Arkansas Blog

It was a mediocre statement and, as usual for major corporate OnePerCenters, CBS dimly illuminated the huge problem we have with fair trade which, wisely enough, the executive Dan from Nucor, stated "is not fair." Our Balance of Payments and Current Account balance were never mentioned for both would show that trade is indeed lopsided, favoring only the likes of Imports-WalMart as those CEOs hasten us down the road to 3rd World Nation while setting up stores, ready to reap the rewards in growing nations like China, a nation that protects themselves from foreign competition and are allowed to artificially keep their currency propped up.

It was noteworthy to hear that a cold saw operator at Nucor-Blytheville had been making $87,000 per year. So, half that, $43,500, would be above Ark. median family income.

If you read the Human Development Index and thought the USA was behind on that one just take a peak at the rankings of Current Account balances from around the world. USA is well below the Congo, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and other depressed nations. In fact, we're at the bottom.
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Elwood: The 50% pay-cut would not be tolerated by most individuals. Many of my friends work at Nucor (My family lives in Leachville) and they are struggling because the house payment, truck payment, electric, gas, phone, costs of raising kids, ect., did not drop by the same 50% that their pay did.

These are hard working men and women doing a very intense and dangerous job.

I know that they are glad to still have jobs, yet they are very angry that so much money has gone to bank-bailouts and golden-parachutes for business executives that were not very good at business to begin with.

There is so much that is wrong with how our country operates right now. And I have been amazed that Nucor has even stayed in Blytheville and not gone over to India,Thailand, or somewhere similar to make steel.

"It was noteworthy to hear that a cold saw operator at Nucor-Blytheville had been making $87,000 per year."

And even more so when one considers there are no unions at Nucor-Blytheville.

>>I know that they are glad to still have jobs, yet they are very angry that so much money has gone to bank-bailouts and golden-parachutes for business executives that were not very good at business to begin with.<<
Join the rest of the country Scottie. I know of no one who supports those golden parachutes handed out to failed executives. The media has not done a very good job informing us how they came about either. I first read it was a Bush-Paulson scheme since Paulson was in inside player before becoming Sec of Treasury. As I posted before Geithner is trying to find a way to cram over $60 Trillion in worthless credit default swaps up our collective asses. It will cost a lot of people their offices if it's allowed to proceed. But, figure it this way. If they had just let the big financials sink then Nucor and many others would be closed today and maybe re opening delayed for several years.

"And I have been amazed that Nucor has even stayed in Blytheville and not gone over to India,Thailand, or somewhere similar to make steel."
As the Nucor executive, Joe, noted they are the world's largest recycler. There are tax credits for that kind of operation that make it profitable to remain there and stay in USA.

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