Misconceptions from Lee Scott’s Speech

Is that Major American OR major china co.

ma in: You must be reading my mind.I wondered the same thing-it could also include India.They came out with a really small compact for a really low price here recently.Now they would build a LOT of good will IF it were American.

Isn’t this the same Michael Barbaro, who has constantly slammed Wal-Mart in many other articles?  Now, WMW steps up to say ‘he got it wrong’, sometimes you get caught in your attempts to ‘spin’ a story!!

...a really small compact for a really low price...

That would be the Nano. More pitfalls of ‘cheap’.

Anyone remember when Wal-Mart tried selling used cars in
their parking lots?

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish caught will we realize we cannot eat money. ~ Cree Indian Proverb

Ah yes, the Nano from India.  With a sticker price of $2500 and NO air bags, anti-lock brakes or even A/C.  Let’s make sure to all chip in and purchase one for Matthew!

BetterObserver: Sounds like a WalMart inspired design to “cut the fat” off the cost-I’m sure some amenities could be added or tweaked for the American or Mexican market. Of course there’s always that time honored tradition of “knock off”.,perhaps by another auto maker?Save more.Drive cheaper.

so ,if they put all the stuff you listed on to that car it could still be just as good as all this overpriced on the lots today.

ma in:Or,just as bad. But it could be a prototype for a small electric car-to recharge at WalMarts. Just a thought...I’m really not much into auto motives.

“With a sticker price of $2500 and NO air bags, anti-lock brakes or even A/C.”

In the 1950’s, this would have been the description of ALL American made cars!!  And, not one person would have said that they were ‘cheap junk’ back then!!

But keep in mind RDS that cars were a lot larger and built like tanks back in the 1950’s.

“sometimes you get caught in your attempts to ‘spin’ a story!!”..RDS in

Boy you talk about a case of the pot callind the kettel black!

For instance, the Nano’s designers reportedly used a hollow shaft instead of a solid beam to connect the steering-wheel to the axle, and plastics and adhesives in place of many studs and bolts. The car’s low-performance wheel bearings may wear out rapidly beyond 70 kilometers per hour.

It has only one windshield wiper instead of two. It uses belt-driven continuous variable transmission, which slows down acceleration. To save merely $10, the suspension was redesigned to eliminate devices called actuators, which adjust the angle of the car’s lights to the way it’s loaded.

Sounds like something that would fit perfectly into Wal-Mart’s product line.

The Nano:  Another example of the “Race to the Bottom,” or Progress?

If you consult the RDS Big Book of Auto Design and Manufacturing, you’ll definitely conclude this is “progress!.”

When this crappy design flops and is later referred to as a failed product, RDS will blame the plant workers for the failure. This is the same thing that has happened with GM and Ford. We have all heard Bob blaming the auto workers for the poor design.

This is what business has always done; blame this lousy design on the people that assemble their product. This is what GM and Ford are doing to the union auto worker; they are blaming the union for their autos not selling as well, and their reputation for quality being so poor. If they put more effort in getting better gas mileage and building cars that will last they would out sell their Japanese competitors.

Look at the Japanese plants in the U.S.; they are being built by the very same American workers. Yet because of their superior design they are out performing the U.S. auto maker’s sales. This has nothing to do with weather they are union workers it does have everything to do with the management though. THE STOPS THERE!

Sorry that should read....THE BUCK STOPS THERE!

Big D: The buck will only stop when the fathomless depths of the golden lined pockets are overflowing and the ripcord on platinum parachutes have been pulled ,that’s when the CEO’s say when- TIME OUT. Haven’t you heard of the concept of plausible deniability? I have often wondered why incompetence is so highly rewarded in corporate and governmental circles. Remember George Tenent of the CIA? Mazoli of Countrywide? Big D,get a clue. In today’s Randian world,you are rewarded for doing a job On people,not FOR people.

“This is what GM and Ford are doing to the union auto worker; they are blaming the union for their autos not selling as well, and their reputation for quality being so poor.”

That’s not what I’ve seen.  The issue they have with the union is the additional cost added to a car because of the union overhead and legacy costs of the union that adds alot more $ to the price.

