Delta cancels upcoming interviews

[cale42]

Alright, first off I will always give credit where it is due.

data, finding an actual article by Arthur Laffer to contradict my point was sheer genius. Great find.

It's your buddy Laffer again. Here's a relevant passage...

"During this era of ubiquitous tax cuts, income tax receipts from the top 1% of income earners rose to 3.3% of GDP in 2007 (the latest year for which we have data) from 1.5% of GDP in 1978. Income tax receipts from the bottom 95% of income earners fell to 3.2% of GDP from 5.4% of GDP over the same time period."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703977004575393882112674598.html

However I take issue with two points here. One of the fundamental arguments early on was whether tax cuts increase revenue or not. Well a little simple math with the above quote shows that in 1978 96% of the population provided tax revenues of 6.9%(5.4 + 1.5). In 2007 96% of the population provided tax revenues of 6.5%(3.3 + 3.2). So in fact the tax revenues went down by .4% of GDP. Why the article left out the 97-99 percentiles is beyond me but I suspect that data wasn't so supportive. So with an estimated GDP of 14.6 trillion a drop in tax revenue of .4% equals a dollar value $560 billion. To me that is a pretty massive drop in tax revenue.

Second, I found Laffer to be self contradicting in his article. That's no fault of any poster here, but he makes references to the Kennedy tax cuts as an example of today, yet at that time taxes were 91% at the high end. That is very different from the 35% we have today. In fact in every example where he shows raising taxes was bad the baseline number was much higher than 35%. His own named curve directly contradicts that those are valid comparisons. Though to be clear, he didn't invent the curve, just put his name on it.

So while I applaud the finding of the article, what I got out of was the tax cuts are costing us nearly half a trillion a year in revenue and Arthur Laffer is out of touch with his past self.

cale

 

[cale42]

Cale;

The philosophical difference I am seeing is that I look to business for answers on jobs, and the government for answers in protecting American's and America. The government can fight legislatively for protection of American workers without a government program or spending American tax dollars.

ACLPILOT,

I'll even go one step further, I see the philosophical difference as you inherently trust in business and I don't. I once did, but I don't think I do anymore. I don't mean what follows to sound like a sob story, because I've really had a pretty lucky career in a lot of ways, but a few lowlights are necessary to show why I feel the way I do.

I worked 3 years in IT, since I've left I've seen lots of ex colleagues jobs farmed out to India, and they are left unable to find comparable work.

I've worked at 2 regionals. The first I left of my accord but I would be furloughed now had I stayed. The second got bought out and replaced the routes we were flying with their own planes and pilots and gave me the option to start over with a two leg commute and $23/hr.

That encompasses the better part of my work career in the last decade. Few if any times has "business" done right by me or anyone around me. They've done right by their bottom line often at the expense of many people's livelihoods.

At this point my faith in companies is shattered. I would like to believe that the consumer will be the watchdog, and it will force companies to reverse their ways and produce quality products built by content employees, but I simply don't believe it. Those consumers have seen their wages and earning power destroyed by the same companies and so they can't demand anything, they get what they can afford which is cheap stuff(the walmart paradigm if you will)

10 years ago we never would have had this discussion because I would have whole heartedly agreed with every point you have made here. Maybe I have battered worker syndrome, maybe I'll get on next year with a great company and it will change my entire outlook. I can't say. Right now though I just don't trust business to do it right and I'll take my chances with the government(and yes I'm aware many people would say it is a worse choice but it is all I've got for now)

cale

 

[asadonkey]

hows that hope and change thing working out for you?

It is amazing how socialists can look at the absolute disasters ( by the thousands) and still want to go down the same road like sheep marching off a cliff.

Capitalsm isn't perfect but its better than the alternatives.

