Since When Is It Wrong To Be A Successful Businessman (or woman)???
by Marilyn Mackenzie
Last evening, I had the news on in the living room, and I listened while I checked my email and some of my Gather posts for comments. Then I heard something that made me stop what I was doing and really listen.
The news commentator - probably Charles Gibons, since I usually listen to ABC - was talking about Obama's decision to cap executive salaries at $500,000 for the companies participating in the bailout.
But what caught my attention was that the commentator said that the American public is angry at all people making millions.
I waited while I figured that there would be some mention of the football players who recently played in the Super Bowl. But there was no mention of them.
I waited while I figured there might be some mention of the movie stars and musicians who supported Obama's campaign. But there was no mention of them either.
There was also no mention of the men and women in Congress, so many of whom are worth more than a million or two themselves. Or former politicians who go on to make millions selling books and/or speaking. Nope. No mention of them.
Interestingly, it was also revealed yesterday that President Obama makes $400,000 and lots of perks in his new job. And he doesn't have to pay taxes on them. See: Obama's Perks
The total focus was that the American public is angry at business executives who are worth millions or who earn millions each year. The news segment said that Americans are angry at these executives, and embarrassed and ashamed that they represent what is wrong with America.
This was not only about the executives whose companies received bailout money, but about all executives.
I'm sorry, but I was amazed. If Americans are angry about people earning too much money, let them be angry at sports "heroes" or movie stars. It's insane that they earn as much as they do, and it contributes to the high cost of sporting events and theater tickets, which many Americans can no longer afford.
But business executives? All business executives? Come on.
Many people who are successful millionaires struggled to become what they are today. Some began their businesses in their basements or garages. They refinanced their homes in order to get money when banks would not loan to them. They hired people to help them as their businesses grew, then moved into better quarters, then finally started taking salaries for themselves.
If their products or services were too costly, people would not buy them. If they did not return money to investors - once they were publicly traded - their investors would not continue to buy stock. And if they didn't pay their employees well, they would work elsewhere.
But people are angry because these entrepreneurs earn big bucks?
How about encouraging others to be like them, rather than demonizing them?
How about focusing on how others can start their own businesses, and hope to become like them one day?
Since when did being successful become something horrible in this country?
What is wrong with people?!?!?!?
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Comments: 63
I'm posting on your thread in the hopes that Gather will start offering a gift card for psychiatry, and you will take them up on it.
I don't think the American people are angry at executives who earn high pay. I think they are angry at executives who run their companies into the ground, into huge debt, and who are paid millions plus perks for doing a terrible job. They don't like the idea that these huge corporations can be on the edge of bankruptcy and still be paying huge amounts to executives who are firing thousands of ordinary workers that have been doing a good job.
Why should bail out money coming from us tax payers be used to reward someone who has made errors so bad that they ruin a huge company? That's what people don't like.
I've always said that at the very least, no one who runs a company should that is or will be accepting (expecting) assistance from the government to keep the company afloat should take bonuses. Bonuses are for successes, not failures.
First let me say that I think idiot executives should be shown the door, and no golden parachute should be deployed.
That said, how long is it before the gov't expands their influence on the companies that receive bailout money?
You want to run ads for how much? Oh, no..no...we don't think that's a wise use of our money, they'll say.
Sounds reasonable, sounds logical, sounds socialistic, and frightening.
I agree with you on this one, too. I don't want the government setting pay scales. That's none of their business, I hope.
This isn't anything new. People didn't like robber barons of the past, nor ones of the present.
I don't think most people are "angry". Though most probably wish we weren't in this situation and would also agree with you on the financial company execs. I think most have some opinions, but they would be both for and against such highly paid people in the same day, depending on how you approach it, what questions you ask, what aspect you mention, etc.
actually, the job of president has been paying $400,000/year (plus perks like a big, white house to live in) for quite a long time now. It's not news to most of us.
I am successful in my career, and I make a whole crapload less than 500K.
A huge portion of Americans - mostly who voted for Obama - want hand-outs. They don't want businesses getting them. They want them themselves. And they don't like that there are some people making big bucks. That was the story, folks. That Americans are jealous of success.
