Mr. Ford, meet Boeing

You know how it's become a sort of cliche/folk-economics to say that "You should pay your workers enough so that they can buy the product you sell?" It's supposed to be what gave Henry Ford I his tremendous success with the Model T, and has become a staple of union bargaining.

For a recent example of this line of thought, here's none other than (former Secretary of Labor) Robert Reich arguing it, complete with reference to the Model T story.

Well, it recently occurred to me how underpaid I am. My employer modifies and sells large aircraft. No way can I afford that!!!

Did somebody say "raise"?

(This post made entirely without use of the mouse -- including for looking up and copying over links -- thanks to the use of the Firefox Pentadactyl extension. Give it a whirl!)

Addendum: To clarify, Boeing is not my employer, just a synecdoche for large aircraft manufacturers in general.

GM cutting dividend, jobs, irresponsibility

Well, it looks like GM is going to finally suspend its dividend.

Gee, you mean we have to pay the wages for labor performed fifty years ago before the enterprise's residual income claimants? Who'da thunk?

This is something I've been demanding for a long time.

They will also be trying to cut jobs. They had some "success" with their buyout program in which they tried to pay all their US workers to go away and shut up about their guaranteed jobby. As the eminent Winterspeak was clever enough to point out, the people most likely to take the buyouts are the competent workers. They get the buyout money, plus the income from their next eager employer. Anyone who refuses to take the buyout -- and you know, is putting together your next car -- knows damn well he can't rook anyone else to pay him for what he does.

And for those of you with GM warrantees needing work? Well, I hope you'll like getting in line behand granny's life support money. I'm sure you'll look real noble.