Webmaster Forum - Controversial Social Issues http://www.v7n.com/forums/ Discussions concerning controversial social issues. Topics include politics, religion, culture, social and economic issues, etc. Respect required at all times. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:26:17 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.v7n.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Webmaster Forum - Controversial Social Issues http://www.v7n.com/forums/ How to deal with cops http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157574-how-deal-cops.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:22:44 GMT Over the years, I have avoided many traffic tickets. My kids were astounded and baffled, over the... Over the years, I have avoided many traffic tickets. My kids were astounded and baffled, over the years, at how frequently I talked my way out of speeding tickets, by using basic psychology. One night, I was pulled over for 90 mph in a 60 mph zone, and got a warning, after 10 minutes of enjoyable conversation with a CHP officer. On another occasion, I was pursued for 12 miles by a CHP officer, who let his dinner get cold to catch me, and I had a delightful and respectful conversation with him, but no ticket. This is applied psychology, and genuine respect, not racialism. I have also befriended many police officers, and I have the highest respect for their professionalism and dedication, while simultaneously allowing for, understanding and respecting their exquisite humanity.

Black or white, a citizen can greatly reduce his grief in a police encounter, by understanding the psychodynamics of the confrontation, and the rules that govern authoritarian interactions. As a supplement to the advice offered by Chris Rock, I present the following suggestions.

The first principle is to get the chip off your shoulder, and respect the officer. After all, he is ultimately in charge, like it or not.

Every police officer is human. He reasonably fears for his life and well-being, and every interaction is a potential threat to him, until he decides otherwise. The astute citizen ensures that the officer feels safe and unthreatened, at his earliest opportunity, so that he can make the right decision, and carry on an equitable conversation. That citizen gets to sleep in his own bed at night, and then soberly consider the possible unfairness of life, in the light of day.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/...with_cops.html

This is a good guideline to deal with Police Officers. They are unfortunately often criticized, but they are always there to serve and protect citizen as fast as they can.

Police Officers have my respects, that's not an easy job and I am sure it is very stressful.

I had a childhood friend who was Gendarme in my country (France) and had many interesting conversations with him about his job. Here in Nevada I had a few occasions to deal with Highway Patrol Officer or Police officer and I was impressed by their professionalism.

I cannot say that I am happy when I take a speeding ticket, but they are doing their job. ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157574-how-deal-cops.html Lou Dobbs For President of the U.S.! http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157538-lou-dobbs-president-u-s.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:43:28 GMT Lou Dobbs abruptly left his long-time position at CNN after management wanted him to 'tone it down'. Dobb's stance concerning illegal immigration is one of the things that drew me to watch his show.

Now that he's free to do his own thing (he has no intentions of 'toning it down'), what's Lou going to do next?

How about a run for Senator or perhaps president in 2012? I hope he really does do it.

Lou Dobbs mulls run for White House, Senate

By Tim Gaynor Tim Gaynor – Thu Nov 19, 6:32 pm ET

PHOENIX (Reuters) – A week after abruptly quitting his longtime job as a CNN television news host and commentator, Lou Dobbs said on Thursday he is considering career options including possible runs for the White House or U.S. Senate.

"Right now I feel exhilaration at the wide range of choices before me as to what I do next," Dobbs, whose outspoken views on immigration and other topics often angered liberals, told Reuters in a telephone interview from New York on Thursday.

Dobbs, 64, a veteran CNN anchor who had become one of the most divisive figures in U.S. broadcast journalism, announced last Wednesday he was leaving CNN after spending the better part of 30 years at the 24-hour cable news network.

He still hosts a daily radio show.

A Texas native, Dobbs has drawn fire from Latino leaders and civil rights groups for frequent on-air remarks about U.S. border control and immigration that critics saw as demonizing illegal immigrants.

He was also seen as lending credence to the "birther" conspiracy theory, whose adherents believe President Barack Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate was faked to hide a Kenyan birthplace that would make the first black U.S. president ineligible for his office.

Dobbs acknowledged his commentary also stirred friction with CNN executives.

Discussions with CNN/U.S. President Jonathan Klein made it clear Dobbs' style of combining news and opinion was untenable at the network, Dobbs said.

"They wanted to reverse direction on my show from what had been a news debate and my opinion to a middle-of-the road, as Jon Klein styled it, non-opinion show," he said.

"It was just not gratifying to me to sit there and read a news show -- and I much prefer to be more engaged."

Dobbs vowed to carry on expressing his views "fully and straightforwardly in the public arena no matter what I decide to do next."

Since his departure, some have speculated he might run as a candidate for the U.S. Senate in New Jersey, where he has a home, or even run as a third-party candidate in the 2012 U.S. presidential elections -- options he says remain on the table.

"I am ruling nothing out. ... I have come to no conclusions and no decisions," he said. "Do I seek to have some influence on public policy? Absolutely. Do I seek to represent and champion the middle class in this country and those who aspire to it? Absolutely. And I will."

(Editing by Steve Gorman and Todd Eastham)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091119/people_nm/us_usa_politics_dobbs ]]> Controversial Social Issues Allen Farlow http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157538-lou-dobbs-president-u-s.html Are you committing career suicide? http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157533-you-committing-career-suicide.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:03:38 GMT *Workers fear that settling for a survival job could hurt them when hiring picks up again. * The... Workers fear that settling for a survival job could hurt them when hiring picks up again.

The difficult job market has forced millions of workers to downgrade into a position they're overqualified for or take a survival job to make ends meet.

And while riding out the recession might be a practical strategy for now, what will become of the underemployed when the dust clears and it's time to get back on track?

There are currently 9.3 million underemployed workers limited to part-time jobs because they can't find full-time employment -- a record high, according to the Labor Department's October jobs report.

"If you are in a situation where you can't pay your bills and you are going to miss you mortgage payment and your kids need clothes for school, you are going to do what you need to do," said career expert for Glassdoor.com Rusty Rueff.

But a smaller paycheck could push you back a rung in the in salary ladder, and make it that much harder to get back to where you were.

That's exactly what Dan Juan is afraid of. Juan, 25, is a sales coordinator at a shipping company in Cincinnati, Ohio and in order to stay employed, he has had to weather three demotions over the last year and half, all with corresponding pay cuts.

"When future employers ask me what my salary was at my last job, I have to tell them that it's $34,000 instead of $42,000," he said. "I do worry that it may affect my long-term career."

Some displaced workers who were forced to take temporary positions or seasonal jobs to pay the bills also fear getting back into their field with a big gap in their résumé.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/19/news...jobs/index.htm ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157533-you-committing-career-suicide.html Heroes of the Economy: Where are they now? http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157531-heroes-economy-where-they-now.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:54:59 GMT *In March, CNNMoney profiled people making personal sacrifices to help others during the recession.... In March, CNNMoney profiled people making personal sacrifices to help others during the recession. Did their efforts pay off? CNNMoney checks in.

Heroic act: Cut his salary to $0
Result: Layoffs were mostly avoided
Earlier this year Rob Katz cut his $840,000 a year CEO salary down to $0 for 2009. He knew that things could get tough during the recession for a resort destination such as Vail Resorts, which has five ski and snowboard slopes in Colorado and Nevada.

Then he asked his employees to take cuts as well to help colleagues keep their jobs. Seasonal workers were asked to take a 2.5% pay cut; executives 10%; and the board of directors 20%.

The moves saved more than $10 million, and only 50 of the 15,000 Vail Resorts employees were laid off -- which is far better than what Katz thought would happen.

"If last year was the worst of it, we survived its best punch and are still fighting," Katz says. "With [businesses] like us, it's not about the exact unemployment rate -- it's about how many people are worried about losing their jobs. And the latter has definitely come down."

Katz plans to start reinstating pay -- starting at the bottom -- as soon as he sees a steady improvement in the economy. When Katz begins paying himself again, he'll take a 15% cut off his original $840,000 salary.

