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Hedge funds made Billions in 2008
Don't feel like the lone ranger. Your 401K went down like many or ours did. That includes the GM Pension trust. Another BIG chunk of change GM will have to find or have PBGC take over the fund and force GM into bankruptcy.
GM needs $12.3B for pension fund by 2014
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- General Motors Corp. said it needs to make $12.3 billion in pension contributions by 2014 and is exploring options for its underfunded pension plans.
In a conference call Wednesday, GM Chief Financial Officer Ray Young said the company was "trying to understand what our options for pension funding are."
The restructuring plan GM submitted to the government Tuesday predicts the automaker will need to make a $5.9 billion pension contribution in 2013 and $6.4 billion in 2014. GM expected to borrow the money, but could get additional government help to make up the shortfall.
GM disclosed on Tuesday that its pension funds were underfunded by $12.7 billion as of Dec. 31 -- with an $11.1 billion shortfall in its hourly pension fund and $1.7 billion in its salaried fund.
Just add that to the $100 Billion + or - that GM is currently in debt. Anyone that thinks GM can be salvaged without BK has got to be using some real good prescription drugs.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Well, at least the salsa is low-cal. The West Michigan Whitecaps, a minor league baseball team, will be offering up major league cholesterol, carbohydrates and calories in an enormous hamburger being added to the menu this year at the Fifth Third Ballpark.
The 4-pound, $20 burger features five beef patties, five slices of cheese, nearly a cup of chili and liberal doses of salsa and corn chips, all on an 8-inch sesame-seed bun. That's a lot of dough!
The Grand Rapids Press reports that anyone who eats the entire 4,800-calorie behemoth in one sitting will receive a special T-shirt.
No wonder your cops are over weight :shades: Is that a UAW burger, ALL PORK :P
Just saying... :shades:
More than 6,000 UAW members have accepted buyout and early retirement packages offered by General Motors Corp., which will allow the struggling automaker to reduce its hourly ranks as part of its restructuring plan, the Free Press has learned.
Workers faced a Tuesday deadline to accept one of the incentive packages to leave the company. The packages included $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 new-vehicle voucher.
The packages were offered to 62,000 UAW members in February and aimed specifically at GM's 22,000 retirement-eligible workers.
On Tuesday, GM also began notifying about 160 white-collar workers they would be laid off April 1.
GM, which lost nearly $70 billion over the past two years, has said it plans to cut 47,000 workers worldwide by year's end as part of efforts to make the company viable. GM is operating with a $13.4-billion U.S. government loan and is seeking up to $16.6 billion more.
Meanwhile, Chrysler extended for the second time Wednesday the deadline for its latest UAW buyout offers, this time indefinitely, according to company and union sources.
About 26,000 hourly workers have been offered taxable lump sums of $50,000 or $75,000, depending on their years of service, plus $25,000 vouchers they can use to buy new Chrysler vehicles.
Looks like Chrysler is a much better company to work for. $75k and a new Jeep Wrangler would be good for me. My company was not near so generous. GM and Chrysler need to unload the dead weight at the top of the seniority list. Even Rocky says they are wore out and busted up.
6000 workers at the top tier will save GM about a $billion a year. $34 Billion in FAT left to trim.
That's not so hot of a deal. That's about 1 year salary plus the voucher, the value of both of which are taxable as ordinary income, I think. So, anyone that accepts it comes out of it with 60%-75% of the face value. Then they probably gotta go out and find another job, if they can in one of the depressed D3 manufacturing areas. And if they find a job, it's almost certainly not going to pay what their UAW wages were.
IMO, the wrokers would be better off with an across the board 20% pay cut.
Anyone here about any UAW strikes?
-Rocky
-Rocky
Dollar goes down - OMG, they're killing us - our imported commodities, components, are too expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's face it UAW/D3 apologists - domestic's demise has absolutely NOTHING do to with so-called currency manipulation (30 years??? - even the richest people in the world combined would not be able to manipulate currencies for 30 years). Not to mention, Detroit was (almost) killed exactly when the dollar value was at its the lowest.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
-Rocky
Rocky, with the current deficit the US Government is borrowing money from the Chinese treasury. So when GM gets bailed out, in a sense it is the Chinese that are lending GM money.
