How Much Have Those Of Us That Went For & Obtained An MBA.......

contributed to the downfall of U.S. economic supremacy in this world.

I think we were all too clever for ourselves. We showed how we can squeeze every last cent out of the American public. We learned how to manipulate people through the use of the advertising and the media. How we can deceive people through clever marketing campaigns. We learned how to change packaging and offer less product for more dollars. We learned how to raise prices on products and then advertise that we are lowering prices 20% and still making more than what the product was originally priced.

Case in point. I live in the Chicago area. A grocery chain - Jewel - is conducting a big advertising campaign about how they are lowering their prices on 100's of products by over 20%.

My mom pointed this out to me. She used to buy a Cinnamon Raisin Bread for $2.19 per loaf. Just before this campaign they raised the price of this bread to $2.99 per loaf. Now - in light of the campaign they've lowered the price to $2.29. They show a shelf sticker with the $2.99 price and the new lowered price of $2.29 - and they are touting it as fantastic savings.

How stupid do they think people are. This is a deceptive practice and when you push your cart through the store the majority of customers are senior citizens that can't get to the discount stores to shop.

I think if somebody did some research - that we see a direct correlation between the rise in MBA degrees and the fall of the U.S. economy. Sending jobs overseas. Working people harder for less wages. Cutting benefits. Doing everything they can do to eke out every last dollar out of the business and making it profitable.

Nobody ever schooled prospective MBA's that if the very people they are taking advantage of don't make a decent wage - ultimately they won't be able to purchase the products or services they offer.

Nobody ever schooled prospective MBA's that the worst thing that they can do is to lay people off, fire them, cut back - in order to maximize profits cause ultimately it comes back to haunt you because people won't have the money to purchase the products and services they offer.

Now we are spiraling downward - because the very thing that can save this economy is jobs and they have gotten too smart for their britches and did away with all the jobs.

Bottom line - if people make a decent wage, if they have a job they can depend upon, if they don't have to worry about healthcare should they need it - not only will they feel better about themselves - but they will feel comfortable to spend some of that money and pump it back into the system to keep it in optimum running condition.

We have shot ourselves in our feet. And I haven't even gone down the Wall St. deception that was foisted upon us.

I'm not that proud anymore that I have an MBA.

that really is what an MBA is.

People go that route to get a job, not for the education.

I was a Poli Sci Major who wanted to be a CPA.

I was so far along in my Arts & Science requirements that my Accounting advisor told me to take the 36 hrs of accounting and sit for the CPA...

So I did.

There is a marked difference between how those who are going to school to learn and those who are going to school to earn.

Robust discussions would break out in almost all of the A&S classes I took but if it wasn't for me, there would have been nary a peep from the Accounting classes. Almost to the one, every accounting prof thanked me for injecting a little class instructor banter.

You hardly ever heard "Is this gonna be on the test" in my A&S classes but people were always, always pestering the accounting profs.

regardless of what your major was. It was to make sure that you were in fact exposed to other disciplines and had the beginnings of a well rounded education. I was appalled years later at how ignorant recent college graduates were that I met on the job on just about anything except what profession they were trained for. I don't know when this trend started but am happy that it happened after my stint in the ivy halls.

and I *think* I have done a pretty decent job for the two companies I have worked for, in terms of laying out a viable/affordable IT strategy and coordinated systems approach.

While I haven't been involved in the big picture staffing and procurment decisions, I understand that for many companies, the big problem was failure to recognize and accept huge changes in technology, design and manufacture. By ignoring the signs, managers further disadvantaged their companies, and handed their lunch to foreign manufacturers, who, all other things being equal can better compete on labor, environmental and regulatory costs. The real damage wasn't done in the 90's, but much earlier.

you don't have to worry about taking care of the employees and customers in your own country- because you can sell stuff to other countries. and since you can make stuff cheaper in other countries too- it's the best way to maximize shareholder value.

They made good coffee.

but I'd bet you can't afford me :)

they couldn't even afford me. The guy who took my place 9 years ago is making the same amount I did when I retired.

Stupid enough to believe that crap.

Or at least enough of us are to make it work most of the time.

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." -HL Mencken

the thing that has become obvious to me over the last few decades is how BAD many of these Capitalism-fetishists are at CAPITALISM!. There is a SEVERE lack of understanding of basic entrepeneurship that SHOULD be at the heart of any business venture. However, I think our business schools have failed us in properly preparing the MBAs for the business world, instead, preparing them for the world of Business.

I think capitalism is good - IF it's done in a responsible manner. And acting in a responsible manner means you treat the public right, whether they are your employees or your customers.
It's what I call investing in The Human Infrastructure. You CAN treat your employees like crap, but a GOOD businessperson is going to treat them right so they are motivated to MAKE YOU MORE MONEY!

I saw a story on TV a few years back profiling a businessman who offered ON-SITE daycare, FULL medical benefits, an ON-SITE doctor's office and other perks which prompted the reporter to say "Wow, you really are a great boss". His response? "I'm not doing these things solely out of a sense of altruism but rather because IT WAS GOOD BUSINESS. It made good business sense to do this because of the Return-On-Investment. Going to the doctor meant the loss of ONE HOUR of production rather than half a day.

I think we should start framing the health care debate from a business perspective: You need to spend money to make money. Invest in THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE and you will have MORE people making MORE money to spend on the goods and services that businesses provide. It's makes GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. If you are afraid that a public option will put Insurance Companies out of business then we can taunt them with "Nah Nah, you got beat at Capitalism by SOCIALISTS!"
Sort of akin to "You throw like a girl!".

In closing, I'd like it to be known that I lost my job because of MBAs. Because they SUCKED at capitalism. They weren't good at it. Despite suggestions, demands and advice from the front-line people, they continued to run the business like they were reading out of a textbook. From the 50s. The result? They went bankrupt. TWICE. I would use the line "What the hell is the wrong with you, you need a PINKO to teach you CAPITALISM? "

Thank you.
A Commie-Pinko who is better at Capitalism than the Capitalists.