"What you do in tough times shows who you are," he said. "We made a shared sacrifice, and now the camaraderie is incredible."

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/...oes/index.html

Fortunately we still have some good people in this country that are responsible for the employees they hired.

Thank you Mr Rob Katz to be an example :) ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157531-heroes-economy-where-they-now.html Unemployment rates rise in 29 states http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157525-unemployment-rates-rise-29-states.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:34:00 GMT *More states report rising unemployment rates, though fewer report joblessness above the national... More states report rising unemployment rates, though fewer report joblessness above the national average in October.

Thirteen states reported unemployment rates above the national average of 10.2% in October, and a growing number reported rising jobless rates, according to a government report released on Friday.

Overall, jobless rates increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia last month, while they fell in 13 states, according to a monthly Labor Department survey on state unemployment.

In September, 23 states and Washington D.C. reported that their unemployment rates increased, and 14 states had jobless rates above the national average.

Michigan remained the state with the highest rate of unemployment at 15.1%, Nevada had the next-highest rate, 13%, followed by Rhode Island at 12.9%, California, at 12.5%, and South Carolina at 12.1%.

North Dakota continued to post the lowest jobless rate, coming in at 4.2%. It was followed by Nebraska with 4.9%, South Dakota at 5%, Montana at 6.4%, and Vermont and Utah at 6.5%.

Earlier in November, the Labor Department reported that the nation's unemployment rate rose above 10% for the first time since 1983

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/20/news...ment/index.htm ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157525-unemployment-rates-rise-29-states.html <![CDATA[Geithner: 'The credit crunch is not over']]> http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157424-geithner-credit-crunch-not-over.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:07:21 GMT One day after Goldman Sachs' CEO apologized for his bank's role in the financial meltdown, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner called on the nation's financiers to step up and do more to fix the damage they helped cause.

"This credit crunch is not over," Geithner at a small business financing forum in Washington hosted by the Treasury. "It may feel dramatically better for large companies, but it is not over for small businesses across the country."

The nation's banking system was stabilized with taxpayer dollars, and Geithner said he holds the biggest banks accountable for passing the torch from Wall Street to Main Street.

"Banks bear some responsibility for the extent of the damage caused by the crisis," he said. "And they carry a substantial obligation to help our communities get back on their feet."

Geithner and an assortment of top Washington officials, including Small Business Administrator Karen Mills, met Wednesday with a gathering of bankers and small business owners to address the credit crunch that has plagued small business owners for more than a year. Frozen out by banks unwilling to make risky lending bets on startups and small companies, the nation's 6 million small employers are struggling.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/18/smal...ex.htm?cnn=yes

As a very small business owner myself and struggling, the Nevada state did not find a better way than doubled my licence state fees when at the same time my gross income is sinking, well done guys!

Why as a very small business owner should I pay the same licence state fees than companies making millions dollars?

Something is very wrong and nobody help people like me! ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157424-geithner-credit-crunch-not-over.html Military Suicide Rate http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157368-military-suicide-rate.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:18:08 GMT Are you serious? They are trying to figure out WHY the suicide prevention programs aren't working? Ummm... DUH?

Quote:
The Army is expected to announce a new effort to study the problem and determine why its suicide-prevention programs appear not to be working, and the extent to which post-combat stress may be a contributing factor. Many of the suicides occur after troops return home. http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/29/arm...des/index.html
With all due respect to our military, when I see comments like the one below coming out of a Lieutenant Colonel's mouth, I have no doubt where the root of the problem can be found. . .
(bolding is mine)

Quote:
One of Hasan's commanding officers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Guerrero, told investigators she had considered failing him as an intern but "decided to allow him to pass since he was going into psychiatry and would not be doing any real patient care." http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/hasan-...ory?id=9127299
Maybe we need to start considering the aftercare of our soldiers as "real patient care" and give back to those who have given us so very much . . . ]]> Controversial Social Issues Cricket http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157368-military-suicide-rate.html Health Reform: Compare the two plans here. http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157340-health-reform-compare-two-plans-here.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:15:14 GMT The House passed their version of the plan and now Harry Reid has presented the Senate version of... The House passed their version of the plan and now Harry Reid has presented the Senate version of the plan.

