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
Tonight, I will be spending the next hour at a debate about layoffs. Of course, this being Harvard, the layoffs are not the 8.5% unemployed nationwide, nor those whose jobs are in threat through the machinations of the macroeconomy. Instead, the debate goes no further than layoffs in the Harvard community. Some might say it’s … Read more
7:49: Dylan catches Peyton’s slip. Apparently, American employers don’t need to discriminate to fire women. 7:47: Dyan Matthews-The question is whether discrimination should fall under increased statute of limitations. 7:46: Question from Peter Bacon: Is the Lily Ledbetter act a good idea? Hmm, I wonder what the response will be. 7:44: Card Check goes by … Read more
Every time I read a strategy memo for the next Republican party, I panic a little. It’s a sudden fear – oh no, what if they figure it out this time? – that quickly subsides, because usually the argument is poor enough that the party to which I happen to be illogically loyal has little … Read more