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Letters, 10/26: Excessive pay a factor

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Thursday, Oct 26, 2006 - 12:18:08 am CDT

Striking United Steelworkers at Lincoln’s Goodyear plant cite various reasons as to why they will not agree to pay cuts, plant closings and other concessions the company says are needed to remain competitive in the global business climate.

One cause focuses on bonuses paid out to Goodyear executives during the same period of time that all others, both production and management personnel, are told concessions are required if Goodyear is to stay afloat. How do these company officers sleep at night?

According to the 2006 proxy statement from Goodyear, bonus money totaling about $5 million was spread out among the top five Goodyear executives during 2005. This is additional money given to these individuals besides their enormous annual salaries, given while the company struggles financially.

If Goodyear Tire and Rubber is forced into bankruptcy, as is rumored, inflated executive salaries and excessive executive bonuses will be a major factor.

I’m proud to belong to an organization (United Steelworkers No. 286) that is currently attempting to ward off such injustice and greed.

Michael Cuba, Lincoln

Your kids, your choice

As a parent of two school-age children, I cannot express the importance of voting to repeal on Referendum 422.

LB126 was only the beginning stage in the forced consolidation of school districts and the loss of individual control over taxing authorities. The year following the passage of LB126, the Legislature passed LB1024 and took the taxing authority of 11 school districts and gave that authority to one “Learning Community Board.”

A vote to repeal on Referendum 422 will send a strong message to the Legislature that the people of the state of Nebraska want to maintain local control of their schools and their taxes. I feel that the people of these individual school districts have the best knowledge of how to best spend their own tax dollars to provide the best education for their own children.

Your kids. Your school. Your choice.Vote to repeal on Referendum 422.

Shawn Boyd, Lincoln

Words may haunt later

Democrats constantly are reminded that they have nothing but meaningless slogans to solve homeland and international issues. I would like to remind the other party of a few of their slogans that might not be so popular in the very near future.

“We’re fighting the terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.” Now, I’m no genius, but I don’t know of anyone with good common sense and sound judgment who would make such a ridiculous statement while allowing millions of  illegals to cross the southwestern borders into their own country.

With the exception of the other party, I’m willing to bet that all the geniuses, people of common sense and sound judgment, plus me, can all agree that a large number of illegals crossing our borders are not in this country seeking low-wage employment.

So when our president so arrogantly made the comment, “Bring ’em on,” do you think he was really referring to the southwestern borders of his own United States? We all know that he gets things mixed up sometimes.

Finally, “Let’s not let the smoking gun come in the form of a nuclear cloud.” Well, as a result of a five-and-a-half year no-border-control policy, this smoking gun most likely will come in the form of a nuclear cloud.

God bless our troops serving around the world, and God help the other party.

W. Craig Bradley, Lincoln

Hope on Election Day

Now that the general election is nearly here, it bothers me to hear that the Republican candidates running for office rave on about their great accomplishments “while in control of three branches of government,” such as job creations, the record-breaking Dow Jones averages and the stock markets in general, the economy being so great, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.

When you really size it up, most of the many jobs created are low- to medium-paying jobs with little or no benefits and hundreds of thousands being part-time jobs with no benefits. Many people work two or more jobs just to meet their living expenses.

The Dow Jones market was at an all-time high during the Clinton administration, so after almost six years we are back to where we were in January 2000.

Consumers’ confidence started on a downhill slide at the start of the Bush/Cheney era. The economy has picked up because of folks spending all they make on cheap foreign imports.

Certainly the Bush-Iraq war is at best going “sideways,” as Republicans Sen. John Warner has reported from his most recent visit to Iraq.

I believe America’s voters see a chance for change of one or both houses of Congress in the November election. There is hope on Election Day for Democrats.

Jared Teichmeier, Lincoln

Minuteman not racist

On Oct. 17, the Lincoln Journal Star printed an article about a Minuteman meeting the previous day. Among other comments, the article mentioned a mixed feeling of one present gentleman (with a distinctive Mexican complexion) who, although he doesn’t support illegal immigration, objects to the racial profiling that has become woven into the public outcry.

