HOW IT STARTED
I was a golf course builder in Michigan in the early ’70s. I remember it was the year “1972” and oil was discovered in Kalkaska, Michigan. The word spread like wildfire. Before a barrel of oil left the ground, Detroit-area union “thugs” converged on Kalkaska. This was a quiet little town about (40) miles east of Traverse City, Michigan. Not much happened in this small town until “oil” was discovered. Traffic really increased and the “instant wealth” buzz soon hit the media.
Meanwhile, he was building the “Gaylord County Club” west of Gaylord. At the time, you had a couple of pieces of heavy equipment and maybe 10 employees. We were really a “mom and dad” company trying to make money. Well, as it happened, while the Union thugs were out in Northern Michigan, they tried to unionize everyone who was in their way. This was like a swarm of lobsters converging on a chunk of fresh beans.
On a Friday afternoon, I got off work early and drove 3 1/2 hours back to Schoolcraft, Michigan to complete some paperwork. The “thugs” came to my work and stopped everyone from working to tell them the benefits of being a union. My foreman, Bob Cook, told them I was at Schoolcraft and would be back at work on Monday.
What does all this have to do with the current business climate and the situation in our country? Keep reading. One of the “thugs” called my house that Friday at 5:00 pm and my wife told them I was resting. They thought it was an old goat. Well on Monday I left home at 4:00 a.m. to be at work (200) miles away at 7:00 a.m.
When I got to work, the “thugs” had my men lined up and talking to them. I pulled up to my Eldorado Caddy, hit the brakes, jumped up, and yelled, “Start the damn bulldozers and get to work.” One of the thugs came up to me and asked “are you Mr. Sauger?” I told him to “get out of my way, you are obstructing my work and I will take care of you later.” “Now get off the property”
We met for lunch later and they told me they wanted my operators to join the Heavy Equipment Operators Union. I said “well, if you can provide me with specialized operators who can build a golf green, I will hire them.” I also told them that I wanted a job bond. I explained that I was the only one taking any risk and “if” their operators screwed up, I would lose money and not them. So, he wanted the union to back up his claims about super talented workers by putting their performance together.
Now, I want to move forward (35) years. Here we are trying to compete internationally with other cultures and countries that pay their workers roughly (30%) of what the American worker earns, but deliver consumer goods that match the quality of American goods. You can argue that point until “the cows come home”, but it is a reality. Go to ANY point of sale and find anything made in the USA.
So where are we at? Reality sets in. We are a nation that owes more than we receive. We give more to those who cannot, will not, and some, fortunately, cannot provide. Our welfare rolls and our food stamp problem has gotten out of hand. We encourage those poor and unfortunate people to have more babies because it is a financial reward. No wonder the “breeding cattle” that roam around are waiting for the US Postal Service to deliver the “bread.” How do we break this cycle or are we relegated to watch it grow and grow until it is the ONLY segment of society left? ?
Kalkaska, Michigan was not a “black men’s” war. It was not a demand for social services. It was clearly a movement to control the profits of the capitalists by those who had nothing invested but who considered themselves the power of the movement. What happened? My work was completed without any interference from any Union Organizer. The equipment at Kalkaska burned down and the end result was that the cost of oil production meant higher gas prices. Intelligent? Answer that one.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? I think so. But it really does involve changing the guard in Washington. We have to eliminate career politicians. We must make sure those in Congress have the same benefits that you and I have. We can no longer allow someone to go to Washington for a period and get benefits that you and I will never realize. Are politicians “angels from heaven”? I do not think so. I am a firm believer that “they work for us.”
Once we restore “common sense” in Washington, then and only then can we attempt to balance our trade with other countries and reduce our debt. If we begin to reduce our debt, we will take the pressure off our business sector and we will begin to generate tax base dollars, sales tax dollars and we will have less dollars that we have to spend on our National Debt.
Think about this for a minute. We bought a barrel of oil for $ 75.00 We paid for it with credits. Nothing is paid in cash. If you don’t understand, read “The Creature from Jekyl Island.” So when we owe $ 75.00 of credit and we don’t have ANYONE to buy our products because they cost too much, then our trade deficit grows. Hmm, I wonder how the $ 25.00 an hour “toy maker” in Nashua, New Hampshire will fare if he’s unemployed from his job as a toy maker, while his Bangkok counterpart is busy making $ 5.00 an hour toys. and working overtime.
Complain, guess, advise, I don’t really care. The rest of the world is no longer dependent on the US They accept our military aid and our brochures BUT they can make toys that their children enjoy and our “union” workers sit idly by complaining. They have to be part of the solution.
Now you can see how the Union Goons with their attitude of (35) years ago set the tone for our financial woes today. Of course, it is more complex and our educators will have a different perspective or blame scenario, but take it from an elder. We have to make sure that the “dog wags its tail” and not the other way around.
Respectfully Regis Sauger