UNIONS: UAW's last stand...

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I hate to be talking this much about unions but I think it is the sign of the times; we have to.

The public unions came into focus for many of us because the economic recession made state and local governments look at their dramatically diminishing revenues and realize that public unions were huge and unnecessary drains on those revenues.

Private unions on the other hand, went into a tail spin with the recession and as in Detroit, saw clearly their potential demise in the very near future. Since the economy is starting to get a little bit better and here in Detroit, the auto companies are posting profits; the unions are getting ready to demand back all they sacrificed and more…

The UAW just had a small gathering (1,200) here in Detroit to plan for their contract talks with the Big 3 automakers this summer. It was more of a “pump us up” session with speakers screaming how the UAW will get back its concessions, now that the auto industry is doing so well.

Here is the difference this time around; the UAW cannot strike GM or Chrysler because of the bankruptcy agreements it signed. They can strike FORD because Ford took no bailout money and survived the auto industry collapse on its own.

Bob King, president of the UAW, complained mightily about the bonus Alan Mulally received from Ford which was something like 50+ million in “stock”.

Now I understand that King has to speak in a certain way when he speaks to his members. All they want to hear is how the union is going to get everything it can from the auto industry; no matter what. But King is not stupid and has to use some common sense if he wants to maintain the union’s relevance.

Yes, Mr. Mulally got a big bonus but it was in stock and not cash so if the company goes down, he gets nothing. King also knows that Mulally came to Ford when the company was going down and took no compensation until he could get the company profitable again…and he did what he said he would do and he needs to be compensated for that and King understands that if Mulally didn’t fix Ford, the UAW would be dust, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Let me just say one thing before I get into details; if the UAW strikes Ford, the nation will rise up against the UAW and make sure it dies a miserable death, why? The UAW (to many) is a huge factor why the auto industry collapsed in the first place (partly true). GM and Chrysler took tax payer money in the form of a bailout but not Ford. Ford persevered and now is a success because of good planning, management and hard work and not through tax payer welfare and if the UAW dares strike this all-American company that pulled itself up by the bootstraps, not only shame on them but bye, bye UAW.

The union wants all its concessions back. It also wants the two (2) tiered pay system (older workers make their exorbitant wages but new workers come in at 50% less) into a one (1) tier again where all workers make the same as the old workers…DREAM ON.

The auto company plan is for the older workers to retire or take an early buyout so ALL workers will make the lower, more realistic wage that will keep the auto companies competitive in the global market…get it?

The auto companies want to pay their workers bonuses when the company does well whereas the union does not care to only get bonuses when the company does well (capitalism), they want steady raises no matter what financial shape the company is in (communism). And the union does not want merit based pay raises (for doing a good job), they want raises based on seniority (bad worker but been doing a bad job for a long time and so deserves a raise?).

The UAW cannot demand the same old benefits that brought the industry down in the first place and Ford cannot allow itself to bend to those union demands which will eradicate all the progress the company has attained so far.

This summer will be a huge historic moment for the UAW and the auto companies and the outcome will decide the future history of the auto industry, at least, the US auto industry here in Detroit.

There is no Wisconsin legislature to attack this time, this is a private union and their only weapon is a strike but they must remember that private unionized workers like the UAW are only 6% of the American working force today and sliding fast and all the non-unionized workers in America are getting more and more sick and tired of union cry-babies; grow up and face reality.

Related articles

• Report: UAW boss calls Mulally's salary "morally wrong" (autoblog.com)
• UAW Gears Up For Contract Talks With Detroit's Big-3 (wnyc.org)
• "UAW Head Bob King Slams Ford CEOs $56.5 Million Compensation" and related posts (autoguide.com)
• UAW chief says Ford CEO's pay excessive (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

UNIONS: Plymouth Firefighter's union at it again...

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Some time ago, I talked about the firefighters in Plymouth Township, Michigan and how, because of the dwindling resources of the township due to lower property taxes and lower or absent grants from the state and especially the one $1 million loss from the town of Plymouth which shared the fire department with the township, the town trustees tried to work with the firefighters to reduce costs.

When the firefighters union did not want to talk about any reductions, the trustees proposed a number of plans and one of them was to eliminate the fire department and use the services of the nearby community; Northville.

