PLANET TO ENTITLED AMAZON BRATS: ‘GO BURN DOWN A RAIN FOREST’
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2020) — When did it happen?
When did the American workforce — that mighty arm of workers that tipped huge buckets of molten metal make steel, built cross-country roadways, reporting for work, putting in a hard day’s work for a fair wage — turn into a cadre of entitled complainers who expect the world conform to their fantasy of it? When did employees figure they could “be the boss?”
THE PLANET knows of which we speak. After resigning from a five-year career in daily newspapers, we set out on our own, moving back to The Berkshires in 1980, putting out our shingle in the old El-Glo Mall, what is now Crawford Square. We developed a single, windowless room into a company Shipton Building across the street) that employed nine full-time writers, an office manager, and dozens of free-lance writers, photographers, and graphic artists. In those 28 years, we learned the hard way — which is to say, the most effective way — about running a business and sound economics.
In the 1980s and 90s, our writers were making between $35,000 and $55,000 a year, plus 100% of their health insurance picked up by Yours Truly. We treated them well, and as long as they got the job done, invested in them the spirit of entrepreneurship. Do as you wish. Own it — just make sure you Do Your Job. From Literations then The Media Services Group, many of our employees branched out to form their own outfits, including Winstanley & Associates in Lenox and Allison, Hull, and Malnati of Pittsfield. In payroll and support of local businesses for lunches, meetings, and the like, THE PLANET contributed millions of dollars to both downtown Pittsfield and the local economy.
We learned about the hassles and challenges of keeping a group of disparate people happy. Office politics, petty jealousies, complaints — they were all part of the game. That said, our workers worked. Those that wanted to “run the company” were fired. Invariably, the disgruntled were also the ones who couldn’t cut it under pressure of deadlines, demanding clients, and our insistence on quality, each and every time. The whiners and gripers were always reminded that they were free to work someplace else for far less money and freedom. Fortunately, we didn’t have many of those.
Which brings us to the story of the disgruntled Amazon workers who think they should have a say in the company’s “climate stance.” Climate stance, as if Amazon is Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
Yes, Virginia, America has lost its collective minds, a derangement being led by the current “work ethic” of a generation in which everyone got a trophy, a ribbon, and a reward for participation or for trying. The are the geniuses who, if at age 2 they hadn’t written their first symphony, the parents would sign them up for music lessons.
Check out this article from CNBC:
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Tim Bray, a senior Amazon software engineer, has resigned from his role at the company after five years, citing “dismay” over Amazon’s decision to fire outspoken critics of its labor practices.
In a fiery blog post, titled “Bye, Amazon,” Bray said his last day at the company was May 1. Bray said he “snapped” after Amazon fired Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa, two former user experience designers who criticized Amazon’s climate stance and, most recently, its treatment of warehouse workers amid the coronavirus. Amazon has said it fired Costa and Cunningham for “repeatedly violating internal policies.”
“I quit in dismay at Amazon firing whistleblowers who were making noise about employees frightened of Covid-19,” Bray wrote in the blog post, adding that “remaining an Amazon VP would have meant, in effect, signing off on actions I despised. So I resigned.”
Bray and representatives from Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Before he resigned, Bray had shown support for an employee advocacy group, Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, which Cunningham and Costa were also a part of. He also signed onto an April letter to CEO Jeff Bezos and Amazon’s board of directors, which received more than 8,700 signatures, calling on the company to develop a comprehensive climate change plan.
In addition to Costa and Cunningham, Amazon has fired multiple warehouse employees who criticized the working conditions at its facilities during the pandemic. The company continues to face widespread criticism over its decision last month to fire Chris Smalls, a warehouse worker who organized a strike at its Staten Island facility. Smalls said he was fired for organizing the strike, but Amazon said it fired Smalls because he violated social distancing rules while he was supposed to be under quarantine after being exposed to a coworker who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Amazon warehouse workers across the country have called for the company to put in place greater safety protections, including closing down facilities where there are positive cases for additional cleaning. Warehouse workers have staged protests at facilities in Staten Island, Detroit and Illinois, and they participated in nationwide strikes held last week.
The workers’ calls have recently sparked a response from growing numbers of corporate Amazon employees. Earlier this month, Amazon employees participated in a “sick out” to show support for Costa and Cunningham, as well as warehouse workers. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice estimates that “well over 500 tech workers” participated in the sick out, the group previously told CNBC.
Amazon has previously said it has gone to “great lengths” to keep facilities clean and make sure employees are following necessary precautions, such as washing their hands, using hand sanitizer and practicing social distancing. It has also started taking employees’ temperatures when they report to work and has supplied them with face masks. In the company’s latest earnings report, Amazon said it would invest its expected $4 billion second-quarter profit in coronavirus-related efforts, such as purchasing additional safety gear for workers and building out its coronavirus testing capabilities, among other things.
Bray said he believes Amazon’s messaging around its efforts to keep workers safe, saying he has “heard detailed descriptions from people I trust of the intense work and huge investments.” However, he said he also believes the repeated outcries from warehouse workers, adding that the criticism of the conditions extends beyond its response to the coronavirus crisis.
“At the end of the day, the big problem isn’t the specifics of the Covid-19 response,” Bray said. “It’s that Amazon treats the humans in the warehouses as fungible units of pick-and-pack potential.”
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If I’m Bray’s manager at Amazon and he resigns, I say, “Thanks for the favor.”
These workers applied for a job at Amazon. No one forced them to do it. In doing so, they were offered a contract. They knew the terms going in. If they didn’t, then it’s on them for not asking for clarification. Amazon’s hiring practices are among the most articulate and complete pop any business. They spell out exactly the expectations, the benefits, the compensation — everything a worker needs to know to make an intelligent decision to accept a job offer or not.
