How many here are protesting the suspension of Davis-Bacon?

[Mikimouse]

I find this move by * to be particularly loathsome. The Us government can piss away thousands of dollars a day for Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan, but does not want to burden big contractors with having to pay prevailing wage? What bullshit is this? MAny of the people who are or will be employed in the restoration of New Orleans will be locals, who are probably victims of the storm and incompetence of the * administration, and there is, in my mind, no justification for this suspension.

[Missy M]

1. I protest the suspension of Davis-Bacon. I can't believe it would

even be considered.

[Mikimouse]

2. As I understand it, * suspended it ny executive order last week...

If that has changed, i am not aware of it.

[HereSince1628]

3. It's strateegery. It will make the rich support the reconstruction

otherwise rebuilding would be the biggest social program ever undertaken.

Expect the removal of salary protections will be made permanent as New Orleans becomes a 'Special Free Trade Zone.'

[acmejack]

4. I have writers cramp from complaining about it.

Well keyboarder's cramp. This is unconscionable and we need to be jumping up & down over this. It is disgusting, it was a depressed wage area (like all of the sunbelt) to start with. You'll notice the prevailing wage is nothing to write home about as it stood.

Until we get serious about a worker's movement in this Country the exploitation shall continue. It is sad that things have to get truly terrible before the average person is willing to participate in any kind of movement to correct slights like this.

[etherealtruth]

9. So did I (cramp)

"No one" cares about the exploitation of the poor in this country ...
Looks like a win : win situation for the Chimp and his corporate cronies.

[Joe_VB]

5. I can't remember where I read it but I think the prevailing

wage in N.O. is $8.00 an hour. I can't image any skilled trades working for anything less.

[Imalittleteapot]

6. Fired off emails to Congress when the supension was

announced...to deaf ears,Bush apologists Texas reps.

[Mikimouse]

10. Same here, but went to the leadership in the Senate...

I sent e-mails to Sens. Kerry and Clinton, but have not heard back yet. This needs to be examined in public.

[RedstDem]

7. It's The Highest Degree Of Repression

For The People On The Gulf Coast, It's Crazy, Those Reconstruction Contracts Will Be Open Ended Or On A Time & Material Basis, & They Will Go On For Years & Years.
We The People Get F**king Screwed Again.

[elehhhhna]

8. The Fed will blast as much cash into this as they would if Prev. wage

was in force. The big contractors--Fluor, Bechtel, etc. will rake the diff. Small contractors will have to compete for skilled labor, and although they may get tax credits, near-no-interest loans, etc., they still have to be somewaht efficient or they won't make money.

A poor illegal alien hauling trash makes jack, anyway, anywhere. (Not justifying etc.--it is a fact.) But don't think the engineers, skilled trades, or accounting/admininstrative pool will take less than top dollar, for the most part. Remember--they'll probably have difficult and certainly less than optimal living conditions, ridiculous commutes, and exposure to god knows what chemicals--regardless of where they work & play.

[Callalily]

11. Correct me if I'm wrong

but hasn't the executive order taken place on September 8th? I wouldn't doubt it if members of congress were clueless over this action. Just another way for Bu$h and his cronies to line their greedy pockets. I'm truly appalled that there wasn't a larger outcry.

[Patiod]

12. So price gouging by corp = good / prevailing wage = bad?

Bush's conservative friends at the American Enterprise Institute praise greed and gouging as ways that goods are drawn to where they are needed.

"There is another downside to price regulations. Companies in states all across the country, hoping to make a few dollars, are thinking of loading up their trucks with food, water and generators and heading down to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The higher the prices, the faster these "greedy" companies and individuals will get their products down to desperate customers. But their greed means less suffering. The more products delivered, the less prices will rise."

http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=24792

But the same doesn't apply to labor? Why?

[Mikimouse]

13. That's almost the same argument that John Stossel gave..

for the high gas prices, that they would get gas to people in limited supply, but that it would benefit drivers in the long term. NOt a good argument really. The larger part of the labor forace will probably be local, so it isn't a matter of getting them there. Most of them will probably already be there, as they have a vested interest in restoring their city and their homes. And, I do have a major problem with others exploiting the suffering of the people of NO and the Gulf Coast for personal gain. They are nothing but scum.

[Patiod]

14. I hate John Stossel

I yell at the TV when he's on "shut up you corporate whore".

Not good for the blood pressure.

[Disturbed]

15. In a Corporate State the

Corporation is paramount. Wealth Care is the RW agenda.

[Mikimouse]

16. I'm with you...

Can't stand Stossel, never could stomach him.

[Mikimouse]

17. Kick for the evening crowd