| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"JTEM" |
| Date: |
25 Nov 2005 03:15:21 AM |
| Object: |
New Orleans |
Seems the pendulum has swung to the other
extreme...
A friend's father is down in New Orleans, helping
with that whole "Rebuild" thingie going on.
He hasn't been there that long, but has already
reported back many times on the ever-changing
faces, as out-of-state contractors have been
replaced by locals and/or minorities.
Now they even want to get rid of him.
But he's not some carpet bagger from the Northeast.
He's not from New Orleans, but he's a southerner
by birth, he has roots in more than one southern
state and has lived in at least two that I know of. His
first time up north was after WWII, to attend MIT
and get his engineering degree(s).
Yup, he's a licensed Civil & Structural engineer
with some 50+ years of real-world experience,
which includes some major works.... impressive
works.
What do you think they're paying for those kinds
of credentials? Go on, give it a whirl. I bet you
guess wrong. Because, I know (I asked him before
he left) and it is NOT a large sum of money...
certainly when accounting for his level of
education & experience... certainly not when
considering that it's a "Temp" job without benefits...
certainly not when considering that his bedridden
wife is *Hundreds* of miles away & his closest
family (a son) is in Houston.
I understand people get upset when out-of-state
contractors come in and suck up all the jobs,
even as the locals (those who haven't been banished)
struggle to survive. But the feelings have gotten
so strong now that they're just shooting themselves
in their foot.
What is the largest civil engineering project in
American history -- and is destined to become the
second largest after New Orleans -- (Boston's
"Big Dig") employed construction workers (Yes,
"Construction Workers") as far away as Baltimore,
and reached across the seas for engineers. And, oh,
my friend's dad worked on that project, too.
"The part that doesn't leak," he'll tell you. And he's
not kidding. The part he worked on IS the part that
doesn't leak...
Get over it, New Orleans. You're getting some
of the best, most experienced talent in the
engineering profession, and you're getting it at
something of a bargain. You should be taking
advantage of it, not sending it packing.
.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: New Orleans |
26 Nov 2005 02:44:52 AM |
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JTEM wrote:
Seems the pendulum has swung to the other
extreme...
A friend's father is down in New Orleans, helping
with that whole "Rebuild" thingie going on.
He hasn't been there that long, but has already
reported back many times on the ever-changing
faces, as out-of-state contractors have been
replaced by locals and/or minorities.
<snip>
Get over it, New Orleans. You're getting some
of the best, most experienced talent in the
engineering profession, and you're getting it at
something of a bargain. You should be taking
advantage of it, not sending it packing.
Similar stupidity happened a few years ago in Canada, but for
a slightly different reason.
Remember the winter storm that sent frozen rain, knocking over
towers cutting off electricity during a very cold winter? In
Quebec, the French were complaining because many of the
electricians who were fixing it were from New Brunswick and
Ontario. They were pissed because the people fixing their
electricity couldn't speak French. 9_9
(Sacre bleu! Is that why NO doesn't want your people?)
Bob Dog
Atheist #153 = 1^3 + 5^3 + 3^3
EAC's chief cook and brainwasher
-----
"Half the bible is nothing but
who to kill and how to kill them."
- 2, The Ranting Gryphon
.
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| User: "JTEM" |
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| Title: Re: New Orleans |
26 Nov 2005 06:24:32 AM |
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<bg12345@apexmail.com> wrote
Remember the winter storm that sent frozen rain, knocking over
towers cutting off electricity during a very cold winter? In
Quebec, the French were complaining because many of the
electricians who were fixing it were from New Brunswick and
Ontario. They were pissed because the people fixing their
electricity couldn't speak French. 9_9
Yeah, they are culturally xenophobic. No denying that. But here
in the northeast United States we witnessed the single largest
civil engineering project in America's history, and we simply
didn't have those issues. In fact, my friend's dad, the one down
in New Orleans right now, was employed by a British firm for
his work on the project. They even won some kind of
engineering award for the piece they did... in Britain. Yes. The
British awarded a British firm for their work in Boston.
All I can say is that the folks in Louisiana are going to be a
bunch of frightfully sad puppies. Because they don't want to
pay for what needs to be done -- and couldn't afford it even if
they wanted to -- and with federal funds *Always* comes
federal mandates. Those mandates will onclude fat out-of-state
comtracts. They have to. Otherwise about $200 billion would
pour into one single state, and into the hands of maybe a dozen
local contractors.
Short term that would mean taking money away from 49 states
to make people in one state rich, long term it would cruch the
Louisiana economy. It would take over -- a $200 billion, labor
intensive project -- defining their economy for years to come.
And then it would end. The net result would be 49 states
suffering for the short-term benefit on one. So they require
that the contracts be spread out -- benefit entire regions at a
time -- and insteantly a local project becomes a boost to the
national economy.
.
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| User: "duke" |
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| Title: Re: New Orleans |
26 Nov 2005 02:12:42 PM |
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On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 01:24:32 -0500, "JTEM" <gymraven@hotmail.com> wrote:
All I can say is that the folks in Louisiana are going to be a
bunch of frightfully sad puppies. Because they don't want to
pay for what needs to be done -- and couldn't afford it even if
they wanted to -- and with federal funds *Always* comes
federal mandates.
Yet federal law accepts state law requiring state licensing for work in each and
every state in the nation. Most states have reciprocity upon application, and
others such as NY, Florida, and Calee-fornia require a full written test first.
Those mandates will onclude fat out-of-state
comtracts. They have to. Otherwise about $200 billion would
pour into one single state, and into the hands of maybe a dozen
local contractors.
No can do dummy. Besides, a MIT grad has no special ability that a La grad
doesn't. And we have more than enough licensed engineers in Louisiana to do a
great job.
Short term that would mean taking money away from 49 states
to make people in one state rich, long term it would cruch the
Louisiana economy. It would take over -- a $200 billion, labor
intensive project -- defining their economy for years to come.
And then it would end. The net result would be 49 states
suffering for the short-term benefit on one. So they require
that the contracts be spread out -- benefit entire regions at a
time -- and insteantly a local project becomes a boost to the
national economy.
Typical state law for all 50 states.
duke
*****
"The Mass is the most perfect form of Prayer."
Pope Paul VI
*****
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| User: "duke" |
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| Title: Re: New Orleans |
25 Nov 2005 01:19:07 PM |
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On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 22:15:21 -0500, "JTEM" <gymraven@hotmail.com> wrote:
He hasn't been there that long, but has already
reported back many times on the ever-changing
faces, as out-of-state contractors have been
replaced by locals and/or minorities.
Now they even want to get rid of him.
"Keep the work instate" is very big nationwide.
But he's not some carpet bagger from the Northeast.
He's not from New Orleans, but he's a southerner
by birth, he has roots in more than one southern
state and has lived in at least two that I know of. His
first time up north was after WWII, to attend MIT
and get his engineering degree(s).
Perfectly great civil engineers are found in Louisiana. You don't have to be a
rocket scientist to build a bridge or a road.
Get over it, New Orleans. You're getting some
of the best, most experienced talent in the
engineering profession, and you're getting it at
something of a bargain. You should be taking
advantage of it, not sending it packing.
Right - from the state itself.
duke
*****
"The Mass is the most perfect form of Prayer."
Pope Paul VI
*****
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