Trickle Down Economics

“There is little one can do to prevent corporations from taking it all when the government is taking its marching orders from same.

It is no longer government of, by and for the people.

I for one would not like to just see ME succeed, but for most if not all to succeed.

That makes for a better place in which to live.”

“Buck, are you aware that it is not always that simple, cut and dried. Let me give you a true f'rinstance. One radio station I used to work at made me afternoon drive personality and production director. It was kinda nice, but the pay was pretty low and the extra duties of overseeing all commercial production for an entire AM/FM outlet was just overwhelming and the financial rewards were not there. However, I was pursuing my dream of working in the radio business at the time. About 6 months later, the program director that hired me moved on. I clearly had the amount of radio experience at the time to take on the job, so I applied for it. And the job was a significant increase in pay over a production guy. Well, as fate would have it, I was not given the job. The owner of the station pulled me aside and told me the sole reason was because I had such a strong production voice, along with copy writing proficiency and editing skills, that he wanted me to keep the production department strong. Now, I accepted this and did not moan. But, how can your assessment cover a situation like that. My own proficiencies were almost like a curse to me there...”

“Buck is high on life, Treebeard!

Apparently its all good!”

“Buddha, it takes determination to rise to the top in a competitive marketplace. The majority of small business owners complain of being over-regulated by the government, high taxes and employee-benefit requirements as being reasons for their failures. The ones that really want to succeed, do. The ones that don't, whine. Remember that survival-of-the-fittest ideology you seem to defend? Sounds like you're upset at the T-Rex.”

“On a side note, I went to the store to buy my dad a new grill for Father's Day. After looking at Weber's (made in China), Vermont Grill (made in China), and Charbroil (made in China), I settled on a nicely priced, sturdy 40,000 BTU grill from Fiesta Gas Grills (Made in the USA).

What kind of country do we live in when you can barely find a grill made in the USA! Now that's unpatriotic!”

“OK, let me get this straight. It's not OK to complain when your tax dollars are used to cut the taxes of your competition, while you pay taxes, and, in addition, your tax dollars encourage that your competition hire overseas workers for pennies, and no benefits, while you employ Americans, pay them a decent wage, and benefits?

You damned right I'm complaining. Let's see what happens when it's the other way around, who will be complaining then?”

“Buddha - It's hard to debate with a brick.”

“I applaud you Buddha the consumer has the power to get what they want how they want it. Now if everyone wanted only grills made in America and were willing to show that with their pocketbooks. Guess what the major manufacturers would do, they'd make them only in America. Unfortuneatly most people don't care where their grill is made, they look at features and price.”

“And as a fr'instnance of my own. I have many times been not satisfied with my job, didn't get a raise, promotion, extension of benefits etc... What did I do, I said see ya later, and went to work for someone who gave me what I wanted. I didn't complain about "the man" why should I, I am "the man" my boss doesn't control what I recieve in compensation, I do. If he won't give me what I feel I deserve, someone else will. There are other people in my company who have the same exact job I do, but not that mindset, and you guessed it, they get paid significantly less than I do.”

“Our company is handing out whopping 2% raises for the first raise in two years.

For a $5.5B service company whose main "stock in trade" is its people, they are taking the approach that this is a major blow to profitability.

What a crock. We are a people company. We don't make widgets; we provide services. The guy on the street delivering the service gets what amounts to 1% increase a year. No #&%!$ing wonder our turnover is so damn high.

I wish someone would take time to count the beans here....retention vs. training.”

“In my case, Bison, the money was in the more competitive markets. But, as I sent out tapes to those larger markets, I found the competition to be vast. It wasn't easy and when someone (especially when you are young) gets hit with that, it isn't easy and there are only so many jobs to go around. I went a long time before I was able to even get another job in that field. True, I picked a field that was rather difficult and one where lots of people get knocked out because, unless you rise above a certain level within a reasonable period of time, starvation starts to erode your dreams. And that level where you can make a significant amout of money as an announcer goes to a field where the jobs are extremely limited. But, when you pursue your dreams rather than the money, it is easy to get swallowed up sometimes...”

“Buddha, you either write your own paychecks, or someone will write them for you. It's that simple. Libs feel like they're "owed" something, like they deserve a certain lifestyle regardless. In a free market system, it's survival of the fittest. You reap, you sow. You don't sow, you don't reap. So many people wanna reap what OTHERS sow and they whine and complain. Why is Wal-Mart so big? Because people don't wanna pay full retail which helps pay for employee benefits and union demands. They buy everything on the cheap. Companies can't afford their own workforce and take their labor overseas. If taxes and regulations and union demands weren't so high we'd see a lot more companies stickin' around. I know many business owners here in California who are moving to other states because the regulatory business climate and taxes here in CA is too much for them to remain competitive. I applaud you for buying an American made grill even though it cost you more. If we all did that we'd see less things made in China.”

