By the world's standards I'm in the 1% bracket. You are at least in the 10% bracket. So by the world's standards we are both rich.

By your standards I would be classified as filthy rich. By my standards I classify myself well above average income (rich in so many ways). And it ain't all about money.

As for my employees. Well... 20% make over $40K. 5% make over $45K. 5% over $50K. 25% over $65K with the rest of the pack over six digit. I'll let you guess on mine. Hint... it's way, way, over the top earner of one of the columns. Take a guess....there's no way you can miss it. Not that it's any of your biz.

Above average pay means about as much as water that averages one-half inch deep that one can drown in where it is six feet deep, in some places. (you would drown where it is six feet, not one-sixteenth inch deep---do you get it?)

Would employee retention rates factor into your water formulations?

P.S. By Bill Gates standards..... I'm ain't nuttin.

I have tried to imagine a company where 45% of the employees make 100,000 dollars or more. (six digits).
Is it possible that you too are into the aquatic Mary Jane business?
Maybe you own several of those "pay day loan" outfits near soldier bases, and in South Atlanta.
Or could be that you employ several pilots and rent them out to Colombia/Atlanta flights? After all, they only work 25 hours a month on their day job!
One thing I know it isn't: Making products to sell. We don't do that here anymore.
As to retention rates, that would be internal to the body. Some of those town officials could prevent drowing by sucking it up if it were Jack Daniels in the pool!

I have tried to imagine a company where 45% of the employees make 100,000 dollars or more. (six digits).

Imagine as you will. People who give me a proper rate of return on my investments get a proper rate of return for their efforts. And you were wrong.....I am industrial.

Anyways...enough of this.....

Git, I don't "earn" much at all. I'm just filthy rich in cash and solid holdings (no stock, no in-debt companies).
I just rake it in on interest on interest and principal. Kinda like banks do.
My "collectors," make a lot in "tips."
I always like that one about "being rich in ways other than money," sure thing.

I was trying to follow your blog. Are you fer ‘em or agin ‘em? Maybe you should use some of your money for writing classes.

Vr,
Maximus

I always like that one about "being rich in ways other than money," sure thing.

Ahhhh.....so the more you make the happier you are? Like I always say....if you're a miserable, pathetic SOB when you're poor, you'll be a miserable, pathetic SOB when you're rich.

Life is good for you and me....isn't it?

I am so glad that you only register yourself as "David's Mom". David would be so embarassed if you were to disclose your last name. How many countries let Illegals go wild like the US does?

sometimes people take on a name that would make you think they are benevolent, sometime they need to plan better..

we seem to always be on the same side...I am watching a show on CNN right now that says over 70% of the cocaine comes in through Mexico...why should we just make everyone a citizen that we don't know squatt about because they came here n kept a low profile....how many of our kids have to die from drugs before THEY count more than big business?

I can't keep quiet on that one. In other words, if my only crime was, say, B&E and when the officer spotted my getaway car I happened to not be breaking any traffic laws, he shouldn't bother to stop me? Do we bother to read what we write, or is this just ranting with no common sense? C'mon, what kind of logic is this?

"The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime.You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room,and talk to yourself as you die."
(R. Waters)

We are being fed this idea that the problem can't be controlled and I don't think that is true. We can, if the government wants to. Big business is calling the shots and getting what they want. We are being mislead that we need to lower our standards and except anyone as a citizen because they have come here illegally and managed to stay out of jail. That isn't acceptable. I will tell you a reverse story which is very sad. A friend's son I have known all his life, got in trouble in Peachtree city with another child. Without going into it too deep, I will explain that another child threw something at my friends son when he passed. He got out of the car n words were exchanged, someone saw it and went home n told the other child's parents. The other child, fearing his parent, changed the story to fit his needs. The other parent took this child to court, where the charges were thrown out. Six months later, the second parent has come up with another story and everyone goes to court again. Right, or wrong, to end this, the child who had something thrown at him, pleaded guilty to what they thought was a lesser charge so it would all go away. This child later went to college in Canada. Returning to Canada after a visit home, he was detained in the airport by Canadian customs. It seems that Canada checks to see if you have a record and whatever offense you have is rounded up one. The child was told he could go back to the school and collect his belongings and leave. We got copies of the court records and tried to show them what happened. They would not change their minds. Look at Canadian immigration rules it you don't believe me. The point I am trying to make here, is that other countries have very strict rules over who comes and who stays. We should not accept someone as I stated earlier, who came here illegal just because thus far, they managed to stay out of jail. We have no reason that is of benefit to the average American worker. The only people who profit from this is big business.

"The only people who profit from this is big business."
I agree.

