HCHD Hurricane Policy - RANT

[ndsimm]

ok, once again, I have no problem with my wife's position as I have already stated - she got into pharmacy to help people and loves what she does....my problem is with the powers that be that don't lead by example....don't make anything mandatory for me that you are not willing to volunteer for.....

[Cope]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

ok, once again, I have no problem with my wife's position as I have already stated - she got into pharmacy to help people and loves what she does....my problem is with the powers that be that don't lead by example....don't make anything mandatory for me that you are not willing to volunteer for.....

Nathan, correct me if I'm wrong, but the city and county people were all in town during Rita. I remember Shiela Jackson Lee jockeying to get in front of anyone who was speaking to the TV cameras.

[NoLight]

I work in a Hospital also and under certain catastrophes you are required to go in and work but, if my family is in danger they come first. If I get fired, so be it I was looking for a job when I found this one!!! No one will take care of your family except you..

[mcphotography]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

There was a new state mandated policy for evacuations that was implemented for Houston after Rita:

1) All residents originally from California or who attended UT are to get on I-10 or 290 and head West towards San Antonio or Austin.
2) All Yankees and Oklahomans get on 45 or 59 and head north. Do not stop until you cross over the Texas border. No Reentry.
3) All Floridians, Louisianans, and Katrina Evacuees - Get on I-10 and head East. Do not stop until you cross over the Texas border. No Reentry.
4) All Rap Music Lovers: Take 45 South and visit beautiful Galveston.
5) Aggies take 610.

ok i'm a "Yankee" but that was funny

[BlueStar-57]

Steelsun that was a cute one, guess if your none of the above it's Riding the storm out?

Nathan, did miss your main stress was leaders not leading by example. Good leaders do lead by example, so the problem is a lack of good leaders in today’s world, but that is only part of the problem. Today it's more like do as I say and not as I do, which when it comes to cigars or steroids is a good ideal hehe. Unlike the past when people worked and climbed up the ladder to become leaders, today most of the time they think they know it all from out of a book or education without ever having done the grunt work. People like this if they did stay around would just be in the way and giving irrational orders (since they have no ideal of what they are doing) that can get others or even you killed, thus your chances are better without them around so you can follow the orders/ideals of those who have been there and done that. What we lack today are good leaders that lead by example and ones that have climbed the ladder thus do really know what they are doing. Good education is nice but it lacks common sense and experience which counts just a much.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by BlueStar-57

Steelsun that was a cute one, guess if your none of the above it's Riding the storm out?

Nathan, did miss your main stress was leaders not leading by example. Good leaders do lead by example, so the problem is a lack of good leaders in today’s world, but that is only part of the problem. Today it's more like do as I say and not as I do, which when it comes to cigars or steroids is a good ideal hehe. Unlike the past when people worked and climbed up the ladder to become leaders, today most of the time they think they know it all from out of a book or education without ever having done the grunt work. People like this if they did stay around would just be in the way and giving irrational orders (since they have no ideal of what they are doing) that can get others or even you killed, thus your chances are better without them around so you can follow the orders/ideals of those who have been there and done that. What we lack today are good leaders that lead by example and ones that have climbed the ladder thus do really know what they are doing. Good education is nice but it lacks common sense and experience which counts just a much.

Our rather large corporation is in the middle of what they like to call + "PLUS" initiatives. What this means in real terms (not the colorful corporate speak) is consolidation of jobs and outsourcing to India everything possible. First was "Finance+", then Tech+, etc... I can guarantee you will never see an "EXECUTIVE +" initiative. Really sad.

Totally see your point Nathan...I see it all the time. Good luck during the storm.

Take care.

[BlueStar-57]

Andrew I wouldn't put "EXECUTIVE +" outsourcing in the non-impossible, as the owners get more greedy even their heads will fly or be forced to move to foreign countries-but as a last one out the door thus only the owners are the ones not to hit the chopping block unless forced too.

