Saturday, July 30, 2011

Da Union v. The Handicapped. Such Class!

Althouse finds an example of Da Yoooooonion's class and largesse.

About 300-400 people gathered at Opportunities Inc. in Fort Atkinson last night. Walker visited as part of a 45th anniversary celebration and a $6 million dollar addition to the Opp. Inc. “campus”. Protesters broadcast 3 key messages. The first two I expected: “Recall Walker” and “Opportunities Inc is a sweat shop.

Uh-huh.

"Opportunities, Inc." provides ......get this!!!........"SUB-MINIMUM WAGES" to folks who cannot be hired by anyone else.

The people they hire--and pay--earn dignity and self-worth. That's the point. Putting nuts and bolts into baggies at a rate which, frankly, isn't enough to offset the heat and light in the building, in many cases--but they get paid.

But Da Yoooooooooooooonion doesn't care about "dignity and self-worth."

One suspects that's because Da Yoooooooooonion's MEMBERS have no dignity at all. See the pictures accompanying the article. Feel the class, the "concern" for the under-privileged.

Try not to puke all over your screen.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Putting nuts and bolts into baggies at a rate which, frankly, isn't enough to offset the heat and light in the building, in many cases--but they get paid."

In MANY cases??? Try ALL cases. Yeah, what's a little heat and humidity, poor ventilation, and "good" wages for the mentally challenged. They won't know any better.

Because we know that SOME business owners, if they are able to get substandard wages for one segment of society, why not for all workers would be their mentality!

Talking about "dignity" and "self-worth", why not practice what the Lord preaches. You know, refrain from willfully denigrating your fellow human beings, aka da eeeeevil unions!

A new low, Dad29, a new low.

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

Really,anon? in my positions in industry, I have visited several locations like "Opportunities". Every one has been air conditioned in the summer, well ventilated, heated in the winter. Maybe you should go visit before passing judgement. Oh, I forgot. The Left never judges. No, really. They told me that.

Hypocrites and cowards. All of you. Don't bother to help. Just bitch. don't bother to give your time and money. Just bitch. Conservatives give far more to charity and spend far more time getting their hands dirty in volunteering than the Left does. It's just true. Maybe it''s because we aren't marching in a drum circle, smoking weed, beating up Black Conservatives and yelling "SHAME! SHAME!". We're busy actually doing something to help people, rather than make them slaves to the government.

The Lord Jesus condemned hypocrites. You should probably go to confession tomorrow. But I doubt He will listen because I doubt you believe. I could be wrong on that, because only He really knows, but I'm "just sayin'" that if your tongue turned to fire each time you spoke His name, I wouldn't be surprised.

Dan said...

Anon, you are a pathetic piece of crap.
Most of these people, if not for places like Opportunities would be forced to stay at home.
The reason why these people sort or small jobs is because they are not able to do anything else. And it probably took years of training to even to get to that point.
I take it, anon, you have never worked with the disabled because otherwise, you wouldn't have made an ass of yourself.
Same with the protestors. These protestors and anon are pathetic pieces of shit and manure. First they crap on Special Olympic athletes and now this.
These protestors and anon think they are sooo much better than the clients at Opportunities, athletes in Special Olympics, but in reality, they are little pieces of shit compared to these workers and athletes.

Amy said...

Yeah, what's a little heat and humidity, poor ventilation, and "good" wages for the mentally challenged.

Are you illiterate? Probably. What he was saying is the work they do probably doesn't generate enough income to offset the costs of doing business, but Opportunities gives them a job.

As for "living wages"...how many of these people are living on their own or, indeed, even capable of doing so? Giving them some income imparts on them a sense of dignity, and gives them money to save or spend as they see fit. I'm guessing few of them have to worry about paying the rent or other bills because they're cared for.

But, in your righteous indignation, anony, imagine instead if this were conservatives protesting a liberal governor at the workplace of the disabled. You'd probably be a little mad then.

The takeaway lesson is this: Wisconsin liberals have no shame, no sense of decency, and are an "ends justify the means" crowd.

Pathetic and it's going to backfire on them. BIG TIME.

neomom said...

I wonder if any of these classless ingrates actually even knows anyone developmentally disabled. I do. A lovely young woman who will never get past the mental capacity of an 8 year old and will always need to live in some sort of group home. Without an Opportunities, Inc, or Goodwill, or Bethesda, or Green Valley or any of the many others in the state, she would never, repeat, never be able to hold a real job. Not even flipping burgers. The jobs for these folks are for pocket money and self worth. Not so they can buy a house and car.

I sincerely pray that the people of my home state look at displays like this and quietly tell the unions to shove it in the recalls.

Anonymous said...

Deekaman--Maybe you should go visit before passing judgement. Oh, I forgot. The Left never judges. No, really. They told me that.

Amy--Wisconsin liberals have no shame, no sense of decency, and are an "ends justify the means" crowd.

Dan--These protestors and anon are pathetic pieces of shit and manure. First they crap on Special Olympic athletes and now this.


Gee, I wonder what is the common theme in these statements??? Partisanship personified! No different or worse had liberals made your similar blanket statements.


