Killing off the American Dream

Circuit City has announced it will fire 3,400 employees - actually the news release said "lay off" but that is a misuse of the English language, since none of the "laid off" workers will be rehired unless they are willing to work for less money.

Circuit City Stores' (CC) decision to lay off 3,400 employees in order to hire lower-paid replacements is raising questions about the impact of severe cost-cutting on employee morale.

The consumer electronics retailer announced Wednesday that it was immediately firing store associates "who were paid well above the market-based salary range for their role." New workers will be paid less, although Circuit City did not reveal the pay of the workers.

Analyst Penelope Trunk, author of "Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success," obviously was a bit rattled by this corporate move.

"People left behind are probably thinking they don't have a future there," Trunk says.

Ya think?

Glad we don't work there. You have to wonder if the Circuit City brass got envious of the meat packers, et al, who have reduced payroll costs by employing, er, we shall politely say "newcomers."

It's said often that the latest generation of Americans is emerging from high school and college knowing full well that their lives will probably not be as economically successful as their parents. It is first generation in our nation's history that this is true, and it has happened because the average American is caught in a vise between ever expanding regulations, laws and government, and a business model that has freed itself from old-fashion notions of responsibility to the help.

There was a time when Americans would protest this sort of economic injustice. We doubt whether many people will even hear about Circuit City's grand dis-incentive program, and fewer still will be motivated to do anything about it.

We have, indeed, become Sheeple.

However, the Oklahomilist is willing to be the point man in a Ghandi-esque crusade against Circuit City. I hereby vow to buy nothing - absolutely zero, zilch, nada - from that company from today onward until such time as they reinstate the fired workers and abandon this heartless (and can we add psychologically ignorant?) payroll policy. The beauty of this crusade is that it is perfectly suited to modern-day Americans. We don't have to get up off of our lazy duffs to do anything. In other words, we tell Circuit City: "We won't stand for it."

Surely this is one time when Americans of any political or religious persuasion can agree: Circuit City deserves punishment.