Faced with loosing their jobs, the firefighter’s union took out a full page ad in the local paper warning the residence of dire consequences if the fire department is eliminated. They urged the townsfolk to gather at the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees meeting.

Their intent was quite obvious, pull a Wisconsin on the trustees; make a lot of noise hollering and threatening to fire all the trustees and force the trustees to rescind their plan to eliminate the fire department.

That is exactly what these public unions do well, they don’t compromise but they inflame the locals with bullshit statements and their bullshit did the job and brought in a bunch of people to the meeting.

Obviously, this firefighter’s union does not understand what - WE DON’T HAVE THE FUCKING MONEY TO PAY FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT ANYMORE means.

As I mentioned before, these public unions want and expect the trustees to raise property taxes or raise other taxes to get the money to keep them in their jobs…fuck you!

The trustees need to do what they know they have to do and that is eliminate the department and sign a contract with the Northville fire department to pay them per fire run and contract with the ambulance service and pay them a per run rate.

That way the citizens will be served and protected, just like they always have been, without supporting a greedy-ass union.

Related articles

• UNIONS: Do not wish to face reality... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)

FAMILY: Nieces and nephews getting old(er)...

Our family has been growing quite nicely through the years but I like to celebrate where it started for me and my sisters; with our kids. My nieces and nephews are in their 30s and 40s now…boy how time flies.

Yesterday, we took time to celebrate my nephew Adam’s 35th birthday at Mr. Gs on Warren, East of Middlebelt. It was the type of bar I remember going to quite often when I was younger; drinks, pizza and dancing.

A great time was had by one and all.

MICHIGAN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL: Its all about politics and not the law...

There was an article in the paper recently that caught my eye but just briefly and I moved on until reading a column by Brian Dickerson in the Friday Free Press (3/18).

The original news item was about Michigan’s Attorney General Bill Schuette. I usually don’t like attorney generals because they are above all, politicians first and attorney generals second or at all.

It appears that a graduate student in counseling at Eastern University (close by) was suing the school because when she refused to counsel gay students, the school told her to find another course or another school. The student claimed her religious beliefs precluded her from ministering to gays.

I find this subject interesting because I actually know a councilor who received her degree from a religious school who also does not council gays among others she finds distasteful. I find this not only very hypocritical with regards to the Christian faith but I also find it quite unprofessional if you do call yourself a professional.

I find the same problem with pharmacists who will not honor doctor’s prescriptions for the morning after pill or any other medication that they think conflicts with their Christian faith. To me you are a pharmacist first and foremost and obligated to do your duty to dispense medications when asked to by a physician; if you don’t want to, get the hell out of that job.

To me the case was simple; a school has a curriculum and a set of requirements for graduation. If you can’t complete the requirements, you do not get a degree. The student’s case rests on her religious liberty which to me has nothing to do with the school’s requirements that are applied to everyone.

Bill Schuette’s name come up in Brian Dickerson’s article because he (as Michigan’s attorney general) files a friend of the court brief with the U.S. 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Normally this is never done by a sitting attorney general but as Dickerson puts it, it is all done in the name of politics as I have maintained throughout. Schuette doesn’t give a shit about the student’s religious liberty, he just wants to be viewed as a man who religious Republican hardliners can count on.

Our last attorney general ran for governor and this one will also, just watch and see.

Related articles

• Michigan AG Bill Schuette Won't Let Devout Students Get Kicked Out For Thinking Gays Are Immoral (queerty.com)
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• Attorney General supports outsed EMU student (pinkbananaworld.com)

PUBLIC UNIONS: Example how union / politician deal works...

I know many of you do not share my view of unions and especially public unions but I believe that is true because of a lack of information and maybe examples, which I will provide.

I mentioned before that many politicians elected with union money, give unions what they want as a payback for getting elected.

Now the payback is made with our (taxpayer) money and obviously not with the politician’s money. Usually, these paybacks are not made too public and are done without us being the wiser.

That was then and now is now. We are now painfully aware, with money so darn tight, just how this union / politician arrangement works.

Republican Carlos Alvarez was mayor of Miami – Dade.  Re-elected in 2008, he was re-called recently by voters for…

Well, Mayor Alvarez increased the pay for public union employees and also unfroze some benefits for the public union employees.

