David Siegel and the billionaire’s sad lament
The man above is David Siegel, owner of Westgate Resorts, allegedly the largest time-share company in the world, with his wife Jackie. After a financial setback during the recession, Siegel now brags that “we’re the most profitable we’ve ever been.” He and Jackie have resumed construction on a 90,000-square-foot home, called Versailles, that they are building in Florida. If and when it is completed, it will be the largest private home in the country.
According to the Wall Street Journal, when completed Versailles will boast “13 bedrooms, 23 full bathrooms, a 6,000-square-foot master suite (with plans in place for a bed on a rotating platform), a banquet kitchen plus 10 satellite kitchens, a 20-car garage, three pools, a two-story wine cellar and a grand hall with a 30-foot stained glass dome.”
With that background established, this is the email that Siegel sent to his employees yesterday:
Subject: Message from David Siegel
Date:Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:58:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: [David Siegel]
To: [All employees]To All My Valued Employees,
As most of you know our company, Westgate Resorts, has continued to succeed in spite of a very dismal economy. There is no question that the economy has changed for the worse and we have not seen any improvement over the past four years. In spite of all of the challenges we have faced, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same presidential administration. Of course, as your employer, I can’t tell you whom to vote for, and I certainly wouldn’t interfere with your right to vote for whomever you choose. In fact, I encourage you to vote for whomever you think will serve your interests the best.
However, let me share a few facts that might help you decide what is in your best interest. The current administration and members of the press have perpetuated an environment that casts employers against employees. They want you to believe that we live in a class system where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. They label us the “1%” and imply that we are somehow immune to the challenges that face our country. This could not be further from the truth. Sure, you may have heard about the big home that I’m building. I’m sure many people think that I live a privileged life. However, what you don’t see or hear is the true story behind any success that I have achieved.
I started this company over 42 years ago. At that time, I lived in a very modest home. I converted my garage into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. We didn’t eat in fancy restaurants or take expensive vacations because every dollar I made went back into this company. I drove an old used car, and often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business — hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. Meanwhile, many of my friends got regular jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a nice income, and they spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into this business —-with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford to buy whatever I wanted. Even to this day, every dime I earn goes back into this company. Over the past four years I have had to stop building my dream house, cut back on all of my expenses, and take my kids out of private schools simply to keep this company strong and to keep you employed.
Just think about this – most of you arrive at work in the morning and leave that afternoon and the rest of your time is yours to do as you please. But not me- there is no “off” button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have that freedom. I eat, live, and breathe this company every minute of the day, every day of the week. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. I know many of you work hard and do a great job, but I’m the one who has to sign every check, pay every expense, and make sure that this company continues to succeed. Unfortunately, what most people see is the nice house and the lavish lifestyle. What the press certainly does not want you to see, is the true story of the hard work and sacrifices I’ve made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and people like me who made all the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail out all the people who didn’t. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed 42 years of my life for. Yes, business ownership has its benefits, but the price I’ve paid is steep and not without wounds. Unfortunately, the costs of running a business have gotten out of control, and let me tell you why: We are being taxed to death and the government thinks we don’t pay enough. We pay state taxes, federal taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, payroll taxes, workers compensation taxes and unemployment taxes. I even have to hire an entire department to manage all these taxes. The question I have is this: Who is really stimulating the economy? Is it the Government that wants to take money from those who have earned it and give it to those who have not, or is it people like me who built a company out of his garage and directly employs over 7000 people and hosts over 3 million people per year with a great vacation?
Obviously, our present government believes that taking my money is the right economic stimulus for this country. The fact is, if I deducted 50% of your paycheck you’d quit and you wouldn’t work here. I mean, why should you? Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, that’s what happens to me.
