Comments for The Parkdale Party http://www.parkdaleparty.com Promoting a dialogue for political change in Ontario Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:11:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by waynekolenchuk http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-88 waynekolenchuk Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:11:01 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-88 Second step is self-completing. When conciousness rises to this level, politicians will be forced to take action. We are starting to see this in the USwith Obama's new stand. Yes some of it may be political posturing, but the issue have been raised by a mainstream politician. Second step is self-completing. When conciousness rises to this level, politicians will be forced to take action. We are starting to see this in the USwith Obama's new stand. Yes some of it may be political posturing, but the issue have been raised by a mainstream politician.

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by Walt http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-87 Walt Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:55:53 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-87 Then what is the second step? Then what is the second step?

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by waynekolenchuk http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-86 waynekolenchuk Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:27:11 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-86 What can be done is to raise public conciousness about corporation ethics and morality. When this issue is forced into public conciousness, politicians and corporate leaders will have no choice but to rein in corporate morality. The Occupy movement is the first step in this process What can be done is to raise public conciousness about corporation ethics and morality. When this issue is forced into public conciousness, politicians and corporate leaders will have no choice but to rein in corporate morality. The Occupy movement is the first step in this process

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by Walt http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-85 Walt Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:02:28 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-85 I agree that Caterpillar are being morally and ethically irrisponsible, but what really can be done about it? If they are within the law to do this then there is no case other than public shaming. So, all we need is a champion who has some basic knowledge of the workings of the interweb to set up a service where consumers can visit to see which producer behaves in a moral and ethical manner. This would be a bit like Facebook started and Zuckerberg did reasonably well for himself! Ontario needs a champion! Ontario needs a new Zuckergerg. I agree that Caterpillar are being morally and ethically irrisponsible, but what really can be done about it? If they are within the law to do this then there is no case other than public shaming. So, all we need is a champion who has some basic knowledge of the workings of the interweb to set up a service where consumers can visit to see which producer behaves in a moral and ethical manner. This would be a bit like Facebook started and Zuckerberg did reasonably well for himself!
Ontario needs a champion! Ontario needs a new Zuckergerg.

]]> Comment on Union Busting! by waynekolenchuk http://www.parkdaleparty.com/union-busting/#comment-84 waynekolenchuk Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:29:51 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=689#comment-84 What's happening at Caterpillar isn't union-busting. It's unfettered capitalism. And completely legal. What's happening at Caterpillar isn't union-busting. It's unfettered capitalism. And completely legal.

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by waynekolenchuk http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-83 waynekolenchuk Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:23:45 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-83 The core problem here is not human nature (which causes us to seek the lowest price) but the complete lack of ethical and moral responsibility in corporations. Caterpillar, a 60B company, will save 20M to 30M when the union caves. How much is enough? Under the current tenets of capitalism, there is never enough. The core problem here is not human nature (which causes us to seek the lowest price) but the complete lack of ethical and moral responsibility in corporations. Caterpillar, a 60B company, will save 20M to 30M when the union caves. How much is enough? Under the current tenets of capitalism, there is never enough.

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by waynekolenchuk http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-82 waynekolenchuk Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:11:54 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-82 There are 258 workers, including assemblers and machinists facing a potential 50 percent pay cut. Below that are 4 workers classified as cleaners or truck drivers, and they are looking a 54 percent pay cut. Higher up fabrication machinists are facing a 43 to 45 percent pay cut. Quoted from Jan 28 Toronto Star There are 258 workers, including assemblers and machinists facing a potential 50 percent pay cut. Below that are 4 workers classified as cleaners or truck drivers, and they are looking a 54 percent pay cut. Higher up fabrication machinists are facing a 43 to 45 percent pay cut. Quoted from Jan 28 Toronto Star

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by Walt http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-81 Walt Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:48:55 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-81 2) With respect to the Caterpillar disaster there appears to be some conflicting information that has come out of London. I read a statement from one of the union organizers who said that "some" jobs are to be reduced by up to 50%. The assumption has been that all jobs are subjected to this brutal cut but these are the non-skilled positions such as cleaners and support staff. The technical and trades people who are making the $34/hr actually are supposedly not affected. So, what is the truth? If the latter is in fact correct then is Caterpillar's position really so bad? If we knew the facts then we can make an informed decision otherwise we're being played for stooges by the CAW. 2) With respect to the Caterpillar disaster there appears to be some conflicting information that has come out of London. I read a statement from one of the union organizers who said that "some" jobs are to be reduced by up to 50%. The assumption has been that all jobs are subjected to this brutal cut but these are the non-skilled positions such as cleaners and support staff. The technical and trades people who are making the $34/hr actually are supposedly not affected. So, what is the truth? If the latter is in fact correct then is Caterpillar's position really so bad? If we knew the facts then we can make an informed decision otherwise we're being played for stooges by the CAW.

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by Walt http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-94 Walt Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:48:15 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-94 am not continued from last post due to small acceptable coment size: So, why can't corporations behave as follows? a) Demand that their suppliers treat their workers properly, as defined by our standards not theirs. b) Pay the suppliers accordingly and reflect this cost in the price of the product. c) Audit the syppliers on a regular basis to ensure adherence. d) Have a provision in every contract that unethical behaviour by the supplier will result in termination of the contract. The reason these corporations won't do this is because WE will not let them. We'll drive across town to get a TV $20 less but demand ethical behaviour from the supply chain. It is the Western consumer who is the boss over these abused employees and who is actually killing the enslaved workers. Cont. am not

continued from last post due to small acceptable coment size:

So, why can't corporations behave as follows?
a) Demand that their suppliers treat their workers properly, as defined by our standards not theirs.
b) Pay the suppliers accordingly and reflect this cost in the price of the product.
c) Audit the syppliers on a regular basis to ensure adherence.
d) Have a provision in every contract that unethical behaviour by the supplier will result in termination of the contract.
The reason these corporations won't do this is because WE will not let them. We'll drive across town to get a TV $20 less but demand ethical behaviour from the supply chain. It is the Western consumer who is the boss over these abused employees and who is actually killing the enslaved workers. Cont.

]]> Comment on The Dark Side of Capitalism by Wayne Kolenchuk http://www.parkdaleparty.com/the-dark-side-of-capitalism/#comment-80 Wayne Kolenchuk Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:54:12 +0000 http://www.parkdaleparty.com/?p=682#comment-80 You're wrong. You're wrong.

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