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U.S. Census Bureau
The last few years have been tough on many Americans who work in the manufacturing industry, but they haven't been nearly as tough on the manufacturers’ profits.
U.S. manufacturers have seen a steady uptick in profits since bottoming out in late 2008, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
After-tax profits for U.S. manufacturers totaled $159.7 billion in the second quarter, according to the Census Bureau. That’s nearly triple what they were in the second quarter of 2009, when corporations were just starting to emerge from the deep economic blows of 2008. The data is seasonally adjusted.
The Census data also include any money the manufacturers made or lost by producing or selling goods in other countries.
Joel Naroff, economist with Naroff Economic Advisors, said that’s one reason profits have been on the rise over the past couple of years.
“Globalization is, to no small extent, driving a fair amount of these profits,” Naroff said.
Another big help: The weak U.S. dollar.
“The weak dollar has begun to actually do what it’s supposed to do and that’s to generate more exports,” Naroff said.
Still, even as manufacturers have seen their bottom lines improve, job gains have been scarce.
About 11.7 million people are currently employed in U.S. manufacturing, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That’s about two million fewer than when the recession began in December of 2007, although it is an improvement over a low of around 11.5 million in late 2009.
Some companies have automated more functions so they can boost productivity without adding a lot of workers, while others have simply found a way to squeeze more work out of their existing workforce.
The big question now is whether such gains can last. Naroff said compensation costs may have increased since the second quarter, and manufacturers may also be paying more for the commodities they use to make their products. Those factors could mean that profits start to slow, he said.
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I guess outsourcing does work. I don't see where lower taxes and less regulation will get us. These companies are thriving according to the figures. Just like the financial institutions, the corporations are basically "hoarding" - great for them, bad for U.S. workers...
Lower taxes and less regulation will do one important thing: increase profits for the wealthy.
The rest of us? We're supposed to be trickled on, don't you know?
Nope, less regulation would allow companies to get an understanding of the laws going forward. Such as the BS Obozocare bill. This SHOULD lead to increased hiring. No one knows just what the Obozocare bill contains, including congress. Sorry Matt, corporate profits are not necessarilly bad.
With or without health-care reform U.S. manufacturers will continue to squeeze and downsize American workers. These companies care less about America and more about profit. Trickle-down economics didn't work before and has no chance of working now.
Need a job?, kill a robot. The patriotic thing to do would be to lower profits a little by hiring some workers and stop over working the employees they have. But their bottom line is more important to these companies than high employment and strong economic growth.
I don't see where the trickled down effect is happening. I'll finish your statement:
Sorry Matt, corporate profits are not necessarily bad for upper management.
I don't understand how less/more regulation can effect them reinvesting their profits into more workers. "regulation" is such an arbitrary word. It's a cool word to say, but not only do people not know what it means, but you can't apply it to every individual business (small or big).
So if you can't explain how less regulation is not bad for middle America, then we should take your words with a grain of salt.
The corporate profits tell a complicated story. ---
Many major companies are seeing a huge increase in profits - why hire more staff when the existing staff is generating more money? These same companies have realized that, in the past, they eagerly over-hired and don't want to make the same mistake, especially during an unstable economic period.
Also, this economic environment is quietly flushing out many of the businesses/companies that are not important to the average consumer. We've all seen many of our favorite small shops disappear because their services/merchandise weren't a necessity or considered needed by their customers. Since coffee & burgers are perceived as necessary daily food items, companies like Starbucks & McDonald's are doing well.
And to my point that is more concise:
If you have the profits generating, how come we need less regulation to give upper management more reason to hire more people, but we turn a blind eye to using said bonuses to put more people on their payroll?
I am trying to approach this like a dry sponge so if anyone can help me with that, I'm listening.
Where does less regulation promote more workers? how does that happen? If it means that you'll be hurting your bottom line to have an extra person on payroll, just say so. I can't imagine an oil company (best example I can think of) hiring one more person will cause the downfall of said company because government regulations will do that.
Since many large companies are publicly traded, they are organized to respond to the preferences of their major shareholders --- which consistently want annual increases in profits regardless of staffing levels. Many of today's iconic companies are hostage to their own share price. Very rarely have some companies decided to spend some extra funding (to buyback their shares) and take the business private again so they they can really focus on making the company stronger without the stress of keeping an "arbitrary" share price up.
If the company can make more money with less people, even better. Industries that have technical production processes (auto, electronics) need robotics to provide consistent build quality and lower insurance liability for the items they sell. But there are a lot of other things that would benefit from more staffing/labor being involved in the production process.
The only thing "trickle down" economics has done is leave a wet spot on working American's shoes!
This article was horribly written/researched. Who wrote this MSNBC? Your coffee guy?
The MAIN reason corporate profits are up are due to outsourcing. They've hired just short of 2 million new manufacturing jobs in OTHER countries. People that work in shacks that get no benefits, workers comp, etc.