The days of big margined SUVs has passed and the new Malibu is the first competitive 4cyl sedan GM perhaps has ever made, ever. GM still does not make a competitve small SUV. :lemon:
Blame the foreign brands all you want but GM's efficiency and product quality harm GM more than the foreign competition. So does the fake demand created by Saturn and Pontiac.
1. 40 years ago the market was owned by domestic production manufacturers.
2. Free trade allowed import manufacturers to offer a product at competitive price.
3. Thru series of one-by-one individual decision made by milions of Americans, those dominating manufacturers stopped being dominating. In fact, they all stand on verge of bancrupcy.
4. Those problems accelerated at the time when dollar lost 50% of its value.
The rest is claims, suppositions and excuses.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Hey Rocky, looks like you are going sell a lot of cars with the buyouts:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gm_buyouts
From the UAW workers standpoint. Too bad they cannot get GM to put that $20k into a 401K and avoid taxes. Even more so for the Chrysler workers getting $50K-$75K golden parachute. My company was able to put my buyout into our 401K and I avoided a bigger tax bill for that year.
Will 2008 be the last year for Roth IRAs? Major income tax changes are highly likely in 2009. Since Roth IRAs have never been popular with Democrat party politicians, 2008 may be your last chance to set up a Roth IRA and to reap its benefits with tax-free growth. We will monitor tax proposals as they are released and publicize them here. (10/30/08).
http://www.rothira.com/
Finally. You get it.
Now look at it in the light of raising UAW wages, and your emphasis that it has raised the standard of living.
In doing so, you raise the cost of the car. On the other hand you get paid more.
So now UAW folks can buy a more expensive car. But guess what, it is still the same car that you could buy cheaper when your wages were lower. Duh :sick:
Are you familiar with employment at will. Barring discrimination any company should be able to fire at will just as employees can quit at will.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_at_will
South Park says it all: http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1303/
True enough. Though now all the folks not making the big bucks like the UAW workers cannot afford the more expensive cars. Or if GM decides to keep the prices down, they have to cut content. So the buyer gets a junky car so that the UAW worker can live in an opulent fashion.
I would bet Michigan with the UAW is the same...altho housing is cheap, unions have a unique "opportunity" to raise everyone's cost of living...I think the Gov of Mich (Granholm???) raised taxes to pay for services, and there probably is not ONE service in Mich that isn't controlled by a union...I also heard that revenues went DOWN, but I cannot verify that...
They always want to tax the productive to give money to the worthless, useless and shiftless...then they build a gov't bureaucracy to handle that money, so even less actually goes to the worthless (which may be a good thing, but no bureaucracy would be even better)...then the bureaucrats cost millions for jobs that should not even exist...more UAW featherbedding, more cost...it never stops until it stops with a dramatic move, like GM's Chapter 11...
John Barleycorn, and the UAW, must die...
That does NOT exist in a UAW contract. You can quit a UAW job. The employer will have a real hassle getting rid of an employee that is worthless. So they just keep hiring new employees and keep the old worthless dudes on the payroll at a higher price. That is not just in the UAW. It is in most Union jobs. That has probably caused more companies to get rid of Unions or move elsewhere, than the high wages. If the UAW guy is making money for the company he is not overpaid. If he is not then what should happen to him or her? The UAW leadership knows the answer. They just refuse to accept that an old worker is not worth what he is paid. Especially in a job that requires a strong back and a weak mind.
If anything, the Bush administration has shown that low taxes are not the answer.
Education and free trade are the future.
We as taxpayers are supporting Acorn, the modern day Goon Squads, didn't the Meesiah and our left-handed Congress hand them $4 billion...
Good reading for all is a book called "The Creature from Jeckyll Island", funny money and nice folks trying their best to make life easy for the masses..
I read today that Costco, Starbucks, and Whole Foods are ready to allow Unionizing w/o any opposition..
