Comments for Biz Day Buzz http://www.bizdaybuzz.com Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:18:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Ford reports $1 billion 3Q profit by B Fanning http://www.bizdaybuzz.com/ford-reports-1-billion-3q-profit/comment-page-1#comment-628 B Fanning Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:18:49 +0000 45271 at http://necn.com#comment-628 I was watching the interview R D Sahl was having with Jim Lowell about how well Ford Motors was doing without having to take any taxpayer money from the bailout and how poor GM and Chrysler have done even with the money, but correct me if I'm wrong, didn't Ford get a similar bailout by the government a few years ago? I seem to recall reading a story about a restructuring by Ford in which they got government help (taxpayer money) without much press. Yes they realized the need to fix things sooner, but still needed help. During the recent TV coverage of the big three expecting to ask for money, Ford says there not in need of any funds at this time. Yes, because they already got it! The public took this as they must be the better company because of this. They failed to mention the previous help. I was watching the interview R D Sahl was having with Jim Lowell about how well Ford Motors was doing without having to take any taxpayer money from the bailout and how poor GM and Chrysler have done even with the money, but correct me if I’m wrong, didn’t Ford get a similar bailout by the government a few years ago? I seem to recall reading a story about a restructuring by Ford in which they got government help (taxpayer money) without much press. Yes they realized the need to fix things sooner, but still needed help. During the recent TV coverage of the big three expecting to ask for money, Ford says there not in need of any funds at this time. Yes, because they already got it! The public took this as they must be the better company because of this. They failed to mention the previous help.

]]> Comment on Dimock Center CEO on swine flu, health care reform by Tom Degan http://www.bizdaybuzz.com/dimock-center-ceo-on-swine-flu-health-care-reform/comment-page-1#comment-498 Tom Degan Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:41:22 +0000 44480 at http://necn.com#comment-498 I don't know what kind of health care reform will come out of this session, but I strongly suspect it won't be much. There is, however a silver lining behind this very dark cloud. I am reminded of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Don't be embarrassed if you've never heard of it, there really isn't a hell of a lot to remember about it; a mere pittance, really - a scrap of leftovers tossed out to "American Negros" (in the parlance of the age) in order to appease them. But it made the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - the one we remember - all-the-more easier seven years later. We'll live to fight another day. http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com Tom Degan Goshen, NY I don’t know what kind of health care reform will come out of this session, but I strongly suspect it won’t be much. There is, however a silver lining behind this very dark cloud. I am reminded of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Don’t be embarrassed if you’ve never heard of it, there really isn’t a hell of a lot to remember about it; a mere pittance, really – a scrap of leftovers tossed out to “American Negros” (in the parlance of the age) in order to appease them. But it made the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – the one we remember – all-the-more easier seven years later.

We’ll live to fight another day.

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

]]> Comment on BBJ: Dueling alimony reform by David http://www.bizdaybuzz.com/bbj-dueling-alimony-reform/comment-page-1#comment-423 David Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:20:21 +0000 43303 at http://necn.com#comment-423 In the Old Soviet Union, occasionally the cries for reform, mostly economic, rarely political, of one sort or another would make it into the internal discussions of the ruling Communist Party. To ease the political pressure, the top brass in the Politiburo would make some kind of token reform, just to say that reform was done. Some kukamamee 5-year plan here, some arresting/execution of "foreign backed troublemakers" there. The bottom line was that the "reform" would almost always be of token in nature. Then the top brass could lean back on the party rank and file and say, "You wanted reform. You got reform. Now shut the heck up". The alimony reform bill backed by the BBA is very similar in nature. It's a token reform bill so they can keep the status quo going for another 20-30 years. Meanwhile divorced Mass citizens will have to keep going back to court every 5-10 years to adjust-readjust-rereadjust alimony every time there is some change in the economy. During bad times the payor applies to adjust down; in good times the payee applies to adjust up. Every adjustment, fight, re-fight, means billable hours for the family lawyers involved. Also thre is nothing like charging-up an initial divorce, like the threat/prize of lifetime alimony. If this threat/prize was removed most divorces would be very routine in nature, and would rarely incur expensive legal battles unless there was already accrued assets involved. The bottom line is defacto lifetime-alimony is the life and blood of family-law pratices in the state, and the BBA Family Law Guild will be damned if they let this golden-egg laying goose die. In the Old Soviet Union, occasionally the cries for reform, mostly economic, rarely political, of one sort or another would make it into the internal discussions of the ruling Communist Party. To ease the political pressure, the top brass in the Politiburo would make some kind of token reform, just to say that reform was done. Some kukamamee 5-year plan here, some arresting/execution of “foreign backed troublemakers” there. The bottom line was that the “reform” would almost always be of token in nature. Then the top brass could lean back on the party rank and file and say, “You wanted reform. You got reform. Now shut the heck up”.

