I don't know of anyone at Microsoft but I did hear through the grapevine that my company DuPont has laid off some folks today but cannot verify. As for our new pres., I like him and feel encouraged by his "hitting the ground running" approach to our mountain of problems. In some cases these problems have been in place for years maybe decades, remember the gas crisis in the 70's.
He can help our economy if he does like Reagen did:
Tax cuts
Tax crdits
CUT Red Tape
Cut bureaucracy
CUT regulations.
Bailout for homeowners direct
Banks reinvest in Venture Capital Funding.
CUT Cap Gains Taxes.
Downsize IRS.
If Hes for change.
See his website & Give input
Change.gov.
Click YOUR STORY or YOUR VISION.
Still in transition stage.
Act Now.
Plus try
A BettePlace for electric car use etc.
They seek Ideas Business & Tech ideas.
Better Place.
I think Obama has so much damage control to do that we may not see the results of his implementations as immediately as we would hope to. I think that he will get the economy back on track, but America will have to be patient with their expectations of immediacy.
Why we are able to help other countries with food and health care and leave our own citizens of USA hungry and homeless and sicker.
In the USA we have about 31 million people living here. Did you know that 12 million of them go to bed hungry - Most of them children.
Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007, the latest government data available.
Do we all really have to ask our president what needs fixing in the USA? I would think he knows that these problems need tending to NOW!
The problems we face are basically the same as in 1981, oil, food, gas, environment, except for war there was a rumor of war, homelessness, hunger, joblessness etc. but the factors affecting our problems have changed. This is where Mr. Obama has to institute a change in method of resolving these 21st century problems. He has to remember (or know) the rich does not part with his money. And don't go printing money, bailing out and borrowing. It would not work.
If he applies a poultice and then a plaster, we might live to see false economic change trickle down to what the economy is right now, once again. Would one purchase a 1980 tube for one/s TV and expect it to work? No one would. Just as technology has progressed so too the nature of our problems.
I cannot see how Mr. Obama can solve a 27 year mystery in just 4 years. He would definitely find a few clues and be able to unravel them but to fix this? I do not think so. The first planned phase of rebuilding the infrastructure would help the economy. I am not too sure about the tax credits because the money would not circulate esepcially if the jobs are not immediately available.
This feat of a complete cure of the economical disease is humanly impossible. Unless, of course, we continue to barter with China in exchange for the wealth of our country - its land and citizens(knowledge).
To answer your last question, well, as I sit here I am asking myself what else do I have left that I can sell for half the price? Being in the antique business as a sole proprietor, not only have I been in the store for an entire day and see not one person walk in, but it has extended into two weeks. And when they do - half price they demand! They know so they exercise the right, yes their right, to the half price.
I am definitely a lot more frugal with my grocery shopping. I do not purchase all in the super-market. I price shop and go to dollar stores. New clothes, hairdressers, nail salons - not for me. I am my own hairdresser, manicure person and wardrobe adviser. Just the basics - sticking to the basics. The fear the economy has put into our minds is as bad or even worse than that of 911.
One of the actions by Mr.Obama that I truly appreciate (as I see it) is that he has recognized that he is not as experienced as Clinton, McCain, Biden, Powell, and the rest but he has the advantage of having been grown up in the era (as opposed to already grown)that we are in, and so, can apply their wisdom when deciding on the course of action. He has embraced the boomers with a clear vision. His academic qualifications, of course, shine like a beacon to the world. I do approve of his first days in office and I think that he is going in the right direction.
We'll see.
Everyone looks at the president says what can he do for me. I would like to look at an alternative and ask what can we do for ourself??
When I graduated high school in 1969 we had a manufacturing economy That has gone pretty much away we now have an economy that is based on a different persective. In the seventies I saw the Union erode due to people needed jobs, and did not have any loyalty to one another. I installed the equipment that cost me my job. I worked in a Wal-Mart (not for Wal-mart) in an area that was a big union stronhold and saw many, many jackets and shirts with union logos walk past my Kiosk at a time when unions were trying to organize Wal-Mart.
I do not feel that any president can make a big change in the economy but I do feel the power of the people can, By writing letters, and starting and SUPPORTING comanies that care about their employees and customers. The president has a lot of power that is true but the people have a lot more with their wallet and pen. I am not trying to single out Wal-Mart since I am a regular shopper there that is just my observation.