“Don't worry ! things will be better if you follow this advice;
This summer take your kids on a camping trip somewhere down on the southern border.take with you; guns,night vision,cameras and lots of sun screen. Now spend a week showing your kids what their future holds.
Get home in time to vote in Nov. toss a coin; heads for Bush,tails for Kerry.That will fix it,won't it.”

“The grill actually cost less than the Charbroil & Webber, had more BTU's and seemed slightly sturdier.

Free market system.... great, but I must point out two things..

1. Big Companies are funded through sales and the sale of stocks. Stocks are purchased by a collective group of shareholders. Unions, are a collective group of employees, looking to benefit from the sales of the rpoduct just as much as the shareholders. The shareholders risk money, the workers invest lives.

2. Even the fittest lion can be devoured and killed by two less fit lions. However, if the three lions stuck toghether, they all would be less likely to die, become more fit through group hunting, and bag more lionesses in the pride. The theory of equilibrium works, survival of the fittest is for primative animals.”

“And humans ain't primative?”

“Not me, I even have indoor plumbing.”

“"The grill actually cost less than the Charbroil & Webber, had more BTU's and seemed slightly sturdier."

These people need investment capital for marketing then, If you can produce a better product for less, and have it made in America, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to cut deeply into the big boys market share. My fear of course is that as they grow, they would find that it's better to produce overseas. this is part of the reason the big boys do that, they're taking the money they save and use it for branding. It may be difficult for Fiesta to raise the money to compete with the Big Boys branding without moving production overseas. So we need to find a way for Fiesta to be too compete in the advertising arena without their having to cut production costs. Ideas?”

“I guess humans evolved themselves out of the evolutionary process. Interesting.”

“Charity isn't an option. Tax breaks or subsidies would violate free trade agreements. So those are out. I believe there has to be a way, that both sides can agree on, for Fiesta to compete.”

“Well said, Buddha Bear!!!

Survival of the fittest breeds tyranny and along comes revolution.

I believe humans can evolve to where they can keep it in the middle.”

“You evolve into something more than primative..... jeesh.

Who is to say that Fiesta needs more marketing or barnd recognition?”

“2. Even the fittest lion can be devoured and killed by two less fit lions. However, if the three lions stuck toghether, they all would be less likely to die, become more fit through group hunting, and bag more lionesses in the pride. The theory of equilibrium works, survival of the fittest is for primative animals."
Buddha Bear
11:52:07 AM
06/16/04

Only one lion has all the lionesses in the Pride. First job when he takes over from the prior ruler is to kill all the cubs, this puts the females in heat...for him.

Not a lot of sharing.”

“Like I said, tyranny....”

“"Who is to say that Fiesta needs more marketing or barnd recognition?"

Oh so despite your purchase you're for the market being dominated by companies that make their products in China?”

“Ahhh... so we evolve into something that is outside the bounds of the precepts of evolution itself. Hmmm.”

“I've slowly evolved into the perfect drunk just by thinking about it.”

“We have the fastest growing economy in 20 years, interest rates are in the basement, and the average wage is something like $13+ an hour.

Yeah, we're going to hell in a hand basket. Just one more example of what I've been saying, liberal's are eternal pessimists...or just blind.”

“Yeah, those Republicans are just eternal optimists:

"We can expect more attacks in the coming weeks, more car bombs, more suiciders, more attempts on the lives of Iraqi officials."
- President Bush”

“If you can honestly sit there and say you expect Bush to keep ANYTHING bad from happening you are more politically retard than I thought.”

“Nigal, if the average wage appears good on paper, but the cost of living goes through the roof, don't you need to equate that into the formula? And I am talking about food, energy costs, etc. Those are things that aren't figured into the Labor Dept's stats on inflation, but mean a hell of a lot more to me because those things are what is making the discetionary part of my income so much lower, as it is with lots of other people, not buying cars or homes...”

“Would not the fact that you CHOOSE to live in NYC factor in too? Just because you have to pay a higher price to have goods carted into the city doesn’t mean the rest of America does. You live in one of the most expensive cities in America and that can hardly be used as a benchmark for the whole country.”

“True, but I hardly think we are the only ones struggling in America. Besides, I would go nuts living with you friggin' rednecks!

:)”

“Hey, never underestimate a good night of drinking cheep beer and shootin' rats down at the dump.”

“I'll give ya that! Sounds like fun, actually!”

“Don't forget mud-truckin', boys!”