THIS is globalization people. The talking heads can preach all they want with the "well, that's capitalism" angle, but they are grossly misdirected. There's a difference between national, and international capitalism. The destruction of the middle class is well on its way.
My wife's friend is a clothing designer for a major company. When she does her annual trip to the textile plants in China she never ceases to be stunned by the working conditions in these plants. Over 100 workers share a "toilet", which is a wooden board with a hole in the center of it that they sqaut over. During lunch, they eat with one hand and sew/stitch with the other, never stopping.
If you GOPers want true globalization, you can kiss the traditional American way of life goodbye.
I'm part of the management for a manufacturer. First off I'm not sure how you can criticize a business for having a profit, if we didn't we would go out of business. Our profits are slightly up, but our margins are running at a miserable 5%. If we didn't pursue automation we would also go out of business, since the margins don't allow any room. That said, lower corporate taxes doesn't help anyone but the owner's paycheck. We are also not over regulated, at least in our area. The only thing that helps is increased consumer demand; it's the only thing that really matters. We would happily hire 100's of people if we had the sales. The government needs to focus on getting consumers to spend more on US goods and increase US exports. They are not doing enough. They keep listening to the larger multinational manufacturers that outsource almost everything. Everyone needs to buy more "Made in the USA."
hear! hear!
Made in the USA is the way to go and the quality is far superior. I'm practicing what I preach now will someone in the USA make a toaster, please?
I'm with BobL on this, and for once some truth in one of the article's participants. One big reason for profits iiiiiiiisssssssssssssss....... here it comes........
Globalization! Yes, outsourcing jobs! Kill American jobs, work and hire overseas, offshore every last part of your corporation you can to 3rd world wages. Ahhh.... the American way.
And yes! Instead of legislating towards American corps and jobs remaining IN America, our sold out 535 are taking care of themselves and those they're invested with! Any in Clowngress NOT invested in corporations, stocks, and not millionaires? NNnnnoooooo of COURSE there aren't!
See how easy this is? That's it, in a nutshell. There's always been ways to continually show profits, year after year, even though economic models say differently. Ran out of options? Well, there you go.... globalize. Now you can screw everyone every which way and STILL show continued profit margins; even if there's none left in America, at least, to show them to.
That squeezing more out of existing workers is working longer hours instead of hiring more workers.
It is just as economical but more stable for the work force to work overtime. If sales go up they work more overtime. If sales go down the reduce the overtime. The bottom line is not having to hire and layoff every time there's a change in sales. If a big company pays benefits like retirement pensions and medical insurance the cost is based on 40 hrs a week so the extra money paid for overtime works out about the same as hiring another worker at straight time then paying for his benefits. The new hiring comes in after sales reach a point that the present work force cannot keep up with demand.
Ok, manufacturing has picked up. This is a sign that the economy has strength and is moving, that's good. The only question is, what are they making? Manufacturers should be allowed to make a profit, that's why they're in business in the first place, to make money. There's nothing wrong with making money, as long as it's legitimate. Inflation will kick in and hiring should pick up soon.
I have to wonder just how long these profits will continue when the wages people are paid are not going up with cost ? No real hiring is being done by companies anywhere...and pay is coming down...along with more jobs lost...the profit bubble will pop..the question is when..and what happens then ? Maybe more bail outs for mismanagement ? The bankers did well with that .
Ah, the usual parade of loser comments.
If you are not satisfied with what you can make working for someone else, why don't you do what they did....start your own business? If it's successful, then you can be "patriotic" and share your profits with whomever you wish!
The lower taxes / less regulation meme is a red herring attempt by the right to throw something, anything out there as the reason why there are no jobs bills or efforts being made by our Congress to get anything done. This is how they protect their do-nothingness. We voted in a bunch of Republicans in 2010 because we believed their campaign promise of job, Jobs, JOBS !!! We believed at our own peril because they had intent of helping the president with the economy. So, they claim what has held them back is that corporate taxes are too high (historical data proves otherwise) and there are too many regulations in the way for companies to hire. Yet, every company boss will tell you that if there is more demand for their product, they will do whatever it takes to accommodate the consumer's needs. This may mean more modern equipment or more workers. When you can add to your bottom line, you do... anything else is a lie.
good business needs good customers
good customers need good jobs
good jobs give good pay
good pay means good companies
good companies have good employees
good employees want good benefits
good benefits mean good management
good management makes good decisions
good decisions have good results
good results
1. Stop shopping at Walmart. Oh thats right you dont make enough to shop any where else.
2. Stop buying products made out side the USA. Sorry all those jobs moved overseas because its cheaper and makes bigger profits for the company.
3. Make the rich richer and the effect will trickle down. Reminds me of the saying "Dont urinate(pxxs) on my head, and tell me its raining". (Didnt work then, wont work now, never did work)
Corporations better get it while the getting is good because we are starting to move into a direction wher we CAP the % of an industry that corporations as a group can do business in.
