Don't be afraid to say it: 'We are the 1 percent'

[Guest]

"It is time to stand up and be counted.
I am the 1 percent."

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/opinion/columns/frank/article_598d4e1e-0db7-11e1-8150-001cc4c002e0.html
Excellent article by the editor of the Daily Interlake in Kalispell, Montana

:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

[Guest]

leave it to a montanan (i lived there for many years) to write such a sensible and truly American Way article...thanks for sharing...

[Guest]

I'd rather say I'm part of the 99% of the 99% who aren't being obnoxious idiots.

http://occupylolstreet.com/

[Guest]

The demonstrators in no way, shape or form represent 99%!!!!

Facts be known, the article presented is representative of many, MANY more than 1%.

The concept of 99:1 is just like the demonstrators portrayal in the media....overblown!

btk

[Guest]

I read the editorial. The writer is may consider himself the moral equal of the Koch brothers but I doubt that David and Charles feel the same way about him. I'm also very wary about majority populist rule. It's always been easy to target a group or a class as the enemy. The Germans did it to the Jews. We've done it to Native Americans, Jews, the Irish, and on and on. Now we do it to the Muslims. The 99% is something a bit different. The 1% now control 42% of the nation's wealth. The richest 400 people own more than the bottom 150 million of us. When 70% of our economy comes from consumption, does it seem good for the country to make the 1% richer? Should we be lower the top marginal rate from 32% down to 25% and further consolidate the nation's assets to a small group of super rich people? I don't think so but, as I said before, everyone entitled to their own opinion.

[Guest]

i think the statistic that 70% of our economy comes from consumption is the root of our problems...we used to be a nation of producers, and that production not only made the investors rich, which is as it should be, but provided good earnings and lifestyles for all those who worked as a result of it...the overburden of tax and regulation on our producers and those who were willing to invest their time and money to grow a business has chased our largest corporations to other countries where they are free to make a profit. we need to get them back here employing our own workers! i think the article implies that what is good for my friend who has made a success gives hope for me and my children that they will also be free to endeavor and succeed.

[Guest]

Sounds as though Cahcha wants to revert to the time of the late 19th century and the age of Robber Barons. These "captains of industry" wanted no interference from the Federal government at all, did not want to be taxed, and wanted no regulation on their businesses or labor force.

Robber barons (captains of industry) were the reason that labor unions were founded.

Look up the term "sweat shop" and "child labor" to see if you want to return to those days. I don't.

[Guest]

Sounds as though Cahcha wants to revert to the time of the late 19th century and the age of Robber Barons. These "captains of industry" wanted no interference from the Federal government at all, did not want to be taxed, and wanted no regulation on their businesses or labor force.

Robber barons (captains of industry) were the reason that labor unions were founded.

Look up the term "sweat shop" and "child labor" to see if you want to return to those days. I don't.

Business can only do what they do with a government that is complicit with their agenda. Crony Capitalism; you might want to look it up.

It's your representatives that are selling you out to big business. Obama reaping big donations from Wall Street. hmmmmmmm.......

[Guest]

Sounds as though Cahcha wants to revert to the time of the late 19th century and the age of Robber Barons. These "captains of industry" wanted no interference from the Federal government at all, did not want to be taxed, and wanted no regulation on their businesses or labor force.

Robber barons (captains of industry) were the reason that labor unions were founded.

Look up the term "sweat shop" and "child labor" to see if you want to return to those days. I don't.

Labor unions are no longer about equitable pay, worker safety and child protection. They are about confiscating dues money from workers who totally object to supporting some glad-hand democrat's campaign.

[Guest]

well, surely there is a lot of wriggle room between robber barons and successful business owners...less regulation than we have now but a bit more than we had then....moderation in everything is always a good rule....

[Guest]

Labor unions have a lot to do with safety laws in workplaces; decent wages for employees; and shop conditions. They also are helping employees in disputes with management in employment practices such as promotions and unfair disciplinary procedures.

[Guest]

OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the United States Dept of Labor,oversees the shop conditions and safety standards.

[Guest]

Labor unions have a lot to do with safety laws in workplaces; decent wages for employees; and shop conditions. They also are helping employees in disputes with management in employment practices such as promotions and unfair disciplinary procedures.

They also have a lot to do with broken knee caps, cement shoes, strong arm tactics and the stopping of legal well run businesses from opening up new plants and creating NEW jobs instead of protecting existing jobs.

All of this in the name of protecting the worker from the mean business owner.
Unions have very little to do with anything they needed for in the beginning.

