Our future, I guess?

I read about this somewhere awhile back,and just could NOT believe it. Called the financial advisor,asked him about it, he called back a couple days later with a confirmation it was true. I told him right then and there to SELL the 2500+ shares we were holding. While it is tough to sell everything that makes moves I don't approve of,that one I was happy to do.

Clyde,

I really feel that if they want America to use their products then we are the ones they need to cater to, not dump us and take their business elsewhere, then expect us to buy their product. I was wondering why Hershey park was closing. My kids loved the place. No matter how big or small. They want my business then be in this country.

I did the same thing and spoke to my financial advisor and he did the same thing. He told me that since I've been getting out of certain things he and he family discussed some things that I had brought up and have decided to do the same. So I'm lucky even though he and his wife are bit left his parents and parents in law are not. He was laughing but he said he thinks they are begining to look at things from a different angle. He is a good guy.

I have even written to sponsers and said if they support something I think is over the edge I can take my business elsewhere. I have also supported sponsers that stood their ground for something. I just think it's time to look around at what's going on and make your own choices. And the Devil be damned.

When the little Iranian Monkey was here and it was announced that he was getting a big luncheon at the Four Seasons in NY I contacted the business manager to ask about it. He assured me not to worry about it "That they had no room at that Inn". I thanked him and told him I would keep him on my recommend list. He just laughed and said thank you.

I think I'm just tired of being a stepchild in my own country. Have a great weekend.

He's usually right on top of events like this. Only one thing to do irtx. We've got to get the right people elected. Duncan Hunter has talked much about American jobs moving offshore and he's vowed to stop it. Unfortunately his fundraising is in the tank even though he enjoy's great popular support. The corporations are giving only to Hillary/Obama and The Big 3. So use your site to promote Hunter if you can. Get the word out. Send a message. DD

I hadn't heard that. We live about 45 minutes away. It's the closest amusement park and one that still maintains a decent family atmosphere (no gang bangers taking over).

Man, I LOVE Hershey park.

As to closing the plant. I am on the fence. I can certainly appreciate that American companies have to deal with unfriendly government. Big Sugar has been protected too long and at too much of a cost. Hershey is just the latest in American candy manufacturers forced to go under or go offshore. We don't exactly make it easy for companies to maintain their profit margins here.

DD
I am going to vote for Hunter in the primary. If he makes it through I would most likely vote for him. With all of these business's leaving and product quality in the toilet, I just find that is all we are doing is throwing our money in the toilet too. I don't see people paying $50 for a toy because one of your kids want it and it turns in to trash after using it once or twice. If you try to get service help from one of the company's your just out of luck.

Keep up the good fight.

Kilroy,
I liked to. I really like the walk through where the samples are given out. My kids are up set because now they won't be able to take the grandkids there.

I don't feel so for the big companies because they get mega bucks from both countries when they make their big moves. So they aren't losing out on anything. I don't get closing down the park it can function without the factories.

Keep an eye on the park and see what or who is going to with it. It will probably be something that the area totally doesn't want or need. But I'll bet you a dollar Murtha and Spector's hands are going be in it somewhere. Should be interesting.

I can't find anything on the internet or on any Hershey (town, park, company) site regarding the Park closing. In fact, they are advertising new attractions in 2008 and just opened the Boardwalk attraction. I've got to think the park and Giant Center will continue to operate as a stand alone operation. It seems to be profitable (boycotts notwithstanding). If you've got a link to the announcement I'd like to read it.

Re: production, I have seen that they are closing a Canada operation and migrating the work to US and Mexico. Are they closing down the entire Hershey PA plant?

Hershey currently has 94% of its production in the US. That will fall to about 80%. It looks like they are closing a plant in Reading and there reducing jobs in Hershey (but not closing the Hershey plant).

I really am torn on these issues. In order to stay competitive I can see that companies, particularly manufacturing companies, need to eliminate redundancies and adopt more efficient processes. Labor unions go through great pains to block ANY automation or change that will reduce labor. People costs are always a companies biggest expense so, unfortunately, any cost cutting efforts MUST look at reducing labor costs. It's the deepest well of cash.