As for COVID-19, Amazon leads the league in providing safety on the job. Let’s face it, however. Life is risk. No one — not individual, not company — can eliminate all chance. Going to work in the morning, it’s possible you get killed by a tire that falls from 30,000 off a jet airliner. It has happened. Yet these whining Amazon brats want the medal, don’t want to earn it, and expect the world around them conform in perfection to THEIR myopic selfishness. Climate is just the excuse the use to hide their immaturity. If it isn’t that, it’s some “ism” they wield as a fiery brand.
Some disgruntled millennials and Gen Z’s don’t like Amazon’s “climate stance?” Then do everyone a favor. Resign, as Bray did. There will be others eager to have a good job with a great company.
The they should go burn down a rain forest.
——————————————————————————-
“Our brains are conditioned, and we live in that condition” — Jiddu Krishnamurti.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information, hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer. Copyright (c) 2020 by Dan Valenti.
You never received a t I f Dan? That would be the story.
Temporary Living Facility? Transcontinental Licensing Formula? Transcendental Lotus Flower?
Employees demanding that their employer do as they demand is also similar to local politicians telling companies how to operate at least according to the CEO of Crane Stationery in North Adams. He is clashing with the mayor of North Adams and says the mayor seems to be trying to micromanage his company. The CEO claims that local government officials want to look at private company documents and are trying to run them out of town and overstepping their authority. Seems like a very tense situation. The Berkshire Eagle wrote an editorial yesterday telling both parties to calm down, but offered little in the way of investigative reporting on the situation.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/crane-stationery-got-marching-orders-on-reopening-ceo-claims-retaliation,603824
The April 26th Eagle says that they, like so many others, have taken advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program loan which is part of one of the stimulus programs. Much of that loan may be forgiven. Good for them. A good business move. But I wonder if they are also getting money from our Santa Claus mayor who is handing out taxpayer money to friendly business s. (and no business has been more friendly to this mayor than this newspaper) And this brings up the question once again, “Who are the recipients of the mayors largess and how many of them have also gotten Federal money?” Has she released that list yet and if not why not”????????
Has anyone even looked into whether this is legal for the mayor to pass out taxpayer money like this??? Seems dubious at best.
I have been following this too!
It is the property owners responsibility to make their employees work place safe and healthy. Employers can not ignore safety complaints.Amazon ran this by a team of lawyers before responding to pressure from one employee.The richest employer in the world can afford a healthy safe property.
You didn’t mention the president.
Your post should read “safe and healthy” AS POSSIBLE.
That’s the key phrase, CHUCK — “as possible.” It just isn’t an option to guarantee 100% safety for everyone, all the time. Amazon, as far as I can tell, made the workplace as safe “as reasonably possible.”
How “as possible” is Bezo”s office, compared to his serfs?
I even gave TSC a thumbs on this one!
Yes. Most Americans don’t take care of themselves. Most overwieght and I don’t mean just a few extra poounds. I can’t even find a date that isn’t overweight. The vast majority of women are fat. Many are obese. Men too but I don’t date men
I disagree with Dan Valenti’s argument that employees should defer to their employer. I think both should have an equal place at the table. Every voice should be heard and respected. I have held jobs over the years, as well as attended higher education, and whenever I spoke out about an issue or problem, I faced retribution. I was told to serve my employer whether it was right, wrong, or indifferent. I disagree with that philosophy that guarantees an employee “job security”. I am a human being, not a machine. I have a conscience. That is what separates good from evil in our otherwise cruel World. The irony of Dan Valenti’s essay is that he has complained that citizen and voter apathy plague Pittsfield politics. If someone speaks out about the issues and problems facing Pittsfield, Dan Valenti points out that they face retribution, including losing their job and being blacklisted. In closing, I hope we can all work together in unity for the common good.
Any great company has one thing in common,great leadership. When the workforce mandates to the ownership there’s a breakdown. And when themachine breaks down the team breaks down
I have mail and packages delivered every single day by unprotected deliverer.ups, fed ex,u s postal? Where their protection,more importantly where’s my family’s? Isn’t Amazon made to be safe by the federal government? That’s who should be the ones to make Amazoncomply to unsafe conditions. Not the employees
MAGA was invented for Corp power and the wealthy elite.They are the Deep state in America. Public education,union wages,built the middle class.Trump represents that deep state of power as they destroy everything in their path to keep power.Guess who is helpng the deep state destroy our country. Fox brain and Beck,Limbaugh Hannity are paid great sums of money to keep you voting for the secret America.
Ah the president is mentioned.
I believe there is a deep state but does not necessarily include Trump. We need term limits and that would solve many problems we face today in Washington.
The USS Roosevelt, an American aircraft carrier with thousands of sailors aboard, had a severe outbreak of the Coronavirus. The captain spoke up trying to protect his beloved crew and was summarily fired and embarrassed by a Trump flunky. So there is your federal government.
Johnny-again going to the point of Dan’s story. In the military, they have a rank structure. If the captain of the ship (a colonel) has a problem, he/she goes to his next in command. This would be more than likely a 1 or 2-star general. What you don’t do, especially in the military, is break the chain of command. The Captain of that ship was 100% wrong and deserved to get removed.
Again, he signed a contract to be part of the USN. Don’t like it, TOUGH!
Well it worked out well didn’t it? Put our biggest aircraft carrier out of commission. Not like aircraft carrier captions grow on trees ya know. It was a political hit job nothing more. The man acted like a true patriot trying to take care of his troops.
His troops love him. Trump doesn’t. I am sure he would do it again and so would most captains if they were being ignored trying the chain of command.
What about DOD POS Lt Cln Vindman, he did that did that (chain of command) to the POTUS? He got a pass from liberal media.
He should have been court marshaled, then sent to Leavenworth Ka for 20
I have some sympathy for a ship’s commander, with a sick crew. Still he should have went through proper chain of command. If his superiors were not responsive, they were derelict of duty, and face charges.
Is this knowledge from your distinguished military career?
Lt Col Vindman was in Vietnam while Trumps was getting his fifth deferment from the military. What is it about soldiers that bothers you so much? did one steal a girlfriend or something?
Vindman belongs in Leavnworth Ks , Johnny. Not collecting a military pension.
