Layoffs...

To clarify this blog entry, I'm only referring to American companies with American citizens...

I was reading an article about a company that is about to layoff 15% of their workforce because they only posted an $0.08 profit per share. The company spokesman said that they owe it to their investors to turn a higher profit. Really, because what about those people who believed in that company and contributed to that $0.08 share profit -- don't they owe something to them?

In this broken economy, I propose that any company that shows any profit or even just breaks even that lays off employees simply to push their profit margin higher is unAmerican. Every employee that is laidoff is a hardworking American citizen and that hardworking American citizen puts their paycheck into our American economy. And, when that American citizen loses his or her job, they don't spend as much money in the American economy, which means another company's profit margin goes down and another company lays off employees and the cycle begins again.

I have to say I'm a little disappointed at the idea that companies would be given tax cuts. These are the same companies that seem to think they don't have any obligation to anyone besides investors. Eventually, as long as employees are considered to be nothing more than a drain on money rather than the valuable resources they are -- companies won't have to worry about their investors, because the companies will eventually not exist. Any company that has laid off any employees in the last year doesn't deserve a tax cut.

There's a story I heard years ago about Johnson Wax. Apparently, during the depression Johnson Wax NEVER LAID OFF ONE EMPLOYEE. They cut their hours, but Mr. Johnson believed that he owed his employees something to keep the company and the employees going. I'm sure that Johnson Wax must've lost money during the depression, but the Almighty Dollar wasn't more important than helping their employees put food on the table. It's really too bad that men like that don't exist anymore.

Years ago I started telling friends that as long as companies see employees as liabilities instead of assets things were going to get bad and unfortunately, I was right.

Right now, I'm lucky, I still have my job, but I have to wonder when the axe will fall and my company decides I'm a liability and not an asset.

God Bless

Prayer Request

First, sorry this is so late in the day. I've tried three times to get this written and I keep getting interrupted. Second, sorry that I'm not in a position to post my plan for how to get our economy back on track. I haven't had a chance to take the ideas I've come up with and put with the others I've heard.

Third, and this one is the most important, I'd like everyone who read this blog to add a man named Eddie to your prayer list. On Wednesday, I had an appointment and when it was done, I had to have some prescriptions filled. Since I was right there by the hospital's pharmacy, I decided to have them filled rather that waste gas driving to WalGreen's. Anyway, while I was waiting, this nice gentleman came in and sat near me. We struck up a conversation. His name is Eddie and he is suffering from blood clots in his lungs. That sounds pretty serious to me. Anyway, turns out that Eddie served as an Army Ranger just after Vietnam. He'll be married next month for 30 years to a nice lady who joined us not long after he sat down. They have four children -- three together and one she had by another relationship. But, let me tell you what stuck me about Eddie, even though he had to struggle for each breath, I didn't hear one word of complaint. When his wife came and sat down, I could see the love the two of them share for each other.

When Eddie's name was called, his wife stayed by me and told me the story of how they met. It turns out that her daughter was six and had met Eddie via her aunt. She (the daughter) liked Eddie and decided she wanted her mother to be with this man. A year and a half later, the two of them went on a blind date in October. They married the following February and the rest, as it is said, is history. Something about a little girl picking out her new Daddy just touched me.

So, when you're down on your knees thanking your Maker for the blessings in your life, please ask Him to bless and protect Eddie and his family.

God Bless

Rush Makes A Fuss

I cannot stand Rush Limbaugh.  I have never been able to tolerate listening to his radio program and watching his I believe now cancelled television show.  I cannot believe that there are 20 million Americans who are so mis-guided and uninformed to listen to this man on a daily basis.  Buy a paper, look at the Internet!  Read a book, folks.  (I really hate it when he calls his listeners folks.)

I heard today that nothing would make Limbaugh happier than if President Obama fails.  He cites that Obama is "talking about the absorption of as much as the private sector by the U.S. government as possible."  Well, personally, I believe he's offbase.  These bailouts do not meant he government will be taking over these industries for the long term.  However; if you want government money to bailout your company, than the government has the right -- no, the duty -- to oversee your business.  My mama told me that he who pays the band, picks the music.  

He listed the banking industry and the car industry, but really what bothered me is that he said "I hope he fails."

See, I believe that you all of us have the right to say and believe what we want -- this is America afterall, but shut up, Rush.  You old windbag do not offer a better plan and right now, America needs action.  We need to step up to the plate and join together to set what is wrong right, to keep what is right and to move forward instep with each other.  People who can only critize without offering a better idea are just baffoons who should be ignored.

I happen to disagree with the bailout.  I have a better idea and if you come back tomorrow, I'll have it all laid out for you.

God Bless