Unions In The Trucking Industry!!

I found Guys description of union works ironic, since over half the OTR non union company drivers I encounter daily also fit that description.

You can bet they do. Don't even get me started on the non Union drivers cause I would never stop.

Don't get me wrong. I am not anti Union at all. I could even see myself working for a company that was Union driving a truck but not many opportunities around Little Rock Arkansas unfortunately. I tend to focus on smaller segments of trucking at a time cause the trucking industry as a whole is to much for anyone to handle.

history does not repeat itself but it sure does rhyme. Roaring 20's = .com 90's and realestate boom 00's. Great depression = great recession. Yep looks awfully familiar to me.

I agree completely. I cite the "Roaring 20's into The Great Depression" thing quite a bit. It's common to hear, "it's darkest just before the dawn." Well sometimes it's brightest just before the plug gets pulled which is why you "save your pennies for a rainy day."

My mom and I enjoy talking about life in America throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Her parents came through The Great Depression and World Wars. They taught my mom to have a strong character, handle your money wisely, take care of the things you have, and learn to be self-sufficient. And most of all don't expect anyone to hold your hand when times get tough. "Figure it out" was always their mantra because back then the Government didn't have all of the bailout programs they have now.

Many people have no idea what life would be like in America today if it wasn't for the countless billions in aid the government has been giving so many people. I can tell you with the utmost certainty that if today's economy existed with the same Government programs we had in the early 20th century many of the people I know would not be living in their homes or driving their nice cars. They'd be living with three generations of family on one house sharing one car and rationing food. In fact, if the Government counted unemployment statistics the way they did during the 30's and early 40's the numbers would make people so dizzy they'd be sick.

There's a great website called Shadow Government Statistics and it's owned by a guy who has studied economics since the early 70's. The byline on the website says:

Have you ever wondered why the CPI, GDP and employment numbers run counter to your personal and business experiences? The problem lies in biased and often-manipulated government reporting.

So the entire website is dedicated to digging up the truth in all of the Government's economic statistics. For instance, look at the chart that shows what the unemployment statistics would be based upon different ways of collecting and analyzing data:

Unemployment Statistics Based Upon Different Reporting Criteria.

It's a fascinating website. He really goes through all of the changes the Government has made to the way they collect, analyze, and report data over the years. For instance, to say that unemployment is about 6% today does not compare to what 6% would have meant 20, 30, or 50+ years ago. Same with Gross Domestic Product (the value of the products this country produces every year) and the Consumer Price Index (the inflation rate that consumers like us see). You can't compare today's numbers with those from the past because the methods of gathering, analyzing, and reporting those numbers has changed entirely.

For years now I have grown a big garden, raised a bunch of animals, heated my house with wood, and learned a lot of about living the "Little House On The Prairie" lifestyle. For one, I enjoy it immensely and wouldn't want to live any other way. But also I know that economies do indeed go through booms and busts. Wars happen. Currencies collapse. It's nice to be able to produce enough cash to live off of, but that doesn't help me sleep well at night. I want to know how to live with very little or no cash for many years if need be because I'm afraid in my lifetime we will indeed have the need to. I'm 43 and I expect to live at least another 50 years. Knowing what I know about the history of economies throughout the world in the past 150 years I fully expect to live through another Great Depression someday. I hope it won't happen, but hope isn't a strategy, so I'm learning how to survive and thrive with little or no cash. I'm not nearly what people would call a "doomsday prepper" but I'm a realist. I believe in hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

We're living through the beginning of the decline of the American Empire. I don't think we'll decline all that far, but far enough. Look at all of the empires of the past - Egyptian, Roman, Persian, British - they all had massive empires that ruled huge percentages of the world's population and amassed mountains of riches before eventually declining or collapsing altogether. We're no different. We're not immune to the cycles of boom and bust any more than anyone else. Although it may seem like our Government has infinite resources, in fact they do not. So I'm not taking any chances. I'll try to make enough money to live on using modern tools and technologies and I'll enjoy our current standard of living as long as it lasts. But if the day comes once again that we hit a brick wall I'm expecting to know how to flip that switch and convert over to the Little House On The Prairie lifestyle.

We are in a depression, you said it yourself, government assistance is more abundant than back in the 30's. There would be massive soup lines if it was not for food stamps, corporate welfare, and the biggest one, social security/medicare. I get red flags from prophets Brett. Know one can or ever has predicted the future. Sure some get lucky. I am keenly aware of the rise and fall of empires and I know America is a empire. Know one can say for sure if, when or how America may decline. I too show a strong affinity for the WWII generation. I was lucky to be heavily influenced by them.