So what's the difference between the two?

Take a look here and find out. Select from the 'Individual Mandate' box in the left sidebar and see how they stack up concerning certain issues such as abortion, illegal immigrants getting health coverage, long term care, etc.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2....html?hp#tab=0

What happens next? The two plans are melded into one, both the Senate and the House vote on it (both must pass it) and once it passes it is sent to the president to be signed into law and jammed down our throats whether we like it or not.

And if you don't like the health care reform plan and decide to not buy health insurance, you will be fined.

According to the House version, you will be fined a portion of your income - but only if you file a tax return. What about those who never even file?

If you do not pay the fines, they will continue to add up. There appears to be no high-end limit in the House version. They'll continue to slap you with a fine of 2.5% of your yearly income each year you file and don't have health insurance. The Senate version has a high-end limit of $2,250 per family.

But what happens if you never pay the fines?

Will the IRS confiscate everything you own? Will you be thrown into debtor's prison, which, I thought, was done away with years ago?

When people pay those fines, where does their money go?

Both plans would cover 80% of a retiree's medical claims beginning at $15,000, with a top limit of $90,000. The Senate version will only cover that through 2013, while the House version will cover it from 2013 to 2015.

Retiree's are older folks, and their bodies aren't as vibrant as the younger folks and they will need more care as they get older.

So where's the money supposed to come from to cover that? This will only place the U.S. further into debt as we borrow more and more from foreign sources. It's not like we have a surplus to tap into.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions and I think there's a lot of wishful thinking going on in Washington, D.C., not to mention a lot of ignorance. There are too many politicians waving magic wands.

And I haven't even gotten to the way they think they are going to pay for this plan, which, by the way, after implementation will still leave millions of Americans without health coverage...

God help us all. ]]> Controversial Social Issues Allen Farlow http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157340-health-reform-compare-two-plans-here.html New jobless benefit claims unchanged at 505K http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157331-new-jobless-benefit-claims-unchanged-505k.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:50:12 GMT The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment insurance was unchanged last week,... The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment insurance was unchanged last week, remaining above the level that would indicate the economy is adding jobs.

Still, new claims — which are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs and an indication of companies' willingness to hire new workers — are down about 22 percent from this spring.

The Labor Department said Thursday that first-time claims for jobless benefits were a seasonally adjusted 505,000, the same as the previous week's revised figure and matching analysts' expectations. A year ago, there were 533,000 initial claims.

The four-week average, which smooths out volatility, fell for the 11th straight week to 514,000, the lowest level in almost a year.

While the steady decline in claims is evidence that firings are decreasing, most economists say weekly claims would have to fall to about 425,000 for several weeks to signal that the economy is actually adding jobs. Some economists put the number higher, around 475,000.

Even as claims are falling and the economy has started growing, the unemployment rate is continuing to rise. It jumped to 10.2 percent in October from 9.8 percent, the highest level in more than 26 years, the government said earlier this month.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said early this week that the economy is likely to grow at a "moderate" pace. As a result, the jobless rate "likely will decline only slowly," he said in a speech Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091119/..._fi/us_economy ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157331-new-jobless-benefit-claims-unchanged-505k.html AOL may lay off a third of employees http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157327-aol-may-lay-off-third-employees.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:33:00 GMT AOL may lay off a third of its staff as part of a restructuring related to the company's upcoming spin-off from Time Warner Inc., the unit told regulators Thursday.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, AOL said it had informed employees of the layoffs, which are conditioned upon its successful spin-off from Time Warner /quotes/comstock/13*!twx/quotes/nls/twx (TWX 31.91, -0.91, -2.77%) . The transaction is slated for Dec. 9.