Tagging on to what ddrb said...

“legacy of the union,”mary?

I wonder what the “legacy costs” are of all those cheap stock options that senior and upper management at Ford and GM “excercised” to line their pockets for the last 30, 40 or more years?

Screwedby: “You can’t create a team spirit when the situation is so one-sided,when management gets so much and workers get so little of the pie.” Sam Walton.

Mary

If it’s the union that adds cost to the vehicle then the NON-union companies like Nissan and Toyota should be MUCHcheaper. But of course that argument doesn’t hold water, now does it.  It’s the engineering that people are willing to pay extra for the assembly is a byproduct of the design and engineering, and reflects directly on the upper management of a company.

But it has been RDS’s argument that the assembly done by the union workers is the problem. That their “poor workmanship” and lack of pride in what they do is responsible for the lagging profits and sales. That somehow the union workers are responsible for the piss poor engineering, and cheap materials are the fault of the union auto workers. We all know that its management that makes those choices. The UAW workers only assemble the product to management’s specs.

The engineering is the problem with U.S. auto’s lagging sales, not the assembly of the workers. Its management that is the problem NOT the UAW. If the U.S. auto industry would put more in R&D;for better gas mileage and alternative fuels, like the Japanese and the Germans we would be leading the market.

American workers are the most productive and hardest workers in the world. When people like RDS aka Bob slam them and call them lazy and shoddy workers just because they would ask for better wages and working conditions, he shows his loathing for the working class. He has no love or respect for the working people of this country. So how could he love a country that was built on their blood, sweat, and tears?

If a business fails, it’s not the fault of the workers, its management that must step up and accept the blame. THE BUCK STOPS WITH THEM

Big D: All this union talk got me to thinking about something. There are many unions in this country-firefighters,teachers,postal workers,government workers,nurses unions,-I hear no outcry against them.  Why are they acceptable in non profit settings,but not in for profit settings? Are the workers somehow less human if they make cars or work at WalMart,than say a government postal worker-should they not be afforded the same rights?

ddrb

That’s just it. People that support the “free” market don’t accept the negotiation practices of the working class.

Just the UNIONS presents in an area creates better working conditions and better wages because non-union must compete with the unions companies to keep employees. That’s why they hate the unions, just by their presents people receive many of the same benefits that the union members fight and give up so much for. Most non-union people don’t realize it until its too late. Just look at the states that adopted “right to work (for nothing)”. The wages and benefits have declined in EVERY instance that right to work has be passed.

Our country was based on the concept of a UNION......."From many One"......."UNITED we stand divided we fall"......."United States of America”.......Standing together as one is as American as Baseball and apple pie! That’s all a UNION is, is standing together for a common cause. Strength in numbers

Big D: Thanks for the feedback,in the vein of what we have been discussing, I came across an extremely intriguing article very recently on the web re: Hillary Clinton-WalMart and Unions.I was googling” Hillary Clinton WalMart campaign contributions.” They say hind sight s 20/20/,well this article is from the Village Voice,2000, article by Ward Harvaky,entitled"WalMart’s First Lady.” WOW!! What an eyeopener! I never was one to jump on the Pillory Hillary bandwagon,but this gave me further and deeper insight to the history of her past affiliations and the disparity what was said and what was done during her WalMart years,and beyond. Well worth a trip to google for this,and other articles.

My loyalty and my support lay with John Edwards. He is really the only viable candidate that still stands for the things that I feel are important to me and mine. Unions, Healthcare, American jobs, Getting us out of a wrongful war for oil, ECT.

But given the choice of Hillary or a Republipuke, I’ll have to vote Hillary. I do hope that it doesn’t come to that though.

I do like Obama though, and think that it would be a great ticket of Edwards/Obama or Obama/ Edwards. With them I don’t think that we can go wrong

Good Posts Big D!

I enjoyed reading your recent comments Big D… well said!