Jon,
How about when an employee voluntarily quits his job, then sues his former employer to get unemployment benefits?
That’s a good one Fritz.
As an employer, “Been there, done that, won that.” Of course, I had to have proof that the employee threatened coworkers, but this younger generation is dumb enough to provide evidence in texts and Facebook posts. I actually posted the letter from the state saying I won on the bulletin board for all to see.
Hello Mr. Fritz, when an employee voluntarily quits his job, then sues his former employer to get unemployment benefits, it depends on the circumstances. If he was discriminated against, then I agree with the employee. If not, then I would side with the employer.
According to the NH Supreme Court, the former employee’s request for unemployment benefits was denied.
Hello Mr. Fritz,You are correct. I lost my unemployment case. Thank you for pointing that out. I guess my former employer had a right to cut my part time job hours from 20 to 25 hours per week to a paltry 7 hours per week. The writing was on the wall. That was a long time ago now – over 13 years ago!
So why didn’t you look for another job, like most people do?
Well that troubled employee was hired probably knowing he she was trouble to begin with. Lucky to get the job in the first place.
IT…..happens…
An equal place at the table? Then the employees should bear the responsibility of the costs of opening, running, footing the bills etc. as long as they are employed..Repay the owners for start up costs equally also.
thank goodness JM only runs his TV remote on a disability…we are not all equal and will never be…and that is actually okay.
Dan,
Ever going to tackle Joe and Hunter, Urkarine and Chi-Coms?
And Hunter’s spawn from the stripper, Joe’s grandchild, the Kapinskis are paying for/raising?
I forgot
Quid pro JOE!!!!!
Just for Nancy, and the beady eyed SOB named Shiff
Thought for the day: if everyone would wear a red “Trump 2020” face covering – the virus would miraculously disappear overnight!
If Pelousey put a bag on her head, nausea would drop by 99%!
Silence on Joe and Hunter?
I think the Kapinskis need to know why Joe’s son, Hunter is a deadbeat Dad. Is Joe broke too? Like Hunter?
America needs to know about crooked Joe, and Hunter.
Then there is Kerry, Pelousey, et al who were crooks in Ukraine, all the while, 4 years blaming Trump.
This is going to be a train wreck for the Democrats. The DNC is happy, they can “select” a candidate, again like 2016.
Plant a “victory garden”, you might need it this winter
Dead Beat children…Don Sr.Don Jr. Eric and Ivanka
The engineers and the package people are in two different castes of employees. The engineers can get jobs almost anywhere for six figures. Maybe the warehouse workers can get replacement jobs at $15 an hour. I don’t understand the climate complaint but if the warehouses are full of sick people they ought to look into it. I don’t think being an employee supersedes your right to be in a safe environment.
The teachers and police unions are upset about Covid and the teachers refused to go back in the classroom. We might want to have equal rules. Maybe pay the essential workers more to compensate for risk.
Doesn’t Bezos own the Washington Post? I guess karma is a boomerang for him.
Will the teachers also refuse to go back to work in September while continuing to receive full pay? Should kids be set up for home schooling and we cut back on teachers? Use the enormous money paid to teachers and administrators and buy computers for every child so they can be home schooled on the computers. Teachers could teach kids on the computers, but would need to take a cut in pay since they are not physically teaching in the classroom. At least until things go back to normal because kids can’t be without education for a year or longer. It is great without the indoctrination though.
I don’t know. They are a powerful union. The school year is too short as it is. I feel Ike the schools try and do too much – they want to describe the schools as offering ‘enrichment’ but the basic reading and math – which doesn’t even require a computer – is not being done adequately. They should either change the testing standards or change something but if the better local schools can only achieve 60% of kids meeting the math or reading target with all the damn money being spent what is the point? American schools release dumb kids and those dumb kids go to MCLA and become dumb teachers. Let me correct that – dumb and entitled teachers.
I am generally on the side of the really low paid workers. Being low paid stinks and it doesn’t mean that they aren’t working hard. It might mean they already have a good work ethic to take the crummy job. It’s unfair or maybe just a market position that Amazon can continue to operate but local businesses can’t.
What is going on that only 60% of kids can achieve meeting math and reading requirements? Too much emphasis on courses that have nothing to do with learning, but are political? Learning can be difficult and repetitious. Are teachers trying to make learning too easy for themselves and the kids? Critical thinking isn’t being taught and the result is that young people can’t figure out how to think for themselves. They believe what is popular and never question the world around them and look at both sides of issues.
Amazon is delivering goods and that is OK just like it is for many other companies. Lots of local businesses require face to face contact, but if people are required to wear masks and still maintain distance, that should help keep down infection rates.
We have supply and demand.If everyoneone could write the talent would be worthless.If everyone could do numbers that to is worth zero.
Seriously? ‘Do numbers?’ WTF.
The funniest thing is the Washington Post is always pro teachers union but they don’t have to pay for them.
Let’s shut the schools! I am sure the kids will do just fine without the teachers for a year Or for forever! I doubt anyone will see a difference. Parents might even achieve more than the crummy overpaid teachers.
Having a degree is meaningful from a decent university but MCLA or BCC degrees just means you have a checkbook. They never fail anyone.
That was brilliant.
KERMIT
Valid point about engineers v. warehouse people. The engineers get more, however, because they went to college, worked hard, paid that price, and emerged with necessary and specialized knowledge. The warehouse people, for whatever reason, did not. Many COULD have bettered themselves and chose not to. Amazon offered a job, they accepted. Safety in the workplace is a valid concern, but it looks as if the company took very reasonable precaution. The thing that gets me is making the protest about Amazon’s “climate stance.” That has SQUAT to do with workplace safety.
I don’t get that either. That is grandstanding. I honestly doubt that came from the warehouse guys – the engineer probably put that in there. I think Blue collar working people want to work, will work more than one job to get enough money – but are scared of getting sick because then they will be flat out. People that want to work want to work.