From my experience, labor unions would RATHER a company shut down operations (largely our of pure spite) before they would come to the table and work with the company to make it a healthier, more efficient, and more profitable operation.

with -Kilroy.

A business is in business to make a profit and when they get the crap taxed out of them, like the libs love to do, they hit the road. Just common sense.

Look at how many businesses left Mexifornia after Corporate taxes when skyrocketing. Now it's on the Fed level. Not to mention that unions often interfere with a business and end up PUTTING them out of business. Auto industry, steel ind, airlines, mechanics, etc.

Kilroy & all,

I found these when I got home tonight. The 1st one is a candy blog. Who knew? I can't remember my WSJ ID so I only saw the begining of the article there. But they are in a nightly reboot so I can't get in there to have them send it to me. The 3rd one is the board meeting where Lenny announced his stepping down and was going on about the profits being up in the 3rd Q. WSJ says they were down. On the park site it announces the new bigger and better things. I also get nervous when they start the International Sites build up and how good they are doing there.

I can't get in to the Orlando Sentinel site right now either. Reboot time. I'm thinking that I saw the Hershey article shortly after the announcement was made to close Cypress Gardens again. Down here anytime a park closes anywhere or there are rumors they start talking about how it will help the economy here because more people will come here. Fat chance, if anyone looks at the crime stats first for Orlando. The last I heard about Cypress Gardens the business group that bought it and had done all kinds of upgrades were cashing in. I think it was only open for a few months. I always get nervous when the board starts rearranging their own stocks.

But the Cypress Gardens group has made Sea World Tampa an offer and are waiting to see what comes of it. I think I would have gone to Sea World Orlando first, but that's me. So this came out of couple of months ago so I will try to get back in the achives and find it. I'm thinking that maybe after the board meeting is when all of the rumors started. I've unfortunatly been to these board meetings and then sat and just waited for the other shoe to drop. When they start the bigger and better routine that's means pack all of your stuff in a cardboard box and wait until someone taps you on the shoulder and tells you it's time to leave. The people that sent this have been in the same place also. I'll keep looking for it and post it when I do.

http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/item/hersheys_ceo_to_reti re/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119127044605345414.html?mod =googlenews_wsj

http://seekingalpha.com/article/50470-hershey-q3-2007-earni ngs-call-transcript?source=feed

http://www.Hersheys.com

http://www.kpua.net/news.php?id=12191

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-05-17-hers heypark-anniversary_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/topic.aspx?req=tag&t ag=Hershey

http://www.thehersheycompany.com/

I agree with the union thing. I have absolutly no love for unions. I think that's where the subject for the movie Dumb and Dummer came from. I'm sorry if someones feelings are hurt by my statement but I have no sympathy for them. I can tell you how to get around them too. The money grubbers. I find it hard to fathom how a CEO can get stocks, private jet, homes and a salary of $150 million a year. Mean while the company is tanking. But the union is there to explain it all. Boggles my mind.

On a couple of these sites there were somethings that caught my eye on the side bars. Don't have time to explore right now but I will look this weekend.

I also agree with the company's moving out like the techs did in CA. The same thing happened in VA. Anyone living in Herndon and Reston area can agree with that. Now I understand they are starting to come back in. Under different names of course or business's types. All the same thing. Anyway I'll get back on this as I can.

have to agree with Kilroy & gunny.I live in Akron,former rubber capital of the world,and personally saw all the major tires companies leave for greener pastures back in the 80's.The company I work for moved their manufacturing to non union plants in the south or Mexico & S.America as well.These companies have to compete to survive and like it or not,we are in a global market/economy.

Guys,

I understand your feelings on the big company thing. But in the other countries they will not have to worry about unions. I also know they will be able to keep more money in their pockets. I understand they are in it for the money. But so are the employees. In some of these small towns a lot of people are going to be hit hard for jobs. You also have to think of the loses to the families. Their security is gone. I guess I get my views from my experiences.