Now that's just bullshit, Marilyn.
I'll type this slowly, Hun. Maybe that will help you.
P r e s i d e n t O b a m a i s n o t b e i n g b a i l e d o u t b y t a x p a y e r s.
F o o t b a l l p l a y e r s a r e n o t b e i n g b a i l e d o u t.
N o r a r e o u r l e g i s l a t o r s.
The American people are not angry about people making money. We are angry because the Wall Street execs have caused their companies to fail and are taking money from the American people, yet continue to live their extravagant lifestyles.
I used up some of my time answering your stupid question this afternoon, even though i know you won't be able to understand.
And trust me Marilyn, Don't believe your Mom when she said "Oh, marily, they are all just jealous. You have never, ever given anyone a reason to be jealous.
::stifling a giggle::
I put posting garbage for attention and points in the "wanting handouts" category. You haven't put thought or investigation into what you post here. That means you want something for nothing.
You have no idea what I have done or not done in my lifetime, EM. So you have no basis to make a statement like that. Just like I have no right to think that based on these few remarks you've made you're as dense as you seem.
OK. Here is your first question to me:
>>EM, exactly how am I misinformed?<<
and here is my answer:
I called you misinformed because it is apparent that you do not listen fully to legitimate news sources, and you seem to believe everything (that is not Pro-GOP) that you hear.
Then, in the spirit of misinformation, you stagger over to your computer and write up some big old hillbilly article that seems to be channeling Rush Limbaugh (but you're probably just regurgitating what you thought you heard).
“This is America. We don’t disparage wealth. We don’t begrudge anybody for achieving success,” Obama said. “But what gets people upset — and rightfully so — are executives being rewarded for failure. Especially when those rewards are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers.”
Why do you insist on visiting? You want points. I want to keep American honest. We both have reasons for being here. To be honest, I would rather not have to follow people like you around to clean up your messes. There are more enjoyable things I could do with my time - but they probably aren't more important. I like to think that means I have character.
Click here to send a Love Out Loud ping.
This American, is not angry at all success just for the sake of being angry. However, I think all of the companies wanting bailed out should have been left to DIE and ROT on the bankruptcy vine. My husband and I are both self-employed and there isn't anyone beating down our door with bailouts and stimulus packages.
I am angry at people's mismanagement of wealth and the greed that I see in a lot of people's lives --- but I don't suppose we can legislate the evil and stupidity out of people. Damn, I was so hoping to change the world!
Salary cap away. You want a bailout? Grab your own damn bucket! I'm using mine!
(Oh, and the part about Obama's salary and perks --- well, if it was just Obama getting them, then it would be a relavent point... but unfortunately this has gone on for presidents past as well. I say we challenge the First Lady to wear a no-name non-designer ball gown for once and some shoes from Payless to the next "event" and see if we can't get some frugality back in Washington!)
I need to run for president... I'd fire all the cooks, nannies, housekeepers etc... Oh and forget a Christmas tree in everyone room of the White House... The extravagance that we the taxpayers pay for is absurd... We seriously need a grass roots movement of frugalness (not to be confused with cheapness) to demand that our government is run more like our own monthly budgets!
Anyway, I do not have a business, never had one, recently i am barely scraping by. I was never jealous of what money other people made because I know that money does not grow on trees and it has to be wroked for very hard. That's why i think media people lie and maybe want us to be angry and jealous of other people's wealth.
Now that's just bullshit, Marilyn.
Tim M., Feb 5, 2009, 4:08pm EST
"I don't think so, Tim. They're here making comments every day. Gimme, gimme, gimme. Read the posts."
funny stuff....Tom Gerace would cream his pants if "a huge portion of Americans" even knew Gather existed. at least you are making it clear that your post is based on your fantasy world and not reality.
President $400,000
Vice President $221,100
Speaker of the House $217,400
House Majority & Minority Leaders $188,100
House/Senate Members & Delegates $169,300
Chief Justice, Supreme Court $217,400
Associate Justices, Supreme Court $208,100