A letter from the CEO of my company.

[GaryC 7]

What also really worries me is the willingness to accept that the CEO is better than his employees. The CEO has more money than his employees, therefore the CEO is better and deserves respect? .

I really don't see where he is stating or even implying that he is better than anyone else. Wealth does not equal respect and no where in that email does it say that. Face it, you don't like people that have more than you because you are envious. Rather than being envious why not try working to get your piece of the pie. No one should just give it to you, it must be earned. The CEO of ATS earned everything he has it it pisses you off. To bad.

With all due respect, Gary, you have no idea what I have. What makes you so sure I need to jealous of a CEO?

You can't make assumptions about economic status based on my dislike of your CEO's worldview.

PS I like the idea of me being pissed off because someone earned what they have. Why would that ever piss anyone off? You're going to have to look for a more logical explanation. That truck don't drive.

That is what makes me think you are guilty of class envy. Nowhere in that email does it mention that he thinks he is better than his employees. Nowhere does it mention what he makes. He didn't say "you people". You are just assuming that because of your apparent prejudice. Just looking at your own words there! But for myself I 100% agree with the email. Anyone that b!tches and moans about how bad it is in America is an ungrateful spoiled brat. It's to bad we can't ship them to a real impoverished country for a while to see how the other half lives. You have to understand where I come from. At one point I was a b!tch and moan type also. A few trips to the third world changed my tune real quick. We have it better than any other country and someone that says we don't is a brat. Can we make it better? You bet! But just be mindful of everything we have now.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

####### is a typical blowhard chopf##k CEO....

No, I have met him. He is a very nice guy that remembers his roots and respects all of his employees. There is nothing "blowhard" about him. Your just demonstrating class envy. It's not very pretty man, you should open your eyes.

There's also nothing wrong with remembering one's roots and appreciating the effort put forth by one's employees, but I think what is being expressed here is that along with the duties that a title and position in a coroporation bring, there's also stature and diplomacy that go hand-in-hand with that position. Were each coporate CEO to be as outspoken as to his or her views of the state of the country or world, as ####### has been in his correspondence throughout the ranks, each corporation would automatically be coloured by that viewpoint. In essence, the corporation's mission statement would become that of the individual hired as spokesperson and to direct the company's future. That, in a nutshell, is a misuse of position and its the access to the public.

well said.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Granted the guy is stating his personal opinion, but it’s a little too naïve, grandfatherly and “Louis Armstrong” for my taste.

We have the exact same debates in Britain about the direction the country is headed. You can't pretend that those things don't exist and aren't important.

[Alex+R 0]

What also really worries me is the willingness to accept that the CEO is better than his employees. The CEO has more money than his employees, therefore the CEO is better and deserves respect? .

I really don't see where he is stating or even implying that he is better than anyone else. Wealth does not equal respect and no where in that email does it say that. Face it, you don't like people that have more than you because you are envious. Rather than being envious why not try working to get your piece of the pie. No one should just give it to you, it must be earned. The CEO of ATS earned everything he has it it pisses you off. To bad.

With all due respect, Gary, you have no idea what I have. What makes you so sure I need to jealous of a CEO?

You can't make assumptions about economic status based on my dislike of your CEO's worldview.

PS I like the idea of me being pissed off because someone earned what they have. Why would that ever piss anyone off? You're going to have to look for a more logical explanation. That truck don't drive.

That is what makes me think you are guilty of class envy. Nowhere in that email does it mention that he thinks he is better than his employees. Nowhere does it mention what he makes. He didn't say "you people". You are just assuming that because of your apparent prejudice. Just looking at your own words there! But for myself I 100% agree with the email. Anyone that b!tches and moans about how bad it is in America is an ungrateful spoiled brat. It's to bad we can't ship them to a real impoverished country for a while to see how the other half lives. You have to understand where I come from. At one point I was a b!tch and moan type also. A few trips to the third world changed my tune real quick. We have it better than any other country and someone that says we don't is a brat. Can we make it better? You bet! But just be mindful of everything we have now.