We may not have been able to pick the President we wanted but I feel we need to support him and let the people in congress know our feelings, wants and desires and as a people if we can do that in masses then the big boys on wall street and in Washington can and will hear us.
Do we really need a flat screen TV, a new computer every yr, a new car every yr ..........That sends a better message. Loyalty to one another instead of only out for oneself to me is the key. Just like internet shopping is great untill we no longer have safe streests, reciveing tickets from Police as a way to keep money comming in for upkeep on police cars, City services are cut.
Wake up America and go back to John Kennedy and ask Not what president Obama can do for you but ask what we can do for one aanother.
Ron
I got to leave work early today because I ran out of work. I am to stay home tomorrow too. Since it all is starting to affect me too, and I had the time, I decided to put a few words out there on my blog.
view linkIt's just what I happened to be thinking about alot lately and felt today was a good time to express it.
I will just enjoy the day sewing some more items to sell in my etsy shop. You can find the link on my blog.
Obama's $825 Billion bailout will do too little too late to end the current economic slowdown. And the debt will be a tremendous burden on our children and grandchildren.
His chief economic adviser's for his presidential campaign were architects of the failures at Fannie May and Freddie Mac. Can we expect better of them when they are working for a pittance of the millions they each stole from Freddie and Fannie, while pushing them towards bankruptcy?
I expect to be more self-reliant as the prospects of Social Security lasting another 20 years is doubtful.
OK -- we all are aware that the bailout package is just a drop in the bucket. And we, the people, are going to have to become extremely innovative and inventivce to make it through the next few years. I spoke with the president of a bank and he doesn't see how the world economy will be able to rebalance. If a top banker, one of the players, has never seen or experienced this kind of meltdown, what do we do to pull the US out of downward spiral?
In my circles, I'm seeing MANY people lose their jobs. Many businesses unable to make payroll, many more layoffs about to happen. Chrysler and GM will nationalize as will Bank of America and Citibank. The ONLY solution that I see is, as many of you have already alluded to -- extreme self-reliance combined with innovation and imagination in ways that we have not seen yet. The people of the US will have to invent, innovate and create their way out of this one. I believe the innovation will lie in alternative propulsion and green technologies. BigRon talked in his comment about the manufacturing economy that we all grew up with. Manufacturing combined with technology and a focus on green jobs and infrastructure rebuilding may be the way.
My great fear is that it has to get worse before it has any chance of getting better. I watch MSNBC and CNBC every morning before work. So we have the house on record as saying we won so we will draft the bill our way. The criticism is that Pelosi and closed door caucus members drafted the bill with very little stimulus and alot of pork. So they argue not true. It's coming around to the senate and with minor reductions, some of which probably should have stayed, will most likely be passed. The Dems are yelling bipartisan while it's only 3 Republicans. On one hand it looks like McCain wants more big business and high income tax cuts and the dems want a huge tax cut for people to people that don't pay taxes. Who do we believe.
Kudlow is on CNBC with the same rhetoric that capped corporate wages means we lost the best and the brightest to companies that don't need the bailout. It's a relevant argument but the president is asking everyone to contribute. I was watching Tavis Smiley on PBS. Of all people he had Gary Shandling the comedian on. What insight the guy had. His argument is that we've lost sight of what we need. He argues it's a sickness to aquire wealth for just for wealth's sake once you've passed a level of wealth that satisfys your needs for life. A bonus of 10 or 18 million $$s for a company that needs gov't investment is a least immoral and should be actionable.
I don't expect everyone to copy the chairman of Japan Airline JAL, but he rides the subway to work, moved his office into the open office pool so subordinates can approach him with ideas. Took a paycut when his company had to reduce everyones pay. His salary is a fraction of what we've heard is common for the guys running the auto industry. I make 1/3 of what I did in 2005, no medical, no pension, no 401K and my existing 401k has been gutted. And I don't know if we'll survive but having been down the road of benefits expiring and unemployment running out I can only see that alot of people are going to feel alot of pain in the coming months. The president wants immediate action without review, the republican want a staggered approach of implementation plus no real direct benefit to those who need it most. Who's right?
