Hollywood's Writers' Strike

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

That is the beauty of capitalism. All things generally have a way of sorting themselves out in the free market, including employment.

If the market were entirely free, there'd be no need for antitrust laws. The government may not care, but price fixing is alive and well.

And now, Steinbeck:

"And the migrants streamed in on the highways and their hunger was in their eyes, and their need was in their eyes . . .. When there was work for a man, 10 men fought for it -- fought with a low wage. If that fella'll work for 30 cents, I'll work for 25.

"If he'll take 25, I'll do it for 20.

"No, me, I'm hungry. I'll work for 15. I'll work for food."

Perhaps not entirely apt when the subject is Hollywood writers, but I always liked it.

Oh, and on the violence subject, strikers have endured no end of violence at the hands of the owners. Don't make me start singing "Joe Hill."

[NirvanaMan]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

If the market were entirely free, there'd be no need for antitrust laws. The government may not care, but price fixing is alive and well.

Sure, which is why I used the term "generally" as opposed to language that would be more absolute in nature. But generally, I believe the government needs to butt out of such things as well. In time the market generally finds a way. There are of course exceptions, especially prevalent at the dawn of the prior century.

There are exceptions to every rule, but they are just that. I challenge anyone to find anything that is perfect in life outside of the following:

• 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible with a 427 and side pipes
• Boiled Maine lobster fresh off the boat eaten at a picnic table out of a paper basket with lemon and melted butter
• Boobies
• Tacos
• Fireflies
• That which is the "Glorious Maximus"

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

There are exceptions to every rule, but they are just that. I challenge anyone to find anything that is perfect in life outside of the following:

• 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible with a 427 and side pipes
  
• That which is the "Glorious Maximus"

Mentioned in the same breath as the Stingray??

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

I challenge anyone to find anything that is perfect in life outside of the following:

• Boiled Maine lobster fresh off the boat eaten at a picnic table out of a paper basket with lemon and melted butter

Change that to boiled Nova Scotia lobster and your list will be golden.

Crap. Now I want lobster!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

That is the beauty of capitalism. All things generally have a way of sorting themselves out in the free market, including employment.
[SNIP]
People are not commodities. They should not be treated as such.

Umm, huh? Those two statements are kinda contradictory, aren't they? By saying, "Let the market sort it out" you are precisely suggesting that people should be treated as commodities.

[NirvanaMan]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Umm, huh? Those two statements are kinda contradictory, aren't they? By saying, "Let the market sort it out" you are precisely suggesting that people should be treated as commodities.

No, I'm not at all. I can't even see the correlation. My opinion is quite the opposite in fact.

Unless you are suggesting that the only items traded or dealt with in a free market are commodity goods.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by NirvanaMan

No, I'm not at all. I can't even see the correlation. My opinion is quite the opposite in fact.

Unless you are suggesting that the only items traded or dealt with in a free market are commodity goods.

Perhaps not "commodity" in the strict sense of no quality differentiation, however I dislike the concept of treating people's livelihoods as so much merchandise to be bought and sold at the whim of supply and demand. Sure, an employee may hold a modicum of power in the deal with the ability to walk away for a better deal, however that's not a luxury that everyone can afford and, as I mentioned earlier, industry is becoming more and more consolidated, whittling away options and imbalancing power towards those making the salary decisions. Unionization provides a check against that trend.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Umm, huh? Those two statements are kinda contradictory, aren't they? By saying, "Let the market sort it out" you are precisely suggesting that people should be treated as commodities.

Unfortunately, the employees of many big corporations can only wish they were treated as well as commodities.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I'll also have to agree with iSm here - and I also want to note that the writers are striking for their union, but since they're the first to negotiate contracts and challenge the miserable state of affairs, they're not just striking for themselves, but for all of the other industry unions. If they cave now, then the DGA, and the SAG, and all of the other unions, will have trouble fighting. If the WGA keeps holding on, then all of the people who are currently out of work may have an easier time getting a fairer contract.

And there's no doubt about it - the non-union writers aren't treated fairly in the industry. Ask the reality writers; they're underpaid terribly and they don't have any way to fight the system. The writers who are scabbing are being underpaid, too.

[Alex]

Well, John Stewart was pretty obviously written last night. He may have ad libbed more but you can talk to a sequence of graphics (some static, some with timed changes) without having done some writing in advance.

Colbert seemed a little more spontaneous but I have to wonder what he is going to do in a couple days when he can't just fill the first 15 minutes with strike jokes and has to start talking about other things. Jokes about not knowing what you're going to say are going to get old pretty fast.

Also thought Stewart, when talking about the WGA making deals with some people but not with others, was a bit disingenuous in not mentioning that to give him and Colbert a deal would require the WGA letting one of the major producers (Viacom) begin a process of piecemeal bargaining. There is a big difference between making a deal with Worldwide Pants (total current productions: 2) and Viacom.