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profit and greed are not mutually exclusive. However, the ones getting more greedy than the execs making 200 Million year are the goverments that tax income and profits.

In round numbers, between the goverments at the state, federal and sometimes local level, "the govt" become a 50% partner in many busness with none of the risk, investment or sweat that the business owner puts in. add what the fed takes in income tax %, both ends of FICA (which is a tax) state income taxes, and city or county income taxes (there are places this exists) and a small businessman gives up half or more of his profits to goverment.

Corporate entities that pay the huge salaries that they do are actually an anonomly in the grand scheme. I mean this because the majority of business in this country is small business.(under 500 employees) Small business creates more jobs, more personal wealth for more individuals than "big busniess".
unfortunately, they also pay dearly for the privilege of being in business.

Like the cost of gas, we bitch about the oil companies (Big Oil) yet based on investment, the Federal Govt makes far higher profits off of gas and oil that the oil companies could ever dream about (with no onvestment or risk) yet no one complains about the excess profits of the govt.

which brings me to my question; what would be your definition of excess profits?
be carefull!!!!

I'll take a stab at excess profits, Brian. Profits should serve a common good. Business should make a return on investment that provides fair remuneration to owners, employees and benefits to the community.

Profits are excessive---take Lehman Brothers, one of America's most distinguished banks, as an example---where executives and managers took home as much as shareholders, contributing to widespread misery.

As for governments, profits from the private sector are paid into public treasuries to pay for sidewalks, garbage removal, social amenities, public infrastructure, overseas assistance---and wars.

If there were "profits" for government---excess of returns over outlay---Mr. McCain would be coasting to victory on the coattails of Mr. Bush. But that ain't so. Outtlay vastly exceeds taxpayers' returns. China holds the chits.

Just this past week, a guy who is local to me , told a story about the automotive trim industry. He assisted in moving a plant from my area that made interiors. The people working there were not getting rich at just under $10 an hr. on a base pay, but many were making incentive for another 35% increase. So with that in mind, they were good workers, right here in the USA. This guy tells me how they took the jobs to Mexico and were paying the employees .90 an hour. Rejection was high, waste was high but at only .90 an hour. But,they still were very well off from the manufacturing stand point. Of course, the USA people who lost their job and had been employed, are no longer able to buy the cars, the interiors they were making were installed in. How many cars, do you suppose an employee making .90 an hour buys? So now past employees and new employees can neither buy the product. Did the car come down in price, because of lower labor costs? NO. Where did the money go? Duh The guy was kind proud of his role in relocating this plant to Mexico and he blamed the USA cost of labor for their job loss. Guess what though, he lost his job too!!! MORE DUH! Think of all the satellite jobs lost. Think of the real estate market. Retail sales. Tax loss. Where does all this money come from, for the 700 billion buy out and future stimulus checks? On TV I watched an oil CEO tell of his 10 million a year salary. Do I deny him a good wage? When is that wage exessive? For that matter, why I am watching a pro athlete make huge millions a year. I don't watch.

Those who feel that there is no such thing as excessive profit - I hope they have a 19 year old daughter in college. I hope she is driving home one weekend and her car breaks down with a flat tire. I hope the tow truck driver senses and opportunity to maximize his return on investment in his tow truck and charges her $713.45 to tow her car back to his garage. I hope the tow truck driver realizes an avenue for increased revenue by charging her $2643.09 for 4 new tires and a wheel rotation. I hope the tow truck driver detects the potential for expanding his business in order to better serve his client base by encouraging her to buy a new battery, too, for only $432.24.

We can hardly expect the tow truck driver to exhibit any sort of restraint when we have executives making $23 million for getting fired, can we?

Another example of labour going global, Dave, at extradordinary expense to our communities.

I see million-dollar athletes differently. There was a mighty hoo-raw when Wayne Gretzky signed for a million dollars a year to play hockey.

Was he worth it? Is Sidney Crosby, who my grandsons played against, worth millions? I think so because they're in the entertainment industry, like Oprah.

Actors are paid vastly more for pretending to be someone else. At least hockey players break a sweat. Tiger doesn't and I don't play but I watch his skills.

Wow, Greg!! They must charge a lot more to be towed where you are, than the fifty bucks or so around here. Be as it may, I like paying $25.00 for the same tennis shoes I paid $125.00 for 10-15 years ago. You guys have to decide which you want.

You don't get it Jimmy - the $50 tow job is old school and is for schmucks. Why should a tow truck driver work for a measly $50 when he has your daughter in his crosshairs and knows he can get her to cough up $713.45? If you keep thinking old school you'll never maximize shareholder value or grow your business. This is the new frontier. I'm worried about you.

GregSY,
I do have a 20 yr old daughter in college (my third of five to go through college) The other two are still in elemetary of high school.
what I asked was for people to give their definition of "excess profits".
King Brown, profits arent for the comon good. They are for the person who took the risk., taxes are for the common good. But when the govt. takes more than what the business owner makes, that is wrong. I do not think its right for the bottom 40% of wage earners in this country not pay any income taxes. Thats right, (US Govt statistics), no taxes. But with Socialism, thats the way it is.
Profit is the incentive for people to succeed. Success creates wealth which through reasonable taxes, provides for esential services. That is why the difference in state tax rates and some states not even having income taxes.
And on that note, name me one tax that created business, expanded the economy or assisted busness!

Bill Gates is probably the one person responsable for creating more indivisual wealth in this country and in the world. Shold he be begrudged his billions. NO!
More power to him.


This is classic class warfare. I find it ironic that so many will condemm the "fat cat CEO" but when a person makes 25 Million a year to play basketball or baseball, they are a sports hero???????????
Or the Hollywood elitist who makes 50 million ayear on films, doesnt sign for less than 20 Mil. BS!!!
Its easy to villify CEO's. Convenient, they fit a stereotype. But what fraction of a per cent of the business communjity are they? Its the same with gunowners. A fraction of a % does something wrong and the lot is condemmed. Hmmm..........Far as I am concerned, you are treating the effects not the cause by slamming the CEO's who made millions. The Senators and Representatives who signed the bail out are the ones who should be put in jail. Their exesses are far worse.

We had a bear guide in Alaska who charged a grand a day twenty one day min. Clients stayed at his house food included in price and he was booked most of the time.His brothers charged half that and ten day min. but were younger and you camped out. Many times a 21 day hunter would get his bear in the first few days but decide to stay around and take pics as the time was paid for. Well the guides wife was a drunk on the highest level and not that great of a cook and with in a few days of takeing a bear most would just say by and leave,no tip needed. Well one hunter came to town stopped by the shop to get paper work in order and was all ready complaining about the houseing. Later that day our big time guide got him his bear a mile from town heading to the airport to do a fly around and check things out. It was a nice bear to be sure.So with in 24 hours of a 21 day hunt the bear was bagged and realy to be made into something. The hunter realy wanted to leave town but also wanted some money back,no way did he want to spend 20 more days with the guides wife and her drinking. No deal on money back but will take you to the airport today if you like. On the third day the hunter started messing in his pants and would just sit by the stove and watch t.v., he come by the sporting goods store to visit some,clean of course. On the sixth day the hunter was given $15,000 dollars back and taken to the airport.The guide complained about this hunter till I moved and may still be complaining but we all knew Ron had finely met his match and cheared the hunter. When you spend money you always have some control over it.

GregSY,
Get with the program!
Based on charging $713.45 per tow, we can borrow several million dollars, sell the truck, create TowMater bonds, and just manage the debt.

Can't we?