72 responses to “‘Nuff said”

1. 

   Ben Emery

   09 June 2014

   I will answer everybody’s questions in one comment. Do you guys really think Wal-Mart, GE, EXXON, Goldman Sachs, Monsanto, and so on give a rats a$$ about America or its people? If they did they wouldn’t have trillions of dollars offshore avoiding paying into the very system that allowed them to flourish.
   “If business owns the Ds and Rs, why have businesses not been able to control and dampen the growing regulatory burden in California?” Russ Steele
   Open your eyes, big business has never done better. Do you think that is by accident? Big business is the number one promoters of regulations in the US., why? TO stomp out any competition by making doing business on a large scale way to expensive for small and medium size business.
   Corprorate welfare has gotten so far out of hand it isn’t even funny. Before subsides were to assure companies/ industries a competitive hand in return they were limited to manufacturing in the US. The selective import tariffs I am always talking about paid for almost all of those subsides and much of the cost of running the federal government. How could they have done it? Those subsides along with the high marginal tax rates basically guaranteed workers a living wage with benefits. First the top marginal tax rates dropped by 50%, which allowed that money to be invested in the Republican Party. Second the import tariffs went away but the subsides actually increased as big business started controlling more and more of the legislation going through congress. Eventually the import tariffs became basically nonexistent and our trade policies no longer protected American jobs in the 90’s. That is when the Democratic Party started selling out labor and moving towards corporate representation. Now we have two corporate friendly political parties running our government and almost no legislation is passed without it benefiting big business in some some way. Obamacare is a perfect example. Dodd/ Frank is another example.
   As usual you guys like to look at problems in a linear fashion when it requires an very broad web approach to understand how one policy affects another. Losing sight of the forest due to the trees.
   It would literally take 20 pages to link them all together to show it is all connected.
   Finally letting businesses operate their business as they see fit, how would Monsanto operate if it had no restrictions? All of our food would be GM and patented by now leaving the people only one place to get seed that doesn’t reproduce seed for the following year. Here is Dr. Vandana Shiva (one in video and the other in an article.
   Vandana Shiva on the Problem with Genetically Modified Seeds
   http://billmoyers.com/segment/vandana-shiva-on-the-problem-with-genetically-modified-seeds/
   The Seeds Of Suicide: How Monsanto Destroys Farming
   http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-seeds-of-suicide-how-monsanto-destroys-farming/5329947
   It is time you guys to get out of the micro and start looking at the macro of your positions. The one place where we can muster enough power to push back against monopolistic or predator capitalism is through a democratic republic style government that hasn’t been taken over by big business. Competition goes away if companies are allowed to control the laws they have to follow but at the same time shape the laws so nobody can compete against them. We have not gone 100% in this direction but we are approaching a threshold of no return short of a violent revolution against big business who is protected by their subsidiaries called the Democratic and Republican Party’s.

   LikeLike

2. 

   fish

   09 June 2014

   As usual you guys like to look at problems in a linear fashion when it requires an very broad web approach to understand how one policy affects another. Losing sight of the forest due to the trees.
   I’d be careful Ben….a megalomanical (meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a (mg-l-mn-, -mny) n.
   1. A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence.
   2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.
   a screed like that is likely to get you committed in progressive America.
   It would literally take 20 pages to link them all together to show it is all connected.
   Wow…20 whole pages?? Childs play for a serious scholar like yourself! Instead of such a grandiose task how bout you just answer my earlier question…?
   Steve,
   Tell that to those who experience the difference between Hoover and FDR. It is the type of economy that is shaped through budgets and laws that determine. It is way more cost effective to go green for many businesses but they don’t because it is not mandated.
   If it’s “way more cost effective to go green” why don’t they?

   LikeLike

3. 

   Ben Emery

   09 June 2014

   Fish,
   You’re a piece of work.
   “If it’s “way more cost effective to go green” why don’t they?”
   It is not mandated for starters and the way the tax structure is set up long term gains are counterintuitive. Its all about short term gains or quarterly profits. That is why they don’t move towards green renovations. Short term costs make their quarterly numbers look bad so the execs don’t want to take the risk of losing their bonuses and stock options or jobs.

