Cable News Ratings for Tuesday, June 19, 2012

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(164) Comments - Add Yours!

1. Faith3

   Posted June 21, 2012 at 3:16 PM

   “Oh,,so we’re only talking about this point in time when you posted “When productivity goes up as a company downsizes, the stocks go up. It is about profit not people.” an since economies are cyclical at some other point in time the exact opposisite could occur and economic expansion could allow productivity to rise,,employment and saleries to rise,,then would corporations be viewed as compassionate??”

   No, is there a point to this Paul? Corporations are entities with no feelings of compassion, indifference or hatred. Currently, it is more profitable to downsize than to expand.

   “So your comment is still false cause and effect..Those “large sums of profits” from cost cutting will eventually reach the point of diminishing returns and either revenues begin to rise from improved economic conditions or gains in market share or eventually those profis will dissapear…”

   The problem Paul is the economic conditions are riped for downsizing, and overworking people more than ever before. It only becomes a problem when productivity goes down. I do think it will happen eventually but until we reach that point companies will continue to downsize and expect people to work overtime with cut pay and/or benefits. I look at how much more productive we have become as a nation over the past several decades and also at how workers wages have stagnated. If the model works, why wouldn’t it continue? Also, companies can continue to undercut its workforce while investing when that environment is ripe. One does not have to be absent the other. I’m not seeing a history of wages keeping up with productivity. That in itself speaks volumes.

   “Your comment “Corporations are sitting on capital because it works for shareholders not necessarily for workers” isn’t proved true in an argument over different economic theories and my reply wasn’t intended to start that debate”

   I said that because the “cure” seems to be to give corporation tax breaks so they will invest. That is typical supply side thinking Paul. I’m saying as long as people are not buying and saving, that produces a problem for companies and we need real solutions if we want to get out of this situation. The problem is we need people being able to consume in order for the economy to work. People will not consume if wages continue to depress while the speculative commodities market expands. They will not consume if they are nervous about their retirement funds, college debt etc….Pushing the middle class down to the lowest common denominator will not solve our problems. Also, austerity talk during a time like this is economic suicide. What are people thinking? Insight please.

2. Faith3

   Posted June 21, 2012 at 3:20 PM

   Hillbilly,

   “To be clear I’m not saying tax breaks are a magic bullet. Only I’m not aware of any company getting them without strings attached.”

   Having strings attached may be something Obama did which may make some economic sense but that is not what is being advocated by supply side thinkers. The theory goes if you supply it, demand will natually come.

3. Faith3

   Posted June 21, 2012 at 3:27 PM

   “What regulations would you suggest?”

   The same ones that were in place prior to Sallie Mae being fully turned into a private entity.

   “So govt should pressure banks to loan to somebody making say $60,000 a year to purchase a home worth $200,000 with no or little down payment? No real employment history/back ground check? Just a pay tub?”

   I was talking about being able to go to college.

   “On school loans I’ll admit i don’t know the perfect way to approve one. I don’t know a way to collect other than attaching their wages.”

   They do garnish wages and these kids get slammed. The whole point is predatory lending is wrong. It hurts them, it hurts us. Only one winner in the equation.

4. Faith3

   Posted June 21, 2012 at 3:35 PM

   Hillbilly,

   Any EPA rule for existing plants has not been released yet so we can speculate all we like.

   “That’s why i asked. Was just checking to make sure i didn’t misunderstand you. Things get lost in translating what’s typed on the net.”

   No problem.