Comments on: Are we better off than 8 years ago? http://hillbillypolitics.com/2008/09/08/are-we-better-off-than-8-years-ago/ Just Down to Earth Politcal Discussions in Plain English for the "Rest of Us." Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:56:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: hillbilly http://hillbillypolitics.com/2008/09/08/are-we-better-off-than-8-years-ago/comment-page-1/#comment-3944 hillbilly Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:44:37 +0000 http://hillbillypolitics.com/?p=394#comment-3944 Huckleberry malt sounds pretty good... yummmm. Growing up, I never felt poor because we always had enough... always. Moved to the big city (Chicago) and was told I was poor white trash, a worthless hillbilly, and worse at times. And then cityfolk wonder why we roll our eyes and don't listen to them when they try to tell us what to do and how to think like them. Glad you're retired although it remains to be seen what happens in the next few years. Huckleberry malt sounds pretty good… yummmm.

Growing up, I never felt poor because we always had enough… always. Moved to the big city (Chicago) and was told I was poor white trash, a worthless hillbilly, and worse at times.

And then cityfolk wonder why we roll our eyes and don’t listen to them when they try to tell us what to do and how to think like them.

Glad you’re retired although it remains to be seen what happens in the next few years.

]]> By: hillbilly http://hillbillypolitics.com/2008/09/08/are-we-better-off-than-8-years-ago/comment-page-1/#comment-3943 hillbilly Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:41:25 +0000 http://hillbillypolitics.com/?p=394#comment-3943 BB, I hope you're right on that last bit about small businesses. We've taken a bit of a hit rather than an increase lately. People stop paying we're footing all the costs until they start paying again. Not all of them, mind but out of a couple hundred perhaps 10% pay regularly on time and it's not like we make any profit to begin with competing with the big companies for the same customers. BB, I hope you’re right on that last bit about small businesses. We’ve taken a bit of a hit rather than an increase lately. People stop paying we’re footing all the costs until they start paying again. Not all of them, mind but out of a couple hundred perhaps 10% pay regularly on time and it’s not like we make any profit to begin with competing with the big companies for the same customers.

]]> By: BB-Idaho http://hillbillypolitics.com/2008/09/08/are-we-better-off-than-8-years-ago/comment-page-1/#comment-3942 BB-Idaho Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:20:24 +0000 http://hillbillypolitics.com/?p=394#comment-3942 Us and $$. Its relative. When I was a kid, I never got a 'malted milk' Sometimes a nickel cone. I guess we were poor. Later, when I got a job at $1.44 an hour, I overdosed on malts. Since retirement, inflation has been my big worry, and other than gasoline and health insurance, inflation has been pretty reasonable. You are correct however, in the 'drag effect' of petroleum..it is one of the basics of the chemicals and plastics industries, as well as transport of goods and people. So, we gradually pay more; the rub is, so does gov't at all levels....so we get a double hit as consumers and well as taxpayers. Business always looks at labor costs and would prefer all jobs below minimum wage: yes, that hurts employment opportunities...and send millions of good jobs to overseas sweatshops. Business is incapable of looking at OH costs and wastes a good bit on travel, executive bonuses, and continually changing software, while cutting R&D and machine tool investment. Ever notice when one of the big outfits lays off a few thousand their stock GOES UP? Tell me the logic, no I'll tell you. 1. lay off a bunch, 2. stock goes up 3. production goes down 4.sales go down 5. Company folds. I experienced an episode in the 80s when the coporate board flew in on the corporate jet and ACTUALLY told us times were so bad that we should bring pencils from home. Then they flew off in the CORPORATE JET! MBAs, gotta love 'em. Part of it is this so-called global economy. Now, the good news is, the small businesses are a little more people oriented, they have no shareholders and they can suck it up, survive and thrive. (yeah, small businesses are great, more efficient, more creative and very much more flexible) So, since I'm retired, I don't worry about my job being shipped overseas, being laid off, or being cut back to 1970 level paychecks. In fact, think I will totter over to Baskin Robbins for a huckleberry malt. :smile: Us and $$. Its relative. When I was a kid, I never got a ‘malted milk’ Sometimes a nickel cone. I guess we were poor. Later, when I got a job at $1.44 an hour, I overdosed on malts. Since retirement, inflation has been my big worry, and other than gasoline and health insurance, inflation has been pretty reasonable. You are correct however, in the ‘drag effect’ of petroleum..it is one of the basics of the chemicals and plastics industries, as well as transport of goods and people.
So, we gradually pay more; the rub is, so does gov’t at all levels….so we get a double hit as consumers and well as taxpayers. Business always looks at labor costs and would prefer all jobs below minimum wage:
yes, that hurts employment opportunities…and send millions of good jobs to overseas sweatshops. Business is incapable of looking at OH costs and wastes a good bit on travel, executive bonuses, and continually changing software, while cutting R&D and machine tool investment. Ever notice when one of the big outfits lays off a few thousand their stock GOES UP? Tell me the logic, no I’ll tell you. 1. lay off a bunch, 2. stock goes up 3. production goes down 4.sales go down 5. Company folds. I experienced an episode in the 80s when the coporate board flew in on the corporate jet and ACTUALLY told us times were so bad that we should bring pencils from home. Then they flew off in the CORPORATE JET! MBAs, gotta love ‘em. Part of it is this so-called global economy. Now, the good news is, the small businesses are a little more people oriented, they have no shareholders and they can suck it up, survive and thrive. (yeah, small businesses are great, more efficient, more creative and very much more flexible) So, since I’m retired, I don’t worry about my job being shipped overseas, being laid off, or being
cut back to 1970 level paychecks. In fact, think I will totter over to Baskin Robbins for a huckleberry malt. :smile:

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