I disagree with you though on “voting for Hillary” as a last resort.  I hate to sound like a broken record, but if the Democrats give her the nomination, I think it will be Romney or McCain as the next president.  If the American voters are looking for a change of direction in this country, voting for the Clintons (it’s a package deal you know), is to vote for politics as usual in Washington.

I also don’t think we’d see an Obama/Edwards or Edwards/Obama ticket.  I don’t think either one would choose the other as his running mate.

As they say in TV Land… stay tuned!

“If it’s the union that adds cost to the vehicle then the NON-union companies like Nissan and Toyota should be MUCHcheaper. But of course that argument doesn’t hold water, now does it.”

You’re making one HUGE assumption here Big D.... that the margin for both union and non-union shops is the same.  Every story I have come across talks about how legacy costs of US unionized automakers adds considerable dollars to their unit cost (not sure on exact total but I’m seeing numbers from $1500-$2500/auto).  That eats directly into the margins. 

The US automakers have also killed themselves by relying too heavily on SUV’s vs. smaller cars because of the better margins.  That comes back to roost when gas prices explode like we’ve been seeing.

By stating that management OR union assembly line workers alone is the culprit for the falling industry would be completely disingenuous.  This one is shared by management and labor both being stupid and greedy.

mary Is Racking Up Some More “Bonus Points”

Give mary some more “bonus points” for acknowledging that management at unionized US automakers is “stupid and greedy.”

mary,

Isn’t it amazing how these people are so one sided in their thinking, that they take things we say and make it sound totally the opposite of what we actually said!!  Reading the above posts, I have found that I am accused of saying things that I never said, but actually a twisted version!!  I never said anything about the Nano, except that American cars cost the same in the ‘50’s and had no air bags, anti-lock breaks, or A/C, and then was accused of supporting the NANO!!  I also, never said that ‘union workers were responsible for poor design’, but, Big D., said I did!!  Now, you make the statement, “This one is shared by management and labor both being stupid and greedy.”, and Screwedby, leaves out the LABOR part, to make it sound like you are blaming management ONLY!!  And, finally, they deny that legacy costs are killing the American automakers, when that is constantly being talked about in the media!!  In fact, Ford is now in the process of buying out about 15,000 more workers ‘legacy costs’ to eliminate them for the future!!

But, I guess you can’t expect anything better, from people who’s brains only have one track of thought!!  And, what really is sad, is these people are going to vote for our next president!!  They can’t even figure out that it is high wages that are causing companies to leave the country, but they think the solution to the problem is making wages even higher!!

Screwed, you really are a piece of work.  I guess you missed the word “SHARED” in my statement.

Screwed: Here it is in a nutshell- RDS and Mary are the only people who know anything about anything,especially WalMart. We are hopeless simpletons and imbeciles,according to them. Now, with such mental acuity as these two possess, WHY are they wasting their time here-should’t they be out on the world stage ,solving the world’s problems?

ddrb,

“WHY are they wasting their time here-should’t they be out on the world stage ,solving the world’s problems?”

We could ask you the same question!!  I’m still waiting for one on your side to announce that they just landed one of those ‘easy to get’ CEO jobs!!

RDS: I never professed to be a know it all,RDS. Why don’t YOU have one of those easy to get CEO jobs-you would be a more likely fit than me,with your political and ideological leanings. Perhaps CEO in charge of CFL lightbulb reclamation?Hey, Hillary is WalMart’s choice,after all,stick around -maybe your dreams WILL come through.

NO… “mary and RDS, I Didn’t Miss The Word “Shared”

I just took your views that union workers are “stupid and lazy” as a given.  I didn’t leave anything out.  I gave you the “bonus points” for acknowledging that management is stupid and lazy.  I can always take the “points” back!

ddrb,

“Why don’t YOU have one of those easy to get CEO jobs”

First, I’m retired and I like it!!  Second, I have said before that it’s not easy to get a CEO job and that is why they get paid a lot, it’s your side that thinks a ‘cart pusher’ is qualified to be a CEO!!  I don’t know how many times people have said, “If I ran Wal-Mart, I could do a better job”!!

Screwedby,

Glad to see you agree that “union workers are “stupid and lazy” as a given.”, but, as for your “points”, they and $4.00 can get a cup of coffee!!

