Just-Me-07's Blog

OK, whats the deal?  I cannot read any comments to the blogs.  I can't even read the comments added to my blogs.  Am I doing something wrong or is there a problem with the system?

Lately, the subject of minimum wage has been on the news.  A group in greensboro is working to get enough signatures on a petition to get the MW raised there.  Richard Moore, running for govenor, is supporting minimum wage increase.  Several of the presidential candidates have also spoke of the need.  My question is, do these people realize that they are only hurting the people they are claiming to help.  Not only them but everyone except the very wealthy will be hurt by a raise in minimum wage. 

First, these minimum wage jobs were never intended to be jobs that  could support a family.  These jobs are jobs that require little or no training thus another reason for the low pay. 

Secondly, the majority of these jobs are in the service industry, food stores, burger shacks, restaurants, etc.   IF the minimum wage is raised the owners of the businesses are not going to loose money so they are going to raise the price of everything they sell.  This person that is working for minimum wage is only going to have to pay more for everything they buy but so is everyone else.  Sure, they are bringing home more money each payday but they are spending much more for what they buy.  If you want to help these people with the low paying jobs, train them for better paying jobs and leave the minimum wage jobs for the high school students that are trying to go to school and make a little money on the side.  Now don't start yelling at me about not respecting high school students.  That is not what I said.  Many students want jobs so they can make some spending money while attending school.  They use these jobs because there is little training needed and the responsibilities are less than that of higher paying jobs that would require them to work more and study less. 

I have noticed recently, since the gas prices have gone out of sight, the oil companies have been placing ads on TV about the money that have spent on alternative energy.  Do they really think that we are stupid enough to believe that they are really interested in finding alternative energy.  I have no doubt that they are spending money on these programs but I do not believe it is for the benefit of this country.  Think about it, everything they develope, they patent it.  Once they have the patent, it is gone forever.  Even if some average Joe in his backyard shop developes a new way of powering a car, power plant, etc., chances are the oil companies have already developed it and have it stuck in a closet somewhere so when Joe tries to market his idea, he is guilty of patent infringement.  I remember back in the mid 1970s a couple of car enthusiasts developed something for cars that would increase gas mileage to 70+ MPG.  As this invention was getting closer to being patented, it was reported on almost daily by radio station WBT in Charlotte.  They would talk to the inventors on the air almost daily and they admitted that the oil companies were trying to buy the patent, but, they would not sell out.  What happended?  The oil companies got to them and suddenly the new invention disappeared.  Phone calls were not returned and we are still driving cars that get less that 35 MPG.  I know that the oil companies are in the business for the money and I know that, percentage wise, they are not making any more per gallon that they were 30 years ago.  However, if we really expect or have hope that this country will find an alternative energy source, we have got to have the oil companies out of the invention business.

This morning on WTQR it was reproted that the new Lowe's catalogue had been printed.  However, it is not a Christmas catalogue, it is a "Holiday" catalogue.  Not only is Christmas removed from the catalogue, they will not sell Christmas trees.  They will however, sell "family trees."  It seems that they don't want to offend anyone that may not celebrate Christmas as it is a religious holiday.  I am offended.  This is not a religious issue.  December 25, is the day that we, (this country) celebrates the birth of Christ.  Thus, the word "Christmas."  The holiday is solely for the celebration of the birth  of Christ so why remove the word Christmas from everything.  I am not African American and I don't celebrate Kwanza but I am not offended by those who do.  I am not Jewish so I don't celebrate Hanukah, but I am not offended by those who do.  The true meaning of Christmas has all but disappeared and it has become all about presents but like it or not, it is about the birth of Christ.  If it offends you, the don't celebrate it, it's that simple.  I guess what really gets to me is that Lowe's is so afraid of offending everyone except the Christians in this country, they remove any mention of Christmas in their catalogue, but you can bet the will do all they can to cash in on the holiday.  I personally will not support Lowe's if they cannot support the reason for the holiday.  Now before Axe berates me about forced religion, let me again remind you, the reason for the holiday is to celebrate the "BIRTH OF CHRIST."  Taking Christ out of Christmas is like taking "Independence Day" out of the forth of July holiday.  What would be the reason for the holiday?

Is anyone else as bothered by John Edwards' comments about the union at Smithfield as I am?  I have no idea what the situation is in the Smithfield plant so I an not defending nor bashing the unions.  However, it is totaly wrong to "put" a union in place just because there are problems.  As I understand it, John Edwards said that due to the problems at the Smithfield plant, the should just let a union come in without a vote.  What happened to the  rights of the workers?  If they legally vote for a union, then by all means, allow a union to come in.  However, if they do now want a union, then why should it be forced down their throats?  If some are being intimidated, the put it to secret ballot and let the workers truly voice their opinions.

I must admit that due to my job, I don't get to watch the news as much as I would like and maybe everyone else knows what is going on there.  My point is, if the problems are safety issues, then OSHA could take care of it, not a union.  If it is labor related only, the let the workers vote.  A union should not be forced down anyones throat.  I have never been in the position to have to deal with a union but as I understand it, if the workers want a union, they first gather signatures on a petition to put it to a vote (I think this is the area where the intimidation comes in).  If enough workers sign the petition, then it is voted on by secret ballot, just like our government elections.  If this is wrong, I am sure that someone will correct me but I know for a fact that this is something that should be voted on, secretly, not just forced on the workers.

Makes me wonder just how much money the labor unions have donated to the Edwards' campaign.

As my member name implies, this is just me but I am totally confused with the Medical Boards decision not to allow a person in the medical profession to assit in carrying out a legally binding sentence.  By statute, the death penalty is allowed under certain circumstances in this state.  As I understand it, the only time a person can be sentenced to death is when they have been convicted of murder,  and then, there must be other circumstances to accompany that crime.     This is not a case of whether the death penalty is morally right or wrong, this is simply, a doctor cannot participate in taking the life of a convicted felon.    My confusion is this,  this same board that says that it is wrong for a doctor to assist in taking the life of a person that has brutally raped and killed and innocent person, says that is ok for that same doctor to go to his office and take the life of an innocent unborn child.  As the comedian says, "Here's your sign."