Goldman Sachs reported profits of $1.6 billion for the first quarter of 2009, and is hoping to put their newly demonstrated strength to use, by paying back their TARP money and getting that pesky federal government off their backs. Quick thoughts: In that quarter, how much have they taken in government money, either direct (TARP) … Read more
8:28 Dylan asks, “Are you on the side of workers or management?” 8:30 Matt replies, “Are you on the side of dichotomies or expanding pies?” I’m on the side of logic, Matt. Logic says that you pay a woman more or less, that you let a union form or not, that a worker is hired … Read more
So if you didn’t get it from the liveblog below, Elise and I went to a debate between Harvard Republicans and Harvard Democrats about various labour questions: Lily Ledbetter, card check, Harvard layoffs. In debate terms it was pretty standard fare. The Democrats argue that card check is necessary to protect against management intimidation, the … Read more
8:20-Colin Motley, President of the Republican club, asks Democrats “if card check increases wages for workers who have jobs, but decreases the jobs available, is that a good thing.” 8:19-Democrats-People don’t make decisions based on what percentage of the budget goes to stein clubs. 8:17-Republicans-Let’s preserve the endowment (that’s a very Burkian sentiment). Also, … Read more
8:08-And now the Republican position: It sucks. The sucks refers to layoffs, oh you of the dirty mind. Also “this university doesn’t exist to give workers jobs. We need to save money so that we can expand to Allston and Brighton.” Is it just me, or do the expansions always make you quote Caesar: “Omnia … Read more
7:56: Card Check comes up. Language note-I notice that Peter Bacon calls it card check. The democrats call it EFCA, the Republicans go back and forth. 7:54: “There’s no obligation to know the salaries of other employees.” I take it someone has never paid Liar’s poker with pay envelopes. 7:53: Counter-counter-counter: “There’s a lack of … Read more
8:33 Debate ends. Wrapup coming 8:29-Republicans-Matt says-one more dichotomy, do you believe that labour and management are at odds. Shouldn’t they come together to create profits (I thought the Republican point was that Harvard shouldn’t make profits). Matt-we have to protect the long term financial health so we can retain our dominance as the top … Read more
8:17 Questions begin. So I have been holding my tongue for a while, but this is the part of the debate that entirely ticks me off. “Harvard is for the students and faculty first”? “If we were the only university we could save jobs, but we need to compete with Georgetown”? Seriously? First of all: … Read more
The NYT came out with Part IV of its “Remade in America” series. It’s a great series, full of the cool graphics that the NYT does so well. But the thesis of the piece, I suggest, is rather obvious (at least to anyone who’s walked around Harvard’s campus lately): immigration really, really helps America. “Every … Read more