Go out and buy a nice gas guzzling V-8, enjoy life, for the fun is about over..My Pontiac GPGT and Mustang Bullitt are fun creatures, assembled by UAW, poor fit and finish, but who cares...
Weather in Fla is great, warm, sunny, and filled with old folks who are retired and spending their money saved during the good times....Hope you young ones have the same ending in your senior years, however, based on the current political climate your retirement will be controlled by Washington---no retirement funds..
That is the sad fact. Anyone that can look at what the unholy alliance with GM and the UAW has created, should see the future where you pay for past sins with current taxes. People working today are paying my SS and Medicare. Because the Feds done spent what I put into the system. Same goes for GM and the UAW Ponzi scheme
But, according to Dallasdude, UAW helps in bringing up the wages of the labor classes (UAW and non UAW alike). What this will do is that all manufactured goods and services will go up in cost. It is nothing but inflation in the most basic sense.
1. Chevrolet Celebrity
2. Ford Escort
3. Chevrolet Cavalier
Guess the year!
As another example of GM's dominance, back then, in 1985, 7 of the top 10 selling cars in the US were GM! In addition to the Celebrity and Cavalier, there was the Caprice, Delta 88, Cutlass Ciera, Cutlass Supreme, and Century.
Ford had two in 1985, the Tempo and Escort. The lone Japanese entry was the Nissan Sentra.
But, like Toyota building here, the profits go home (in this case, to Detroit), and that is a good thing.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I also want to clear something up about the Jobs Bank. The jobs bank was created by General Motors, management back in the 70's. The plan was when they came to the union was to retrain the displaced UAW workers on CNC machines and robotics. I've been fortunate enough to speak with people on both sides of the aisle selling cars. One of my customers yesterday got into specific details. He helped invent the throttle body fuel injectors. I spoke with this guy for 45 minutesas we talked about what truck he wanted to buy. He wasn't aware of the 4.5 V8 Duramax, program that was suppose to go into half-ton Silvy's and Sierra's. He wanted a half-ton truck with a diesel engine thus I told him you almost had one buddy. Well getting back to the Jobs Bank, GM never held up there obligation to the UAW, on retraining the workers on the floor. The idea was to teach these folks how to work with robotics. Instead in the 1980's they offered buy outs like they are doing now and instead of reinvesting in there workers they shipped the jobs North and South of the borders and expanded in oversea's. I have now heard specifics from people who were involved during those negotiations and instead of being retrained to learn the new technologies to avoid being displaced well they ended up playing cards and waited for a opening at another plant while the buyouts were being offered. A ex coworker of mine from back in 1998 that I worked at Country Fresh Inc. told me the same story. My family of course has told me this but the reason why I've held back from ever mentioning it in the past was because none of you would believe it because it came from a relative and call it hyperbole. Well when management customers tell me the same story as UAW, customers and relatives I think there is a lot of meat (Truth) to the story. So marsha7, gagrice, and others you guys can't hammer on the UAW, workers for the creation of the jobs banks but I have no doubt both of you will spin it like Bill O'Reilly, in the no spin zone. :sick: I really don't care what you both think because I now have enough facts to form my own opinion. This doesn't mean the UAW, isn't guilty of any wrong doing in the past because they are. However it is nice knowing something they were accused of creating well isn't the truth.
-Rocky
-Rocky
One of the lowest crime-rates in the world is Saudi Arabia... they simply cut off your hand if you steal. Cut out your tounge if you speak badly about the king. Other things can get cut off if you mess with somones wife(s).
In Singapore, If you do not have a job... you are kicked out of the country.There is 100% employment for you! There also, if you jaywalk or spit on the sidewalk, you are hauld off to jail. The school-children of Singapore do not "play" like other childern. They wear their uniforms and struggle to survive the pressure-cooker which is their education-system. The suicide-rate of their kids is scary. I know... I worked there for awhile and every day the obituaries are full of 12-15 year-olds who have jumped out windows. (Bad grades = no Job = kicked out = family shame)
Until you KNOW what you are talking about, perhaps you should leave your dreamland European countries in your dreams...or just MOVE THERE and see the facts for yourself.
