Posted on 01/22/2002 3:18:18 PM PST by parsifal
Recently I have been involved in several threads dealing with minimum wages, fair wages, and taxes on the wealthy. Somehow, even though I am pretty "conservative", I manage to be on the opposite side of most freepers on these issues.
So, for fun, and for a view of the "other" side, I present some links to the AFLCIO website.
Calculate your pay if your were a CEO
There are other fun things on the site. Browse around here and play the "Greed" game:
And if you are interested in "living wages" and have some questions:
If he can demand a minimum wage of $8/hr, let us demand that attorneys can bill no more than $20/hr. Sounds reasonable to me, because I'm not an attorney. What is my rationale based on? Same as parsy's: nothing economic, that's for sure! But it sounds fair to me, and probably most other non-attorneys.
As for myself, I know I'm not a very smart person...I have two teenagers that remind me of that on a daily basis! However, I have the power to embarrass them in public, which helps keep them in line. BTW, I do love my kids dearly!
I still think your generalizations are far too broad. These 2 idiots were criminals, not business men. As far as same survival skills, that's simply ludicrous. The best businessmen (and women) I know are true leaders: the word, crime, isn't even in their vocabulary and it certainly isn't in their lifestyle. These people don't sell, they lead, and they have people knocking down the door to buy what they sale. They get productivity from people who work for them, and they, again, have people knocking down the door to work for them.
These crimes are committed in the name of the Democrat and Republican parties...IMHO, the Repubs are only slightly less culpable, because they don't want to lose their power and perks, either. I despise corporate welfare as much as I despise individuals who live off the government teat.
Daschle keeps everything for his 'family' too. It's just that Daschle's 'family' is made up of welfare queens, union workers, criminals, and greedy wealth-resenters like parsifal and his ilk. Same tactics, different family!
Every day that the Majority Leader has to defend his actions is a good one in my book.
As far as extolling my own brilliance, I freely admit to being a fool. For gosh sakes, just look at my screen name. But, sometimes even fools can make good points and ask good questions. parsy.
I've enjoyed the banter and debate...stay well.
There are many caps on what an attorney can charge. Most all government agencies set a cap of 25% on contingency fees and on what specific parts of a settlement can be part of the contingency. Many state laws limit contingency fees on medical malpractice and other types of cases. And the courts typically limit fees that can be part of costs assessed on the losing party.
So you don't mind getting rid of the estate tax as long as someone (you/govt} gets to decide how the inheritance is used?
I've owned and run several small businesses and know many, many others who have done the same. I can't think of a single instance and anyone paying an employee based on how much money his daddy has.
Keeping in mind that this is only a discussion, how about this? A government office that provides work for people at a rate which would provide for the minimum living standards...no need for a minimum wage...if a business can't compete, it should not be in business.
As for CEO salaries, any increases should have to be approved by a majority of the stockholders, not captive cronies, the board of directors.
Should have clarified that...remains a farm in the hands of the family.
Its not about taking away someone's livelihood, its about stopping the windfall of economic dynasties, like the Kennedys, the Rockerfellers, Duponts, Fords, etc.
The current system allows these dynasties to establish tax free foundations to shelter income which is then funneled to the heirs via salaries.To qualify, a foundation needs to donate only 3% of its income to charity...that's the type of "good old boy system" that needs to corrected.
In the same way, we are tricked into supporting inheritence laws by the promise of being able to pass our paltry estates on so that others can pass on billions.
What Universe have you been living in?
The answer is simple- education and opportunity. If you aren't satisfied with your income learn how to make more and look for the opportunies to do so. In this country there is no good excuse to do otherwise because they are out there everywhere.
The crap on the website you linked is exactly the reason I HATE the unions. They are built on nothing more that envy and greed of the average worker and only truely serve the corrupt union leadership. They pervert the economic relationship between pay and productivity and are the major reason for the loss of manufacturing in this country. If the company I work for was to go union, I would resign that very day because I don't want to see any more lazy union lackeys sit on their a$$e$ in union protected jobs getting paid for the work I am doing.
Agreed.
If you notice, everyone who supports the unions "get even with them" mindset toward CEOs ignores the question as to why, if 'fairness' is so important, union bosses makes so much more than union members.
Another point, there seems to be a belief by some here that being a CEO is easy, and it is only a "good old boys" network. While some of that is most definitely true, I'm reminded of some good leftists who owned "Ben and Jerry's" Ice cream company. They wanted to make a statement about runaway corporate pay, so they instituted a pay cap for the CEO, limiting it to 5 times the lowest paid worker.
Truly a victory for "fair" minded people everywhere.
The only problem was that they weren't able to attract "top flight" management at that level, so they eventually bumped it up to 16 times lowest pay. Since then they've managed to be "acquired" by Unilever.
Yes, although it might not be as clear as "dad worth millions". But it is a known fact that employers base any salary in offers of employment on what the person made in his previous job or jobs. That is the reason the better paid employees have a history of moving around, to get that hiring bonus as often as possible. In fact sometimes an employer, when faced with an employee going somewhere else, will up the ante and pay the employee what they should have in the first place.
And, of course, ethnic background definately plays a part in what an employer offers a prospective employee. This is indirectly a form of the practice since it often places plays a part in their financial status.
Finally, as an example, look at the credits in the next movie you watch, you will notice that many of the actors have last names you will recognize even though there are thousands of qualified actors begging for work or working as extras. You can even see it in sports. Its called nepotism. I'm sure you've heard that term before?
Unions and corporations are the primary reason most individuals can't afford health insurance. Can't pay for their own and for someone else, not to mention they drive up the prices.
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