WE are going to FORCE CORPORATIONS through our laws to do business in only 40% of every market while spinning businesses off to individual business owners.
From FARMING, TO OIL, TO TELECOM ETC>>>>>>
This is how Americans are going to get their dream back.
If WE THE PEOPLE OF THE US CAN'T EAT,
THEN THESE CORPORATIONS & POLITICIANS DAMN SURE WON'T CONTINUE TO EAT!!!!!
It seems to me this article was exaggerated by MSNBC. To compare profits at the peak of a recession when most were losing money to now and not adjusting for inflation is asinine. I studied statistics and believe you can manipulate things to prove what you want.
This seems to be the norm for MSNBC pushing the class warfare thing. The profits do not seem overly excessive to me.
Enjoy those profits while you can, the US is about to be downgraded again. U.S. is in worse fiscal shape than Greece. Uncle Sam’s Ponzi scheme will stop. But it will stop too late. And it will stop in a very nasty manner.
The first possibility is massive benefit cuts visited on the baby boomers in retirement. The second is astronomical tax increases that leave the young with little incentive to work and save. And the third is the government simply printing vast quantities of money to cover its bills. The vast amount of you will be deep in poverty.
This gargantuan discrepancy between our “official” debt and our actual net indebtedness isn’t surprising. It reflects what economists call the labeling problem. Congress has been very careful over the years to label most of its liabilities “unofficial” to keep them off the books and far in the future.
That's nice. Rich get richer and the people that make the products get screwed over and over and over again. I wonder if the shareholders made any money?
Hey ICKelly, try not to be so negative, mkay?
IC, smart people make more money than you. Wonder why?
This is the "Job Creators" in action. Creating jobs to employ Chinese and the importers of fine Chinese Crap.
Companies exist to MAKE profits. Of they fail and the people are out on the street. Now I AGREE that outsourcing blows. BUT in order to compete there is now simply no options. DO NOT blame the companies, blame the US govt that set up NAFTA and all the other BS laws that allowed us to lose our competitive edge. In reality the downfall of US manufacturing started in the mid 1970s. The alternative to companies not making a profit is communism, which our marxist in chief wants. My addage is be careful what you wish for-you just might get it!
I always love these jokers who try to claim Obama is a "Marxist" in one breath and are arguing about his favorable treatment of Wall Street in the other. Which is it?
Also too, socialism and capitalism are not mutually exclusive.
Northern Europe, which is far more socialist than capitalistic southern Europe, is thriving. Those countries have a far better standard of living than the United States, actually exceeding the United States by every conceivable measure, and they have far better economies too. Canada too has a booming economy, and they have dreaded socialized medicine.
Matt never implied that Obozo favored Wall Street. They are his useful idiots.
Yeah Matt, and Europe also has extremely high tax rates without all the loopholes we have here that allows 46% to get away with paying no federal income tax. Perhaps if we did away with our crazy tax laws and redistributed the tax burden to encompass everyone who lives in the US, we could have a better economy, medical care, roads, etc.
The most beautiful thing about America is you don't have to live here. Feel free to move to any European country you chose and live as happy as they let you.
Thank you Todd.
Ren, a bit melodramatic, we get your defense of capitalism, but it doesn't solve the unemployment problem. No one is saying that they cannot make a profit, but they use the same resources and afforded the same rights as individuals in this country, there should be some semblance of attempting to bring back jobs here. The Germany model would work well here but we are too arrogant to adopt pieces of another country's ideas.
ren: Apparently, all of this is simply too far above your education level to understand. You cannot seem to get beyond simple minded EITHER - OR thinking. Let me try and simplify it for you. First, no one is saying corporate profits are BAD. No one objects to profits. Second, the objection is over taxation levels for those who are making obscene profits. Higher taxes do NOT mean taxation levels will eliminate profits. It simply means those who are making enormous profits should pay a bit more in taxes. The argument is not EITHER capitalism OR communism. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez.........
do you spend your day trolling MSNBC message boards or something? you've replied to almost every comment here. By calling our president "Obozo" and saying everything is BS you lend no constructive arguments to this. Or maybe you're too busy sitting there talking on your phone to come up with anything.
You know, the great thing about America is you don't have to read one news site, there are hundreds available.
Also...another great thing. I can call you a dickhead.
Unemployment isn't the problem, capitalism is. What are we supposed to do, eliminate all technological gains and automation in favor of creating needless jobs for people to do? I would rather these people be getting educated and not working than work in a job that does not need to exist.
Capitalism is the problem because they will continue to greatly reduce the need for workers, and with the few jobs left, those willing to work the lowest wages in the most hours will get the job. There will be less and less spending money contributing to more loss of jobs and less demand. Oh wait, this is already happening.
It is a downward spiral and is doomed to fail. I just hope we change the system instead of artificially inflate it by creating needless jobs. This will just delay the inevitable and make more generations go through harder times.
