Buy American

[muleskinner]

I own an hvac business and we recently bid on a project on an Indian reservation. The project is being funded by stimulus money and it was stipulated that the equipment had to be manufactured in America. Kinda surprised me, but I was glad they did it that way.

[Jimmyc]

Interesting question db...i never thought about that....anyone know the history of the way employers provide insurance ?

Yes, a couple of examples come to mind. 1- an employer that has collectively bargained a contract. A contract that was negotiated by both parties, not just crammed down the employers throat by a union. That means it was agreed upon by both parties. 2- a federal employer that provides health insurance for federal employees is my second example.

[Jimmyc]

I own an hvac business and we recently bid on a project on an Indian reservation. The project is being funded by stimulus money and it was stipulated that the equipment had to be manufactured in America. Kinda surprised me, but I was glad they did it that way.

 

I believe that is called the "the buy amercican clause" in a construction contract that federal $ in it. That kind of language is used a lot on VA properties. Veteran hospitals and such. Good to read that, thanks for posting.

[CouesWhitetail]

Interesting question db...i never thought about that....anyone know the history of the way employers provide insurance ?

Yes, a couple of examples come to mind. 1- an employer that has collectively bargained a contract. A contract that was negotiated by both parties, not just crammed down the employers throat by a union. That means it was agreed upon by both parties. 2- a federal employer that provides health insurance for federal employees is my second example.

 

Thanks.

 

I was actually thinking more about how it originally came to be that employers are expected to pay for insurance. Was that largely because of unions?

[Jimmyc]

Interesting question db...i never thought about that....anyone know the history of the way employers provide insurance ?

Yes, a couple of examples come to mind. 1- an employer that has collectively bargained a contract. A contract that was negotiated by both parties, not just crammed down the employers throat by a union. That means it was agreed upon by both parties. 2- a federal employer that provides health insurance for federal employees is my second example.

 

Thanks.

 

I was actually thinking more about how it originally came to be that employers are expected to pay for insurance. Was that largely because of unions?

 

I don't think it's accurate to say "because of Unions". People need to understand how bargaining works. The company and the union both have proposals they bring to the table. At the end of the negotiations, both parties agree and sign off on the contract. The percentage of workers represented by a union in the U.S. is extremely low. Somewhere around 10%.So, as to the post by Desert Bull, don't think it has much to do with employer paid health care. But, I'm not an economist, so I could be wrong. Thought I was wrong once, but I made a mistake. HA!

[GTIMANiac]

I just bought a 2012 tundra 4x4. Made in USA. Ford F150 made in Mexico.

 

I got some chit last fall when I bought my new Tundra. But it's made in Texas and moreover is made by a publically traded company. So the old argument of where a company is from holds little water anymore.

 

Off-Topic, great truck atrocious gas mileage.

[Jimmer Negamanee]

Interesting question db...i never thought about that....anyone know the history of the way employers provide insurance ?

Yes, a couple of examples come to mind. 1- an employer that has collectively bargained a contract. A contract that was negotiated by both parties, not just crammed down the employers throat by a union. That means it was agreed upon by both parties. 2- a federal employer that provides health insurance for federal employees is my second example.

 

Thanks.

 

I was actually thinking more about how it originally came to be that employers are expected to pay for insurance. Was that largely because of unions?

 

Amanda,

 

According to this article, “Our employment-based system was not the product of a carefully designed health policy. It was a byproduct of evading wage controls during World War II.”

 

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/is-employer-based-health-insurance-worth-saving/

 

There are many who criticize the current employer-based system. For example, the following which states, in part that the employer-based system “happened through a weird combination of historical accidents, and it makes no sense. Why should an airplane manufacturer also be in the healthcare business? Why should you lose your health insurance if you get laid off?”

 

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/03/employer-based-health-insurance-going-way-dodo

 

Conservatives decry our current system as reducing our competitiveness but the Left is none to pleased either, as this article shows.

