I just read this letter in my inbox…
Date: Monday, November 10, 2008, 7:57 AM
Fellow Business Executives:
As the CFO of this business that employees 140 people, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barrack Obama will be our next President, and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way.
To compensate for these increases, I figure that the Clients will have to see an increase in our fees to them of about 8% but since we cannot increase our fees right now due to the dismal state of our economy, we will have to lay off six of our employees instead. This has really been eating at me for a while, as we believe we are family here and I didn’t know how to choose who will have to go.
So, this is what I did. I strolled thru our parking lot and found 6 Obama bumper stickers on our employees’ cars and have decided these folks will be the first to be laid off. I can’t think of a more fair way to approach this problem. These folks wanted change; I gave it to them.
If you have a better idea, let me know.
Hmm.
This sounds like yet another apocryphal conservative e-mail, a smug fable that gives no details about the business, what it does, or how it explains that the best way to help an ailing business is to fire people based on political affiliations, as opposed to following Marxist, leftist ideas such as “merit” or “worth to the company.
All over fears that “Barrack” [sic] may or may not raise taxes at some indeterminate level sometimes in the future, maybe.
It’s about as real as the other chain e-mail about someone stiffing a waiter a tip over an Obama tie. Its more about petty revenge than actual economics.
If you believe this, I have some money waiting for you in Nigeria.
DU
And the fear-mongering by right-wing nuts continues.
In case you didn’t know, laying off people for their political views would be illegal.
No business executive would a) ever write such an email, and b) ever do layoffs based on political views.
Geez, how low will the right-wing nuts go?
Are you saying that you were going to keep the six employees if McCain became President? Or that just the mere thought of McCain as President suddenly would have improved your business? Were you doing well before Obama became the President-Elect? It’s amazing how little responsibility Republicans want to take for the mess we are in, yet they are so ready to apply blame even before the man has even taken office.
Oh, and no CFO of a company that size would know which car belongs to which employee, anyway.
So, again, this is a complete piece of bull.
When will Terry post something that is not some right-wing nut BS???
Art … (an’ everyone else): as much as many of us might disagree with Terry’s opinions, Terry does represent the feelings of a significant number of Americans, and it is important we know how they feel — we do all have to live and work together in this country. One should voice a strong, reasoned disagreement with him if inclined, but not denigrate or ridicule his character so as to drive out of OrangeJuice. We need Terry’s voice here, just as we need Vern’s, Sean’s and everyone between ’em to get the full chorus of our country and community. What makes OJB special is there ain’t no one preachin’ choir here.
And I believe in the absence of a bargained labor contract, a boss can fire whoever he wants, s’long as it isn’t because of race, ethnicity, or gender.
O yes what a wonderful chorus the right wing makes, all on the same note and constant. Disguised racism I call it, how about that? Pathetic minging pluralism, our rainbow future. I prefer payback.
And how is your brother Aleister doing, Crowley?
Mighty Fine last I heard!
Lets hear the leftist chorus!
Unity! (agree with me!)
Change!(ummmmm)
Diversity! (of appearance. ideas, not so much.)
Teacher: Thank you. You know, I went off the road a few weeks ago south of nowhere and Fresno, and the only car to stop had a NARAL sticker. Good people can disagree. But when you have to deal with people who treat those who disagree with them as evil, I am disposed NOT to giving them any benefit of good intentions. Ever. No, not ever Vern.
#5: “Terry does represent the feelings of a significant number of Americans”
I beg to differ. If anything, he represents the right-wing talk-radio nuts, the “swift-boat” nuts.
The majority of Americans, even the majority of the people who didn’t vote for the President-elect, doesn’t like this radical right-wing view.
The election has shown that the right-wing nuts are a dying breed. And good riddance.
#5:
California Labor Code:
“1102. No employer shall coerce or influence or attempt to coerce or influence his employees through or by means of threat of discharge or loss of employment to adopt or follow or refrain from adopting or following any particular course or line of political action or political activity.
And California Code 1101:
“1101. No employer shall make, adopt, or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy:
(a) Forbidding or preventing employees from engaging or participating in politics or from becoming candidates for public office.
(b) Controlling or directing, or tending to control or direct the political activities or affiliations of employees.”
Joe, That’s why right wing talk radio does so well; they do have a very large audience. I’m always a little saddened when I discover a friend or a relative (my older sister), accepts their portrayal of the news.
Thanks for posting the California code relevent to the posting, but I don’t believe Mr. Crowly lives in California anymore. I’m under the understanding that we have here laws more protective of labor than do many other states.
This is unoriginal, Crowley. Back when Bush Deux was elected the second time, I recall a similar attempt at humor. Wasn’t especially funny then, either, even when my political leanings probably aligned with that of the jester…
I recommend you check out some books on leadership. Real leaders have the ability to minimize the impact of difficult times on their employees. A real leader would take the biggest pay cut and apportion the other losses, IF THEY PROVED TO BE REALITY, among everyone.
Remember the sacrifices Americans made during WW2? When everyone pitches in, miracles can be accomplished. Give it a little time, Terry. Have a little faith. I don’t think it’s going to be as horrifying as you conjecture…
#11: “That’s why right wing talk radio does so well; they do have a very large audience.That’s why right wing talk radio does so well; they do have a very large audience.”
Hmm, they *USED* to have a large audience. Not anymore. Or, people don’t believe what the right-wing talkradio nuts say.
The outcome of the election speaks volumes. The power of talkradio is over.
As far as the CA labor law is concerned, it is my understanding that a lot of other states have similar laws. I live in CA and therefore care about CA laws.
And last I looked, this blog covers Orange County, California, so it doesn’t matter here if the laws are different wherever Mr. Crowley lives.
And further, it was *you* who claimed that “a boss can fire whoever he wants.” Assuming that your handle indicates that you are a High School teacher in Santa Ana, I would expect a teacher to not perpetuate things that are false, at least where the person teaches…