AOL told employees it has announced a voluntary layoff program that starts Dec. 4 and goes through Dec. 11. The company is offering buyouts to as many as 2,500 employees.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/aol...ees-2009-11-19 ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157327-aol-may-lay-off-third-employees.html Asia helps feeble West in global recovery http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157274-asia-helps-feeble-west-global-recovery.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:20:35 GMT Asia is leading the global economy out of the deepest downturn in decades but the recovery will be... Asia is leading the global economy out of the deepest downturn in decades but the recovery will be marred by high unemployment and huge government debt across the industrialized countries, the OECD said on Thursday.

Central banks and governments in major Western economies should prepare for a gradual upwards shift in ultra-low interest rates and for fiscal consolidation once recovery is stronger, but they will only need to move in late 2010 at the earliest given that inflation is so low, it said in its Economic Outlook.

Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/busin...Business+News) ]]> Controversial Social Issues icebreaker http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157274-asia-helps-feeble-west-global-recovery.html Gun sales shoot up amid America’s fear of rising crime and terrorism http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157187-gun-sales-shoot-up-amid-america-s-fear-rising-crime-terrorism.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:44:12 GMT Smith & Wesson, the famed American gunmaker once owned by Tomkins, the British conglomerate, expects to nearly double its annual sales in the next three to five years as demand for its firearms soars in the recession. It is not alone.

All over America demand for firearms and ammunition is rising amid concerns that rising unemployment, which passed 10 per cent this month, will lead inexorably to higher rates of crime. Fears of terrorism have also helped to lift demand, as have concerns among gun owners that the Obama Administration may introduce restrictions on gun ownership and impose additional taxes.

Smith & Wesson is expecting sales to rise by 30 per cent to $102 million (£61 million) in the first quarter of the next financial year, after growing by more than 13 per cent this year to $335 million.

At Sturm and Ruger, sales for the third quarter hit $71.2 million, up 70 per cent from the same period last year. At Glock, the leader in law enforcement markets, pistol sales rose by 71 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year for 2010, in comparison with the same period last year.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the FBI carried out more than a million background checks on behalf of gun dealers in September (a check is required with every sale), an increase of 12.4 per cent on the same period in the previous year.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle6917828.ece ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157187-gun-sales-shoot-up-amid-america-s-fear-rising-crime-terrorism.html Group Wants Government to Jump-Start the E.V. Revolution http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157157-group-wants-government-jump-start-e-v-revolution.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:26:13 GMT November 17, 2009, 7:30 am *Group Wants Government to Jump-Start the E.V. Revolution* By JIM... November 17, 2009, 7:30 am

Group Wants Government to Jump-Start the E.V. Revolution

By JIM MOTAVALLI

Calling for what amounts to a Marshall Plan to start manufacturing plug-in hybrids and battery-electric cars, a group of executives from the auto and utility industries, and prospective plug-in fleet buyers laid out a strategy on Monday at a roundtable in Washington.

The new group, called the Electrification Coalition, envisions significant federal assistance in jump-starting what it calls “grid-enabled” vehicles.

The coalition has 13 members, including Carlos Ghosn of Nissan; Kevin Czinger of Coda Automotive, a battery carmaker; David Crane of NRG Energy; and David Vieau of the battery maker A123 Systems. The group imagines a relatively rapid ramp-up for E.V.’s, starting with a concentrated start-up of 50,000 to 100,000 cars in each of six to eight United States geographic regions by 2013. That would put hundreds of thousands of vehicles on the road in four years, with expansion into 20 to 25 more cities (and a total of seven million plug-in hybrid or battery vehicles) by 2018. By 2040, the coalition hopes that 75 percent of the vehicle miles traveled will be in vehicles that plug into the grid.

Full story here.


Purpose of creating EV's: to reduce greenhouse gases.

But EV's plug into the grid? Where do they think the electric comes from?

It comes from nuke plants and coal-fired generators that...create greenhouse gases...

