[SEMI-PRIVATE] Eutopian Business Association

[Estonianzulu]

Purpose: The EBA has three goals.

1. The establishment of a business forum. This will allow business to cordinate, conference and discuss issues and events that are important and impactfull to them. Business and Industry leaders, labour representatives and others will have a place to come and coordinate efforts to help Eutopian industry, business and labour.

2. The establishment of a business and industry interest group. Currently, the Eutopian government has no real contact with industry and business, and industry and business are disunited groups with common goals. The EBA will give them unity, and a unified voice.

3. A self-policing organization. Member businesses can enforce fair business practices, without needing to waste taxpayer money. When a business takes on unsavoury practices, the EBA, and its member businessess can put pressure on reform before anything serious occurs.

~~

Current Chair: Barak Mofaz

Current Members: B. M. I. Corp

 

[unmerged(10397)]

It seems this organization is off to a slow start. However, given recent events, notably the reorganizing of the Congress of Labor, I believe this association must have life forced into it.

Thus, I apply for membership as head of the O'Floinn Family Corporate Alliance (OFCA) which is a partnership of the scattered businesses owned by my family.

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

Lundgren Corp would like to join this organization and also desires to see comment by the chair on the recent 4-hour workday proposed by The Worker and the ECL.

Perhaps need leadership may be needed to put someone in place better able and more energetic in combating such radical ideas as a 4 hour workday.

 

[Sterkarm]

I'd like to help out with the cause and the fight against the 4-hour workday, but unfortunately I own no business at the moment. Is there any way I could still fight the good fight for freedom?

 

[unmerged(36605)]

As owner of the Beatnik Turtle and Secretary of the ECL, I would like to join the EBA. Naturally, being a member of the ESA and ECL, I support my colleague Cornelius Dank.

I think what has alarmed many businesses and corporate culture is the idea of it being introduced as legislation in the GA. Within the ESA we've begun discussing this issue, and though we've not yet reached a conclusion, I expect the proposition will be reduced to a 6 hour day. Still, I believe the 4 hour day will probably be something fought for outside the GA by the ECL.

I believe this to be a very important issue. Leisure time is too often trivialized, but everyone deserves to have the time to enjoy their lives. A six hour day would be more than reasonable in my opinion. Cereal giant Kellogs in Michigan had a 6 hour day for 50 years, and they were hardly run into the ground by it.

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

I think what has alarmed many businesses and corporate culture is the idea of it being introduced as legislation in the GA.

What has alarmed many business and people and the "corporate culture" is that the idea is a totaly crazy, radical off the wall peice of communist propoganda. Its obsurd and a waste of time to discuss such a pointless plan. Why not pass legislation saying no one has to work and everyone gets loads of free stuff? Wouldnt everyone be happy then?

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

Perhaps new elections need to take place for a new chairperson?

 

[unmerged(10397)]

Yes, per Mofaz has been away too long.

I'd like to propose myself as Chairman, unless there is some great objection.

Also, Kazmierz, I see no reason why you couldn't join this organization as a 'supporter' even though you are not a business owner yourself. I appreciate your interest.

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

No objections, and i will make it officialy official. I would like to call for elections and Nominate John O'Floinn for the position of Chairman.

 

[unmerged(23409)]

I (Gonzov Inc.) would like to join.

A four hour work day would be unreasonable, but I do support it in principle.

 

[Estonianzulu]

A note from the office of Barak Mofaz:

I completely support the choice of John O'Floinn as new Chariman. I do appologize for my abscence, but things out of my control took over and I was forced to take a step back from the public. I do hope Per O'Floinn can get this organization moving, he and I discussed it just after its creation. I do believe he has some good ideas and plans on how to better run this organization.

Again, my appologies,

Barak Mofaz.

 

[unmerged(37832)]

I'd like to join the EBA as a labour leader and owner of the Hammer and Sickle.

 

[unmerged(37832)]

I nominate Gonzov for chairman.

 

[Sterkarm]

I totally and fully support Mr. O'Floinn for chairman.

I refuse, under any circumstances, to do anything less than my best to work against a 4-hour work day. It would mean the downfall of the entire Eutopian economy, and all that people like Mr. O'Floinn have worked for throughout their lives. An entire workforce working only 4 hours a day is practically economic suicide. And you, Dank, expect business owners to pay the workers the same amount and ALSO pay other workers the same as well! It is NOT feasible, especially with our already struggling economy. In the end it benefits only the lethargic, the foolish, and the bottomfeeders of society who do nothing but leech off of the good, hard-working Eutopian citizen. I reject the 4-hour workday completely, and I do not like the idea of a 6-hour workday.

 

[unmerged(37832)]

...the bottomfeeders of society who do nothing but leech off of the good, hard-working Eutopian citizen.

Is this the message that the CUE wishes to send to unemployed Eutopians? I assure you that when a company decides it needs to cut costs and lays off 100 workers, it is not because of any laziness on the part of the worker, it is because of the avarice and greed of the employer. And I hardly consider the bosses that grow rich off of the industry of the worker good hard working Eutopian citizens.

But, this debate isn't the purpose of the EBA. The purpose of it is for constructive discussion between business and labor. Which begs the question: what the hell are you doing here? You don't represent anything other than the CUE. I protest your membership in the EBA, I don't think being a capitalist groupie qualifies you.

 

[unmerged(10397)]

Given that there are seven members, and I have four votes, I shall now begin my time as Chairman, unless anyone present can come up with a reasonable objection.

Thank you to those of you who supported me, to those who didn't, rest assured I understand and hold no ill-will towards you.

Anyway, on to business.

The most pressing issue at the moment is the proposal to create a four hour work day. I would like to open the floor for discussion on the issue, and then hold a vote to determine the association's official position on the issue.

 

[unmerged(37832)]

In case it wasn't clear, ESA discussion has caused me to pursue the 6 hour day instead. This is more than reasonable. The fight for shorter hours is most important for a very simple reason: our time is our life. We are compelled to rent a major portion of our waking hours to the bosses for their purposes in order to buy back the things we produce and need so that we can live our lives (and have a little fun). The time we spend at work is not our own, and far too much of it is squandered on useless production, the support of parasites (bosses, supervisors, investment bankers, marketers and the like), the construction of the means of our annihilation, and so forth.

 

[Sterkarm]

Then don't work, go join a hippy commune and see if you can survive like that! It's your choice whether or not to work, just because you're lazy doesn't mean every Eutopian is! Start your own business and regulate how much time your workers spend under your watch. We should not force private businesses to compromise themselves to such extremes. Again, if you want to make a 4 or 6 hour workday, destroy a business of your own, don't bring the Eutopian economy down with you.

 

[unmerged(37832)]

There are many unions that have succeeded in gaining a 6 hour work day. You have yet to provide any proof that a 6 hour work day will drive the economy into the ground.

Start your own business and regulate how much time your workers spend under your watch.

That would be called Mutualism. I actually have done this, all the ECL run businesses are set up like this, and while not growing into major corporations, they make profits enough to not simply exist by the good graces of the ECL. But this hardly benefits society as a whole. It is the workers who create the wealth of society, not the capitalists, who merely profit from their labour.

 

[Sterkarm]

Without capitalists, we would not have the foundation for our economy or many businesses. When has a worker started a business and not become a capitalist? When has a worker given others a job, yet stayed a worker? Examples of such things are rare to nonexistent. Capitalists are not the disease of society, rather they are the builders of the foundation upon which our society is built. Both workers and capitalists are crucial to our society, and we should not punish either part of the equation.