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#111
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
"Joe the Aroma" wrote in message . .. "Pat" wrote in message oups.com... On May 21, 7:09 pm, "Amy Blankenship" wrote: "Pat" wrote in message ups.com... On May 21, 11:46 am, "Amy Blankenship" wrote: "donquijote1954" wrote in message roups.com... On May 20, 8:42 pm, "george conklin" wrote: wrote in message st.net... In article .net, says... Yes, just as the third world is getting rid of such exploitation of workers, NYC is starting up with its hazy visions of great the past used to be. Having ridden pedicabs in New Delhi and in Vancouver, B.C., among other cities, I wouldn't compare the two labor environments. If a country doesn't have effective enforcement of worker's rights, and even still has pockets of indentured servitude and slavery, it could be that banning a particular occupation might be the only way to eliminate a particular form of exploitation. I'd have no qualms about "exploiting" a U.S. or Canadian pedicab operator. In the third world they view the entire industry as exploiting. We should be ashamed of ourselves bringing the pedicab back. It shows how morally bankrupt the New Urbanism is.- Are you also concerned about the "Made in China" label? I guess we got to drop the dollar store then. By the way, some union representative was in Asia recently trying to organize labor in China. Free unions in a communist country? I believe it when I see it. He said something that makes sense: "If capitals are globalized, why not labor?" He loves Wal-Mart's low prices. Of _course_ no one is ever exploited so we can have those low prices ;-). But if I can get a $3.00 product for $2.00; then I have $1.00 to invest or save or buy something else. Are you then going to use it to sponsor a Chinese child with World Vision? ;-) I have no problem with exported labor. Better to have them working than wanting to fight us. But I also have no problem with leveling the playing field. If the US, for example, said that all labor on goods imported into the US had to pay the equivelent of US minimum wage, I would have a problem with that. It wouldn't bring too many jobs back here because few people will work for minimum wage, but it would level the playing field quite a bit. But until that happens, the world is what the world is. Welp, you better hope they don't want to fight us after we've exported all our technology and wealth to them. Not to mention pollution... |
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#112
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
"Amy Blankenship" wrote in message ... Not to mention pollution... They've exported plenty to us as well. See the "Asian brown cloud". |
#113
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
In article ,
"Joe the Aroma" writes: I have no problem with exported labor. Better to have them working than wanting to fight us. But I also have no problem with leveling the playing field. If the US, for example, said that all labor on goods imported into the US had to pay the equivelent of US minimum wage, I would have a problem with that. It wouldn't bring too many jobs back here because few people will work for minimum wage, but it would level the playing field quite a bit. But until that happens, the world is what the world is. Welp, you better hope they don't want to fight us after we've exported all our technology and wealth to them. They won't have to fight you. They'll just buy you. -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
#114
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
"Joe the Aroma" wrote in message ... "Amy Blankenship" wrote in message ... Not to mention pollution... They've exported plenty to us as well. See the "Asian brown cloud". You don't think any of that is because we've outsourced the production of some of our dirtier industrial processes? They produce a lot of coke (coal product, not beverage or drug) used in our electric plants, for instance... |
#115
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
"Amy Blankenship" wrote in message .. . "Joe the Aroma" wrote in message ... "Amy Blankenship" wrote in message ... Not to mention pollution... They've exported plenty to us as well. See the "Asian brown cloud". You don't think any of that is because we've outsourced the production of some of our dirtier industrial processes? They produce a lot of coke (coal product, not beverage or drug) used in our electric plants, for instance... I absolutely *DO* think and know that. Apparently our polluting industries are "burdened" by environmental regulations. Free trade necessitates an international regulatory body which would add another layer of bureaucracy and is the first step on the road to world government. No thanks. |
#116
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
On May 23, 8:33 am, Krzysztof Zietara tarhim
wrote: On 21 May 2007 16:06:10 -0700, John Kane wrote: I take it you're quite young ? I seem to remember Solidarity. You may also remember how it ended up first time around, then. But the second time? Remember that trade unions in the UK , USA & IIRC Canada were considered a wild threat to the establishment in the 1800's. However you have a good point. OTOH free or not Wal-Mart has a union in China. The question is, are those unions are just for show or do they really protect rights of fhe worker. I don't know but my bet would be mainly just for show. However once you've got a union foot in the door.. Tarhimdugurth -- [S1 - za sygnaturkę] |
#117
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
On May 23, 11:28 pm, (Tom Keats) wrote:
