The LuLac Edition #510, July 1st, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: A VISUAL AID FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER TODAY, A WAD OF CASH THAT SEEMS TO NEVER SATISFY THE GREED AND DECEIT OF AMERICAN BUSINESS AND FORMER PORN STARS SHARON MITCHELL AND NINA HARTLEY. THEY GOT SCREWED TOO BUT UNLIKE MOST AMERICANS TODAY, AT LEAST THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THEY ENJOYED IT.

LESS IS MORE

The other night I had dinner with an old college friend. The guy ran for Council in Wilkes Barre city twice, is intelligent and has a lot to offer. Our discussions centered on the state of the economy and how Corporate America seems to be running roughshod over the American people. "You know Dave", he said, "when we were growing up, we knew businesses had to make a profit. Businesses provided a product to the citizen, the consumer paid a fair price, with the product they improved their quality of life and the business made a profit. But somewhere in the last ten years, American business was not just satisfied to make a profit, they needed to make mega profits, even if they made them up. And the consumer became expendable. Years ago companies were scared to death about losing customers, today they'll just raise the prices and say to the remaining suckers-take it or leave it".

I thought about that today when I heard that Americans are now getting less for their money. Hey, we all knew that but here's what the food companies are doing to us now. Kellogg's started shipping Apple Jacks, Cocoa Krispies, Corn Pops, Froot Loops and Honey Smacks containing an average of 2.4 fewer ounces per box. Tropicana orange juice containers are shrinking from 96 ounces to 89; Wrigley's is dropping the 17-stick PlenTPak in favor of the 15-stick Slim Pack; Dial soap bars now weigh half an ounce less, and that's even before they melt in the shower. Containers of Country Crock spread, Hellmann's mayonnaise and Edy's and Breyer's ice cream have all slimmed down as well. "People are just more sensitive to changes in price than changes in quantity," says Harvard Business School Professor John Gourville, in an interview with CNN. "Most people can tell you how much a box of cereal costs, but they have no clue how much is actually in it." So instead of raising the prices, those cowards of American business are cutting down on quantities thinking the American people are too stupid to figure it out. So not only are they screwing us at the check out counter, they think we're too stupid to notice. Next time you buy your chips or cereal, like always, you the American consumer are getting less. I will bet my left arm though the corporate cowards who sit on the board of directors of these companies are getting more, not less. It may not happen in my lifetime, but remember that old adage, "pigs eat, hogs get slaughtered".

GAS WARNING

I found this out tonight at dinner with another friend. If you use your American Express card to buy gas, they automatically put a charge of $100.00 on your card. So if you try to conserve and put 30 bucks in 4 times a month, your card balance will have $400.00 on it even if you just got $120.00 worth of gas. They reconcile it later but in the meantime if you check your balance, the bastards at "don't leave home without it" say you owe more than you do. Creeps. Revolutions have been started for way less.