Ren, look at the natural progression of that idea...
namvietnews.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/abandoning-china-in-search-of-cheap-labor-businesses-turn-to-vietnam/
asiancorrespondent.com/40261/monthly-wages-for-manufacturing-workers-in-thailand-now-lower-than-in-china/
An important thing to note here is the most basic tenant of business - they always search for ways to reduce expenses. Always have, always will. But in the links above you can see where perfection in the search for low labor costs is third-world wages. When multinationals move to different third-world country every time a worker's pay climbs above $250/month USD (like Malaysia with $600/month USD or the early stages for China with $450/month USD), multinationals create a global workforce without sufficient income to buy the products the workers make. With each passing year, this model being perfected more and more. The company I work for is telling our India engineering staff ($1K/month USD) that if they don't improve their P&L, the company will move the India office to Vietnam. Like a cancer, it has no view to its final outcome. Yes, a downward spiral, virtually a Ponzi.
Accepting the results of countless social experiments wherein humanity has not only failed to achieve Utopian ideals, and instead lapsed into tyranny, I would argue that Democratic Capitalism is the most desirable form of government possible.
That being said, laissez faire capitalism, or capitalism that is not held accountable to democracy, is neither beneficial nor uniquely American, and America has proudly rejecting both it and its accompanying doctrine of Social Darwinism.
We all acknowledge that corporations exist to make profit -- there is nothing wrong with this. We acknowledge that corporations are not people and are not expected to operate as such (i.e. under moral constraints). However, history is replete with the failure of the market to regulate itself, either in regards to human and worker's rights, or environmental conservation, all to the great detriment of the nation.
We Americans were among the first to hold that all are accountable to Democracy, and have been given a powerful tool in the Constitution to mold government in such a way as we see fit to benefit the welfare of the Nation. If the people want a return to laissez faire, then it will be done, but we will all suffer if we insist on repeating the mistakes of the past.
"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -- Theodore Roosevelt
Oh ren-
How tiresome you are. Your picture says it all.
I hope you have a good sturdy wall around your compound because the revolution is a-comin'-
Heed my warning!... CEO's and companies that push the profit to social responsibility ratio too far (fairness), will encounter backlashes so severe that they will impose a written creed against greed that will have to be unfortunately put into our laws to protect our citizens from financial evildoers... there Dubba couldn't have said it better himself... lol
To MJ, I do and I can defend myself.
The article does not say where all these profits are going...........they aren't going to stock holders and investors ........they aren't going to worker's...........They aren't going into the government to lower the debt...........Where are these profits going?
No, Frank, that would take REAL reporting on the part of the BSNBC leftist lighties. In depth reporting died with Walter Cronkite and Edward R Murrow.
The profits are being squirrelled away because nobody wants the negative publicity of being bailed out like GM. Saving for a rainy day is a good thing.
We certainly know it's not on FOX!
Ren: How golden is your parachute? Sounds like you are one of the Corporate "I've got mine - go get yours".
Private businesses are not charities that hire people for the heck of it. They are in business to make money and stay in business. if you don't like it, don't work for them and start your own business. Hire however many people your conscience tells you... then go bankrupt because of it. They hire who they need, not who they are told to have.
ren755775 is a troll that spouts BS he knows nothing about. His only purpose on here is to bad mouth Obama. His employers that are paying him to troll these boards are not getting their money's worth because Ken is making ignorant statements and his fellow troll Todd is not much better.
Certainly it good for the companies to make a profit because it's what makes the stockholders happy but what these Obama bashers are overlooking is the fact the companies are now making more profit under the leadership of Obama than they did under the leadership of G W Bush and that was before the Republicans started their BS in congress.
profits go to the top management but they could be paid half and still be well paid.
C. Marks? Connie Marks? Ceppo Marx? your Marks in school were C's?
Karl Marx - it turns out that the same greedy, selfish, power hungry personalities who gorge on the excess , not necessary salaries in capitalism wound up leading the so called Communist countries. They had all the luxury and wanted it only for themselves.
Dont look now Todd, but those "intermittent showers" ( to use a meterological metaphore) have turned into "Heavy Rain" and "Downpour" is on the way. IT IS A RAINY DAY!
Conservative activist Melissa Brookstone urges business not to hire.
Would you with Obozo at the helm?
Well, that pretty much sums up conservatism: sabotage the economy just to get the black man out of the white house.
I wouldn't worry, though. They are undone by their own lack of economic understanding.
You can't withhold hiring. Demand creates hiring. When people have a greater demand than they can supply, they either hire or lose business to a competitor. When demand picks up, hiring will pick up.
Matt that is low even for you. I NEVER brought color into this. YOU DID. And for the record, I fought side by side with African Americans in Vietnam. They were my heartfelt brothers. So do not play the race card with me. You will lose.
Ren???? What planet are you from? This entire economic problem was created by the REPUBLICAN'TS!! They refuse to do anything other than trying to make our President look bad! These republican't bums should be out on there A S S for continued non-action. Campaign on jobs jobs jobs but have yet to get anyone to work!? Republican'ts that follow any of these elected officials should be fired, then we can see how they like being broke all the time!!!
