04-02-2008
( Reply#: 1943 ) |
cartoonguy |
Boy is this all too familiar news. My heart goes out to those unfortunate people as well. I recall many years ago when I was employed at Globe Roofing, we were all called in for a meeting and informed of a major lay-off at Inland Steel, now this came to no surprise since it was around the holidays, but it was deeply stressed, that this time those workers would not return, thus the beginning of what we all know as an important chapter in the big Hammond, Indiana downfall. “Downsizing and Outsourcing”, along with greedy C.E.O's are the biggest problems hitting America. |
04-03-2008
( Reply#: 1944 ) |
Bill Bucko |
Or maybe it's not "greedy CEOs," maybe it's a bloated, power-lusting, out-of-control government that ties producers hand and foot and then still expects them (somehow) to produce?
Read Ayn Rand's classic "Atlas Shrugged."
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
04-05-2008
( Reply#: 1945 ) |
seejay2 |
Right On, Mr. Bill!!
It's time people quit turning a cheek to the real cause of what's happening and who is to blame. "We The People" are too quick to accept the blame for everything from rising gas prices (our big cars are using it up) to (sigh) global warming(because our big cars burned it).
CEO's are part to blame for accepting the incentives to outsource everything, but "We The People" lack the cohesion we once had to prevent it. It certainly didn't start with the Clinton administration (Good God, could they be linked to the same Hillary running for prez now?)and it won't end with whomever grabs the brass ring this year. It's not like a cold that will go away on it's own; it's cancer.
The following link was the face-slapping I was born into reality with, 8 months before retirement.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/seejay2_photos/LTV.jpg
When it's gone, people, it's gone for good. Don't look for another "America" to bail us out of this mess.......Cj
|
04-05-2008
( Reply#: 1947 ) |
cartoonguy |
GREED! GREED! GREED! From the tip-top “Slimes “of the Government, to the “Fat Cat” heads of the big major Corporations, down to the “Sleazy” C.E.O's. MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! How much is enough?
When the downsizing and outsourcing began it effected mainly blue-collar workers, then the white collars, now it is really effecting stock holders and share holders, so when the rich cry “boo hoo”, that’s when the Government decides to step in and help only them.
As one said; “This Countries present (Corporate) Administration looks after Wall Street, not the average person on the street”. With over a trillion dollars already spent on the war, which reminds me of a line from the Marx Brother’s film “Duck Soup” (1933);
Ambassador Trentino (Louis Calhern): I am willing to do anything to prevent this war.
Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho): It's too late. I've already paid a month's rent on the battlefield.
But all laughs aside, we are definitely living in scary times, as the economy weakens with the loss of jobs, people losing their homes, we see education go down and crimes go up. It’s one big mess alright, and one that will take many years to clean up. But I still like to keep a positive out look through out this whole mess, I guess that’s all one can do.
Hang in there everyone! |
04-05-2008
( Reply#: 1948 ) |
Tom J |
It's a whole different ballgame compared to the 50s and 60s. What a spirit of optimism prevailed back then!
I think even as kids we could sense that America was "on a roll." There was no doubt about the future; we were strong and getting stronger.
Our Interstate System was being built, existing factories were expanding and new ones were being built, and there was full employment.
I wish we could bring back those times.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-10-2008
( Reply#: 1951 ) |
wvcogs |
The Hammond centennial was celebrated June 16 to June 23, 1951. The program booklet that was prepared for the celebration contained many advertisements for local businesses and industries as well as photos from the early days and current (1951) ones. Also in the booklet was a blurb from the Chamber of Commerce that painted a very rosy picture including a long list of the types of industries that existed in the city. All those, and the industries in East Chicago and Whiting, were there for residents of the area at that time. Just how many of them are still there now???
Here is a link to the Chamber of Commerce document. It is in jpeg format. You should be able to enlarge it to read.
[url]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/wvcogs72/Centennial-CofC.jpg[/url]
I picked up a copy of the booklet on eBay last week.
Ken... |
04-11-2008
( Reply#: 1952 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by wvcogs
The Hammond centennial was celebrated June 16 to June 23, 1951. The program booklet that was prepared for the celebration contained many advertisements for local businesses and industries as well as photos from the early days and current (1951) ones. Also in the booklet was a blurb from the Chamber of Commerce that painted a very rosy picture including a long list of the types of industries that existed in the city. All those, and the industries in East Chicago and Whiting, were there for residents of the area at that time. Just how many of them are still there now???
Here is a link to the Chamber of Commerce document. It is in jpeg format. You should be able to enlarge it to read.
[url]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/wvcogs72/Centennial-CofC.jpg[/url]
I picked up a copy of the booklet on eBay last week.
Ken...
Thanks, Ken. I was two years old in 1951.
Please, keep passing along any good stuff you find about The Region of the 50s and 60s.
