2014 Layoffs and Business closings

[CLite]

The wealthy can afford their own end of life care. Medicaid clawback for expensive end of life care ensures that generational wealth is the province of the ultra wealthy, and that the middle class is never able to pass anything down and build middle class wealth. Who do you suppose profits from end of life care that strips generational wealth from the middle class? I'm simply pointing out that in this case the government is at least partly responsible for ensuring the middle class is never able to save anything.

Well I agree completely with your description of the issue, primarily that middle-class families have an extremely difficult time saving for end-of-life. I just don't see how we can effectively address it, if we allow medicaid for people that own assets then we would have a much larger deficit. I assume your position is that government sponsorship leads to exaggerated costs of care, which I somewhat agree with but I don't think we can place the lion's share of blame on it.

My thoughts on this is that the root of all our economic evils is the erosion of middle class income. Things like medicare/social security/retirement would not have the same pitfalls with an overall larger base of better paid working pool. Who's to blame for that erosion? I probably would blame the government and quarterly profit driven corporate policy equally.

 

[BoberFett]

No disagreement there.

 

[MagickMan]

If the rich paid same percent of their income in taxes as working people like I do, we wouldn't have a deficit problem.

A complete load of bullshit.

 

[1prophet]

This is such a ridiculous thread. Every economist, including the most partisan conservative think tanks, agrees that the economy as a whole has been adding jobs for months. The question is just how many relative to what we were hoping/expecting. The last jobs report listed slower GROWTH in jobs than expected, which is bad. The prior two reports listed faster GROWTH than expected, which was good. But everyone knows that it's a net growth. So what purpose could it possible serve to list just the jobs lost without balancing them against jobs created? In what economy will there ever be no jobs destroyed? Businesses fail sometimes.


California as a whole is also doing pretty well, despite decades of hysterical conservatives warning of imminent mass departure or businesses and rich people. There are still plenty of problems, obviously, as there are everywhere in this economy, but it's nowhere near a crisis like you'd think if you read the Wall Street Journal or watched Fox News over the past 30 years.

Jobs is jobs, matter not if it is part time walmart/mcdonald, no or little benefit food stamp needing jobs as long as it is called a job it counts.

 

[Engineer]

To counter, Ford is hiring 350 new employees and spending millions to expand/upgrade the Louisville facility. On top of that, Meijer is hiring 250 people in KY as they open a new super center.

 

[dmcowen674]

To counter, Ford is hiring 350 new employees and spending millions to expand/upgrade the Louisville facility. On top of that, Meijer is hiring 250 people in KY as they open a new super center.

Kentucky doing pretty good these days?

 

[dmcowen674]

2-4-2014

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ayoffs-20140203,0,4272150.story#axzz2sKcn33k0

Disney Interactive expected to begin layoffs



The Wall Street Journal, which first reported news of the layoffs, said Disney Interactive would lay off "several hundred people."

​

 

[Zaap]

2-4-2014

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ayoffs-20140203,0,4272150.story#axzz2sKcn33k0

Disney Interactive expected to begin layoffs



The Wall Street Journal, which first reported news of the layoffs, said Disney Interactive would lay off "several hundred people."

​

Meh. Do you read anything you post? Disney Interactive has been a huge money-loser. Many people working there have been lucky to coast along for years even as that division bled money. And even then, Disney isn't completely shutting it down, they're just streamlining it. (As should have been done a long time ago.) And Disney is consistently one of the worst managed companies in existence. They can actually take billion dollar properties loved by generations of people and turn that into record losses. They routinely sink 100's of millions into projects that could be successes, then panic and pull the plug at the last minute, shelving the whole thing, and losing all the money invested. That's probably exactly what's really been going on with Disney Interactive.

Disney is like the US Federal Government of the entertainment world- big, bloated, out of touch, blundering, and lucky when they actually get something right.

Meanwhile, my company is hiring. It's always hiring. We make some of the most profitable entertainment on the planet and the company is damned good at it.

But it's funny to me how California (mainly our backward ass, third-world-minded leftwing politicians and their dumb cronies) is always its own worst enemy when it comes to even the things its traditionally known for. Production is fleeing this state like crazy, because leftist governments are stuck on stupid, and Hollywood runs on actual money, not political bullshit. (The belief that they really give a fuck about left or right has always just been part of the spiel of this town- whatever gets people in a seat paying too much for some popcorn.)


http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ifornia-20140116,0,442927.story#ixzz2sKk6zCvk


"The big loser in Thursday's Oscar nominations may be California.
The state barely registered in the Oscar contest, at least when it comes to film locations, underscoring the difficulty California faces in keeping its homegrown industry from fleeing the state.