The reason unions worked so well back in my grandfathers day was because that generation was steadfastly united on many issues. The governments and corporations were checked by a generation of united men. We have not been united on anything since the late 80's. The only thing America almost universally agreed upon then was keeping communism checked. You could see the unraveling of our united front everywhere else though. I am not pessimistic about our future though, I am a glass is half full type of man.

We are in a depression, you said it yourself, government assistance is more abundant than back in the 30's. There would be massive soup lines if it was not for food stamps, corporate welfare, and the biggest one, social security/medicare. I get red flags from prophets Brett. Know one can or ever has predicted the future. Sure some get lucky. I am keenly aware of the rise and fall of empires and I know America is a empire. Know one can say for sure if, when or how America may decline. I too show a strong affinity for the WWII generation. I was lucky to be heavily influenced by them.

American empire is in it's decline.. Historically a country remains on top for a 100 years in modern times.. 1700s England,1800s France, 1900s USA, 2000s China.. The boom of the Indian and Chinese economies is moving the wealth of the world from America and Europe to the far east.. This isn't predicting the future this is fact.. The good thing about truth is you don't have to believe it or know it for it to be true.. It just is

The reason unions worked so well back in my grandfathers day was because that generation was steadfastly united on many issues. The governments and corporations were checked by a generation of united men. We have not been united on anything since the late 80's. The only thing America almost universally agreed upon then was keeping communism checked. You could see the unraveling of our united front everywhere else though. I am not pessimistic about our future though, I am a glass is half full type of man.

I consider myself optimistic as well but I am also a realist.. I agree with your perspective on unions since the 1980s.. I also think some of the corporation are as powerful as small nations.. Whose to stop one from accumulating a fortune and leaving with all the money? Unions are needed to spread the wealth.. Why do you think less people stand together these days?

Have you ever wondered why the CPI, GDP and employment numbers run counter to your personal and business experiences? The problem lies in biased and often-manipulated government reporting.

So the entire website is dedicated to digging up the truth in all of the Government's economic statistics. For instance, look at the chart that shows what the unemployment statistics would be based upon different ways of collecting and analyzing data:

Unemployment Statistics Based Upon Different Reporting Criteria.

Anyone who's ever taken a basic Statistics class knows that data can be manipulated. The unemployment rate is a tool for politicians and is not a true picture of what is going on in the real world. The unemployment rate doesn't tell you of those who no longer qualify for unemployment benefits but are either still unemployed or under employed.

Have you ever wondered why the CPI, GDP and employment numbers run counter to your personal and business experiences? The problem lies in biased and often-manipulated government reporting.

So the entire website is dedicated to digging up the truth in all of the Government's economic statistics. For instance, look at the chart that shows what the unemployment statistics would be based upon different ways of collecting and analyzing data:

Unemployment Statistics Based Upon Different Reporting Criteria.

Anyone who's ever taken a basic Statistics class knows that data can be manipulated. The unemployment rate is a tool for politicians and is not a true picture of what is going on in the real world. The unemployment rate doesn't tell you of those who no longer qualify for unemployment benefits but are either still unemployed or under employed.

I could not agree more.. This site though I knew about before Brett mentioned.. This guy is famous for using large amounts of data to show what the government is hiding or manipulating.. Good site if your into that stuff

We are in a depression, you said it yourself, government assistance is more abundant than back in the 30's. There would be massive soup lines if it was not for food stamps, corporate welfare, and the biggest one, social security/medicare. I get red flags from prophets Brett. Know one can or ever has predicted the future. Sure some get lucky. I am keenly aware of the rise and fall of empires and I know America is a empire. Know one can say for sure if, when or how America may decline. I too show a strong affinity for the WWII generation. I was lucky to be heavily influenced by them.

American empire is in it's decline.. Historically a country remains on top for a 100 years in modern times.. 1700s England,1800s France, 1900s USA, 2000s China.. The boom of the Indian and Chinese economies is moving the wealth of the world from America and Europe to the far east.. This isn't predicting the future this is fact.. The good thing about truth is you don't have to believe it or know it for it to be true.. It just is

The only thing those facts prove is that the third world is on the rise, not that America is in decline.

The only thing those facts prove is that the third world is on the rise, not that America is in decline.

So what exactly do you think is going to happen when most of the worlds wealth accumulates in the east? This is a trend that likely is not going to end in my lifetime and IM in my 30s.. We are already seeing the effects of this with the decline of the middle class in America and the boom of the middle class in China