Cream or Sugar, RDS?

Waaah, waah, waah.  There you go again crybaby RDS.  First you whine how some of us “twist” or “spin” your words, then you come back by saying that I “agree” that union workers are stupid and lazy.  NO… that opinion is reserved for people like you, “mary,” and bbrd.  I was saying this viewpoint is a “given” as far as you’re concerned.

Have 20 bonus points to put towards your next cup of coffee.

WHY?  Just because you never disappoint me RDS.

Just what do ceos do to deserve that kind of money?

jo,

“Just what do ceos do to deserve that kind of money?”

Stop and think about this for a moment, okay?  Why do football and baseball players get paid what they do?  Answer: Because they do something hardly anybody else can do!!  It’s the same thing with CEO’S!!  Take what it takes you, decision wise, to get through a month and think how hard that is, then multiply that, by a million and you can maybe understand what a CEO has to cope with!!  Every day, they are faced with MAJOR decisions, which could cost them and millions of others, huge amounts of money and even change millions of peoples lives!!  The anti people here, are like armchair quarterbacks, they can spout off saying this or that, but, they have nothing to lose, they have no horse in the race, their views are based on “What if”, a CEO doesn’t have that luxury, what they say translates into reality and can make or break a company!!  And, one wrong major decision can be to a CEO, like a major injury to a sports figure and can end your career!!  The main difference is, the sports figure will be applauded for his sacrifice, while the CEO will be hit with an endless amount of BOOS!!

Jo, I think I am more qualified to answer your question.

I have an in-law that is a Jr. CEO for United Healthcare and have no doubt that he will continue to climb up the corporate ladder.  Why?

It’s very simple.  He’s full of shit and knows the art of schmoozing.  So if that is considered hard work then I guess he deserves his success.

But have to say I’m a bit shocked at some of the perks these health insurance big wigs get.  He had to relocate after his last promotion to a neighboring state.  They set him up in a corporate condo for the first 6 months.  Still having a hard time selling his house.  But no worries, if it doesn’t sell within a year UHC buys the house at current market value.  Keeping in mind that is about 650K!

So for those of you who currently pay high premiums with UHC just remember they have a lot of overhead with relocation costs and such.  Plus they got to send their top marketing executives and CEO’s to Hawaii every damn year for an insurance conference.

Corgi

My brother is a lawyer and he sits on a number of boards for corporations. You use the word “schmoozing” I call it ASS KISSING!

After an evening of beer and BBQ I was playing 20 questions as to how you get on so many boards. At first he tried to explain that it is your expertise that gets you on those boards. But after a while we went to the Petroleum club and proceeded to get hammered and the truth came out. It’s a “GOOD OLE BOYS CLUB” he explained. He begin to let me in on the secret. He got on his first board through a friend from Law school. Once on a board he made other friends and got them on boards in return they would return the favor. No real “special skills” just a whole bunch of tit for tat and LOTS of ass kissing.

Ah yes Big D....good, ole fashioned CRONYISM!

Big D: “a whole bunch of tit for tat and LOTS of ass kissing” Oh, I just can’t resist-now THERE"S a new spin on T&A;!

“Jr. CEO”?… “650K” house?

I’ve never seen that job title before and I would think a “high up” executive at UHC would be living in a house worth more than that.  650k can’t get you in the door of an average new house around my area.

IT’S ALL RELATIVE MARY

650K can buy you a 5000 to 7500 sq ft LUXURY home on 5 acres in my area. How much more does anyone need? My sister and Brother in law just built a 3500 sq ft. ranch, on 30 acres, and did it land and home for under $200,000. My home is 2500 sq. ft with a shop and 2 barns and a detached 3 car garage, on 20 acres, built in 1990. I bought it for 149,900 5 years ago.

Sounds like you need to spend your money more wisely. A starter home in my area can be had for 65k all day long! 650k buys a lot where I come from!

Corgi: There’s a recent story on the Consumerist about United Health Group facing a $1.3 Billion fine in California for mismanagement of health claims. Is this the same company you referred to in your post? If so, the perks may not be so perky,in the aftermath.

