Dick DeVos' answer for manufacturing in Michigan: Flexibility, ...

[Bob]

Well Betsy Devoss aid it

"poeple make too much money"

hardy har har.

[RollngGrnade]

GRRitated wrote:

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I think DeVos philosophy is exactly what is RIGHT about corporate America. Work hard, make money, create jobs, and give back to the community.
Instead so many lie around waiting for a hand-out and complain they never get their fair share....

Betsy DeVos' comments are complete bunk. Michigan workers aren't overpaid - just as most workers in the US aren't (who have seen their wages stagnate, and even regress over the past few decades). To add insult to injury - many fewer workers receive benefits like healthcare or

This absolutely fanatical devotion to the "free market" as the solution to everything is what has put us in the poor financial situation we're in now; the free market refuses to regulate itself and given its relentless focus on profit - it is inherently unstable and incompatible with the interests of the workers who participate in it.

The reason corporations (and jobs) have left the state isn't because those corporations weren't making money. They were. But they stood to make MORE money paying slave wages and ducking environmental laws overseas - which is why they left. It has virtually nothing to do with Michigan's tax code; many of the corporations that have left have been offered virtually zero taxes and they STILL picked up and left.

The GM buy-outs are another good example; it's not necessarily good for the function of the company to get rid of all of the people with experience at the organization, but in the relentless stock-price-driven economic world we live in, slashing costs (regardless of how much it may hurt the operations of the company) is the bottom line.

Dick DeVos' philosophy is nothing but empty platitudes; he, like most of the other wealthy interests in this country, suckles at the government teet:

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2007/11/do_your...

The irony is that DeVos' campaign is BASED on the principle of lying back and waiting for a hand-out; that's what corporations want - to pay zero taxes and to degrade the quality of life for the average American by depressing their wages and eliminating their benefits.

[RollngGrnade]

Taxpayer wrote:

The "welfare trash" you're referring to is primarily children, as they're the primary beneficiaries of welfare spending. Given that children don't control what station they're born into in life, it's pretty repugnant to call them that.

Further, Michigan has reduced its welfare spending as part of the $4 billion that was cut out of Michigan's budget during Granholm's time in office (especially if one takes into account inflation and the increasing costs of living). Michigan is also not a monarchy; and any changes to the budget must go through the legislature before landing on Granholm's desk - so I fail to see how these imaginary increases are entirely her fault.

Interesting that you oppose welfare spending, but that position seems limited only to welfare for poor people - and not welfare for wealthy corporations (which is what Dick DeVos and his tax-slashing platform are all about; pitting US workers against workers in developing nations in a race to the bottom in terms of quality of life, as well as eliminating corporations from paying their fair share of taxes for the benefits they receive for operating in the US).

[RollngGrnade]

Batch 37 Pain Is Good wrote:

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How about getting the govt. out of the private sectors pockets. They are the drain on our economy.

How so? Care to explain?

[John M]

I just wonder if the flexibility Mr. Devos is talking about is taking the jobs at Alticor and Steelcase and turning them from full time good paying jobs to temp jobs that you will only be at for no longer than 12 monthes because they might have to make you a regular employee and pay you a real wage with real benefits. This guy is one of Grand Rapids biggest celebrity tools. I am soo glad you did not win, i am definately not happy with Jen either but Dic ya know it's the lesser of two evils thang

[Jeanne van Dijk]

Hiring people through Manpower to work for Alticor(Amway or whatever name they go by now) is the worst thing for Michigan workers and even for the company. A lot of temps don't really care about the quality of how they put things together. I have seen the attitude of a lot of them, I worked with them. I grew up having to take pride in my work, any work I do and that is how I worked for Alticor through Manpower. I worked hard, took pride in my work, was never tardy and always showed up. I got hurt working on the job by doing repetitive work on the lines and oh boy, don't tell them that you're hurt...you're out of there. I cannot believe that they can just let you go while getting hurt on the job. Alticor, Manpower ,De Vos whoever is in charge. We are hardworking people and do not deserve to be treated that way. You need to change the way you're doing buisiness, for the hard working people, Michigan and even for your own company!!!!