America - The Official Thread

[Blitz24]

My current job pays pretty decently but I am forced to take off 4 weeks throughout the year of unpaid time off. While I would normally take off for Jewish holidays and just not worry about missing anything, I still lose that time off from my pay and I feel I am basically penalized for my religion. Contractors usually get paid a significant amount more than regular employees, but they almost never get PTO and don't have much protection from being terminated due to budget constraints. Then again, when I was regular employee, I managed to accrue overtime pay because I didn't mind working 4 to 5 hours more per week, but even that became problematic as the company wanted to save money (read: convert me over to salary but lower my take home pay).

 

[UKMikey]

On the upside: permanent employees get a state pension.

On the downside: If that state is Florida the pension fund is tied to the Russian economy. This is like how Captain Ahab went out, harpooned to a dying whale heading for the bottom of the ocean. 🐳 💀

Florida House avoids voting to divest from Russia over Ukraine invasion

Florida has roughly $300 million in state investments in Russian companies, an amount that has “declined significantly.”

web.archive.org

 

[McLaren]

I would like to know why that money is tied up in foreign markets, anyway?

 

[Sprite]

Am I stupid (don't answer that) or is it only me who thinks that a 4 day working week is still 40 hours and you just work a bit longer Mon-Thu?

I work a 10 Hour days with two 15 minute breaks paid and 45 minute unpaid lunch. So total of 37 hours per week.

 

[Keef]

Critiquing capitalism has very little to do with the United States' gun violence problem. I don't agree with that at all.

Noting that gun and often-related drug and gang violence tend to occur in areas which have been legally stunted by capitalism, I happen to agree with @merseyxshore. Unfortunately all the US's problems are intertwined so it's complicated as hell to fix any of them, but it all started way back in the day when some white dudes showed up and wanted to make money and shoot guns but decided that only certain people in certain places should be allowed to do it. That simple decision they probably made while drunk at a bar is the reason I refuse to buy a house on the west side of Dayton in 2023.

Am I stupid (don't answer that) or is it only me who thinks that a 4 day working week is still 40 hours and you just work a bit longer Mon-Thu?

Under our current system it is, sure. Lots of industries allow this but it's not the modern zoomer 4-day week that they talk about on the news. Working four 10s is a vast improvement over five 8s for quality of life for many people. The zoomer version is just four 8s, it's literally just working less. And apparently the science actually supports that. Yet another problem with American capitalism culture - i.e. Republican-dominated industries like anything mechanical or industrial - is that we don't believe in working less. We don't believe in rest, or fresh minds, or fresh perspectives. We believe in continuing to work until the job is done, no matter how inefficiently that work gets done. We believe in running people ragged, to the point that nobody wants to be there. This culture was developed by individual workers hundreds of years ago but is now enforced by corporations and is so bad that half the states in the US do everything they can to stop labor unions from forming. Working oneself to the bone is a point of pride for at least however many people voted for Trump in the last election and they go out of the way to mention that Europeans are a bunch of sissies who hate work and that's the reason - the only reason - that they can't win a World War without help from the most economically dominant empire the world has ever seen.

But don't mention China, they get real pissed off when they find out how hard Chinese people work.

 

[Danoff]

but it all started way back in the day when some white dudes showed up and wanted to make money and shoot guns

Prosperity in the new world was part of the draw, but a lot of the draw was religious freedom. I'm not sure anyone showed up to shoot guns.

 

[Exorcet]

Under our current system it is, sure. Lots of industries allow this but it's not the modern zoomer 4-day week that they talk about on the news. Working four 10s is a vast improvement over five 8s for quality of life for many people. The zoomer version is just four 8s, it's literally just working less. And apparently the science actually supports that. Yet another problem with American capitalism culture - i.e. Republican-dominated industries like anything mechanical or industrial - is that we don't believe in working less. We don't believe in rest, or fresh minds, or fresh perspectives. We believe in continuing to work until the job is done, no matter how inefficiently that work gets done. We believe in running people ragged, to the point that nobody wants to be there. This culture was developed by individual workers hundreds of years ago but is now enforced by corporations and is so bad that half the states in the US do everything they can to stop labor unions from forming.

That's not a capitalist thing. Even if you want to say capitalism is based on greed, if shorter work weeks lead to more productivity, greed is going to go for the shorter work week.

However I do agree with the idea that working long and hard is sometimes idealized. It's not always wrong that it is, I've felt the crunch of 16 hour work days, but that's because they were more or less unavoidable. If I had not put in ridiculous hours, I would not have met deadlines. The problem is when 16 hour days become the norm. How likely that is must vary by industry, location, or something. I've found that even mega corporation are pretty considerate of their workers, but I work in a field of specialists that aren't easy to replace. When I was just starting out I had lower paying common jobs, but I didn't feel overworked or undervalued. I did not work those jobs very long though, so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[Blitz24]

That's not a capitalist thing. Even if you want to say capitalism is based on greed, if shorter work weeks lead to more productivity, greed is going to go for the shorter work week.