The point that you all conveniently set aside is that if it was people without cognitive disabilities working in these SAME JOBS, they would be mandated the minimum wage. So the cognitively disabled should be PAID LOWER by the employer to "offset the costs of doing business" because the business is providing a service to the community. If you want to treat the cognitively disabled with dignity and respect from an economic viewpoint, the the business should provide them with the SAME WAGES for the SAME WORK. People who put nuts and bolts into baggies, whether or not they are cognitively disabled, earn minimum wage as required by law. That is EQUALITY.

The point that you all conveniently set aside is that the working conditions, apparently, are less than ideal at THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS, yet your anger is directed at a blogger and the people who have the audacity to address this issue.

Where in my post did I even specifically state or imply that I disapprove of the opportunity being given to the cognitively disabled to improve their lives or condition by working? I simply am QUESTIONING the means by which SOME companies are providing that opportunity.


neomom--I wonder if any of these classless ingrates actually even knows anyone developmentally disabled.

Seriously? You truly believe that union members do not have children who have developmentally disabled children that they dearly love or work with them on their own time? WOW!

Anonymous said...

children who are developmentally disabled...

neomom said...

I highly doubt that anyone with a developmentally disabled child would take part in this disgusting display.

Dad29 said...

"Equality," dumbass, is NOT what the devel/disabled have.

They are NOT equal, except that they are children of God, just like you.

However, they are more intellectually-gifted than you are; they take dignity wherever they find it. You are foolish enough to believe that pay level denotes "equality."

Truly, you are pathetic.

James Pawlak said...

You truly believe that union members do not have children who have developmentally disabled children that they dearly love or work with them on their own time?

I don't care what they do on their own time.

Clearly, they don't respect OTHER people who are disabled.

Other than that, I echo Dad: You're pathetic.

Display Name said...

You're all skimming the story. The "whistleblower" fellow who wrote the letter to the Daily Union that caused the "sweatshop" claims is not developmentally disabled. Opportunities has many programs in play. One of them is providing so-called temporary workers to places like Jefferson's Purina cat food factory. The fellow was complaining about the seeming permanent status of the temp workers like himself who get no benefits, no A/C, etc.

Anonymous said...

"However, they are more intellectually-gifted than you are; they take dignity wherever they find it.""

Exactly, as determined by this particular business owner...at substandard wages.


"You are foolish enough to believe that pay level denotes "equality.""

If two people, one who is developmentally disabled and one is "normal", put widgets in a box, they get paid the same. Not too difficult of a concept. If two people, one who is developmentally disabled and one is "normal", clean toilets, they get paid the same. Equal work for equal pay. That is the context of "equality". That is showing dignity.

Speaking about dignity, Dad29, does calling someone a dumbass or calling someone pathetic--on a Sunday!--make you dignified?

Dad29 said...

In your case, those appellations are compliments.

Dad29 said...

If two people, one who is developmentally disabled and one is "normal", put widgets in a box, they get paid the same

You took guitar lessons and play guitar in your garage.

Mick Jagger plays guitar, too.

What.......you're not paid as much as he is?

Display Name said...

That's quite some logic to follow there, Dad29. So you think we should pay these developmentally disabled as little as they'll accept, as long as they can do the job?

Anonymous said...

“In your case, those appellations are compliments.”

Tell that to your priest, and find out what is his response to purposely treating people poorly.


And, that's your comparison, Dad29?

Your situatiion involves a UNIQUE skill set. The “employers” (the general public) dictates who gets paid more in part based on personal musical preferences. Mick is not regarded for his fretwork in the music industry and his diehard fans, but his ability to lead the band and his over the top antics. The band’s COLLETIVE TALENT and ON/OFF STAGE PERSONAS, not Mick’s shredding, have made them famous and wealthy.

Assume I was able to play guitar, from a technical standpoint, "better" than Mick. Those in the music industry with the expertise and knowledge of the instrument would rank me ahead of Mick. A few critics, however, may be obtuse and say no matter what that Mick was more skillfull despite the overwhelming evidence.

The other situation--putting widgets in a box--involves a GENERAL skill set. The employer is dictated by law to initially pay ALL people capable of performing that action the SAME wage. Of course, if one person is highly efficient and is recognized by the employer and the workers as such, then he/she earns more money. But the BASELINE wage from the start is guaranteed regardless of who is performing that skill.

If a cognitively disabled person is able to put widgets in a box or clean toilets just as well as the next person, then they get paid accordingly!

Dad29 said...

If a cognitively disabled person is able to put widgets in a box or clean toilets just as well as the next person, then they get paid accordingly

5,000 words and you finally figured it out.

Like I said, it's a compliment to call you a dumbass.

Anonymous said...

"5,000 words and you finally figured it out."

You must be one of those critics I referred to. It is abundantly clear that context escapes you.


"Like I said, it's a compliment to call you a dumbass."

A digital hairshirt for penance will suffice for completely ignoring the message in Sunday's sermon... yet again.

Other Side of My Mouth said...

Personally, the waterheads ought to be sent to the glue farm.

Don't tell me the T-4 program didn't work seventy years ago.

Display Name said...

Dad29, you have an impersonator posting above. If someone was impersonating you, what would you do?