Hey...let's apply for their jobs! Do you think we are qualified for those positions? Do you think we could handle the pressure? Do you think we can handle that amount of responsibility?
That is the economics of the 'private sector' world. What is outrageous is the 'public sector' world that WE pay for whether we want to or not! Ya know like Kosiur's created job? Like paying for Spitzer's prostitites? Like paying for a multi-million dollar convention center? Like paying for free lunches in Central Park? Like funding private businesses through the metroplex? Like funding the Yankee stadium? (and I'm a Yankee fan) Like paying for abortions that I don't believe in? Like paying for welfare recipients who can't and won't get off their a** to get a job? Feel free to jump in and add to this endless list!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
This is outrageous over here and I think there should be a windfall profits tax on those kind of crazy salaris.
Salvatore, please don't tell me that a "windfall tax" is the proper way to take care of this. Here's an explanation why.
There should be no such things as windfall profit taxes. Remember, corporations don't pay taxes. The end consumer does. Let's take one of these as an example. I'll take an easy one. Les Moonves of CBS. He is third on the list at $67.6 million dollars. Now, you're saying that you want CBS (or Les himself) to pay a tax on this money. So, in order to make the same money, he decides that anybody that wants to show a show on CBS, he's going to charge them an additional amount. He also passes on a higher price to those who want to show commercials (and I'll just pick a company out of the air, how about Coca-Cola). So, Les doesn't want to (and won't pay the tax, so when Coca-Cola comes to him and says they want to put a commercial on, it's going to cost them 5% more. So, Coca-Cola is now paying the windfall tax on Les Moonves' salary...then, Coca Cola doesn't want to pay the tax, so they pass it on in an additional cost to the store owner (Neil Golub, Price Chopper, as an example). Well, since Neil Golub has to pay an additional fee for the Coca Cola to come to his stores, he then decides that he needs to raise the price of the Coca Cola that's sitting on his shelf. The Coca Cola that we all buy and complain that it costs too much...then we don't complain about Neil Golub's income, or the CEO of Coca Cola, we just complain about the salary of the CEO of CBS and pay the extra 15 cents that's put onto each 2 liter bottle of Coke that we buy and wonder why our prices keep going up...because the places we go to get our stuff are going to places to get their stuff that have to pay higher taxes...in the end, we pay the tax, they don't.
Easier way to look at it.
CBS CEO gets a tax. CBS CEO passes higher price (through commercial price) to Coca Cola CEO Coca Coal CEO passes higher price (through wholesale price) to store owner (Price Chopper CEO) Store owner passes higher price on to customer.
The only people paying the tax are the end consumers (those at the retail level). ...and we never notice it.
Here's some information off the site of an evil empire...ExxonMobil.
Quoted Text
ExxonMobil’s U.S. tax burden is already very large.
From 2003 to 2007, our U.S. tax bill ($64.7 billion), including all forms of taxation, exceeded our U.S. earnings ($46.0 billion) by almost $19 billion.
ExxonMobil's worldwide effective income tax rate for 2007 was 44 percent. A recent survey by Tax Notes of 80 leading U.S. companies revealed that these companies had an average income tax rate of 30 percent.
In 2007, ExxonMobil's worldwide tax expenses amounted to over $105 billion.
While our worldwide profits have grown, our worldwide income taxes have grown even more. From 2003 to 2007, our earnings grew by 89 percent, but our income taxes grew by 170 percent.
Additional taxes would raise prices and reduce supplies.
In the past, windfall profit taxes have undermined capital investments in the oil and gas industry and reduced domestic energy supplies. "Backdoor" windfall profit taxes would be no less damaging.
According to a 1990 Report of the Congressional Research Service, the windfall profit tax of the 1980’s reduced domestic oil production as much as six percent, and increased imports as much as 16 percent.
Industry projects span decades, require massive investments, and utilize cutting-edge technologies that evolve throughout project lifecycles. Under these circumstances, long-term planning — which relies on stable legal, fiscal and regulatory frameworks — is critical.
Imposing punitive taxes on U.S. energy companies, which already pay record taxes, would discourage the sustained investments needed to safeguard U.S. energy security.
...and we wonder why gas prices are out of control...
Remember, corporations don't pay taxes. The end consumer does.
Kevin, have you ever taken economics? Have you ever run your own business? Do you know what a profit margin is? The consumer ALWAYS pays for everything!! You say that you work in the health care industry. I don't know, or need to know, exactly in what capacity. But I'm assuming you get paid for your work and may get health care and possibly some elective 401K, vacation time and so on, correct? Where do you think this comes from? THE CONSUMER!
Now understand that I'm not a proponent of Exxon Mobil. Never ever get my gas there. That is where the CONSUMER has the control! How people can continue to get their gas there is beyond me! So don't blame Exxon for this one...blame the CONSUMER!
And may I also suggest that you request, although I'd guess it would be highly unlikely that your request would be met, to just see who much it actually costs to run a business! It is phenomenal!!!
THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR EVERYTHING! That is the American economic system! The CONSUMER is in control here! If you don't approve of it, may I suggest you move to China or any other socialist country and try their economic system. You will soon find that even with all of it's displeasures, American economics is superior!
People hate Walmart - Yet the CONSUMER still shop there. People hate Exxon Mobile - Yet the CONSUMER still gets their gas there. People complain about gas prices - Yet the CONSUMER continues to drive gas guzzlers. People complain about investment CEO's salary - Yet the CONSUMER continues to invest with them. People complain about thruway tolls - Yet the CONSUMER continues to use them.
