Dear Mr. President - An Open Letter from Silicon Valley for Your Visit This Morning

Mercury News ^ | 5/2/03 | Editorial

[NormsRevenge]

You might notice the traffic is a little lighter today than the last time you were here. That's because we've run into a tough patch here in the Silicon Valley.

But before we get into that, we want to offer congratulations on the war in Iraq. We hope you'll leverage that victory -- by applying the same focus to the economy and to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

[El Sordo]

Response:

You're in California, what have you done for me?

[snopercod]

The official unemployment rate is 8.4 percent. Our sources tell us it's really more like 10 percent. That's a crisis.

My heart bleeds for the laid-off workers who were making $150,000 per year not too long ago. Did they not save any of that?

Here in Western North Carolina where I live, the unemployment rate is close to 15%, and folks are willing to work for $6-10/Hr. but there are no jobs to be had even at that low rate.

Tell it to Grayout Davis...

[Normal4me]

These "Yeahbuts" don't get it at ALL. We hate you President Bush and despise all of your policies, give us money!

[FryingPan101]

"Anyway, back to us. We've lost 200,000 jobs in two years; too many of our friends and relatives are out of work and nearly out of hope. The official unemployment rate is 8.4 percent. Our sources tell us it's really more like 10 percent. That's a crisis"

Well.....maybe Al and Tipper, who you really probably voted for,can come out and do the French kiss thing and make it all better.

[CaptainJustice]

Ugh... this gets a puke with a level 5 chunk factor. STFU Silicon Valley. I live in Orange County and I support the tax cut, divisive rhetoric, and removal of welfare, as do most of my neighbors.

[BOBTHENAILER]

First, let us tell you what we don't want: a tax cut. While many in the Valley would benefit because of our generally high tax brackets, we think the money can be put to better use, like covering war costs and revenue shortfalls caused by the recession.

Now follow the NO TAX CUT LOGIC carefully.

Tech companies are sitting on as much as $135 billion in offshore cash, from overseas profits. A 35 percent repatriation tax is keeping it there. Several bills propose a one-year reduction of that tax rate to 5.25 percent. It won't cost the Treasury a penny. More important, the cash that will be brought back under the lower tax rate will deliver an immediate stimulus to the Valley. Your support would quickly make the proposals a reality.

The line below this paragraph asks for depreciation acceleration and investment tax credits, but wait, I thought the author said they didn't want tax cuts. Typical lib pbycho babble and I agree with your "Don't even touch Rummy quote".

[okie01]

"I checked the map. You know, the election map marked red and blue. Yup that one. From what I can tell you need to go talk to Al Gore. Yup, that one."

You might also refer these whiners to their Gray Davis, just in case Al isn't answering his phone these days...

[gaspar]

Remember how the San Jose Mercury led the charge in deriding the rest of America for not "being with it"? Homes were selling for a fortune in San Jose/Santa Clara/Los Altos, a forty dollar wine for dinner was common, and all the while snotty little kids who knew little more than how to program a computer and told us morons they were the wave of the future.

Well, now its "down and out in the Stanford Hills", and the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury are playing the Rodney Dangerfield, asking for some respect. California: You got what you deserved. You slept with scum and you woke up with Bill Clinton and Red Davis. You are dying, the best of your brainpower is leaving the state, and nobody pays any attention to your whining. Get used to it.

[NathanR]

You might notice the traffic is a little lighter today than the last time you were here. That's because we've run into a tough patch here in the Silicon Valley.

But before we get into that, we want to offer congratulations on the war in Iraq. We hope you'll leverage that victory -- by applying the same focus to the economy and to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

The president is the Comander in Chief, not the Economist in Chief, and even if he was, chances are he would be doing the wrong thing. (Just think what would be happening if Gore were president.) You (the author) are supposed to be fixing your own problems. He can't do it for you.

[CounterCounterCulture]

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

By some radical right-winger if I recall correctly... ;-)

[NathanR]

Ugh... this gets a puke with a level 5 chunk factor. STFU Silicon Valley. I live in Orange County and I support the tax cut, divisive rhetoric, and removal of welfare, as do most of my neighbors.

