Oh, yeah, one other thing. There was a post on here a few.........

[socialist_n_TN]

weeks ago about a Phillips Luminaries plant in Sparta, TN. that was being closed down and moved to Mexico. There was an on line petition that was available to sign to try and stop this. I talked to one of the workers at that plant today and got a little more info about it.

Firstly, they ARE a profitable firm. They make money for Phillips, apparently just not ENOUGH money. They've never had a strike and had a fairly close relationship WITH management. They were named one of the best plants for the entire company WORLDWIDE within the last couple of years. They (Phillips) received $7 Million from the stimulus funds. The plant received a $5 Million bond from the local industrial board in order to EXPAND operations and hire MORE workers. IOW, they did everything RIGHT, but the worker are STILL out of a job.

In addition, the township had put together the financing to actually BUY the plant to keep it open for the workers to run as a co-op. PHILLIPS TURNED DOWN THE OFFER! Wrap your head around this for a moment. This is a physical plant that will probably be shuttered, closed, and abandoned and they STILL WON'T SELL IT TO THE WORKERS OR THE TOWNSHIP OF SPARTA. Is this enough to call it a capitalist conspiracy to take manufacturing jobs away from American workers yet? I WISH the township of Sparta would move to take it over under eminent domain. I think that the workers would probably do what they could to keep it open.

Anyway to kick the petition again go to www.TellPhillips.com.

Fucking capitalist pigs.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I am appalled at the actions of those capitalist pigs.

They just don't give a damn, do they?

Recommended.

:mad:

[socialist_n_TN]

3. No they don't. BTW, I believe that Phillips is........

a French owned company and they're closing this plant down AFTER RECEIVING $7 MILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS JUST 2 YEARS AGO! Ridiculous.

[Frustratedlady]

9. They surely have to pay it back? n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

13. I'm sure, not. These things are set up..........

for the benefit of the corps, NOT the people.

[ReggieVeggie]

2. the bottom line is the top consideration

If you have a choice between paying your workers $7 to $20 an hour and paying them $1.50 to $4 an hour, you'll go with the cheaper labor. That's America!

[derby378]

4. It's not just the top consideration - it's the law

Corporations are legally required to put the financial interests of their owners ahead of all competing interests - including the public good.

Aren't Republicans wonderful?

[socialist_n_TN]

6. They're pigs. Pigs at the trough...........

:banghead:

[socialist_n_TN]

5. Then why not sell the PLANT itself? That's what...........

pisses me off most about this. THEY WON'T EVEN SELL THE PLANT SO THE WORKERS CAN RUN IT. ESPECIALLY, since they received AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS just 2 years ago.

[Angry Dragon]

7. They need to pay back the $7 million stimulus and

the $5 million bond

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Yes they do. And Phillips is a foreign firm.........

French I believe. THAT WAS AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS (MINE AND YOURS) THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM JUST 2 YEARS AGO.

The classic example of capitalist pigs.

[hootinholler]

10. Then it's time for Sparta to take the plant under eminent domain.

That would get Phillips attention.

-Hoot

[Angry Dragon]

11. +1000

[socialist_n_TN]

12. I agree and I mentioned this to the worker I was......

talking to today. If the township can take your property for a road for the good of the county, then they can TAKE THIS PLANT! Of course the worker agreed. :)

[Scuba]

16. Bingo.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Kick to give a little more exposure to the .......

web site. If you haven't signed the petition, do so. And no I don't think it'll do any good, but at least they'll know we're upset by this.

[Scuba]

15. So they're using the $7M in stimulus funds to move to Mexico? .....

... That should be illegal.

[socialist_n_TN]

17. That IS unsure. Those stimulus funds were.........

disbursed over a year ago and I'm not sure exactly WHEN they received the stimulus funds. It could have been almost 2 years ago. We also don't know the CONDITIONS under which the stimulus funds were disbursed. There might NOT have been any restraints on HOW the funds were used.

However, I would think that the odds would be good that they had this move in mind BEFORE they received the stimulus funds. But as I said, just remember the Bush bank bailout. We just GAVE them the money with NO restrictions on how they USED the money. The stimulus money could have been given the same way with NO restrictions.