That's like saying I'm going to help you walk faster by cutting off one of your legs.

And good luck to anyone in an EV who runs into my gas-guzzling, all steel, 8,400 lb truck... they better hope they still have medical coverage after the Health Care Reform fiasco gets shoved down our throats because they'll need it after hitting my truck!

Has anyone wondered what they will do if they 'run out of gas'? Can't just walk to the gas station and get yourself a can of electric, now, can you?

Oh, yeah, I forgot. They'll throw a gas-powered generator in the trunk... ]]> Controversial Social Issues Allen Farlow http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157157-group-wants-government-jump-start-e-v-revolution.html Mom chooses son over service http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157153-mom-chooses-son-over-service.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:06:44 GMT To hear Spc. Alexis Hutchinson tell it, the Army forced her to make an agonizing choice between... To hear Spc. Alexis Hutchinson tell it, the Army forced her to make an agonizing choice between serving her country and taking care of her son.

The Army, however, takes issue with the soldier's story and Hutchinson could now be facing serious charges for desertion.

When her unit deployed to Afghanistan earlier in November, Hutchinson was missing from the plane. Her lawyer said she refused to go because there was no one to take care of her 10-month-old son, Kamani, and she feared he would be placed in foster care.

The Army said the young mother had plenty of time to sort out family issues and has been confined to her post at Fort Stewart, Georgia, while an investigation unfolds.

Before shipping overseas, every soldier must sign military Form D-A 53-05, which states that failure to maintain a family care plan could result in disciplinary action.

Hutchinson had agreed to such a plan and her mother, Angelique Hughes, took in Kamani in a month before Hutchinson's deployment date.

But after a week with the infant, Hughes, who cares for ailing relatives and runs a day-care out of her home, said she felt so overwhelmed that she backed out.

"It was that hard, because he's a very busy baby," Hughes told CNN affiliate WTOC in Savannah, Georgia. "You have to keep an eye on him 24 hours a day."

Hutchinson's attorney, Rai Sue Sussman, said the soldier informed the Army that her family care plan had fallen through and that there was no one to take care of Kamani.

Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said Hutchinson's unit had known for months about its pending deployment and that it wasn't until the last minute that Hutchinson notified the Army of her child-care woes.

Like all soldiers who face similar circumstances, Hutchinson received a 30-day extension back in August and September, Larson said.

That's "plenty of time," he said, "to work out another care plan."

On the eve of her unit's departure, Hutchinson was ordered to be on the plane

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/18/geo...mom/index.html ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157153-mom-chooses-son-over-service.html Goldman, Buffett launch $500 million small biz initiative http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157129-goldman-buffett-launch-500-million-small-biz-initiative.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:45:38 GMT *The bank is teaming with the legendary investor to boost financing and lending programs for... The bank is teaming with the legendary investor to boost financing and lending programs for underserved business owners.

Goldman Sachs earned an eye-popping $3.2 billion last quarter. Now it's decided to share some of that with the little guys.

The bank said Tuesday that it is launching a $500 million initiative called "10,000 Small Businesses," aimed at unlocking the job creation and economic growth potential of America's small companies. The project's advisory council features an array of business luminaries, including Warren Buffett, Goldman Sachs' largest shareholder. Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Harvard professor Michael Porter will join Buffett in co-chairing the group.

"Our recovery is dependent on hard-working small business owners across America who will create the jobs that America needs," Buffett said in a prepared statement. "I'm proud to be a part of this innovative program which provides greater access to know-how and capital -- two ingredients critical to success."

Goldman Sachs (GS, Fortune 500) said it will contribute $200 million for scholarships to community colleges and universities around the country. The money is intended to fund training and educational opportunities for underserved business owners.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/smal...ness/index.htm

That's a good start, but frankly $500 millions is nothing compared on what the small businesses need. ]]> Controversial Social Issues Natural Elements http://www.v7n.com/forums/controversial-social-issues/157129-goldman-buffett-launch-500-million-small-biz-initiative.html