 

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2012/03/20/u-s-free-enterprise-employer-based-health-insurance-system-coming-apart-at-the-seams/

 

As stated previously, I do buy American where possible. But I don’t blame American workers for our lack of competitiveness by asking for a living wage. I don’t blame unions either. It takes two to agree to a contract.

 

CEOs who can increase profits without increasing revenue by decreasing costs. So they find a foreign country with people willing to work for less than Americans then send the manufacturing jobs there. Increased earnings make the stock price go up and, as this article observes, “And ‘while we’re all uncomfortable with the amounts some companies pay,’ shareholders want companies to hire the right people who will make the stock prices go up, Johnson says. ‘It’s a competitive market,’”

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/story/CEO-pay-2010/45634384/1

 

While CEO bashing may be popular (or unpopular depending on who you hang out with), “the most recent study in the same series found the figure in 2009 was 263 times the average worker pay.”

 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/dec/21/bumper-sticker/bumper-sticker-says-ceos-make-431-times-what-their/

 

You may have asked me what time it is and I told you how to build a watch but I hope this is helpful.

 

-Jimmer

[DesertBull]

We won't mention the tactics that unions use to "negotiate".

[Jimmer Negamanee]

Are you talking about tactics unions use like strikes? Or are you talking about tactics used by company owners like lockouts and hiring replacement workers?

[Jimmyc]

We won't mention the tactics that unions use to "negotiate".

 

Please mention what tactics you speak of tha tun ions use....

[AzHunt]

Just a thought....to truly understand labor, economy, and finance...start your own business after you have spent time in the workforce as an employee.

[CouesWhitetail]

Interesting question db...i never thought about that....anyone know the history of the way employers provide insurance ?

Yes, a couple of examples come to mind. 1- an employer that has collectively bargained a contract. A contract that was negotiated by both parties, not just crammed down the employers throat by a union. That means it was agreed upon by both parties. 2- a federal employer that provides health insurance for federal employees is my second example.

 

Thanks.

 

I was actually thinking more about how it originally came to be that employers are expected to pay for insurance. Was that largely because of unions?

 

Amanda,

 

According to this article, “Our employment-based system was not the product of a carefully designed health policy. It was a byproduct of evading wage controls during World War II.”

 

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/is-employer-based-health-insurance-worth-saving/

 

There are many who criticize the current employer-based system. For example, the following which states, in part that the employer-based system “happened through a weird combination of historical accidents, and it makes no sense. Why should an airplane manufacturer also be in the healthcare business? Why should you lose your health insurance if you get laid off?”

 

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/03/employer-based-health-insurance-going-way-dodo

 

Conservatives decry our current system as reducing our competitiveness but the Left is none to pleased either, as this article shows.

 

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2012/03/20/u-s-free-enterprise-employer-based-health-insurance-system-coming-apart-at-the-seams/

 

As stated previously, I do buy American where possible. But I don’t blame American workers for our lack of competitiveness by asking for a living wage. I don’t blame unions either. It takes two to agree to a contract.

 

CEOs who can increase profits without increasing revenue by decreasing costs. So they find a foreign country with people willing to work for less than Americans then send the manufacturing jobs there. Increased earnings make the stock price go up and, as this article observes, “And ‘while we’re all uncomfortable with the amounts some companies pay,’ shareholders want companies to hire the right people who will make the stock prices go up, Johnson says. ‘It’s a competitive market,’”

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/story/CEO-pay-2010/45634384/1

 

While CEO bashing may be popular (or unpopular depending on who you hang out with), “the most recent study in the same series found the figure in 2009 was 263 times the average worker pay.”

 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/dec/21/bumper-sticker/bumper-sticker-says-ceos-make-431-times-what-their/

 

You may have asked me what time it is and I told you how to build a watch but I hope this is helpful.

 

-Jimmer

 

 

Thx Jimmer! that's the kind of info I was looking for. I have never really thought about the issue of why employers should pay health care.

[Snapshot]

Just a thought....to truly understand labor, economy, and finance...start your own business after you have spent time in the workforce as an employee.

 

I have been there and done that. Had as many as 16 guys working for me at one time. I won't do it again,even if I had the opportunity. I like getting some sleep at night