OK Jim, You are sounding like me. I have for many years been of the mind that "Private Equity" is the bane of our existence and the path to the eventual end of human existence and the gateway to subhuman existence as we know it. The greed drives people who have more money than they can possibly ever spend to not be happy until they have squeezed every last little bit value us normal people (soon to be referred as Serfs) still have. The only thing they can't steal is our sense of human decency and compassion for other normal humans.
I am struck by how often what Jim talks about is boils down to us not being serious about Roosevelt's second bill of rights that he enumerated in his 11th State of the Union speech in January of 1944. Here they are.
• The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
• The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
• The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
• The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
• The right of every family to a decent home;
• The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
• The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, and unemployment
• The right to a good education.
Every one of them have been severely eroded in my lifetime of 78 years.
Yes! That's why the neoliberal (pro-corporate econ) unfriendly takeover of the D party and subsequent dumping of the New Deal is so catastrophic. We know the Rs have been corporate for a century. The corporate lite D party funded from the same sources while ignoring the suffering majority working class is not only unconscionable, but stupid strategically.
Thx for the head’s up! RESIST! SHOW UP to whatever protest that is happening around us and “just say NO!” Fire trucks not working, too expensive…that’s ridiculous!!!
I used to sell fire equipment including Pierce & Seagrave fire trucks. I sold the most expensive ladder truck Seagrave built with all the options, longest ladder, rear steering, high volume water pump, etc. to Bullhead City AZ/Laughlin NV to fight potential fires in a new high rise hotel/casino. It stickered just shy of $300K. Huge thing. Now, the same rig would be ten times that much.
We are embarrassed to admit that "private equity" has been just an expression to us - without the complete understanding of how far it has gone already. Thanks for helping us to see what it means for America. And oh, the hypocrisy of politicos praising our firefighters for risking their lives! The link you provided will be used, be sure of that. As Mary says: RESIST!!
Greed has no boundaries. "Private equity" has evolved as a mechanism to legitimize and encourage the economic rape of the people by the greedy rich. Sociopathic billionaires (e.g., Trump, Musk and the entire cabinet) do incomparably more to destroy this country than the relatively few who abuse social welfare systems (petty ante crime in comparison).
However, when I hear the nice, neutral term "private equity," I immediately think greedy, vicious vulture capital. Very seldom anymore about helpful long term investments; only about taking over a company and picking it clean for short term profit. Or remaking an entire industry into a very profitable monopoly.
Joan Ragan Our income was from my husband teaching metal shop at the HS level. Our retirement fund has invested in these buy out and destroy companies. I was following this going back to the beginning here in Oregon. Public worker retirement funds are fueling this destruction plain and simple. Wrecking our own families lives! Money really is the root of all evil!
Jim, your comment, "Here’s something I had never given any thought to: The price of fire trucks. Plus, a worrisome fire truck shortage!" hit the ball out of the park again.
Most of the volunteer fire departments depend on cheaper "hand me downs" purchased from urban fire departments as they become avaiable and local budgets allow.
Old-fashioned greed will have a trickle-down effect on rural America. Any change in price, or shortage in the availablity of fire trucks will be felt by small communities.
• According to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), about 65% of the more than one
million firefighters in the US are volunteers.
• Of the more than 29,000 fire departments in the US, almost 19,000 are run entirely by
volunteers.
• The time donated by volunteer firefighters saves localities across the country an estimated
$46.9 billion per year.
• However, finding staff has become more difficult. The number of calls has tripled since the
1980s, while the number of volunteers has fallen.
Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of rural communities. Unlike their counterparts in urban areas, rural fire departments often face unique challenges due to limited resources and funding. In these communities, volunteer firefighters are essential in filling the gaps and providing essential services. Their dedication and commitment to protecting their communities should not be underestimated.
So, in other words, it is now going to cost a shrinking number of volunteer firefighters more money to fight an increasing number of wildfires at a time Insurance companies are cancelling fire insurance policies. Is that what "Making America Great Again" means?
And thanks Jim, for the American Antitrust Institute website address; AntitrustInstitute.org.I found the website very interesting, the Institute may be the "last line of defence" for consumers.
Thanks again,
Mike
Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.