Also, I don’t think degrees always equate work smarts. Especially in this country where many degrees are just evidence you are comfortable signing a check. I know loads of smart people with out degrees and lots of knuckleheads with degrees. But maybe I put a high value on common sense.
Re the schools – the little kids need routine and repetition and in my mind there is a mistake belief that you can get around that. In years the teachers are in school every day from June 1 is another field trip or day of not learning. I don’t think it’s bad to celebrate the end of the year but I have heard parents say they need to take vacation days as there are so many trips at the end of the year. If you can’t do the basics do less seems a safe way to proceed.
Dan, what have you EVER done for hard work in your life? Something? Anything?
.
I worked hard in school, that is books. My mind went to teach college.
Ever got your hands dirty? I worked at farm $2/hour, sold cordwood at $25/cord, worked in a sawmill to pay for school. Sawmill was hardest work besides the farm. .
You?
Seriously? You taught college? From your posts I might have guessed you hunted alligators in the Louisiana bayous and then made a TV show about it.
I’m stiLL laughing. Its almost as bad as the freaky guy on pctv morning show, saying he was all over the world,maybe so, but there is probably a reason for that.
Better Colleges and Universities , that would NOT accept the likes of YOU!!!
I am sorry so Dan has been silent on Joe DEMentia, his spoor Hunter, and the Urkaine Chi-Coms, and Kerry and Pelousey…et al .
He knows where I’ve taught
I’m happy about being able to : hunt , fish and trap….. might come in handy soon
I could teach your grandkids all about science and math……nope waste of my time on idiots ROFL 🙂
I have hunted and fished all of New England, salt water and fresh, game small and large. My Uncles put my family through 1930s depression trapping. I learned that too.
My Mom was a scientist and teacher, Dad 8th army WWII, I was a Professor.
You a flatlander? Some sort of deadbeat?
Are you the kid we used to cal Hayseed?
Lots of it but I see no need to justify that for you or anyone else.
lets be honest and say the engineer type could mostly could not physically get through a day of labor.
That made me laugh. I am an engineer. I would probably be like what you say except I was expected to do manual labor every college summer for work.
Dan, I totally agree with your comments today. The entitlement crowd needs an attitude adjustment.
And I would also say the politicians need one also. They created the entitlement bs for votes.
I’d say Tyer needs one!
Dan is wrong again.
It isn’t just about climate stance it’s about health and safety.
Dan is the kind of guy who would fire nurses asking for PPE. Dan is the kind of guy who doesn’t care about minors.
Dan is the kind of guy who doesn’t like the unions of old.
RN,
Some employees no matter what the situation is want more even when they have everything they need. Not all .
If I were a nurse in a state that opened up because Trump told them to, and patients started pouring in with the virus, I would give them each a Trump hat and wish them well as I sat in the break room watching reruns of Andy Griffith. You reap what you sow.
President Trump doesn’t tell any state to open up. That is the choice of the state. If I was a citizen in a state and tourists and/or anyone who shouldn’t be in my state showed up while I am quarantined in my house, I would be upset. Our own Adam Hinds wants the Berkshires to open up ahead of the rest of the state, but Governor Baker has said no. Not a good idea. Thank you Governor Baker.
Nurses should be upset at the far left for not wanting to stop travel from China on January 31st which President Trump did and received a lot of negative press for doing so. Nurses should be most upset at China for spreading this virus in the first place.
So Trump goes into a mask making facility to do an ad hoc campaign rally.
And despite everyone working there wearing masks, and being told it is the policy, he gave them the middle finger and did not wear one. Also told his entourage not to wear them either. This was his way of sending a message to his social uprising troops to “fight for their rights by not wearing a mask”.
So you can pretty much plan on seeing 40% of people in stores not wearing masks and offering to kick your ass if you say anything. It almost seems like he is enjoying the carnage this virus is causing. MAGA
You know Pat you come across like you know Trump better than Melania.. You seem to know what he does and thinks before he does. Is there something you want to reveal here on Dan’s blog?
So you know DV well?
You seem to know Dan inside and out! Seem. As Wallace Stevens observed, “seems” is not close to the reality of “be” … or even “is,” for that matter. You say “it isn’t just about climate stance,” which is an admission that is about “climate stance. You also ignore the reasonable precautions Amazon took to make the workplace safe for these entitled petulants.
Unions of old were Viscous rotten greedy bastards, they have not changed much, neither have CEOs/managers.
You know that the corporations had hire private murderers to squash the unions.Read history and you will find that labor has never been in control.
Tell Jimmy Hoffa TSC
Some people want what you have but refuse to do what you have done to get it. That’s what everyone gets a trophy teaches. Go figure.
Today is mask day. Many not complying already. If you get out of your car to pump gas you have to wear a mask to pay inside or get a cup of Joe. Good luck Gina,Mayor.
Why do people withhout mask like spitting on everything and everyone who is working so they the spitter can have gas .The ignorance is almost painful.Im pretty sure ma. Trump supporters are not in support of spreading your spit.Who on this board supports spitting on the people working?
I’d spit on YOU, a big green one twice! Probably , piss/$#!@t twice too.
You would.People probably experienced your spit everywhere you go.You believe its your right to spit on workers giving you cash gas and food.
Where are you? We got spit free delivery. Piss and $#!T too.
You sound like you got it all.
I live by a simple motto with my employees: “If you don’t like it here, go work somewhere else.” Simple.
You have great power.Very few can handle power and get respect.
Hind’s idea of opening the Berkshires before the rest of the state since we don’t have as many cases as the Eastern part of the state, was quickly shot down by Governor Baker. Read the comments below the article. I think that is how many people are feeling right now. Worry about tourism seems to be driving this concern about opening on Adam Hind’s part, but there will be no tourism this year anyway so that is crazy. Businesses will eventually open with restrictions on how many can be in an office at one time. age of workers, etc. The Berkshire politicians pushed tourism, but with this pandemic, that choice will hurt this area at least for this summer.
