Greetings:

Here is the headline in today's local (Erie, PA) paper:

"GE Transportation to Build Plant in Texas, Add 250 Jobs in Erie"

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There is plenty of capacity here in Erie. A lot of laid off people still have not been called back. Why do you suppose GE (which paid $0 in U.S. income taxes in 2010) is building in Texas? Simple: It's a right-to-work state. That means non-union wages and benefits can be paid. There are also no personal income taxes in Texas, so effectively the employees make more money.

The last right-sizing in Erie came a couple years ago as GE exported a lot of the locomotive assembly to China. Those 250 additional jobs announced along with the Texas plant opening are just to pacify the dupes. I predict that within a year of the new plant coming up to speed, Erie will begin a slow (or fast) fade-out.

Isn't it interesting how the supposedly pro-union folks that GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt hangs with (he's the Prez's economic advisor) purport to be all about unions, by they screw their voting base when their own profits trump member's welfare? If you're a union member I ask you this: How many times does it need to happen before you wise up? Look at how your top union leaders are facilitating the outsourcing of your jobs all over the world. Oh well, just fuggedaboutit. You still have your job... for now.

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- Kirt Blattenberger
RF Cafe Progenitor & Webmaster

I'm from Texas and I don't see what's so great about it. Just because we can carry guns and are a right-2-work state doesn't mean it's so wonderful. We are absolutely overrun with Illegals. Border towns and taxpayer-funded schools are almost 100% anchor babies. George Bush and now Rick Perry let it happen while governors. If the GOP puts up Perry, we'll have amnesty within a year. I'm tired of having to fight both Demoncrats and Repubicans. The MFers come here knowing they are breaking the law. MFing Mexico sends their s**t here to offload their responsibility to their people. I'm absolutely sick of it and hope to god that a Tea Party candidate manages to get the nomination.

Screw GE. If Obummer ever comes to a sudden stop, CEO Immelt's head will have to be wedged out of his arse. Immelt and GE are lobbying for all the green crap that's breaking our financial back. The SOB is closing all the U.S. plants that manufacture incandescent bulbs.

I'm looking into moving to Canada if yet another POS a-hole gets coronated. This country is full of pissed off people and the politicians are just making it worse. At least there it won't be my lifetime countrymen who screwed the system.