Do you really think that they are a bunch of well meaning people only in it for the poor little (HIGHLY PAID) worker?

I don't, I think they are closer to organized crime.

[Guest]

Labor unions have a lot to do with safety laws in workplaces; decent wages for employees; and shop conditions. They also are helping employees in disputes with management in employment practices such as promotions and unfair disciplinary procedures.

In the private sector, which is all I can comment on, I have to say I agree with everything you've said here. OMG; did I just say that?

Seriously though; it's all the unadulterated truth and I know from 45 years of personal experience.

[Guest]

They also have a lot to do with broken knee caps, cement shoes, strong arm tactics and the stopping of legal well run businesses from opening up new plants and creating NEW jobs instead of protecting existing jobs.

All of this in the name of protecting the worker from the mean business owner.
Unions have very little to do with anything they needed for in the beginning.

Do you really think that they are a bunch of well meaning people only in it for the poor little (HIGHLY PAID) worker?

I don't, I think they are closer to organized crime.

I mostly agree with your posts, but this one is one long cliche ridden opinion, in my opinion, in your depiction of unions.

I know what you're talking about with the "new jobs" part of your post, but the person you should be mad at is the government officials (read Obama) who are strong arming Boeing at the Union's behest. He's the one selling you out.

The Union's are merely looking out for their workers, but it's the governments job to resist temptation and say "no".

It's the same thing with Wall St.; Big Business is naturally going to be trying to get an advantage for their business, but it is the government's job to resist temptation and say "no".

[Guest]

one of the great myths that some put forward on this board is the reason companies are leaving the USA is because of over-regulation and the tax rate.The premise is just not true. Companies leave because they do not want to pay the American worker a fair wage and they do not want to be regulated in any way. Both of these cut into their already RECORD PROFITS. It is only about greed. American corporations care nothing about the middle-class worker never did never will. Since the time of the robber barons it has only been about profit nothing else. Illegal dumping,pollution of the great lakes and the rivers,union busting,lying to Congress,lying to the states. My final thought:if the corporations and those who run them had acted honestly and morally above board there would have been no need for any of these regulations to have been passed. I do think we have some over regulation but not to the extent that some here believe. I guess it comes down to trust. I DO NOT TRUST BIG BUSINESS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

[Guest]

I mostly agree with your posts, but this one is one long cliche ridden opinion, in my opinion, in your depiction of unions

I guess I could have been a little over the top on my opinion, however I live in a right to work state and we just don't have the problems that union run work force states have.
Also I may have parroted what I have read and seen in the media.
Since we don't have what I consider to be the burden of unions here, it is all I have to pull from.
I don't want to be cliche!

[Guest]

Waynet speaks the truth.

Take Nike shoes for example. Over 1/3 of their shoes are made in Chinese sweatshops but the shoes still sell for top prices in the US. Why does an Oregon based company have their shoes made in China? More money for them, of course.

Take a look at the manufacturer label in your golf cap. Chances are it will say Indonesia, Myamar, Tibet, or some place like that.

[Guest]

one of the great myths that some put forward on this board is the reason companies are leaving the USA is because of over-regulation and the tax rate.The premise is just not true. Companies leave because they do not want to pay the American worker a fair wage and they do not want to be regulated in any way. Both of these cut into their already RECORD PROFITS. It is only about greed. American corporations care nothing about the middle-class worker never did never will. Since the time of the robber barons it has only been about profit nothing else. Illegal dumping,pollution of the great lakes and the rivers,union busting,lying to Congress,lying to the states. My final thought:if the corporations and those who run them had acted honestly and morally above board there would have been no need for any of these regulations to have been passed. I do think we have some over regulation but not to the extent that some here believe. I guess it comes down to trust. I DO NOT TRUST BIG BUSINESS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

Where and when have you met the corporate officers of whom you speak? I've known and worked with corporate officers from virtually every industry here in the United States and NONE of them fits your description. They do not pollute, union bust, etc. They are men and women of principle who conform to the laws of the countries in which they operate. They act honestly to fulfill their responsibilities including their fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders.

[Guest]

BBQ,sorry I must disagree with you. They do pollute,they do union bust,they will do anything to satisfy their big shareholders. We just witnessed it in CT again. Most lost power for 5-10 days due to trees falling on power lines. Investigation finds that rate increases were used not to continue tree pruning but instead went to increase retirement packages for the top execs. I DO NOT TRUST BIG CORPORATIONS TO DO THE RIGHT THING when profit is the only motive.