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/62149/Hinds-Berkshires-May-Be-Ready-for-Reopening-Ahead-of-State.html?source=most_read
We need all hands on deck for the Protest at MA Gov Baker’s house this Thursday, 5/7, from 10am to noon. Char-LIE is trying to destroy both our state and President Trump.
We must not allow this to happen! Please stand with us.
Dianna Ploss
Baker = Rino
Govenor Baker is not running for President.Trump is runnjng on the economy.It makes good sense to listen to Baker and no sense to listen to Trump.
Do you think going to someone’s home scaring terrorizing the family is the way to go? Protest that’s fine but going to a persons home is just sick and twisted.
Age of workers? That will make for some great discrimination opportunities in hiring/firing.
Hinds (or Hind-end as I call him) is another plastic moldable android who is easily handled by his controllers. Not so different than Farley or Tyer. Same mold, same lack of independent thinking or action. Sad for Pittsfield, sad for the people, sad for the state.
Hinds really does seem extremely pliable. Tourism is over for the summer season. I am sorry for the people who had their pockets hurt from this. I think the community might be able to see the economy more clearly without tourism.
Nice to see the Coronavirus Taskforce is getting phased out. Time to turn our attention to the economy. The CFR is most likely going to fall well below 1%. I know this will disappoint the #STAYTHEFUCKHOME crowd who want to stay locked in their home forever, but its time to let people get back to work and use common sense of washing your hands & staying home if your sick.
Seems to me that they should have done their homework first. The company has an obligation to make the workplace as reasonably safe as possible. There are a plethora of Governmental ABC organizations that trip over themselves to be in every aspect of every business large and small. OSHA and so on. So lets say they went above and beyond the OSHA requirements it would not be long before someone complained and sued because it was to restrictive and unfair to work in those conditions and meet quotas or deadlines.
As for the Climate change stance If they want to be upset because Greta is coming to town and says all corporations are inherently bad and responsible for all the ills of both society and the environment and they want to ride that train have fun. But a corporation has fiduciary responsibilities to both its share holders and customers. Ultimately the consumers of the goods/service that company offers need to be the ones who decide. Ok lets flip the coin can your employer tell you what causes to support and to what extent? If you want to work here than you will need to tithe 25% of your salary to the Roman Catholic church as an example lets see how that would float.
You get to decide what you do for work and where you will do it. You should be aware enough of the larger corporate stance and decide if you want to stand with them or not. The VP obviously has a portable in demand skill set with enough resources to head out. I see him as a grandstander
I should say the amazon engineers are indeed valuable and that is why they are well paid. But I am glad they stood up for the warehouse guys. I too don’t think ‘climate change’ has anything to do with it.
A employee has a reasonable expectation of a healthy safe workplace.If conditions change then the response needs to change.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/20/tech/amazon-climate-strike-global-tech/index.html
Pretty sure that’s how the group of employees got its start and the petion with the signatures.
Bezo is a greedy SOB,
He’ll meet St Peter, then Lucifer
I Agree with you Mad Trapper he is greedy and ruthless. I am in no way saying I agree with or condone some of the things he has done. one of the few things if not the only thing I can agree with AOC on was ensuring the taxpayers didn’t get stuck with his bar tab in NY. But he still has the right to support the causes he thinks are worthy how ever that is defined by him
AOC will be with Lucifer and Bezo
Trump is not greedy though. In case anyone had that misconception. He is not using this Corona virus to get rich by issuing contracts to his friends to make things they know nothing about. Nor is he trying to shut Dr. Fauci up because he wants this pandemic to go on for as long as possible. Are we clear about that? Good!
Disturbing.
“Dalton man allegedly threatened law enforcement McVeigh-style”
Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2020 6:12 pm
By Tony Dobrowolski, The Berkshire Eagle
PITTSFIELD — A Dalton man is being held without bail for allegedly making violent threats against several members of local law enforcement.
Thomas Betit, 54, of Housatonic Street, sent a series of emails over the weekend, officials said, including one in which he invoked the man who bombed a federal building in 1995 in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.
“I could do a Timothy McVeigh this afternoon, but that would not fix the problem,” Betit wrote, according to the probable cause report. “Understand, I can kill you from 1,000 yards, I can kill you from 5 feet and kill you from 5 inches. I prefer to fix the problem [and] let the inmates kill you.”
The series of six emails that Betit sent from Friday to Sunday were addressed to staffers in Berkshire Probate Court and Central Berkshire District Court, a lieutenant in the state police detective unit, and high-ranking personnel in the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, according to the report.
The threatening messages caused “grave concern” to state police who were investigating the incident, according to Assistant District Attorney Veronica Van Tol.
She said that Lt. Edward Culver of the state police detective unit found that Betit previously had sent emails of a “similar nature” to law enforcement authorities and has a history of “mental and emotional health instability.”
“Based on the escalation of these emails being more violent over the past 72 hours, [Culver] was very concerned with the defendant’s ability to carry out these threats,” Van Tol said. “He was stating that these threats would be carried out as soon as the courts reopened to the public.”
Betit also has been the subject of harassment-prevention orders lodged by the same victim in 2014, 2018 and 2019. The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office previously had obtained a no-trespass order against Betit after he had threatened former Berkshire District Attorney Paul Caccaviello.
Dalton Police arrested Betit on Monday morning.
He pleaded not guilty in Central Berkshire District Court to one count of making a threat with an explosive or dangerous item or substance.
Attorney Raymond Jacoub, who represented Betit, asked the court to release Betit. He characterized the comment Betit made in the emails as “rambling” and said it did not meet the requirements for the offense for which he is charged.
He also said the commonwealth had presented no documented evidence that Betit has mental or emotional health issues.
“This isn’t a communicated threat,” Jacoub said. “This is just him reacting to a problem that he sees in the court.”
Jacoub said the final sentence in Sunday’s emails about having inmates fix the problem referred to Betit “explaining further” that the act of violence that he suggests “is not going to happen.”