   LikeLike

4. 

   fish

   09 June 2014

   It is not mandated for starters and the way the tax structure is set up long term gains are counterintuitive.
   Now you just blustering……
   That is why they don’t move towards green renovations. Short term costs make their quarterly numbers look bad so the execs don’t want to take the risk of losing their bonuses and stock options or jobs.
   Ben….anyone who finds a “way more cost effective to go green” should do it because cost effective is cost effective.
   Atta boy Ben…… never let common sense interfere with your lefty narrative……
   (fish departs while snickering furiously)

   LikeLike

5. 

   Bill Tozer

   09 June 2014

   Ok Ben, here is a snapshot of our current “not in the least surprising” macro economic picture.
   http://money.msn.com/investment-advice/now.aspx?post=6d9f3263-3b0e-4aa0-b121-dddf988d43af
   BTW Brother Ben, executive bonuses and stock options are tied to the price of the share, not necessarily the bottom line. Right now the price of the share is quite pricey and rising even if the bottom line remains flat or a company is in the red but meets minimal expectations. Not really a disconnect at all if you connect all the dots and look at the forest not the trees. It would take me 21 pages to explain it all to you. Wall Street investors are fully aware of capital expenditures, be it long term or short term and discount such expenditures by building them into the share price. In other words, they are quite knowledgeable about net and chose to overlook, not punish, any company investing in its future i.e., overlook the current bottom line. Wall Street ain’t Main Street.

   LikeLike

6. 

   fish

   09 June 2014

   You’re wasting your breath Bill. Bens belief system is hermetically sealed.

   LikeLike

7. 

   Ben Emery

   10 June 2014

   For all you geniuses. Why would any company today not have solar power with their businesses at least at some level? Why would a company choose to pay for a one time energy source that increases in cost year in and year out for 20, 30, 40 years when an investment in solar would pay itself off in a decade or a little less and have a virtual $0 cost for energy from that point forward? Why, because that is a long term investment. Over the last 40 years we have seen a majority of CEO’s experience at any specific company go from 20 plus years to today where it is 6 years. Long term goals such as solar or ending plastic bag use don’t fit into the equation any longer despite over the long hual will save the company money. My brother used to go into to companies make their energy usage more efficient. Some companies did and were amazed how little changes made such a huge difference. Most companies couldn’t justify the cost to the higher ups. He worked at the club house in Lake Wildwood one winter and got them to make some real basic changes and it saved them over $10,000 annually.
   In 2010 at a festival I met a guy selling solar panels and installations. He was a self described conservative. Once we got through all the meaningless political talk we got into a really good conversation about solar. The festival was focused on sustainability. He told me that he won’t sell a single panel at that specific festival but the following weekend at the rodeo he would most likely get 3 to 4 homes equipped with solar. I asked why would that be? He told me that those with the money who believe in sustainability already have them in place. The people at the rodeo have never really thought about it and when explains to them it is a long term investment with a 8% return annually. The 8% was the average increase of energy costs per year. In recent years that 8% would be on the low side. If there was CD or other investment that can guarantee that kind of return please let him know.
   The inability of you guys to see the big picture on most issues is astonishing.

   LikeLike

8. 

   George Rebane

   10 June 2014

   BenE 1109am – you are focusing on the proper aspect of investing in solar. I’m not sure that you can make the blanket statement about how long it takes any business to have such an investment “pay itself off” because different businesses have different energy demands.
   But most small business managements stick around for decades, and would therefore be ideal prospects for immediately going solar were the numbers to add up. What do you think is keeping such valuable information from getting to otherwise astute managers? Also, can you point to someone who has laid out these good numbers so that readers can study them? Thanks.

   LikeLike

9. 

   fish

   10 June 2014

   Man…I just can’t extract myself from this tar baby!
   Some companies did and were amazed how little changes made such a huge difference. Most companies couldn’t justify the cost to the higher ups. He worked at the club house in Lake Wildwood one winter and got them to make some real basic changes and it saved them over $10,000 annually.
   Really…..? Little changes = huge difference. Presumably little changes require little expense and yield huge differences. Any business that can’t do simple cost/benefit calculations deserves to go under. That said, none of your magical “little changes” required the mandate you called for at jeffys. Why should government be in the business of preserving businesses headed by fools?
   I call shenanigans on more Ben Emery nonsense.

