Oregon in WSJ

stevegriffith22 · Since 14 May 2006 434 Posts Obsessed

Thank you.....I think?

Just because 10% of the US population hold 60% of the real wealth according to my homey before......doen't make it there responsibility to take care of the middle class. That sounds like some one is crying about whats fair and not fair. Don't get me wrong, I don't make shit for money, but i'm not crying about them making all the money. If they have it, good for them. We do not want to be come socialist.

Bottom line, why is it anyone's fault but the people that vote for this shit. You must get a hold of a local governmet by the balls that spends more than they make. Its not differnt then buying on margins and not having the capital if shit goes wrong or buying a house that you can't afford when the arm ends. These people are spending money they don't have and hoping you (the dumb tax payer) will somehow vote to fix the problem. The state of oregon is irresponsible and you (the voter) is allowing it.

Here's another test for you......if buisness's don't want to move to oregon, theres a problem. This is a state that can't afford proper EMS protection, Fire protection and police protection. Oregon has one of the highest set of tax's in the country, yet you can't afford the government cheese it thinks you should buy for everyone.....

I know that you all think that people that make money are bad, but theres a reason they have money......they don't steal it.....they just don't give it away.

(and no....I don't use spell check)

Mark · Mon Jan 18, 10 7:09 pm

Phil Knight sums it up nicely.

http://www.oregoncatalyst.com/index.php/archives/2974-Phil-Knight-hits-hard-on-Measure-66-67.html

By PHIL KNIGHT
As seen in The Oregonian here

Forty-six years ago, when Mark Hatfield was governor, I started a small business in Oregon. In our first year, sales totaled $8,000. I am proud that it eventually became a major employer in the state. It has been my hope that other entrepreneurs would similarly pursue their dreams in Oregon.They won't.

Measures 66 and 67 should be labeled Oregon's Assisted Suicide Law II. They will allow us to watch a state slowly killing itself. They are anti-business, anti-success, anti-inspirational, anti-humanitarian, and most ironically, in the long run, they will deprive the state of tax revenue, not increase it. The current state tax codes are all of those things as well. Measures 66 and 67 just take it up and over the top.

The state of Washington has no income tax. Its unemployment rate is 20 percent lower than Oregon's -- before 66 and 67. These measures would give Oregon the highest income tax rates in the country.Reputable economists forecast 66 and 67 will cost the state thousands -- maybe tens of thousands -- of jobs, and that thousands of our most successful residents will leave the state.

We are way too anti-business as we are now. The state in past years was headquarters for The First National Bank, US Bank, Pacific Power, Willamette Industries, Georgia-Pacific, Jantzen, White Stag, G.I. Joe's, Monaco Coach, Meier & Frank, among many others. They are now headquartered elsewhere, are controlled by non-Oregonians or no longer exist.

One Fortune Global 500 company remains. But its founder and chairman is not merely an economic man. He has webs between his toes. But he, too, has some limits.

Do you really think any of these overseas "business trips" our leaders take will bear fruit? Can they get a company to move to anti-business Oregon without waiving taxes, passing even more burden onto the rest of us? There are words to describe what we are doing with 66 and 67: It is called a death spiral.

Phil Knight is co-founder and chairman of Nike Inc.

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

The level of PERS that you guys are quoting has been discontinued for new employees some years ago, its known as Tier 1 PERS... It was really ridiculous, guaranteed 8% returns regardless of market returns and you'd get even higher returns if the market did well.

There are now a Tier 2 and Tier 3 PERS, each is bit more watered down. It still might be unreasonably good by your standards. You can see exactly what the benefits look like using this calculator:

http://apps.pers.state.or.us/benefitestimator/bencalc_step1_start.asp

I'm a public employee, and I think there are quite a few silly things about the system, most silly:

- It encourages folks to get in a job and stay in it for 30 years to get the most out of their benefits.

I think most employees are best when they have been in a job for 3-7 years. After that people seem to want to find a comfort zone for their work, and thus don't work as hard. Ironically most people would like to have a new job every 10 years or so, and gov managers would love to have a more dynamic workforce, but the rules are set against them.

I do think there are some things that government can do better than the private sector. But government needs to get with the times and realize people don't die when they are 70, they don't need fat pensions to be attracted to a job, and there shouldn't be incentives to stick to a job for 30 years.

So all this considered, I think I'll vote against the tax increases... even though I do believe in progressive tax rates in general. The state probably needs to get this shit figured out a little better than just robbin the rich.

It'd be interesting to see if things really get tight if they start doing furlough days like in Cali, Governator is trying that out... maybe a good idea for us too. (No DMV on Fridays? I could deal with that.)

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

tier I PERS is closed to new admissions. it continues to pay out benefits to retired employees. there has been zero reduction in the benefit package to current beneficiaries despite a successful ballot measure and years of protest. any shortfall in the PERS budget comes out of the general fund.

sorry to repeat on this, and i won't post on it anymore. i find it stunning how few people know about this, or how many think the problem is fixed, when in fact is it will likely hang over the state for years to come.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Yeah I said new employees... how do you re-negotiate a contract you have already guaranteed somebody? Maybe that bankruptcy route, worked for GM!

LP · Since 05 Apr 2007 115 Posts HR Stoked

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bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts I give out bad advice.

http://www.chiefexecutive.net/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=D8BB1C4F12AE46EF9B7647E09E3253A6&AudID=F242408EE36A4B18AABCEB1289960A07

Check it

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

I hate how the tv ads are always saying the "corperations need to pay there fair share" But what people fail to realize is every business in Oregon is a corperation. If your not then you get your ASS sued off and lose all your shit....
If you think this tax increase wont affect your employer or job your crazy.

Not to mention the other bazillion taxes business already pay. Its insane how many "fees" aka taxes are eating away any profit I earn in my business. Its sicking.

This has been a crisis 8 years in the making. You can not increase goverment spending and expansion at such incrediblly large rate without the bottom falling out. Whats the 1st thing goverment does when they want more money. THREATEN SCHOOLS AND POLICE. Scare tactics 101. How about not giving yourself 40% raises that are already 30% higher than the private sector not including benifits perks.
Its time the goverment goes bankrupt and they get back on track with budgets and spending. COme back to reality land. I know it will definitly hurt and everyone keeps talking about the greater good and helping the less fortune but the track were on now only hurts everybody in the end cause nothing changes and the destructive cycle continues. A hardship now will be better for the greater good and those less off in the long run. Its better for everybodies future. How long can this goverment and economy survive on its current path?

If this anti-business enviroment in Oregon continues, how long till you think these business will stay in this state and not move to a friendlier one? Intel, Nike ect....They could up and move anytime they want. How do you think the state budget and services will be then. In the shitter thats were. But then they will just increase taxes again to compensate like always and around and around we go, were we stop nobody knows. Ball of confusion, that what the world is today hey hey.......damn now I have that song stuck in my head.. Rolling Eyes

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted