In general, the 'right', IMOHO, is interested in one thing: preserving THEIR wealth. And, left or right, there are people who are obviously w/out concience. What on earth does Rush L. need with his $400 million per YEAR contract? How does he--and those like him (again, left or right)--sleep at night, knowing that there are over 20 million Americans who had their homes forclosed on, putting many of them--and their kids--on the street? Or the millions now out of work? How can this country allow that??? (BTW, I heard--and I really don't know if this is true, but that Rush will be able to receive social security!) How can we literally give away billions to the banks, whose own greed and unethical behavior, got us into this mess, and yet we allow congress to balk at single payer, universal health care??? This just has to stop.

professor
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Excellent point. Wow, 400:1 that is completely unexceptable.
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Funny how the right continues to blame the greedy Union workers (UAW) for example for what they make while the top workers who created, priced, advertised, etc... The products that failed.
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Maybe those wages would be affordable for GM and others if
a. those making 400 times as much did their job
or
b. those making 400 times as much made only 200 times as much.
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$80/hour is a lot but 400 times that is $32000/hour.
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I'm not required to take a furlough either. And, I would agree that 'taking one for the team' is a good--no, great thing to do. But workers should be ticked at having to do so--For the most part, workers have absolutely no meaningful input as to decisions that are made. For example, GM. Why is the union having to take hit after hit, when it was management that drove the company into the ground? AND, then the CEO who is 'fired', gets a $23 million severence package??? Or, State workers; few, if any of them made decisions that got WI where it is today--so, why should THEY have to give up 16 days pay, when they had no say in how things were done? In the 1970's, the salary range between highest and lowest paid person in a company (CEO/mailroom clerk, for example) was 40:1; today, it's over 400:1 WHY does the electorate stand for this? Why are we seemingly happy to be working DOWN the ladder of success? In short, we CAN'T allow ourselves to be happy with the status quo. Taking a hit for the team is fine, as long as it's a temporary fix, not something to get used to.

curtaincall
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No big deal but it is 16 days in the next 2 years or 8 days per year for state workers.

Id gladly take the one week furlough vs not having a job.

Our Furloughs are called "Spring Break Opportunities". I took one for the team last week...

the gazette should go talk to the halbachs so they can start screemin meemees up again. they helped sell more papers then anything else that has happend in janesville in the last 3 years. it cost the taxpayers $650k to convict him of a disorderly conduct,but look at all the people the gazette was able to keep employed. was that one of the first govt bailouts?

Keep in mind there are 5.7 million fewer people working now versus 18 months ago. Some advertised jobs get thousands of applicants.
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During the Great Depression it was common for people to be partially employed. My own grandfather was required to "job share". I wouldn't be surprised if you read about more and more such furloughs as companies try to ride out this "Great Recession". Even if there is *economic* recovery in the financial markets, jobs will continue to be scarce for months or years (similar to the 2001 recession, which was relatively short, but did not see jobs return completely for 3-4 years).

Interesting analysis, garyprimer. It seems consistent with one theory of celebrity, which explains it as an example of primate familiarity and kinship behavior.

wesgonsin...If you were furloughed you would polish up your resume and look elsewhere? I'm curious of your education and skills. I am required to take a furlough for week of my choice between now and December. For the heck of it I thought I would look to see what was available out in the market place and it wasn't much. I have a Bachelors Degree in Information Technology, 15 years of IT experience, 10 years of Engineering experience with with all of that, I found a position in Orlando FL and one in Burbank CA. I'm not so sure that if a person is unhappy with a furlough they have much of a choice.

People "buy" what they see advertised on television. Television would probably not exist if this wasn't true. It probably has something to do with tendency that people have to form trusted social groups. At some mental level the television is perceived to be a member of the family and its advice is assumed to be in the best interest of the group.

Voices--I agree! Can you imagine the benefits to us 'citizens' though, if enough candidates could get elected without taking a dime from the 'lobbies'? But it's pretty bad when Sen. Dick Durbin, IL, talks about Congress being "owned" by lobbies--the bank lobby, the drug mfr. lobby, the health industry lobby, the oil lobby, etc., etc. Nothing will change, until ownership of congressional representatives goes back to the people; when it gets bad enough for the people, then it will. I wish I was more optomistic.****Zoom: you are absolutely right. But is that because of what we learn/know about our own guys, or what we are TOLD about them in 30/60 second ads during an election? It's the latter, I'm afraid.

