Pearls For Swine

I’ll try to recap this briefly in an effort to minimize mouse clicks.

A family member belongs to the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, and in the union publication for September/October 2005, there appeared a wealth of information on jobs, outsourcing, trade with China, and many other issues impacting the manufacturing sector and our overall economy. Though I could try to present all of it in a single post, it would be a huge entry (bigger even than the “Real Time” updates), so I’m trying to break it up into sections based on certain topics.

I’ve already presented information on jobs under Dubya and Wal-Mart, so today I’ll focus on CEOs versus the rest of us.

As for “the privileged few”…

“In 1945, corporations paid more than one-third of government’s revenue. Now they pay only 11 percent because corporations, especially multinationals, are voluntary taxpayers. In a world increasingly without borders that block capital movements, corporations pay where the burden is the lowest.”

George Will (believe it or not) – Washington Post 3/31/05

In 2003, the average CEO of a major company received $9.2 million in total compensation, according to the New York Times.

In 2004, CEOs pulled in median compensation of about $14 million, up 25% from 2003, according to a USA Today analysis of the largest 100 public companies filing annual proxies through March 25, 2005.

In 1965, CEOs made 24 times more than the typical worker.

In 1989, CEOs made 71 times more than the typical worker.

In 2003, CEOs made 185 times more than the typical worker.

In 2003, it took a CEO one and a half workdays to earn what an average worker made in 52 weeks.

The assets of the world’s three richest people exceed the total incomes of 600 million people living in poverty in the world’s poorest 48 countries.

Meanwhile, for the rest of us…

10-Year Projections for the fastest job creation sectors of the U.S. (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics):

Top 5 U.S. Job Growth Projections (and wages):

Waitress ($3.99 no tips)
Janitors and cleaners ($10.25)
Food preparation ($7.72)
Nursing aides ($9.11), orderlies, and attendants
Cashier ($8.26)

Also, consider this:

In the past 10 years, temporary employment is up 50%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By 2012, temp work will create 1.8 million more jobs than any other industry!

More “fun facts”:

Minority families lost income in the 2000 and 2003 economic downturn three times as fast as whites.
-1.5% for Blacks
-2.3% for Hispanics
-0.5% for Whites

Today’s Average Premium for Family Health Insurance is $9,086. That is 21% of the median household income of $42,400.

Employee spending for health insurance coverage has increased 126% between 2000 and 2004.

There are more Americans without health insurance than ever before.

Texas ranks #1 in uninsured (my comment: that’s what electing Repugs over and over again will get you).

Here is additional information from a post last month.

Update 11/7: No need to apologize, E.J.

Sorry to be a downer, but facts are facts. Oh well, try giving this site a look to cheer up (kind of amusing). It’s the least I can do.