So much for a little civil discourse with a conservative.

Like trying to get a pig to fly.

Over.

You are fired!

Over & Out,

Jeff

The source of the “rumblings” to which you refer is not quite as simplistic as you surmise; we are more than our jobs, and those “rumblings” are actually coherent discussions about issues that affect every aspect of our lives. The discussion weaves around justice, about humanity, and includes integrity. As we are painfully aware – for which you so graciously afford us credit – the economy has indeed deteriorated; although most of us consider impending bankruptcy and foreclosure a bit more than a “challenge.” Thank you for trying to ease the pain with your good news about the “real threat.” However, what you perceive as the real threat has nothing to do with our reality. Living in our reality (and remember, we are more than our jobs) we are able to see the bigger picture: How the lack of justice, humanity and integrity eventually bleeds into the “political landscape” to which you refer, and ultimately the economy. We are the victims of a diminishing sense of decency within our society and the expanding divide between the “haves” and “have-nots” in this country. So, we ask that you reciprocate and allow us to “tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you” reconsider what is in “your best interests.”

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employees against employers, you have to understand that just as every business owner has a “Back Story” so too does his or her employee. Our “back stories” are often neglected and overshadowed by the bottom line, or profit margin. But our stories are finally obliterated when the bottom line mutates to greed. As you gloat – and note – we do indeed see your Mercedes parked outside. And while we’re not all so privileged to have actually been invited to your “big home” for a “Christmas party,” it is very accommodating of you to tally up your material possessions for us. However, please do not be concerned that we harbor “idealized thoughts” about the “flashy icons” in your life. Our thoughts are burdened with more immediate, life-sustaining considerations; like making ends meet and keeping our heads just far enough above the financial abyss to take a choking gulp of it every now and then. That is our “back story,” our present story, and if that expanding divide continues, our future story.

We’d also like to reciprocate on the kind sharing of facts within your “BACK STORY” with a back story of our own. As there are millions of such stories, this author will share hers in the knowledge that it is shared by many. I started working when I was 13. At that time I worked underage and illegally in the laundry of a large hotel, taking salt tablets every day to replenish what my body would lose in sweat from the 90 degree facility. I did so because my father – who died far too young – was working three jobs unable to make ends meet. Our family of six lived in a small, 1400 square foot, two-bedroom Cape Cod. Until my father carved a spot in the attic for my sister and I, all four children shared one very small bedroom. Every Thursday – the day before payday – our diet consisted of bread, sugar, and margarine. I worked my high school Junior year summer vacation to purchase a $200 Dodge Dart that drove sideways as a result of accident damage. I needed the car to get to the two minimum pay jobs I’d work after school to save the money I’d need to help my father and strike out on my own. My father worked for a boss who – in order to balance the books – would lay him off every Christmas, thus necessitating his part-time jobs working long, cold nights pumping gas and cleaning buildings. And I – like you, “THE BOSS” – did live my life this way for many years while others enjoyed great luxuries, though I did not begrudge them. I simply continued to work hard and live on hope for many years and still; the hope that one day my hard work would achieve a small space for an occasional respite and some happiness for my family. Like you, I’ve known hard work and sacrifice. Unlike you – and this is where our opposing “values” may have created the expanding divide – my goals were not to be able to “afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.” Rather my goals were simply to afford, and to have the luxury of friends. Perhaps our goals are different because one of us understands the difference between “need” and “want,” and to date, I’m unaware of death due to lack of Mercedes.

THE BOSS, we take passionate objection to your accusation that we cheat you of employment compensation for three hours of every day. More than our physical beings arrive with us when we start each work day, but when you begin to look at your employees with the same regard as your office furniture, it’s easy to see how you might consider both as inanimate and expendable objects. And, we must correct your misconception about how we spend our time away from work; Days are rare that we have “all to ourselves.” As we cannot afford maid service, laundry service, eating out, or nanny service, we spend the majority of our “free time” doing all those things for “free.” In addition, we find your cliché’s about employees or what you see as the general proletariat population and their “happy hours” as condescending. But we – being a segment of society still clinging to some measure of humanity – will forgive you your rude aspersions. We understand that they are born of ignorance, greed, and perhaps – the perceived burden of that “special needs child” attached to your hip.