The real-world has winners and losers... that is just the way it is. Trying to change this rule of nature and "even the field" simply does not work. Many countries have tried it... not one has succeded for any sustainable length of time.
Hard work, self reliance, strong morales and, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN DESTINY have been proven for 1000s of years.
If you rely on a government, Union or other entity to do it for you, you will end up dissatisfied with the results.
*)Politicians are really looking out for THEMSELVES....
not the people.
*)Union-bosses are really looking out for THEMSELVES....
not the workers.
I removed part of the quote...I, too, want well made products made in the US...so does gagrice, and, from his writings, he has purchased well made products, made in Indiana, except that they were built by Toyota...
You seem to conveniently forget that our cars were virtually JUNK in the 70s and 80s and into the 90s, and the reason our GM and Ford cars are better today is that the Japanese put our cars to shame, so, despite all of my complaining, we DID improve our cars in the last 10 years or so...but do not think for ONE minute that the Big 3 (2?) improvement would have happened on its own...on its own, our cars became worse and worse, and only the competition from Honda and Toyota made us make our cars better...for many years, since about the late 80s into the 90s, GM/Ford quality was said to improve, but always lagging the Japanese...in 1995, our cars were as good as Japan's in the late 80s, and the japanese were always a moving target, meaning that while we were approaching their quality, they were still improving their quality...I think they call that the "law of receding horizons"...at this time, we may actually have caught up to them with cars like CTS, Malibu, Taurus, MKS and a few others...
Just remember, rocky, the ONLY reason you can proudly try and sell American quality is because we finally responded to the level of Japanese quality that shamed our carmakers for years...so, if you realy ARE proud of your car quality, thank the Japanese...
"take advantage of less fortunate people so they can assemble a product for there consumption cheaply"...again, this is a silly thought...we are not taking advantage of anybody...if the average wage in Mexico, or Singapore, or wherever, is $1.00 a day, and there are no jobs to speak of, we are doing those nations a great favor if we come in a pay them $5 a day to make a car...we did not create the poverty conditions there, but we are, in a sense, helping to improve their lot by paying them more than any other employer in that nation...do not compare them to our nation, where many folks own homes, 2 cars, etc...in their country, many may barely be lucky to get a daily ration of food, so whe we pay them $5 a day, they may be the wealthiest person on their block...
Do you advocate paying floorsweepers in Singapore $35.hour or else we are taking advantage of them???...at $5/day, we may be the savior of the nation, and it has nothing to do with religion or Jesus...
Frankly, paying them $5/day may give us sainthood, since no one else in the country probably pays as well as we do, so Jesus may be darn proud at the good deed we have done by building cars in their nation...
Stop think UAW and start thinking normal business, and UAW will NEVER be part of normal business...
It all comes back to taking responsibility for your life, which you are apparently loathe to do...bash Bush for wanting to let is put some of our Soc Sec into the stock market...no, let me handle my own retirement and let me OUT of Soc Security, but you want the gov't to control your life...just don't let them control mine...
Mock everyone with a 401K because the stock market went down...so, markets go up and down all the time (think dot com) and people make and lose money...once again, you want "protection" from the gov't...that is OK for you, but stop trying to run my life, I WILL take responsibility even if you are immature or incapable to take care of yours...and, considering how much you want everybody else to be repsonsible for your life and future, you do communicate that you are totally incapable of managing your own financial life...just please stop trying to stop me from handling mine...
Gov't should do a few things...coin money, provide for the common defense, regulate interstate commerce and keepe taxes low so that I can keep as much of my money as possible...when the founding fathers wrote the documents, there was no income tax at all...let's go back to that...
To respond to an earlier poster about low taxes and Bush...there is no rational reason for higher taxes, simply because I am capable of spending and alloting my money better then any gov't bureaucrat...taxing (confiscating my money at the point of a gun) me at higher rates has no rational reason except to use gov't to give it someone who refuses to work...
