I THOUGHT IWAS RETIRED BUT I AM NOW UNEMPLOYED

National Ledger ^ | 5/18/09 | Pete LaTona

[Arrowhead1952]

Two post troll alert!!

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:peterl/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change

[Just another Joe]

although I am a supporter of this President.

but I feel certain that our lives need to change and our desires need to change.

How's that change thing working for ya, Obomba supporter?

[Rapunzel]

The collapse of the financial sector due to sub prime loans is the root cause. The story is getting out. Needs to be repeated over and over.

Please do not beleive the MSM telling you that the sub prime is the reason...it is just one little reason amongst the greed of corporations.

The untold story was the massive run on our financial system on 9/11/08.

[KYGrandma]

We had a conservitive retirement plan, and have lost one third of it. Hubby has gone back to work after two years of retirement, but the companies he is representing are auto company suppliers. Not sure how long those will last.

[Rapunzel]

Read this.

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=2267128%2C6

[RasterMaster]

"I have no confidence in the economic stimulus plans, although I am a supporter of this President."

At least you can still HOPE FOR CHANGE...

[calex59]

I am an optimistic person, but it is clear to me that all of the rules have changed. I have no confidence in the economic stimulus plans, although I am a supporter of this President.

Well there is your problem right there. You don't have enough brains to see who actually caused all this sh**. The dimwits. Support Bozo and you will NEVER retire, ever. Only a total f***wit would support Bozo at this point in time.

[y6162]

“The untold story was the massive run on our financial system on 9/11/08. “

I’m aware of this story. Actually has some Soros conspiracy features as well.

Doesn’t change the root cause, the financial sector collapsed due to sub prime loan defaults.

[wbill]

Bluntly, and respectfully....

He’s a nice guy, ... Nothing to do with it. In fact, the CEO can afford to be a nice guy, he pays other people to do his dirty work for him.

but I am counting on him to take care of me, ...mistake #2. I like my CEO, he's a pretty nice guy. I even trust him, so long as our goals mutually compatible. However, his job is to protect the company, and the assets of the shareholders. If he can balance that, and look out for the needs of his employees, that's good. But his Number One Job is act in the best interests of the company. That's what he was hired to do.

when he can’t even take care of himself ...decent point, but irrelevant. Surprised that the board has let the guy stay on, with so many personal problems. Of course, changes at that level aren't made overnight, either. Look for the guy to "Pursue Other Interests" over the next six months to a year....

[mmichaels1970]

We had a conservitive retirement plan, and have lost one third of it.

I hear you there. My dad is getting ready to retire and he's taken a hit. I think he's gotten back to at least even after the recent uptick. I'm thankful he didn't panic and cash everything out.

However, the author states:

My retirement plans were solid and in place and now they are gone. Disappeared. Vanished. Dead

To me that implies a near 100% loss. I simply don't believe it.

Then to imply that others should stop being so selfish and greedy so HE can get back to his retirement is also ridiculous.

I personally think it sucks that many who have worked so hard and earned a happy retirement have to return to work. But I resent somebody in that circumstance telling me that I'M partly to blame because I work hard trying to achieve and obtain things for myself and for my family.

[wbill]

Also....

I realized then also that Government promises are the same thing, even worse. ...you're absolutely right in this regard. The job of Gov't is to act in the interests of the people. However, its been corrupted by power, and frankly human nature, to act in its own interests, and to protect itself.

Again, so long as the government's goals and your goals are mutually compatible, you may be able to work together. However, as soon as they diverge, watch out.

I *never* trust the government. Too many meddling busybodies wanting to do things "for my own good". Does that make me paranoid? Maybe, but only because they're all out to get me. :-)

[norton]

"To be fair, many seniors are feeling the pinch from their investment losses, but most I know are making do by cutting back ..."

True.
So far it is cutting back on planned travel, acquisitions, and telling the kid to pay for his own cell phone (that one's not working too well so far).

Reading over the original I can't help wondering if it is some kind of a plant. The author seems just as conflicted today as when he planned for retirement:
He supports Obama.
His old CEO was the worst of the worst.
He's decided that having more empathy would have cured the problem before it hit (him).
He needs to work and to "make money comparable to what I used to..." - which sounds a touch greedy to me.
And, he's expecting some kind of utopian brotherhood of the screwed to arise from all this?

[wbill]

Good for you.

Regardless of the opinions of the Gloom and Doomers, the market will always do well in the long run. Dollar Cost Averaging (what you're doing, a little each month) is the way to get in. Invest in solid companies, for the long term, and you'll be fine.

AND....if..... The Gloom and Doomers here on FR are correct, and your investment in the market is "completely worthless, guaranteed to lose money, blah blah blah" ....we'll all have bigger things to worry about than a few dollars invested in the stock market.

[MEGoody]

CEOs were paid well for raising stock prices and profits.

Many CEOs were paid well even when they made bad decisions that ran the company into the ground.

I most certainly I don't want government stepping in to control CEO compensation. I do want Boards of Directors (with pressure from/backing of stockholders) to negotiate contracts with CEOs that hold them accountable for poor performance. (And yes, I know there is competition for good executives, but one who drives a company into the ground is not a good executive.)

[ccmay]

My sister is a senior HR manager and has been working harder than ever lately. She’s the hatchet man when they let people go, and it is very stressful. Her tires have been slashed twice. She just had to lay off a good friend she’s had for 15 years. Nobody seems to realize that these are decisions made at the most senior levels in her company, not her personal whim. HR managers are definitely earning their salary lately.

[wbill]

To me that implies a near 100% loss. I simply don't believe it. ...I could believe it if he was invested 100% in AIG stock.

Of course, I'd not be too sympathetic either, if that were the case. :-)

[VeniVidiVici]

“I can’t be responsible for every undercapitalized small business in America.” - Hillary Clinton

[N. Theknow]

For years, while I was still a part of corporate America I was incensed at the salaries, bonuses, perks and power being given to our CEO and to all CEOs. In the good old USA our CEO’s average 450 times the salary of the average worker. The next highest country averaged 22 times the average worker.

Incensed?

Why?

What prevented you from becoming a CEO and making the same so someone could be pissed at your income?

When someone makes more than you do, you have a choice to either improve your situation (Hint: That is what has always made it the "Good Old USA") or piss and moan about their situation being better than yours and blame them for having it better.

Obviously, you chose the piss and moan option.

Now you are free to start your own business and be the head man and make alllll the money.

Enjoy.

Best of luck.

Then let's see how much you support a socialist president.

[Venturer]

Unfortunately you are correct.

People who thought they had enough socked away in stocks and savings and 401K’s are going to have to go back to work.

Now the gas speculators are starting to sock it to us again.
The Congress is happy as pigs in slop watching the gas prices go back up and no drilling for our own sources.

Nancy is hiding since her recent lies about the CIA, but she will soon be back killing us again with more proposals. Obama is watching Medicare go broke and still insisting he can solve our health care troubles by robbing the rich, of which there are a lot fewer.

How’s that change working out for you.?

[Le Chien Rouge]

How many people in countries like Belgium, Greece, Holland, etc.. lost everything they had during WWII

Another example:

How many Vietnamese/Cubans lost EVERYTHING, risked their lives on rickety boats, arrived to the US and became successful?