[consulting] Estimation-Blowout case-studies wanted

Thu Mar 26 15:35:32 UTC 2009

Thanks for asking, Sam.

The problem is that there is a huge crisis in the regime in which we live.
As a result, there is a huge flux from propietary to open source products,
both in terms of software and programmers.

This is "good" in the sense that there is suddenly more work than we know
what to do with.

This is "bad" however in that it is part of a broader attack on working
class standard of living, and will lead to lowering of rates and in the
short term a huge deterioration in our working conditions.

This vision comes from taking the situation and analyzing it both
historically and in terms of what is really going on beneath the surface,
what is really driving things: capitalist crisis, war, unemployment and
superexploitation.

In past times, these were philosophical problems. But now, they are killing
us. In Argentina there is a dengue epidemic that has affected 7,000 people,
just to name one single aspect of the deterioration of living standards.

In Drupalland, we will have to work more to earn less. And even if this
doesn't happen in the very short term, working conditions are bad and
worsening, and there is very little individuals can do to solve this
problem.

That is the problem we need to fix.

Victor

2009/3/26 Sam Cohen <sam at samcohen.com>

> Victor,
>
> What exactly is the problem you are trying to fix?
>
> It seems that right now there is an enormous amount of work, enormous
> opportunities, and for the most part, the pay, at least the pay potential is
> really quite good.  Drupalers are in high demand.
>
> Not sure I get it -- unless your post was tongue in cheek.
>
> Sam
>
> 2009/3/26 Victor Kane <victorkane at gmail.com>
>
> Fascinating discussion.
>>
>> But to all you Adam Smith people, I have to say:
>>
>> There is no such thing as the individual small producer: there are
>> factories and workers, monopolies, and wannabe monopolies, and you may think
>> you are free and individual, but we are all workers in a factory, and the
>> bosses are driving down wages and salaries as we speak.
>>
>> Our real problem is to band together and demand a minimum wage for each
>> category.
>>
>> We need a union.
>>
>> Of course we have a right to publish our minimum wage! Of course we have a
>> right to declare rates beneath which no-one should be accepting work.
>>
>> So:
>>
>> * All certification under control of the website application developers
>> union (we can affiliate with writers, with communications, etc...)
>> * No to monopoly certification programs and other attempts to create
>> monopolies with the aim of driving down rates.
>> * Minimum wage for each category.
>> * Drupal free always as in beer and speech. Drupal development open to
>> all.
>>
>> Only a uniion can do that.
>>
>> Otherwise we'll all be washing dishes in Soho, because it's a better paid
>> job than developing websites.
>>
>> Consultants, unite! You have nothing to lose except your WSOD.
>>
>> Victor Kane
>> http://awebfactory.com.ar
>> http://projectflowandtracker.com
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 10:28 PM, Michael Prasuhn <mike at mikeyp.net>wrote:
>>
>>> I see the logical fallacy that you present here, but I think that misses
>>> the most poignant part of the message you are replying to and that is:
>>>
>>> Publishing your rates != Agreeing to set minimum prices.
>>>
>>> Anyway.
>>>
>>> -Mike
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mar 25, 2009, at 5:12 PM, Cary Gordon wrote:
>>>
>>>  There is a logical fallacy in there. What you are really claiming is
>>>> that rate disclosure does not directly lead to a monopoly, therefor it
>>>> is either legal or somehow not as illegal as other collusive behavior.
>>>> We could have a long discussion of what type of fallacy it is. I go
>>>> for begging the question.
>>>>
>>>> Feel free to disclose your rates. On advice of counsel, I won't.
>>>>
>>>> Cary
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 1:25 PM, Mehboob Alam <malam at thinkx.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> But I'm far from convinced that its illegal to share your rates with
>>>>>> your competitors,one to one or on a mailing list.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> If GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota agree to set prices, that's
>>>>> "collusion"
>>>>>
>>>>> If JetBlue, SouthWest, Alaska and others decide to set minimum prices
>>>>> for certain routes, that's "collusion"
>>>>>
>>>>> If several LCD manufacturers agree to fix their prices, and that ended
>>>>> up costing Apple a lot of money due to the lack of competitive
>>>>> bidding, that's "collusion".
>>>>>
>>>>> Publishing your rates here.. not so much. The clients have a choice of
>>>>> thousands of possible vendors for these kinds of projects, and it
>>>>> would be difficult to set minimum prices.
>>>>>
>>>>> And then, anyone who desperately needs the work can easily low-ball
>>>>> their rates to get the project.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, fire away.. :)
>>>>>
>>>>> just my opinion..
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> consulting mailing list
>>>>> consulting at drupal.org
>>>>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Cary Gordon
>>>> The Cherry Hill Company
>>>> http://chillco.com
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> consulting mailing list
>>>> consulting at drupal.org
>>>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
>>>>
>>>
>>> __________________
>>> Michael Prasuhn
>>> 503.488.5433 office
>>> 714.356.0168 cell
>>> 503.661.7574 home
>>> mike at mikeyp.net
>>> http://mikeyp.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> consulting mailing list
>>> consulting at drupal.org
>>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> consulting mailing list
>> consulting at drupal.org
>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> consulting mailing list
> consulting at drupal.org
> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/attachments/20090326/2f45a0d2/attachment-0001.htm>