Taxing my income is, frankly, abhorrent...I do not use any more services than someone who is broke...I do not use any more B2 Bombers, yet I pay more for them...I do not require any more Border Patrol than someone who is broke, yet I pay more simply because I earn a few bucks...not fair at all...user fees, OTOH, are truly fair, as those who use it pay it...think gasoline tax, boat fees, toll roads, National park fees, hunting license fees, you name it...for those who use it, pay the user fee...you don't use it, you don't pay...
Buy a Honda, not use UAW labor...no use, no pay...:):):):):)
What does that have to do with Europe??? :confuse: Saudi Arabia, harbors terrorists and just like the whole middle east is the toilet of the world. Anyone who believe they will be entitled to 70 virgins if they kill someone in the name of there religion has some serious issues. The people over there aren't very educated.
In Singapore, If you do not have a job... you are kicked out of the country.There is 100% employment for you! There also, if you jaywalk or spit on the sidewalk, you are hauld off to jail. The school-children of Singapore do not "play" like other childern. They wear their uniforms and struggle to survive the pressure-cooker which is their education-system. The suicide-rate of their kids is scary. I know... I worked there for awhile and every day the obituaries are full of 12-15 year-olds who have jumped out windows. (Bad grades = no Job = kicked out = family shame)
Again that isn't Europe. Singapore is is the same as Saudi Arabia. No education and mind control. They are what we will become if we allow the globalist to succeed. They are sheeple!!!
Until you KNOW what you are talking about, perhaps you should leave your dreamland European countries in your dreams...or just MOVE THERE and see the facts for yourself.
I haven't been there but do have family there. I have family in Larvik, Norway and my father was born in Germany. I also have access to the internet and have read books about there culture. Someday I hope to go to Europe. If all of my family wasn't here or if I was an orphan I'd consider moving. However my family is the #1 importance in my life. I also would have to give up my friends such as Beth. I'd rather attempt to change our culture. I know that I'm just one voice but if I and lemko along with millions of others get behind Virgil Benero, well we go from a couple of voices to a movement with millions of voices.
The real-world has winners and losers... that is just the way it is. Trying to change this rule of nature and "even the field" simply does not work. Many countries have tried it... not one has succeded for any sustainable length of time.
You might be a quiter.... but I bpeebles refuse to quit!!! Just because others have failed doesn't mean we won't. Sure the odds are stacked against us but if the cause lives on well the sacrifice was worth while and I can live with that.
Hard work, self reliance, strong morales and, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN DESTINY have been proven for 1000s of years.
Those are myths. You've been sold a bill of goods if you believe you are going to join the elites. The top 1% rule the world. Just because you are knocking down six figures a year doesn't mean they are including you in your plan. If they get it there way everything will go to the lowest bidder. The Chinese and Eastern Indians, will control the economy. They will work for less.The Mexicans, will be as displaced as the common white and black folks. This is the golden eutopia of the globalist. If you think your job is safe well think again. The globalist are pushing for more H-1 Visa's to replace you dognut eating and Starbucks drinking white collar professionals. I guess I could be an [non-permissible content removed] and hope it happens but deep down I know if it gets that bad we are done!!! :sick:
If you rely on a government, Union or other entity to do it for you, you will end up dissatisfied with the results.
*)Politicians are really looking out for THEMSELVES....
not the people.
Some of that is true but I don't believe "everyone" is greedy and doesn't care.
*)Union-bosses are really looking out for THEMSELVES....
not the workers.
That is not true!!! My grandmother was one with the IUE, and if that were true do you really think I would be here arguing with you??? Would I take all of this ridicule and abuse from you guys if I didn't care about other people. My grandmother was the biggest influence on my life and most of her values live in me.
-Rocky
In Europe, gas is expensive, taxes are high, and big businesses are scattered. SUV's (GM's cash cow) are few and far between there. Smart cars are everywhere, Golfs are everywhere, but not Tahoes.
The fact is that GM has not made a desirable vehicle for years. Now, finally, the US consumer has caught up to that fact. Family owned GM dealerships are evaporating, factory workers are being bought out, and brands are disappearing because the good will of the American public is gone.