Beginning in Trump's first run as President, the Trump family joined the very first "Private Equity" investors, claiming this approach to property ownership would create jobs and housing opportunities as never seen before. Yup it created 11 jobs in the first year or so, and created a loss of housing for regular folks and the poor. Why can't this "private equity" investment system be monitored and regulated as we hoped our monopolies would be? 'cause even Democrats are afraid of the very rich, and apparently don't give a damn about the middle and working class humans in our country. / Then there is the question of how to build fire trucks that are just as efficient but cost far, far less. Where are the clever inventors and creative thinkers? No one give a damn.
Yes, private equity, wherever, has no conscience/empathy…is this “end stage capitalism” we have been warned about? Even conservative Hillsdale College wrote about the reduced quality of care in hospitals taken over by private equity. Biden went into some of the nursing homes taken over by them whete quality of care deteriorated… more bedsores etc & he set up requirements re staff/patient ratios.
I've read that the same thing happened to cable cars, electric tramways and other public transportation. Greedhead companies who wanted to sell more gasoline and tires, etc, bought the companies that made electric trains etc and shut them down!
In this "market" economy, the Dim-ocrats can't prevent such plundering, and the Rethuglicans of course think it's great.
I am sure, with enough investigation, that there are many more products out there that are being rip-off priced. This one, however, has the ability to cause death and destruction and likely already has. Most local governments do not have the wiggle room to afford these inflated prices. When will the Federal and State governments step in and do something about this? The answer is "never" because too many of the politicians have been "bought" by these monopolies who don't care at all about the common man.
I think we should call it Vulture Capitalism. They just sit around watching for the struggle and then swoop in for the kill. Kill they do with all the money in the world. Just ask the Co-President, he's really good at it. It's a sport to these immoral folks who just have to have more and more and more. There is no thought to who might die due their selfish behavior. They face no danger. What do we do ?
OK Jim, You are sounding like me. I have for many years been of the mind that "Private Equity" is the bane of our existence and the path to the eventual end of human existence and the gateway to subhuman existence as we know it. The greed drives people who have more money than they can possibly ever spend to not be happy until they have squeezed every last little bit value us normal people (soon to be referred as Serfs) still have. The only thing they can't steal is our sense of human decency and compassion for other normal humans.
I am struck by how often what Jim talks about is boils down to us not being serious about Roosevelt's second bill of rights that he enumerated in his 11th State of the Union speech in January of 1944. Here they are.
• The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
• The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
• The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
• The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
• The right of every family to a decent home;
• The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
• The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, and unemployment
• The right to a good education.
Every one of them have been severely eroded in my lifetime of 78 years.
And Musk, Inc. intends to erode all of these further. Thanks, MAGAs.
Yes! That's why the neoliberal (pro-corporate econ) unfriendly takeover of the D party and subsequent dumping of the New Deal is so catastrophic. We know the Rs have been corporate for a century. The corporate lite D party funded from the same sources while ignoring the suffering majority working class is not only unconscionable, but stupid strategically.
Thx for the head’s up! RESIST! SHOW UP to whatever protest that is happening around us and “just say NO!” Fire trucks not working, too expensive…that’s ridiculous!!!
I used to sell fire equipment including Pierce & Seagrave fire trucks. I sold the most expensive ladder truck Seagrave built with all the options, longest ladder, rear steering, high volume water pump, etc. to Bullhead City AZ/Laughlin NV to fight potential fires in a new high rise hotel/casino. It stickered just shy of $300K. Huge thing. Now, the same rig would be ten times that much.
We are embarrassed to admit that "private equity" has been just an expression to us - without the complete understanding of how far it has gone already. Thanks for helping us to see what it means for America. And oh, the hypocrisy of politicos praising our firefighters for risking their lives! The link you provided will be used, be sure of that. As Mary says: RESIST!!
Greed has no boundaries. "Private equity" has evolved as a mechanism to legitimize and encourage the economic rape of the people by the greedy rich. Sociopathic billionaires (e.g., Trump, Musk and the entire cabinet) do incomparably more to destroy this country than the relatively few who abuse social welfare systems (petty ante crime in comparison).
Wow! I had no idea.