Kevin, there really is still a thing called CHOICE!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bum, I couldn't agree with your post more. It is a simple matter of supply and demand. Company X sells squeegies, consumer buys. Company X realizes everyone wants to buy their squeegies cause they are the newest rage or the best product or for whatever reason. Company X increases their prices, it doesn't cost anymore to produce but this huge demand is there for the product so they can. They have the product, we want it and are willing to pay outrageous prices for it. As long as we continue to choose purchasing these products Company X will profit. Last I knew it was called capitalism.
We must still be very careful that Capitalism does not fall victim to Fascism. Which has somewhat reared it's ugly head through the government bail-outs. (and closer to home... the Metroplex) We do not want the Government and Commerce and the Church to become unified and supportive for the maintenance of power and control. We really need to embrace and support private enterprise without government influence or domination.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The consumer ALWAYS pays for everything!! You say that you work in the health care industry. I don't know, or need to know, exactly in what capacity. But I'm assuming you get paid for your work and may get health care and possibly some elective 401K, vacation time and so on, correct? Where do you think this comes from? THE CONSUMER!
I agree. I'm a claims adjustor. Yes, I do, and I realize that the end consumer pays for all of those. As a person who was applying for a job with the company, part of my choice was compensation, which not only includes the check that the company writes me, but includes the other benefits, as they may be. At the same time, I as a worker for the company only have choices in how this money is spent to a minimal amount. I can't tell the company what type of insurance I want, they make those choices (or give me limited choices, as the case actually is). I realize that all these things come from the consumer in the end also. It's all part of doing business.
Now understand that I'm not a proponent of Exxon Mobil. Never ever get my gas there. That is where the CONSUMER has the control! How people can continue to get their gas there is beyond me! So don't blame Exxon for this one...blame the CONSUMER!
I couldn't agree with you more. I personally do the same, although it's not because of the fact that they make a large profit. It's because of the quality of the product. I don't buy brand name if I can get the same (and a better working) product for a lower price. That was sort of the point of my whole previous post, although I didn't take it that far. That's actually the next step in the process that I put above. If the consumer doesn't go to a store to buy something, the money doesn't go back up the same line that the product comes down.
And may I also suggest that you request, although I'd guess it would be highly unlikely that your request would be met, to just see who much it actually costs to run a business! It is phenomenal!!!
I don't question this for a minute and I think it's great that people CAN go into business. I'm sure that it takes LOTS of work, something that I'm not sure that I could take on, whether it be now or any other time in the future. I would like to work towards being an owner of a company, but the monetary (not to mention the time) costs ARE phenominal.
THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR EVERYTHING! That is the American economic system! The CONSUMER is in control here! If you don't approve of it, may I suggest you move to China or any other socialist country and try their economic system. You will soon find that even with all of it's displeasures, American economics is superior!
I never said that I didn't approve of (or agree with) it.
People hate Walmart - Yet the CONSUMER still shop there. People hate Exxon Mobile - Yet the CONSUMER still gets their gas there. People complain about gas prices - Yet the CONSUMER continues to drive gas guzzlers. People complain about investment CEO's salary - Yet the CONSUMER continues to invest with them. People complain about thruway tolls - Yet the CONSUMER continues to use them.
Some do, some don't, leading to your last point...
The question is where do we go from here. I'm one of those Walmart haters, but I find myself buying my prescriptions there because they cost me $4. We just went to a $40 co pay with our insurance and that is too huge a difference for me not to pass up. My husband needed lawnmower oil and I got that there too. I hate myself but can't help myself. PS Watch for my claims Kevin and be nice to me..........I have 5 out of 7 herniated cervical disks. It should rack up a few bills.
PS Watch for my claims Kevin and be nice to me..........I have 5 out of 7 herniated cervical disks. It should rack up a few bills.
Sorry to hear this Rene. You must be in some pain. I don't know where you are going for your medical care, but I hear from other people that the Bone and Joint Center in Albany is really great. I hope you get better real soon.
Thanks JoAnn. The pain brought tears to my eyes it was so bad for the last few weeks and I have a pretty high tolerance. It is much better now and will see a neurosurgeon on Friday. Funny part is my primary care set up the appt with Dr. Gordon on Troy Schenectady Road, after some cursory research I discovered I was going to see Dr. Brian Gordon of our very own County Leg. Hopefully some PT and preventative maintenance will do the trick.
Rene, what were you doing to cause this injury? Chopping wood? I know people that have had ONE herniated disc and was in major pain. Hope you feel better.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Thanks. According to the mri report it is degenerative disk disease. No injury, I wish it were......I wouldn't feel like I'm getting old and feeble > Its probably a result of ALL those years of cutting wood, lifting hay bales, falling off horses etc. etc. I'll live............
OK, so, no offense taken as far as the insurance companies. Everyone has to work somewhere, it's where I chose (or what chose me). As far as your back and the herniated discs, Rene, I hope that things get worked out for you in a quick and pain-free (or as painless as possible) manner. I would say to check out Dr. Gordon and see what he has to say. Remember, even though when it comes to politics, he sits on the other side of the aisle, it is the Hippocratic Oath that he take care of you well.
Interesting fact...while I was checking for the spelling of the above mentioned Hippocratic Oath...did you know that any doctor who takes and lives up to this oath cannot perform an abortion??? (At least that's how I read this line..."Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath
...and finally, Rene, I haven't seen any of your claims and per HIPAA laws, I couldn't tell you if I did...and I wouldn't, out of your privacy. It's unethical, rude and against the law (not that you SHOULD need the last with the 2 prior).
Logged
I know people that have had ONE herniated disc and was in major pain. Hope you feel better.
Its probably a result of ALL those years of cutting wood, lifting hay bales, falling off horses etc. etc. I'll live............
