Mitch Daniels takes on LABOR

[DJD]

Hey Dac....judging from your last post I can tell you're a decent guy...anyone (almost anyone) who spends considerable amounts of time in the construction industry, like yourself, me, DJD and others weren't able to put in as many years as we have by being lazy or not pulling our weight, union or non-union either one....we've put in this amount of time because we work hard and we enjoy what we do. So anyway....here's your online handshake.

Now....looking at the level of constuction dollars it takes to utilize the wage rates, which as things stand today are 100K per project in Indiana and 250K per project in Kentucky, these rates have not changed at all since they were enacted. Seems to me like the wage system needs to be reviewed, maybe it's time to set new levels....I can't remember how long it's been since I worked on a government project in Kentucky that was less than 250K. If a project entails substantial systems upgrades at all it's going to go over the 250K mark easily, this doesn't even count interior/exterior renovations and modifications. Honestly I'm not sure where they came up with the 250K number to begin with in the first place...but it's been set at that level for a long time, the cost of all materials have shot through the roof since the 250K number was put into place. Maybe it's time to raise the bar to 500K or 750K? It sure would help save the tax payers a lot of money.

Dang Tim we talked about the same thing earlier in the year. That figure does seem out of date. Your right on with the cost of materials.....whew conduit and wire are crazy high and climbing more all the time. If I bid a job with alot of cable I put a disclaimer in there for a certain amount of time so I don't get stuck eating 20K because some OPEC nation has civil unrest. Heck some of the supply houses won't honor prices more than a day!
Much worse for electrical trades as they could have run after run of the big feeder cables. Can you imagine having to honor pricing for hundreds and hundreds of feet of that?? Conduit? Tough times out there and if prices keep rising the perceived economic recovery will sloooow way down. Can you imagine paying $5 a gallon for 10-20 service vehicles?

[dac244]

Hey Dac....judging from your last post I can tell you're a decent guy...anyone (almost anyone) who spends considerable amounts of time in the construction industry, like yourself, me, DJD and others weren't able to put in as many years as we have by being lazy or not pulling our weight, union or non-union either one....we've put in this amount of time because we work hard and we enjoy what we do. So anyway....here's your online handshake.

Now....looking at the level of constuction dollars it takes to utilize the wage rates, which as things stand today are 100K per project in Indiana and 250K per project in Kentucky, these rates have not changed at all since they were enacted. Seems to me like the wage system needs to be reviewed, maybe it's time to set new levels....I can't remember how long it's been since I worked on a government project in Kentucky that was less than 250K. If a project entails substantial systems upgrades at all it's going to go over the 250K mark easily, this doesn't even count interior/exterior renovations and modifications. Honestly I'm not sure where they came up with the 250K number to begin with in the first place...but it's been set at that level for a long time, the cost of all materials have shot through the roof since the 250K number was put into place. Maybe it's time to raise the bar to 500K or 750K? It sure would help save the tax payers a lot of money.

Same to you and DJD, good luck to you fellows in the future and your right I'am sure that figure is long past needing adjusting

[parker]

Actually you have shown that you support anything the old Dem controlled Congress did and Obamy did as always right. So you support trillions of debt by them and every new tax possible huh? Everyone in this country deserves to be middle class? You can just sukk off the gubment teet forever? The recent elections proves your a minority in your thinking. The true middle class is waking up and finally flexing their muscles and much to your dismay Sarah Palin had alot to do with it. Yep I tossed that name out just for you.... Politicians love blind dedication to their ideals so I'm sure your on their A list.

Myself like many others on here can have varied opinions that don't fall in line with how their party of choice preaches. I'm an independant (registered Repub) with Conservative beliefs. If this state had a better system of allowing Indy's to vote I would have stayed Indy. I'm not 100% on board with what the GOP has done in the past and the same goes for the Dems.

Every american should question an increase in taxes. Why not? Thats the american way is it not? We have a freedom of choice and for the most part we can say what we want in this country. We should question why we are in debt up to our ears, we should question why this POTUS has done what he has done while in office. To this day folks still act as if George Bush ruined this country and yet the POTUS and his old Congress has done more financial damage then GW but BO gets a pass from liberal koolaid drinkers. Go figure...

