Yesterday at Wal-Mart, Jerry T was a bell-ringer for Salvation Army at the front door. On my way out, he asked me what I thought of Bob Gates at Defense and I said, “Why sure, that’s all right.” He wanted to tease me about it, so he said, “Oh yeah, I bet!” and grinned. I said, “You don’t watch Fox News, do you?” He considered it and said, “No, not much. I listen to some public radio in the car.” I said, “You’re too intelligent to watch Fox News!” I said it for the audience of two men with him, whom I surmised were fellow Republicans, wishing to make my point to the world that FOX NEWS SUCKS.
But I also wanted to praise Jerry, whom I’ve always figured was a moderate, thoughtful Republican, probably not enthusiastic about George W. Bush with his big-government-in-order-to-trash-government Norquists and Wolfowitz-Cheney neocons and Gonzales-Brownie corrupt-incompetents. Jerry and I have never talked politics, or much of anything else, for that matter, his having been the CEO of the outfit for which I was one of the grunts, our just chatting being restricted by time and protocol.
Jerry has me pretty well pegged as a liberal, progressive, “lefty,” and as such, he figured, I would be affronted by the likes of Gates, a leftover from the Bush administration, being kept on - that I would be mollified by nothing less than good riddance to all remnants of the past eight years, especially the people.
On the contrary. I’d be quite happy to see a move of both parties to the “center” – if both could get back to some of our old values: one being that government of, by, and for the people can be a force for good if we believe in it; that we are a government of laws, not men; that people in this nation who want to “drown government in the bathtub” are not patriots but robber barons; that if we try to reconcile our differences and work together – “across the aisle” - we can solve some of the terrible problems we have brought upon ourselves and thereby save our republic. Saving this nation is not Democratic or Republican. It's patriotic.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Slouching Toward December 25th
We're looking forward to visits from my twins and their spouses on Christmas. Happy Kwanzaa! We're working out sleeping accommodations as I write. We have a warm and comfortable house, not spacious but we have options of blow-up bed, nearby motels, and Auntie's extra bed. Nobody will sleep in the cold. We're excited!
Last evening went to Auntie's for the annual Thanksgiving gathering. We pigged out on the plentiful and delectable fare as usual and visited.
Present were forty-eleven kids, most of them propagated by the readers/doers of "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it."(Genesis 1:28) The earth seemed pretty well filled and subdued for a few hours! They are good-natured and well-behaved kids and I enjoyed their presence. A good time was had by all.
Last evening went to Auntie's for the annual Thanksgiving gathering. We pigged out on the plentiful and delectable fare as usual and visited.
Present were forty-eleven kids, most of them propagated by the readers/doers of "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it."(Genesis 1:28) The earth seemed pretty well filled and subdued for a few hours! They are good-natured and well-behaved kids and I enjoyed their presence. A good time was had by all.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
What's Fair for the Goose ...
In an article, "Confronting excessive executive compensation," in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the authors wrote:
"Viewed in comparison with worker earnings, the ratio of executive pay to average worker pay went from
24:1 in 1965, to
42:1 in 1980, and to
364:1 in 2006.
"The absolute amounts involved are staggering, and the circumstances under which they are sometimes earned are mystifying:
"Carly Fiorina, Hewlett Packard chief executive, took with her $42 million when she was forced out by the company for failing to deliver on profits. Her replacement, Mark Hurd, was promised an annual salary of $20 million-plus, and given a golden “hello” of $20 million. Philip Purcell, CEO of Morgan Stanley, walked away with $113 million when he was forced out. Some hedge fund managers have made more than $500 million year after year."
In 2005, Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, received $8.5 million in salary, bonuses, and "other" compensation. If the average (wage + health benefits, etc.) of a UAW employee as reported by the Indianapolis Star and National Review is $150,000 (!! It is most assuredly not, but possibly as much as $60,000 including all perks) -- even if it were $150,000, then the ratio of the CEO's salary to that huge annual wage would be 56.67/1 -- a great deal more than the 42:1 ration of 1980 and the 24:1 ratio of 1960.
Many people -- Tom Friedman of the NY Times, who seems to have a thing about living wages for working people, squawks the loudest -- say that wages paid to American auto workers (and other workers, for that matter, who make a lot less) are "excessive" and keep American manufacturers from being "competitive." Those critics say the wage of the union boys ought to be knocked down closer to the minimum wage, that they "tighten their belts" etc.