After a dangerousness hearing Monday, Judge Paul Smyth ordered Betit held without the right to bail until Sept. 1. The commonwealth requested that Betit be sent to a hospital and undergo a competency evaluation.
re: my response to Patrick Fennell – 6May2020
Hello Pat,
I agree with your letter. It amazes me how the vested and special interests are still getting their cut, while tens of millions of working families are out of work and lost their health insurance. The government is supposed to serve We the People, but it really only serves the political or ruling elite and their voting block and campaign contributors. The U.S. Senate reconvened after a 5 week recess, but they are doing nothing about the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. House of Representatives are still on their +5-week recess during the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump is not allowing his scientists to testify before an absent U.S. Congress during this public health crisis. Trump wants to bankrupt the federal government’s social insurance programs when people need Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid the most in U.S. History. State and local governments are going insolvent and are at risk of going bankrupt if they don’t receive a federal government bailout soon. Most of the bailout money went to big business in the form of tax breaks. Only 3% of the money went to small businesses and the displaced and distressed working families of our great country. In closing, the politicians are failing us during this nightmarish time.
Best wishes,
Jonathan
It’s just like the flu! Tell that to these kids and their parents you idiots.
64 NY kids have rare inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus
Sixty-four children in New York State have been hospitalized with a rare, life-threatening inflammatory illness linked to the coronavirus, a new state Health Department report released Wednesday reveals.
Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker issued an alert to medical providers regarding the association between “multi-syndrome inflammatory syndrome” — or Kawasaki disease — and COVID-19.
“As of May 5, 2020, sixty-four (64) suspected pediatric clinical cases compatible with multi-system inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 have been reported in children in New York State hospitals, including New York City,” the advisory said.
The alert said a majority of patients with the inflammatory syndrome have tested positive for COVID-19 or COVID-fighting antibodies.
The state directive said hospitals must immediately report cases of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome or Kawasaki disease to the health department and immediately perform tests for COVID-19 on patients.
Trumpers only believe what Fox brain tells them and Beck Limbaugh and Hannity reapeat as national talking points.
So profound.
More hate. Just can’t help herself/himself.
Hate might be withholding testing kits for a deadly virus. And then lying repeatedly about it. Or making fun of a nurse on national TV. Or ignoring the advice of the CDC during a pandemic so you could decide what is best for people yourself even though you are clueless about the illness. Or trying to push an untested cure on people so that your family could get rich off it.
That is all the time I have right now Chuck.
Every life is important. I hope these kids get the best care and they figure this new complication out. But once again, you are fear-mongering. COVID poses almost no risk to children, except in rare cases.
The CDC has released a lot of data on COVID deaths. Between Feb. 1 and May 2, 2020 there had been 44,016 COVID deaths in the U.S. 10 of those deaths were children aged 0-14. During the same time period 107 children aged 0-14 died of pneumonia and 85 died of influenza.
https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Death-Counts-by-Sex-Age-and-S/9bhg-hcku/data
The CDC has been compromised by this administration. It can not be trusted at this time. Anyone who speaks the truth gets silenced.
I disagree with Camps re- openings and the beligererent responses against reopening. The fact is these camps are totally congregated by New York kids and they aren’t tested anyway. Keep Camps closed. It’s going to get worse.
Saw a great corona virus update today with President Trump. It’s unbelievable what he has done for our country to fight COVID-19. We now have so many respirators that really hard hit countries like Africa are begging us for them and we are able to help them. Our mortality rate is very low.
People 60 and over should continue to work from home but others can go back to work wearing masks and social distancing. That would be a sound plan. Nursing homes and other group living situations housing elderly and compromised individuals need to be monitored closely.
Crime in on the increase courtesy of Progressive District Attorneys releasing dangerous criminals.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/06/effects-of-inmate-release-seen-in-uptick-of-violence/
Cut it out RN, this is a ridiculously low amount of kids and the risk to kids, or for that matter people under the age of 64 is incredibly low. Were talking a CFR of under 0.5% for people 54 and under which drops the further down you go. I would argue a much greater risk to kids would be letting their parents who own businesses or are gainfully employed lose those businesses or jobs and live in poverty and have no health insurance. It was nice to see Charlie Baker following his own policy on masks today during the massive graduation in Foxboro, and we wonder why people don’t take these clowns seriously.
There has been a large increase in violence after inmate release.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/06/effects-of-inmate-release-seen-in-uptick-of-violence/
Interesting…
https://www.6sqft.com/most-new-covid-cases-in-new-york-are-non-essential-workers-staying-at-home/
Yeah, and you’re going to let Camps open? Forget about it. Nothing should be open except TrumpHotels
Thanks for posting that info, FreeBird.
Cuomo is the Gov. of Death. As far as I know, he hasn’t stopped his policy of sending covid infected staff & patients into nursing homes. He waited six weeks before disinfecting the subways. Cut back on trains but now is squeezing more people into fewer trains. No apathy for senior citizens, the dying, or those who have lost their jobs & businesses, AND he glorifies infanticide. He’s even requiring out of state healthcare workers who volunteered their services in NYC to pay state payroll taxes. Cancelled the state primary – a move which was just overturned by the state supreme court as unconstitutional. His state was 10 billion in debt before the pandemic – now he wants the feds to ante up – that means you & me – to pay for his sanctuary state policies and outrageous spending habits. The guv couldn’t manage his way out of a paper bag. His brother Chris is even dumber – while infected with covid he took a trip out of the house with his family, and was spotted by a biker who challenged him.
Dumb & Dumber! But the mainstream press loves him!
Trump is on record as President off this recession. Impeached,highest unemployment number since the great depression, a
O mates all are f our allies,multi layered womanizer who just…grabs the p…sy
So since the facts have emerged that in New York state, the large majority of infections have occurred in the stay-at-home population – why is there a lockdown??
Because the idiots think it’s a vacation and are hanging out with friends, going out, having house parties, going to Central Park and not social distancing.
All businesses need to take in more than they pay out. It doesn’t matter what kind of business it is. That is true for all businesses and it is also true for your personal finances as well. Failed business means no employees getting paid.