Professor.... Nothing stops an "industry lobby" from spending money on a candidate, without the candidate's knowledge. In fact, it would be illegal for the lobby group to let the candidate know they are about to spend money on advertisements.

I can tell you, without talking with any of them, that the news rooms are NOT a party!

My friend who works for the state is facing a series of 16 days with no pay over the next year. She said her only request is she at least gets a couple of them together so she can get something done around her house. People are just going to have to budget and be grateful they have job to go back to. There are people in much worse situations.

Professor, I don't share your optimism, however small it may be. Everyone hates politicians, except their own guy. That's why Feingold, Ryan, and all of the incumbents on the Janesville City Council keep getting re-elected.

"Wonder if someone can file an Unemployment Insurance claim in the case of a required 'furlough'"

Yes. And a lot of companies are requiring unpaid time off. It's the craze that's sweeping the nation.

Alan Greenspan once said--years ago--that the best place for management to be is when the economy is on the brink--because then, labor won't complain about anything, they will just be happy to have work--at any wage, and under any conditions. Seems like a number of elected officials listened...

John D: It doesn't. And, I'm convinced that until the electorate gets loose from the nose-ring we seem to be in, nothing will change. Having said that, now--with hundreds of thousands of people in dire straits--might just be enough for people to not accept 'work as usual' either in Madison or D.C., and go to the polls to get people elected who are beholden to the citizenry, NOT the PACS, Lobbies, etc. Either the current reps are way too comfortable where they are, OR, things are so drastically out of whack that we are not being told the real truth. Either way, it needs to change. Bobb--sorry to hear your plight. I wish there was something more substantive I could offer...besides good thoughts...

If I was ordered by my employer to take an unpaid furlough and lose a weeks wages, well I guess I'd use that time to polish up my resume and look for another job.
Wonder if someone can file an Unemployment Insurance claim in the case of a required 'furlough'

Hmmmm....doesn't say much (good) for the electorate...does it?

We elect these people because they have the money to run their campaigns. It takes a lot of money to pay staff and produce and run television ads. They go to special interests 'because that's where the money is'. Willie Sutton's democracy.

Prof. I totally agree with you. I have (am) expousing your words daily. When will we "the people" stand up,get these "politicos" out of office. I have been out of work one year (to the day) and have written all wi. officials asking where spouse and I can get a hand up through these times. My pleas either fall on deaf (no response) ears,or thrown back in my lap. I omly asked for concrete answers only to be brushed aside. Obviously these clowns think of only lobbyiest,special interest,own agendas.For us to live not just exist we must vote all incumbents out. Even new,with no,or limited experience can do no worse than those who have YEARS in office with the same old,same old results.

Does this mean no Stan Milan for a week?

Here's what I don't get: Gas prices up near 50 cents/gallon in 3 weeks; if people aren't out of a job, they are having to take furloughs; unions are being busted....and yet, I don't get any sense that 'we' have reached the point of 'we're mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore!' 'We' (and I include myself) are not holding our elected officials' feet to the fire. Why, for example, do we re-elect anyone who adds to the 'fog' of the health insurance crisis--especially those who take untold thousands of dollars in donations from the industry? In fact, why do we re-elect rep's who take ANY substantial donations from ANY industry lobby? Why do we re-elect those who continue to vote against labor's interests? And, for God's sakes, WHY does the media keep giving air time to Dick and Newt--two of the most amoral people around, and whose positions on matters are simply irrelevant? All 'we' keep doing is saying, 'thank you sir, may I have another?' Why??? (and again, I'm just as guilty...)

Four dollar a gallon gas and the prime mortgage crisis has taught us all how interconnected we are like it or not. A lot of people have and will lose the lifestyle we were used to.
Stay as positive as possible and remember this to will pass.
We all need each other!!!

Sannio - I was hasty in my response, with all the negative news about Executives today while their companies are sinking, it's easy to point fingers, I was wrong. The last thing these blogs need is a pot stirrer and that's what I did. Although it doesn't look like anyone's reading this one.

Janesville66- Thanks for the info.

The handfull that will not take the furlough are the sales reps that are paid by commission

3BD - It could be executive staff. The same people who are given "free" Blackberries so they can be called day or night, 24/7. The same ones who might miss their son or daughter's softball game because if they don't, 158 people could be out of jobs.

I wonder if the handful of employees who don't need to take the unpaid time is the executive staff......