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James Hamilton

St. Paul, MN
Commenter for
4 years 8 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 05/24/13 at 11:23 am in response to Suspensions down, but St. Paul school behavior unchanged

could always increase his charitable giving to offset that 2% increase. I imagine the federal deduction alone would cover it pretty quickly.

Posted on 05/23/13 at 01:31 pm in response to Unions are improving child care elsewhere, and will here too

between an organization of business people and a group of workers employed by a single organization. A private business cannot be compelled to join a trade association but, under the recent bill, can be compelled to pay union dues to an organization? What if I employ others in my business - am I an employer or an employee? Both? Who does the union represent?

The bill was sold as necessary to provide bargaining power with the state over the amount it pays for state-subsidized...

Posted on 05/21/13 at 12:43 pm in response to Minnesota lawmakers beat the clock, barely

As someone who's lived on all sides of the labor market and had successful relationships with owners, employees and managers, I was appalled by the vitirol reflected in this post. We are not natural enemies. In fact, logic suggests we have more common interests than conflicts. Sadly, too many of us refuse to consider the opportunities for mutually beneficial relationships.

From my perspective, the decline in union membership is due at least as much to workers' lack of support as...

Posted on 05/20/13 at 06:42 pm in response to House approves disputed unionization bill with no votes to spare

I can't wait to see how the union works in this menage a trois.

Posted on 05/23/13 at 01:47 pm in response to It's time for more climate research

Mr. Westgard, you will share your credentials with readers, so that we have some basis on which to begin our assessment of his opinions.

My own meager efforts at identifying them have come up short. You seem to have spent 20+ years employed by 3M, including time as a VP, and to be a "Professional Member" of the Geological Society of America, who now acts as an "Independent Writing and Editing Professional."

Professional membership in the GSA requires only:

"Any one...

Posted on 05/24/13 at 01:33 pm in response to It's time for more climate research

is hardly a personal attack, Mr. Westgard. I can only conclude that you have none to offer.

Posted on 05/16/13 at 09:20 am in response to Governor's 'secret plan' for Vikes stadium funding may be revealed today

perhaps they'll simply pass the basket every Sunday. After all, what's a billion dollars here and there.

Posted on 05/16/13 at 09:28 am in response to Governor's 'secret plan' for Vikes stadium funding may be revealed today

While I agree that organized labor plays an important role in Minnesota, we seem to have come to the point that its investment in the DFL has overridden common sense and any reasonable boundaries. First we have legislation which would organize independent business operators (child care), now we're going to subsidize one side in individual labor disputes. Shall we provide financial support for companies whose workers are on strike? There's no reason not to, if we're going to subsidize...

Posted on 05/16/13 at 04:43 pm in response to Governor's 'secret plan' for Vikes stadium funding may be revealed today

that labor has lost ground in recent decades. It's up to workers, not government, to correct that situation.

Posted on 05/16/13 at 05:02 pm in response to Governor's 'secret plan' for Vikes stadium funding may be revealed today

this bill is obviously intended to replace what were once union strike funds. I have no problem with people organizing and going out on strike or with employers exercising their lockout rights. That's the way our system is set up. I simply don't believe we should be subsidizing either side in a manner that is intended to give them negotiation leverage, particularly when we have no idea what the circumstances may be down the road.

As for the child care workers, according to the...