Thread: Crane Cams shuts down, workers laid off

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Well, I'll say it one more time.... Politics got the country into this mess....ain't no way anyone should expect politics to get us out of it. Politics is not the solution, it's the problem!!!!! This whole dang "us vs. them", name calling, and blaming the other party hasn't worked before and it's not going to work now.... No one person or party created the problems and no one person or party is going to eliminate it....

Only individual effort and hard work is going to fix things. I sure as heck am not going to sit on my duff an wait to see if the "stimulus plan is working". I don't give a hoot what happens to the stock market, got my money out of there a couple years back. What I am going to do is work harder, work smarter, spend intelligently, and continue to have fun while I'm doing it. It's all a matter of priorities, gotta decide what you want and go after it and be willing to do all the things necessary to get it.... There's a bunch of good opportunities out there right now, around here real estate is dirt cheap. Lots of killer deals on shop equipment, tools, etc.

The flippin' government has never given me anything but a bunch of grief, hard for me to believe that it will ever change. From racing I've learned to analyze, adjust, and improve the equipment I use and the people involved. Same holds true for life, I guess....

Not much to argue with in your two posts Dave. I've learned that anyone who starts a discussion about this stuff with "The last eight years......" is not going to say anything intelligent. Not defending Bush here, just observing that that person is too mentally lazy to think for themself. Where we are today has been brewing for nearly 75 years. We've been gradually inching toward being a society of serfs to an "elected" royalty. This year we pass the tipping point where 50% of the people in this country get some sort of "check" from some level of government.

Many brilliant thinkers have written books forcasting these outcomes; Friedrick Hayak in "The Road to Serfdom" and Ayn Rand in "Atlas Shrugged". But maybe a quote from a genuinely sincere President would put a finer point on it;

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln. (thanks for passing this on Mike)

Ironic that Obama has chosen this man to hold up as his "model" eh?

Im kinda glad in a way that things are like this now. I think it will make the world slow down a bit, and the people trying to keep up with the neighbors will rethink how they spend in the future.

It sucks that companies are shutting down, and decent folks are loosing jobs, but it forces people to think outside there normal box and figure out how to save their own ass for once, instead of someone else doing it for them. I guess im just glad to see we are one step closer to taking a step back and simplifying things. As for the lazy, well sorry about your luck!

Originally Posted by hotroddaddy

Im kinda glad in a way that things are like this now. I think it will make the world slow down a bit, and the people trying to keep up with the neighbors will rethink how they spend in the future.

It sucks that companies are shutting down, and decent folks are loosing jobs, but it forces people to think outside there normal box and figure out how to save their own ass for once, instead of someone else doing it for them. I guess im just glad to see we are one step closer to taking a step back and simplifying things. As for the lazy, well sorry about your luck!

I'll second that! While this is a tough time, I'm staying optomistic that some good things can come out of it for those willing to work a solid 8 hrs for 8hrs pay. That's what built this country in the first place.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln. (thanks for passing this on Mike)

Ironic that Obama has chosen this man to hold up as his "model" eh?

If you like that, then you'll LOVE this:

speech Lincoln delivered in 1858 in Charleston, Ill.:

“I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races—that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”

Originally Posted by DennyW

Ok, I'm ready for that job...here's my short resume...


So...what time do I start, and what is the pay rate ? Will this be 1st , 2nd, or 3rd shift ? Oh, and also, if I have to relocate for this job, I will need a little help on that, advance maybe if you offer that, just to get settled in at my new location, to start work, as my resources are totally exhausted at this point, after I had to sell things to pay for the hospital bills, so my savings are gone. Do you hold back a week on the first pay check ? Gosh, I hope not....By the way, I'm 60, does that make any difference ? I'm looking for a career, or a career change at this point, so this should work out fine for both of us. I hope you have a great health care plan to go along with this. My meds cost a bunch. I'm a hard worker, and steady also. Do you train if needed, as I cannot afford college at this point, and need to start work right away to pay bills and feed the kids...

If I had an opening, I'd hire you in a minute, Denny. You sound like the kind of guys who's willing to do whatever's neccesary to feed your family.

Pat wrote:

bay city is a small town

Damn I didn't recognize that you live in Bay City Guess that shows how much I pay attention to the small details.

I stayed one night in Bay City in 1972. Even had dinner there. Wasn't much to look at then, hopefully it had improved after that. Flew into Lansing, rented a big block Javelin AMX and drove to Bay City. Loved your roads, straight as an arrow, hitting speeds in excess of 100 for miles and miles and miles without seeing much of anything, not even a super trooper.

Wish we had roads that straight.

As for the economy, it will get better and I think we will (hopefully all of us) see the stock market as strong as ever, probably even stronger. It has happened before and it will again. I remember the crash of 1987 very well, and the rebound that followed. It is just going to take time. 2 - 3 years for a decent recovery and then 2 or 3 years more to bring us back to full speed. We are, if nothing else, resilient. Companies that have closed will re-open or be replaced with companies selling similar products or better products. Crane may be gone, but if their product was good, then someone will step in to provide the same if not better product. It's just going to take time.

