Reply #99: Point, set and match...

[Limelight]

Winner, DivineCommands!

I think it should be a crime that CEO's of failing companies bail out with hundereds of millions in their pockets and then try to skip out on workers who made the product or provided the service that made the CEO rich to begin with. I think it should be law that before a company can even consider weaseling out of their obligations to the people who worked their asses off to make the money for them the CEO and other top executives must give up/back 90% of any bonuses and the value of their "golden parachutes" which is to be put back to subsidize the pension fund. That being said, divine is right... This is a capitalist country, not a socialist society.

People are rewarded for individual effort and hard work (in theory about as much as in practice). You start telling people how much money they're allowed to make and you've stopped America from being a land where you can achieve great things. Moreover, as (it would seem) the only small business owner around I can honestly say this. If I have to make the choice between providing for you and yours and me and mine, me and mine come first.

Now my company is so small I'm the only employee at this point, but that being said if I had people working for me I'd want to pay them a good wage as that's how you draw in the best, most qualified people and keep them working for you instead of your competition. I would want to help with health care and that sort of thing if I could cuz again thats why people stick with you. Thing is it might not be possible. Truth is I'm going to do the best I can giving wages and benefits based on the income I need for me and the cash the business needs to maintain if not grow larger.

Am I looking after my income first? You damn right. I stuck my neck on the line to start something on my own, took on the financial and legal risks to establishing an entity in my name. I have a right to decide the income I deserve to make for my risk of being enterprising before I worry about anyone else. Sorry. I agree workers have a right to properly compensated for their time, it's only right, but I got a right to make a profit of the company I built. None of them took the risk to build it, I did and at this point the only reason they're making any money as it is because I did.