   LikeLike

10. 

    George Rebane

    10 June 2014

    fish 1215pm – were you really to depart Mr fish, I for one would miss your presence on these pages. I believe I would not be alone.

    LikeLike

11. 

    Bill Tozer

    10 June 2014

    Ok Ben, I will again beat my head against that 20 ton boulder you placed on my road to happy destiny.
    Forest from trees? Many businesses lease or rent. Even huge mega-corporations. Many are planning to move to different facilities. Business uncertainty in the Obamacare climate, tax considerations, the climate in Washington and Sacramento with anti-business rhetoric, local jurisdictions business fees and myriads of regs, bottom line, etc., all cause uncertainty. Some are struggling to keep their doors open, be they big or small. Cutting back employee hours gives you a sense of what is going on.
    The real key to your argument for most everything and the examples you just used are “Those with money…..Those with money…” Can’t toss all business in the same boat with blanket statements. Kinda akin to calling you a liberal or progressive/socialist/commie pinko bastard/or whatever term you painstakingly try to convince us of the differences and subtle nuisances.. You somehow think that all businesses are awash with extra cash, hoarding all those piles of gold coins and not willing to make nice with them greenies (pun intended).
    But I would rather address your Ben Emery post 09 June 2014 at 05:46 PM.
    Businesses hate America? Lets look at one small tree, shall we? You can see the forest most clearly. Lets take a business in Nevada County. Let’s pick on the popular Paulette’s Country Kitchen, run by a great fine lady whom I would never disparage.
    Paulettes Kitchen hates America. She does NOT provide to bennies to her part time employees like Starbucks does. When Starbucks proposed having a legal drive thru very close to her business, she was howling in The Union. Very opposed to the mere mention. The reasons she stated and successfully stomped out her competition were: she is already laying off long term employees or cutting their hours back, lack of parking, competition would be bad for(hurt) her business, and she fought successfully to stomp the idea out.
    According to your 6/9/14 post @ 1746, that is your very description of a business that hates America. Low paid workers whom have to go on food stamps (Corporate welfare?). Politically connected business owners that use their influence to stifle competition, and the long list you cited. Perhaps, just perhaps, Paulette’s Country Kitchen do not take advantage of cutting the marginal tax rate 50% to invest in the Republican Party (your quote from another recent post.)
    Go ask her why in the heck she has not gone solar, if she has not. I personally don’t know or care. Darn Ben, if only you could get your hands on all the blood money businesses that hate America have hidden under the mattress, then life would be grand indeed.
    Your turn to pound your head against that 20 ton boulder.

    LikeLike

12. 

    Walt

    10 June 2014

    The Tea Party just scored, and big time. Cantor is toast.

    LikeLike

13. 

    Bill Tozer

    10 June 2014

    Yo Walt, the Cantor defeat is shaking Washington to its very core. Social media is coming out calling it the Virginia Earthquake, lol. Almost as shocking to DC as Prop 13 was. EARTHQUAKE!!!
    Also, I can’t believe my eyes. Commonsense coming out of the court???? Say it ain’t so. Keachi will blow a gasket. Almost as newsworthy as the Berlin Wall being sledgehammered down or man playing golf on the local moon. I just can’t believe my eyes. Is it April 1st today?
    http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/10/justice/california-teacher-tenure-lawsuit/
    Nuff said.

    LikeLike

14. 

    Gregory

    11 June 2014

    Don’t get too excited about the tenure ruling just yet… the judge put it on ice pending appeals, of which there will be many. Many teachers have also not yet figured out the Common Core State (sic) Standards testing will (if they continue) also be a godsend to folks wanting to do “value added” statistical analysis to identify the worst and the best teachers. The data from the California STAR testing could have been similarly used but wasn’t, while the Big Data of CCSS assessments will all be in centralized 3rd party hands and they will.
    A silver lining in the dark CCSS cloud. Nationwide, there are teachers unions waking up to the danger; expect that to accelerate now with a significant ruling against tenure to worry about.

    LikeLike

15. 