How does paying executives on the average 364 times the wage of their employees make these corporations competitive? (Hint: it doesn't.)
Mr. Wagoner, along with Messrs. Robert Nardelli of Chrysler and Alan Mullaly of Ford, were sent away from the Senate the other day -- each in his own corporate jet -- with the homework assignment of preparing a plan for the use of the $25 billion bailout money they asked for and didn't receive just yet.
Could there be the possibility that THEY -- not just the auto workers -- could take just a little pay cut? Just on the outside chance that they won't say anything about themselves taking a cut -- it's dollars to doughnuts they won't -- then it would be courageous and patriotic of Congress to make legislation mandating that top executives' ratio of pay to their workers' pay be dropped from 364:1 to a level somewhat less enormous; that it be tied to the results they get, which include making vehicles that pollute less, get better mileage, include more hybrids; that it also be tied to not closing plants and moving them to overseas sweatshops.
What's expected of American workers, union and non-union, ought to be expected of American top bosses.
"Viewed in comparison with worker earnings, the ratio of executive pay to average worker pay went from
24:1 in 1965, to
42:1 in 1980, and to
364:1 in 2006.
"The absolute amounts involved are staggering, and the circumstances under which they are sometimes earned are mystifying:
"Carly Fiorina, Hewlett Packard chief executive, took with her $42 million when she was forced out by the company for failing to deliver on profits. Her replacement, Mark Hurd, was promised an annual salary of $20 million-plus, and given a golden “hello” of $20 million. Philip Purcell, CEO of Morgan Stanley, walked away with $113 million when he was forced out. Some hedge fund managers have made more than $500 million year after year."
In 2005, Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, received $8.5 million in salary, bonuses, and "other" compensation. If the average (wage + health benefits, etc.) of a UAW employee as reported by the Indianapolis Star and National Review is $150,000 (!! It is most assuredly not, but possibly as much as $60,000 including all perks) -- even if it were $150,000, then the ratio of the CEO's salary to that huge annual wage would be 56.67/1 -- a great deal more than the 42:1 ration of 1980 and the 24:1 ratio of 1960.
Many people -- Tom Friedman of the NY Times, who seems to have a thing about living wages for working people, squawks the loudest -- say that wages paid to American auto workers (and other workers, for that matter, who make a lot less) are "excessive" and keep American manufacturers from being "competitive." Those critics say the wage of the union boys ought to be knocked down closer to the minimum wage, that they "tighten their belts" etc.
How does paying executives on the average 364 times the wage of their employees make these corporations competitive? (Hint: it doesn't.)
Mr. Wagoner, along with Messrs. Robert Nardelli of Chrysler and Alan Mullaly of Ford, were sent away from the Senate the other day -- each in his own corporate jet -- with the homework assignment of preparing a plan for the use of the $25 billion bailout money they asked for and didn't receive just yet.
Could there be the possibility that THEY -- not just the auto workers -- could take just a little pay cut? Just on the outside chance that they won't say anything about themselves taking a cut -- it's dollars to doughnuts they won't -- then it would be courageous and patriotic of Congress to make legislation mandating that top executives' ratio of pay to their workers' pay be dropped from 364:1 to a level somewhat less enormous; that it be tied to the results they get, which include making vehicles that pollute less, get better mileage, include more hybrids; that it also be tied to not closing plants and moving them to overseas sweatshops.
What's expected of American workers, union and non-union, ought to be expected of American top bosses.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Bail Me Out
I am not a big corporation which has not made its usual big killing of late because of mismanagement, malfeasance, corruption, or incompetence. I am not a CEO who thinks he is entitled to a bonus of millions after blowing billions of my shareholders' and taxpayers' money. I am not a credit card company (honest to God! Can you believe the chutzpah?) which has become rich feeding off the poor and is getting in line with the others for his piece of the pie baked by Uncle Sugar for his buddies at the top of the food chain.
Who am I? I am one of those who does not make a billion or a million or even a hundred thousand dollars a year, certainly not in one gigantic dollop as a bonus, in fact I am one of those who can't even imagine such sums of money. I'm someone who makes less than the median household income of $42,000 and change a year, who actually has to budget and do without because of not having enough for house heat and medical expenses and such things.
Bail me out.