I had a chance to speak to this gentleman and I told him that although neither I, nor a Minuteman group, can guarantee him protection from racial profiling, we are willing to help him at any time and offer him the protection we would be able to provide.

We are not a racist group. We welcome people of any origin, when they enter this country legally and maintain their legal status. Furthermore, we have a great respect for people like the mentioned gentleman. His family has lived in Lincoln for five generations; his uncle served in the U.S. Army and died in Europe during the Second World War. He is a full-flagged American.

About racial profiling — it is an unfortunate consequence of this situation, when an overwhelming portion of illegal aliens in this country are people of Latino origin. It is not a consequence of a racially prejudiced feeling. I hope that the mentioned gentleman — and people like him — will understand it.

Dimitrij Krynsky, Lincoln

I-423 must be stopped

Initiative 423 must be stopped. It would amend the constitution to cap state spending increases at the inflation rate plus population growth.

It may sound good in theory, but in practice, it will close local schools and raise property taxes with costs for new prisons and health insurance rising much faster than inflation. The spending caps will force cuts elsewhere, particularly in support for local schools and governments.

Initiative 423 was foisted upon Nebraska by out-of-state interests. They need to focus on New York’s problems. Nebraskans can solve their own.

You can help prevent a property tax increase while protecting funding for your local schools by voting No on Initiative 423.

