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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Dan3 who wrote (153311)10/14/2002 10:31:57 PM
From: i-node  Respond to of 1585186
 
The CEO's that are getting millions to billions for showing up at their desk each day (hired hands of us stockholders) -have done a terrible job, while abusing their fiduciary responsibility and paying themselves 100% and more of the earnings of the companies they were hired to operate.

So, if you're a stockholder, vote with your feet. Nobody is FORCING you to own stock in anything.

I would not own stock in a coroporation that I felt was mismanaged.



To: Dan3 who wrote (153311)10/14/2002 10:38:49 PM
From: i-node  Respond to of 1585186
 
A separate issue is that too much wealth in too few hands kills off consumption. I tried to make it clear that it's just as bad when the wealth is spread around too evenly (then there's not enough investment). I'm concerned that we've gotten to the point where too much income is in too few hands - which is limiting total demand and resulting in recession and deflation.

This is absurd. We've just come through thirty years of an absolute welfare state, in which people could literally sit on their asses for a lifetime and still live a reasonable life. And where has it left us? With the liberals wanting more. Wealth is redistributed at every turn -- from foodstamps, to Medicaid, to SS & Medicare, to EITC, and literally thousands of other giveaways to the poor (and unfortunately, to the lazy). Don't ask for more.

In Arkansas, the governor set up a fund for those who want to pay more taxes. The federal Bureau of the Public Debt takes similar contributions. I suggest you make one. BUT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONFISCATE MORE OF MY MONEY TO GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE. It is out and out theft. And George Bush is a godsend for trying to do something about it. If we could just get rid of the obstructionist Daschle, maybe we'd make some REAL progress.



To: Dan3 who wrote (153311)10/14/2002 11:05:09 PM
From: Joe NYC  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 1585186
 
Dan,

The CEO's that are getting millions to billions for showing up at their desk each day (hired hands of us stockholders) -have done a terrible job, while abusing their fiduciary responsibility and paying themselves 100% and more of the earnings of the companies they were hired to operate. They're like clerks in a store that keep all the profits for themselves, leaving the owners with nothing.

On this, I agree with you. The basic idea of operating the company to make profit for the owners seems somewhat lost on the executives, especially of the tech companies. The lack of earnings is replaced with a bet on growth, and while the growth succeeds in some cases (in most it doesn't), in cases where it does, it is a profitless growth. Rather than small company owners visiting big companies to learn how to run things, it may be a better idea of some of the CEOs to visit some small companies, to see how they operate - and make profit.

I think the whole idea of stock options should be disposed of - for employees and executives. I would not be against profit sharing - sharing of real profits - between the owners (stockholders) and employees, to be used as an incentive.

A separate issue is that too much wealth in too few hands kills off consumption. I tried to make it clear that it's just as bad when the wealth is spread around too evenly (then there's not enough investment). I'm concerned that we've gotten to the point where too much income is in too few hands - which is limiting total demand and resulting in recession and deflation.

I think this is an interesting question, which can be approached in number of ways, but let me ask something very simple: If income (after paying taxes) is not consumed directly, what happens to it? The only thing I see that is left is investment of one kind or another. It is an investment for the person investing the money, but this investment turns into other things which in terms ends up being consumption.

For example, you put your money in the bank, the bank lends the money to someone (or a more sophisticated version of you buying into a mutual fund which buys an MBS) to buy a new home, which will employ architect, construction people, people who make appliances, of course lawyers, etc all of whom will use their income for other consumption (and some investments). The person who got the mortgage will get the house (which he otherwise could not afford) and he will live in the house tomorrow, which itself is consumption.

You can take another case of some investment in R&D and such, which in the end ends up as consumption of for people doing the research etc. What am I missing?

Joe