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[stopbush]

1. So what?

[htuttle]

2. If they are given money for a relief effort, they need to use it for that

Paying employees out of work, or making up revenue shortfalls to stay in business.

Buying back stock accomplishes NOTHING in terms of economic relief in ANY WAY.

[gibraltar72]

3. Any oxygen in there?

[jayfish]

4. Social Programs Have All Kinds Of Onerous Clauses To Keep People "Off The Dole"

But not for business huh?

[uponit7771]

5. No

[Wounded Bear]

6. No, it's not the same...

and you're probably not gonna get a whole lot of support on that theory around here.

A very Republican sounding position.

[hatrack]

7. Who cares? Boeing spent $43 billion buying back stock 2013-2019

And then they built a shitty, defective airliner that killed 346 people.

And now, their CEO is nobly giving up his salary, because they "need cash".

That's nice.

[Newest Reality]

8. Are they entitled...

Are they entitled to socialism and welfare because of their own failures to fortify their companies in the event of an emergency like this?

They appear to be overly vulnerable because of the way they have used their historically unprecedented profits. Perhaps they are counting on us, the taxpayers, to solve their problems in the event of a disaster and that encourages reckless fiscal behaviors?

Should we be enabling that? I realize that profit is the sole motivation and is required by law according to the corporate charter, but that does not give an excuse for poor management and incessant addiction to greed. If they have not girded their loins, it should not fall upon us, necessarily, to bail them out as a matter of course.

We are the consumers in the circle: Producer/provider/consumer. The question is, what is our collective place in this relationship? If we cannot generally consume even our necessities, what good will bailout after bailout, and on and no, do?

This is a broken system that is rearing its ugly head and needing some fixing, badly. The virus is just making that shockingly clear to us, the citizens/consumers.

[Nature Man]

9. Jesus Fucking Christ

Just stop. Just fucking stop.

[MLAA]

10. We've had a bull market for something like 12 years

Large companies have taken profits and given them all back to executives and stockholders. Same with recent tax cuts. Largest companies paid zero in federal taxes last year. Nothing saved for a rainy day, nothing saved to support workers in lean times. First to yell about bailouts.

Trickle down doesn’t work. Give relief directly to most vulnerable Americans directly.

[at140]

11. Companies can buy all the stocks they want with their OWN money, but not using

government money given to help survive during the pandemic.

[Turbineguy]

12. When they passed the big tax cut

the touted purpose was to increase worker pay, R&D and better products.

Many companies spent their tax savings on stock buybacks and bonuses to upper management instead.

This bill needs to have safeguards so that the money is used for it's intended purpose.

No, this virus was not the fault of companies. And it was not introduced by Trump either.

[Varaddem]

13. I'll go ahead and give them the $1200

If they meet the income requirement.
They just people! Thanks to TishaLA.

[smirkymonkey]

14. WTF is wrong with you?

Forget it. I know who you are.

[MoonlitKnight]

15. Trickledown is more like trickled on.

It’s doesn’t work.

For once, let’s try giving consumers a bailout and let them go forth and consume. May the business that caters best to those consumers survive.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

16. What's this about solar panels and fuel emmisions?

Republicans are railing about?

[Under The Radar]

17. It ain't savings, Your only buying more casino chips

Savings is protected in a bank, buying your own stock that could collapse the day after you buy it is called a “crapshoot” with the governments money

[stillcool]

18. god I hate b.s.

really, really, hate it

[ProfessorGAC]

19. First, Your Premise Is Flawed

Nobody said this is the companies' fault. So, your point is countering something that doesn't exist.
The complaint is that the buybacks were done with free tax reduction money, INSTEAD of material reinvestment in corporate infrastructure and Homan resources.
In addition, they were done with a huge fraction rather than do the prudent thing and maintain a higher cash reserve, or pay down debt. The latter is critical for companies with high D/E. Being for instance, spent 80% of the increased profit from tax cuts on buybacks. The D/E is 3.17. The industry average is 1.6. Raytheon is at 0.39!
So, they're overloaded with debt, have a marginal cash position and they're buying back stock.
It's blindingly stupid business, and now they're crying for money.
Of course, people are pissed.

[greenjar_01]

20. They took massive profits for shareholders in lieu of prudent cash reserves

and now they're asking us to be their cash reserve.

Are you even serious?

[onethatcares]

21. i would be satisfied if

everyone from upper management had to take a piss test for drugs and pass it in order to get a $1200.00 check.

Nothing at all to "consumerbustballs inc." until that piece of paper can pass the same test.

Oh, and they'd have to be means tested, stand in line and present three independent evaluations as to why they need the money and what they'll do with it.

See, easy enough.

[Chainfire]

22. When you are begging for a handout

It is impolite to negotiate the terms.

[3Hotdogs]

23. So we are to consider stock buy-backs as a form of saving? Good.

The companies need to sell their repurchased stock and use those "savings' to solve their liquidity problems.

Yes, this will cause the market to further decline. That means the curtain will be pulled back from the wizard.

[Captain Stern]

24. No, not really.

Telling one entity that they can't do a specific thing for "however long" is not the same as telling another entity that they can't do a different specific thing for a period of five years.

I don't do bailouts with you.

[Midnight Writer]

25. No different than telling SNAP recipients they can't use their benefits to buy Twinkies.

[Hoyt]

26. Heck, if you trust him, even trump says he's against stock buybacks.

[Ferrets are Cool]

27. Wow, just wow. nt

[SidDithers]

28. It's the RB TexLa show!...

the times have changed but the posts are still

Sid