Twoeagles, are you saying it is all the republicans fault? Are you that blind? Do you think the dems are lilly pure? What GALAXY are you from?
To Larry, You call me a troll? What does that make you? And my name is REN not Ken, simpleton.
silly man ren ken you are
I thought it was Ren of Ren and Stimpy
Whining on message boards is not going to help. Go find a CEO and spit in his face. If enough of us do that there's just a slight possibility, although very slight, they might get the message.
Dont advise it. YOU will be arrested as you should. This kind of statement is no better than the Occupy moron useful idiots.
Find a CEO and pizz on his leg. Show him what "trickle down" really means to working folks.
Um, I hate to break it to you guys, but you're talking about assault and battery.
Whatever happened to that new era of civility we were supposed to have post-Tuscon? Have we forgotten so soon?
better yet, employees have to unionize
CEO's have their own tight little union, why not employees who make it possible for them to be paid so well
This report just reinforces my thought that American companies can and do make a profit manufactoring in the US. Understand a profit, not a killing to support over paid CEO's and management, and yes excessive pay anf benefits to unions. Ross Perot told us what NAFTA would do to this country and he was right on. Compaines that have operations outside the US and not a plant in the US, should not be allowed to sell products back to the US. And by the way, you can package it anyway you want, but trickle down don't trickle.
Actually is does, right down your leg. haha. A bit of humor this AM.
Tell me, Private Ren-755775, purported Vietnam veteran, do you think it would be possible for you to address the President of the United States by his correct surname, i.e., OBAMA? Do you think it would be possible, Private Ren, to show a modicum of respect for the Office? I do take note, Private, that you scold one of the participants here for wanting to spit in the face of unnamed business executives, but yet you think nothing of calling the President "Obozo". With all due respect, Private Ren, I think it is YOU who needs a lesson in proper behavior. Dismissed, Private Ren.
Nope wrong again my leftist friend. I was not a private, you jerk.
Sure, trickle down economy theory is simple, piss on my back and tell me its raining. What do you really think these companies will do with more tax cuts and deregulation - please don't tell me they will start hiring, that's BS. By the way, GWB tried that and in terms of job growth measured by presidency he was the worst since Eisenhower.
MAV, I just refuse to believe that no companies would hire.
ren-755775, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Anyone who demeans anothers service to his country has a serious problem and does not deserve the freedoms that soldiers fought for. If you can not thank a veteran without slandering him or her that makes you a bad person.
They attacked ME First. Can not you see that?
ren69 the only problem i see is your disrespect for the highest office held. Idon't see your name on national articles.So your disrespect to a person who was voted by this nation to hold office..If you were an officer? You probably dusted the chair with your.Trickle down doesn't work.Laying off your work force to to save profits to give a ceo more bonuses and golden parachutes for failure just doesn't cut it.It is obscene.
It doesn't trickle...but it does tickle! LOL
My in-laws have quite a bit of their retirement savings in growth-and-income funds they depend on for (quarterly) dividends, which are part of profits all these good-for-nothing corporations pay out, as well as capital appreciation of the underlying stock, which also comes from profits. Shares in those mutual funds were bought with 401K money, partially matched by the corporation he worked for, GM. GM could not have helped him match his contributions if they did not kick in part of their profits for that purpose.
Should they give up a huge percentage of their below-modest retirement income so we can all rid ourselves of these villainous corporations?
Also, should my father-in-law give up his pension from GM? GM, now more than ever, needs profits to keep pension and health benefit payments available for their retirees.
Remember, GM was one of the biggest and most villified of the Big Corporations, at least until the Feds bailed them out. Now somehow the auto industry is a big, benevolent group of floppy-eared puppies.
A corporation, owned by shareholders, is supposed to maximize its value to those shareholders since they risked their money by investing in it. If you want it to just break even, then you should form it as a commune or some such thing.
People forget how many real, actual people own corporations and benefit from them. If you don't like the fact that the CEO makes 100x per year what the people on the floor make, you do the same thing you do with government - you organize your voting block of stock and start speaking out and voting for change.
CEOs are far easier to hire and fire than elected officials, and we've managed to make choices in the voting booth, correct or incorrect, for over 200 hundred years now when we want to "throw the bums out". It can be done with CEOs and corporate governing boards as well.
By the way, notice how the Michael Moore types have laid off GM since the Federal Government bought into it, even though they have created a 2-tier wage system (haves and have nots, anyone?).
"Roger and Me" was all good. When will we be seeing "Barack and Me" in a theater close by?
Barack and me. I love it, cant stop laughing, Thanks I needed a laugh this morning. After returning all those salvos against my leftist friends here on the vine.
A large portion of the pensions that the corporations are contributing to go to the CEOs pension. Much smaller going to the average worker.
