Writer's Strike

Writing is the most important element of any movie or TV show, and that's a fact. If the actors are second rate, they almost always still do a good job. You just don't know who they are and what else they've been in. If the cinematography and effects are second rate, you won't think of it as a problem and probably won't notice; You just might not be quite as impressed. But if the story or dialogue is at all second-rate, it will harsh your mellow every time...(Unless all kinds of things are blowing up, and gorillas are wielding light sabers, and Chuck Norris is roundhouse kicking guys in the face.)...Then you might not notice. Still, bad writing can ruin an otherwise flawless production. Good writing can turn a movie about a guy living the same day over-and-over into a classic. So the good writers are very valuable and the bad ones are easily replaced, so what's the deal with the writer's strike?

In a free market economy, people generally get paid what they're worth, assuming they have the freedom to change jobs. A career Papa John's employee may complain, but any sixteen-year-old could do his job. Likewise if just anybody could be a CEO, the board of directors wouldn't waste six figures on some fancy suit. They'd just hire the Papa John's guy, and use the excess for something that really gave them an advantage. If the Papa John's guy makes great pizzas but doesn't receive a raise or promotion, but Dominoes will give him an assistant manager position, what do you think he's going to do? He doesn't need to go on strike, he just needs to go where he'll get what he's worth. So he quits and goes to Dominoes. Papa John's hires a high schooler, and everyone is happy. The new assistant manager didn't need a union to get what he was worth; neither did the CEO; performance is the best bargaining tool.

So why are the writer's dissatisfied with what they are being offered? Apparently the sticky points include DVD residual payments, union jurisdiction over animation and reality program writers, and compensation for "New Media" programs such as Internet shows. So the items being discussed represent new and lucrative opportunities, and like a gold rush everyone comes running with their pickaxes. What should happen is that the production companies hash it out with the individual writers. If a talented writer feels he's being cheated, he probably could get better terms at a company that would be more appreciative of his skills. Less talented writers wouldn't have that power but that's fair. Is it not? At least they can make a living doing what they enjoy.

But the Writer's Guild of America says that writers are not to be negotiated with individually. Instead collective bargaining ensues. What producer wants to pay a low-talent writer more than he's worth? So we have an impasse. Let's get real. The chumps that wrote the Cavemen series, got paid a lot more than they were worth. The guys that wrote the first few seasons of 24 can probably get whatever they ask.

In a healthy free market economy, unions are not just unnecessary but also destructive. The delicate harmony is thrown out of balance. This whole thing is just another example. How many American manufacturing facilities would still be able to support communities if unions hadn't driven their payroll expenses higher than they could competitively sustain? In the end everyone loses.

Ohio State Football 2007

Not bad for a rebuilding year. The offense was given the uphill task of replacing two experienced quaterbacks (one Heisman award winner, Troy Smith), two NFL first round pick receivers (one of which was also the nations best return man Ted Ginn Jr), and a tailback who was also drafted into the NFL. At first glance you'd think the defense wasn't hurt too bad by graduation, until you take into account that OSU runs a 4-3 where the line is unequivocally the most important element. Three starting D-linemen left the team and impact-player Lawrence Wilson was injured. This is why sports prognosticators predicted OSU to finish third in the Big Ten. What does it say about a program that can make it to the national title game under these conditions?

Is the Big Ten inferior to the SEC? Let's take a look. Michigan (BigTen #3) beat Florida (SEC #3). Wisconsin (#4) barely lost to Tennessee (#2) in a thriller; meaning our fourth best almost beat their second best. LSU (#1) beat Ohio State (#1). In the last six years the Big Ten is 9-9 against the SEC. Recent history indicates the conferences may be equal. Personally, I assess the SEC to be slightly better at the present but "time and change" will take its toll eventually.

This year's team was very youthful; perhaps too youthful, as can be seen from the number of debilitating and untimely personal fouls in the title game, totaling more yards than I can count. So now I invoke the Cleveland sports fans mantra, "next year". Next year, our team's core will be more mature. Next year, there will be no doubt about strength of schedule because our third game is at USC. This year we don't care what the national media says. This year we'll let the SEC believe they are the best. This year we still will be coached by Jim Tressel, who is 6-1 against arch-rival Michigan.This year we need to never forget what it was like to lose to "the team up north" every year. Always remember that beating Michigan is the most important thing an Ohio State team can do and everything else is just steak sauce.

Oh...one more thing...Ohio boys have beaten the South before. We'll do it again!