And how was he going to pay for his largesse? Well, he raised property taxes for 2/5ths of county homeowners by 13%.

Do you now see how this works?

The voters said bye-bye and threw his ass out on the street.

We need to start paying attention to where our tax dollars are heading, who is getting them and do they deserve to get them.

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• Miami Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez Recalled (abcnews.go.com)
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LIBYA: French jets first over Libya...

The United Nations sure took its sweet time in coming up with a plan to protest the people of Libya from their nutcase dictator Khadafy. In fact it may be a little too late since his forces have nearly eliminated the rebels as a threat.

I must admit that I was surprised to see that the French had planes over Libya almost immediately. The French president Sarkozy seems to be a man of action, dispatching French Mirage fighters to patrol the skies.

It appears that other nations are also willing to put up some military assets in the effort; I just hope this is coordinated well so they don’t shoot each other’s planes down.

As I mentioned before, just establishing a no-fly zone over Libya will not deter the tanks and artillery from moving forward and decimating the rebels. No we need a plane like the WART HOG (my favorite military plane) A-10. It would make mince meat out of the tanks and artillery.

Do I get exited when it comes to battle…well I think all guys do but really I am a peace lover unless someone needs an ass whooping like Khadafy.

Related articles

• LIBYA: What to do now... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)
• French President Nicolas Sarkozy Takes Action Against Libya (alan.com)
• French jets open fire on Libyan military vehicle (vatopaidi.wordpress.com)
• French planes enter Libya to enforce no-fly zone (guardian.co.uk)
• French jets sweep over Libya (thestar.com)
• Benghazi under assault from Khadafy's planes (sfgate.com)

UNIONS: Gangster Empires...

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I just heard that public unions in Wisconsin (Police, Firefighters, etc.) are sending businesses letters in which the unions say you are either for us or against us and you need to show your support publicly or we will boycott your business.

I have always maintained that union power has come through intimidation and coercion; if they don’t get what they want they will strike your business and make sure that you are damaged into submission.

Unions will tell you that the only weapon they have to compel businesses to agree to their demands is the threat of financial damage or even ruin; they would be willing to kill the company and their jobs to prove a point?

I remember when I used to get phone calls from either the police department or fire department asking me to donate to their fund (which does what?). I always equated that type of phone call as an implied threat if you don’t cough up some bucks like we will let your house burn or will not show up if you call 911. Obviously that is not absolutely true but the implied threat is real if you perceive it to be real and that is why I always tell them that I do not appreciate those kind of phone calls and will NOT donate ever so get me off the call list and onto the “do not respond if called” list.

For public unions, especially those involved in public safety, to threaten people and businesses if they don’t support their demands is not only unconscionable but should be made a crime.

In fact, I hope everyone sees why public unions were illegal for so many years and why they should be made illegal again. The unions have turned into gangster empires and we need Eliot Ness to take them out again.

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• PUBLIC UNIONS: The difference from private sector unions... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)
• Wolf Packs: Wisconsin's Public-Sector Unions Turn Into Neighborhood Thugs (redstate.com)
• JAMES TARANTO ON PUBLIC-EMPLOYEE UNION THUGGERY: In the letter to Wisconsin businessmen, however,... (pajamasmedia.com)
• UNION SUPPORTERS TO ANN ALTHOUSE: "WE WILL FUCK YOU UP." This is why public employee unions should... (pajamasmedia.com)
• Wisconsin Police & Firefighter Unions Try Their Hand At Protection Racket (minx.cc)
• Union Thugs Assault Petition Circulators (theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com)
• Wisconsin Republicans Know They Have A Fight On Their Hands With Recall Efforts (dekerivers.wordpress.com)
• "Union Thugs Rip Up Recall Petitions Against Wisconsin Democrats" and related posts (holycoast.blogspot.com)
• Bad Work - If You Can Get It (gadabout-blogalot.com)

JAPAN: People there and people here...

We all have been watching the earthquake / tsunami disaster in Japan and now the developing potential for a nuclear disaster.

