tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6399730406480392183.post2504151449311947322..comments2024-03-27T11:18:34.222-03:00Comments on Viable Opposition: Falling Behind - Stagnant Wages in Middle Class AmericaA Political Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03342345936277964422noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6399730406480392183.post-4723192964763996702013-09-27T13:07:09.323-03:002013-09-27T13:07:09.323-03:00Just to add to the discussion. I see things from ...Just to add to the discussion. I see things from two different worlds. One is as a small business owner. The other from the executive position of a manufacturing company. <br /><br />I will start with the latter. Raises over the past couple years have been around 2 percent for ALL. So this notion that the top guy is getting a big boost is not true, or at least not in our organization. It is true that the management team has the chance to get a bonus each year. However, many benefits once not taxes, now are taxed. The steep rise in healthcare costs have primarily been absorbed by the company. So this notion that all big corporations are out to hurt their employers because of the profit goal, is not true as well. Additionally, many jobs that once were human work for a manufacturing laborer have been replaced with machinery. However, nobody wanted to do such boring work. It wasn't just the mental issues, but physically as well. There are many good corporations trying to do the right thing here in the US, but they too are feeling the pinch from competitors in Asia and feeling the pinch of higher taxes and more regulations that is costly for the company. <br /><br />As a small business owner, I am feeling downright depressed. Our business is busy, have grown throughout the recession and thereafter, but still every day a hurdle is being placed in front of us. Most people do not realize how this feels since so few Americans are business owners. It is hard to get financing, it is hard to comply with new regulations, and we spend more time trying to dodge bullets and wonder why we bother. Just imagine. We are successful. Imagine the person struggling to have customers. <br /><br />I have lots of small business friends and associates. It looks very grim. I don't care what the business is, it is an overall feeling that more taxes are coming, more regulations, and longer hours for less pay. On top of that employees, not walking the walk, do not realize the enormous strain on the owners, and how fragile the economy really is. <br /><br />I travel the same road to town every day. Every year another business closes. The churn rate in the US was negative based on the latest data which is about 2011. So at best, the born businesses, and the death businesses are even. No gain. This has been pretty much the picture for some time. <br /><br />My plea to governments is to stop punishing us that are desperately trying to earn a wage and keep our employees happy and employed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6399730406480392183.post-33759382116688053302013-08-25T19:50:41.283-03:002013-08-25T19:50:41.283-03:00Society must find a better way to divide labor and...Society must find a better way to divide labor and give more people a path to finding real and fulfilling work. The cost of inequality is taking a toll on our culture. Robots and new technology have streamlined production increased productivity and eliminated many jobs. Big business is good for big business but not necessarily for the masses. Consolidation often means a gain in efficiency, but this often comes at the cost of losing diversity and a "robustness" to both society and the economy. The benefits of efficiency sometimes have a huge hidden cost, in 1993 the movie Demolition Man "everything is Taco Bell". How the fruits of labor are divided is important, this includes not just the wage deserved by a common laborer, but how much CEO's, those in management, and those that can't, or choose not to work, receive. While we have become far more efficient in producing goods, all people should in their life, in some way contribute to the good of society and the economic pie. The post below gives more thoughts on the this subject,<br /><br />http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2013/04/society-must-better-divide-labor.htmlBruce Wildshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10181323607060607040noreply@blogger.com