The alimony reform bill backed by the BBA is very similar in nature. It’s a token reform bill so they can keep the status quo going for another 20-30 years. Meanwhile divorced Mass citizens will have to keep going back to court every 5-10 years to adjust-readjust-rereadjust alimony every time there is some change in the economy. During bad times the payor applies to adjust down; in good times the payee applies to adjust up. Every adjustment, fight, re-fight, means billable hours for the family lawyers involved. Also thre is nothing like charging-up an initial divorce, like the threat/prize of lifetime alimony. If this threat/prize was removed most divorces would be very routine in nature, and would rarely incur expensive legal battles unless there was already accrued assets involved.

The bottom line is defacto lifetime-alimony is the life and blood of family-law pratices in the state, and the BBA Family Law Guild will be damned if they let this golden-egg laying goose die.

]]> Comment on Barry Armstrong shares details about ‘cash for clunkers’ by karenc http://www.bizdaybuzz.com/barry-armstrong-shares-details-about-cash-for-clunkers/comment-page-1#comment-65 karenc Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:12:13 +0000 38156 at http://necn.com#comment-65 Cash for clunkers will do little to help either car sales or the environment. Cash for clunkers will do little to help either car sales or the environment.

]]> Comment on Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff set to be sentenced by Steve G. http://www.bizdaybuzz.com/ponzi-scheme-mastermind-bernard-madoff-set-to-be-sentenced/comment-page-1#comment-60 Steve G. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:26:47 +0000 37721 at http://necn.com#comment-60 House arrest is too cushy for a crook like Madoff. The more they steal, the worse the conditions should be when they go to prison. In my opinion and Madoff being a thief, he should be in the general population. Furthermore, if a wife is entitled to half of the assets in the event of a divorce, Bernie’s wife should be entitled to half of his 150 years. Give them a combined 300 years, and then they’d both get the 150. All assets and gifts or money transferred to any family members and/or friends should be reclaimed (with interest) and put into a fund to repay all those he took advantage of. House arrest is too cushy for a crook like Madoff. The more they steal, the worse the conditions should be when they go to prison. In my opinion and Madoff being a thief, he should be in the general population. Furthermore, if a wife is entitled to half of the assets in the event of a divorce, Bernie’s wife should be entitled to half of his 150 years. Give them a combined 300 years, and then they’d both get the 150. All assets and gifts or money transferred to any family members and/or friends should be reclaimed (with interest) and put into a fund to repay all those he took advantage of.

]]> Comment on Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held in Newton by Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held in Newton : Biz Day Buzz Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship | Venture Capital And Entrepreneurship http://www.bizdaybuzz.com/entrepreneur-of-the-year-awards-held-in-newton/comment-page-1#comment-50 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held in Newton : Biz Day Buzz Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship | Venture Capital And Entrepreneurship Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:12:43 +0000 36982 at http://necn.com#comment-50 [...] See original here: Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held in Newton : Biz Day Buzz [...] [...] See original here: Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held in Newton : Biz Day Buzz [...]

]]>