Remember 10 or 15 years ago, when all those aerospace jobs were leaving Southern California, most never to come back? Was there much sympathy coming from, Silicon Valley or were they pointing and laughing? I seem to remember the latter.

They seemed to forget the addage about being nice to people on their way up, because they may be meeting the same people on the way down.

[Jhoffa_]

Funny..

I remember the 120K whizkids were some of the first ones to scream "isolationist!" whenever someone mentioned manufacturing jobs going overseas.

I have to laugh at these people, mostly because they never realized it could happen to them.. But also because it's amusing to me to hear weenies whine.

[muleskinner]

I was fortunate enough to be within 40 feet of G.W. when he visited United Defense and spoke to us this morning. We are close to the geographic center of Silicon Valley, but we make real products for real men.(Bradleys and every other tracked vehicle, except the Abrams)

The crowd was employees and family members only - around 1500 people.

The crowd went nuts when he first came on stage.

He gave a fine speach, the highlights of which, will be on T.V. this evening. The theme was the tax cut proposal which "we" in Silicon Valley don't seem to want, according to the Merc.

By the crowd reaction to G.W. and his speech, the people here sure seemed to want it!! The Merc and it's editorial board have become just another steaming pile.

Back to G.W. - He's the kind of man you'd be damn glad to have as a friend and neighbor. He has no pretentions.

[muleskinner]

Chris' sakes

was s/b were ; speach s/b speech

[McGavin999]

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. California is about the 5th largest economy in the world and yet it's suffereing from HUGE deficits. Maybe it's because of their socialist leanings. Looks like CA is in the same shape as france and Germany.

They want to transfer the deficits from state government to federal government.

If they stopped giving handouts to illegals they might have enough money to cover the things they need.

[q_an_a]

I pooped my pants and want you to clean it up and while your are at it will you get a nice mommy to come over and kiss the cut on my finger from when I was playing with a knife and cut myself. Oh yes, I broke my leg while running with sissors and you should do something to make falls less harmful. Don't ask anyone in my family to help me that is what the govenrment is for and you know it. /sarcasm off

Here in Texas we cut spending across the board and delayed projects just like real adults. Wake up Calif. the country is not your nanny, fix you tax problem, you failing schools and your weak economy by making nice with the business people. Try ending your personal income tax, we don't need one and have a pretty big population ourselves.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for your inside view of the event. I watched the speech on tv, he was on a roll!

Congre$$, especially the RINOs and demRats need to be told in no uncertain terms, You're either with us or you're against us.

I see a bloodbath in 2004 for the demRats and a few select RINOs as well, imo.

[Bernard]

"California has the largest deficit of any state in the nation. It seems inevitable we're going to get hit with higher taxes -- and far fewer services. In short, we're in a world of hurt, and we could use some help."

Here's a hint - spend less. That's what all responsible adults do, unless they are in government. Take a hint, buy a vowel, but don't pay retail for it.

[luckystarmom]

I'm ashamed that I live in this state. I want to move back to Texas!!!!

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

We've lost 200,000 jobs in two years; too many of our friends and relatives are out of work and nearly out of hope.

Aww...this is silly. This can't be true, because we've just finished importing over 200,000 H1B high-tech workers (plus NAFTA, and other visa classes) to allivate the serious shortage of high tech workers!

I'll bet those 200,000 lazy friends of yours thing they're just too good to take those jobs the H1B workers are jumping at. So what if they have to take a 50% to 75% pay cut to start (and of course, need to color their hair and get face lifts so they look under 30 yrs old), if that's what it takes to land a job, that's what they should be doing!

After all, its not Congresses fault that they picked the wrong career. If they wanted to make more than $50,000 a year (in an economy where houses AVERAGE $400,000), they should have gotten an education, invested in themselves and ...

...known in advance that Congress would lie in bed like a cheap whor* with the IT body shops and large IT "consulting" corporations to SELL YOUR JOB to the highest "indentured servant" bidder from overseas, for 1 visa, the promise of a green card, and pay rates 75% below market!

Geeezz.. you'd think these Californian IT workers would learn, but no.. the insist on being unemployed in CA, rather than take honest work like washing dishes, picking strawberries, whatever...

< /sarcasm >

FReegards.. SFS