As far as the war goes.... How many dates and timelines to withdraw troops or end the war did the american people hear from BO duing his campaign? Remember how he would get the crowds fired up spewing that garbage? How many have stayed true? How many dates have passed? He promised the world to us and delivered what? So does that now mean the Liberals support the war? We are still there...either he doesn't know what he is talking about or he is full of it. After all the POTUS supports the wars, the old Dem controlled congress supported it so that means you support it?? Right??

No deaf ears here Parker....just folks that want answers and if that means we have to bounce ideas off others so be it. Take note you might learn something just take your hands off your ears and open your eyes. I actually like hearing the views of the left...I don't always agree but I'm smart enough to know there other views out there.

For someone who is a carpenter I wouldnt think you would have enough time to visit a favorite web site multiple times a day. That right there is why you cant compete with organized labor , tooo much idle time during your day. Just saying.

[DJD]

For someone who is a carpenter I wouldnt think you would have enough time to visit a favorite web site multiple times a day. That right there is why you cant compete with organized labor , tooo much idle time during your day. Just saying.

It's good to be the king!!! I'm a multitasked, iPhone wearing, laptop slinging, desktop having, multiple location wifi access having hi-tech redneck. Don't hate on me man......

[Chubminnow]

It's good to be the king!!! I'm a multitasked, iPhone wearing, laptop slinging, desktop having, multiple location wifi access having hi-tech redneck. Don't hate on me man......

Pretty good response Don...all of those tools and equipment allows a person to be productive anytime and anywhere. The flip side of this coin (and drawback) is that all of those tools and equipment allow a person to be productive anytime and anywhere.

[RoadToad]

Pretty good response Don...all of those tools and equipment allows a person to be productive anytime and anywhere. The flip side of this coin (and drawback) is that all of those tools and equipment allow a person to be productive anytime and anywhere.

Excellent point! And on a related note, I like days when I can work from home, but I'm also very glad that there are some parts of my job that require me to be onsite with my hands on the hardware. If I could do it all from home, then somebody else could do it from Mumbai for 1/10 the pay.

[kydonky]

It's good to be the king!!! I'm a multitasked, iPhone wearing, laptop slinging, desktop having, multiple location wifi access having hi-tech redneck. Don't hate on me man......

Careful DJD.....rednecks are union supporters. Term originated in the battle of Blair Mountain in W. VA. Ineresting stuff.....here is a link to the story of Blair Mountain:

http://www.glendale.edu/chaparral/apr05/blair.htm

Here is an excerpt from the text:

Most miners had taken to wearing blue bib overalls and tying around their necks a red bandana which soon became the hallmark of the insurgent army, leading both friends and foes to refer to them as “rednecks.”

Over 1 million rounds were fired and the coal operators used airstrikes with surplus WWI bombs.

You don't want to be known as a union sympathizer do you ???

[DJD]

Lol times change so I'm safe with that term. been called redneck too many times and I'm quite certain it was for my views or actions. Nuttin about unions or miners... at least I hope not!!!
Very interesting stuff!!!

[Chubminnow]

Excellent point! And on a related note, I like days when I can work from home, but I'm also very glad that there are some parts of my job that require me to be onsite with my hands on the hardware. If I could do it all from home, then somebody else could do it from Mumbai for 1/10 the pay.

I ain't never worked from home...well at least not with anything that had to do with a computer anyway....sometimes (once in a blue moon) I might have to work on specifications at home, but very seldom. Some guys can work from home better than they can when they go to work at their office or whatever, but that's not for me....home is my place of refuge, once I'm home I'm done.

One things for sure....no matter what line of work any of us are in, it ain't getting any easier.

[GeoFisher]

I ain't never worked from home...well at least not with anything that had to do with a computer anyway....sometimes (once in a blue moon) I might have to work on specifications at home, but very seldom. Some guys can work from home better than they can when they go to work at their office or whatever, but that's not for me....home is my place of refuge, once I'm home I'm done.

One things for sure....no matter what line of work any of us are in, it ain't getting any easier.

I work every night from home.......and officially work probably 20 - 25% of my hours from home.

Working from home is the only time I get a break from the 10-20 calls a day from Developers. I also generally don't utilize Instant Messaging at home either, which definitely allows me to focus on stuff that I NEED to get done.

As a support person, I have to deal with phone calls and developers, and support issues all the time, but also as a support person I must deal with critical system upgrades, etc, etc. THOSE require lots of thought and it is very hard to gather your thoughts when you're constantly switching gears on support calls.........

I really like working at home..........

Later,

Geo