Why do football and baseball players get paid what they do?  Answer: Because they do something hardly anybody else can do!!

If that were the case everyone in the Guiness Book of Records would be rich.

Actors, athletes, etc., only get the big bucks if people are willing to pay to watch them and then most of those lucrative contracts include a performance clause.

When nervous investors tried to link Lee Scott’s compensation to his performance a couple of years ago, Wal-Mart’s Board of Directors refused to even consider it.

You know less about CEOs than you do about business in general, RDS.

Sounds like you need to spend your money more wisely.

Obviously, you missed the part where Mary spoke about living in one of the most expensive areas in the U.S.

Since you claim to have all the answers, why don’t you tell us, Big D—how does the National Capitol region stack-up to where you live?

Or, will you validate my claim and prove that your “D” stands for something else…

“I’ve never seen that job title before and I would think a “high up” executive at UHC would be living in a house worth more than that.  650k can’t get you in the door of an average new house around my area.”.... mary

ddrb

The whole point that I was making, Dumb Ass, was that just because she happens to live in a place where your money goes NO WHERE in the real estate market, there are places, like where I live, that you can still buy homes and property worth the money. I was just looking on line and found an 8000 sq ft. executive home on 2.5 acres for $610,000 that same house in Mary’s area would probably go for 4.5 or 5 million. And a 900 sq ft 2 bed 1 ba. starter house for $35,000

So I ask you Mary, do you think that a “high up” executive for UHC would risk his reputation living in a $5,000,000 home in your area? Or would that be too far below your pretentious standards? As I said before, it’s all relative to where you live, as to what your money buys.

BTW bbrd; your wife knows what the BIG D stands for, why don’t you ask her?

...there are places, like where I live, that you can still buy homes and property worth the money...

Funny thing - when RDS says stuff like that, you people immediately pounce on him (and start busting his balls).

Speaking of suck-ups, whose butt are you kissing, anyway?

“So I ask you Mary, do you think that a “high up” executive for UHC would risk his reputation living in a $5,000,000 home in your area?”

What in heaven’s name are you talking about?  Risk his reputation?

I used to live in Kansas where the housing prices were extremely small compared to the Maryland area where I live in now.... but then again the income levels were also much smaller.  You’re right it’s all relative. 

I’d be curious to know where Corgishepmom’s “Jr. CEO for United Healthcare” in-law lives.

Big D: Who you callin’ a dumb ass?LOL!BTW-I guess there might also be a validation about the significance of Big” D “and size 13 shoes,too!

Big D,

“As I said before, it’s all relative to where you live, as to what your money buys.”

NO, what you said, was that my rental property, valued at almost what you paid for your place, was a slum!!  If that’s so, then what does that make your place?

ddrb

Sorry! I think my dyslexia popped out there. LOL

“I guess there might also be a validation about the significance of Big” D “and size 13 shoes,too!”

That, and the fact that I’m 6’4” and 265 lbs.

Bob

What are you delusional? How do you compare a small 2 br. 1 ba? house on a small lot with what I have?

That would be much like trying to compair a broom closet in London that measures 5’X10’ No bath or indoor pluming, just a closet with a bed! One like that sold recently for over $1,000,000. The fact that you have your rental property insured for more than its worth is common practice with SLUM LORDS

Big D,

“How do you compare a small 2 br. 1 ba? house on a small lot with what I have?”

Yeah, you sure know what you are talking about, how can a duplex, be a small 2 br. 1 ba. house?  Plus, the lot, is 4 times the size of a regular city lot!!  And I said nothing about ‘Insured”, I said valued, you are the one who is delusional!!  And, just maybe your luxury home, w/2 barns, a shop and a 3 car garage on 20 acres is a delusion as well, where do you live to get all that for $149 thousand, Mayberry RFD?  Are you sure your name isn’t Gomer or Barney? 

How many out there believe that you could even have a 2500 sq. ft. house built for $149 thousand in 1990, much less sell it and that much property, and with all those outbuildings included to boot, for that amount in 2003? 