Dear THE BOSS, before we respond to the sixth paragraph of your manifesto, we must note that the content of your fifth paragraph intrigues us so. We’re anxious to know: Where is the secret location of this place to which you refer; the place that gives us “bail-out money?” It sounds like the answer to our prayers, especially as we have been paying for corporate welfare for so long. The only bailouts of which we are aware, is the 700 billion dollar bailout taken from our tax dollars and provided to hundreds of banks and a handful of insurers and automakers. Of that 700 billion, homeowners received 50 billion; or seven percent. Most of us don’t think this is a very good return on our investment. In fact, we’re feeling quite a draft blowing up our collective derrieres. So, before we read on about how you feel our employment inflicts great wounds upon you, would you please consider telling us where we might find said bail-out money? Thank you.

Now onto your sixth paragraph; the part where “you tell us why” employing us has pushed you to the brink of “marginal benefit.” That you are being “taxed to death” is a form of oppression to which we can relate. While we do not pay the many different types of taxes that you pay, our taxes take just as big a bite – and more – from our wages. We have never had to write the government a check for $288,000, but I for one (the average female worker) would be happy to write that check, if THE BOSSes everywhere would promise to start paying livable wages to all of my fellow workers. You should know that if you take me up on my offer, at my current income it will take me about 12 years of my entire paycheck to pay that off. You should also know however, that if THE BOSSes start paying livable wages, while you may lose a foothold on your side of the expanding divide. You may also witness the creation of a strong economy (not to mention a whole lot of healthier, happier Americans) that might eventually ease your tax burden because our portion of the pot will grow. Now that’s a stimulus that would take all of us much further than a $580 check from Uncle Sam! But, I digress from – and now return to – your question: You ask, “Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check?” The answer, dear THE BOSS, is that it is not “who” stimulates the economy, but “whom.” It is a collective effort of the socially responsible, though we considered the one billion dollars that Wal-mart has received in subsidies in place of the single, pregnant mother scenario you offer.

The fact is, THE BOSS, that we do work hard, and would be happy to continue doing so living on 50% of our paychecks, if that 50% would simply provide us with the necessities: quality healthcare, a roof over our heads, food on the table, and a good education for our children. Another fact is that it’s very expensive to live in the low to median income range; a cost that “steals” more than half of our paychecks. Our healthcare costs take a larger percentage of our paychecks, and if we can’t afford the skyrocketing insurance premiums because our rickety homes jack up the utility bills, the uninsured healthcare costs more than quadruple. Large auto insurance premiums render a one-time payment beyond our financial means, so we pay in monthly installments that incur service fees. Unlivable wages result in a “paycheck to paycheck” lifestyle that relegates car and home repairs to credit cards; credit cards that turn a $250 car repair into a $500 car repair, should interest and time accrue. You have your “black-hole” in Washington; we have ours in Mastercard’s headquarters. So, we’d like to answer your ultimatum with one of our own: If we’d been earning livable wages that kept us from becoming victims of the credit card companies that exploit us, we would have spent it, and shared your perceived sole burden of generating some of that economic growth. We were going to match your ultimatum with our own, “As long as you remain ignorant of the “collective effort,” you can do it all yourself,” but recalled the spirit of civil discourse.

While we feel that your “thumb defibrillator” metaphor used in paragraph eight was superfluous, and would suggest that a straightforward approach of advising us that we are merely the appendages would have been equally affective, we will respond in kind. Imagine that same comatose man has received the appropriate zap to the heart. Imagine further that the zap was delayed (perhaps he was uninsured) causing him serious brain damage. Further still, the man – in his now brain damaged state – falls and loses use of his legs and arms. His heart beats efficiently, but everything else deteriorates. Do you keep the heart beating and use his body as a door stop, or do you provide him with rehabilitation so that he might once again become a happy and productive member of society? It would seem that “THE BOSSes” believe the heart beats content to leave the body as a doorstop. We counter propose that nothing could be further from humanity, and this is the kind of change we seek.

In conclusion, we’ve seen where you’ve been going “with all this” for quite a long time now, and have been the casualties to your “swift and simple” reactions. We’ve lost our jobs in favor of your Mercedes, and with the jobs; our health, our homes, our morale. Unlike you, most of us have no hope of retiring , and have no option of sitting on a beach to escape the oppression of “THE BOSS.” However, unlike you, we are not “done.” We wake up each morning, go to work each day, pay the bills each month, and eternally keep the hope that justice, humanity, and integrity will one day be restored to the “political landscape.”

Signed,
Human Beings who also happen to be Employees.

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

The bailout and the problems happened while the pro-business Republicans were in power, so you can’t blame this on “political winds”.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact (anecdotal stories about one person aren’t “fact”) which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You’ve seen my big home at last year’s Christmas party. I’m sure all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

Dude, as long you’re not a total dickhead, you’re welcome to your Mercedes and your mansion. I have nothing against wealth in and of itself; it’s asshole behavior that I have a problem with. Treat me right, and I won’t grudge you your material goodies.