Marvin Lange, Fordyce


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Tmmy wrote on October 26, 2006 5:38 am:
" We live in the unfortunate time when the workers' share of the economic pie is the lowest in history, with executives and investors getting bigger slices than ever. To make that bad situation even worse, the Bush administration and too many gutless Democrats cut income taxes, capital gains taxes, and estate taxes for the wealthy, making us more and more a nation of entrenched haves and have-nots -- one of the things our Founders fought a revolution to get away from. Corporate taxes are the lowest they've been since World War II. Those on the top are building McMansions and third homes while the rest of America falls further behind. By accident of Birth, Mr. Cuba, we live in a period of what history will likely declare(and Princeton historian Sean Wilentz already has), the worst leadership in the nation's history. The policies of this leadership and its lackeys have real-life consequences, benefiting the few at the expense of the many and damaging average American families, all of the while throwing out false platitudes about "family values" and other assorted lies. Godspeed Goodyear workers, and your families. "
Lindsay wrote on October 26, 2006 5:44 am:
" I don't know Mr. Bradly, what you speak of when you say most illegal immigrants don't seek low-wage employment. I'm from Crete, and I haven't seen many signs of terrorism. But I do see a lot of immigrants working at Farmland! "
Don wrote on October 26, 2006 5:51 am:
" There is hope for the Democrats based on all the lies the mainstream media presents. The economy is better today than in a long long time. The media doesn't want you to know that. The Republicans rave about what they have accomplished. All the Democrats can rave about is what they have obstructed. I hope the Republicans not only keep both houses, but gain seats. "
Point is wrote on October 26, 2006 6:37 am:
" The stock market is booming Don, and wealthy investors (over 80% of stock market wealth goes to the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans)are doing great, especially with taxes now written to favor them. Read Timmy's point. The reasons the Republicans aren't getting a warm and fuzzy reaction about the economy is that economic growth, as Michael Cuba demonstrates in his letter above, is no longer being shared in America, but instead is only making a select group wealthier. The Republicans are the ones who wrote the laws to insure that's the way it would be. In short, most families are just not feeling the promised "trickle down." And, no "mainstream media" conspiracy is to blame for it, it's obvious from their own daily lives. "
Tom wrote on October 26, 2006 7:03 am:
" I am in favor of LB126 and will not vote in favor of repeal of 422. Consolidtion is long overdue! I want my tax dollars to support public schools that are inclusive of all children. "
John near Lincoln wrote on October 26, 2006 7:31 am:
" Crete is home to many immigrants and many illegals (stories on illegal families have been reported in the LJS). The immigrants are welcome! The illegals are not! I'd like to see INS visit the packing plant, the mill, schools, the shops set up along the street...remove those folks who are breaking the law. Encourage and support legal citizens and legal immigrants. "
chode wrote on October 26, 2006 7:39 am:
" Let me guess Tom - you live in Lincoln and rarely leave the city. Class I schools are inclusive of all children. It's the K-12s that have turned away option students of different races, and also special ed students. Wake up, research the facts on the Dept of Education website, and draw your own conclusion instead of blindly believing the lies that Senator Raikes has put out there. Even Raikes has now admitted that he was incorrect on some of them! "
Jim wrote on October 26, 2006 7:54 am:
" The economy is the best that it has been in a long, long time. Clinton's "boom" was due to the artificially inflated internet boom, and the market had to adjust itself back to reality. There have been millions of new jobs created. Maybe some (or even most) of these are starting jobs, but NOBODY has the right to a good paying job. This is America, if you work hard, your wages go up. Look at the economy of France if you want guaranteed jobs and socialism. Their unemployment is high, economy in the tank. NO THANKS "
Jan wrote on October 26, 2006 8:20 am:
" The economy is only booming for a few, not the majority. You can work at most of those millions of jobs for life and you wont make a decent living. So hard work has nothing to do with it anymore. Most middle income jobs are moving off shore. Good luck to you if yours hasen't yet. "
Julia wrote on October 26, 2006 8:21 am:
" What? Illegals have been coming in for 5 1/2 years??? Excuse me, but I think that they have been coming in for generations. This did not just start to happen when Bush was elected. "
Tom wrote on October 26, 2006 8:25 am:
" Like my pappy use to say - You can tell a republican a mile away, the problem is they are just not smart enough to understand what you are going to tell them. Go Vote but try to vote for something instead of just following along with what your party tells you to believe. "
Jody P. wrote on October 26, 2006 8:29 am:
