Home Depot Founder Speaks To Obama Through Op-ed

[Charles_Main]

How many of you buy American?

How often do you check that what you buy is manufactured, grown or produced in your own country?

Yes, we should support small, local business but firstly just fucking buy American.

That is a nice Idea and all, but the fact is Big Box Stores like Walmart for example. Allow Millions of Poorer people to live with a higher standard of living. By giving them access to cheap goods, most of which are not made here.

I buy American when I can, But I am not going to pay twice as much for Basic Necessities just so I can buy American, and neither are the Vast Majority of people.

Well, fine. Just don't fucking bitch about jobs moving overseas, or our manufacturing industry dying. The government ain't responsible - you are.

We all are. High labor costs and Heavy handed Regulations are. That is just a reality. Blaming people for it gets us nowhere.

 

[Charles_Main]

The worship of the mega-rich in this country just stupifies me. How can any intelligent person actually believe in "trickle down"? "Pissed on" would be more like it.

"great recession" pushes gap between rich and poor to record levels: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance

Unemployment Climbs in 27 States The Washington Independent

Are any of you really so fucking stupid you cannot connect the dots here?

You talk about the "super rich" yet what obama and the Dems want to do is raise taxes on everyone who makes over 200k a year.

Hardly the super rich.

 

[eagleseven]

The worship of the mega-rich in this country just stupifies me. How can any intelligent person actually believe in "trickle down"? "Pissed on" would be more like it.

To whom would you rather loan your life savings:

1. A man who grew his family business into a global corporation (Sam Walton)?

2. A man who won a series of popular elections in NYC (Charles Rangel)?

---

In every human society, wealth is controlled either by those with political power (politicians), or those with economic power (the rich). Under socialism, politicians (commissars) hold all the power. Under capitalism, business owners (the rich) hold all the power.

I prefer to trust our economic future to giants of industry, not those with silver-tongues in Washington.

 

[California Girl]

That is a nice Idea and all, but the fact is Big Box Stores like Walmart for example. Allow Millions of Poorer people to live with a higher standard of living. By giving them access to cheap goods, most of which are not made here.

I buy American when I can, But I am not going to pay twice as much for Basic Necessities just so I can buy American, and neither are the Vast Majority of people.

Well, fine. Just don't fucking bitch about jobs moving overseas, or our manufacturing industry dying. The government ain't responsible - you are.

We all are. High labor costs and Heavy handed Regulations are. That is just a reality. Blaming people for it gets us nowhere.

Yea, but everyone wants to point the finger at the other guy. It is about time we got back to taking personal responsibility.

I buy local food - as much as possible direct from local farmers through their farm shop. It supports the local economy, it's better for the environment, its better quality - and good value for money.

When it comes to major purchases - I try to buy stuff made in the country I live in. That's quite hard now because Britain - like the US - allowed its manufacturing base to die.

 

[Sallow]

Dick Grasso, NYSE CEO 1995-2003, on the board of directors for Home Depot 2002-2004.

One year overlap. At the most. Months aren't given, but I would bet it was under a year, and the overlap was caused by a transition period.

If you want to get into a conflict of interest with the same gentleman, this is your stick you can hit him with:

Dick Grasso NYSE CEO 1995-2003, on board of directors for Computer Associates 1994-2002...nearly the entire time he was CEO of the NYSE.

Richard Grasso

Computer Associates

What's the point here?

Both were conflicts.

And the contention is that Obama is not "business friendly" because he wants to introduce regulation that would keep this kind of behavior from happening.

Corporate governance..for lack of a better word..has been failing. And utterly failing.

They've been crying about regulation, and then when regulation is eased, they start the Tom Foolery that is self enriching and disasterous to the economy at large. And really, over the long term, this sort of thing bodes very badly for them.

Capitalism is really dependent on competition and a labor force with enough capital to buy goods and services - even perhaps invest in corporate entities. Monopolies and Obscenely wealthy elites are antithetical to that concept.

I don't consider a transition a "conflict of interest". I thought I made that clear.