    Walt

    11 June 2014

    The Tea Party didn’t take down the “bull elephant” , but his Left hand man is just about as good.
    Cantor got caught with his britches down, with the belief he was more than safe
    and any challenger didn’t stand a chance.
    Cantor’s stance on amnesty didn’t help one bit. Looks like that state doesn’t
    want to be part of Mexico.
    Funny how our Lefty’s refuse to even take up the discussion of what to do with all the illegals. Deportation has pretty much stopped altogether. Catch’m in Texas, and dump them in AZ.
    Just new LIB voters in our local Lefty’s eyes.

    LikeLike

16. 

    George Rebane

    11 June 2014

    Walt 919am – Yes, Cantor had baggage distasteful to the more conservative Virginia voter, but not so much baggage that historically such politicians, so burdened but with a 10:1 cash advantage over their opponents, could not prevail. If it was not the work of the local grassroots tea parties during the campaign, followed by the votes of likeminded citizens yesterday, then what was it that tipped the scales to topple the “2nd most powerful Republican in Washington”?

    LikeLike

17. 

    Ben Emery

    11 June 2014

    Walt,
    What year is it in your world? Obama administration is one of the most aggressive deportation in Chief in US history. His administration has deported and turned away at the border, 2 million.
    Here is a progressive way of dealing with illegal/ undocumented immigrants.
    1) End free trade agreements especially for you- NAFTA, CAFTA, Colombia, Panama, Chile, Peru
    2) Start enforcing illegal highering practices of leaders in industry (Hospitality, Construction, Restaurant, Meat Processing)
    3) E-Verify all employees in America
    4) Enforce the law on employers for H1b visas
    5) Create a guest worker program so immigrant workers can come for the seasonal jobs and then return home.
    These are the first steps in dealing with the immigration issue.

    LikeLike

18. 

    Todd Juvinall

    11 June 2014

    I heard today that Cantor had started getting into the Central Committees of other districts or counties in Virginia and a hornets nest was opened. He was trying to supposedly take people he liked and put them in power. The PO’d people came into Virginia 7 and helped Brat. If that is true it should send a message to those that meddle in places they should not.
    Walt, don’t listen to the snot nosed kid. He could not get out of a paper bag with instructions pasted to his fore head. When he actually gets a job or hires someone, then he may be able to understand what the world is all about. Cut and paste is a liberal thibg. LOL!

    LikeLike

19. 

    Todd Juvinall

    11 June 2014

    I heard that Steve Frisch has invited the communist Van Jones to speak to his SBC folks. Now I think we can see we were all correct that the SBC is just a commie front.

    LikeLike

20. 

    Ben Emery

    12 June 2014

    Todd,
    Once again, tell us what your definition of communism. I have asked you and your multiple monikers over the years this question for you to only avoid answering it. You have no idea what communism is and appears you go off of a feeling you get from all of the propaganda you have heard over you life. If you get that feeling it must be communism. Your emotions towards communism are real but your understanding of communism is not. God you are an idiot.

    LikeLike

21. 

    George Rebane

    12 June 2014

    Re Van Jones –
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2009/09/ruminations-5sep2009.html
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2011/08/ruminations-11aug2011.html
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2011/11/van-jones-hes-baaaack.html?cid=6a00e54f86f2ad8833015436f71c9e970c#comment-6a00e54f86f2ad8833015436f71c9e970c
    Re socialism and communism –
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2010/07/who-is-a-socialist.html
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2013/02/ideologies-and-governance-a-structured-look.html

    LikeLike

22. 

    Walt

    12 June 2014

    Todd. I never listen to what a member of the “handout brigade” has to say.
    I’m sure he would be happy on the streets of Hawaii, where the dregs of society can pester and panhandle those rich tourists without worry.
    Nevada City has nothing on the Islands where lowlifes are concerned. They pretty much have the run of the place. Right down to a free plane ticket back to the mainland.
    Yes… The “new Commie” is a kinder,, gentler” Commie than what my dear wife’s Aunt knew SO well. ( Survived the run across “no mans land” near Checkpoint Charlie.. And only ONE bullet wound to the leg.. An “old” Commie going away present.)
    The “new” Commie will give you everything you need… ( but at what cost?)

    LikeLike