Lessons learned

So, what are the lessons learned from what has been happening?

Unions, you know how you considered the economic issues and made the deals about how you'd put off immediate salary increases for protecting your benefits because you saw that they could plan out future expenses better than getting an immediate pay? Yeah. Fuck 'em. See how they're just taking your benefits away anyway? So next time, don't be so considerate. Go for the benefits and the pay increases.

Union Employees, you know how everybody else really wants you to have the crappy deal we all get in the public sector, but without the increased pay that is in the public sector? Fuck 'em. Get jobs in the public sector that will pay you better.

Public Sector Employees, you know how you think you're "paying all your benefits" and not getting any government services for your tax dollars? Yeah. Fuck 'em. 'Cause now you're going to find out just how much more you'll have to pay for your benefits (because you're not actually paying the full freight). And there'll be no options to get anything better. Hope you don't get sick and that you're saving 15-25% of your current take home pay for retirement. Crossing my fingers for you.

Industry, you know how you think you're winning by eliminating pay and benefit standards of which you look weak in comparison? Yeah. Fuck 'em. You can pay people less and less and let some other schmuck pay the wages that keeps the money rolling into your profit distributions. Because, wait a sec, no, that's not going to happen. Hope you get all you can out of the business before it closes up shop because nobody wants to pay anybody without a VP or higher title any wage that's livable.