Tru economy.gas is cheap,no place to go. Thanx Trumpy Bear
Attention South County Moonbats, and let me not forget W’Town:
Essential viewing, from Michael Moore, no less, “Planet of the Humans”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk11vI-7czE
Seems the Left is trying to suppress it.
Full film available now on YouTube, but I doubt it will be for long . . .
How did I even hear about it?
Limbaugh.
Not from any “journalist.”
May 6, 2020
Re: Congressman Richie Neal doesn’t really represent his Western Massachusetts district!
My dad was a Berkshire County Commissioner two decades ago. He tried to communicate Western Massachusetts’ political issues to Boston’s Beacon Hill State House politicians. In return, my dad (and me) faced years of political retribution from state and local “leaders”. They tried to fire my dad from his state government job, make him resign from his elected position, and put me in the Pittsfield (Mass.) jail, among other nasty retaliatory measures. It was a very difficult time in my life when I was 20 to nearly 25 years old from the Spring of 1996 – July 1, 2000.
While Congressman Richard Neal is on Capitol Hill instead of Beacon Hill, he is similar to the Western Massachusetts state and local politician whom my dad (and me) dealt with. Richie Neal represents Wall Street, not Main Street. The people who live in Western Massachusetts who are represented by Richie Neal are not working for Fortune 500 corporate firms or Wall Street. Rather, a great majority of Western Massachusetts residents are working class families trying to stay afloat financially.
Congressman Richard Neal’s politics is everything I stand against in our democratic system of government. If I were in his shoes, I would take campaign contributions from working class families in my would be Western Massachusetts’ legislative district. I would hold Town Halls and listen to my constituents’ issues. I would communicate my constituents’ views and issues to my Congressional colleagues on Capitol Hill.
The news article, below, supports my political views. Congressman Richie Neal killed a Surprise Medical Bills fix and collected $54,000 from lobbyists who opposed the measure.
In Truth!
Jonathan Melle
https://readsludge.com/2020/05/05/neal-took-big-bucks-from-lobbyists-while-killing-a-surprise-medical-bills-fix/
So, IS The Planet with DEMenta Joe and Son Hunter? Dan?
How about the Hunter/Stripper baby? We pay Kapinkys diapers and formula for it? Hunter and Joe won’t.
Syracuse Trumps Trump.
If sixty percent of the latest Corona is carried by home quaranteeners how the hell are you going to open anything family related….Like School,Like Camp, Like Sporting Events, neighbor kids hanging out, swimming,restaurants,plays, concerts………
If you underestimate the virus it will come find you. Now all the action is the one quarantineing up to sixt percent new cases., not unlike what we were told to do.. This is not good come fall. Let’s pray a vaccine arrives quickly.
Hello Mad Trapper, What about Donald Trump? Stormy Daniels the stripper and porn star. Trump has 5 children by 3 wives. His daughter Tiffany was conceived out of wedlock. Trump likes to grab women by their [meow].
Johnny,
We the taxpayers are not supporting any of the POTUs’s children, and he didn’t knock a stripper. Safe sex maybe?
Hunter took many millions from Urkraine and China. He’s paying nothing for his spoor! Granddad Joe can’t seem to spare a nickel either. Is Creepy DEMented Joe broke too?
THE PLANET is “with” nobody and “on” everybody.
The lovely Linda Tyer’s radio interview:
https://www.wamc.org/post/mayor-tyer-weighs-pittsfield-reopening-after-worst-pandemic
Linda’s letter:
http://everettindependent.com/2020/05/06/letters-to-the-editor-41/
I could not find the part where she tells which business s she is giving taxpayer money to and why they deserve it and others not. Could you please use your influence with her to get her to be open and honest with the city as she said she would during her campaign? And do you agree that she should be above board with this and if not why not?
thank you ahead of time.
Campaigning equals throwing bs and elected equals suckers from the politicians.
How is America doing with the virus compared to other countries.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/worldwide-graphs/#countries-cases
Wenesdays American deaths almost double that of Monday. Here we go folks. And we are just now opening up. Buckle up.
Tyered Quote….what an incredible place to be ( Pittsfield) during a pandemic’…You can’t make it up.
Maybe because it’s a vibrant pandemic?
Can tax bills be mailed to silly hall?
Not true. America’s deaths per thousand are MUCH lower than other hard hit countries. Learned that yesterday during press conference.
American deaths are far below other hard hit countries per one thousand people. That’s a fact.
Very Progressive Rachael Rollins fighting with liberals over her releasing of dangerous criminals. She just wants to keep releasing them because of corona virus to keep them safe she says. She’s not too concerned about the safety of citizens once they are released into the public. Rollins lives in a safe neighborhood. She claims that her fellow liberals are “too white” and don’t understand what she is trying to do? What she is doing is pushing her far left agenda.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/06/da-rachael-rollins-facing-revolt-from-fellow-liberal-defense-attorneys/
Look at the chart you provided. For Cumulative number of deaths Europe vs USA (by number of days since 100 deaths), the United States is way below. Europe and the USA are even in the second chart. For the first chart, we have a larger population than the individual countries so of course we will have more cases.
Wear a mask so that you dont spit on you service provider.If you want to prove a point like you have the right to spit on low wage workers find people like your self and share and swig a bottle of whisky. Use their toothbrush then tell normal people you had a good time.Just wait 2 weeks
I always wear a mask and I don’t even have face to face with any store employees or customers for that matter. I do the self checkout. That should be expanded in all stores. Self checkout solves a lot of problems.
Don’t let Trump see you wearing that mask. He may take you hat back.
Far Left Progressive District Attorney Rachael Rollins facing revolt from fellow liberals for wanting to release so many criminals including dangerous ones. Violence has increased in Boston.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/06/da-rachael-rollins-facing-revolt-from-fellow-liberal-defense-attorneys/
I guess 104th AFW out of Barnes forgot that Berkshire County is a part Massachusetts!!!! No fly by thank you! Maybe politics??? Nah, say it isn’t so!