Gary, I never said it seemed like he thinks he's better than you. I think it seems like YOU think he's better than you. That's what worries me.

And bitching and moaning is not the same as wanting to improve the country because we love what it already offers.

[GaryC 7]

Granted the guy is stating his personal opinion, but it’s a little too naïve, grandfatherly and “Louis Armstrong” for my taste.

We have the exact same debates in Britain about the direction the country is headed. You can't pretend that those things don't exist and aren't important.

Since when is the truth too naive? Everything in it is true. We do have it better than most in the world. The poorest among us has it better than the average in most countries. And I think you must agree that it is also true that when you no longer respect or value something it is inevitable that it will be lost. Stating the facts was always what you harp on. Why the change?

[GaryC 7]

Gary, I never said it seemed like he thinks he's better than you. I think it seems like YOU think he's better than you. That's what worries me.

And bitching and moaning is not the same as wanting to improve the country because we love what it already offers.

And just where did you get that idea? You don't know me either. Having respect and admiring someones accomplishments isn't the same as thinking he is better than me. In fact it is precisely why I admire him. We are of the same stock. If he can do it then so can I.

And I am glad to see you agree with me. B!tching and moaning ISN'T the same as wanting to improve something you already love. Wanting to change and improve is healthy. B!tching and moaning is just the sign of a spoiled brat.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Is it the truth though? I’m not so sure…. I’ve seen more poverty living here (on both coasts) than I ever did in the UK.

But that’s all by the by – while yes we should all be grateful for what we have and for not being born in the 3rd world, I don’t agree that the legitimate concerns of a large number of the population are unimportant and irrelevant.

In other words, don't worry about what the government are doing - because you should be just grateful for a hot meal and a roof over your head. Somehow I think those people at the top don't share that sentiment.

As I said, to me, its a naive and overly simplistic view of the world.

[Boiler 45,519]

Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

But no mention of sending the bill collectors afterwards?

I was listening to a favourite radio (rightish) programme and they had a long piece about the merits of medical bankruptcy. Now in most western countries this would seem crazy, only in America.

Do ####### a favour, tell him to stay out of politics and not to give up his day job.

[GaryC 7]

Is it the truth though? I’m not so sure…. I’ve seen more poverty living here (on both coasts) than I ever did in the UK.

But that’s all by the by – while yes we should all be grateful for what we have and for not being born in the 3rd world, I don’t agree that the legitimate concerns of a large number of the population are unimportant and irrelevant.

In other words, don't worry about what the government are doing - because you should be just grateful for a hot meal and a roof over your head. Somehow I think those people at the top don't share that sentiment.

As I said, to me, its a naive and overly simplistic view of the world.

Are we reading the same email? No where was it stated that legit problems shouldn't be addressed. No where did it say that we should give the government free reign as long as we are fed and housed. It is simply stating that some are loosing sight of the blessings we have. That b!tching about how bad we have it here IS spoiled and bratish. It is telling us not to take what this country offers for granted or we will risk loosing it. I really don't see why ANYONE would complain about this email. It makes perfect sense and the fact and spirit of what he is saying is also true.

[peezey 0]

Yes it must be so nice to work for a firm where the CEO abuses his position to send political commentary to 5000 people. I can see why you are so proud citizen

PS you forgot to mention his political donations to the Republican party, but its OK most of us managed to figure it out anyways

Hows that other bastion of American commerce Enron doing these days? Once upon a time employees talked about it in the same childlike adulation, now of course they simply try and remove the egg from their face. And this is the beauty of peoples arrogance, it is so much fun to see the imbecilic smirk wiped away when reality delivers the inevitable kick up their a$$

Boy it must suck to be you!! Is this what it's like to be a liberal? See the bad side of everything? Whats wrong with counting our blessings? Whats wrong with being thankful for living in this wonderful country? Why is is a "republican" thing to be proud of our country? Aren't liberals proud of America? Why is it when someone points out the good things a liberal only sees the bad? Is this a basic philosophy of liberalism?

This guy started out as just another Caterpillar worker and through his own hard work started a company that employs thousands. So that puts him in the class with Enron? You have my pity. You seem like a joyless person.