I am very impressed by how the Japanese people are conducting themselves in the face of such unprecedented tragedy. People wait in line peacefully for hours waiting their turn for food and water, they help one another at every turn, they improvise and they share meager resources and THERE IS NO LOOTING which is unbelievable to me.

I have also been watching the reactions here in the States to what is happening there.

Diane Sawyer, ABC News anchor and her entire crew are in Japan acting like childish idiots, going into damaged homes to discover bodies? - Or interrupting rescue efforts by asking moronic questions just to get their ratings up? That is not news to me, it is exploitation. I switched to NBC and Brian Williams who remains an anchor here in the States and directs his correspondents in Japan. His voice is calm, serious and sober…he is reporting the news as it should be reported, giving us facts and not an emotional circus show.

Glen Beck said God had something in mind for Japan, what? Is he pulling a Pat Robertson?

The nuclear reactor problems in Japan have got people getting a little bit crazy over here; Senator Lieberman calling for a freeze on new nuclear reactors in the U.S…why? People in California are buying out all available supplies of Potassium iodide just in case the radiation in Japan will drift across the Pacific into California.

At least most of the media outlets have specialists reporting that even in the worst case scenarios, we will not face radioactive fallout but people will be people and even people that should know better are behaving like little children…please stop already.

Japan is the most prepared nation when it comes to earthquakes; they get them quite often. They suffered a 9.0 quake which is the largest in their history. They also suffered a tsunami right after the quake, of unprecedented proportion. Their nuclear reactors were prepared for all sorts of events with many back-up systems in place but Mother Nature gave them something that even their computers did not predict or plan for (a lesson for the future?).

Congressmen are getting media time by questioning the sanity of nuclear reactors in this country in light of the Japanese debacle (shut them all down?) They know Obama is for nuclear power so maybe it’s a political move?

But people, we must stop and think about how safe our systems have been for over 40 years and how we are not positioned geographically like Japan is…except for California kind of.

They say that in the greatest calamities, people find opportunities. Who said that…we will see how this plays out?

Related articles

• Japan Tries To Cool Damaged Nuclear Reactors (npr.org)
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• Google Earth & GeoEye give an image of overheating nuclear reactors in Japan: Radiation still a major worry (devicemag.com)
• Indonesia still plans nuclear reactors near fault (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Nuclear Snow on Tap for Japan? (blippitt.com)

MICHIGAN: Another day of protest...

Today, once again there were protesters in Lansing protesting what? – I guess a little of everything but mostly Governor Snyder’s budget.

Michael Moore, the filmmaker and socialist, organized some of the protests by providing buses to the capitol. I also noticed Bob King, president of the UAW there shouting his usual stuff about workers needing to take the reigns of power away from the filthy rich bastards…pure communism.

The news media was of course there trying to make the protest into more than it actually was. It appeared, to me at least, that most of the people there were rather young and probably college kids that were looking for some excitement. They looked somewhat confused as to what they were actually protesting but they wanted to play the game anyway and maybe get on the news too!

The capitol police just stood by and watched and then at closing time started to herd the protesters out the door. Some of them did not want to leave, why? - But no arrests were made and no heads were dented so all’s well that ends well.

Snyder, who was in an adjacent building signing the measures the protesters were protesting remarked how the protesters defiled the “people’s house” but I will have to make sure I have the quote right.

I am buoyed by the fact that more and more, sober thinking people are coming out to support the governor saying how can you expect the state to change its course and get out of its economic doldrums if you are not willing to change anything…duh?

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MICHIGAN: Pension tax protest in Lansing today...so?

Watching the local news today, I saw the seniors protesting Snyder’s tax on pensions. Some old lady got on her Facebook page and got all these seniors to come and protest.

My wife asked me…what do you want to say to these people…

I said that these pensioners are very lucky that Michigan has been so generous to them for all these years (never had a tax on pensions) because other states DO tax pensions.

Today, Michigan can no longer afford to be so generous and has to join all the other states that TAX pensions and have for years.

The pension tax will only apply to pensions over $45,000 and don’t forget that your Social Security Retirement payments will NOT be taxed.

These pensioners did not earn their pensions; their unions negotiated or went on strike to get them.

It is about time pensioners started paying something towards all the services they use that are currently being funded by other taxpayers like me.

