas to life,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
www.bulley-hewlett.com
AIM: IExplain4u
+1.919.658.1278
11111111111111111111.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Data Services
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 5:26 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Proud (long semi-rant)
Hi All;
Boy, am I proud of my 1983 Volkswagen Westphalia Camper.
It's 3:30 AM over here in Malden, and I just got off checking the
supplies at the picket line in front of the GE Lynn Aircraft Engine
plant Fairchild gate. Local 201 is on Strike! The issues are about
keeping American taxpayer research funded jet engines, including the
F414 military engine - the best d**n tactical engine built today (flames
acoming?:), built right here in the United States as opposed to Rumania
or China or some other "low cost pole"(Mexico is getting too expensive).
And when they raise our health care costs in January and double our
co-pay cryin' poormouth and the health care crisis (GE board members
also sit on the boards of major pharmaceutical companies. Who is in a
better position to make a difference, them or middle class blue collar
workers? ) while the corporate gluttony that the Jack Welch debacle only
gives us a glimmer of (excuse me, 16.8 BILLION made in the year AFTER
Sept. 11) , We'll put our money where our mouth is and hit them with a
strike Again!! You don't see an American flag waving out in front of
that plant (there is one inside the plant that goes up and down
according to which countrie's dignitaries are around). There are alot of
Heroes out on that picket line. It's cold out here still, with only the
fire barrels and camaraderie to keep you warm. And the Bus was is one
of those heroes!!
End of rant. For more information see http://local201iuecwa.org Thank
you for your patience.
Anyway, It was a weekend strike and involved setting up two picket
lines, one a 24/7 and the other for (2) 12 hr. shifts. Being the
co-chair of the Activities Committee, it fell on my small crew to
arrange setting up, breaking down and moving the tables, food, coffee
and accoutrements to support the picketers on the line. As there were
many "holes" in our schedule, it took my bus and I and sometimes someone
I would just pull out of the line (usually had never been in a Vanagon,
or any such VW since they had 2 windshields-pretty funny, some or 'em),
to move LOTS of stuff at any hour, in various weather. From cases of
soda and water, some in monster coolers - too wide for mere mortal
vehicles, such as a Lincoln Town Car (older BIG one) and some pickup
trucks (mine [the Bus] is covered and has lots more space), to hundreds
of sandwiches for the Family Day on Sunday to the extra tables and gear
we needed for the media after they finally noticed us (2 days after we
started on Thursday night, if you're counting ) when Senators Kennedy
and Tierney came down with Shannon O'Brian (running for Governor, good
woman, got my vote) to bags of coffee leaking trash ( only took me a day
to figure out that the bags were leaky and I needed a tarp on the floor
) to a quick change to elegant people carrier, it was a champ. The
Tiico engine that went in last year ran flawlessly (shameless plug,
still looking for that operable later model tach dash pod for short
money, after all, I'm on strike). Everyone who comes in contact with
that vehicle just cannot believe its versatility, economy of operation
and space, and just how the heck much stuff you can put in it and still
not be cramped!!
Boy, what a vehicle. My daily driver and my family's cabin at/in the
______(insert desired place).
I look around me at what's on the road and think, AHAH, after all these
years, I was Right! Can't wait for Ski season when I listen to people
complaining about how crummy their skis get on the ride up on top of
their car or in the back of their truck. And we don't even need to go
into how warm and convenient a place it is to change!
Dave B
1983.5 Tiico Westy
1983.5 WBX Westy
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