Why do you have such a hard time understanding that people can appreciate what they have at the same time knowing that's not where it all stops? You might be able to live with yourself being giddy with your job and #######'s open door, but others just might think the way to appreciate such things is to figure out a way more people can partake in the same.

Yes it must be so nice to work for a firm where the CEO abuses his position to send political commentary to 5000 people. I can see why you are so proud citizen

PS you forgot to mention his political donations to the Republican party, but its OK most of us managed to figure it out anyways

Hows that other bastion of American commerce Enron doing these days? Once upon a time employees talked about it in the same childlike adulation, now of course they simply try and remove the egg from their face. And this is the beauty of peoples arrogance, it is so much fun to see the imbecilic smirk wiped away when reality delivers the inevitable kick up their a$$

So, because he is a CEO, expressing political opinions is "abuse"? I see no threat stated or implied in his letter.

Abuse of his position.

[GaryC 7]

Why do you have such a hard time understanding that people can appreciate what they have at the same time knowing that's not where it all stops? You might be able to live with yourself being giddy with your job and #######'s open door, but others just might think the way to appreciate such things is to figure out a way more people can partake in the same.

I ask you also, are we reading the same email? I think the complainers here are seeing themselves in this email and are taking personal offense. I guess it's a matter of the truth hurting. Everyone else seems to think the email was correct and appropriate.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Are we reading the same email? No where was it stated that legit problems shouldn't be addressed. No where did it say that we should give the government free reign as long as we are fed and housed. It is simply stating that some are loosing sight of the blessings we have. That b!tching about how bad we have it here IS spoiled and bratish. It is telling us not to take what this country offers for granted or we will risk loosing it. I really don't see why ANYONE would complain about this email. It makes perfect sense and the fact and spirit of what he is saying is also true.

It was implied, at least in my reading of it. If I remember correctly, the Newsweek poll he cites was talking about the direction of the country as it related to the performance of this government

Its a feel-good morale booster in the vein of "It's a Wonderful Life" - I can appreciate that, but I'm not going to stand behind sentiment and present it as fact. The assertions of what is best and "world-leading" are also somewhat debateable, BTW.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

So, because he is a CEO, expressing political opinions is "abuse"? I see no threat stated or implied in his letter.

Well it was certainly an abuse of his role to say: Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. Yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I would not appreciate working for a man who grouped me in with "ungrateful, spoiled brats, etc" when in reality I am unbelievably aware of lucky I am to live in a free country with all of the things that I have access to . . .

Well Kitkat I know that you understand just how good we have it here. And judging from a few of the comments here I think "ungrateful, spoiled brats" fits perfectly. To not be thankful of the tremendous gift our forefathers gave us is the biggest sin of all. It shows how consented and ungrateful we have become.

Gary, I think your confusing gratitude with servitude. As employees, you don't have to be grateful to your employer any more than your employer should be grateful for your service. You are paid for your work - your work makes them money...it's a two-way street. If your employer doesn't want to pay you what you are worth, which I realize we've gotten into this argument before, but...it is NOT entirely determined by the market, you have a right to gripe...hell YES! Unthankful my #######...sheesh...you think wealth is spread to the lowly from the wealthy out of charity...holy cow. When it comes to jobs, it's contractual - not emotional.

Just curious - have you ever belonged to a union?

I think your confusing gratitude with entitlement. All the employer has a responsibility to me for is to give me the opportunity to work and improve myself. They are under no obligation for anything else. I earn what I am worth. Any company that does otherwise is headed down the path of going bankrupt. It is 100% determined by the market because the product he sells is valued 100% by the market.

But we are digressing here. This isn't about my company or my CEO. This is about being grateful for the blessings that our country and God has given us. Being grateful does not mean being satisfied. You should always strive for more. But you should also recognize that we are living in the best country in the world and it got that way through the sacrifices of the people that came before us.

Now, since you brought it up. Yes. I have been in several unions.