That is unless the problem and back fire from this happens before hand. Let's say China gets mad at the US over a policy and cuts off the merchandise we get from them (that we no longer make here since we've closed down the plants and jobs)-it will be a pain for us, bankrupt some owners and cut supplys. If India gets into a war with Pakistan, there goes their outsourcing because lines/power is often the first strikes. Closing down factorys here does cut down on our polluting ourselves and the world, but only takes the problem elsewhere thus we will still pay the price for it (weather changes which harms our food sources). Trying to turn America into a service only orientated country is not the brightess ideal I have ever heard of. Becoming dependent on non-stable or caring foreign countrys will have it's price (India I consider caring, but stable it is not due to the fued with its neighbor that has lasted for years). They passed on Africa (cheap labor source) because it is the most non-stable environment.

Since the start of this I have always wished they would make the owners of companys that are doing outsourcing of jobs or merchandise to have to completely move to the countrys they are doing this too-owners and all with never having the option to get their American citizenship re-instated if the cookie crumbles. Made in America did get too costly, but have you noticed those same items made elsewhere cheaply cost the same as it did when made in America now? I also wonder if it is not part of a ploy to seperate the classes since the rich didn't like ole Billy Bob drinking beer, etc. at their fancy resorts. Ole Billy Bob will let the servants use the front door and dine with him, be pals hehe. About the only thing that can save us now is for a crisis to bring us back to reality, least we will fall like all civilizations have in the past due to their strife for riches and failing to retain their knowledge of how to survive without slave/cheap labor.

Sorry to hear your company is headed that direction, retirement will be the next thing to go out the window since the cost of living, health care and land taxes will eat up every penny you've put back. Living on less has it's advantages, you won't miss as much when the big crunch comes and will be better suited at knowing how to survive with less. What they call a "Plus" today will be their tomorrow's "Minus". Still to keep in competition they have no choice in the matter (it's do that or close it all down) and those that have held out this long deserve some respect for having done so.

[dreemes]

Are the leaders in the "ivory tower" we are talking about people like the fire chief, police chief, emergency services coordinator, dispatchers,etc???

[AndrewCCM]

Kay I know what you mean... I have already seen some fall out at the Executive level. "Retirements" cashing out on their millions of stock options right after we announced our intention of purchasing Reuters.

My job could possibly be expanding to a worldwide role once that goes through. Interesting times ahead.

[BlueStar-57]

Dan I would suspect the "ivory tower" being talked about are the persons in charge at the top chain of command (administrative handing down orders who have no experience at medically saving a life) in the hospital due to the early stage of the response. Though sometimes they base those ideals on the ideals others come up with whether they have had experience at it or not. They are the people that once the fallout comes are long gone and not doing anything else until after the fact. Those in your list are ones, though not always on the front lines are leading/working throughout the ordeal (not just before or after). Sometimes they stay at a safer distance in order to be there to be able to do their jobs. In the old days even they where on the front lines and if they died someone else was qualified enough to take over the lead/job, job security has kind of put an end to that. I do know that grunts (people on the front lines) respect a leader that will come to the front line and be along side them more than they do ones that set back at a safe distance thinking for sure they know exactly what is happening via reports that unless are first hand made sometimes get inaccurate as it travels to the next one to pass it along. They may have had personal experience at being a grunt in the past, but mother nature and the world is famous for being ever changing so no 2 situations will always work out the same. First hand knowledge is always better than secondhand in any life threatening situation, because when your own life is on the line then you are more apt to make the right decision in the situation that saves you and all those around you. If your behind the lines then that self preservation doesn’t kick in and your just stuck with other people lives in your hands hoping you’ll not make a mistake. As you have heard the head of FEMA was not any where near the sight nor accurately qualified at leading FEMA, thus the results that happened in New Orleans before and after the hurricane.

Andrew, does sound like interesting times ahead for you. At least it will prevent your job from being boring and mundane since it will be an every changing ordeal for a while. I think another part of this that is hard to handle is people where use to working at one company and type job all their lives, but now they are forced to work at more than one company and even learn a new job field to go into (easier when you are young and not older). In the past you would gladly go back to slinging burgers in order to put food on the table between jobs, but now days if you take on a lower income it still won’t cover the cost of living and can interfere with other sources of income between jobs. Of course all of that depends on what part of the ladder in life you are standing on, the top, the middle or the bottom.