However, what you don’t see is the BACK STORY:

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn’t have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business — hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

This was your choice. If you didn’t like it, you could have stopped at any time and found a job working for somebody else.

Meanwhile, my friends went to their jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. (You’re making a lot of ASSumptions here. $50K doesn’t buy a lot these days, and guess what? You do NOT have to be in business for yourself to recognize the value of being frugal. I’ve never owned a home in my life, never mind an expensive one. My first two cars were shitheaps. I buy clothes at Target and Kohl’s. My last vacation that lasted a whole week was four years ago. You do not have the corner on having to sacrifice and save and do without.) Instead of hitting the Nordstrom’s for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn’t look like it was birthed in the 70′s. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

Quit your bitching. You chose to start your own business. Nobody held a gun to your head and forced you.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don’t. (You’re completely ignoring the employees who care about doing their jobs promptly and well. Some people actually work overtime because they care about getting things done for your business. They might resent being lumped in with the slackers.) There is no “off” button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden — the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations… you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I’ve made.

Waah, waah, waah. Cry me a river. If you hated it so much, you could have found a job working for somebody else at any time. You chose not to. Besides, I’ll say it again: I don’t grudge you the goodies. Just don’t be a dickhead – treat me well – and I’ll be a loyal (and not envious) employee.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn’t. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, it sucks that some people are thrifty and work hard and don’t get rewarded for that, and then have to help bail out jerks who weren’t smart. But let’s be honest, the jerks we’re talking about here aren’t welfare moms (always an easy target, but they weren’t buying these mortgages or selling them, so let’s leave them out of this, shall we?)

No, they were people who bought into the hype that they, too, could dump that old car and finally have the nice home they deserved. They were also the Wall Street fatcats who decided to milk the free market system (the one you think is so great) for all it was worth. Too bad the government regulators you probably hate weren’t there to stop these people from exploiting you.

If you’re angry about TARP – so are we! Why should Wall Street firms get bailed out? If an individual person got himself in that much financial trouble, he’d be sleeping in a cardboard box – not getting a handout. I resent every red cent of my tax money that goes to support TARP.

So, now we have the choice to either let the economy tank so badly that maybe all our banks will be owned by some OHMYGODNO other country, maybe a SOCIALIST or COMMUNIST country like China, OR, we can bite the TARP bullet and bail out the bastards and chalk it up to hard luck.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I’ve paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don’t pay enough. (If you’d listen to something other than Rush Limbaugh, you’d realize that it’s not small business owners that are being held up to the spotlight. It’s huge corporations, and Wall Street firms that have been fleecing the public for 30 years. Besides, in the U.S., we pay less in taxes than in any other first-world country.)

I have state taxes. (So do I.) Federal taxes. (Check.) Property taxes. (Check.) Sales and use taxes. (Check.) Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. (If you don’t like paying the employee-related taxes, then do all the work yourself. Otherwise, quit bitching.) Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. (In that case, you must be doing pretty well. Congratulations!)

You know what my “stimulus” check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

If it’s the stimulus bill you’re angry about:

Here’s something to think about: many of the middle-class and poor you feel are unproductive actually work AS HARD AS YOU! But in the end, they don’t have ownership in a business to fall back on. Poor people often work MORE THAN ONE JOB, not to build a business, but just so they can keep a roof over their heads and feed their children. And middle-class people who have worked hard all their lives have lost their jobs now, and are standing in unemployment lines.
So, yeah, the stimulus helps them.

If it’s completely impossible to think about anyone but yourself – or to feel that anyone who hasn’t built a business from scratch the way you did isn’t a lazy worthless loaf – then look at it this way: People without money don’t buy things. Unless you sell necessities, like heating oil or groceries, you stand to lose a lot from this recession. To the best of my knowledge, necessities are usually produced by huge corporations (oil companies, agribusiness, etc.) Smaller businesses tend to sell things that are nice but not necessary – vanity products. If you’re really a smart business person, you should welcome anything that puts more money into the hands of your potential customers.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country. (This is all-or-nothing thinking. Personally, I agree with you that people on public assistance should not breed until they are off it. But there are a lot of people on the economic ladder in between you and the welfare mother. Me, for instance. I choose to work for somebody else, but I also choose to spend my money responsibly and not drain resources from everybody else. Open your eyes, see some shades of gray – and support birth control! Maybe if YOU hadn’t voted for right-wingers who want to keep all women constantly breeding, women in poverty would be encouraged to postpone childbearing until they are better off financially.)

