November 9th, 2008 — Opinion, ethics
By Jon Griffin
The subject of “living wages” or higher minimum wages has sparked vigorous debate in every city or state where the issue has been put on the ballot. The subject invokes partisan politics with the left declaring “big business” only wants profit, and the right stating the market should determine wages. The truth economically tells a different story.
November 9th, 2008 — Business, Management, ethics
By Jon Griffin
For many years politicians have been complaining about the perceived over-paying of management in public companies. Everyone has heard about the huge golden handshakes given departing executives upon leaving companies they have destroyed. John McCain has stated “all aspects of a CEO’s pay, including any severance arrangements must be approved by shareholders” (Mason, 2008). An article in The Economist (2008) argues though that although managers pay has gone up faster than workers pay, managers pay is by and large based on financial returns.
The Economist article goes on to point out that workers pay is subject to the whims of the labor market, while stock options and other pay incentives encourage managers to create more wealth for shareholders.
November 4th, 2008 — Finance
Special to jongriffin.com
To help with retirement preparations, the U.S. government has released an extremely helpful and easy-to-use retirement savings calculator to help you calculate and understand your IRA and other retirement finances. To learn more about it, why it works and where you can get it - keep reading.
The guide, titled “Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning” was published by the Department of Labor and the Employee Benefit Security Administration. It’s 62 pages long and takes you through a series of worksheets and information to help you discover how big of a nest egg you’ll need to retire comfortably and how much must save to achieve that.
October 25th, 2008 — History & Trivia, Music
By Jon Griffin
©2008
I realize that two of the greatest singers of Leon Russell songs are both dead. Is it my melancholy mood? Can you tell me who the singers are? I will tell you:
Karen Carpenter and Donny Hathaway. It is unbelievable that two of the greatest singers of all time both sang the go-to versions of a classic Leon Russell song; A Song For You. As they say in Cuba, this song is de pinga, the shit. OK, I am older than the average blogger, but it is time to respect your elders and learn pop history.
Don’t believe me? Here are a couple of links: