If some greedhead threatens to leave the country because we dare to tax him at all (and that's where we're headed and we're practically there already), then take all his assets and drop him off at the shore. Maybe give him an inner tube. If you don't actually care about America, but simply want to exploit it for your own greed, then go fuck yourself. Get it?

Jles, you have this really strange perspective. You seem to be ready to defend corporations and anything they do as if large corporations were still the sources of national and local revenue that they used to be.

Why should any of us care whether or not a company can "remain competitive"? If we aren't going to benefit as a society or a city from corporate profit-making, then fuck 'em. Let them lose their shirts. The days when what was good for GM was good for America are long gone. Wake up.

When a CEO claims that paying his workers a living wage is killing his profits, 2 things; he's lying, and who gives a shit about his profits?

Well John, maybe you can enlighten me then. What is the main source of national revenue if it isn't business?

I'm pretty sure nothing is "still the source of national and local revenue that it used to be."

Why we should care: 1) They provide paying wages for american citizens 2) They provide tax revenue to the government. And taxes, and printing money, are the only way government actually makes money...even though they don't deserve it. 3) they provide retirement plans 4)they provide healthcare coverage in some cases.

Do you have a job?

When has a CEO ever said that? Stop buying that company's stuff then.

And, they wouldn't threaten to leave the country because we dare START to tax him/them. Corporations, by far, pay the most in tax revenue....they're VERY aware of them. Every business just reaches a point when it's flat out un-profitable to continue to do business under certain conditions (not necessarily just over-taxing), so you relocate to where you can. It's happened plenty in the past (see: India, China). If we "drop them off at the shore", whatever that means, we can kiss that tax revenue goodbye. Close up another school. Fire another teacher. Close up another Firehouse. And raise taxes on everyone left in a frantic attempt to compensate for the loss.

How do you think we actually get out of this recession? Do you think we can just tax and spend and pay off our debts with printed money?

god forbid low to middle income neighborhoods should be able to shop at a store that caters to them. CRATE & BARRELS FOR ALL!

i can understand the sentiment about keeping wally out of union square. but queens? for christ...

Why do you think it's sending American jobs overseas? You think it has anything to do with skyrocketing taxes (or the threat of them), or insane benefits packages that Americans think we're "entitled" to as employees. People that work for GM think they can put in 15 years of work and then they should be "entitled" to retirement benefits the rest of their lives. Newsflash, but the globalization of American business has been happening for many decades, and it's going to continue if we keep demonizing big business with regulation and taxes, and keep promoting this idea that we're "entitled" to pensions. They'll just flock to where the grass is greener and I can't blame them.

-2

Hah. Nice rebuttal.

+1

orig rev billy had a point, its many many years later and the economy of big box/chains/franchises and banks on every corner has ruined the city.

the truth is these days we need a walmart for low prices.

the rich love saving a buck to keep rich,

the poor love low prices, pay is so low that its unlikely that suburban middle managers will pay for the commute and unlikely that the poor from outside nyc will commute for peon jobs, the peon jobs will go to poor new yorkers who live in nyc. and we all know walmart hires an army of peons.

the whole taxbreaks and sweatheart anticompetition deals never worked, thats why our city is infested with more of the same, the only anti slave wage deal that was ever stopped in nyc actually hurt the community, the bronx amory living wage deal that gathered ZERO jobs at $0 an hour, because hundreds of jobs at $10 an hour was seen as better than hundreds of jobs at $7-8 an hour. in the end the result was ZERO jobs, and thats gloombergs fault also.

"ruined the city" is a completely opinion based characterization. So, you'll have to elaborate on what you mean. If it's because mom and pop feel good overpriced stores were run out of town and replaced with a more efficient/cheaper competitors...then, sorry, tough. It's capitalism, and in order to survive, you need a competitive edge.

And...these places will provide jobs for the rising number of unemployed people IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA according to your theory? Sounds good to me.

And, if you don't like the wages....NEWSFLASH: Don't work there! Then maybe they'll raise them to attract workers? Otherwise, seems like plenty are content working for Wal-Mart.

If Christine Quinn is opposed to it, then I am all for it...

LOL it's funny that you use "Wal-Mart", "competition", and "tax revenue" in the same sentence, since Wal-Mart is notorious both for decreasing the amount of local competition *and* working out sweetheart tax breaks...

If Mayor Pinksweater is for it, it must mean it will be good for his fellow billionaires.

Totally, LOL, RIGHT! OMG!

You really think Christine Quinn should sit around and be selective about what businesses can operate in New York? What is this, communist China? This city/state are f*cked, we're slashing budgets and closing schools left and right due to lack of tax revenue from failing businesses, and we're going to PREVENT this insanely efficient/lucrative businesses from opening here?

Is paid sick leave bill has a veto proof 36 sponsors but QUINN refuses the bill to be voted on.

Quinn is a fake. Why do people keep falling for her bullshit. If she really wanted to stop Wal-Mart to come to NYC then permit the sick paid leave and living wage bill to be voted.

There is no democracy in the city council. it is disgusting. Nothing gets voted on nor passed without QUINN's approval. this is democracy????

http://neptune.observer.com/2010/politics/paid-sick-leave-may-wait-business-group-study#

Hmm... yeah, can't say I'm in favor of that either. That is a choice that an employer should make, not a choice that the government should mandate on the employer.

regardless, do you see the hypocrisy of Quinn? To be at the Wal-mart rally while refusing those bills to be voted on.

The same as St. Vincent. She was at the rally but refused to pressure the hospital's books to be examined. This is one of the fastest closing of any hospital. No public hearings, no examination of their books etc... St. Vicent management diverted so much money to consultants and outside entities.

I do the see the hypocrisy of Quinn, and I kinda can't wait until I stop hearing her name.

you and me!!! I can't wait to stop seeing her mug and hearing her horrible voice.

felix just basically hates quinn, no matter what she stands for, until she starts favoring animal rights.

she could endorse a bill for $25 min wage, employer-paid health insurance, all the bells and whistles, and vote no to animals rights and she'd be the devil in felix's eyes.

It is just a show, Just as Quinn was part of the rally against ST. Vicent closing but did nothing to stop it. Not even ask for the books to be exam before they closed the hospital.

If quinn really cared for the bill then why is she blocking the bill for sick leave and living wages in the city council.the living wage bill has the majority sponsors but Quinn refuses to permit a vote.

http://www.observer.com/2010/real-estate/elected-officials-city-clash-over-living-wage-study-be