" The basic reality is that one-party domination does not serve the best interests of this country or any other country. The GOP-controlled Congress has become corrupt, and has not provided oversight on what might charitably be described as the incompetent amateurs in the executive branch. I believe we are at a critical point in American history, and we need the other party (Democrats in this case) to have control of at least the House or the Senate before our ship of state is run aground for good. It is never good for one party to be able to do whatever it wants, as has been the case in recent years with the GOP. "
Sam B wrote on October 26, 2006 8:47 am:
" First of all, the mainstream media doesn't tell lies. Fox News...well, there's another story. At any rate, the economy is not as great as Republicans would tell you. We still have a record deficit that will be passed on to our children. Personal bankruptcies are WAY up, despite a GOP proposed bankruptcy bill written by credit companies that sticks it to the working man and woman because the Republicans incorrectly think they're all deadbeats abusing the system for personal gain. The Republicans also give tax credits to corporations who take jobs away from American workers and outsource them to Mexico, India, and China where they can exploit cheap labor. THOSE are the facts Don. The Republicans certainly do rave about all they have accomplished, but those accomplishments are for the rich and corporations instead of average working men and women. What can the Democrats rave about? Not what they obstructed, but what the Republicans obstructed. Anyone remember the minimum wage bill? I hope Republicans lose seats and control in both houses. The rest of them can eventually resign or be impeached. "
Adam wrote on October 26, 2006 8:54 am:
" Unfortunately when you work hard in this country, your wages don't go up. Wages for CEO's average 400 times that of the average worker at their company. If minimum wage would have risen at the pace of CEO pay since the late 1960's it would be $23.00 now. The fact is, despite how hard people work, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. This should not be America. "
jerry wrote on October 26, 2006 8:58 am:
" I visited with a man from a town in Oklahoma yesterday ( don't remember which town). He said they were getting a Goodyear plant. So I guess they are not going out of business. He also said it was a non-union plant. He further stated the wages would be very good. Take a hard look at what is happening. I belonged to a union at my job prior to retiring to a different state ( couldn't afford Ne. and Lincoln). What is more important, staying with a union until you force the company out of town or working for a fair wage and having a job to go to, to pay your bills? Ne has a problem getting industry so why are the employees and the city running away the jobs? Get a grip on things or Lincoln will be just another city to drive by on the interstate. "
eddie wrote on October 26, 2006 8:59 am:
" Electing Democrats will definitely reverse the Republican Party's efforts to lower taxes. If the Democrats are elected, at least we will have higher taxes. "
SA wrote on October 26, 2006 9:14 am:
" there is a reason that FOX news has about a four times higher viewership than all others, and I am pretty sure it is not by reporting lies. "
Brian in Lincoln wrote on October 26, 2006 9:35 am:
" Talking about excessive pay of just executives is a joke if you don't want to include the inflated pay that unions demand. Just as in any non-skilled manufacturing job, your pay should be reflected of your abilities, not your membership. Striking to drive jobs away will do nothing for the executives, but will really hurt Lincoln. Unions had their place, but in this day and age, they are bad for the US economy....just ask the united auto workers.. "
Umm wrote on October 26, 2006 9:47 am:
" In regards to Fox News, there's also a reason many people drink excessively, and I'm pretty sure it's not to seek truth. Fox News, Limbaugh, and assorted other myth machines are a necessary part of the GOP effort to construct reality so as to hide the harsh truth of the reality of its policies from the voting public, most of whose families are being damaged by those Republican efforts. The GOP didn't lower my taxes in any way that changes my life. But, my wealthy friend got to the point that he was actually embarrassed by his windfall. "
dfb wrote on October 26, 2006 10:08 am:
" I have yet to hear any democrat running for election state that they would raise taxes. That is something that the republicans want you to believe. Same thing for same-sex marriages, war on terror. The republicans don't have a platform for anything so all they can do is rais the fear factor. SA: Fox does not have a higher viewership than all others. Look closely at the ratings and you will see most networks beat them handidly. Brian: Most union jobs require long periods of training. Most union workers that I know are highly skilled and are worth their pay. Now, executives, that is another story. How many workers end up losing their jobs each year so the executive can get his million dollar bonus? "
Patriot wrote on October 26, 2006 10:32 am:
" With all the talk about lower taxes, I just have to ask - "Who do you all expect to pay off the $9,OOO,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO that we already owe?" Hey, I've got a great solution! Let's lower taxes! "