You trusting the government to solve your problems speakes volumes about yourself.
WOW are we screwed as a country when the majority believes what cale does and the piped piper warms up. ALL HAIL TO THE CHIEF OBAMA march us to the promise land LOL

 

[Data]

Right now though I just don't trust business to do it right and I'll take my chances with the government(and yes I'm aware many people would say it is a worse choice but it is all I've got for now)

cale

Thread hijack closed as far as I'm concerned, not even worth responding.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Not you ACL....you're already here. I needed directions to fingerprinting and chatted the guys interviewing...they were good fun. Hire them all for personality. Thanks for the welcome...STOKED to be here. Some great opportunities. Looking forward to the future.

Baja.

Yep. A lot of good stuff coming. Again, it is a great place to be and be back to. Welcome back. So did you take the 9?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

ACLPILOT,

I'll even go one step further, I see the philosophical difference as you inherently trust in business and I don't. I once did, but I don't think I do anymore. I don't mean what follows to sound like a sob story, because I've really had a pretty lucky career in a lot of ways, but a few lowlights are necessary to show why I feel the way I do.

I worked 3 years in IT, since I've left I've seen lots of ex colleagues jobs farmed out to India, and they are left unable to find comparable work.

I've worked at 2 regionals. The first I left of my accord but I would be furloughed now had I stayed. The second got bought out and replaced the routes we were flying with their own planes and pilots and gave me the option to start over with a two leg commute and $23/hr.

That encompasses the better part of my work career in the last decade. Few if any times has "business" done right by me or anyone around me. They've done right by their bottom line often at the expense of many people's livelihoods.

At this point my faith in companies is shattered. I would like to believe that the consumer will be the watchdog, and it will force companies to reverse their ways and produce quality products built by content employees, but I simply don't believe it. Those consumers have seen their wages and earning power destroyed by the same companies and so they can't demand anything, they get what they can afford which is cheap stuff(the walmart paradigm if you will)

10 years ago we never would have had this discussion because I would have whole heartedly agreed with every point you have made here. Maybe I have battered worker syndrome, maybe I'll get on next year with a great company and it will change my entire outlook. I can't say. Right now though I just don't trust business to do it right and I'll take my chances with the government(and yes I'm aware many people would say it is a worse choice but it is all I've got for now)

cale

You have some valid points, but my major point is government and higher taxes in not the answer to these issues. It is accountability and a level playing field for all contenders. That includes labor. Like I said, give labor and corporations enough rope to hang themselves with and all of a sudden each truly depends on the other for the success or failure of the corporation. (Think MAD)

Artificial protections in this global market will lead to isolationism and eventually being surpasses and we put or heads in the sand. I am upset at the as well with some of the issues you point out. You also have to remember that some companies are reversing the trend and bringing jobs and manufacturing back to the USA. Why? The quality of the product will allow their product to sell and business to flourish. I know many corporations that are seeing better products, customer loyalty and profits with this decision. Labor can play a part in this as well.

I stand by my statement that regulations and rules created by the elite of either side of the isle are not a solution for any of the issues this economy faces. Short term band aids, maybe, but not long term solutions.

 

[cale42]

hows that hope and change thing working out for you?

It is amazing how socialists can look at the absolute disasters ( by the thousands) and still want to go down the same road like sheep marching off a cliff.

Capitalsm isn't perfect but its better than the alternatives.

You trusting the government to solve your problems speakes volumes about yourself.
WOW are we screwed as a country when the majority believes what cale does and the piped piper warms up. ALL HAIL TO THE CHIEF OBAMA march us to the promise land LOL

To quote todays teeangers.. "OMFG". Why is it that in this political climate every mention of additional taxes or government is deemed socialism? I'm not talking about freaking Cuba, China, or USSR. I'm talking about systems like what Britain, France, Canada, and Spain have. Last time I checked noone was deeming them socialist powers. However all have higher tax rates than the US and provide more support for their workers in terms of health care, retirement, and general quality of life issues.