Like it not raining now? Saving for a rainy day, really??? We're in the middle of the worst recession in the last half century, hello!!!
You are 100% correct.
First of all, to Todd and Ren, THANK YOU! These discussions are usually full of bleeding heart liberals like Matt. Isn't it funny that whenever a liberal can't make a valid point defending Obama they try to bring race into it?? How very strange. We conservatives are anti-socialist, which I think you will find the majority of Americans to be. The labor unions and idiotic things like NAFTA have hurt the economy of this country, and that plays right into the hands of socialists and communists. Unions don't believe in things like merit raises, they want to treat all of their little lemmings equally. They have created a culture of entitlement.....just sit on your butt, don't work harder than the guy next to you, and take in all the free goodies. They have virtually crippled U.S. manufacturing to the point where outsourcing was the only thing to keep companies going. Unions slit their own throats. There was a time they were needed to ensure fair and safe treatment of U.S. workers........in the early 1900's. I see the culture unions have created daily. If anyone on here believes that things are so wonderful in Europe, I am sure there is a European country you could move to...quickly. I think I speak for most conservatives that feel the U.S. would be far better off if we follwed the blueprint our founding fathers left us, the U.S. Constitution.
djarus: Well, I'm not a member of any union, but let me say this. I take great pride in standing shoulder to shoulder with those union members who were the airline pilots flying the commercial air liners and those union membes who were the flight attendents on those planes who were killed by terrorists on 9/11. (One of those women came from my small town!) I take great pride in standing shoulder to shoulder with those union members who were the firemen fighting fires in the Twin Towers. I also take great pride in standing shoulder to shoulder with those union members who build the automobiles that say "Made in America" that I drive, and I take great pride in standing shoulder to shoulder with those union members who teach my grandchildren. Yes, I take great pride in standing shoulder to shoulder with working class men and women in this country! Apparently, you've got a problem with that!
THANK YOU d jarus. Yes we conservs are a fiesty bunch. Notice Matt is now AWOL. And they question my service to my country. They are pond scum no matter where their leanings are.
To T Jefferson, when the union thugs back the occupy groups and finance them they are tearing down the SAME country YOU LOVE. WAKE UP!
ren & d jarus: Why not stop calling yourselves "conservatives" and start using the name that describes you---social Darwinists?
Jeff, you are trying to change the subject. Wont work.
ren: Apparently, you object to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The people have a write to assemble. Remember that section? You hate those union "thugs" who do the work for you, and, when they object to the treatment handed to the working classes, you're ready to persecute them. The workers have power, too, ren. It's called their labor and they can choose to withhold it just as you can use your power, namely, to refuse to pay them a decent wage.
Yes a right to assemble but NOT curtail or interrupt businesses as they did in Times Square. Moron, the constitution does not give you the right to shout fire in a movie theater. When the occupy morons shut down private enterprise they become criminals you fool.
I would rather call schidt heads like Private Ren economic terrorists. The GOP conservative party in this country has done absolutely nothing to help our government to overcome the great recession started in the previous administration. The GOP is the party of "NO" and obstructionism for every single initiative the President attempts. The GOP does not want to help this country, their main initiative is to get another Repub into the White House by making our President look bad and by holding back our economy. Economic terrorism is their mantra.
Private ren, I'm sure you get your ideas from the GOP propaganda machine Faux News. I'm sure that your heroes are rush Limbaugh, glenn beck, and other right wing terrorists. You know private ren, you and your kind can all go to hell.
ren: The unions endorsed the march, but I'm not certain they actually particpated in any violence. Can you point to a particular union that did participate in such action? Actually, the Constitution does not make reference to shouting "fire" in a movie theater. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such behavior was unconstitutional. Finally, you did not comment on my statement that unions (working classes) have the right to withhold their labor (which is about the only power they have) from you social Darwinists who wish to pay them a subsistence wage. Why is working class power (labor) so offensive to you social Darwinists?
Freedom of speech and right to protest.
Unions don't believe in things like merit raises, d jarus..interesting...our elected do not believe in merrit raises either..they raise their pay on their own .... and include increased healthcare along with it. And remember, they do not ask for any one to ok these raises....at least unions do nego. with companies.....politicans do nothing but hand themselves raises..but of course, only unions are wrong according to many. Politicans vote through trade deals that benefit companies and other countries..but really do little for this country. As for the so called cheaper goods....nothing cheap about 60 dollar shirts being made in china that I can see. Go to any store...tell me what you find manufactured in the USA now ? Be interested to hear that...
It seems to me this article was exaggerated by MSNBC. To compare profits at the peak of a recession when most were losing money to now and not adjusting for inflation is asinine. I studied statistics and believe you can manipulate things to prove what you want.
This seems to be the norm for MSNBC pushing the class warfare thing. The profits do not seem overly excessive to me.
Interestingly there was nothing much about Labor Costs here driving the trend toward mechanization, outsourcing and fewer workers doing more.