Just because your’ retired does not mean you get a free ride on someone else’s dime especially when you are dragging in an income higher than most people’s.

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• MICHIGAN: Taxing pensions is fiscal reality... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)
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• MICHIGAN: Tax those pensions... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)
• Angry protesters rally against Snyder's tax plans - Forbes (news.google.com)
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• Angry Retirees Converge On Lansing To Protest Budget Plan (businessinsider.com)

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE 2012: Michele Backmann?

There is a new Sarah Palin in the race for the presidency in 2012 and her name is MICHELE BACKMANN. I am sure you will be hearing a lot more about her in the coming months.

She is a Republican Representative from Minnesota and has been hard at work getting her name out to the media.

I ran into her name when I noticed in a speech she was giving in New Hampshire that she mentioned that the state was famous for having fired “the shot heard around the world”. That is a reference to the start of the American Revolutionary War and the shot was fired in Massachusetts. So right off the bat we know she is as well versed in American history as Palin is.

In the little time I have had to research her I can state unequivocally that she is a worst nut case than Palin if that is even possible.

It will make for an interesting GOP campaign to pick a presidential candidate for 2012…the more nut cases the merrier.

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CATARACT SURGERY: Nearly a breeze...

Just back from cataract surgery post-op; unfortunately my genetic makeup included cataracts (my mother’s genes) and this was my second one.

This was done in the new West Bloomfield Henry Ford Hospital which we just love over the Henry Ford Hospital in Downtown Detroit which is usually packed to the rafters and is an old, old structure.

I guess medicine does progress somewhat and this cataract surgery was way different from my first cataract surgery a few years back. The last surgery I don’t remember at all, I guess they just put me under and did what they needed to do.

For this one, I was kept fully awake with only a mild something-something to keep me happy and calm. They explained, cause I asked, that they don’t totally sedate you because it takes too long to recover and they want you in and out as fast as possible…good business sense.

To help speed things along you also keep your pants and shoes on (they give you shoe booties to put over your shoes) and a top so when you get out you just put your shirt on and you are ready to go.

The surgery itself was kind of weird since you are wide awake (eye is numb though). You can see some lights going on in your eye which makes you feel like you are watching some psychedelic movie on LSD.

Another new thing is a clear, protective shield on the eye and not the tons of bandages on the eye. With the clear shield you can kinda see right away.

Anyway, all is well that ends well and if not for the fact that I have to put three separate medications in the eye three times a day for two weeks, it would have been a total breeze.

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MICHIGAN: Snyder's Business Tax Cut Questioned...

Even though I support Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in his plan to fix Michigan’s ailing economy, I do have some reservations about his cuts in business taxes.

There is no question that Michigan’s business tax structure is complicated to the extent that it scares new businesses from locating in the state (that and unionism) and he has promised to simplify the tax structure by instituting a single tax on revenues of “C” corporations of 6%.

In doing this, Snyder will suffer a 1.8 Billion shortfall from business taxes which he plans to make up by cutting exemptions and spending. He has been told by business leaders that this business tax cut would help businesses hire more workers and reduce the unemployment figure in the state.

I don’t totally buy that.

Of course businesses will say anything to get a tax cut but will a tax cut encourage them to hire more workers…usually only larger sales and therefore a need for more production workers will.

You may then argue that the tax cut could give businesses the extra money to hire more salesmen or do more marketing which will in turn, bring in more sales and therefore a need for more production workers?

If you look at the economy from the “demand side” which means people buying more will spur businesses to make more and thus hire more and thus improve the economy, you may say that the more money in people’s pockets, the better for business.

But if you look at things from a “supply side” point of view you may buy into what I said about businesses having more money to spend on sales/marketing will spur more buying. BUT if the consumer does not have the money to buy than all the marketing in the world will not get them to buy unless credit is available but in this day and age, many consumers are scared about taking on more credit.

I guess we can go round and round in this debate but getting back to Snyder’s business cut, he will be financing the 1.8 Billion shortfall from lower business taxes by taxing pensions, cutting money to education, cutting exemptions…all actions that will, in one way or another, mean less money in people’s pockets and therefore less money to buy stuff with.

