I wasn't the only one to notice
A few days ago, I posted an entry about the Circuit City layoffs and its effects on the working and middle classes. I decided on Monday to buy a daily edition of the New York Times, (as if I need another news source), but in the Business Section was an article entitked "Circuit City Lays Off 3,400 And Hardly Anyone Cares" by David Carr, 'The Media Equation".
His point is similar to mine, that there is a bigger story here than meets the eye and it is getting under-reported. When the media wants to get 'Business News' they go to the corner office and talk to the CEO, but they don't seem to care about the vanishing pool of decent jobs for the rest of us.
Circuit City, ina an effort to save $250M, will lay off 4300, precisely because these people did their jobs well. Karr notes that Circuit City is practicing 'domestic outsourcing'. He also makes mention of the fact that while there may be many people applying for no-benefit, low pay retail jobs, there not just for teenagers anymore, there are many who are heads of household who have these jobs 'because its the only thing they can find'.
The irony is that CC could save juat as much by laying off a handful of CEOs and VPs. Don't worry about them - they have contracts and Golden Parachutes. Unfortunately, the guy with two kids at home does not.
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We all hear the stories about how much debt the American individual accumulates and the fact that they don't save any money. Here's one reason why they don't save: At a recent stop at my (new) bank, the amount of interest paying out for a savings account is, get this: 0.015%! What an investment vehicle. Contrast that with the 'average' bak credit card rate of 15%, never mind the mounting fees they keep adding on to ensure that you remain on the hook.
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I attended my first Passover Seder the other day, by visiting a guy I used to work with almost 20 years ago. It was intersting, the various meanings of various foods that were served, but the desserts, many many varieties, took a bite out of my 2000 calorie a day diet. A good time was had by all.
Next Year in Jerusalem!
posted by Pig @ 1:40 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I read that also, and Tweeter is closing a bunch of stores. I've noticed more adn more that sales staff who were knowledgable are being replaced by non English speaking people from hwo nknows where with names like Mugumba, Vrapteep and or course Chickita.
I was talking to a guy who runs a small audio salon in Cambridge and we got to talking about lack of knowlwdge of salespeople of you can find one at all. I'm not sure how accurate this is but his sources told hmi that the big box stores will not hire someone if they know their tech stuff.
Jess for kicks got into Best Buy, CC or other store and sak a sales drone about technical specs on audio systems; THD, IM, S/N ratio, power bandwidth, damping factor and output power rating...RMS, peak, IPP. MOst will look at you like Bambi inthe headlights of a truck
Corporations want a dumbed down work force. WHat we're seeing is capitalism at it's finest, or greed run amok. Hmmm and all through my lifetime we villified them Commies. Capitalism with no restaints becomes a soulless, predatory demonic beast, devouring everything in it's path, at least those of us who are not million/billionaires.
I know I won't be alive to see it, but i hope the day comes when the captains of industry get their day in court
Remember what Jesus said, "blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth"....yeah only the garbage and pollution left behind by the billionaire elite
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