Machines don't need huge retirement funds, medical insurance and vacation time. Labor in the other countries is cheaper with less hassle. It just doesn't make much sense that it is cheaper to outsource, make it overseas and ship it here cheaper than we could do it ourselves.
Did we price ourselves out of the market?
the problem is corps decided that the health of workers really didn't matter,so instead of abiding by regulations for health concerns they decided it was easier to go offshore and pollute other countries so thier people now will die of cancers and have birth defects. Just for more profits.Which is the cascade effect we are dealing with now here in the USA. Greed isn't it amazing. AT all costs.
A1 has a good comment. But misses a small point. If the companies in the USA had stayed and INVENTED the cleaner safer technology to manufacture their products in the USA. Then they could make a profit selling the cleaner safer technology to the world.
But it is always cheaper to just cut and run. Even Ben and Jerry did it, what did ever happen to the 7 to 1 rule of salaries at that homey little company?
Thinking globally, with the environment in mind, what sense does it make to have steel pipe & tubing shipped into the US from S. Korea, Taiwan, the Phillipines, India & U.A.E., where the pollution regulations are much less enforced, AND to have the freight ships spewing exhaust halfway around the world? Can't we just fabricate the stuff here?
Strike! Bring down the big corporations. Bring them to their knees. Buy only essentials. Fair day's pay for a fair day's work or no production and no profits at all! Put the bosses on the street like they've done to their workers.
Yeah ED McT, bring em all to their knees. Bring down the big corporations. And replace them with communism. Right on fool.
ren: Apparently, all of this is simply too far above your education level to understand. You cannot seem to get beyond simple minded EITHER - OR thinking. Let me try and simplify it for you. First, no one is saying corporate profits are BAD. No one objects to profits. Second, the objection is over taxation levels for those who are making obscene profits. Higher taxes do NOT mean taxation levels will eliminate profits. It simply means those who are making enormous profits should pay a bit more in taxes. The argument is not EITHER capitalism OR communism. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez.........
Jefferson, yeah you educate me. HA, The blind leading the blind. You liberals really give me a laugh this morning. Bring it on!
Fen
don't need to jump in, you're doing a great job!!
Don't bring them down, let's make them pay their fair share. SCOTUS declared them with "individual" status, so let's tax them accordingly as individuals. But tax them without loopholes and incentives. One thing everyone forgets, they will not disappear because who in their right mind would walk away from a goldmine? Don't get fooled by this CORPOCRACY propaganda.
Joe you are correct.
Ren
You an the that so called party of Retards is over.. USA Eyes wide open on the game its time to go back in the hole.
Hey Trublu learn how to spell and construct sentences.
Allison, let me try to understand, for the last couple months PMSnbc indicates the economy is down, and now you folks say manufacturing is up...........which way...Please?
According to the article, U.S. manufacturers are doing exactly what they should be doing, making a profit by providing products to customers. Being able to do that in a weak economy speaks well about their management teams.
Peter you are right also.
Being able to profit while the customers suffer with higher prices while their paychecks aren't getting bigger isn't fair to the consumers.
Excuse me GJW, exactly where do you get the idea the idea that businesses are supposed to be "fair" to consumers? Businesses exist for profit, and that is all there is to it. Companies cannot simply make people suffer with "higher prices", because it isn't in their ability to do so since people will go to another business in order to buy the product they want at a cheaper price. If you are going to look at any one specific product's price and tell me it is increasing, please take into consideration that inflation is in large part what is driving up prices of commodities and services.
Even if it is exorbitant in many cases, like BIG OIL. Outright theft. What is a fair profit anyway ? $14 billion in one quarter ? JMJ
With all the one sided approach to protecting CORPORATE America, the masses are getting angrier every day. If new legislation is enacted to declare that CORPORATIONS are deemed individuals (SCOTUS has declared that already) then their taxation rate becomes that of individuals, they might wake up before it is too late. It should be known to all that 87% of all US CORPORATIONS pay ZERO in taxes and that the remaining 13% pay "on average" just 7% taxation. Last year the top 10 CORPORATIONS got tax refunds in hundreds of billions while recording historically the highest profits in decades. Now that is what we call CORPOCRACY and they stole your and my Democracy. We can not afford CORPORATIONS any longer. Maybe we should all thank the Koch brothers?
No Joe it is not the corporations we can not afford, it is BAD tax policy from the US GOVT that is unfair by allowing GE et al to pay little or no taxes, while you and I pay what we pay!
ren: We agree on this one.
Good for them. Sort of, however, decries the GOP mantra that profits mean jobs. Profits do not mean jobs, increased demand for product increases the need to hire and jobs. As the lower classes-the middle and the poor-meld into one new lower class and spend less on product the need for employees deceases. These businesses are making money in part by managing thier staffing. Is there solution to our employment problem? Not a simple or an easy one-I have a simple, easy mind. The solution goes beyond me-I believe too, that Congress is too focused on things other than the best interests of the entire population and too closed minded and personally motivated to think in broad and complex enough terms to solve readily solve the problem. Perhaps the problem will self decrement, and congress will have fulfilled its mission of doing nothing but each and every one and side will claim responsibility for the solution. Ahhhh.....jeez, simple, easy and inane babbling on my part, eh? (The situation goes far beyond the Jr. High School text book on how to run a business-government is not a business in the true sense.)