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you’d quit and you wouldn’t work here. (You already do, for health insurance – if you still even offer health insurance at all. And you can’t blame that on taxes – that’s the greed of the insurance corporations, plain and simple.) I mean, why should you? That’s nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don’t understand … to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn’t need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. (You sure about that? Because some of your fellow business people would have bought a new boat. You may be the exception, but I can name names of business people who have done this.) But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don’t defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? (OK, Einstein, let’s see how far you get without your thumbs.) Business is at the heart of America and always has been. (Oh, so that’s what the American Revolution and the War of 1812 were all about – so business people could operate with no boundaries whatsoever? Silly me, I thought America was about having a representative form of government instead of a monarchy, and the Bill of Rights, and a few little things like that.) To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep. (If it wasn’t for the poor and middle-class, you richer people would have to mow your own lawns, raise your own kids, fix your own air conditioning, write and edit your own position papers, and do your own bookkeeping. If you think you can do all that by yourself, feel free.)

So where am I going with all this?

It’s quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage (don’t have one – have never been able to afford it), your SUV (don’t have one – have never been able to afford it, and prefer economical cars anyway), and your child’s future (don’t have one – have never been able to afford it – I can’t feed ‘em so I don’t breed ‘em). Frankly, it isn’t my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I’m done. I’m done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So where are you going to move to when you retire? To some other country with a similar standard of living? Then expect to pay MUCH higher taxes. Because those countries tax everyone so that everyone (poor included) can have healthcare and decent education. Yes, THOSE countries also “reward” the people who YOU think don’t contribute (because I guess only business owners, not the employees, contribute). THOSE countries care about their poor and not creating conditions to further impoverish them.

Or you could move to some hellhole like Mexico where your tax burden will be light but so will all your benefits, and where you will be surrounded by the poor that you despise so much.

And when the economy tanks in that country you move to, and your investments are worthless, or there’s a military coup, don’t you dare come whining at the door to be let back in. If you don’t like it here in the U.S.A., feel free to leave, but don’t come back.

So, if you lose your job, it won’t be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution (Sort of like the Bush administration with their Patriot Act? And where in the Constitution does it say that business owners don’t owe anyone else a damn thing?), and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about….

Signed, THE BOSS

Yes, it sucks that greedy people (not poor people) are benefiting while the hardworking are footing the bill (so are the greedy people, by the way, except for those at the top in the business world, who pay next to nothing thanks to overly pro-business people like you). But be a grown-up and accept that life isn’t fair. And then get back to work.

If that’s too much for you, maybe you should sell your company and try being someone else’s employee for awhile. Might just turn your perspective around a bit.

Affectionately,

AN EMPLOYEE

I got your socialism here along with your union, and I sit out in my hot tub on my balcony watching the stars and calm seas float by stroking it. You people that think you can demand producers pay and pay will wake up one day in a 3rd world country when all the producers have joined me on board leaving the taxes and rules to you guys that never took a risk in your lives.

I made my millions and now I am enjoying them while you guys get to file unemployment and look for another sucker to hire your ungrateful ass. We are beginning to wise up and realize the “inmates are running the asylum” and its time to get the flock out.

Enjoy; I sure am.

Double taxation on your money is just wrong. (This includes the death tax when you try to pass on your hard earned money to your wife and kids when you die.)

Most business owners, or even the CEO’s who get paid $10M a year, are making a majority of their income as personal income (salary) and distributions or profit from their company (which the IRS treats as personal income.) So their income tax rate is 34% fed + 5-10% State = 39-44% income tax. Most also don’t get to do a whole lot of deductions because they get hit with the alternative minimum tax (AMT) so they end up paying more than the standard tax code would allow. (They also are responsible for their employee’s social security, the employer’s contribution and property taxes, etc. Really they’re responsible for the employee’s half as well since they pay it directly, it is in effect a required “compensation” to the employee that goes directly to the gov’t…another employer tax, along with worker’s comp, etc.)

Hines-Kerry, Kennedy, Bush, Buffet, Gates, put your national level politician’s name here and anyone else in the “super rich” level doesn’t have most of their value coming from income…so income tax is negligible.

The income tax system is designed to inhibit climbing that “socio-economic” ladder, the more successful you are, the more the government (IRS) is going to take away. For those who are already truly wealthy most of the taxes are capital gains which is lower than all but the level where you aren’t paying any income tax. (Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think capital gains should be higher. It should be lower. Let the rich stay rich AND get richer still since it is that very investment that allows others to get funding to pursue their own dreams.) If you’re not on an inside track with political lobbying, kick-back’s to those in political power, etc, then you’re paying for everyone else.

