Archive for September, 2010

Of Sweet Spots and Parasites

September 20, 2010

It’s a tough time to be somebody who likes things to make sense. I like to draw parallels between human organizations and the natural order of things. Like this story: http://tinyurl.com/23ahbwj . It seems Fort Worth, TX, is nearing insolvency because of pensions stemming from public servants and their union-negotiated pensions. I think to myself, I like to see cops and firemen getting their fair cut for a job well done, but there comes a point where the size of the pension (and lump sums!) and the length of time it is paid beggars the city. At that point, the line between symbiont and parasite has been crossed. The same thing can bee seen with respect to the car companies and their unions. The companies go under to the point of being bailed out but the unions remain, the parasite emerging triumphant, looking for more prey. (See Eastern Airlines).

I have a theory of the Sweet Spot that I need to do more research on. There’s a point where they get enough pay and the city survives, but the unions keep demanding more and more until parasite level is achieved. At that point we are out of the Sweet Spot. And that ain’t right.