A one year "transition"? Lets be clear about things. Grasso didn't leave the Stock Exchange because he wanted too. If it were his choice..he'd still be there now. (And Frankly..I would like to see him back).

 

[Sallow]

The worship of the mega-rich in this country just stupifies me. How can any intelligent person actually believe in "trickle down"? "Pissed on" would be more like it.

"great recession" pushes gap between rich and poor to record levels: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance

Unemployment Climbs in 27 States The Washington Independent

Are any of you really so fucking stupid you cannot connect the dots here?

You talk about the "super rich" yet what obama and the Dems want to do is raise taxes on everyone who makes over 200k a year.

Hardly the super rich.

Not raise taxes..but allow Bush tax cuts to expire. And it's 250k not 200.

And how do you qualify rich?

 

[Madeline]

That is a nice Idea and all, but the fact is Big Box Stores like Walmart for example. Allow Millions of Poorer people to live with a higher standard of living. By giving them access to cheap goods, most of which are not made here.

I buy American when I can, But I am not going to pay twice as much for Basic Necessities just so I can buy American, and neither are the Vast Majority of people.

Well, fine. Just don't fucking bitch about jobs moving overseas, or our manufacturing industry dying. The government ain't responsible - you are.

We all are. High labor costs and Heavy handed Regulations are. That is just a reality. Blaming people for it gets us nowhere.

"Heavy handed regulation" of which industry, Charles? I look around and I see nothing but a Failure To Regulate.

 

[eagleseven]

Not raise taxes..but allow Bush tax cuts to expire. And it's 250k not 200.

Six vs. half a dozen.

And how do you qualify rich?

Rich includes the 49% of Americans who pay Federal income tax.

 

[xotoxi]

Seems he tried to do so in person, didn't get far:

Ken Langone: Stop Bashing Business, Mr. President - WSJ.com

* OPINION
* OCTOBER 15, 2010

Stop Bashing Business, Mr. President
If we tried to start The Home Depot today, it's a stone cold certainty that it would never have gotten off the ground.


By KEN LANGONE

Although I was glad that you answered a question of mine at the Sept. 20 town-hall meeting you hosted in Washington, D.C., Mr. President, I must say that the event seemed more like a lecture than a dialogue. For more than two years the country has listened to your sharp rhetoric about how American businesses are short-changing workers, fleecing customers, cheating borrowers, and generally "driving the economy into a ditch," to borrow your oft-repeated phrase.

My question to you was why, during a time when investment and dynamism are so critical to our country, was it necessary to vilify the very people who deliver that growth? Instead of offering a straight answer, you informed me that I was part of a "reckless" group that had made "bad decisions" and now required your guidance, if only I'd stop "resisting" it.

I'm sure that kind of argument draws cheers from the partisan faithful. But to my ears it sounded patronizing. Of course, one of the chief conceits of centralized economic planning is that the planners know better than everybody else...

Like Whole Foods, it must be time to BOYCOTT Home Depot, Comrades!

I don't understand. Why should we boycott Home Depot for what he said?

 

[Revere]

Overpriced retailers protected from competiton by government doesn't benefit the middle class that wants goods it can afford.

 

[Sallow]

Not raise taxes..but allow Bush tax cuts to expire. And it's 250k not 200.

Six vs. half a dozen.

And how do you qualify rich?

Rich includes the 49% of Americans who pay Federal income tax.

First off..the Bush tax cuts had no justification. None. And if you add in that the Bush administration larded brand new expenses to the taxpayers..this becomes acute.

And making 250K in my book..for the most part..is pretty rich. I make half that amount, in NYC..and am quite comfortable. I have a manhattan co-op..travel around the world and dine at expensive establishments.

 

[Revere]

What can you say about a regime that makes anyone who produces anything an enemy of the revolution?

What type of society is that?

 

[Sallow]

What can you say about a regime that makes anyone who produces anything an enemy of the revolution?

What type of society is that?

Is there really a reason for such Hyperbole?

