Bob Orme wrote:

"That's exactly what I meant in my first post in this thread when I said a part of the reason for Levy's plant closing was an over paid and benefit fattened work force, but it's even worse than I thought. I think that too many people have no idea that, depending on where you are doing business, the type of business and the full or part-time status of employees, it can cost $15/hour or more to hire someone at minimum wage. Unemployment insurance, workman's comp, health insurance and FICA costs are painful for every employer."

I don't think it is so much the "over paid and benefit fattened work force" as it is the availability of cheap labor in third world countries.

What I see happening is one company in an industry will close up shop in the US and move their operations overseas where there are no human rights standards, no minimum wage standard, no environmental standards, etc... That company realizes a huge competitive advantage and pretty soon there are more companies in that industry following suit. Then the companies in that industry that are left in the US are faced with having to move their operations overseas to survive or cease operations. Even the $15 per hour cost to hire an employee at minimum wage is too expensive.

We are becoming a nation that doesn't make anything which is both sad and dangerous from a military standpoint. It is rapidly turning the USA into a two class society like Mexico with a lower economic class of have-nots and a smaller upper class that controls the majority of the wealth. I believe one telltale sign of this is Wal-Marts call for congress to raise minimum wage apparently so their consumers will have more disposable income to spend in their stores. Heck, Wal-Mart is the biggest payer of minimum wages in the country and one of the major causes of American manufacturers moving overseas. And those scenarios are only taking blue collar into account. The white collar workforce is in trouble too. If you have a job that someone can do from afar over the Internet or a telephone line, you may find that your livelihood is at risk too.

I have no problem with a person wanting to be wealthy but it should be attainable for anyone. I am afraid it is corporate greed that has started this evil cycle and I am afraid that it will get to be a lot worse before it gets any better!

Cheers!
Bill

BTW Bob Levy, I feel for you and I hope it all works out for the best. I have been though a lay off from a job I held for a long time and it wasn't a lot of fun.