A recent report in the Los Angeles Times highlighted the growing trade in film tax credits in Louisiana, Georgia and other states and the increasing proliferation of film incentives. The Times' analysis revealed that states paid out or approved $1.5 billion in tax breaks, rebates and other grants in 2012, up from only $2 million in 2002, leading to a sharp drop in production in California.

...

The number of top-grossing films shot in California has plummeted 60% in the last 15 years. During the same period, Louisiana quadrupled its share of top-grossing movies while Georgia's output increased more than 300%, according to Times research."

So once more, congrats to the states that have enough common sense left to know that people (and especially make-believe "liberals" in any big business) love a bargain, and really loooove them some tax breaks. More of your citizens will enjoy the jobs my state is too stuck-on-stupid to keep here, thanks mainly to our insane politicians who really believe that "turning the screws!" on business, while you simultaneously turn the place into Tijuana North, is "progress".

 

[dmcowen674]

2-4-2014

http://news.yahoo.com/united-airlines-drops-cleveland-hub-airport-233915235--finance.html

United Airlines drops Cleveland as hub airport



United Airlines said Saturday it will drop its money-losing hub in Cleveland, slashing its daily flights and eliminating 470 jobs.


Similar cutbacks have affected many other small hubs in cities such as Memphis, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City amid a wave of airline mergers over the last five years.


===========================================
But of course less choice is the best thing for Americans

 

[MagickMan]

The "best thing for Americans" is for ticket prices to reflect real cost, the airlines have been on corporate welfare for too long and ticket prices have been artificially low for two decades.

 

[Ausm]

As we can see from the Conservative Utopia where I live that their policies are clearly working.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/wi...federal-report-says-b9942802z1-213318101.html

 

[Matt1970]

If the rich paid same percent of their income in taxes as working people like I do, we wouldn't have a deficit problem.

If only people would educate themselves.....

 

[Matt1970]

As we can see from the Conservative Utopia where I live that their policies are clearly working.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/wi...federal-report-says-b9942802z1-213318101.html

Those liberal policies worked out pretty good for Detroit didn't they?

 

[MagickMan]

They want to see the top 1% pay 60-80%, because that's what's "fair", obviously.

 

[boomerang]

As we can see from the Conservative Utopia where I live that their policies are clearly working.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/wi...federal-report-says-b9942802z1-213318101.html

Well it's going to take a long time to dig out of that deep hole the Democrats dug. It may be important to remember that if the state was still run by Democrats that jobs would be a non-issue. Jobs are low on the priority list which we also see on a national level.

Wisconsin's manufacturing economy, which has been in the throes of a major restructuring and reinvention since the last downturn, has led the job gains, said Brian Jacobsen, a Milwaukee-area economist at Wells Fargo Bank and an economics lecturer at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

"Manufacturing has done better in Wisconsin than the nation as a whole," Jacobsen said. From 2010 to 2012, Wisconsin's manufacturers added more jobs than those nationwide, with 5.7% growth vs. a national average of 3.6%.

Well ahead of the national average. Go Walker go!

 

[sunzt]

If only people would educate themselves.....

Why are state and local taxes going down as income increases?

 

[unokitty]

Private pain: Dell layoff bloodbath to hit over 15,000 staffers – insiders

Two sources have told us Dell is starting the expected huge layoff programme this week, claiming numbers will be north of 15,000.

Easy enough to see coming.

Still, I wonder how long it will be before the captains of the computer industry appear before congress to beg for more H1B visas because they 'can't find enough American workers."

Uno

 

[Matt1970]

Why are state and local taxes going down as income increases?

I suppose some of it has to do with the taking of more off the top federally. That will leave you with a lower percentage to spend and get taxed locally.

 

[CLite]

Why are state and local taxes going down as income increases?

Property tax is constant no matter what your salary is. That chart includes property tax, hence the decrease.

Nice chart Matt, although it'd be nice to have a comparison of someone who primarily earns money through capital investments. I don't think people have a "problem" with the tax on regular income earners. Personally my biggest beef is with the mega hedge fund guys who can contort the law to come out with incredible low % aggregate taxes. Ultimately it probably has no impact on the deficit, but it still annoys me.

 

[boomerang]

Personally my biggest beef is with the mega hedge fund guys who can contort the law to come out with incredible low % aggregate taxes. Ultimately it probably has no impact on the deficit, but it still annoys me.

Do you think there's a chance you're misdirecting your anger? Those guys don't write tax code. You can say they bought influence, etc., etc., but our government holds the ultimate responsibility. If the feds didn't want them to do what they do, they wouldn't be doing it. And seeing as how this is P&N, this pattern of behavior by the feds has existed regardless of which party holds the reins of power.

I stumbled opon this yesterday.

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can "throw the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy.