You know what really gets me about conservatives/regressives is when they say if you don't love it/leave it. Well you know what when the regressives tell me that I tell them "No, I do love it and I am going to stay here and fight against your regressive ways". See that is what the conservatives/regressives want is for everybody who does not believe in what they believe to do......LEAVE. I believe the Germans/Nazis did that in the 1930's. Some eeeeery similarities today in America. Next thing you know is the conservatives/regressives will want to build electric fences to keep everybody who does not agree with them.......oh wait that is what they want to do now!!
Edward, good one bringing Hitler and the Nazis into this. I love you liberals. When you can not make a valid point logically you start slinging mud and resort to name calling. You just show you own intelligence.
Ren, re-read my post. I see no mud slinging or name calling just historical fact. History does have a way of repeating itself. Read up on some history during that era and you will see the similarities that you and your brethren are following. If you are intelligent enough you will see the similarities too. As far as liberal goes no I have been a true conservative for many years but unfortunately the radicals and nut cases have taken over a once Grand Old Party. The ideological cleansing of the party is not over yet and I am deeply afraid of the final outcome.
Edward I am sorry I misunderstood your post. God Bless, ren
Aaaaaaaaaand somebody just lost the argument.
The Reagan era, republican, trickle down economy seems to be working fine, for the filthy rich.
Hey not fair I take a shower every day.
I'm a senior level procurement specialist, and have been for almost 10 years. I've seen lead times go from 2 weeks to 4 weeks; now those same lead times are 6 to 8 weeks. Mfg's are trying to make up for those early losses, by not carrying inventory and making the buyer purchase more and carry heavier inventories. I'm sick of it. The only thing they understand is the bottom line. I buy from their competitor when I can and then I buy a year’s worth of inventory. I have to carry inventory anyways, why not make a point at the same time. The competitor's price is usually a bit cheaper, not always, but mostly. Some I will never purchase from again. Keep watching that bottom line at some point it's going to shrink. And I bet I'm not the only buyer that feels that way. Start hiring Americans to work and end this downfall in our economy. I wonder how many mfg's are run by greedy republicans that want the current state of the economy to stay the same so they can change the white house in 2012.
cymidtown: I've voted for a good many Republicans in my life, but those days are over. I agree with you about the attempts of some of them to bring the Republic to its knees. I'm convinced that some would sell their parents, grandparents, and the entire Republic for greed and political power. The Republican Party today is the political arm of the worst element of corporate America and FOX News is their Ministry of Propaganda. The focus is to move the Republic to a plutocracy based on the political philosophy of such people as Ayn Rand (who is now dead, of course) and her lackey Paul Ryan and company.
Hey Jeff remember the Demorats are not lily pure either.
"MCCONNELL: The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
REPUBLICANS 2012
Keeping Millions Out Of Work
to Put One Man Out Of A Job
What is actually made in the U.S. that you can buy with a made in the USA label? Go to any retail clothing store, hardware store, auto parts store, home improvement store and try to find something made in the U.S. We make and produce our currency and coins and drugs for the medical industry and that's about it. So it appears that the manufacturing profits are being made in government and medical industries that we have to have to stay alive.
Boeing has some nice passenger jets for sale, but you won't find them at your local hardware store. You might also try a new car, there are many vehicle assembly plants around the country. If you are in the market for a motorcycle, try Harley-Davidson. I guess we do have things you can buy with a made-in-the-USA label.
My Mossberg's are made in America!!!
But I dont NEED a 787 (which has parts from around the world ... the main reason it is 3 years behind schedule... and only ASSEMBLED here.) I also dont want a motorcycle or a Jeep Grand Cherokee. What I do want is new coffee maker, a new vacuum cleaner, a new desk lamp, and an ironing board. Where, pray tell, can I find THESE things that are made in America?
As I recall the reason we created a favorable environment for business is so they could hire more people and stimulate our economy. Unfortunately the increased profits are going into the owners pockets. So much for trickle-down economics.
The hiring will happen if they are doing this well in the US. I couldn't find any information on whether or not this includes profits made overseas by US companies. If all the profit growth is over there and that US is stagnant, then we will not see any jobs.
Indexed to gold, oil, or nearly any commodity with real intrinsic value profits are not up. It just takes more dollars to represent value than it used to.
Exactly right DP!
This must stop! don't these companies realize that as soon as they turn a profit they become evil, selfish, greedy? Take a lesson from OWS. Success is wrong!
Thanks for your post. I will close my doors next week and lay off all of my employees. I am after all, evil.
I think johnr123 was being facetious.
Ahh, yes. As was I.