As someone above stated, the top 20% of income earners in the US pays something like 80% of all of the income taxes. Which is crazy and completely unsustainable.

“Who is John Galt?”

My 2 cents…

Goodbye to the america we all once knew and let us welcome to the new socialist state of government owned and run everything we can call “obamaland”. Some of you will certainly eat those words but then again –maybe not with the intellect some of you seem to not possess – bye now and good luck

We get some breathing room. We waste. We buy. Sometimes more than we can afford. It won;t ever get bad. We can catch up. We forget and the “good times” don’t really end up being so good.

The destination ain’t what’s important. It’s the trip. Scooters should have taught us all that lesson.

Now as for the consrvative/liberal/democracy/communist scuffles, I suggestyou lose those keywords you”ve been hangin onto. There is no such thing as a true democracy and we will eventually learn that socialism is necessary for the most important aspects of our nation (energy, education, defense). And if anyone thinks a Obama, YoMama, or any other single person runs this nation…well I got a nice set of used pipes for sale.

Taxation. It ain;t taxtation…it’s how it’s spent. Denfense contractors run this country. The largest outlay of money is to make bullets. To make more bullets you need a war somewhere. To make a war somewhere, you need a conflict. Sound familar? And the beat goes on. Too bad a bunch of youngsters are caught in the line of fire.

We better hope someone like Obama (or your Mama) gets us out from under special interests. I say. “don;t build that wall to high…I might want to get out someday.”

Other din dat, I got nuttin to say.

The reason why I don’t care for this owner is because all he is doing is writing some sob story. What does he want an award for his hard work? A mini series about his life and his struggles? Cry me a river because you,

“lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn’t have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business: hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.” Blah, blah, blah

Again what does this guy want, a pat on the back???? Does he want all his employees who, “physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm,” come up and give him a BJ every day to show their appreciation????

And here is a question about this comment:

“The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs with a flourishing business?”

Is this guy the one who is stimulating the economy?? I don’t think he is stimulating the economy it was the people who:

“refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury.”

and the ones who:

“worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. ”

Because correct me if I am wrong but you can make anything you want and charge as little or as much as you want but if people(the consumer) have no money or expendable income to purchase that product then that business will fail.

The people who refinanced their house and spent every penny they made were not very responsible but they are the reason our economy had taken off from 2003 to 2007. What they did was not right and most of them are sitting at home worrying about where they will live, how they will pay for food, etc. and that is their own fault and I have no sympathy for them either. For the most part, those are the people we are supporting during this financial crisis not the mother of (4) sitting at home waiting for her check. Because lets not kid ourselves, we have always supported that drain on the economy.

And again the problem is not raising taxes because lets not kid ourselves, if the government raises taxes, all retailers, manufacturers, etc. will do is raise the price to compensate for a raise in taxes. Another way to keep the same profit margin is for the owners to actually work smarter, more efficiently and find ways to cut their overhead.

But what I truly find funny is this owner thinks that by threatening to close his business, retire, and leave the country that the USA will fall apart. Well he is wrong.

As AnARchY MoCo wrote:

“there will be a void left, where a hungary new company can take it’s place. Survial of the fittest. Sounds like the ranting of someone burned out.”

So quit whining. Either shut up and make less money for a couple years. Downsize yourself by selling that second home, maybe the boat, one of the extra cars you have and sacrifice like you did at the start of your business. Because if you truly love your business and what you do wouldn’t this be a reasonable thing to do?? Or just leave the country already and don’t let the door hit you in the ass.

RE: “Also, you have no idea who I am or what I do, so let’s not generaliE about me.”

So quit signing in as jspfc (????) and use your real name!

Who are you and what do you do? Why do you feel “most” business owners that become successful also become arrogant? What’s your definition of successful? What is your definition of arrogant?

Just would like to know why you show so much hatred / dislike to the letter writer?

Rhoades

RE:
“… “boss” who wrote should not have started the letter with …”

Do ya think maybe this boss has finally had his fill of employee sniveling…… ???

RE -Buffet-
Don’t know what to tell ya Dude…… does he have an agenda….???

In any case, the IRS stats are what they are..
You want equality, lets go to the flat tax.
Hell, even the Russians [that bastion of humanity and equality] went to a flat tax.

Boss isn’t the bad guy, he is the backbone of the American economy.
If all we had here were workers, we’d revert to a hunter-gatherer society.

-nicker-

Nasty

Over & Out,

Jeff

Doing well! I have a great idea ….. maybe we should fire our employees and close the doors, pack the race cars up and go racing for a few years until things turn around in America! Sound like a plan?

Go to hear from you.

Over & Out,

Jeff