- Carrol Quigley, Tragedy and Hope

 

[dmcowen674]

Private pain: Dell layoff bloodbath to hit over 15,000 staffers – insiders



Easy enough to see coming.

Still, I wonder how long it will be before the captains of the computer industry appear before congress to beg for more H1B visas because they 'can't find enough American workers."

Uno

Updated OP. Looks like it will be bankrupted and pieces sold off.

 

[CLite]

Do you think there's a chance you're misdirecting your anger? Those guys don't write tax code. You can say they bought influence, etc., etc., but our government holds the ultimate responsibility. If the feds didn't want them to do what they do, they wouldn't be doing it. And seeing as how this is P&N, this pattern of behavior by the feds has existed regardless of which party holds the reins of power.

I stumbled opon this yesterday.

- Carrol Quigley, Tragedy and Hope

Well stated & nice quote, I should have said "my biggest beef is with the system that allows......".

I don't hate the people or think they are evil, but money talks and the system over time morphs and becomes one-sided to benefit those with power. Those in power may think all their actions/policies are fair, but they are too blinded by their own inherent self-righteousness to see the damage they may inflict. This applies regardless of party affiliation. It also applies regardless of big-government/regulated-corporations or small-government/free-market in my opinion anyways. Personally I prefer the regulated approach to unfettered free-market, although by your post history I'm sure you disagree.

 

[Newell Steamer]

The owner of the bodega down the street hired 2 illegals to arrange the fruits and sweep the sideway - the American job market is fine.

All those other unemployed people must have been fired for drug use or something. Plus, they can indeed work at the same wages as the bodega fruit stand arranger and street sweeper - what, $300 a week for 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week is not enough for you college graduates?! Jeez, talk about entitlement and poor management of money,...

 

[boomerang]

Well stated & nice quote, I should have said "my biggest beef is with the system that allows......".

I don't hate the people or think they are evil, but money talks and the system over time morphs and becomes one-sided to benefit those with power. Those in power may think all their actions/policies are fair, but they are too blinded by their own inherent self-righteousness to see the damage they may inflict. This applies regardless of party affiliation. It also applies regardless of big-government/regulated-corporations or small-government/free-market in my opinion anyways. Personally I prefer the regulated approach to unfettered free-market, although by your post history I'm sure you disagree.

The right and the left have a lot of common goals if they think about it but boy, they sure differ on how to do it. Few if any here know the real me because I often adopt an extreme position to try and counter an extreme position. It's entertainment for me. I don't always do a good job of it but whatever... I live to please myself.

Congress tightens the rules too much in reaction to businesses/corporations out of control. A later majority of Congress gets bought off and relaxes those rules too much. Business/Corporations once again get out of control. Rinse and repeat. Who suffers? We all know.

But when I read knee-jerk reactions from our leftist friends here about the evils of corporations, yada, yada and what they think is the answer, which usually involves confiscation in one form or another, it's nothing more than extremism that's not warranted. It's going too far.

My wife gets in the car and it's too cold for her. She turns the heat up as high as it will go and then later is too hot and turns it way down. She overreacts in both cases. The car has climate control. Set it at the temperature you know will be comfortable and most important of all - be patient. You may have to tweak it a little depending on the weather but you will always find it to be comfortable somewhere close to that optimal temperature.

 

[Oldgamer]

2014 Layoffs and Business closings

=============================================

Dell Computer - over 15,000 jobs lost

Lane Furniture plant in Saltillo Mississippi - 480 Jobs Lost

Ruan Transport - Wisconsin Rapids terminal - 37 Jobs Lost

Albertsons Closing 26 Stores

JCPenney - 33 Stores and 2,000 Layoffs

The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel Atlantic City Closed - 1,600 Layoffs

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - 358 Positions

Target Closing 8 Stores

International Paper Courtland Ala.- 650+ Jobs lost

USS-POSCO Steel - 690 Layoffs

Ruby Tuesday - 2Q Loss, to Close 30 Restaurants

HP - Another 5,000 Layoffs

3 Kmart Stores in Wisconsin - 300+ Jobs Lost

Archiver to Close all 33 Scrap booking Stores

Sprint - 500 jobs lost

Texas Instruments -1,100 jobs lost

Intel - 5,000+ jobs lost

Rolls Royce Aircraft Engines Indianapolis - 400 jobs lost

Bombardier Aircraft - 600 jobs lost

Target - 475 jobs lost at MN HQTRs

Sam's Club cuts 2,300 jobs

GE - 10,000 jobs lost to Mexico

Disney Interactive - several hundred jobs lost

United Airlines close Cleveland Hub - 470 jobs lost

A lot of this could be seasonal. I know that most companies will layoff right around fall and then some layoff in spring. It really depends on the company and the type of business. It isn't unusual to see layoffs yearly.