There are 2 articles in the Examiner, DC edition today. I didn't put in the whole articles, just the headlines. The 1st one I can attest to. Paid dues to ASFME for 12 years and when the brown stuff hit, they wouldn't even answer our calls. Never lifted a finger for us. We weren't given a choice to join we were made to.

#1. Veto forced unions for public safety workers
6 days ago - The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (HR 980) has attracted little media attention, which is unfortunate because it provides a federal mandate for union control of every first responder in the nation.

#2. Ritter sells out to Big Labor
8 days ago - Colorado’s Bill Ritter is probably Big Labor’s favorite governor these days because last week he asked “how high” when the union bosses told him to jump on extending collective-bargaining rights to state government employees

Except for money in their pockets the dims have an agenda somewhere for forcing these.

Kilroy,

I haven't found the article yet about the parks. The paper has upgraded it's search option. Now you can't find anything. When I get time I'll get to the libaray and use their system. I think they will have a better selection for me to use. Hopefully the park will not be closed. Like I said down here any rumor that they think they can make them look better they run with it. I'll let you know.

Doc,

I agree with what you and the other guys are saying in defense of the companies. I've been in the board rooms before these announcments are made and been very sick to my stomach at the remarks and laughs. The job I just finished will not make some people happy when we finish our reports this week and turn them in. But these people are in an area that they can move in to other jobs with out much effort. But in areas that are pretty short on jobs to start with it gets pretty ruff.

I understand the companies are in it for the money. I can't blame them for that. With all of the tariffs, imbargo's that in order to get certain things that they have to go through 3 countries to get to where they are going and the cost triples is outragous. When we were talking about the L.O.S.T. issue I typed in Brazilian Ethanol Tariff and when it came up and I read a lot of it. With the routing and laws, who gets what I finally just stopped.

I guess I have seen to much of the residual left overs. Seen to many of these, what they call head hunters and not the kind looking for jobs, these people come in to kill a company. Twice I've seen people just break down and cry when the names of who was coming to "take over" was released as a fix to turn us around. They just started sending out resumes. They weren't waiting around for another ending.

But as far as profits for the companies I know what they have to do to stay in business. It may not be nice but like you guys said they want to make the money. I just think it sucks that this country can't do more with the products here to make sure they didn't have to go out side of the country to stay in business. I don't see it getting any better either.

Doc,

Believe me as far as the companies go I know it's do or die for most of them. Like I said I guess I've seen to much of the aftermath. I know after the PATCO firings it was real pain full for a lot of families. Some broke up, some didn't. Mine didn't. But one of our younger friends drove himself off a NY pier. He just couldn't take it and as much a everyone tried to stick together he decided that was his path. There was just to many stories there.

Believe me I understand the company's views and what they feel they need to do to survive. I still don't know why if all of this companies are going to Mexico why are all the illegals coming here. I know with the company I worked for a lot of spanish speaking people from here were sent down to Mexico and some pretty nice island locations to do training. But even the ones that wanted to relocate to certain places were told no. They had to come back. So I can't believe that all of the people coming here wouldn't be able to do some of these jobs at any number of companies that moved down there.

At any rate I'm going to go and see your new post I hope it's something I can rant about.

this puts a damper on my thanksgiving. Thankfully there's always Mars. Maybe just maybe, all the illegals in Penn will follow the plant back to Mexico. A cruel thought I know but just a though.
Oh yeah, shameless plug time.

Keys,

I was coming over anyway to wish you a good holiday. Be right over.

WE’VE GOT A LIVE LIBERAL spewing over My Torture Blog, stop by any check out the exchange and feel free to PILE ON :)!

New Post Available!

Well, I should cut down on candy anyway. Although I do understand the points made here about how our liberal govt taxes and regulates businesses to death and unions help that, too.

And yeah, how can they find workers in Mexico when they are all here?

SPPJ,

This link may be another reason for the defection of these companies. In Mexico they would not have to face the consequence's of a price fixing scam.

There are no laws that I know of that would allow them to be a part of a scam invesigation that would require them to prove anything if they are not in this country or Canada. That would be a question for the Crawfish. But with this new idea coming out it explains the big move more.

I still think the same thing as you, with all of the companies going to MX then why are the illegals coming here? The unions will never learn not to trust the jerks that want their support to get elected that will sell them out for a penny. I know the unions want the money and power but it doesn't last long. The dimwits will sell them out in a NY minute. This link tells of the investigation, I guess that is going on with the moves.

Trust me I do not need the chocolate anymore than I can con my grandkids out of it as being bad for them and I have to get rid of it. They are all getting to old to fall for that excuse anymore. I really need to find a new excuse. Any new suggestions will be welcome. Other wise I will just have to keep smelling the candy isles in the stores. Sad is it. Oh well. We do what we have to.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/1 1/28/AR2007112802323_pf.html

I'm craving chocolate after reading this again! (And interesting about the Canadian price-fixing...)

Yeah, Mexico is a great place when you want to get away with scams. Sadly, like a lot of the world, Mexico is run on bribery and other unethical practices -- more than here in the U.S., at least.

I liked your story on my blog about your 'free speech' at the union meeting! You're not one to mince words, I see. And I hope you got photos of your kids after the rainy Halloween crepe paper incident! (My plan for the next time it rains on Halloween is to buy the kids candy at the store, take pictures of them, then stay inside where it is nice and dry.)

SPPJ,

Yes we do have pictures of an orange baby and a grey 6 y/o. I know one of my neighbors have a green baby, red 3 y/o and a red and blue 6 y/o. There were different shades of about 7 more kids. That was probably not one of our best ideas. It was funny though.

On the union thing my husband was told not to bring me to anymore meetings. He just said thank goodness because I have to drag her here anyway. I refused to carry a sign and walk the picket line. Told them that they could stand out there and freeze just fine with out me. Then someone started taking pot shots at them so the walking thing got a little iffy to say the least.

As a blip you can declare yourself a conscientious objector as far as unions go and they still have to represent you, money is taken out for dues but it doesn't go to the unions. It goes to charity. When we did it years later in another job there were 3 charities that were listed as being eligible. American Heart, Cancer and I think UNICEF were the ones we had to pick from. It was another small win but it felt good for them not to get our money. It was a paper signing fest and legal stuff but well worth it.

Taxing our jobs right out of the country and replacing them with illegal aliens. Soooo sad! I used to do work for Hershey Chocolate, and that is an unbelievable blow to that region. What a sad sad story.

Dave,

I know that was my whole point I guess. I have always lived in a small town and I know how these places exsist. In Port Jervis, NY they got kicked in the gut when the logging stopped and went else where. Had a cousin's family up there. It's a beautiful place but there is no work. I didn't say anything on line but Ford is going to India some company called TaTa Motors will be building Fords. There goes a lot of jobs there. That should start a real war but the unions agreed. I guess I'm just to set in my ways or something but when my brother finds out he will have to go through India for his ford trucks he will go balistic. I didn't tell him either. I'm not sure what we are expected to do if they keep taking all of the business's out of here to other country's. I guess shiit or go blind.

When I worked for the telecomm co. I had to audit the Lincoln business account's. After the first week going over the accounts I was ready for triple shot of something. They owed us millions. I took the report and asked why were we still giving them new accounts? They let them go until the cut off limit for non payment and just open another one. I'm talking about thousands of cell phones on just one account. I was told they were a big account and so they work with them?? And that would be how if no payments were made. When I worked there it was my first encounter with big business. I had always been in some type of government, county, state,federal and very not exposed to the big business world. I have no idea how these company's stay in business. I kept telling myself what a joke it was. With the system I had I looked into some other company's and they do the same thing. It boggle's my mind. I have no answers to anything as far as this goes. I'm just not liking what I see down the road.

Scottie about another blip I heard that they are going to tax us on our 401B accounts. Not sure what that entails with all of my naps I loose track.

It becomes all too much sometimes. There are good businesses and bad, let the prospective employee beware.