The future really did look bright for Hammond in 1951, didn't it? We certainly had a diversified economy, and it would continue to thrive for another 15 years or so.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-15-2008
( Reply#: 1956 ) |
Pro2am |
Yep - and I'm one of them.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
(soon-to-be ex-UTLX employee)
---------------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news concerning our beloved Calumet Region, but more jobs are leaving. Union Tank is closing its East Chicago plant, and approximately 450 people will be out of work at the end of May. They had already laid off about 150 of the 600 people who worked there as of last fall.
My heart goes out to all the families effected by this.
Here's a link to an interview with the president of the Boilermakers Union Local 524.
http://www.heyregion.com/ShoeBoxArticle-3741.112113_Union_Tank_Closing.html#123
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
|
04-15-2008
( Reply#: 1957 ) |
Tom J |
Aw, crap, Mike. I'm so sorry.
Are you gonna be OK? Will you be able to retire, or are you going to have to find another full time job?
Please, keep us posted on how things are going for you.
I'll remember you in my prayers.
Tom
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Yep - and I'm one of them.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
(soon-to-be ex-UTLX employee)
---------------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news concerning our beloved Calumet Region, but more jobs are leaving. Union Tank is closing its East Chicago plant, and approximately 450 people will be out of work at the end of May. They had already laid off about 150 of the 600 people who worked there as of last fall.
My heart goes out to all the families effected by this.
Here's a link to an interview with the president of the Boilermakers Union Local 524.
http://www.heyregion.com/ShoeBoxArticle-3741.112113_Union_Tank_Closing.html#123
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-26-2008
( Reply#: 1965 ) |
Pro2am |
Mny thanks for your kind words, Tom. Nope, can't retire for several years - and I really don't want to. I guess it's hit the bricks once more and see what's left out there job-wise that hasn't been sent to Mexico or China by the slimeball globalists (gotta detroy the American middle class) and that pays more than minimum wage. I don't know if everyone realizes it, but this country - as a Constitutional Republic (NOT a "Democracy") - is very close to being destroyed.
Mike
----------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Aw, crap, Mike. I'm so sorry.
Are you gonna be OK? Will you be able to retire, or are you going to have to find another full time job?
Please, keep us posted on how things are going for you.
I'll remember you in my prayers.
Tom
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Yep - and I'm one of them.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
(soon-to-be ex-UTLX employee)
---------------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news concerning our beloved Calumet Region, but more jobs are leaving. Union Tank is closing its East Chicago plant, and approximately 450 people will be out of work at the end of May. They had already laid off about 150 of the 600 people who worked there as of last fall.
My heart goes out to all the families effected by this.
Here's a link to an interview with the president of the Boilermakers Union Local 524.
http://www.heyregion.com/ShoeBoxArticle-3741.112113_Union_Tank_Closing.html#123
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
|
04-26-2008
( Reply#: 1966 ) |
Tom J |
Mike:
I hope you find something even better than your job at UTLX, and I hope that all the other folks who are losing their jobs have similar good fortune.
I am worried about our future, too, Mike. Jobs keep leaving our country every day. Where is it all going to end?
Just another reason to wish for those good times of the 50s and 60s again. America was sure feeling her oats and flexing her muscles back then. What a a terrific economy we had going in those days.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-26-2008
( Reply#: 1967 ) |
cartoonguy |
As I said in my earlier post; outsourcing jobs to other countries began with blue collar and since moved up the ladder to the white collar, and one can not help feeling very frighten for the future of everyone in the U.S.A.
I also wonder, Where is it all going to end? |
04-29-2008
( Reply#: 1970 ) |
Bill Bucko |
As Henry Hazlett, Thomas Sowell and other economists have pointed out, it's common in economics for people (and politicians) to forget about the law of supply and demand, take things out of context, clamor for and pass statist laws, and then attribute all the damage caused by those laws to the market rather than to government regulation.
Last I heard, insourcing (foreign investment) creates many more American jobs than are lost to outsourcing. I think it was Dr. Sowell who pointed out recently that outsourcing is responsible for only 3% of job losses in America.
I don't think the Shep Talk Forum is the appropriate place for a debate on economics. I'll simply point out those who are interested should read Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams and other free-market economists. And if you want to know why freedom is important, read Ayn Rand.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
04-29-2008
( Reply#: 1971 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Bucko
As Henry Hazlett, Thomas Sowell and other economists have pointed out, it's common in economics for people (and politicians) to forget about the law of supply and demand, take things out of context, clamor for and pass statist laws, and then attribute all the damage caused by those laws to the market rather than to government regulation.
Last I heard, insourcing (foreign investment) creates many more American jobs than are lost to outsourcing. I think it was Dr. Sowell who pointed out recently that outsourcing is responsible for only 3% of job losses in America.
I don't think the Shep Talk Forum is the appropriate place for a debate on economics. I'll simply point out those who are interested should read Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams and other free-market economists. And if you want to know why freedom is important, read Ayn Rand.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63
Bill, you might be right about this not being the place to debate economics, but this is the place where those of us who lived in The Region in the "good old days" can congregate and reminisce. Where else would we, this little group of friends, go to have discussions about issues pertaining to The Region, like the closure of Union Tank?