I'm going to go out on a limb here(and likely draw some vehement responses) but I'm going to say the main difference between the US and Western Europe approaches stems from the "American Dream" We still teach our kids and our immigrants and everyone else that you can come to the US, work hard and be wildly successful. We support this all the time with news stories of people who have made it big with their own businesses and their own fortunes. We trumpet our rules and reg's as allowing this to happen freely. The reality is that "American Dream" comes true for well less than 1% of the population. Think for a minute of how many self made millionaires you actually know. Now think of how many people you know who are good honest hard working people that bust their butts but will never be rich. I'm going to guess that is most of all of our buddies.

Western Europe embraces that 90% of people are genuinely good hard working folks who will never strike it rich. They tailor their rules and regulations to help that 90% rather than help the less than 1%. So the mandate that their workers get 8+ weeks of vacation a year, they provide basic health care for all, and they help make it possible for everybody to retire. You can still start a business and make a mint in Europe, but for sure there are more barriers to entry and success.

Quite simply Western Europe embraces that while the American Dream is all find and dandy in this day and age 99% of any population(the US's included) will never live it. So they support that 99%. Personally I think we could learn from this.

cale

 

[cale42]

You have some valid points, but my major point is government and higher taxes in not the answer to these issues. It is accountability and a level playing field for all contenders. That includes labor. Like I said, give labor and corporations enough rope to hang themselves with and all of a sudden each truly depends on the other for the success or failure of the corporation. (Think MAD)

Artificial protections in this global market will lead to isolationism and eventually being surpasses and we put or heads in the sand. I am upset at the as well with some of the issues you point out. You also have to remember that some companies are reversing the trend and bringing jobs and manufacturing back to the USA. Why? The quality of the product will allow their product to sell and business to flourish. I know many corporations that are seeing better products, customer loyalty and profits with this decision. Labor can play a part in this as well.

I stand by my statement that regulations and rules created by the elite of either side of the isle are not a solution for any of the issues this economy faces. Short term band aids, maybe, but not long term solutions.

We are quickly reaching some middle ground here.

You say a level playing field for everyone including labor. I'm willing to retract a majority of my statements if I can have that. The abuse of labor in this country is unconscionable. Business leaders under the guise of "capitalism" have made it difficult to organize, unbelievably difficult to negotiate a contract and borderline impossible to strike. I mean look at a couple example just out of aviation of late, Air Canada Jazz, was allowed to strike less than 10 months out of contract. Weeks later they had a great new deal. The BA cabin crew strike happened while under contract due to violations of their contract by management. Can you imagine what would happen if instead of being told fly it and grieve it we told them, if you make me fly this we strike? Can you imagine what it would be like if 2/3 of our regional carriers weren't currently operating with contracts that are more than 2 years past expiration.

I will happily allow that if labor had the power that most countries give it my call for worker protections would be a moot point.

However I suspect it would not reduce all need for protections. As soon as labor was granted that power, business would call foul and say they need to move hundreds of thousands more jobs offshore. So there would need to be some level of protectio0n against that.

Finally, we have to acknowledge while overdoing isolationism can be dangerous, some level of protection is necessary. And usually no matter how absurd it seems on paper it isn't too terrible in practice. China is the shining example on this currently. Fixing the yuan to the dollar has to be one of the most ridiculous predatory practices out there.. but it hasn't exactly hurt their trade has it?

cale

 

[cale42]

Thread hijack closed as far as I'm concerned, not even worth responding.

I'll take that back.. even as I typed it I thought it sounded a little dumb, but after a long day I let it stand.

I'm not trusting in the government to fix my problems, but I'm not trusting that giving business carte blanche will do it either. We need middle ground.

better?

cale

 

[General Lee]

Way too boring Kudlow and Kramer. Come on now, let's talk about Delta, hiring, SWA, Comair, LBB, or something more interesting or entertaining for the rest of us. Why don't you PM each other with some long retorts? Some politico stuff is ok every now and then, but 500 word rants are too much.....



Bye Bye---General Lee