If there were no jobs available in the US - we would not have the increased border crossings. But - the problem of 'skilled workers' in the tech industry is another issue. And what about the foreign students who enter on a student visa - and remain without becoming citizens? Another poster rightly pointed out that 'business' is outsourcing and recruiting foreigners because the foreign workers work for less money. Some posters have really intelligently expressed an opinion - and have disagreed without rudeness and/or ignorance. Nice. At least this time Valleygirl used the spell checker. The current weakness in the administration of the INS in enforcing the law is one problem. The other is the non-enforcment of the laws that are already on the books regarding the hiring of illegals. I still believe that if we weren't beholden to 'big business', this issue could be solved. What do you think? By the way - not all illegals are 'Mexican' or spanish speaking.

I still believe that if we weren't beholden to 'big business', this issue could be solved.

It's not the big businesses that are the ones who are hiring the illegals. I'd venture to say that 95% of the illegals are worked by small businesses. Just because a couple of large chicken processing plants or carpet plants got busted that doesn't mean they're all doing it. Heck...I sell to contractors. Come sit outside my biz and watch all the contractors come through my doors with their 3 - 6 illegals in tow. But then again somebody's gotta do the work since 10% of our population refuses to.

The current weakness in the administration of the INS in enforcing the law is one problem.

Yeah..Yeah...Yeah... it's all Bush's fault. Give us all a break. This problem started back in the 60's and there hasn't been a president since (Republican or Democrat) who has done a thing about these illegal trespassers. Heck back then they weren't called illegals...they were called Wetbacks.

You don't need to defend a Lion. You just need to let him out of his cage.
C.S. Lewis

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!
B.F. 1789

In other parts of the country - the sweatshops (garment industry) that are still operating in this country are filled with illegals. They work for well below union scale and take home less than what a citizen could take home who is on welfare. In California - it is illegals that come to pick the cotton and other crops during harvest season. Here in Georgia, I noticed that most of the larger developers and landscapers are using employees who do not speak English. (I do not know their legal status - they may have green cards) These developers; large industries; appear to profit from the practice of hiring illegals - and lobby to maintain the status quo. (They have big bucks - and politicians need their support.)

I'm sorry you misunderstood my statement about 'administration'. I was not singling out the Bush administration - but the leadership and policies in the administration of the INS. The problem was an issue in California long before the '60's. . . and Republicans and Democrats did nothing. In California - an attempt to deal with the issue was called the Bracero Program. It was not until the action of Caesar Chavez - that some change in the treatment of field workers and their families began to change.

I just feel that you can't have it both ways. Obviously our current President does not want to take the road of correcting past mistakes in implementing our immigration law by sending all illegals home now. This would affect the big business community as well as those who have small businesses. There are 'prominent' citizens in our country who do not pay a decent wage to their household help - nor do they pay employer taxes for these employees. Honest men and women in government should be able to take a good look at the problem that we have in this country - and develop a solution that would get us back on the track of following our laws with respect to immigration. Sincere citizens who care about our country and our Constitution should be giving input to our representatives in city, state, and federal government. If sensible solutions are not being 'listened' to - then we need to use the power of the vote to get reliable representation.

Wow! Someone agreed with me.

There are 'prominent' citizens in our country who do not pay a decent wage to their household help - nor do they pay employer taxes for these employees.

To this statement I take issue. It is not only the "prominent" citizens in our country that do not pay decent wages often times. Please stop singly out "prominent" people. I am a very high wage earner and employ many people. My folks are paid decent and above the average. I also know many other businessmen who pay well.

IT AIN'T ALWAYS THE RICH AND THE PROMINENT WHO THRIVE OFF THE "CULTURE OF CORRUPTION". Stop blaming the different income classes and realize that the "Culture of Corruption" is manifested throughout all levels of society in this country.

Blaming the "prominent" is like justifying that you may be a bad guy but you ain't quite as bad as the next guy because he is a bit more badder than you are.

You don't need to defend a Lion. You just need to let him out of his cage.
C.S. Lewis

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!
B.F. 1789

"Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates called on the U.S. Congress to raise the cap on skilled-worker visas, saying the county's economic future was at stake.

Gates, testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he'd prefer that "unlimited" numbers of highly skilled foreign workers be allowed into the U.S., although he acknowledged that might not be politically feasible. Right now, the controversial H-1B program, which tech vendors and other companies use to hire foreign workers, has an annual cap of 65,000 people a year, and the cap is typically reached in the first couple of months the applications are available."

"U.S.-based tech worker groups such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA (IEEE-USA) have opposed a higher H-1B cap, arguing that companies use the program to hire foreign workers for less money than unemployed U.S. workers would receive.

Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said he heard different stories from industries and workers during forums on the economy in his state last month. "Time and time again, local businesses told me that they just could not find the engineers or the computer scientists they needed to run their businesses," he said. "At the same time, skilled workers in my state are watching their jobs move overseas, not because foreign workers are more qualified, but because U.S. companies can get away with paying poverty wages to workers in other countries."

I guess the if you have the money, you can just change the law to suit you needs.

What a great country we have here.