Back to what Don and others have said, it has become the norm in this country to outsource labor and goods. 50 years ago it would have been a bit wierd to go to any super market anywhere, and find fresh fruit out of season, or produce. The big three were recovering from ww2 and rolling out cars that went around the world.
What has changed is competition. We now pursue money in different ways. Members here with their own buisnesses have spoken to competing in industries where competetors copy your product and mass produce it in foreign countries where labor and materials cost less. This drives the mom and pop buisnesses out, and makes any survivors outsource to compete too.
Companies like Wallmart (and yes I have shopped there too) take this to an extreme! What they sell that is made in USA, they sell with such a little profit margin, that smaller stores can't compete. They also sell tons of Chinese stuff. People on fixed incomes can't afford to keep up with the Jones by buying this stuff. They can feed their families imported food, for less. This further drives the local buisnesses out of buisness. It is self perpetuating. This economic crisis had to happen. Bob and Dave are right, it's not just the last 8 years, it's been an on going problem.
What also has changed is a sense of loyalty and moral fortitude. We have really tanked in this area. I read an article in the paper by a highschool freshman. He wrote an editorial letter stating how discouraging it is to look at the California college systems raising their fees, and cutting back enrollment. He felt the colleges should offer more scholarships and cutback tuition costs.
What's wrong here! What ever happened to student loans and getting a job. What ever happened to go part time and work! I'm tired of people whinning that everyone else is at fault, for their woes! It is the prevalent talk of the day. "I want more!" "I deserve it." "It wasn't my fault." People are furious at the government for letting corperations take them to the cleaners when they should be mad at themselves for not taking any responsibility!
Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 is BullS#*$T!
I know a wealthy guy across town filing bankrupcy for the second time. No big deal, he even gets to keep his house, loses all his credit card debt, and keeps his new fullsize SUV.
Responsibility starts with us. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. If your 401k is tanking move your money! The people I truely feel sorry for are the workers who have been loyal to their companies who are close to retirement or retired and lost their pensions! Where do they go? Who hires them? How do they pay for health care.
Let's face it folks we've created a messed up society following politicians of both parties. If you cross the border illegally, you've got better health care than, those who are legal citizens and are insured! Hell we'll hire interpreters so you don't have to learn the language. We'll educate your kids for free, give them meals at school, and let them bleed the school systems from teaching the tax paying families' kids, further ruining our public education system. We allowed this, we need to take responsibility. We need to demand higher standards from ourselves! Every choice we make, directs our future. It's not simple, but an economic crisis is what it is going to take to reevaluate our lifestyles. In the mean time whole generations will suffer!

The "norm" in America now seems to be:
"I deserve"
"Its OK to steal"
"I am not responsible for my actions"
"Not in my backyard"
"Let someone else do it"
"Not my job"
"Not paying debts is OK"
"I gave my word but who cares if I lied?"
"What's in it for me?"
"Screw the big companies, they have lots of money"
"Nobody will notice that it is gone if I take it"
"I deserve a high wage because of my affiliation"
"Everyone does it"
"If I dont take it, someone else will"
"You owe me a living"
"My entitlement"

we are becoming a third world country

Very well said denny!

[QUOTE=mopar34;343312]Pat wrote:

Damn I didn't recognize that you live in Bay City Guess that shows how much I pay attention to the small details.

I stayed one night in Bay City in 1972. Even had dinner there. Wasn't much to look at then, hopefully it had improved after that. Flew into Lansing, rented a big block Javelin AMX and drove to Bay City. Loved your roads, straight as an arrow, hitting speeds in excess of 100 for miles and miles and miles without seeing much of anything, not even a super trooper.

Wish we had roads that straight. [QUOTE] WELL THANKS i like bay city and i can tell you many things i have done but they still may be looking for me . let just say there a lot of troopers now

that 's horiable crane had good product's but it didt seem like they evolved like comp cams. its really horrible in ohio hard to find good jobs they closed a ton of circut citys sears and kmart look dead. thing have to get beeter soon if we have another summer of $4.25 for a gallon of gas where all in trouble ex when it cost 60 to fill up a ford escort.i might be over opinionated but we sold arselfs out with the auto industry and the clossing of ltv steal,(many more) just my cents but whats next. kids are spendink 20-60k
for college then cant find a job.

Originally Posted by robot

The "norm" in America now seems to be:
"I deserve"
"Its OK to steal"
"I am not responsible for my actions"
"Not in my backyard"
"Let someone else do it"
"Not my job"
"Not paying debts is OK"
"I gave my word but who cares if I lied?"
"What's in it for me?"
"Screw the big companies, they have lots of money"
"Nobody will notice that it is gone if I take it"
"I deserve a high wage because of my affiliation"
"Everyone does it"
"If I dont take it, someone else will"
"You owe me a living"
"My entitlement"

Very accurate, Robot!!! I've been listed as disabled by the VA since '72, and of course because of that nobody wants to hire you and take the risk of losing money to you because of a workmen's comp claim, or some other work related injury. I get a small monthly check from the VA, and nothing from Social Security. Oh yeah, thanks to the freeloaders for making employers a bit gun shy....

So I did the only thing I could and went to work for myself... Had some good years, had some bad years and learned a lot about life and business along the way.... And you know what? I don't regret it for a minute!!!!! Made my own decisions, succeeded or failed because of my own actions, and didn't have to answer to anyone but myself.... Had a 401K, cashed it out when it got so it took an act of congress to invest my money where I wanted it.... Didn't lose a nickel when the stock market tanked.

I learned a long time ago that nobody is obliged to give you a break, it's my responsibility to create my own opportunities. I'm certainly not rich, but I get by just fine.... If you're waiting for the government or one of it's agencies to come along and fix things and open doors for you, get used to waiting!!!!! I owe others the same thing they owe me---absolutely nothing.....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I've been listed as disabled by the VA since '72, and of course because of that nobody wants to hire you ..........

You sure that's the only reason?