gdp's Comments

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Service Response | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:42:52 +0000

The Youtube link is broken, but I hope that we can find a way to match people and service interests in a given community, by having a directory of contacts or something like that. Community projects would also be great. We need the President to use the bully pulpit to get people out there volunteering nationally and locally. Celebrities and senators and secretaries need to put in real time, and show that the administration is walking the walk. You can discuss policy while bagging goods.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Service Response | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:39:35 +0000

We have to work together all across this country to fix the huge issues ahead, even if we don't agree on everything. Think about healthcare and the War in Iraq.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:05:53 +0000

Go to the Jobs link at Change.gov You can also become a commentator or analyst - I imagine many companies want someone to explain how this will affect them and their business decisions in the years ahead.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:04:24 +0000

The reasoning is that these companies' failure would devastate the economy in a wide area, hurting the country more than a bailout would. I don't know the facts, so I can't judge the accuracy of that reasoning, but that seems to be what's going on.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:02:47 +0000

I would prefer that the credit go to goods that allow people to DO things, not TVs or luxury items.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:01:21 +0000

The AIG and other bailouts were not made to save workers. They were made to save credit markets, which are the HEART of the financial system. If we had let the heart stop, money circulation would have stopped. Including, it is likely, your payroll. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_financial_cri...(with the caveat that factual accuracy on Wikipedia isn't assured)

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:58:40 +0000

I don't think you understand where that figure comes from. You are in including the cost of all retiree benefits in that figure - it's misleading. The number you need is $38/hour including benefits, not $70. That makes for a total compensation around $76,000/year, far off of what you said.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:50:32 +0000

Amy, the Big 2/3 is a major part of the auto industry. The question is if there is greater economic cost in letting the economic forces run their course (causes waves of layoffs and massive pain in Detroit), or if a taxpayer investment will pay off more in the long run. We nee to ask ourselves: "What is the cost of NOT bailing out the Big 3?"

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:47:14 +0000

Thank you - that was very useful. Some relevant quotes: "the best estimates suggests the corresponding 2007 figure for these "transplants" -- as the foreign-owned factories are known -- was somewhere between $20 and $26 per hour, and most likely around $24 or $25" "But then what's the source of that $70 hourly figure? It didn't come out of thin air. Analysts came up with it by including the cost of all employer-provided benefits -- namely, health insurance and pensions -- and then dividing by the number of workers. The result, they found, was that benefits for Big Three cost about $42 per hour, per employee. Add that to the wages -- again, $28 per hour -- and you get the $70 figure.... The number only gets to $70 an hour if you include the cost of benefits for retirees -- in other words, the cost of benefits for other people."

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:44:52 +0000

It's not feasible to say that the blame falls onto either side exclusively, or that any side is perfect in this. What everyone needs to recognize is that GM has a much bigger retiree base than any transplant company, because companies like Toyota have only been manufacturing here in the last 30 years. GM's been around longer. The math makes it harder for GM and the UAW - the transplants don't pay that much below what unionized companies do, but the underlying factors make it that much harder. Not to mention how messed up healthcare is at the moment.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:39:59 +0000

If there are no other jobs with those sorts of wages, it might indicate that those wages don't make economic sense....

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Transition Economic team responds | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:39:23 +0000

All of this is a matter of scale - "Taking care" and the standard of what constitutes it are different for everyone. I think the bigger difference is in the generous pension and retirement plans that our Big 3 have, while foreign companies don't have that burden.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:36:59 +0000

I volunteered for a local homeless shelter that made me appreciative of the lucky life I have. I also tutor at a local home for kids who need to study away from their hometown.

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 03:03:21 +0000

The flat tax is a bad move. It's regressive (I hate that term, synonym anyone?), but more importantly, won't help the current crisis. I'm all for tax reform, but I need to e thinking short term until the economy gets some level of stability.

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 03:01:33 +0000

Explain, please.

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 20:06:30 +0000

I don't think it's awful technology (I've seen much worse), but agree that there are significant issues. What other sites would you suggest? Did you submit them with the feedback option? I think we should continue to use this method as best we can, so that the transition team can learn what works and what doesn't, as well as what this technology would be most useful for. A crowd isn't always the best method of making policy, but it's great for developing ideas.

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 20:03:38 +0000

The aims you describe aren't going to be accomplished in this sort of thread. I suspect a Wiki might be better for policy development. This is too disjointed, among other issues.

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 20:00:54 +0000

Sort by "Last activity" right below where it says "Comments (247)"

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 01:51:55 +0000

I'm sure there's a large group of patriotic citizens committed to gov't - citizenry communication to get an excellent forum up. I can pass along messages if needed to someone I've contacted with InstantDebate.

Change.gov : Building the community: A guide to comments | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 01:50:33 +0000

I agree, and had no idea that the ">> 11 hours ago" text was a permalink until a member of the intense debate team told me.