Sam B wrote on October 26, 2006 10:35 am:
" The reason Fox News has higher viewership than other cable news channels (although not four times higher) is simple. You can fool some of the people all of the time. And yes, they report lies. They also distort and slant news stories. When the Foley scandal broke, Fox News identified him as a Democrat on its banner and made no attempt to correct it despite the fact that other news outlets correctly identified his political party. How's that for lying? And it's just the tip opf the iceberg. "
But you're not thinking about the big picture... wrote on October 26, 2006 10:40 am:
" The only reason unions have so little "clout" nowadays is because of the constant weakening of their power by the federal govt. since Reagan was elected. Remember the air-traffic controller strike? While I'll be the first to admit that unions are not perfect, do you think that you would have half of the benefits you do without unions fighting for them first? I don't think so. Just witness the spiraling percentage of your healthcare costs you're having to cover (both increase premium and deductibles). It will only get worse for us "little guys" if the unions end up going "extinct"...I guarantee it. "
Working Poor wrote on October 26, 2006 10:45 am:
" For the people who think the economy is so great I'd like to say what are you talking about? I'd love to know why the cost of my health insurance has almost doubled the last couple of years while the amount it actually covers has shrunk substantially, my 401(k) is barely afloat, me and my fellow employees have gotten little or no raises and it isn't looking like this year's will be any better, property taxes have gone up outrageously and everything we buy in the store costs more, gas costs more, energy costs have risen through the roof. The economy is great? I care about the economy in MY HOUSE and since Bush took office it has only gone down hill. What about the housing market? I'd hate to be trying to sell my house right now. I guess we don't make enough to take advantage of all he had to offer the wealthy. "
lisa wrote on October 26, 2006 10:46 am:
" K-12 public schools do not turn away students because of race or disability - to assume otherwise is itself racist statement (and an ignorant statement). Schools with the capability to turn students away on a whim are the non-public/private schools. "
Save us! wrote on October 26, 2006 11:02 am:
" God save us from the Dumbocrats. "
Jan wrote on October 26, 2006 11:02 am:
" Unions are what made the middle class in this country. Without them we are going to be a country of the elite wealty and the poor. So as much as unions went to far the alternative is not good. In other words without the middle class we will not be a world power very long. "
Justin wrote on October 26, 2006 11:08 am:
" This is in response to Tmmy. You pointed out that we founded this country to get away from a system of "have" and "have not" people. Your assumption is incorrect. The vast majority of our founding fathers were very wealthy and protective of their property, hence "life, liberty, and property." I agree with you that America is experiencing a gross gap between the rich and poor, but let's stick to the facts. "
SAVE US! wrote on October 26, 2006 11:19 am:
" God save us from the Repugnantcans. Democrats rule! "
Luke wrote on October 26, 2006 11:40 am:
" Taxes favor the rich? Are you out of your mind? Have you seen the tax brackets? Do you know how many deductions "the rich" don't get on their taxes? Do you know how estate taxes work? Its hard to believe that ANYONE manages to get rich considering how much the government punishes people who manage to get so. It blows my mind that people like you are so jealous that you actually advocate STEALING money from someone else who earned it. I bet if it were up to you, the government would send out its goons to kick in the doors of every rich person and take all their money from them. I bet that would bring a smile to your sick face. "
Jim wrote on October 26, 2006 11:51 am:
" Actually, it's *because* of the fact that they spew constant lies and misinformation that Fox news has such a large and rabid following (of people who only want to be spoon fed what they want to hear, without any actual facts mucking up their blissful ignorance). "
Chip wrote on October 26, 2006 12:11 pm:
" I have to question why people complain about higher taxes and in the same breath want to have MORE school districts. LB 422 was one of those 'HARD CHOICES' that had to be made. The "over-taxed crowd" always shouts for wanting to cut spending and taxes UNTIL it hurts them personally . . . then it is "well, we want lower taxes, but don't cut programs I like." Don't get me wrong, smaller schools and class sizes have some great benefits for kids, but most schools are not so ridiculously over-crowded that the student/teacher ratio is outrageously bad. "
My School, My Kids, My Choice wrote on October 26, 2006 12:12 pm:
" My tax dollars. I will NOT vote to repeal - sorry. "
Dan wrote on October 26, 2006 12:29 pm:
" Why are people so consumed about the pay of other people. If you wanted the executive salaries then why didn't you get the education required, work 70 per week and work yourself into that position. You made the decision to pay for someone else to negotiate your salary. If your not happy with your present salary and benefits then find another job, the cooperation does not own you. What kind of CEO you you think a company will get if they didn't pay a comparable or hirer salary then there competitor would. If the corporation wants the best to run they have to pay for the best. If they payed the same wage as the average worker they you would get a average worker, then nobody would have a paycheck. Unions making everything equal takes all incentive out of acquiring bright and talented individuals that aspire for the best in life. Why do the union executives get paid on the same scale as the Company CEO's. Never hear a complaint from the union workers about there Union Representatives wages. "
Jean wrote on October 26, 2006 12:46 pm:
" The steelworkers at Lincoln's Goodyear plant are just another product of corporate greed. Workers, whether union or otherwise, do not mind "sacrificing" for the good of the company, if everyone is asked to sacrifice. Problem is - corporate executives are not asked to sacrifice. Railroads are a primary example of this problem. Railroad executives take multi-million dollar bonuses while workers are constantly being asked to forego wage increases, tolerate benefit decreases, etc. Then, in the case of unions, when it is time to negotiate contracts, the railroads claim they cannot afford wage increases or benefit increases for their employees, and then ask their employees to do more for less consistently. "
Get a job wrote on October 26, 2006 12:47 pm:
" Unions will soon be a thing of the past. They served a purpose once, but greed has impacted them negatively. "
JT wrote on October 26, 2006 1:07 pm:
" If the economy is so good why is the minimum wage still $5.15/hour? "
Eric wrote on October 26, 2006 1:11 pm:
" Do you honestly believe that some people are worth the exhorbitant amounts of money that they make? I sure don't. And I don't recall any rules or regulations about being free from criticism if you end up having virtually everything way far beyond from what you actually need, while others work very hard too and have very little. There is no 'stealing' from the rich to ask them to put back into a society that so richly rewarded them for their work, while not doing the same for others. I'm sure some will call that 'socialism', and that's fine. There is no world where people manage to not help each other at all. People that believe in pure capitalism are deluded. "
Gary B wrote on October 26, 2006 1:22 pm:
" It has cost more to eliminate the Class I schools than if they would have just been left alone...seems like a smart choice, eh!? "
class warfare coming? wrote on October 26, 2006 1:54 pm:
" Actually, I do know how estate taxes work. If you have enough money/equity to pass down, then they apply. If your grandmother dies with $10,000 in the bank, it's not going to apply (although I would imagine you would have to pay income taxes on it anyway). However, if she dies and wants to give you $10,000,000, then the additional estate tax would apply. It doesn't apply if you're making money now, and it doesn't apply for most people when they die. It only applies to those with large inheritances. Now, should we consider raising it? Perhaps it should be at 10 million rather than 1 million where it starts to apply. I wouldn't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is creating an "privileged class" that is able to pass down its money generation after generation (such as the Spellings or Bushes or Hiltons) so that their children have all of the advantages for none of the work. That is one of the things the US was founded to get away from, the privileged classes that were "above the law" in Europe. "
Unions to blame wrote on October 26, 2006 1:55 pm:
" Without Unions, we would have affordable, clothes, food, tires, cars, homes, etc..... While Unions may be credited with safer work environments, That is all. Blue collar workers should get Blue collar pay. Please dont tell me I have things I have because of Unions, it is simply not true! "
Lindsay wrote on October 26, 2006 2:08 pm:
" On the same token when your poor get poorer, the educational opportunities to enable one to get out of poverty and into a better job dwindle. Yes, some hard working kids are bright enough to get scholarships, but there are plenty of bright kids who aren't getting those type of breaks. I would reccomend reading the history of US labor unions, and learn why they exist. They are there to protect the rights of the workers. As an individual, if your rights are being violated it is nearly impossible to fight against the corporation. Unions protect those rights. I don't trust this government enough to want to protect my rights, so I would unionize too if I had the opportunity. As someone before mentioned, the Goodyear plant is looking at going to Oklahoma and paying good wages down there...and is non-union. So let's check our facts here. Since there is no union, those workers there have no way to protect their wages, benefits etc. Maybe the wages are good, but what is the standard of living there compared to Lincoln? What type of workforce are they looking to hire. Like I said, ready any book about unions, and what working conditions were like before unions. It's very frightening how willing corporations are of exploiting workers. "
Sue F. wrote on October 26, 2006 2:20 pm:
" Do people really believe that CEOs earn what they make? Do you not realize that they all sit on each others boards and vote each other raises and bonuses even as their companies are laying people off, losing money and shipping jobs over seas? "
Brian in Lincoln wrote on October 26, 2006 2:59 pm:
" Do you really want me to believe that you think that ANYONE who earns more than you really earn it? We are not a socialist society, so there is going to be a gap in wages from the top to the bottom. I do know one thing, almost all of those at the top are educated. "
Rich wrote on October 26, 2006 3:57 pm:
" The person who wrote "Unions to blame" is really showing his or her ignorance. The advent of the unions transformed the work force for all, not just blue collar workers. Besides issues of safety, employers were forced into shorten work weeks, pay benefits because of collective bargaining. Also, with respect to the statement that blue collar workers should only get blue collar wages, who has the more important job, the people that clean our public buildings, pickup our garbage, repair our cars, etc. or pro football players. Our society would come to an abrupt hault if it wasn't for blue-collar workers. Last, but not least, the rise of unions and the living wages that followed has had a stablizing effect on our country. A strong middle class receiving living wages is an important public policy. "
on class 1 schools wrote on October 26, 2006 4:12 pm:
" your tax dollars aren't going to go down because class 1 schools were eliminated. The only thing that is going to happen is a larger amount of the available funds will be transfered to the Omaha and lincoln school systems. Western public schools had 30 children in it when this stupid idea hit. The states contribution to their education? $11,000 for the entire year. $366.67 dollars per student per year. Let's see the lincoln or Omaha school district educate kids on such a small amount of the state pie. Closing these local schools will only succeed in hurting smaller towns in Nebraska. Hey Raikes...whatever OPD and LPS paid you they got their moneys worth. "
shawn wrote on October 26, 2006 4:39 pm:
" Lb 126 was to save taxpayers $12 million. It however is estimated that it has cost taxpayers in excess of $15 million to implement. Over the past 30 years or so the number of school districts has declined by about 1/3, and the number of adimistrators has more than doubled. These administrators help to drive up the cost of education not the number of independent school districts. "
dfb wrote on October 26, 2006 4:46 pm:
" To Unions are to blame: You most certainly have things because of unions. You have holidays off with pay, you get overtime pay, you have minimum wage, you have paid, even if partial, health insurance. Without unions, you would be working 12 hours a day at a minimum, 7 days a week without lunch breaks without paid vacations and be paid $1.00 a day and goods would still be the same price as they are today. If you were sick or took a day off, you would be fired. Do I need to continue? "
Zoomie wrote on October 26, 2006 6:39 pm:
" dfb - of course you need to continue! The audience you're targeting actually believe FauxNews and Rush Limbaughtomy! They really believe unions have done nothing for them, and all the work-related benefits they have were given to them out of the goodness of the CEO's heart! Did anyone notice the Bush Admin's move to slash union membership last month? The Natl Labor Relations Board (which is supposed to be unbiased, but which has a majority of Bush-appointed members right now) last month decreed that nurses in hospitals are "supervisory" personnel, therefore not allowed to unionize! Now, NLRB rules clearly spell out to be considered supervisory you have to have full power to hire, fire, transfer. And except for a few nurses in high positions, no nurse has hire/fire authority! But the Bush dominated NLRB just invented their own new rules, claiming since nurses make patient care decisions and direct aides on care, boom!, they're supervisory! As interpreted by the NLRB, between 8-15 MILLION unionized nurses are no longer in unions! Oh, and an aside on the 700-mile fence...Bush signed the law which AUTHORIZES building it. But no one has yet voted a single penney to actually PAY to build it! So all the GOP's big "look at us, tough on immigration" show is just a charade! "
Bob wrote on October 26, 2006 7:10 pm:
" All of the people at the top are educated? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!! And since when did education always play a part or be directly relevant to pepoles' salaries? The top-paid people in this country tend to be SPORTS STARS. "
.00004% wrote on October 26, 2006 7:14 pm:
