Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis |
- Toxic Smoke Cloud Engulfs Greece; Six Years of Relentless Recession; Horrific Statistics
- Voters Take Negative View of Labor Unions; Liberals in Favor of Strikes (Until Strikes Happen); Aging Population an Anti-Union Force?
- New Law in France: Limos Must Wait 15 Minutes Minimum Before Picking Up Rides
Toxic Smoke Cloud Engulfs Greece; Six Years of Relentless Recession; Horrific Statistics Posted: 29 Dec 2013 11:35 PM PST Please consider a mass of grim statistics regarding Greece, via translation from the El Pais article: Ruined Greece takes the helm of the EU in the first half of 2014. On January 1, Greece assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union in a state close to suffocation, not only via austerity adjustments since 2010, but also literally, by a toxic cloud fueled by wood fires that replace conventional heating. Horrific Statistics
Political Setup
How much longer the "New Democracy" government of Prime Minister Andonis Samaras can hang together remains to be seen. Should Samaras lose a vote of confidence for any reason, the Greek house of debt that that cannot and will not be paid back all comes crashing down. For those counting, Greece received 240 billion euros in aid, in a foolish attempt by the Troika to keep Greece in the eurozone. Most of the loan has been earmarked for the recapitalization of banks and the payment of interest on the debt, which now accounts for 157% of GDP. Germany and the ECB are adamant there will not be writedowns on that debt. Both are in fantasyland. Default, accompanied by a messy eurozone breakup awaits. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com |
Posted: 29 Dec 2013 12:03 PM PST In what is decidedly a good thing for California as well as the nation at-large, a recent Field Poll shows California Voters Take Negative View of Labor Unions. According to the latest Field Poll, California voter views of labor unions have taken a decidedly negative turn over the past two and one-half years. Whereas a March 2011 survey found voters by a four to three margin, believing that labor unions generally do more good than harm, opinions about this have shifted, with more voters now saying they do more harm than good, 45% to 40%. Overall Results click on any chart for sharper image Demographic and Political Breakdown Union Household Trends
Primary Union Support
The age demographic is interesting. Are teachers pounding pro-union propaganda into kids heads from age six through college? Support for Ability to Strike Those in Favor of Ability to Strike
Those Against Strikes
These results are extremely interesting. Of course we see the expected political breakdowns. Aging Population an Anti-Union Force? Those 40-64 are against strikes by a 49-43 margin. Those 65 and older are against strikes by a 50-39 margin. Those over 65 may be increasingly dependent on reliable public transportation and may be on fixed income as well. Those on fixed income budgets do not like price hikes because their income cannot keep up. Implications suggest that an aging population is an anti-union force. Liberals in Favor of Strikes (Until Strikes Happen) On the humorous side, take a good look at San Francisco which suffered through a massive BART (Bay Area Transportation) strike. For details, please see my October 18 post BART Holds San Francisco Hostage; Best Way to Deal With Public Unions The San Francisco Bay area, a bastion of liberal foolishness, is now against the ability of public transportation strikes by a 52-41 margin. Conclusion: Liberals are all in favor of strikes until they are personally affected by them! What follows is a repeat of things I have stated earlier. Some might not be aware but even FDR saw the light regarding public unions. Message From FDR Inquiring minds are reading snips from a Letter from FDR Regarding Collective Bargaining of Public Unions written August 16, 1937. All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management.For more on public union slavery, coercion, bribery, and scapegoating please see ...
Best Way to Deal With Public Unions The best way to deal with public unions is to not deal with them at all. Ronald Reagan had the right idea when he fired all of the PATCO workers. Scott Walker had the right idea in Wisconsin when he ended collective bargaining of some public unions. Unfortunately, Walker failed to include police and firefighters. Actual Wisconsin results prove Union-Busting is a "Godsend"; Elimination of Collective Bargaining is the Single Best Thing one Can do for School Kids It's time to implement national right-to-work laws and put an end to public union collective bargaining nationally. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com |
New Law in France: Limos Must Wait 15 Minutes Minimum Before Picking Up Rides Posted: 29 Dec 2013 10:51 AM PST Want to arrange a limo in France to take you to the airport or go on a private tour? Thanks to a new law in France, you have to wait a minimum of 15 minutes except at 4 or 5 star hotels. The reason: taxis persuaded government that chauffeur driven limos are "unfair competition". Via translation from Les Echos, please consider Taxis against VTC: the conflict continues. Note: "VTC" (Voiture de Tourisme avec Chauffeur) translates roughly as chauffeur driven touring car. Starting January 1, limos must wait 15 minutes before they can pickup passenger. According the Minister of Crafts, Trade and Tourism and the Interior Minister, the delay helps distinguish the activity of VTCs from taxis.I had to look this up because it's the first I have heard of France's "Competition Authority". Wikipedia explains "The Autorité de la concurrence (English: Competition Authority) is France's national competition regulator." It's shocking the Autorité de la concurrence actually translates its rulings and opinions into English. Here are some examples. Opinions translated into English
What's even more shocking than decisions translated into English is the fact that the Autorité de la concurrence appears to be on the right side of the issue (Does someone at the Autorité de la concurrence operate a VTC on the side?) Regardless, Hollande's Minister of Crafts, Trade and Tourism and the Interior Minister ruled in favor of taxis. But the taxis are not fully appeased either. Taxis don't want competition from VTCs at all. This is the way things "work" in France. Mike "Mish" Shedlock http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com |
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