In article , Nobody writes: A pleasant urban environment that doesn't get its citizens anxiously grinding their teeth in their sleep or coming down with athsma is also good. Your personal intentions and aspirations are admirable.. but to expect two million plus other citizens in Greater Vancouver to follow those weather-related flagellations is, well, quirky at best. I don't expect them all to follow those "weather-related flagellations." I'm just saying: those who wanna ... can. And it's not that bad. It could be better. It can be /made/ better. But practical bicycle transportation is quite do-able right now. Let's all abandon Mister Ford's automobile, and ride the current street car ("SkyTrain") and autobus! Hurrah! Alternative transportation is not regressive. Fine, but don't expect the Great Majority to hitch their pinnies and hoops, and clasp a hand on baseball cap while peddling a two-wheeler across 25km of up hill and down dale in rain and shine amd sleet and snow and wind and gust.. well, you get the message. What about the folks who only need to go 10 km or 5 km? It simply is not practicable (note the use of adjective), either by wish or function. It is for me, and for many others. -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca I'm glad you enjoy bicycling, but it's not for everyone. Nor is public transportation. I live in the middle of nowhere, is it's not a practical alternative for most people. We have a few dedicated bicyclists around here who bike in all weather, but they are mostly alcoholics who have lost their licenses. I don't know if they make rain gear for commuting or not, but if they don't; go look at some of the motorcyle stuff. It's light, can withstand buckets of water at high speed, and doesn't look too bad. Stay well. |
#118
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
I'm glad you enjoy bicycling, but it's not for everyone. Nor is
public transportation. I live in the middle of nowhere, is it's not a practical alternative for most people. We have a few dedicated bicyclists around here who bike in all weather, but they are mostly alcoholics who have lost their licenses. Oh, say yee. What proof do you have foul mouth. I have only ridden a bike since 8 years old, 44 years. Cept had a motorcycle for 2 years till somebody trashed it. Anything below 5 miles is said to be more practical by bike and I agree. Plus you get fit and do not spend lota time at the doctors. For some it may not be practical but to say every one else is a drunk without a license is a troll stamp. cheers I bought another motorcycle this May. street legal dirt bike and you get even worse treatment than a cyclist. Must be the label thingy. I did it for another hobby and thought the gas would be excellent but the insurance is murder on these things. |
#119
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
On May 24, 12:27 am, (Tom Keats) wrote:
In article , "Joe the Aroma" writes: I have no problem with exported labor. Better to have them working than wanting to fight us. But I also have no problem with leveling the playing field. If the US, for example, said that all labor on goods imported into the US had to pay the equivelent of US minimum wage, I would have a problem with that. It wouldn't bring too many jobs back here because few people will work for minimum wage, but it would level the playing field quite a bit. But until that happens, the world is what the world is. Welp, you better hope they don't want to fight us after we've exported all our technology and wealth to them. They won't have to fight you. They'll just buy you. Yes, that will be the case if we stagnate. But if we continue to innovate and stay the world leaders in the things that we want to be the world leaders in, then it's NBD. As it is, we don't have enough labor for everything that we need, so why not export low paying, low skill jobs -- especially ones using low tech. As for them buying us, that's another issue altogether. The biggest thing we could do for our future is to get gov't spending under control and to eliminate our debt. -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
#120
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What American Cities are Missing: Bikes by the Thousands
In article .com,
Pat writes: I'm glad you enjoy bicycling, but it's not for everyone. I realize that; that's why I'm not suggesting "everyone" should take up the avocation. My apologism for transportational cycling is not a call to "everyone" to convert their cars into potato planters, and to ride bikes exclusively to get around. My immediate concern is to rebut erroneous statements about transportational cycling necessarily being an impractical hassle. If some folks decide it might be nice to ride instead of drive for the occasional milk-&-bread run to the grocery store, or to get to the library, coffee shop or workplace, that'd be a pretty good fringe benefit, too. Save yer gas and money for the longer/heavier hauls. Use the vehicle that's proportionally appropriate for the task. Nor is public transportation. I live in the middle of nowhere, is it's not a practical alternative for most people. Actually, most people in the US (and quite possibly in the whole North American continent) live in urban areas where transportational bicycling /is/ practical. We have a few dedicated bicyclists around here who bike in all weather, but they are mostly alcoholics who have lost their licenses. I don't even have a license. I don't even know how to drive. Never needed to. But I realize I'm not "everyone." So while I do enjoy the conveniences of urban life and am well adapted to a carless lifestyle, I'm certainly not advocating that everyone should be like me. But if anyone wants to be less car-dependent, there are folks like me around who can offer some insight as to how to achieve that. I don't know if they make rain gear for commuting or not, but if they don't; go look at some of the motorcyle stuff. It's light, can withstand buckets of water at high speed, and doesn't look too bad. Rain gear is in fact available. I generally use a traditional cycling rain cape over my street clothes. It's dry and cool at the same time. Stay well. You too. -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
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