See your type in red - this is the breakdown of our argument. You believe that your worthiness in terms of pay and compensation should be left entirely up to the market. I know you believe that because you stated such. So then how is it that in this country we have CEO's who get pay raises while the company's profits are down? You say the market determines ones pay - a CEO (as ET has pointed out to you before) is just an employee like you so that kinda blows your idea about pay out of the water. There are many things I'm grateful for in my life, but that doesn't mean I'll turn a blind eye to economic injustice - yes, it really exists - the market isn't God. When I see such things as jobs being lost to overseas or south of the border, meanwhile CEO's ratio of pay being at an all-time high, then common sense tells me there is something wrong in this country and the right and just thing, IMO, is to bring light to it.

I'm not sure why you had such trouble with unions, but over my lifetime, I've been a member of the UFCW union, The Teamsters, and The Cartoonists Union, all of which ensured that I had a decent salary and benefits package. My union dues were nominal. When I worked in grocery retail - there was an enormous pressure for stores to minimize overtime - and often they were caught by the union encouraging employees to clock out but continue working off the clock to avoid overtime. Yes, there are problems within unions as there are within companies executives, however, without unions, there is no balance of power between the employer and the employees.

That's where we vastly differ. You seem to think an employee should be grateful for having a benevolent boss - I think that's a load of horse manure because both parties mutually benefit from the employment contract. It's a different mentality. I have much to be thankful for in my life, much gratitude, but I'm sorry - that gratitude doesn't extend to my boss or my employer...at least not for paying me...that's just part of the contract.

Having been a CEO of one corporation or another for the vast majority of my working life, bear in mind that the Bd of Dir determines a CEO's compensation package, and holding the position is very often up for review at each Annual Meeting. While it's true that many CEOs are well compensated, it is often a performance-based determination, and a small consideration for the stress and responsibility that comes with the position.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Hmmm...

When I used to work for someone (I now attend a university), I'd receive messages -- some inspirational, some that were jokes, and so on -- from my supervisor every so often. I never really paid much attention to them, unless it was something work-related or otherwise important.

Whether or not this CEO did abuse his position is somewhat moot. He's already done it, so the "horse is out of the barn" so-to-speak. The real situation is whether or not the e-mail was meant as an inspirational message to his employees or as a right-wing soapbox.

After reading it, I think it's a little of both, to be honest. "#######" probably had the very best of intentions when sending that e-mail to his employees; however, I sincerely doubt that every single person in the company viewed the message exactly as he did or as it was originally intended. After all, not everyone agrees on politics or life in general (no matter where you live), and sometimes the idea behind a message can get "lost" when written, without any facial expressions or emotion to accompany it.

Here's what I think (for all it's worth) about this: If Gary approves of his job, his CEO, his life, this e-mail message, and everything else, who are we to tell him otherwise? Perhaps what's good for him may not be good for us, but then again, we're all different people. What might be good for me might not be good for Gary. We're all free to disagree, but we can't say he's wrong any more than he can say any one of us is wrong.

But...that's how I see it. Maybe some of you won't agree; maybe some of you will.

[GaryC 7]

Are we reading the same email? No where was it stated that legit problems shouldn't be addressed. No where did it say that we should give the government free reign as long as we are fed and housed. It is simply stating that some are loosing sight of the blessings we have. That b!tching about how bad we have it here IS spoiled and bratish. It is telling us not to take what this country offers for granted or we will risk loosing it. I really don't see why ANYONE would complain about this email. It makes perfect sense and the fact and spirit of what he is saying is also true.

It was implied, at least in my reading of it. If I remember correctly, the Newsweek poll he cites was talking about the direction of the country as it related to the performance of this government

Its a feel-good morale booster in the vein of "It's a Wonderful Life" - I can appreciate that, but I'm not going to stand behind sentiment and present it as fact. The assertions of what is best and "world-leading" are also somewhat debateable, BTW.

There is a bit of flag waving there. In that manner it is a point of view rather than hard facts. Thats a secondary subject. A lot of this is a reaction to unabashed pride in the US. Does the US have problems? Most certainly. The way we fix it is through our constitution. Is there any harm in being proud of the US none-the-less? Absolutely not!