They don't care in Europe where something is made, they are educated enough to look for quality. With information so readily available, the normal person can go online and see that not one GM automobile is recommended by Consumer Reports. That the Aura and G6 are unreliable and might not be produced in six months. That each of these cars is partially at fault for bringing our country into debt. That the super car Corvette has the same steering wheel as the junker G6.
As I visit Edmund's now, I see a Malibu with an invoice price higher than a comparable Camry. Yet the incentives drop it down in price. Who is paying for these incentives? The tax payer. Even as soldier are dying to secure our country, funds are diverted to a dying, greedy company=GM.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/26/magazines/fortune/motor_world.fortune/index.htm
:lemon:
True, but the money goes back to Japan. Regardless, it is better than buying a true import that comes on a boat to america.
You seem to conveniently forget that our cars were virtually JUNK in the 70s and 80s and into the 90s, and the reason our GM and Ford cars are better today is that the Japanese put our cars to shame, so, despite all of my complaining, we DID improve our cars in the last 10 years or so...but do not think for ONE minute that the Big 3 (2?) improvement would have happened on its own...on its own, our cars became worse and worse, and only the competition from Honda and Toyota made us make our cars better...for many years, since about the late 80s into the 90s, GM/Ford quality was said to improve, but always lagging the Japanese...in 1995, our cars were as good as Japan's in the late 80s, and the japanese were always a moving target, meaning that while we were approaching their quality, they were still improving their quality...I think they call that the "law of receding horizons"...at this time, we may actually have caught up to them with cars like CTS, Malibu, Taurus, MKS and a few others...
While I agree with you that competition makes things improve it doesn't mean you allow one party to enjoy the advantage of a unlevel playing field. The Japanese government backed Toyota, Honda, Nissan, when they came to america. They were able to sell cars at losses because the government back in Japan, picked up the tab. The governement of Japan, was too rich and powerful even for the Big 3. If it wasn't for this country the Japanese, would still be living in grass huts eating rice and snakes.
"take advantage of less fortunate people so they can assemble a product for there consumption cheaply"...again, this is a silly thought...we are not taking advantage of anybody...if the average wage in Mexico, or Singapore, or wherever, is $1.00 a day, and there are no jobs to speak of, we are doing those nations a great favor if we come in a pay them $5 a day to make a car...we did not create the poverty conditions there, but we are, in a sense, helping to improve their lot by paying them more than any other employer in that nation...do not compare them to our nation, where many folks own homes, 2 cars, etc...in their country, many may barely be lucky to get a daily ration of food, so whe we pay them $5 a day, they may be the wealthiest person on their block...
I'm sorry I don't agree with your rosy picture you are trying to paint. The U.S. worker had a wife and two kids and lost his home, car, and self pride to a foreigner. I will NEVER support that even if a non-union worker loses his job. The american is my fellow country men and a citizen of my nation. Someone I could be fighting beside in WW3.
Do you advocate paying floorsweepers in Singapore $35.hour or else we are taking advantage of them???...at $5/day, we may be the savior of the nation, and it has nothing to do with religion or Jesus...
I don't know what wage would make the singaporens "middle class" but I don't want an american corporation trying to take advantage of them. Our business ethics one of many reasons why people around the world hate us.
Stop think UAW and start thinking normal business, and UAW will NEVER be part of normal business...
Unions in Europe, have been a part of business for a very long time.
It all comes back to taking responsibility for your life, which you are apparently loathe to do...bash Bush for wanting to let is put some of our Soc Sec into the stock market...no, let me handle my own retirement and let me OUT of Soc Security, but you want the gov't to control your life...just don't let them control mine...
I worked for the government a few years ago and while they weren't always being truthful I accepted it. If they were truthful with us nobody would be able to do our jobs and I'd leave it at that. I am very proud to have served my country in the capacity I did. I dislike Bush, with a passion but I'd take a bullet for him because he was my president.
Mock everyone with a 401K because the stock market went down...so, markets go up and down all the time (think dot com) and people make and lose money...once again, you want "protection" from the gov't...that is OK for you, but stop trying to run my life, I WILL take responsibility even if you are immature or incapable to take care of yours...and, considering how much you want everybody else to be repsonsible for your life and future, you do communicate that you are totally incapable of managing your own financial life...just please stop trying to stop me from handling mine...