“Munster trucks are so !987 MarkO. We're all about the Quads nowdays! Grip it and rip it ya'll!”

“Yank it and crank it?”

“"Just one more example of what I've been saying, liberal's are eternal pessimists...or just blind....."


I saw a new ad last night were Bush as picked up on this line. I like the "pessimisim never created a job". I had a goot chuckle at that one.

At any rate, the fed will be raising interest rates here soon and inflation is on the rise. TomAto, TomOto is all were going to get. The American people will not bother to dig deep into the propaganda, on both sides. Much of the country has made up their minds; it's gonna be a bloody fight for what's left of the undecideds out there.

Is there another time in our history (civil war excluded) where our country has been so divided? What happened to the "healing of America" and the "I'm a uniter, not a divider" line of thinking? It's been more like "it's my way, or the highway, you Commie bassturd".”

“"If you can honestly sit there and say you expect Bush to keep ANYTHING bad from happening you are more politically retard than I thought."
Nigal
09:49:03 AM

I don't know of anyone who believes that, except maybe you.

I do expect leaders to work in the public interest, not just for the people who paid their campaign bills.”

“Part of the problem is these people whose answer is, "...if you don't like being a loser, become one of the winners."

We all pay for the losers, especially when there are more and more of them.”

“"Is there another time in our history (civil war excluded) where our country has been so divided? What happened to the "healing of America" and the "I'm a uniter, not a divider" line of thinking? It's been more like "it's my way, or the highway, you Commie bassturd"."

Only if you allow the media to form your views. the only reason things look so divided is because people WANT you to believe it. The more division, the more unstable the country looks to voters. A vast liberal conspiracy? Hardly. But they do like to paint a nasty picture when a republican is in office.”

“The question is : "Is that "painting" (by the media) fiction or reality?"”

“"I don't know of anyone who believes that, except maybe you."

Pardon my Spanish but you sir are a phucking liar. When and where did I even give a hint at holding this view? Put up or shut up.”

“I'd go for an enhancement of the truth, but ot a down right lie from the "liberal media", as polls, on both sides show us that this country is still divided.

If anything, the Bush PR machine as stalled in making things seem better tan they are. People coming out of his Admin are fueling the fire with their books and testimony. Granted, some profit making is at hand; however, it is very obvious that the Bush admin has nothing in it's bag to combat the "enhancments".

Besides, a lot o this negitivity was given to the "liberial media" by the Admin's own actions, by being evasive, dubious and giving off the impression of elistism, compound by the dislike for attack dogs likes Coultier (I still want to know what she thinks of her FRENCH last name), Insannity, and Blush.”

“The divisiveness is there, whether you want to lay it on the media or not. Bush is getting flack from within his own party too. Hell, there's even been about two dozen ex-military leaders and former diplomats that have called him out on his foreign policy and made some pretty blistering claims about it.

Bush

These are folks from as far back as Truman and from both parties too. He has a base, but it's doesn't appear to be as solid as it once was.

This guy gets a lot of ridicule too. Hell, the only way he would get more of that is if his first name was Harry! :)”

“What in the world......the only trickle down stuff I know of is when my wee wee accidently goes awry....I don't know what you people are meandering on about...sheesh...this is simple!”

“okayyyyyyy! Thanks for clearing that up, Stratus! :)”

“WASTELAND OF THE FREE

Living in the wasteland of the free...

We got preachers dealing in politics and diamond mines
and their speech is growing increasingly unkind
They say they are Christ's disciples
but they don't look like Jesus to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got politicians running races on corporate cash
Now don't tell me they don't turn around and kiss them peoples' ass
You may call me old-fashioned
but that don't fit my picture of a true democracy
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got CEO's making two hundred times the workers' pay
but they'll fight like hell against raising the minimum wage
and If you don't like it, mister, they'll ship your job
to some third-world country 'cross the sea
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our troubles on the weak ones
Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
Living in the wasteland of the free

We got little kids with guns fighting inner city wars
So what do we do, we put these little kids behind prison doors
and we call ourselves the advanced civilization
that sounds like crap to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got high-school kids running 'round in Calvin Klein and Guess
who cannot pass a sixth-grade reading test
but if you ask them, they can tell you
the name of every crotch on mTV
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We kill for oil, then we throw a party when we win
Some guy refuses to fight, and we call that the sin
but he's standing up for what he believes in
and that seems pretty damned American to me
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our troubles on the weak ones
Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
Living in the wasteland of the free

While we sit gloating in our greatness
justice is sinking to the bottom of the sea
Living in the wasteland of the free
Living in the wasteland of the free
Living in the wasteland of the free”

“She's not pulling any punches, there....”

“I like Iris Dement.



Dubya is just demented.”