There was a flyby. Some fighter jets and some bomber looking planes.
Still makes no sense whatsoever to block the long drive at Burbank Park. None.
And what is worse is the mayor’s illogical explanation . . .
Keep away from McGrath once seen him lungering a spit right on north Street from his truck,by park square
The Texas Supreme Court has released the woman who was put in jail for opening her hair salon when businesses were closed by order of the state. The Court said it’s ridiculous that the Progressives in that state released dangerous criminals and will not even prosecute anyone for minor shoplifting, but have put this woman in jail for trying to feed her kids. Great decision by the Texas Supreme Court.
Trumps valet has Corona. Trump will have it also. Bank that.
Progressives are releasing dangerous criminals. That is the subject. That is a big problem for this country especially for those not living in gated communities.
So if Dotties opened tomorrow having used all her federal dollars and her Tyer dollars and her GoFundMe monies would you stop in for a bite if it was ok with the govenor? What if you were allowed to sit with the mayor and maybe get your lunch for free?
And has the mayor released her list of business s that she gave hard earned taxpayer money to ? Money that obviously should have been used for potholes?
No thanks.
Dottie’s sux period as does the new beer joint at jays. Young lues joint sux also.
My buddies and I are there all the time.
Johnny, there’s a crusade for you…….why don’t you try getting the list of Tyer-funded businesses out of the mayor or Ruffer? She certainly isn’t going to release that on her own.
So how long will the covid- infected homeless be occupying the Hilton Garden Inn? Will that hotel ever reopen, or continue to house homeless people? State or local funded? Anyone know?
It’s scheduled for 4 months at least. Basically covering tourist season.
They have been panhandling at Price Chopper in Lenox, no masks
Ventura County, CA officials are hiring thousands of “contact tracers” to track residents who have contacted covid or have been EXPOSED to someone with the virus, and forcibly removing them from their homes into “ quarantine centers.”
What if your six year old child has been exposed to someone with the virus? Guess what – the contact tracers will be moving the child out of their home as well.
Where’s Melle on this issue – sounds like Democrat Nazis to me!
Cuomo also announced plans to do contact tracing. MA has instituted it on a small scale as well. How can this be constitutional?
We are living in a republican run country.
Hello Mr. Fritz, I get your recurring message that you hate me. I do not want to hate anyone. The best way to annoy your enemies is to not be a hater like they are.
I don’t hate you; I completely disagree with your viewpoint on all issues. Instead of debating issues you resort to making it some sort of personal attack. Why are the Ventura County Democrat officials not Nazis when they want to forcibly remove people from their homes who have been exposed to covid?
We live in a free country. We are allowed to disagree with each other. I don’t know about that issue.
fritz pat mad Trap,even Dan. I ’m predicting President trump has the Corona. Wanna bet. And if he has it , fvf Pence also has it,so I’ll go there also. Well?
God help America if they died, then the wicked witch of the west, Pelousey would be queen
What’s the deal with Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. stock (BHLB)?
Why is it cratering at a 20-year low?
Why did Daley leave????
BOOM!! Sunshine is the best disinfectant!!!
DOJ drops case against Michael Flynn, in wake of internal memo release
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/drops-doj-case-against-michael-flynn-in-wake-of-internal-memo-release
Sorry libs, but you are going to be seeing some difficult times as all the things your heroes did that were illegal while trying to railroad Trump come out. Everything we’ve been telling you for over 3 years is now coming out. We’ve known this stuff all along, all you had to do was put a few dots together from the data that was out to see it. Your media hid it from you to protect their allies in the DNC. Trump calls them Fake News because it is true.
Durham is next.
The only thing I know is that Trump so Smart-currently has the biggest shit-storm in the History of the U S. That’s it….. that’s the bottom line?
I wonder why Flynn plead guilty.
To protect his son from retribution – that was the deal Flynn was offered. Plead guilty or your son will face harassment.
He sold influence
Roger Stone was framed by the DOJ/FBI too.
Those crooks should be prosecuted, loose any pension, and get retirement in the crowbar hotel. Good chance the trail of crime leads back to Sotero and H-beast
I saw that on Fox brain
I saw that on Fox brain
It’s just the flu!!!!
The coronavirus mutated into a stronger strain after the initial outbreak of the deadly global pandemic in China — and could do so again, according to a new study.
Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory say that the new strain showed up in Europe in early February and quickly spread around the globe and into the US — and appears to be more contagious than the original one that emerged in Wuhan last year, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
The study, which was published last week on the research-sharing site BioRxiv, has yet to be peer-reviewed, but the scientists said they felt an “urgent need for an early warning” so that vaccines being created around the world to combat COVID-19 will be effective against the newer, stronger strain.
Hello RN, Massachusetts has the highest per capita nursing home death rate for COVID-19 in the U.S.A. Holyoke Soldiers Home is a total debacle. I feel badly for our senior citizens who are dying in record numbers in long term care facilities. I hope the “do nothing” politicians will make immediate changes soon!
Tyrant Gov. Charlie Baker’s closing of MA gun shops ruled unconstitutional by courts after the gun shop owners leveled a lawsuit against him. Hoorah!
It’s sad that business owners have to take these tyrants to court to allow their shops to open. Hopefully more businesses will follow suit and end these draconian lockdown orders!
https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/massachusetts-gun-shops-must-be-allowed-to-reopen-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-federal-judge-rules.html
https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-ventura-county-coronavirus-forcibly-removed-homes-quarantine
So you do watch Fox News TSC!
Thank you for posting Dr. Levin’s apology about “forcing people from their homes.”
52 % of America thinks Trump has Corona.
Blah blah. So everyone agrees Tired is not to bright. You listen to someone like Dr. Birx, then listen to Tired and it isn’t even close. More brains,more class,and definitely Tired is out of her league. So the question becomes who is the worst mayor ever? It’s close but it just might be the lovely one.
Test.
I’m so pissed.