Discussion
  • Read More
    ThisGuyHamilton Nolan
    4/04/16 12:34pm

    If 72-82% of people that actually make the decisions agree with increasing benefits for employees, why are the benefits increasing? It’s not like the Chambers of Commerce can stop them from providing paid maternity leave and a higher salary.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      WonderZimmsThisGuy
      4/04/16 12:39pm

      No, but Chambers of Commerce can have indirect impacts, whether it’s refusing to advocate for a specific entity, or siding with “the other side” in a dispute. Plus, CoC members tend to be pretty tight with city developers.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      My real nameThisGuy
      4/04/16 12:40pm

      They want a level playing field. They don’t want to be undercut by the minority of companies who keep their business expenses lower by continuing not to act like people.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    GuyFromIpanemaHamilton Nolan
    4/04/16 12:36pm

    The chamber, like any large trade group, represents the best and worst elements of the industries it lobbies for. Often it’s the worst elements whose views dictate the trade group’s actions.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      RobertMadooGuyFromIpanema
      4/04/16 12:39pm

      What are the ‘best’ elements of an industry that the chamber of commerce represents?

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      LongSnakeGuyFromIpanema
      4/04/16 12:40pm

      Makes sense, the worst elements are typically the loudest

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    LongSnakeHamilton Nolan
    4/04/16 12:38pm

    It sounds like they don’t want to sound like assholes individually but have no problem with it when swathed in the sweet cloak of anonymity.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      baddoggyLongSnake
      4/04/16 12:47pm

      This.

      They want to look like they give a shit and not being singled out as assholes but don’t mind being an asshole cloaked in anonymity.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      NoOnesPostLongSnake
      4/04/16 1:05pm

      Except the poll was also done anonymously.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    benjaminalloverHamilton Nolan
    4/04/16 12:44pm

    “What do these results all have in common?” the pollster asks rhetorically in the leaked webinar. “They are all empathetic.” He then proceeds to offer tips as to “how to actually combat these in your states.”

    That’s remarkably succinct for a diabolical plan.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Frankenbike666Hamilton Nolan
      4/04/16 1:30pm

      Like most organizations associated with “conservatives”, the “Chamber of Commerce” is misleadingly named. It doesn’t represent American businesses, it represents neo-conservative politics with a claim that they represent the businesses of America. Much the way “Citizen’s United” represented actual citizens. Possibly the same businesses as those involved in CU, and the Heritage Foundation, and CPAC?

      How about an article on which businesses are in this so called “Chamber of Commerce”? Is it all restaurant owners and fast food corporations? Is it just the “Chamber of Commerce” for the service industry?

      Most of the business owners I know who provide benefits to their employees, would like single payer healthcare for all. It would allow them to get rid of a medical benefits specialist, on top of saving about $1000 a month per employee for private benefits that aren’t even all that good. Most already pay more than the proposed $15 minimum wage. Most also don’t offer paid maternity league beyond a week of pay, but will hold the employee’s position for them for when they return. And most expect their employees to be at work at 9 or 10am, so “on call” scheduling is moot.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        SararaFrankenbike666
        4/04/16 2:34pm

        I don’t think you get the idea of on-call scheduling. The idea is that, like with hospitals, employees who are scheduled to have a day off can be called in to work if demand necessitates it. If doctors and nurses aren’t on-call when there’s a wave of patients at the hospital, people can die. If cooks and cashiers aren’t on call when there’s a wave of people at Jamba juice, people just have to wait a little longer for juice. Additionally, on-call scheduling makes it near impossible to hold down a second job, since you can be called in to job A while working job B.

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      butcherbakertoiletrymakerHamilton Nolan
      4/04/16 12:39pm

      Please, someone, anyone, tell me again about all of your bullshit excuses for why people who work for a living don’t deserve these most basic of workplace benefits because companies will go out of business and/or billions and billions of jobs will be lost. Anyone? Bueller?

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        evilfacelessturtle (feat. Preston the Hoonophobic Focus)butcherbakertoiletrymaker
        4/05/16 4:37pm

        You must be a glutton for punishment.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        butcherbakertoiletrymakerevilfacelessturtle (feat. Preston the Hoonophobic Focus)
        4/06/16 9:03am

        Probably...but you were the only response I got:)

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      toothpetardHamilton Nolan
      4/04/16 12:40pm

      Increasing the minimum wage

      12$ 15$! I think we’ve been given the go ahead to support give (incremental) lip service to progressive policies now too.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        20 Shades of Grey including Porpoisetoothpetard
        4/04/16 1:22pm

        “Im completely against the minimum wage being increased! But I’ll sure be there at the signing to get some credit.”

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      crayoneaterHamilton Nolan
      4/04/16 12:41pm

      Of course they like the idea of it, they just don’t want to pay for it.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        ARP2crayoneater
        4/04/16 12:45pm

        No, I think they’re OK with it, as long as everyone has to do it (i.e. it’s a law).

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      Executor ElassusHamilton Nolan
      4/04/16 1:16pm

      To clarify your point about the US being an oligarchy: the CoC does not any longer represent owners of businesses, but rather (I suspect) has followed the lead of the Reagan Revolution and sided with the entities who own those businesses (namely, shareholders) who care only about securing maximum short-term profits before the company goes bankrupt and they dump their shares and move on to the next investment.

      TL;DR: like everything else in the American economy, the CoC has been taken over by the rentier class.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        Graby SauceHamilton Nolan
        4/04/16 7:14pm

        This gets at what I’ve been saying all along: Wall Street and other corporate workers and business owners often tend to be liberal, in social and economic policy. The reason many of them want to support Hillary Clinton that she is liberal, and they are liberal. They are willing to potentially be taxed more because they know ultimately they’ll benefit. They know that higher wages means more spending on the products and services their companies offer. They don’t, however, want to be treated like they are evil.

        Reply
        <