[P.S.: I've added a link to Hightower Lowdown, the blog of Jim Hightower, Populist General of the United States. He was revered by fellow Texan Molly Ivins, and he says the sort of thing I'm trying to say above so much better than I ever could. Read it and weep. And laugh too. Jim has a way with words.]
Who am I? I am one of those who does not make a billion or a million or even a hundred thousand dollars a year, certainly not in one gigantic dollop as a bonus, in fact I am one of those who can't even imagine such sums of money. I'm someone who makes less than the median household income of $42,000 and change a year, who actually has to budget and do without because of not having enough for house heat and medical expenses and such things.
Bail me out.
[P.S.: I've added a link to Hightower Lowdown, the blog of Jim Hightower, Populist General of the United States. He was revered by fellow Texan Molly Ivins, and he says the sort of thing I'm trying to say above so much better than I ever could. Read it and weep. And laugh too. Jim has a way with words.]
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Thanks, HP* and Sorry for Your Loss, Opponents -- Really
[*Higher Power]
Last night at eleven o'clock, Jon Stewart, covering the election on his live unique show, had been clowning with his pals, but they were actually reporting electoral votes as they came in. After a 13-hour day of pollwatching at Precinct 4-1, I was too tired and still too anxious to tolerate the yammering "pundants" who don't appreciate Rule 62 (not to take oneself seriously) and was glad to have the lighthearted skits of Jon et al. who appreciate the "rule" so well they could have written it.
As I said, Jon and company were making light of the whole thing and I was beginning to take heart that we might win at last. Then Jon interrupted Stephen's foolery and said, "I have an announcement. At eleven o'clock, Eastern time, we have a new president..." And then he lost it. He was overcome with emotion. He couldn't speak for thirty seconds. And believe me, that is a long time for Jon Stewart to be lost for words. Stephen kept up his silliness -- the show must go on -- but his voice wavered and he was seen wiping tears.
We stayed up for the gracious concession speech of the real John McCain and the victory speech of President-Elect Barack Obama. For several minutes after Obama's speech, the commentators kept their mouths shut and showed images of the flag-waving crowd, the Obamas and the Bidens on the podium mingling and waving to the crowd while stirring instrumental music played. When the commentator spoke, I turned the TV off.
Now the celebration of the winners and the mourning of the losers have begun. I saw a man Wednesday morning finishing up the repair of a neighbor's roof, a burly man who works hard and probably doesn't make much and has no health insurance and his head hung as he pushed his wheelbarrow carrying off scrap from the job and I felt sorry for him. I know he thinks all is lost and I hope forthcoming events will give him assurance that it is not.
President-Elect Obama spoke of humility and healing in his acceptance speech. May the healing begin.
Last night at eleven o'clock, Jon Stewart, covering the election on his live unique show, had been clowning with his pals, but they were actually reporting electoral votes as they came in. After a 13-hour day of pollwatching at Precinct 4-1, I was too tired and still too anxious to tolerate the yammering "pundants" who don't appreciate Rule 62 (not to take oneself seriously) and was glad to have the lighthearted skits of Jon et al. who appreciate the "rule" so well they could have written it.
As I said, Jon and company were making light of the whole thing and I was beginning to take heart that we might win at last. Then Jon interrupted Stephen's foolery and said, "I have an announcement. At eleven o'clock, Eastern time, we have a new president..." And then he lost it. He was overcome with emotion. He couldn't speak for thirty seconds. And believe me, that is a long time for Jon Stewart to be lost for words. Stephen kept up his silliness -- the show must go on -- but his voice wavered and he was seen wiping tears.
We stayed up for the gracious concession speech of the real John McCain and the victory speech of President-Elect Barack Obama. For several minutes after Obama's speech, the commentators kept their mouths shut and showed images of the flag-waving crowd, the Obamas and the Bidens on the podium mingling and waving to the crowd while stirring instrumental music played. When the commentator spoke, I turned the TV off.
Now the celebration of the winners and the mourning of the losers have begun. I saw a man Wednesday morning finishing up the repair of a neighbor's roof, a burly man who works hard and probably doesn't make much and has no health insurance and his head hung as he pushed his wheelbarrow carrying off scrap from the job and I felt sorry for him. I know he thinks all is lost and I hope forthcoming events will give him assurance that it is not.
President-Elect Obama spoke of humility and healing in his acceptance speech. May the healing begin.
Monday, November 03, 2008
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