When I went to work for the company that booted me out and stole my retirement, back in the 70's I admred, respected and was proud to work for these people in upper management. It was one of the 10 largest companies in the world. Our management knew tobacco was on the way out so they began buying food companies, KFC, Del Monte, shipping and transport companies, snack companies, liquor and wine etc. These were extremely intelligent men who looked after their workers and were in it for the long run. The company contributed many many millions to the local town, schools, Wake Forest Univ., parks, airport and on and on. I might be doing my job and look up and there would be a VP watching me, he would grab my hand, shake it and tell me he appreciated the job I was doing for him and the company. I was proud to be associated with a company that had top execs that appreciated me. If an employee died someone in upper management would show up with a wreath of flowers at the funeral and a check for $60,000 for the family and there were over 18,000 employees just in Winston Salem the 70's.Its sad those days are over, if treated right the American workers are the best workers in the world. When we supposedly bought out Nabisco their management took over, never will understand why but everything started changing little by little until it is now run by greedy SOB's that arent gonna be there over 5 years and they're gonna leave with 100's of millions, stock options and a golden parachute. Everyone knows tobacco profits are declining so they rob the employees to get what they want. Thats where my retirement went. Its not just me its millions and millions more out there like me. Web how can you ask us to trust private industry?

Water tank: written on a computer created and provide to him at a low cost via capitalism. Cut and pasted by a man educated at schools funded from tax revenues collected from business revenues which were CREATED via capitalism. All this done in a home built by tradesmen pursing income via capitalism so as to pursue the lifestyle they desire. Perhaps a motorcycle ride was taken after making this post on a bike built thousands of miles away by a company engaged in capitalism. That company’s very existence made possible by a nation dedicated to individual freedom and a capitalistic society.  

There is a gigantic flaw in the water tank story which is why liberals and semi-socialist are easily fooled into believe it is somehow prophetic when in fact is nothing of the sort. Can you spot it?

  Government bad... Really? In my working lifetime that spans from age fourteen to age fifty seven I had three good bosses, thats right just three.. I've had bosses that were incompetent, I've had bosses that were just plain mean, I've had bosses that turned their noses up at you, and I've had bosses that refused to pay you.. When I was a young man I did go from job to job a little, trying to find a good paying job in an area that you like is always a challange, but after the service I got married and had to settle down..

  The only government job I had was the service, pay was always on time, food was Ok, and benefits were good, however job was a tad dangerous, and pay was low.. I knew many guys that got out and went straight into nice government jobs, quite few retired from those same jobs, making a tidy sum.

     I went to work for a major oil comapny. Stock prices went nuts, I got lucky, I had bought company stock since I had started, and thought it would never bring fruit.. Finally after many years with company I had enough to say goodbye..    

   Luck happens, but I recognize that I most likely would still be slaving away out there if not for it.. My old friends are retired from their government jobs, and doing well, it wasn't luck that allowed that, it was the government.. I know many people who depend on SS to live, the check is always there, medicare takes some of the worry from their lives..

 The government never shrinks, unless there is armed rebellion, or the country falls, a government is only a service to the people (Supposed to be at least).. Right now there are 27 lobbiests for every congressman and woman in Washington, but very few of those represent the people.. So who really holds the power? Web would rather be a slave to a corporation, or a rich man, myself I would rather not be a slave to any man, but a politician I can still vote out of power if he crosses me or the American people..

There's no laws governing what upper management can do to a company and its employees.

oh yea, tell that to the people in prison for doing just that. ... Ask Conrad Black just to name one.

"My old friends are retired from their government jobs, and doing well, it wasn't luck that allowed that, it was the government."

Yes the government. I worked for the United States Government for 43 years and am now retired and living very comfortably (as is Ms.Starlifter who also has a government pension). We don't get SS as we never paid into it, but we don't need it as we are very well off including excellent health care plans....and don't give me that crap about govt. workers sitting on their asses and getting paid for it. I worked my tushy off. Six and seven day weeks, 16 hours mandatory overtime shifts 2 or 3 days a week. After 9/11 I worked seven days a week for months, sometimes doing four 16 hour shifts a week.

Private industry, the private sector, used to take care of their employees. You started working for them at a young age and devoted your entire working life to them. You gave them your loyalty and hard work...an honest day's pay for an honest day's work. And in return they took care of their employees. A good living wage, job security, paid vacations, sick days, health care, Christmas bonuses, and in the end a good pension for the rest of their lives. A man could work his job and it would support a wife and several children. A new care every five or six years. A fishing boat, maybe even a cottage on a lake up north.

Those days are over. The so called "Reagan revolution" began the era of union busting, pay cuts, 39 hour work weeks so benefits need not be given, golden parachutes for CEO's, million dollar bonuses for CEO's The name of the game is GREED GREED GREED! profit is the bottom line, money is God, and sh!t on everyone else, especially the people working for them.

Capitalism sucks the very life out of the workers in the mines and mills while the new robber barons laugh all the way to the bank.

I* wish youd just describe the society you want,

Yep, just keep those taxes coming buddy. I think I'll light up a big fat $12.00 cigar in your honor.