March 9, 2007
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Waiting: Earlier this week, a federal court jury found Vice President Dick Cheneyís former chief of staff Lewis ìScooterî Libby guilty of obstructing an investigation into who leaked a CIA operativeís identify to the media. Considering that Libby was found guilty on Tuesday, March 6, do you think it is reasonable for the judge in case to wait until June 5th to hand down Libby's sentence, and for Libby to remain free on his own recognizance until the same time?
Q2 - Career: How did your parents' careers impact your plans for a future career?
Q3 - Cigarettes and Health Care: All 50 states and the District of Columbia impose an excise tax on cigarettes. New Jersey charges a whopping $2.75 per pack, while South Carolina tacks on just 7 cents per pack. Indiana's Mitch Daniels is one of eight governors proposing tobacco tax increases to help cover the cost of health care coverage for the uninsured. How do you feel about the government acknowledging on the one hand that smoking is bad for everyone's health (and going so far as to encourage people not to smoke), while at the same time assessing and collecting taxes on something that kills well over 360,000 people annually here in the United States?
Q4 - Best Place to Work: According to FORTUNE magazine, Google, Genentech, Wegmans Food Markets, Container Store, and Whole Foods Market are five of the best companies to work for. If you could change one thing about your workplace for the better, what new benefit, policy, or program would you put in place?
Posted by Mikal at March 9, 2007 6:18 AM
| TrackBack
Q1: Waiting - As I understand it, sentencing has to be put off until June because the judge in the case needs to first receive and then review a pre-sentencing report that contains information about Libby's prior convictions and arrests, work history and family details. Given Libby's public profile and well-documented work history, I find it hard to believe that the 90-day period is anything but bureaucratic nonsense. If someone is convicted, they should begin serving their sentence almost immediately. The judge in the case should already know everything there is to know about the guidelines for sentencing, as well as any relevant information about the convicted personís background.
Q2: Career - Growing up, my Mother ran a lodging business (still does, in fact), so I chose to study Hotel & Restaurant Management in college. At the end of the day though, I decided that I didn't want to be one of the people who waited hand-and-foot on all the people who got to play. Hotel guests can be demanding and un-empathetic, and I do not want to be surrounding by those types of people while Iím working. My Mom--who is 72-years-old--deals with these types on a daily basis. She a far better person than I am!
Q3: Cigarettes and Health Care - While I adamantly oppose smoking, I am not in support of collecting taxes on it to pay for other peopleís health care. If smoking is truly bad for us, then why not just ban it outright? Collecting taxes on something that is known to have killed millions of people seems wrong to me. It's hypocritical, sends the wrong message, and is counter to any logic Iím familiar with.
Q4: Best Place to Work - This one's easy. I work for a great company (the type that someday may crack FORTUNE's list). However, one thing that I think would make our work environment even better is if they allowed us to bring our dogs to the office. Lots of businesses allow dogs in the workplace, so you know there's a right and wrong way of doing it. My idea for making the office ìdog friendlyî is simple: Employees who want their dogs to come to the office must first pay for and participate alongside their dog in company-approved doggie obedience training. Once they pass the class with a particular score, a grace period is set up to see how the dog acts inside the office. If the "dog committee" agrees that it's a good fit, then the employee's dog is allowed to come to the office. Google says that the presence of dogs inside of its buildings has become a treasured part of its workplace culture. Dogs are a valued and important part of people's lives, and I believe their ability to keep an appropriately trained dog in the workplace may enhance the quality of work life.
Q3 - The government has no constitutional right to excise taxes on specific goods.
1. Waiting - The system needs some serious work. That's about all I'll say about that. That aside, it does appear that Libby is receiving treatment that I or any other "normal" person would not receive.
2. Career - I don't think my parents influenced my career path at all. It's really a long story, but to make it short, I had always wanted to be a helicopter or airplane pilot; things that neither of my parents ever encouraged in any way. I just had a fascination with flying. That dream ended in 1995 when I was jacked up in a motorcycle accident. On the other hand, my father was in the Navy. I joined the military as well, but for very different reasons than my father. He joined to see the world and tried to discourage military service for me. I joined out of a sense of duty and desire to serve my country.
3. Cigarettes - My mother smoked as I grew up, and I hated it with a passion. But... this is a free country and until cigarettes are outlawed they should stop screwing around with smokers. The not-so-funny thing here is that they are taxing cigarettes to pay for health costs of the unisured, many of whom will be in the hospital as the result of smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke. On the other hand, as long as cigarettes are legal why not collect a tax on them? I'm a bit against it because it means someday they'll institute some huge tax on things I like to do.
4. Work - I think I might institute a policy that allows the third-longest serving employee (hmm, that's me in this case... weird) to become a professional gambler, bankrolled and sponsored by the company. As for animals in the workplace, that would kinda freak me out. I imagine those CareerBuilder commercials where all the executives in the company are monkeys. What if a dog ends up taking my job? It'd be kinda embarassing. For the dog I mean.
Q1-Waiting--personally I do not find Libby a huge threat to society and I do not feel unsafe for him being on the streets. I see no harm in a longer sentancing.
Q2-Career--My mom owns her own business and I always loved the fact that she could take time off in the Summers and we could take family vacations and I also like that when the Kids were home so was she. It made me really close with my Mom. Resentful at times that she was always around but I never questioned she loved me, which a lot of my friends did. It is for this reason I knew that I wanted my kids to feel that same thing, that love and knowledge that no matter when they need me I will be there for them. I have choosen to get into teaching. Which works great because for the mos part I will be on the same schedual as my kids and I will not work from the day I have my first child until the day my last child starts school.
Q3-Cigarettes--I absolutely support the tax 100% and here is why...Smoking is bad yes but banning it will not stop it, look at all the problems with drugs today and the problems with alcohol during prohibition. If people are going to do it anyway I think that the government should tax it up to wahzoo. This will raise the price and limit people to not using it as much as well as still being able to fund those programs that do good for people. I also think that marijuana should be legalized for the same reason. The government needs money in order to support the people and provide those things they need. Personally I would much rathur get the money from fines and "sin tax" then out of my paycheck and the rewarding those who don't work.
Q4-Best Place to Work--I think the only thing I would love more about this place is if it was in Illnois so when I moved I could still work here...
Q1: Sounds like an awfully long time to get to sentencing. My wife worked for a Chapter 13 Trustee and I was always amazed at the amounts of paper work and time need for them to complete anything with the courts, so I'm not surprised at all.
Q2: My dad is a Chiropractor so I thought that is what I wanted to do for a really long time...though in the end I chose something else.
Q3: I don't smoke and am opposed to it so my opinion might be biased. I think the government should definitely tax cigarettes. For two main reasons (1) it helps to deter smoking...hopefully and (2) smoking costs the country (meaning the people) millions and millions of dollars in health care every year. If those who choose to smoke are on medicare or medicaid the government ends up paying for much of their medical expenses (which are directly caused by smoking). Even if the smokers are on private health insurance their bills end up increasing everyone premiums. So I guess I feel a tax is the least that should be done.
Q4: PTO roll over.
1. Libby PSI. A pre-sentence investigation is common. The judge ordered one for me in 2001 prior to my incarceration. I think it's fine to wait for the PSI and, in some cases, even for the appeals to be finished.
2. My mom was a full-time mother of 6. I admire her for that. My dad was, when he *did* work, a working class guy. We were very poor, moved around a lot because we couldn't pay rent, received government surplus cheese & food stamps, and didn't have a phone (regularly) until I was a junior in high school. I took all this as a negative incentive, studied hard (even if academics came naturally), trotted out East to the Ivy League (Brown '94), worked for 2 banks, 2 mortgage companies, and now own my own mortgage & credit consulting company.
3. Sure, I support the tax on cigarettes. I wonder where the government revenues will come from if and when people really do stop smoking. It's just a matter of who bears the burden of paying taxes.
4. Given that I own my own company, I guess I *am* the one to make any desired changes. I just hope that, if an employee ever desired sex-reassignment surgery, I'd be able to work out the premium and the logistics with an insurer. Other than that, I'm happy with my corporate culture, to use an old management phrase.
Waiting: I really don't see "Scooter" as being a big threat, and the fact is the system is not fair. Even when he does go to prison he'll just write memoirs and plan speaking engagements for his post-release tour. Maybe waiting on his sentencing will allow him time to buy paper, a good typewriter, and an "At-a-Glance" calendar for his cell.
Career: Both of my parents are high school graduates. My Mom stayed home and took care of my sister and I along with the house itself. My Dad punched a clock for nearly 50 years making an hourly wage. Although not college educated, they gave me a set of values which I believe gives me the tools to make whatever I choose in my own career. While I believe education is important, I believe it's these core values that ultimately makes a person successful. Hey what did "Scooter's" parents do for work?
Cigarettes and Health Care: I oppose smoking. Primarily when it intrudes on my fast food experiences. I'm sure if the government is taxing smokers they will make positively sure that every penny goes to the people directly affected by smokers who do not have health care. They are so organized and efficient I am constantly amazed. Additionally, I am pretty sure "Scooter" Libby smokes as the media is continually mentioning his "smoke screen".
Best Place to Work: Since I work at home, I already get to eat, drink alcoholic beverages, sleep and even have sex in the workplace. I'm not sure what else I can ask for. OH wait! How 'bout free health care for the uninsured from taxes on "Scooter" Libby's income...dirty crooked smoker.
1. I think it's too long of a time, but given the state of our legal system and the ungodly amount of pressure the judge is no doubt receiving from the White House it doesn't surprise me. They're going to pull out every stop to save one of their own and doubtless don't care that the justice is neither swift of fair. As to being free on recognizace, he should have been remanded into custody immediately just like anyone else.
2. Pretty much not at all.
3. I disagree with any "sin" or excise tax. It's hypocritical in the extreme, but that's never stopped the government from doing things like that before.
4. A Family Neutral policy. It's all well and good to be family friendly, but as a single person I've always resented that people with children get so many get out of jail free passes regarding working on holidays or getting off work early for this or that child-related issue. Work your share of holidays like the rest of us and request time off for Susie's play or Douggie's Parent teacher conference. Those things were scheduled months in advance, so you should have requested those times off rather than forcing me to stay late to cover for your poor planning.
1. I think it's a ridiculous. If you have enough info to convict someone, you should have enough info to sentence them.
2. My dad passes gas for a living (little family joke there... he works in an oil refinery and test batches of refined gasoline as well as other petroleum products that either "pass" the test or fail). I look up to my dad a lot because he sacrificed a lot for our family. After having three kids within a couple short years of getting married, he had to find a way to support the family. The refinery was where my grandpa (dad's dad) worked and I don't think he really wanted to work there, but it was the best option. While i don't necessarily think my dad hated his job, I know it wasn't something he was passionate about. My goal was to find something I could be passionate about, but still earn enough to support my family... the family hasn't really come yet, but at least I like my job :)
3. I think taxing cigarettes is a good way to discourage people from smoking without having to ban it completely (which would lead to a costly war against cigarettes much like the war on drugs). So instead of costing the government a lot to enforce a law that protects stupid people from themselves, you tax the stupid people and hope that it hurts their pocketbook enough that they smarten up. Seems like a great idea to me. We ought to legalize marijuana and just put a huge tax on it. :) P.S. Sorry if I offended any smokers with the stupid comment. I don't really believe that smokers are altogether stupid, but I do think that smoking is stupid--just like I think that a lot of stuff that I do is stupid. Like last week I said I'd eat fast food for a month for the cost of the food. Stupid.
4. Man, in all honesty, it's hard to think of policies that could make Doba better. Maybe a PTO buyout would be cool-like I could sell my PTO days back to the company at a fraction of what the time off would be worth if they paid me to be gone.
Q1 - Waiting: From my understanding, all American citizens are treated equally under the law. If Libby wishes to spend the time between trail and sentencing as a 'free' man, he should post bail like every other American would have to.
Q2 - Career: I guess the biggest impact would be the personal benchmark they set for me. I always strive to obtain a more successful lot than that of my parents.
Q3 - Smokes: Oddly enough....I have no problem with the government issuing a "sin" tax against cigarettes. The extra burden placed upon Health Care in the future needs to be funded from somewhere. Hell, I also wouldn't mind paying double for the smokes now if it ensures Social Security is around when I retire....
Q4 - Best Place To Work: DIVERSITY POLICY. The company I work for excel's in A LOT of areas, however, IMO a focus on diversity is needed. Our company is located in a fairly homogeneous area where the majority of employees live within a 10 mile radius. I would love to see my company focus on recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. The intangible benefits of having multiple points of view are invaluable for a company who strives to stay innovative.
1. I think this is how it works sometimes, but being who he is and his connections, I'm sure that has something to do with the delay. In any case, he's probably going to jail.
2. Yes. I think I could have had more encouragement and instruction, but I think my parents were a bit overwhelmed with 5 kids and the cost of raising them. I had no interest in following their careers.
3. No, money should not be made from cig tax to pay for health care. The gov't needs to find a better way to provide decent and affordable health care for U.S. citizens.
4. Well...once I get my new job, it would be nice if there was free food, and a lounge with fun things to do on a break. Actually, let me get back to you on this one.
1. I don't think "they" got the right man in this media event. So the time it takes to figure out a sentence is a never-mind kinda thing.
2. My parents were both successful in what they did with their lives. Their background helped push me forward and still does.
3. If you are gonna smoke... your gonna smoke. No tax is going to prevent you. I think the purpose behind the tax is in the wrong direction. More money should be spent on prevention not the current health conditions of people. I think our health care system in the USA needs a major overhaul!
4. It would be nice to have recreation and childcare included in an employment opportunity.
Q1 - I disagree with the verdict, so the longer Libby remains a free man, the happier I am. Everyone knew Plume was CIA. It'd be like me leaking the fact that Bush is President.
Q2 - My parents owned a tavern and catering business, and I worked there most weekends, so I saw many people at their worst. I suppose it gave me some reason to study philosophy in college, which kind of led me into writing. Plus my dad read a great deal and shared books with me--lots of Kafka and Dostoyevsky, two of my favorites.
Q3 - I think the sale of cigarettes and booze should be subject only to sales tax, not a sin tax. If you're going to tax cigarettes at a higher rate, tax candy and soft drinks to cover dental insurance. Moreover, I can't believe the government could sue tobacco companies as they've done in the past. Here they are taxing the heck out of cigarettes, and then when that's not enough, they sue for more. Argghhh. The government should also get out of the lottery business.
Q4 - Best Place to Work: If I had money to spend on a new policy or program, I'd hand it out in bonuses and let the employees decide how best to spend it.
1. It seems sort of silly to have to wait. But what can you do if a person is high profile and has friends in high places?
2. My dad is an engineer so in one respect, that did influence me to go into the sciences as opposed to say, something more humanities/arts-based.
3. I'm okay with the tax. I don't think paying for health-care should be dependent on it--but a tax is probably an acceptable way to help prevent people from lighting up.
4. It would be nice if I didn't have to grade papers.
Post a Comment:
|