From your posts..and for the most part..you seem like an intelligent and reasonable person.

And sorry if this post is personal..but I've come to respect some of the things you post. And enjoy the discussion.

 

[Charles_Main]

Well, fine. Just don't fucking bitch about jobs moving overseas, or our manufacturing industry dying. The government ain't responsible - you are.

We all are. High labor costs and Heavy handed Regulations are. That is just a reality. Blaming people for it gets us nowhere.

Yea, but everyone wants to point the finger at the other guy. It is about time we got back to taking personal responsibility.

I buy local food - as much as possible direct from local farmers through their farm shop. It supports the local economy, it's better for the environment, its better quality - and good value for money.

When it comes to major purchases - I try to buy stuff made in the country I live in. That's quite hard now because Britain - like the US - allowed its manufacturing base to die.

I buy American when Ever I can. I have never owned a non US made Car. But I do admit to shopping at places like walmart.

sue me

 

[RadiomanATL]

What's the point here?

Both were conflicts.

And the contention is that Obama is not "business friendly" because he wants to introduce regulation that would keep this kind of behavior from happening.

Corporate governance..for lack of a better word..has been failing. And utterly failing.

They've been crying about regulation, and then when regulation is eased, they start the Tom Foolery that is self enriching and disasterous to the economy at large. And really, over the long term, this sort of thing bodes very badly for them.

Capitalism is really dependent on competition and a labor force with enough capital to buy goods and services - even perhaps invest in corporate entities. Monopolies and Obscenely wealthy elites are antithetical to that concept.

I don't consider a transition a "conflict of interest". I thought I made that clear.

A one year "transition"? Lets be clear about things. Grasso didn't leave the Stock Exchange because he wanted too. If it were his choice..he'd still be there now. (And Frankly..I would like to see him back).

I said at most one year.

If he took the job on the board in November, and then left the NYSE in February, thats 4 months, and would still account for dates. And would also be a reasonable transition period. I don't know, but I am not jumping on the OMG ONE YERE!!1! thing. I was unable to find the information, but I am not maxing out the time-frame either.

 

[bodecea]

So much for Home Depot having a tough, manly image....CEO is a whiner.

 

[Sallow]

I don't consider a transition a "conflict of interest". I thought I made that clear.

A one year "transition"? Lets be clear about things. Grasso didn't leave the Stock Exchange because he wanted too. If it were his choice..he'd still be there now. (And Frankly..I would like to see him back).

I said at most one year.

If he took the job on the board in November, and then left the NYSE in February, thats 4 months, and would still account for dates. And would also be a reasonable transition period. I don't know, but I am not jumping on the OMG ONE YERE!!1! thing. I was unable to find the information, but I am not maxing out the time-frame either.

Sorry..and no disrepect. This does not address the conflict of interest issues.

 

[GWV5903]

O ya. Support big businesses run by greedy rich assholes with no sense of patriotism.

Lemme sign right up for that.

What an idiot.

Do you believe Madalying when she tells you she's a Republican?

Madeline is a dumb ass, no party affiliation is needed.....

 

[GWV5903]

The worship of the mega-rich in this country just stupifies me. How can any intelligent person actually believe in "trickle down"? "Pissed on" would be more like it.

"great recession" pushes gap between rich and poor to record levels: Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance

Unemployment Climbs in 27 States The Washington Independent

Are any of you really so fucking stupid you cannot connect the dots here?

You talk about the "super rich" yet what obama and the Dems want to do is raise taxes on everyone who makes over 200k a year.

Hardly the super rich.

Not raise taxes..but allow Bush tax cuts to expire. And it's 250k not 200.

And how do you qualify rich?

It sure as hell isn't $250K a year, that you need that spelled out to you says it all.....

The chasm between Buffett, Jobs, Gates, et al to $250K a year can't even be measured, yet you're stupid enough to believe they have something in common???

 

[RadiomanATL]

So much for Home Depot having a tough, manly image....CEO is a whiner.

He's not the CEO.