Midas1

Husky Energy Dividends Get Cut - More Companies to Follow?

BP is one of the better energy stocks.

BofA's Merrill Purchase: Good for America, Bad for Them

Bank of America royally put the screws to its shareholders. I'm not surprised. What is not as highly published about BOA is its rotten customer service (demonstrating its true core values or lack thereof). Every time there is a significant up or down day and people are trading in vast numbers, BOA's server crashes. Why? Because this idiot-run organization took on hundreds of thousands of "customers" and never updated their blasted IT to handle the load. BOA, Merrill Lynch, Madoff, Lehman, AIG--what a sea of fools and greed. They are all ALIKE. When BOA swallowed Quick & Reilly, QR customers without their knowledge, consent or approval found their accounts designated full-service, equating to BOA gobbling multiple fees. Since QR was a discount brokerage firm, obvious COMMON sense would have dictated its customers didn't want "advice" from BOA, just the usual SELF-DIRECTED accounts. Indeed and in fact, in this day and age, hell will thaw out before I would ever trust any so-called broker. No one is more interested in tracking their money than the people who stood on their feet, up to 16 hours per day in my case, to know exactly what it took to earn (yes EARN, not like Wall Street) the money. BOA is no better than Merrill or the rest of them. Don't portend that BOA did anybody any favors other than for its own greedy goals. BOA remains in the top five spots in the customer hall of shame. By this article, one might think BOA saved the day, so to say. It did not. BOA bought Merrill out of greed, just like the rest of the scum in the financial services industry. Reputation takes years to build, minutes to ruin. American financial firms will never recover from this expose of greed and corruption.

IBM and Boeing Bring Work Closer to Home - Bad News for Outsourcing?

About time insourcing hit the stage again. Maybe companies are learning that when you attend to only your bottom line and not customer needs such as someone who speaks English, you affect your bottom line because people do not want to buy your product. (Not to mention that India is such a hotspot for terrorism right now.) If American companies want Americans to buy their products, then they had better start and maintain American hiring. Loyalty is a two-way street Corporate America!

Banks Appear Set to Fall Like a House of Cards

And those who were the culprits of tanking the economy keep on truckin'--like Bernie in his $14 million apartment. It so appears the leading qualifications to work in financial services: CEO wanted: rude, crude, overbearing, lying, cheating scumbag. Only those qualified need apply. Where was the government oversight of our banking/financial system? Perhaps it's time for the government to start laying off. For all the effectiveness or lack thereof, we don't need more fluff or continuing dysfunctional dead wood.

Don't Be Scammed by Madoff Investor Sob Stories

I don't believe investors should be bailed out above the SIPC either. I also do not believe people should be bailed out of mortgages or molly-coddled because they were too lazy or stupid to read the fine print. Our country is becoming weaker and weaker with an excuse for everything. Responsible, accountable individuals pay for the sleezebags. When will this country ever get some guts again and hold people accountable?


On Dec 21 10:02 PM Gregory Skidmore wrote:

> I don't know how you can't feel badly for investors who lost money.
> I personally don't like to see any honest person lose money. They
> may have made a mistake to invest with Madoff, but they did not deserve
> to loose out in a ponzi scheme.
>
> All that being said, I don't believe any investors should be bailed
> out. I've heard the idea tossed around and this would only encourage
> people to continue to make investments without doing adequate due-diligence.
>
>

Will Detroit's Loss Be Japan's Gain?

