Amen. I see more and more blind and confused sheep. My generation (I’m 37) and younger seem completely ignorant of the morals and ideas this country was founded on.
[QUOTE=rkbakula;88080]I did not start this post to have a debate about healthcare or any other political subject other than how the election will affect the offshore oil industry.I was wrong to display my political feelings in my question. For that I apologize, the last thing i want is for this forum to turn into another Gulf Chat. i was simply wanting to get a feeling from those who make their living in this industry.I will rephrase my question. Will the recent election have a effect on the oil industry, good or bad?[/QUOTE]
I don’t think anything can change in energy industries…regardless of parties,We all american are all aiming at Energy Independence.
Rich white land owners controlling the government… Nothing’s changed there…
That religious freedom thing is kinda going backwards…
Life, liberty and the per suit of happiness isn’t happening these days with done and patriot act shit
Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders should be readers. A good book to read is winner-take all Politics.how Washington made the Rich Richer-and turned its back on the middle class… That’s my 2 cents.
Did it ever go forward? Even the pilgrims persecuted those they deemed different. But that is an entirely different debate.
I believe most everyone here wants what is best for our industry. That to me seems to be the general consensus. As others have stated, we need to take matters into our hands. We’re the only ones that are going to fight for our livelyhood. I know that I am concerned for the future of our industry. I know it has been mentioned in the past about making a gCaptain lobbyist group, if it were financially feasible. But aren’t we already our own lobby? Aren’t we a voice to be heard? Regardless of any of our differences, we are a brotherhood of mariners.
[QUOTE=tillettso;88231]Did it ever go forward? Even the pilgrims persecuted those they deemed different. But that is an entirely different debate.
I believe most everyone here wants what is best for our industry. That to me seems to be the general consensus. As others have stated, we need to take matters into our hands. We’re the only ones that are going to fight for our livelyhood. I know that I am concerned for the future of our industry. I know it has been mentioned in the past about making a gCaptain lobbyist group, if it were financially feasible. But aren’t we already our own lobby? Aren’t we a voice to be heard? Regardless of any of our differences, we are a brotherhood of mariners.[/QUOTE]
What we are right now is a bunch of gasbags posting on the internet. That and a dollar will get you a shitty cup of coffee.
[QUOTE=tillettso;88231]Did it ever go forward? But aren’t we already our own lobby? Aren’t we a voice to be heard? Regardless of any of our differences, we are a brotherhood of mariners.[/QUOTE]
It’s an easier task to herd cats than to get mariners to speak with one voice.
[QUOTE=injunear;88234]It’s an easier task to herd cats than to get mariners to speak with one voice.[/QUOTE]
Commercial fishermen are the worst.
Don’t get me wrong, I respect the people that do that for a living but gting them to act together… I think it has to do with being a rugged individualist and being beholden to no one but themselves.
Witness Survival Suits, they would all agree that they made vessels safer but because the government mandated them, they were not going to buy them just for that reason.
I hate to post this but…
WRITE letters (NOT EMAIL) to your US Congressman and Senator. WRITE.
WRITE.
Then WRITE again.
This is the ONLY way they will know what YOUR thoughts, concerns are.
It sounds so silly and simple. But it is SO true. When you find a politician who listens to you, WRITE some more. Then (sorry, you knew this was coming) donate to their campaign. This is the ONLY thing they ‘listen to!’.
NOT ONE of these politician actually know what we do for a living. In all reality the merchant industry is a very small segment of the whole jobs market. So to be heard we MUST be VOCAL. Not belligerent, but LOUD.
[QUOTE=cappy208;88274]I hate to post this but…
WRITE letters (NOT EMAIL) to your US Congressman and Senator. WRITE.
WRITE.
Then WRITE again.
This is the ONLY way they will know what YOUR thoughts, concerns are.
It sounds so silly and simple. But it is SO true. When you find a politician who listens to you, WRITE some more. Then (sorry, you knew this was coming) donate to their campaign. This is the ONLY thing they ‘listen to!’.
NOT ONE of these politician actually know what we do for a living. In all reality the merchant industry is a very small segment of the whole jobs market. So to be heard we MUST be VOCAL. Not belligerent, but LOUD.[/QUOTE]
That was the best way for years to express your concerns, even after the internet was the norm. I’ve been told by several of my elected officials that they put more stock in a hand written letter. But now with the anthrax scares, mail has a longer delay to reach them.
When an issue needs to be pushed, I suggest e-mail, phone call and follow-up with a letter.
[QUOTE=injunear;88276]That was the best way for years to express your concerns, even after the internet was the norm. I’ve been told by several of my elected officials that they put more stock in a hand written letter. But now with the anthrax scares, mail has a longer delay to reach them.
When an issue needs to be pushed, I suggest e-mail, phone call and follow-up with a letter.[/QUOTE]
Oh yeah… I was dumb. i forgot the way to ABSOLUTELY get through to them. VISIT them. Of course you won’t get through to the legislator (at first) but their aide will talk to you. Let the aide know what is on your mind. If you take the time to travel to the office, they will realize that you are honest and interested. Take the time… Please! This is Your… Mine… Our career, industry, livelihood.
I posted this here once before, but I think it needs to be put up again.
This is the number to the U.S. capitol switch board, with your zip code they can transfer you to your Representative or Senator’s office. 202-224-3121
The web sites for each
I strongly encourage everyone to make your voice heard, be LOUD, but also be respectful
Don’t forget to mention every Jones act waiver and or foreigner working in the offshore industry takes the money but the US gets no tax.
The public might get behind you on that one
I get all the shitty coffee I can stand right here onboard the boat.
[QUOTE=BMCSRetired;88250]Commercial fishermen are the worst.
Don’t get me wrong, I respect the people that do that for a living but gting them to act together… I think it has to do with being a rugged individualist and being beholden to no one but themselves
[/QUOTE]
I was raised up commercial fishing and then 39 years as a merchant mariner.
After I was sailing for a few years, I put my wife (ex) through college with a 300’ gill net on my days off. I saw the tidal wave of the GCCA coming along with the poor management by the fishermen. When I suggested to a few friends about organizing, they scoffed at the idea. They’re long out of business.
About midway in my career, I wound up on SIU Inland contract committes. We negotiated some very good contracts with 2 that were marginal. The blatent trend throughout those years was every time we received a good raise, a large portion of the married guys got a bigger house and the single guys got a taller truck. 99% lived from paycheck to paycheck.
There’s no one group with a monopoly on stupidity. I was amazed at some of the highly educated guys and gals I sailed that lacked cipherin’ skills to manage personal finances.
Who’s to say a Romney administration wouldn’t do the same? Presidents look to advisors to make (un)informed decisions in areas outside experience and expertise.
This is why, regardless of who is in office to communicate with your US Rep and Senator to let them know how OUR industry is faring. None of them (the politicians) know bupkus about this industry. The only input they get is from the petroleum industry on 'how there are no (cheap) ships to move their cargo on, so we ‘need’ waivers.
get Donald Trump to hear these stories he could certainly out the agenda in the spotlight
[QUOTE=powerabout;88385]get Donald Trump to hear these stories he could certainly out the agenda in the spotlight[/QUOTE]
We do not need a buffoon as a mouthpiece. Nobody in their right mind or a politician would take him seriously.
Huh??? Did you mean a Buffoon? Or a Bouffant. Oh well, either way it means the same!