And, you have the nerve to call me delusional!!

“I guess there might also be a validation about the significance of Big” D “and size 13 shoes,too”

I think ddrb is in love!!

The house they are trying to sell is in Arizona and they bought it when he was a VP in Marketing.  Before the housing bubble burst I think similar houses in their neighborhood were selling for close to 800K.  But now it is taking an average of 10 months for these houses to move off the market even with asking prices being slashed down to 650K.  No, it’s not a mansion but with over 3,500 sq ft and an in-ground swimming pool I wouldn’t exactly call it a starter home either.

Now he is a Jr. CEO (yes I’ve been told that is his actual title) and has moved to a neighboring state.  There is the possibility of him getting promoted again and relocated to the Midwest in a matter of a few years.  So I don’t imagine them to run out and purchase a Million dollar home, but you never know.

Don’t be a hater Bob, just cause you paid too much for your slum property. 4 25X50 lots still =1 tiny lot where I come from LOL

You need to check out the land prices in your neighboring states. Osage co. Oklahoma Land can still be had for $250 per acre. I had a chance a few years back to buy 40 acres around Clinton Ar. for $20,000. Just because you choose to live in a city and over pay for your property doesn’t mean that there aren’t deals to be had. You just need to become a better businessman and find them! Call Carlton Sheets he might send a get rich quick pkg! LOL

Big D,

Guess that is okay, if you want to live in the boondocks, been there done that!!  Years ago, I bought an 80 acre farm in upper Wiaconsin, for $16,900.00 and sold it later for $69,500.00, but that was 18 years ago!!  Being retired, it is more convenient living in the city!!  Clinton, Ar. was where I first planned to move to, but changed my mind, too remote!!

Besides, I own 5 properties here, my home, 3 rentals, and 1 - 5 acre country property!!

...if you want to live in the boondocks...

There are many who feel the entire state of Arkansas is the boondocks.

Big D and Ken V: Speaking of what constitutes the boondocks,vs. “city life”,Sprindale style,this little piece was of note:Living Up to Someone’s Image of Yourself :

It has been two weeks since the Springdale Chamber dropped the hatchet on Featherfest. The cultural celebration of the city’s heritage wasn’t making enough money, and the Chamber thought it needed a new and more lucrative image. Imagine. I wonder if we can.

The Morning News was amused. “What’s an image? The city of Springdale, by any other name, will still smell of chicken. ...We’ve always wondered at the serious talk about ‘image’ that sometimes echoes around the hallways in chambers of commerce and city halls. Everyone wants an image, it seems, but nobody knows quite how to get one.” Even if Springdale’s image is a giant sign-blighted strip mall that only Bill Ramsey could love, the editorial says the city “can’t manufacture or assume an image and make it meaningful.”

Columnist Bob Caudle was somewhat less kind. “Springdale is a town where the hoot owls date the chickens, hoping to get lucky. That’s not an image that needs to be expanded. On the Internet an image like that might be illegal,” he wrote yesterday. “If it’s image we’re concerned with, the city could go Hollywood: They Pluck Chickens, Don’t They? How about, A Fistful of Broilers. Face it, Springdale’s ugly. It’s a coyote-ugly, two-bagger of a city—and proud of it.”

Face it, Springdale needs to change it’s future, not just its image. One encouraging sign is that Josh Jenkins will soon announce as a candidate for the Springdale City Council. As a private citizen, he has demonstrated a concern for the city and a dedication to finding solutions for a better future. On the Council, he would add another unbought voice and reasonable perspective to those offered by Jesse Core and Kathy Jaycox.
let’s hope that they bring back that proposal to build a huge wall at the southern city limits to protect themselves from the enlightening influence of Fayetteville. And to quarantine their own commercial excesses, xenophobic meanness, environmental ignorance, and general fanaticism. 

Sunday, January 27, 2008-The Iconoclas(Excerpt)

Dropping the hatchet on Featherfest? Not enough money? How about the $1.6 billion worth of feathers-isn’t that what’s called “feathering” the corporate nest,while picking the publics’ nest egg clean?