A total 37 executives at Toyota make a combined $35 million. Two CEOs (one Ford/one GM) make a combined $40 million. I have driven Toyotas for years. Toyota has consistently stood behind their product for the few problems I have had and without fail has offered service extraordinaire at Go Toyota in Denver (formerly Elway Toyota). Toyota is the #1 most respected company in the world (Forbes), #1 for customer loyalty (>63% return purchase rate), and #3 for innovation. Toyota gives a hoot about its customers and produces a top-flight product. Twice master techs have come to me and stated they made a mistake or broke a part. They were honest beyond anything I would believe happens at Ford or GM. As long as you maintain your Toyota and have the records to back it up, Toyota will within reason cover thel cost of items outside the bumper to bumper warranty. Greed is killing GM and Ford, as it is killing many American companies. How many houses can you live in? How many cars can you drive? How much money does it take to live one lifetime? I have a hard time supporting 92% pensions for GM and Ford workers when I will never see a pension and will be working until I go to my grave. I pay $405 per month for the privilege of $3,000 deductible health insurance. GM and Ford employees bark about $10 copays. I have a hard time agreeing with a bailout of companies whose executives still live the high life with exorbitant salaries and flying to Congressional meetings in LearJets. If the tables were turned and Toyota were approaching the Japanese government, rest assured their CEO would arrive in a Prius. If you truly believe in the products you are making, then you should have no problem driving them. View the YouTube video of the Japan Air Lines CEO talking about how he couldn't possibly think of NOT decreasing his salary when his pilots and employees are taking pay cuts in this economic climate. Every American CEO should watch that video. It's not just Toyota, Honda, or JAL as companies. The Japanese culture simply does not applaud a few taking for themselves when their population is suffering. It is a shame factor. It should be here too. Thank you.

A Modest Proposal For The U.S. Auto Industry: Stop Building Cars

I think the CEOs of Ford and GM should agree to a salary of $1 per year until their companies are profitable. Thirty-seven (YES 37) Toyota executives make a COMBINED $35 million. Two men (GM/Ford) make a combined $40 million. Greed is what is killing GM, Ford and America. CEOs fly private jets to Washington and don't even have a plan in hand to present to gravel for $25 billion in taxpayer dollars. Pathetic, ruinous management. Get rid of the CEOs and get some fresh blood in the ranks, especially at GM. And GM-STOP TELLING YOUR CUSTOMERS TO POUND SAND WHEN THE BLASTED TRANSMISSION GOES OUT OF YOUR PRODUCTS AT 800 MILES!!! THE CONSUMER DIDN'T DO IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE FROM YOUR END!

The Big Three Crisis: Stocks Plunge as Politicians Moralize

Obviously, you're one of Ford's employees who think the taxpayers should foot the bill for your retirement. Not. If Ford makes such good products, they should have no problem competing in a free enterprise system WITHOUT government handouts off the backs of the taxpayers WHO DO NOT COLLECT more than 90% of their salary in a pension. It's time for the UAW to get a clue. The UAW has killed the auto industry. Don't expect the population to bail you out. I do not want to support whiny people griping about a $10 copay to see a doctor when the rest of us have had copays for years in the range of $30-50. Face it, the Big 3 are obsolete.


On Nov 24 11:04 AM TB3 wrote:

> Another example of your "experts" knowledge based on maybe a couple
> of hours watching CNN. Since you obviously haven't done your homework,
> let me enlighten you. Ford's Mulally has the company going full speed
> converting several successful smaller European cars so that they
> meet all the different governmental regulations here vs abroad. And
> it's not just the vehicles either. He also has to convert the assembly
> plants that will put them together. Did Ford drag their feet in the
> past? Absolutely. But not since Mr Mulally took over. He for one,
> is not the problem, but the solution.

The Big Three Crisis: Stocks Plunge as Politicians Moralize

Affcted, not effected.


On Nov 24 10:22 AM Mister Jimmy wrote:

> "Midas1", You state that "Toyota and Honda are simply superb companies
> that back their product"? Do this: Google "Toyota engine sludge"
> and read about the class action lawsuit that it finally took to get
> Toyota's attention about a chronic design flaw with their engines.
> Toyota and the dealers BLAMED THE CUSTOMER for not changing the oil
> at required intervals. A court decision determined otherwise. Similar
> issues have transpired with their truck engine crank shafts and car
> transmissions.
>
> You've been drinking the Japanese Kool-Aid too long, junior, and
> it's effected you ability to gather facts and think rationally.

