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Crewleader
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Crewleader's Journal
November 27, 2013
Underpaid Workers Need Our Support
Can Right and Left Rally Against Walmart?
by RALPH NADER
One of the most profitable corporations in America is having a holiday
food drive. Sounds good — it’s the least Corporate America can do for those struggling to make ends meet while big companies rake in record profits and give so little back. But wait… there’s a catch. The food drive is for the company’s own underpaid, poverty-stricken workers. You really can’t make this stuff up.
Last week, it was reported that a Walmart store in Canton, Ohio is asking for food donations for its own employees. Photos of the food donation bins circulated online showing signs that read: “Please donate food items here so associates in need can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.” (That’s if they even have a chance to — Walmart stores are open on Thanksgiving and are beginning their “Black Friday” deals at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to get a jump on the holiday shopping madness.)
Walmart is America’s largest employer with a workforce consisting of 1.3 million “associates.” The company made nearly $17 billion in profit last year. So why can’t Walmart afford to pay its own store workers enough for them to enjoy a holiday meal with their families? The answer is Walmart doesn’t really care about its workers.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/11/27/can-right-and-left-rally-against-walmart/
Can Right and Left Rally Against Walmart?
November 27, 2013Underpaid Workers Need Our Support
Can Right and Left Rally Against Walmart?
by RALPH NADER
One of the most profitable corporations in America is having a holiday
food drive. Sounds good — it’s the least Corporate America can do for those struggling to make ends meet while big companies rake in record profits and give so little back. But wait… there’s a catch. The food drive is for the company’s own underpaid, poverty-stricken workers. You really can’t make this stuff up.
Last week, it was reported that a Walmart store in Canton, Ohio is asking for food donations for its own employees. Photos of the food donation bins circulated online showing signs that read: “Please donate food items here so associates in need can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.” (That’s if they even have a chance to — Walmart stores are open on Thanksgiving and are beginning their “Black Friday” deals at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day to get a jump on the holiday shopping madness.)
Walmart is America’s largest employer with a workforce consisting of 1.3 million “associates.” The company made nearly $17 billion in profit last year. So why can’t Walmart afford to pay its own store workers enough for them to enjoy a holiday meal with their families? The answer is Walmart doesn’t really care about its workers.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/11/27/can-right-and-left-rally-against-walmart/
November 27, 2013
Christmas Time on Wall Street
by MIKE WHITNEY
Remember how Quantitative Easing was going to “get the banks lending again”?
Well, it hasn’t worked that way. In fact, after 4 years of zero rates and $3 trillion in monetary pump-priming, “banks are lending less to small businesses and consumers than before the financial crisis”. (International Business Times)
But how can that be, you ask, after all, didn’t the banks just report record profits in the Third Quarter?
Yep, they sure did. $40 billion-worth. But the bulk of that dough was raked off their gaming operations, you know, all the dodgy activities that Dodd-Frank regulations were going to stop, but never did. As far as lending to households and small businesses, that’s been a non-starter from the get-go. Check this out from the IBT:
“Small business loans… decreased in 2012 from 2011. … there was $588 billion in small business loans outstanding in June 2012, 3.1 percent less than at the end of 2011.” (“Banks Have Received $2.3 Trillion In Quantitative Easing But Are Lending Less To Small Businesses And Consumers Than Before The Financial Crisis“, International Business Times )
Okay, so let’s do the math: The Fed beefs up its balance sheet by a hefty $3 trillion, and the banks issue a whopping $588 billion in new loans.
Sounds like a bargain to me! You’re doing a heckuva job, Bernanke!
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/11/27/christmas-time-on-wall-street/
Christmas Time on Wall Street
November 27, 2013Christmas Time on Wall Street
by MIKE WHITNEY
Remember how Quantitative Easing was going to “get the banks lending again”?
Well, it hasn’t worked that way. In fact, after 4 years of zero rates and $3 trillion in monetary pump-priming, “banks are lending less to small businesses and consumers than before the financial crisis”. (International Business Times)
But how can that be, you ask, after all, didn’t the banks just report record profits in the Third Quarter?