However I do agree with the idea that working long and hard is sometimes idealized. It's not always wrong that it is, I've felt the crunch of 16 hour work days, but that's because they were more or less unavoidable. If I had not put in ridiculous hours, I would not have met deadlines. The problem is when 16 hour days become the norm. How likely that is must vary by industry, location, or something. I've found that even mega corporation are pretty considerate of their workers, but I work in a field of specialists that aren't easy to replace. When I was just starting out I had lower paying common jobs, but I didn't feel overworked or undervalued. I did not work those jobs very long though, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Definitely industry dependent. When I was recruited out of college, I was requested to work 80+ hour work weeks from a hedge fund company (I turned this down because they required me to work on Saturdays and would not give any religious exemptions). They like to break in the younger members.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I work a 10 Hour days with two 15 minute breaks paid and 45 minute unpaid lunch. So total of 37 hours per week.

I work typically north of 45 hours a week and get paid for 40.

 

[Jezza819]

I work a 10 Hour days with two 15 minute breaks paid and 45 minute unpaid lunch. So total of 37 hours per week.

I work four 11 hour days with no breaks and an hour unpaid lunch and I get to leave 90 minutes early one day a week (Wednesday).

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Question

You've got a gun and you're going to kill people... why shoot people like you and not politicians?

I obviously have to defeat the clones.

 

[TheCracker]

A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices

The Supreme Court Historical Society has raised more than $23 million in the last two decades, much of it from lawyers, corporations and special interests.

www.nytimes.com

 

[McLaren]

Supreme Court Justices should be barred from receiving any gifts/donations/etc. Any found accepting such should be reprimanded or removed. These people wield a lot of power over the rest of us and are supposed to be neutral.

 

[Danoff]

Supreme Court Justices should be barred from receiving any gifts/donations/etc.

Yes and...

 

[Tornado]

I work four 10 hours days yet somehow always end up with over 50 hours.




Still rather that than 5 days a week.

 

[Keef]

That's not a capitalist thing. Even if you want to say capitalism is based on greed, if shorter work weeks lead to more productivity, greed is going to go for the shorter work week.

Shorter work weeks for our workers? What will they ask for next?

A huge component of capitalism and greed is control. That's the name of the game for any heirarchy. The only thing special about capitalism is that control is vested with corporations rather than the government. Corporations will attempt to operate as efficiently as possible...unless it costs them control of their operation, sort of like how remote working actually worked well and benefitted everybody but now office-based corporations are broadly pissed off that employees have it too well and are forcing them back into the office. There is no reason for that except to control their workflow. In most cases it's been proven to be less efficient for all parties but it allows the company a huge amount of control over its workers which must be balanced with efficiency.

 

[Danoff]

Shorter work weeks for our workers? What will they ask for next?

A huge component of capitalism and greed is control. That's the name of the game for any heirarchy. The only thing special about capitalism is that control is vested with corporations rather than the government. Corporations will attempt to operate as efficiently as possible...unless it costs them control of their operation, sort of like how remote working actually worked well and benefitted everybody but now office-based corporations are broadly pissed off that employees have it too well and are forcing them back into the office. There is no reason for that except to control their workflow. In most cases it's been proven to be less efficient for all parties but it allows the company a huge amount of control over its workers which must be balanced with efficiency.

There is no conspiracy. The only people looking for control are short-sighted managers assuming that their employees are cheating somehow.

 

[Exorcet]

Shorter work weeks for our workers? What will they ask for next?

A huge component of capitalism and greed is control.

Capitalism and greed are very different things. Greed can be a motivator in capitalism, but it's not at all necessary or expected. The same goes for control. In reality we definitely face issues with corruption and power through money, but these are bugs not features, and I do believe they can be fixed or at least mitigated while maintaining a capitalism system.

That's the name of the game for any heirarchy. The only thing special about capitalism is that control is vested with corporations rather than the government.

Corporations shouldn't have control, they should be on the same footing as everyone else. The collective size of the "normal" population should allow them to put sufficient pressure on corporations to make fair laws with them, but people in general don't seem to want to organize.

Corporations will attempt to operate as efficiently as possible...unless it costs them control of their operation, sort of like how remote working actually worked well and benefitted everybody but now office-based corporations are broadly pissed off that employees have it too well and are forcing them back into the office. There is no reason for that except to control their workflow. In most cases it's been proven to be less efficient for all parties but it allows the company a huge amount of control over its workers which must be balanced with efficiency.

I also don't really like blanket statements like this. The corporate landscape is diverse. Some corporations are worse than others, I hesitate to just lump them all in one basket. I doubt they all just control freaks fighting for power. My own company is pushing for a return to the office. I don't think it's beneficial outside of niche situations, but I can see some justification. Their offices are secure, and we work with sensitive information. And while my home internet and power are reliable, theirs' are more so. Even with the push to return to office, they've let people remain at home workers. The fact that the vast majority of workers wants to retain work from home flexibility is part of it, but that's fine with me, it's the same kind of collective influence I want people to exert on a larger scale proactively. At the same time though, I think it's also a sign that "control" isn't the priority here. I'm sure you can find a case where the opposite is true, but that's not going to be capitalism at work. It's literally irrationality and inefficiency, at least in the situations where work from home is proving advantageous.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Corporations shouldn't have control, they should be on the same footing as everyone else. The collective size of the "normal" population should allow them to put sufficient pressure on corporations to make fair laws with them, but people in general don't seem to want to organize.