The Big Three Crisis: Stocks Plunge as Politicians Moralize

Oh, yes let's infuse blood into a dead horse. The stupidity belongs to GM and Ford who couldn't get their crap together after the oil embargo to make a decent car. No company could have been so stupid as to think there would not be another crisis. I WILL NOT SUPPORT PADDING THE POCKETS OF IDIOTS!! GM and Ford's quality has never been that great. Yet, they want a "Cadillac" price for vehicles they never back. You can enjoy replacing transmissions. I have better things to do than to back these companies that continue to operate with a mentality and intellect that couldn't spell cat if one spotted them the "c" and the "a". Government involvement is socialism. The fact is Ford and GM cannot compete with thinking companies. They were too busy gobbling profits from wasteful fuel inefficient SUVs which you probably drive.


On Nov 24 09:40 AM qObserver wrote:

> So you will go and buy a vehicle based on the compensation of the
> CEO's? Give me a brake!
>
> You seem to forget that in the 70's most of the Japan products were
> a pile of crap, after just a few years they were a rust bucket, I
> know I owned a couple.
>
> Quality is preservative; the difference today between the best and
> worst is statistically insignificant. Every manufacturer makes a
> quality product, if they didn’t nobody would but them.
>
> Lets not forget, GM SELLS THE MOST CARS AROUND THE WORLD, so this
> is not an insignificant company.
>
> The issue at hand is not the cars, the compensation, the quality;
> it’s a credit issue that is affecting every company around the world.
> No available credit = no car sales, period.
>
> Anybody, including yourself, that seems to think it’s a good to allow
> a significant national asset like the American auto industry to fail
> for issues that are out of their control is simply showing their
> lack of intelligence (wanted to say stupidity, but wanted to be nice).
> You should get better educated, learn the facts, and understand the
> sever consequences that will come if this is allowed to happen.
>
>
> By the way, it’s a loan, not a handout!

The Big Three Crisis: Stocks Plunge as Politicians Moralize

The CEO's (2) of Ford and GM make a combined $40 million. Thirty-seven (yes 37) executives at Toyota make a COMBINED $35 million. Toyota will always have my business. They treat their customers well and they don't pay multimillion dollar bonuses to a few. When Ford and GM went graveling for money, neither could present a plan. These overpriced incompetents ran the companies into the ground and now expect the taxpayer to keep them going. The UAW stinks as bad as the management. In the Japanese culture, benefitting a few at the expense of many is a shame factor. For all the years Ford and GM told their customers to pound sand when the blasted transmissions went out of their cars at 800 miles and the customer was conveniently blamed, I have no respect or sympathy for their present predicament. Toyota and Honda are simply superb companies that back their product. Both are forward-thinking and both treat their employees with respect. Ford and GM's ceo pay and actions of the past week have now ensured no company could pry me away from Toyota!

Employee Healthcare Deductibles Are Becoming Punitive

I pay $405 per month for a $3,000 deductible/$3,000 co-insurance plan, $6,000 maximum out-of-pocket. My plan pays for MD visits with my $25 copay, but will not pay for diagnostics until the $3,000 is met. I do not agree with bailing out GM when Fox reported the money is going to fund retiree benefits. Excuse me, but when are GM employees entitled to healthcare at taxpayer expense. GM's employees whined when they had to pay a $10 copay. In reality, the rest of us have been paying that and much higher for years. I believe in exercise, supplements, good diet, and putting effort into my healthcare. I do not want to pay for the epidemic of obesity which involves poor choices leading to diabetes, renal failure, etc. Diseases and accidents happen. Insurance was meant for those situations. If I break my leg, my insurance will kick in and I will negotiate payments to the hospital to meet my deductible and co-insurance. I agree with you, iThinkBig, that insurance is not an entitlement. I only wish that hard work and integrity were rewarded at other businesses. If you're a rude, crude, overbearing, obnoxious, lying, cheating, scumbag, we can't seem to do enough for you. If you work hard, diligently with integrity, your pockets are the ones that keep getting picked to pay for others' misuse of the healthcare and other systems.