Have you visited the NWI Times message board? How about the Northwest Indiana message board? You simply CANNOT have a civilized discussion in either of those places.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
04-29-2008
( Reply#: 1972 ) |
cartoonguy |
Believe me, the last thing I like to associate Hammond Indiana with is bad economic times. But facts are facts and this once thriving community definitely has seen better days. I honestly can say that almost all my former childhood friends and classmates, including myself, have left Northwest Indiana, anytime I run in to one of them we can not help but feel sadden by all the jobs lost and the businesses that have closed. Every time I'm in the area I always find time to visit the main Hammond Public Library downtown, and spend hours looking at the Times Newspaper micro films from good old days’ gone bye.
All of us really, really do miss the good old days. |
04-29-2008
( Reply#: 1973 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by cartoonguy
Believe me, the last thing I like to associate Hammond Indiana with is bad economic times. But facts are facts and this once thriving community definitely has seen better days. I honestly can say that almost all my former childhood friends and classmates, including myself, have left Northwest Indiana, anytime I run in to one of them we can not help but feel sadden by all the jobs lost and the businesses that have closed. Every time I'm in the area I always find time to visit the main Hammond Public Library downtown, and spend hours looking at the Times Newspaper micro films from good old days’ gone bye.
All of us really, really do miss the good old days.
My feelings, exactly! What a wonderful place Hammond once was. Probably none of us truly appreciated how good things were back in those days, but as we look back on those times now, we can clearly see just how good life really was.
Is it just romanticizing the past? Maybe so, but then again, maybe those days really WERE that good. I think they were.
What happened to Hammond also happened to other cities in the "Rust Belt."
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
05-10-2008
( Reply#: 2008 ) |
svea3 |
To Bill et al
Love Sowell and others. One of interest and is from Hessville- Ed Dedelow... the plumber's son and Uncle of the Dedelow who was the recent Hammond Mayor. Google him under scientific economist and his last name. He graduated from OPM in 1961.
scientificcapitalist.com is his website.
Linda[:I]
|
01-04-2009
( Reply#: 2600 ) |
Tom J |
Mike (Pro2am):
Did you ever tell us where, or if, you found another source of employment after Union Tank shut down? I hope you found a good job, but I just cannot remember if you ever updated us on your employment situation.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
01-04-2009
( Reply#: 2603 ) |
Pro2am |
Tom,
No, not yet. It's been a rough year psychologically and I'm still not out of the woods yet. Fortunately we IN unemployed have been granted a extension by the fed of the unemployment benefits; our union also won a case against UTLX that entitles us ex-employees to yet another extension.
For myself 2008 was the worst year I've had 15. Boy, am I glad it's over! I just hope that things turn around in '09 - and that goes for everyone affected by our economic meltdown. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Mike Rapchak Jr.
----------------------------------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Mike (Pro2am):
Did you ever tell us where, or if, you found another source of employment after Union Tank shut down? I hope you found a good job, but I just cannot remember if you ever updated us on your employment situation.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Mike (Pro2am):
Did you ever tell us where, or if, you found another source of employment after Union Tank shut down? I hope you found a good job, but I just cannot remember if you ever updated us on your employment situation.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
|
01-04-2009
( Reply#: 2604 ) |
Pro2am |
Oops! That was supposed to read"...2008 was the worst year I've had in the past 15."
Mike R.
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Tom,
No, not yet. It's been a rough year psychologically and I'm still not out of the woods yet. Fortunately we IN unemployed have been granted a extension by the fed of the unemployment benefits; our union also won a case against UTLX that entitles us ex-employees to yet another extension.
For myself 2008 was the worst year I've had 15. Boy, am I glad it's over! I just hope that things turn around in '09 - and that goes for everyone affected by our economic meltdown. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Mike Rapchak Jr.
----------------------------------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Mike (Pro2am):
Did you ever tell us where, or if, you found another source of employment after Union Tank shut down? I hope you found a good job, but I just cannot remember if you ever updated us on your employment situation.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
Mike (Pro2am):
Did you ever tell us where, or if, you found another source of employment after Union Tank shut down? I hope you found a good job, but I just cannot remember if you ever updated us on your employment situation.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG]
|
01-04-2009
( Reply#: 2606 ) |
Tom J |
Mike:
I'm sure sorry to hear that you have not yet found a good job. I know they must be VERY hard to come by in these times.
I wish you the very best, and I will remember you in my prayers.
I would sure hate to be looking for work right now. Our plant laid off a whole crew, plus they cut some salary jobs. We had four crews and ran through holidays and weekends, but now we are back to three crews and will run five days or six days a week, if even that much.
Tom
A 1967 Graduate of Hammond High who cherishes his memories of growing up in the Hammond of the 1950's and 1960's. Bring back those days!
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Tom%20and%20Georgeann/img014.jpg[/IMG] |