This is actually something I've thought about quite a bit. Corporations have a lot of power in the US specifically because they have targeted and well funded lobbying that has proven to be effective. Citizens, generally, have power too, but unless its a very popular issue with broad consensus (this almost never happens) then that power is kind of directionless outside of very very general political direction. A well paid lawyer for Uber or Exxon lobbying for some specific exemption or law is more likely to achieve success then a mass of people giving mixed messages at a town-hall or, more likely, some dubious opinion poll with no discernible direction. It's basically noise (citizens) vs messaging (lobbying).

I've wondered if there could be some kind of citizens lobbying group in Washington that is funded by donations to at least compete with corporate interests in DC. I suppose this is what a PAC is, but PACs are almost always overtly political...Not sure there is a good answer here.

 

[Exorcet]

I've wondered if there could be some kind of citizens lobbying group in Washington that is funded by donations to at least compete with corporate interests in DC. I suppose this is what a PAC is, but PACs are almost always overtly political...Not sure there is a good answer here.

An alternative that I've considered is that if any lobbying is attempted, then all parties that will be influenced should have a say. So if say tax preparation company lobbies for more complex and insane tax laws, tax players would have to be notified and consulted before any change is made. If a manufacturing company wants to change where and how it can dispose of waste, the people living in the areas it target will be notified and come to some kind of agreement. Only when lobbying for something that affects oneself could a proposal go unchallenged.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

How one city cut gun violence in half and may become a model around the country

Omaha, Nebraska, has a seen a steady decrease in gun violence over the past 15 years, without the state banning the sale of semiautomatic weapons like AR-15 style rifles

abcnews.go.com

Interesting read and it sounds like what is needed, but I doubt everybody across the country can get together like this.

 

[Tornado]

 

[EngieDiesel]

I wish I could say I'm surprised but having read the blog on his website before, he doesn't exactly seem like the "think before you speak" kind of person.

 

[UKMikey]

Shootin' from the hip (pyoww!!!):

 

[McLaren]

He did this before a blog of his years ago. Said some unhinged nonsense, cried that everyone took it out of context but there was also just “speaking truths” in it. He finally removed after enough backlash.

Good riddance if this ends his comic for good. He meant full well behind his racism.

 

[Populuxe]

It's official. Andrews McMeel Universal, the syndicate that distributes Dilbert, had dropped the strip and is severing all ties with Scott Adams. I seriously doubt AMU's competitor, King Feature Syndicate, will pick it up. Adams is just too toxic now.

Andrews McMeel Drops Scott Adams

Andrews McMeel Universal announced late Sunday evening that they will no longer associate with Scott Adams. The full AMU statement: Andrews McMeel Universal is severing our relationship with Dilbert creator Scott Adams. The process of this termination will extend to all areas of our business...

www.dailycartoonist.com

 

[MIE1992]

It's official. Andrews McMeel Universal, the syndicate that distributes Dilbert, had dropped the strip and is severing all ties with Scott Adams. I seriously doubt AMU's competitor, King Feature Syndicate, will pick it up. Adams is just too toxic now.

Andrews McMeel Drops Scott Adams

Andrews McMeel Universal announced late Sunday evening that they will no longer associate with Scott Adams. The full AMU statement: Andrews McMeel Universal is severing our relationship with Dilbert creator Scott Adams. The process of this termination will extend to all areas of our business...

www.dailycartoonist.com

Best news I’ve heard this afternoon.

 

[Blitz24]

While I partially enjoyed his comic strip due to the cynicism shown in the workplace, I am not a fan of the strip's author. He reaps what he sowed.

 

[UKMikey]

It's official. Andrews McMeel Universal, the syndicate that distributes Dilbert, had dropped the strip and is severing all ties with Scott Adams. I seriously doubt AMU's competitor, King Feature Syndicate, will pick it up. Adams is just too toxic now.

Andrews McMeel Drops Scott Adams

Andrews McMeel Universal announced late Sunday evening that they will no longer associate with Scott Adams. The full AMU statement: Andrews McMeel Universal is severing our relationship with Dilbert creator Scott Adams. The process of this termination will extend to all areas of our business...

www.dailycartoonist.com

Maybe Dave Sim is interested in publishing it as strip books. Or Jack Chick Publications could print it up on those little leaflets they leave on buses and public transport.

 

[Populuxe]

Elon Musk is defending Scott Adams. Because of course he is.



This from a man who, according to a lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, practices widespread discrimination against black employees. They are segregated into the most physically demanding jobs while being offered the lowest paying contracts. The segregated areas where they work are called the “porch monkey station,” “the slave ship,” and “the plantation.”