Here is what most people don’t understand and the press and our Government has chosen to ignore – to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Instead of raising my taxes and depositing that money into the Washington black-hole, let me spend it on growing the company, hire more employees, and generate substantial economic growth. My employees will enjoy the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But that is not what our current Government wants you to believe. They want you to believe that it somehow makes sense to take more from those who create wealth and give it to those who do not, and somehow our economy will improve. They don’t want you to know that the “1%”, as they like to label us, pay more than 31% of all the taxes in this country. Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said, “democracy” will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate business, not kill it. However, the power brokers in Washington believe redistributing wealth is the essential driver of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change they want.
So where am I going with all this? It’s quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.
So, when you make your decision to vote, ask yourself, which candidate understands the economics of business ownership and who doesn’t? Whose policies will endanger your job? Answer those questions and you should know who might be the one capable of protecting and saving your job. While the media wants to tell you to believe the “1 percenters” are bad, I’m telling you they are not. They create most of the jobs. If you lose your job, it won’t be at the hands of the “1%”; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country.
You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities. If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach, under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about.
Signed, your boss,
David Siegel
The email does raise an interesting question or two, such as, if it’s true that “even to this day, every dime I earn goes back into this company,” where did all the money for that house come from? And if he made all the right decisions, why did he come so close to bankruptcy? Why does he blame government for the fact that he had to pull his eight kids out of private school? If he couldn’t support a family that large, why did he keep having children?
Under ordinary circumstances, I also wouldn’t think it necessary to pity poor Mr. Siegel. After all, he would seem to have more than enough pity for himself to fill all three swimming pools at Versailles, allowing him to wallow in that emotion to his heart’s content. But clearly, this is a man completely unfamiliar with the concept of “more than enough.” Judging from his email, the poor unappreciated soul wants and needs more pity still; he is a victim, you see, treated shabbily and unfairly, and he’s not going to take any more of it, by golly.
Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.
– Jay Bookman
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636 comments Add your comment
SuesC
October 9th, 2012
11:05 pm
EWWWWW YUCK!
Jm
October 9th, 2012
11:07 pm
Frog 11:05
At minimum super douchebaggy
But that’s how that dude rolls
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
11:08 pm
“…couldn’t even defend a simple point like Bill Gates is a liberal.”
Riiiiight! Because unlike you, b-troll boy, I never back up my assertions with dozens of facts, quotes, links, verifiable data and empirical evidence.
Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. ~Mark Twain
barking frog
October 9th, 2012
11:09 pm
Jm
If being a jerk were illegal
this blog would cease to
exist.
bman
October 9th, 2012
11:11 pm
lol frog
Billybob
October 9th, 2012
11:14 pm
jay,
the big bird ad has brought your leftist leader to a new low……obama’s own words, or lack there of last wed, are starting to take a toll on his chances…..i guess you are starting to hear what i have been telling you for months and months…..with the ambassador’s assassination, the entire country is now realizing that obama’s tried and true, blame anybody but me mantra, is not leadership and can not be ignored by the people any more, even if the lib media still gives him a pass……enjoy reaping what your radical leftist democrat party has sowed since pelosi in 07′……maybe you can pass this along to obama for this conservative……you can’t strengthen the weak by weakening the strong……fun stuff
Jm
October 9th, 2012
11:18 pm
Frog
Yes
RF
October 9th, 2012
11:20 pm
Geez. y’all gotta go watch the ABC News video on this at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/versailles-florida-largest-home-america/story?id=16787565
The wifey currently has a 2 story closet in a 26,000 square foot house, and the closet does, in fact, have a stripper pole (it’s in the video, I swear). The new house has a 4,000 square foot freakin’ closet…that’s 3 times the size of my entire house.
I don’t disparage anyone enjoying their hard-earned money, but….just, dang!
RF
October 9th, 2012
11:25 pm
“you can’t strengthen the weak by weakening the strong……fun stuff”
And it’s going to take a whole lot of us weak ones to clean this house and keep all of it up and running…or will he just hire illegals at a fraction of the cost? I wonder if we’ll ever know.
