Friday, January 25, 2008
Has anyone actually asked why the Hollywood writers even have a union in the first place? Aren't they highly skilled knowledge workers, just like lawyers, accountants, and programmers? So why can't each of these people enter into a contract with their employer just like the rest of us? And why do they get residuals? Do programmers [code writers] get a check sent to them each time some kid pops in a DVD of their computer game?
The answer is that these assholes are trying to create a cartel to artificially raise their salaries. Normally there is a trade-off between how enjoyable a job is and how much you must be compensated to do it every day. A very enjoyable job (TV writer) should have a high supply of labor and very low prices relative to a less enjoyable job requiring the same intellectual capacity. They want to be paid well to do something fun. Maybe that would work if they had a specialized skillset, but you and I know, you could go hire the local college humor newspaper editor and he would do a fine job.
I have news for you writers union. You can't avoid the laws of economics. You might want to talk to some of the fine UAW workers in Flint, MI about this. If you keep this up much longer you will be replaced with non-unionized reality TV, internet TV, or maybe something cool I don't even know about yet.
The answer is that these assholes are trying to create a cartel to artificially raise their salaries. Normally there is a trade-off between how enjoyable a job is and how much you must be compensated to do it every day. A very enjoyable job (TV writer) should have a high supply of labor and very low prices relative to a less enjoyable job requiring the same intellectual capacity. They want to be paid well to do something fun. Maybe that would work if they had a specialized skillset, but you and I know, you could go hire the local college humor newspaper editor and he would do a fine job.
I have news for you writers union. You can't avoid the laws of economics. You might want to talk to some of the fine UAW workers in Flint, MI about this. If you keep this up much longer you will be replaced with non-unionized reality TV, internet TV, or maybe something cool I don't even know about yet.
