Category: life

06/05/09 02:26 - 73ºF - ID#48845

Boston?

I may have a chance to permanently transfer to Boston, MA, for my company... it wouldn't happen for a few or six months.

Has anyone here lived in Boston? Should we stay or should we go? I know it's a very expensive city. Presuming I got a cost-of-living adjustment to Boston wages, is it a fun/cool city to actually live in?

Plus, (e:james) and I could get married there :)

Permalink: Boston_.html
Words: 73
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: economics

06/01/09 08:32 - 46ºF - ID#48810

GM: Goodbye and Hello

The car industry almost single handedly killed universal healthcare in the mid 20th century. They saw that sooner or later everyone would demand it, so they came up with a scheme where health insurance was paid for by the company that the workers worked at.

Which of course ~~just about~~ did kill them when, as technology improved, they had far more retirees then active workers due to efficiency. If they hadn't opposed universal health care, they'd be in fine financial shape. What they fought for has bankrupted them, and so wiped out their shareholders. Opposing universal health care turned out to be a violation of their fiduciary duties, oh irony of ironies.

They fought airbags and seat belts, higher fuel efficiency and safety standards, the classification as SUV's as passenger vehicles instead of commercial trucks.

GM was largely responsible for killing mass transit in the early 20th century. They purchased privately run and profitable intracity train lines only so that they could close them. And they were powerful, so we let them.

I am sorry for the workers who are hurt by this, but this is more of a suicide then a bankruptcy. Here's to hoping for a brand new, 21st century smart company when the dust settles. Think bigger GM! Think long term. I am not holding my breath.