Yep, they sure did. $40 billion-worth. But the bulk of that dough was raked off their gaming operations, you know, all the dodgy activities that Dodd-Frank regulations were going to stop, but never did. As far as lending to households and small businesses, that’s been a non-starter from the get-go. Check this out from the IBT:
“Small business loans… decreased in 2012 from 2011. … there was $588 billion in small business loans outstanding in June 2012, 3.1 percent less than at the end of 2011.” (“Banks Have Received $2.3 Trillion In Quantitative Easing But Are Lending Less To Small Businesses And Consumers Than Before The Financial Crisis“, International Business Times )
Okay, so let’s do the math: The Fed beefs up its balance sheet by a hefty $3 trillion, and the banks issue a whopping $588 billion in new loans.
Sounds like a bargain to me! You’re doing a heckuva job, Bernanke!
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/11/27/christmas-time-on-wall-street/
November 26, 2013
You are a sweetheart and becareful shopping.
I wish you the very same, your day be filled with love and peace girlfriend!
November 20, 2013
By Patrick M. Kennedy | November 18th, 2013
Some ignore the alarm clock and sleep in as long as they feel like it. Maybe get up a little later and have a good legs and arms stretch and maybe twist the head around to loosen up the neck muscles, and then lie back down and get comfortable again; and then maybe later gettin’ up for a quick bit of food and a lap of water, then back to that comfortable position in the layin’ position, sometimes moving into the sun spot on the floor peering through a window. Ahh, retired life can be just great for many seniors; plenty of rest and very few worries, and no schedule to follow.
This is the way many seniors want to spend their retirement, and many do: Doing nothing, no worries, a day-to-day lifestyle, catching some sun rays when they can, and staying out of the rain; perfect. But in this case we are not discussing their habits; we are describing the life of their cat. If they follow the cat and imitate its lifestyle, they will be in perfect harmony with the laid back life. “Time spent with cats is never wasted,” Sigmund Freud. If he said it, then it must be true, or to extend that thought, imitating a cat is not a waste of time, and that is good for seniors.
A couple of things a senior should not imitate when living like a cat, one is using a cat box in the corner of the kitchen. That is not wise and can get pretty messy and smelly. When company comes over they will start the paperwork to have the senior transferred to a real box with locked doors and a bathroom down the hall, so don’t hide behind the couch like the cat does. Using fingernails to scratch and shred the curtains and sides of the couch and easy chairs is a no-no. Raised eyebrows from your company and maybe even your companion can cause all kinds of cat fights.
http://suddenly.senior.com/sleepin-and-eatin/
Sleepin’ and Eatin’
Sleepin’ and Eatin’By Patrick M. Kennedy | November 18th, 2013
Some ignore the alarm clock and sleep in as long as they feel like it. Maybe get up a little later and have a good legs and arms stretch and maybe twist the head around to loosen up the neck muscles, and then lie back down and get comfortable again; and then maybe later gettin’ up for a quick bit of food and a lap of water, then back to that comfortable position in the layin’ position, sometimes moving into the sun spot on the floor peering through a window. Ahh, retired life can be just great for many seniors; plenty of rest and very few worries, and no schedule to follow.
This is the way many seniors want to spend their retirement, and many do: Doing nothing, no worries, a day-to-day lifestyle, catching some sun rays when they can, and staying out of the rain; perfect. But in this case we are not discussing their habits; we are describing the life of their cat. If they follow the cat and imitate its lifestyle, they will be in perfect harmony with the laid back life. “Time spent with cats is never wasted,” Sigmund Freud. If he said it, then it must be true, or to extend that thought, imitating a cat is not a waste of time, and that is good for seniors.
