Americans don’t get it.
From time to time one experiences those little moments that actually are insights into much bigger issues. Destry had one such today that we got to talking about. He needed a pair of slacks pressed but did not have the time to leave them for overnight cleaning. He just wanted a press put on them. Well, he stopped at a local cleaners and asked if they could do it. They said no, they only provide that service with cleanings. So he went to another cleaners. The counter person was standing there. Their pants press was unused but no, they wouldn’t do a while you wait order as they had other orders ahead of his (but no one waiting). There are lots of cleaners in our town so he went on to the next one. This one said sure. Glad to do it. $5. Did a lint clean. Did a press. Had them ready for him as he waited. What was the difference between the three? The first two had anglo’s running them. The last one had an oriental owner/operator. As Destry pointed out ‘Its this attitude that will be the fall of America.’ Now I’m pretty sure the oriental owner is an American as well but that owner has the cultural attitude to help customers. The others clearly did not.
The reason I say this is an insight into a bigger issue is the problem we are facing here in Michigan that is replicated in many other states and communities. We have a very well paid but long-time union work force. These employees have become ingrained with an entitlement mentality. Jobs are owed them. Benefits are owed them. A bountiful retirement is owed them. It has gotten so bad that they easily joke about how much they’ve gamed the system. This was possible when the Michigan automakers were an oligopoly and owned the vast majority of the US market. The auto companies’ management could pass on exorbitant compensation packages and tax the rest of the country to pay for it. Not any more. (And those who want to point fingers at us and that this doesn’t go on today need to look no further than to Seattle and Microsoft. We are all paying a tax to MSFT for a bug-ridden, in-secure operating system that is often the most expensive single component in a microcomputer.)
This is not a blog on union bashing. There clearly were needs for unions but like most, if not all, bureaucracies they become self-serving. They become more concerned with their own perpetuation and the perpetuation of their own positions than they are concerned about the people they are paid to help. Ultimately, the market will shake this out. I hope. The one cleaner got Destry’s $5. The other two did not. Where will Destry think of going next time?
on March 21st, 2006 at 12:02 pm
Hello
I totaly agree with you. The american mentaility is I don’t do that kind of work (janitoral, cleaning of any kind,back breaking agricural work)unless they get great benifits and a very large payment for it.
I’m a sad scout leader because of what an eagle scout told me. His parents aren’t rich, but they managed to send him to college for Computer Grafics. He graduated with no problem. He told me that now that he was a college graduiate and eagle scout that the world owed him a great job with great pay and many good benifits even tho he had no job experience.
I think you can read my mind as to what I wanted to say and do.
This is also why we have so many ilegal imergrants espicaly from Mexico.
Americans are to high and mighity that such work is beneath their digenity to perform.
Also how can families who are employed at minium wage aford a new car. This car is so expensive because the worker is getting $20 to $50 or more an hour to make them. They are also getting tons of other benfits.
Well I have gone on enough for now. It may sound bad, butif the truth hurts so be it.
Yours in Scouting,
WWW,
Paul
In God We Trust
on May 14th, 2006 at 9:31 am
I cannot agree more. This past September I has to fly home for my father’s funeral. I went to a "1 hour" cleaner’s TWO days BEFORE the funeral to get my Army Dress Blues pressed. The High-School kid told me I’d have them next week?! I explained the situation and I got the "Deer in the headlight" look. So I did what any self-respecting Eagle Scout should do…I pressed them myself.
In being in the military and traveling the world, the hardest workers I have ever seen are Turks in Germany (doing the jobs no one else wanted); Latinos in Arizona (legal or not, again doing the jobs no one else wanted); And Iraqi’s in Iraq. Just happy to be working. America’s (and to a lesser extend Western Europe)downfall will be its own success and ignorance.
Respectfully submitted.
Greg
C-4-95
on April 15th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I can also agree and even had a few similar things happen that may yet make my own blog.
There is probably another difference between these three cleaners. The first two were probably chains or franchises, where Destry talked to an employee. The employee was just doing his job, nothing more, and following corporate rules.
The third place was probably owner operated where Destry probably talked to an owner (or family member). The owner was looking out for his business and not interested in following some corporate rules.
Bureaucracies — of all sorts — are killing America. That, along with our education system, WILL be the country’s downfall.
on April 17th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
John,
I don’t know if they were chains or not. I’m thinking they weren’t but I do fully agree with your observations on our education establishment. In reality it is no longer about the kids. The process used today is generally the same as it was 100 years ago. The system is designed to protect poor teachers rather than weed them out and reward exemplary service. The best teachers are worth all that they’re paid and more but the average teacher isn’t and the below average….
I was at a recent Rotary lunch and the principal for one of our high schools said the union contract is 2 inches thick! He can’t have a meeting with a teacher without the teacher saying they want a union rep there. What’s with that? How’s that ever going to lead to inovation? Clearly the management of some school districts is poor and unions served a purpose but much of that purpose has passed.