" That is how much of Goodyear's sales last year were paid to the top 5 executives in salary and bonuses. Besides the CEO who earned a little over a million last year, the other top 5 executives earned a salary in the 300-400K range, hardly a huge amount. You show your ignorance when you say that executive pay would be a large factor in if the company would have to declare bankruptcy. The more likely cause would be the companies inability to pursue a solid business plan due to the inability to employ workers at a fair wage. It also seems that we have a lot of socialists posting here to. In case some of you don't get it, when people have money it is there money, not the government's money. A big part of the tax cuts were to prevent double taxation- on both corporate profits and individual income from stock. The estate tax used to be close to 50% on every dollar over $1 million. That is the government taking money that someone in your family had earned and saying a dollar for me, a dollar for you. It is shocking that some of you think that this acceptable. And finally, Unions were good in the past but now working only to serve themselves and the people in charge and not the workers. "
Same ole line wrote on October 26, 2006 8:24 pm:
" This workers who constantly complain about what CEO's are making are nothing more than jealous and so mislead by unions it's not even funny. EVERYONE OF US has the opportunity to go get those jobs if we work hard enough and make smart choices...the choices we make determines the life we live....if your jealous of people who make lots of money, then go prepare yourself and go get it. There's plenty of money to go around. Nobody's holding you or anyone back. Opportunity if everywhere, but is's not on the plant floor at goodyear, and most people could care less what unions say and think, otherwise their memberships would be growing year to year instead of being at all time historic lows in terms of ofverall membership numbers. Last time I checked, someone who is responsible for tens of thousands of workers and the direction and health of a business should be paid plenty more than the guy on the bottom. Thats the way it is, it has been, and always will be. If you don't like it..go get a better paying job. The choice is yours..do something or continue to complain and get nowhere. "
Joe wrote on October 26, 2006 11:55 pm:
" .00004% Mr. Cubas' letter should have more included the last CEO's Samir Giabra pay for the 8 or so years when he was top executive. He was paid way more than Keegan has been paid but Keegan hasn't been there as long. Giabra was the CEO that ran Goodyear into the ground from a stock price of about $50 a share way down to $3.15 a share, with I'm not sure but probably a lot of the other top executives that are still there now with very stupid business decisions. If you have been paying attention to what the union is on strike for it is not for an increase in wages, a very big part of it is to help the retirees keep the health care that they have now and that is not only the people in productions' health care but the lower management and all the non-union retirees too as they are all covered under the same package. Most of the problems that are hurting Goodyear as with just about every other company large and small in this country are the huge increases in the cost of health care which ultimately lies with insurance companies. THEY are the ones that really hit any companies profits, not the employees wages, why do you think companies would rather send jobs overseas, don't you think maybe it's because they don't have to pay health benefits? "
Andrew wrote on October 27, 2006 11:57 am:
" Here's to the socialists! "
Ron wrote on October 27, 2006 1:44 pm:
" We wouldn't be talking about 423 if the state and local leadership had taken care of business in the first place instead of spending all and as much as they possibly can. Really makes me wonder what they think people are made of. Salaries are on the lowest rung and taxes on the highest rung. Does that make sense?? Not in my accounting carrier in another state with half of the tax of Nebraska. The pitiful ambition of the governors and mayors to advance this state is shameful. You can't keep spending if you don't have money coming in. But somehow the college educated leadership just doesn't get it. They are little more than theives. "
Lindsay wrote on October 28, 2006 12:04 am:
" Same old line: What an attitude! Everyone one of us has the same opportunities eh? It's the nature of the world that some people are going to get to the top and others are not going to get as far. But that doesn't mean people deserve some fair treatment. Once again, as I say try reading a book about history. Try getting some insight into situations before commenting on them. "
William wrote on October 28, 2006 1:47 am:
" "I am a striking Goodyear worker and i personally don't give a crap about how much money a CEO makes. I do care about how much money i make and i can tell you i won't be working for $11.00 to $12.00 and hour.I can work anywhere for that. The critics say we are non-skilled ,well tell that to the supervisory employee who got hurt very bad in Danville Virginia.(advanced life support had to be performed)Shame on you Goodyear, Shame on you Robert Keegan. Look at what you doing to your own workers. This fight you picked has shown what kind of a leader you really are. You are committing economic suicide to a once proud company. Are you doing this to bring more product offshore? The shareholders will wake up after the elections, when gas goes back up your shares won't look so good and the focus will be on you. You lose a couple million a day because of the strike, a couple more million because of your loans(did the money really come from offshore)Sam Giabra really taught you well. I think it's time you delt with us because we will be here one day longer" "

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