A couple of things a senior should not imitate when living like a cat, one is using a cat box in the corner of the kitchen. That is not wise and can get pretty messy and smelly. When company comes over they will start the paperwork to have the senior transferred to a real box with locked doors and a bathroom down the hall, so don’t hide behind the couch like the cat does. Using fingernails to scratch and shred the curtains and sides of the couch and easy chairs is a no-no. Raised eyebrows from your company and maybe even your companion can cause all kinds of cat fights.
http://suddenly.senior.com/sleepin-and-eatin/
November 18, 2013
The New York Fed issues a quarterly report on credit conditions in the US. The recent report highlights a continuing trend showing young Americans are going deep into debt to pay for their expensive college educations. In fact, student debt is now the largest non-mortgage related debt in the country. This problem reflects a big issue for young potential home buyers. It also helps to explain why the homeownership rate for young households continues to fall and why many young adults are living at home. Many are coming out of college with student debt levels of $50,000 or even $100,000 and job opportunities are not justifying the costs for many graduates. Yet given our lack of good pay blue collar work, going this road is perceived as viable given that non-college educated Americans have very limited opportunities. Given the recent rise in home prices and lack of wage growth especially for the young, it is likely that the homeownership rate will continue to fall for this group. In places like California many parents are finding it necessary to gift or provide down payment assistance for their children to buy even a starter home. This assistance isn’t a few thousand dollars but tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The young are being priced out of buying a home.
http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/young-priced-out-of-the-market-young-american-homeownership-and-college-debt/
Dr. Housing Bubble 11/17/13
Young and priced out of the US housing market: Mortgage debt traded for student debt. The dramatic fall in homeownership for those 40 and younger.The New York Fed issues a quarterly report on credit conditions in the US. The recent report highlights a continuing trend showing young Americans are going deep into debt to pay for their expensive college educations. In fact, student debt is now the largest non-mortgage related debt in the country. This problem reflects a big issue for young potential home buyers. It also helps to explain why the homeownership rate for young households continues to fall and why many young adults are living at home. Many are coming out of college with student debt levels of $50,000 or even $100,000 and job opportunities are not justifying the costs for many graduates. Yet given our lack of good pay blue collar work, going this road is perceived as viable given that non-college educated Americans have very limited opportunities. Given the recent rise in home prices and lack of wage growth especially for the young, it is likely that the homeownership rate will continue to fall for this group. In places like California many parents are finding it necessary to gift or provide down payment assistance for their children to buy even a starter home. This assistance isn’t a few thousand dollars but tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The young are being priced out of buying a home.
http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/young-priced-out-of-the-market-young-american-homeownership-and-college-debt/
November 17, 2013
by Robert Reich
Walmart just reported shrinking sales for a third straight quarter. What’s going on? Explained William S. Simon, the CEO of Walmart, referring to the company’s customers, “their income is going down while food costs are not. Gas and energy prices, while they’re abating, I think they’re still eating up a big piece of the customer’s budget.”
Walmart’s CEO gets it. Most of Walmart’s customers are still in the Great Recession, grappling with stagnant or declining pay. So, naturally, Walmart’s sales are dropping.
But what Walmart’s CEO doesn’t get is that a large portion of Walmart’s customers are lower-wage workers who are working at places like … Walmart. And Walmart, not incidentally, refuses to raise its median wage (including its army of part-timers) of $8.80 an hour.
http://robertreich.org/post/67183027910
What Walmart Could Learn from Henry Ford
Saturday, November 16, 2013by Robert Reich
Walmart just reported shrinking sales for a third straight quarter. What’s going on? Explained William S. Simon, the CEO of Walmart, referring to the company’s customers, “their income is going down while food costs are not. Gas and energy prices, while they’re abating, I think they’re still eating up a big piece of the customer’s budget.”
Walmart’s CEO gets it. Most of Walmart’s customers are still in the Great Recession, grappling with stagnant or declining pay. So, naturally, Walmart’s sales are dropping.
But what Walmart’s CEO doesn’t get is that a large portion of Walmart’s customers are lower-wage workers who are working at places like … Walmart. And Walmart, not incidentally, refuses to raise its median wage (including its army of part-timers) of $8.80 an hour.
http://robertreich.org/post/67183027910
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