The problem is Marsha7, you might think you know how to run your life and when you fail the government will still have to throw the life presever to ya. So it's easier to cut out the step of "you thinking you know how" and just tell you how!!!
Gov't should do a few things...coin money, provide for the common defense, regulate interstate commerce and keepe taxes low so that I can keep as much of my money as possible...when the founding fathers wrote the documents, there was no income tax at all...let's go back to that...
The liberatarian plan will not work. How else would the right play the role of the world police with no tax revenue??? :P
To respond to an earlier poster about low taxes and Bush...there is no rational reason for higher taxes, simply because I am capable of spending and alloting my money better then any gov't bureaucrat...taxing (confiscating my money at the point of a gun) me at higher rates has no rational reason except to use gov't to give it someone who refuses to work...
The problem is why work when all your going to get is Wal~Mart, wages??? Are you really going to be better off busting your [non-permissible content removed] for $7 an/hr. instead of collecting a unemployment check??? Raise the wages so the person can afford to put a roof over his head and afford to feed his family and you will see a abundance of people with a sense of self worth.
Taxing my income is, frankly, abhorrent...I do not use any more services than someone who is broke...I do not use any more B2 Bombers, yet I pay more for them...I do not require any more Border Patrol than someone who is broke,
The problem is Marsha7, you might think you know how to run your life and when you fail the government will still have to throw the life presever to ya. So it's easier to cut out the step of "you thinking you know how" and just tell you how!!!
Gov't should do a few things...coin money, provide for the common defense, regulate interstate commerce and keepe taxes low so that I can keep as much of my money as possible...when the founding fathers wrote the documents, there was no income tax at all...let's go back to that...
The liberatarian plan will not work. How else would the right play the role of the world police with no tax revenue??? :P
To respond to an earlier poster about low taxes and Bush...there is no rational reason for higher taxes, simply because I am capable of spending and alloting my money better then any gov't bureaucrat...taxing (confiscating my money at the point of a gun) me at higher rates has no rational reason except to use gov't to give it someone who refuses to work...
The problem is why work when all your going to get is Wal~Mart, wages??? Are you really going to be better off busting your [non-permissible content removed] for $7 an/hr. instead of collecting a unemployment check??? Raise the wages so the person can afford to put a roof over his head and afford to feed his family and you will see a abundance of people with a sense of self worth.
Taxing my income is, frankly, abhorrent...I do not use any more services than someone who is broke...I do not use any more B2 Bombers, yet I pay more for them...I do not require any more Border Patrol than someone who is broke, yet I pay more simply because I earn a few bucks...not fair at all...user fees, OTOH, are truly fair, as those who use it pay it...think gasoline tax, boat fees, toll roads, National park fees, hunting license fees, you name it...for those who use it, pay the user fee...you don't use it, you don't pay...
Well as others told me MOVE if you don't like it!!! :P The only reason why you are successfulis because you benefited in this country. I didn't mind paying more than others because I was better off a few years ago. I felt fortunate for what I had.
Buy a Honda, not use UAW labor...no use, no pay...
Trust me I've already penciled you in for a new Accord, next go around.
-Rocky
If GM created the Jobs Bank, then they should be able to end it as an additional expense they can no longer afford.
I have family in Larvik, Norway and my father was born in Germany.
Do you really think that Norway would let you into their closed society of 5 million people? Germany may let you in as a janitor or give you some other low level job. Look at the EU over all and you will find higher taxes, and higher unemployment. More problems from undesirable immigrants. Most of those countries are losing their brightest to jobs in the USA. We still have a very high standard of living in this country. What will bring it down is trying to bring the non workers up to the same level as the working classes. That is what you are seeing happening.
By the way. How many cars are produced in your idea of Utopia, Norway. What does Norway manufacture besides oil. Sounds a lot like Saudi Arabia. Closed society depending on others to buy their oil. Germany's largest auto maker VW has factories all over the World including Mexico and several of the old Soviet bloc countries. Did Germany close their borders as you would like? And the UK cannot make cars without the help of some other country. Plus their currency is down 30%. Someone must be manipulating it. Maybe now we can get Jaguars for less money.