However, when I hear the nice, neutral term "private equity," I immediately think greedy, vicious vulture capital. Very seldom anymore about helpful long term investments; only about taking over a company and picking it clean for short term profit. Or remaking an entire industry into a very profitable monopoly.
So much for the myth of competition.
Right. They are not interested in long term profit, let alone being useful. Only in smash and grab.
Joan Ragan Our income was from my husband teaching metal shop at the HS level. Our retirement fund has invested in these buy out and destroy companies. I was following this going back to the beginning here in Oregon. Public worker retirement funds are fueling this destruction plain and simple. Wrecking our own families lives! Money really is the root of all evil!
Jim, your comment, "Here’s something I had never given any thought to: The price of fire trucks. Plus, a worrisome fire truck shortage!" hit the ball out of the park again.
Most of the volunteer fire departments depend on cheaper "hand me downs" purchased from urban fire departments as they become avaiable and local budgets allow.
Old-fashioned greed will have a trickle-down effect on rural America. Any change in price, or shortage in the availablity of fire trucks will be felt by small communities.
• According to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), about 65% of the more than one
million firefighters in the US are volunteers.
• Of the more than 29,000 fire departments in the US, almost 19,000 are run entirely by
volunteers.
• The time donated by volunteer firefighters saves localities across the country an estimated
$46.9 billion per year.
• However, finding staff has become more difficult. The number of calls has tripled since the
1980s, while the number of volunteers has fallen.
Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of rural communities. Unlike their counterparts in urban areas, rural fire departments often face unique challenges due to limited resources and funding. In these communities, volunteer firefighters are essential in filling the gaps and providing essential services. Their dedication and commitment to protecting their communities should not be underestimated.
So, in other words, it is now going to cost a shrinking number of volunteer firefighters more money to fight an increasing number of wildfires at a time Insurance companies are cancelling fire insurance policies. Is that what "Making America Great Again" means?
And thanks Jim, for the American Antitrust Institute website address; AntitrustInstitute.org.I found the website very interesting, the Institute may be the "last line of defence" for consumers.
Thanks again,
Mike
Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.
Henry David Thoreau
Benjamin Franklin
Beginning in Trump's first run as President, the Trump family joined the very first "Private Equity" investors, claiming this approach to property ownership would create jobs and housing opportunities as never seen before. Yup it created 11 jobs in the first year or so, and created a loss of housing for regular folks and the poor. Why can't this "private equity" investment system be monitored and regulated as we hoped our monopolies would be? 'cause even Democrats are afraid of the very rich, and apparently don't give a damn about the middle and working class humans in our country. / Then there is the question of how to build fire trucks that are just as efficient but cost far, far less. Where are the clever inventors and creative thinkers? No one give a damn.
Yes, private equity, wherever, has no conscience/empathy…is this “end stage capitalism” we have been warned about? Even conservative Hillsdale College wrote about the reduced quality of care in hospitals taken over by private equity. Biden went into some of the nursing homes taken over by them whete quality of care deteriorated… more bedsores etc & he set up requirements re staff/patient ratios.
I've read that the same thing happened to cable cars, electric tramways and other public transportation. Greedhead companies who wanted to sell more gasoline and tires, etc, bought the companies that made electric trains etc and shut them down!
In this "market" economy, the Dim-ocrats can't prevent such plundering, and the Rethuglicans of course think it's great.
Yet another way private equity is destroying America. It is bad enough that housing has been cornered, now essential equipment? OMG.
Maybe the REV Group packaged up its strategy and sold it to trump&musk?
I am sure, with enough investigation, that there are many more products out there that are being rip-off priced. This one, however, has the ability to cause death and destruction and likely already has. Most local governments do not have the wiggle room to afford these inflated prices. When will the Federal and State governments step in and do something about this? The answer is "never" because too many of the politicians have been "bought" by these monopolies who don't care at all about the common man.
I think we should call it Vulture Capitalism. They just sit around watching for the struggle and then swoop in for the kill. Kill they do with all the money in the world. Just ask the Co-President, he's really good at it. It's a sport to these immoral folks who just have to have more and more and more. There is no thought to who might die due their selfish behavior. They face no danger. What do we do ?