I saw a fascinating WSJ article on Boeing recently, that relates to this.
During the pandemic Boeing wanted to downsize, so being run by Excel-brains, they did a lot of it via early retirements. They got rid of a large portion of their most skilled labor without realizing 1/
that this would be a problem. I mean, labor is labor, the young ones are cheaper, so why not get rid of as many of the expensive old ones as possible?
It took them years to figure out what they had done - since the MBAs didn't understand how Boeing actually built its planes.
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They finally understand that they can't build planes because they got rid of too much skilled labor, while the new hires weren't good enough.
So, as part of their attempted quality cures, they are extending training times,
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and trying to use the older skilled labor they still have as mentors to train the new hires.
Of course, there is a lot more difference between the old and new hires than just experience, but the article didn't go into that.
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I suppose the other explanation is the oldest and most skilled labor were overwhelming white and male, and the younger ones were less so, so getting rid of the skilled labor allowed DEI goals to be achieved.
It was likely both, MBAs reducing expenses while hitting DEI goals.
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Call me a "deranged fantasist" but there are 3 important qualifications here.
1. There will be no widespread conflict so long as the US dollar maintains reserve status, we're all too fat & happy. As discussed in the thread from 2 years ago below, 1/ x.com/SaysSimulation…x.com/curtis_yarvin/…
a major plunge in the national standard of living will set off an existential conflict of sorts on an economic & regional basis. The Dems relying on the redistribution of wealth will not settle for materially less, and a forced reduction in producer wealth leading to poverty
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will also not be tolerated.
2. Curtis correctly describes the world in which he lives. Major metro urbanites are entirely incapable of revolution. Us yokels in flyover country are a distinctly different culture imo, even though we're all on the net together.
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My most serious disagreement with Trump has to do with heritage Americans, STEM, and the knife he's putting into the heart of young Americans working in STEM - including my children. He's flipped from his base to taking directions from Silicon Valley, to screw us all over.
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American power was built on becoming the world's leading industrial & technological, and that was all based on STEM. Engineers, scientists & technologists built this nation & the modern world - not financiers, or real estate developers, or marketers, or lawyers.
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Heritage Americans were the people who did this, and we were (and are) the best in the world at it.
However, STEM education & employment in the US have been under assault for decades now, and it has gotten much worse in the last 10+ years.
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MAGA had a good run for 10 years. It's replacement by the America First movement is a very healthy sign.
What we're seeing in action is what was described in the thread below from 2.5 years ago - the Overton Window is being dragged Right. 1/ x.com/SaysSimulation…x.com/SaysSimulation…
Trump did many good things over the years, and I appreciate that. He still needs our support in a number of areas including ICE, deportations & working to end DEI.
But, we're finding out that for Trump, America is a propositional nation, and heritage Americans are unimportant
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Trump appears to be fine with flooding America with Chinese & Indian nationals, to take the jobs that will now not be going to us or our children. Indeed, he views it as his prerogative as head of the US & MAGA to strike those deals with the leaders of China & India.
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We have a foundational split growing in the Repub party. Good!
I have two smart kids who are pursuing STEM degrees. Any "RW" politician who is fine with their being unemployed while jobs are given to Indians or Chinese is dead to me. That includes Trump. 1/
The Great Replacement comes to a halt, or it does not.
Many Repub politicians seem to fine with it, they just want to slow down the pace a little bit. Flood the nation with "legal" immigrants being given the best jobs, replace the population.
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They have no problem with young heritage Americans being unemployed or perpetually underemployed.
Screw that. That sort of RW politician will get zero support from me. And if they end up on the scaffolds as the Left consolidates control, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest
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Yes. Owning a single family detached home on a lot with a used car was the highest standard of living for the working class that had been achieved in the world, and tens of millions lived that life.
If the jobs hadn't been exported, and the migrants brought in, Millennials & 1/
Gen Z could be living the Boomer life today, which was even better.
I somewhat get the hatred of Boomers, but the Boomers didn't set that process in motion. The "Greatest Generation" elites did it in the 1960s - 1980s, with Hart Cellar & the early stages of globalization.
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If we had a hundred million less people, and the high paying factory jobs had never left, the current situation would be entirely different.
But, there's no talking to some people, the irrationl hatred for their parents & grandparents is so firmly established.
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Trump is making a major strategic error. He's riding high in terms of wielding tremendous power. But yet... his opponents still hold most of the power. The Deep State, the RINOs, the judges, the FBI/CIA, etc.