Excellent. Love Teh Krugman, pissed off that the Times keeps him under wraps nowadays.
No on Vermont. When I finally move from Ann Arbor, it's gonna be someplace warmer. Florida is extremely likely. But, wherever I end up, it'll likely be within fifty miles of the I-75.
Oh, most of the Times' regular colunists are part of their Times Direct program. You've gotta pay $50 a year to read 'em online. Amazing how much less often they've been quoted (and therefore how much less they are part of of the national dialogue) since the stupid greedy program started.
Non-CEOs get extra cash to cover taxes on various bonuses as well.
At HP many of the small ($25 even) ad-hoc bonuses for low-level employees are boosted so that you don't end up getting less than you are supposed to. A $25 gift certificate that ends up really being $20 or less due to taxes on your next paycheck can blow the morale value of the little bonus.
Yeah, right. This nation is so bloody hard-wired the only people who have any chance of performing a violent coup on any level are gang members and the military. And those are hardly what I'd call candidates for improved reform.
*scratches head* Ok, how confusing. By giving them money to cover taxes on items purchased, wouldn't the money given fall under the gift tax provisions of the tax code? If so, it would be taxed at a higher bracket...
Methinks we're lowering the bar on what we call evil...
This practice is perfectly legal. The only people who are harmed are the stockholders, who are willing participants (through purchase of the stock) and who have a say in matters if they care to exercise it. Somehow, I don't think that folks who aren't even willing to vote are going to storm the corporate castle with pitchforks...
You make a point, but there are those of us who are NOT stockholders who are disgusted enough with the growing disparity between the richest and the poorest and the growing lack of middle that we are voting both in the booths and with our dollars. It's one reason I don't buy from Wal-Mart anymore and I try to buy locally as much as possible these days (mind you - I'm far from perfect at this ;-)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 04:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 04:20 pm (UTC)I posted this mainly so you could read the article if you are interested:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/folkmew/180372.html
Hugs. When Vermont secedes would you like to move here? We have some room in our summer place. ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 05:05 pm (UTC)No on Vermont. When I finally move from Ann Arbor, it's gonna be someplace warmer. Florida is extremely likely. But, wherever I end up, it'll likely be within fifty miles of the I-75.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 08:37 pm (UTC)Hee. Wassup with the Times and Krugman? Hmm...
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 09:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 04:29 pm (UTC)At HP many of the small ($25 even) ad-hoc bonuses for low-level employees are boosted so that you don't end up getting less than you are supposed to. A $25 gift certificate that ends up really being $20 or less due to taxes on your next paycheck can blow the morale value of the little bonus.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 05:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 05:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 06:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 05:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 06:12 pm (UTC)This practice is perfectly legal. The only people who are harmed are the stockholders, who are willing participants (through purchase of the stock) and who have a say in matters if they care to exercise it. Somehow, I don't think that folks who aren't even willing to vote are going to storm the corporate castle with pitchforks...
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 08:40 pm (UTC)Where's my pitchfork!!?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-22 10:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-23 03:38 am (UTC)(thanks for the giggle)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-12-24 02:54 am (UTC)