On Nov 17 11:07 AM iThinkBig wrote:

> So why is it better as an employer to have a vast increase in taxes
> to support universal healthcare? As a business performer, I prefer
> to pay $1,500 a month for the best family coverage I can buy and
> work harder and smarter to be able to afford it. And our family spends
> time and funds on preventative medicine. Let's face it, one way or
> the other medicaire is non-sustainable so the quality of care is
> going down whether employees pay more or the employer pays more.
> Frankly, I provide full health insurance to all employees. They perform
> and create sustainable revenue or they wander the market learning
> the hard way that they are not "OWED" top pay and health benefits
> with lackluster performance.

Are Consumers Satisfied With Online Banking?

Bank of America's system is down every time there is an "up" day or a bad "down" day. They have taken on too many customers without adequate IT backup. When their server goes down, accounts show a zero balance. No trading can be done when this occurs and the system remains in gridlock until IT personnel get the blasted thing fixed. BAC is in the customer service hall of shame and it should be. Their hurry to acquire companies (Merrill Lynch, Countrywide) left their customer service in the toilet. Big certainly does not mean better. Early in October a quote on IBM was frozen for more than 24 hours. How many people do you think made decisions based on the erroneous information? How ironic the frozen IBM is the very company BAC so desperately needs to fix its problems!!!

Demand More for Your Auto Bailout Dollar; Oil Patch Should Bounce Back Long Term

Toyota builds cars that last for 10-20 years without a lot of headaches. For each month there is no car payment, money can go to a retirement account. For the many years I owned Toyotas, I was not stranded continuously and never have had a major problem (transmission, engine, etc.). A 15 year old car with its original alternator.....etc. To Ford and GM: You must back your products. When I hear a friend state a Ford dealership told her to "pound sand" when her new vehicle had paint peeling from an obvious defective paint job, I certainly don't want the same. I challenge Ford and GM to build a vehicle with 1) a SOLID five-star crash rating (at least on the driver's side), 2) fuel-efficiency (at least 30 mpg); 3) seats that are comfortable and support the lower back; and 4) service extraordinaire like Toyota. After the sale, BACK your product. If the transmission goes out at 800 miles, don't find 100 excuses for why it was the buyer's fault. Change out the blasted thing at your cost. Build it, back it and they will come!!! Toyota has set the bar very high. You must exceed past them to gain back trust. By the way GM, what happened to the joint venture between you and Toyota in Fremont, California???????

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Instead of Japan, we'd rather be owned by the Chinese? Not. We owe China $520 billion. Toyota profit shares with all its employees. They do not give multimillion dollar bonuses to a few. Hands down, Toyota's leadership and ingenuity is lightyears ahead of GM. The Prius was a 1994 innovation, years ahead of the 2008 oil crisis. GM was still building the Suburban 1994-2008 that gets 6 mpg on a good day. HELLOOO-any level of common sense could have predicted an oil crisis with climbing gas prices. Don't blame Toyota for being forward-thinking when domestics were so focused on bigger profits from the gas guzzlers!! Taxpayers should not now have to be exploited because of management that couldn't spell cat if they were spotted the "C" and the "A".


On Nov 10 10:23 AM User 294975 wrote:

> And how much does a Ph.D. get paid to write articles without any
> thought or reality? The key is total compensation. Where does that
> money go? Back into our economy in the form of cash spending, health
> care, retirement and more. Is this important? I guess if the government
> can support them when they retire and our health care system is willing
> to cut their costs way down to take care of us and if people earning
> money to spend in our great country isn't important, then let them
> go out of business. I'm sure Toyota and Honda will send some of their
> profits back to the US from Japan to support us........NOT.