In my case (medical laboratory sales), the more people employed, the more people with health insurance, the more people seeing their doctor, the more sales for me so higher employment is good for my U.S. business and could get me to hire more workers.

If Snyder’s budget plan goes through and is enacted in 2012 and unemployment falls dramatically some time after that, his plan worked. If not, back to the drawing board.

I do believe that cutting waste and unnecessary and unjustified spending can only help the state deal with the really important expenditures it needs to make.

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LIBYA: What to do now...

With the world’s attention now focused on Japan and the earthquake/Tsunami disaster there, the crisis in Libya has lost some of its exposure in the media but it has not gone away.

In fact, Moammar Khadafy and his armed supporters (army and air force) are making headway against the rebels who initially made some gains but now are being out-gunned.

What should we do?

The usual hawks (same as the ones that wanted us to invade Iraq and what a great move that was) are at it again urging President Obama to take immediate military action…and do what?

Khadafy is a nut case but is a nut case with money which he will give to his supporters who will also get lucrative jobs and government positions unlike if the rebels win and go after the privileged Khadafy supporters.

So we have a civil war going on…right?

The Arab League of Nations has just asked the United Nations to intervene…and do what?

Libya is in northern Africa and there is an African League of Nations…should they do something?

Why is it always up to the U.S.?

How about Europe? They have a strong military; why don’t they intervene?

The Libyan rebels are asking for a no-fly zone to be established and with that they can win (they claim) but no foreign troops on our land. A no-fly zone over Libya would prevent Khadafy from using his planes and helicopters to bomb the rebels. He still has artillery which could do a lot of damage to the rebel positions.

To establish a no-fly zone, the air force would have to destroy all anti-aircraft batteries, missiles, etc.; Libya would have to be bombed. After that, surveillance of the air space above Libya would have to be 24/7 and any attempt by Khadafy to launch an air attack would have to be quashed by superior air power. With a no-fly zone, the rebels feel they would have a level fighting field.

What if Khadafy wins? He has been in power for 40 years. Many rebels will die and things will eventually get back to normal but remember Khadafy is nuts and he will remember those who opposed him and will try to create some mischief; but what about the people?

So we are talking about the humanitarian aspect of this or are we talking about freedom(s) or the right thing to do and all that? Are we talking about changing the Arab world into a progressive world with a chance at prosperity for the masses? Well then, it would help matters if the rebels won and Khadafy go into exile with all his supporters.

That decision should not be made by the U.S. alone…the world needs to start taking a role in this…that is why the United Nations is called the United Nations…do something!

Related articles

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• Prepare for no-fly zone, says Kerry (boston.com)
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• Rebels consider seeking help against Khadafy - Boston Globe (news.google.com)

FACEBOOK: Cause of divorce?

Recently my wife said that she has heard that FACEBOOK is responsible for 1 out of 5 divorces. She added that young married couples (we know one) are swearing off Facebook to preserve their marriages.

I said really? - If their marriages are that weak or if they are themselves THAT weak, than the marriage is doomed already, even without Facebook.

I didn’t think about it anymore until I ran into an article in the Wall Street Journal that addressed the issue. The article was titled “Irreconcilable Claim: Facebook Causes 1 in 5 Divorces” by Carl Bialik, The Numbers Guy, March 12, 2011.

Bialik states that there is very little data on the causes of divorce but statistics do show that marriage and divorce rates have dropped as internet usage has risen.

As to the “rumor” that Facebook is responsible for 1 out of 5 divorces; it can be traced to an on-line divorce service provider (Divorce-on-Line). The owner of the site noticed that the word “Facebook” appeared in 989 of the company’s 5,000 divorce petitions so he issued a news release stating that “Facebook is bad for your marriage”.

Later, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, announced that their members have seen an “increase” in cases that used “evidence” from social-networking. Given the phenomenal growth of Facebook, it makes perfect sense.

Bialik then points to a media relations type guy at Loyola University who in promoting a psychologist’s expertise on relationships and social media at Loyola, inadvertently repeated the 1 in 5 rumor he found online. When he realized that this was just a rumor and unsubstantiated, he tried to alert all that received his erroneous press release but alas, the word was sent out into the world and could not be brought back.

Goes to show you that the internet is fast and in some cases can start rumors or propagate untruths…use common sense.

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