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Originally Posted by Faster12

If you want to punish GM and every other billion and now trillion dollar company (thanks Amazon and Apple) then vote. Elect officials who won't be beholden to big business. Vote for reps who will change the laws and keep these outrageously rich executives in check.

I don't want to punish billion and trillion dollar companies, I don't mind big business one bit. They do a lot for communities and philanthropy, research & development, and employ a boatload of Americans (white collar and blue collar). Furthermore, they support enormous amounts of small businesses as sub-contractors, vendors, suppliers, etc.

I also don't think there should be anything wrong with people getting rich, they've worked for it and earned it. Compensation, especially at the executive level, is commensurate with education, experience, value, and what the market & competition bears.

Honestly your greatest weapon isn't your election vote, it's your money. Vote with your wallet, spend your money with companies that suit you and your beliefs. Politicians say anything to get elected, and few have ever made any lasting changes during their terms. Everyone running for office will surely tell you they want to bring jobs back and raise up the middle & lower classes (that's where the votes are)...but does it ever happen? However, if enough people do business with like-minded companies, the change happens.

That being said, my family spends far too much money with Amazon and auto manufacturers (we have 7 brands in our stable right now)...and as much as I don't like GM, I love the ZLE, which is why I purchased it against my other feelings. If the GT 500 was launched I may have never owned the ZLE...not sure.

As for Amazon, I've been trying for a while now to force us back into hardware stores, local retailers, etc...just haven't been able to convert the whole family (yet).

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Originally Posted by Expunge

And the people that argue about raising the minimum wage.. that's a false flag. You raise the minimum wage by growing the economy and having more jobs than people to fill them. Then businesses will compete for those employees and pay well over minimum wage. And that is what we have now.

Amen. Higher minimum wage = higher cost goods & services. What does that mean? The minimum wage worker is paying more for the same goods & services.

The math is simple. It's what keeps low income people from prospering, and it also has them consuming Dollar Menu fast food items as their "meals", leading to weight & health issues.

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Originally Posted by SteveV

Tesla has YET to make a PROFIT. I wonder how long Musk will continue to be able to fund a company that cannot turn a profit. It has been what, 5 or 6 years now?

And we get to fund the South African billionaire's gamble with Tesla. We provided financing, we provided tax incentives & credits, we provide rebates. The American taxpayers are assisting a billionaire to earn more money...makes sense to all of us!

What's funny is how many Tesla owners I know personally who are liberal, anti-rich, anti-big business, anti-lobbyist, etc.

And by the way, as part of the GM bailout they haven't had to pay corporate income taxes since...that's right, they've made $69 BILLION in profit since 2009 and haven't paid income taxes on any of it. Hmmmm. They made $11.8 billion in 2018 and filed for a tax REFUND of $104 million. Yup.

Tesla Model X buyer average income is $143K
Tesla Model S buyer average income is $153K

Can't they pay for their own vehicles without our help?

Elon Musk net worth 2019 is $19.5 billon...certainly he doesn't need our help to start business for Solar panels, Electric cars, and SpaceX?


Don't get it twisted, Mr. Musk is in the subsidy business - he's found a way to build a lot of wealth via grants, financing, and other subsidies. I only wish I was that smart!