You should also research home ownership in the EU. You will find it to be a MUCH smaller percentage than the USA. You need to get away from the influence of UAW members. It is really unhealthy.
I don't see how that would exclude unions. People have been taking responsibility for their own destiny by forming guilds since 300 AD. Fast forward to the 20th century and those guilds became unions.
GM Says 7,500 UAW Union Members to Take Buyout Offers (Bloomberg)
"The retirements and buyouts of 12 percent of GM’s union workforce open slots for the Detroit-based automaker to hire replacement workers for half the current union rate. Under the federal loans GM says it needs to survive, labor costs must match those of Japanese automakers in the U.S. The company has trimmed about 60,500 jobs in three buyouts since 2005."
In card check news, "But workers at the Dana Corporation Auto Parts plant in Albion, Ind., say the card check process has nearly torn the 50-person plant apart after harassment and intimidation from the United Auto Workers union forced them to a secret-ballot vote."
Card Check Process Used by Union Organizers Ignites Fury at Indiana Plant (Fox)
Employees said union representatives approached them in the break room, at the plant doors and even followed them to their cars.
"He was just like an itch that you couldn't scratch. He just wouldn't go away," said employee Rita Murphy.
"After a while we realized he was going to be here morning, noon and night until he got his numbers that he needed," said Betty Pop.
Dana employee Jamie Oliver told FOX News that she was approached at her home.
That is exactly the tactics that will be used in many places if that lame EFCA bill is passed. Indiana folks must be a lot brighter than Michigan. They are trying to avoid contact with the UAW. For fear their jobs will be sent to a RTW state, Mexico or China.
Yes, I'm Norwegian, descent. My great great grandfather was European Sailboat Champion from 1900-1902. One of my relatives was Ulabrand, who has a statue of him over looking a fjord in Larvik. I am Danish, thus I'd be happy there also!!! Good lookin' blond haired and blue-eyed chicks!!! :P
Germany may let you in as a janitor or give you some other low level job. Look at the EU over all and you will find higher taxes, and higher unemployment.
It is lower than the 12.6% unemployment here in Michigan
More problems from undesirable immigrants. Most of those countries are losing their brightest to jobs in the USA. We still have a very high standard of living in this country. What will bring it down is trying to bring the non workers up to the same level as the working classes. That is what you are seeing happening.
I agree because the working class wages are being lowered by global competition and it's a race to the bottom. Why work when unemployment will pay you more. :sick:
By the way. How many cars are produced in your idea of Utopia, Norway.
None. That isn't there area of expertise. They specialize in oil, fishing, ship building, lumber, farming. I read that they do have some parts plants though.
What does Norway manufacture besides oil. Sounds a lot like Saudi Arabia. Closed society depending on others to buy their oil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/no.html#Econ
Germany's largest auto maker VW has factories all over the World including Mexico and several of the old Soviet bloc countries. Did Germany close their borders as you would like?
They have some of the largest and most profitable. VW/Audi/Lamborghini, Porsche, BMW-Mini Cooper, Mercedes, to name a couple!!! :P No they didn't close there borders. As Fintail, said they lost their nationalism. The truth be told it is because of what happened in WW2.
And the UK cannot make cars without the help of some other country. Plus their currency is down 30%. Someone must be manipulating it. Maybe now we can get Jaguars for less money.
You will have to ask your Indian (dot, not feather) masters how much they (Jaguar) will cost you??? :surprise:
You should also research home ownership in the EU. You will find it to be a MUCH smaller percentage than the USA. You need to get away from the influence of UAW members. It is really unhealthy.
I know Rush, has dumbed down his audience of sheeple. Instead of believing your hero gagrice, you should click the nob off as the Oxycotin has fried his reality and do some research for yourself. Perhaps after such research from unfiltered sources you might finally believe the European, system isn't as bad as Rush and Hannity tell you!!!
-Rocky