And maybe the weak just could move in with the strong. With all those kitchens and bathrooms, there won’t be any problem fitting a bunch more folks in- and I bet they wouldn’t even notice. A few families could live in the 4000 square foot closet comfortably. Two movie theaters, a bowling alley, and a fitness center. Geez, this place ought to have at least its own zip code.. It’s a dang village unto itself.
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
11:28 pm
…with the ambassador’s assassination, the entire country is now realizing that sleazy Mr. “I was dead wrong” actually blamed our American public servants overseas for sympathizing with their attackers?
What was this GOP moron thinking???
And why do his sycophants here not call him out for making up such a depraved lie???
G Mare
October 9th, 2012
11:31 pm
Gee, Fred, how awful for you! If all that is true, if you are not just “pulling my leg” here, I guess it might explain your animosity toward those of us who are older, per our exchange several topics back.
Whatever, I am out for tonight. Appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow morning. SIGH!
barking frog
October 9th, 2012
11:34 pm
G Mare
Good luck.
ruserious?
October 9th, 2012
11:38 pm
Enter your comments here
So no one has mentioned that a significant number of his customers that have built his bank account are the middle class folks who want a decent vacation but can not afford top shelf 5 star vacations! This place is acceptable but really a 5 star wanna be. So he makes his cash on the backs of the people of the middle class but finds it inconceivable that he may have to part with a few more of his dollars to pay more taxes, rather his struggling customers pay more than take away from his mansion! How selfish and unrealistic! Also, how dare he use his politics as a threat to his employees. Is this not in violation of employee rights! What a mess and he will likely get away with it because he has the cash to do so!
Welcome to the Occupation
October 9th, 2012
11:46 pm
Neoliberal austerity sending Europe into a downward spiral towards fascism.
“Even as you cut, the gap between spending and revenue collection keeps getting larger”
The black hole in Spain’s budget has expanded faster than Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s attempt to shrink it, portending the same unrest roiling Greece.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/rajoy-s-deepening-budget-black-hole-outpaces-spain-deficit-cuts.html
Billybob
October 9th, 2012
11:47 pm
rf,
talking about obama…..jay’s column guy needs some help and some perspective….
jam as usual gots nada except excuses….wait, liberal dem??????
Billybob
October 9th, 2012
11:52 pm
welcome,
socialism and gov’t spending and over promising politicians did the damage……thank goodness that romney unleashing capitalism here will not allow us to suffer the same fate……….easy
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:55 pm
Occupation,
Europe screwed up and will be down for a while.
Bailouts are holding them together but not sure how long that will last.
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
11:56 pm
bbob ,I just enjoy watching you real conservatives (LOL!) dance for your fake conservative nominee.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:57 pm
bilbob,
w used socialism for the banks and saved them.
Our military is socialism.
Don’t bash the military con.
Billybob
October 9th, 2012
11:57 pm
welcome,
blaming conservatives for eupore’s fate shows your lack of understanding of the current crisis there or shows a disonnect of the actual reasons and the ideology that have brought them to this moment…..
Billybob
October 9th, 2012
11:59 pm
getalife,
see constitution for military…..you could learn something
jam,
moonwalking right now……
Mary Elizabeth
October 10th, 2012
12:01 am
“Signed, your boss, David Siegel” (Notice the unnecessary – “your boss”)
“If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.”
(Blatant coercion to convince his workers to vote for Romney through fear tactics and through the subtle threat to workers’ job security, if Obama is re-elected as president.)
——————————————————————————
Who in the reading audience of this blog thinks that Mr. Siegel perceives that all human beings as “created equal?” I don’t. I believe that he, like Gov. Romney, perceives of human beings as unequal – with the worker classes being inherently inferior to the management classes. That is a hierarchial way of seeing others, not an egalitarian way of seeing. Our nation was built on egalitarian principles and an egalitarian vision of all human beings.
I will remind the readers of the coal miners who were recently mandated by their manager to stand behind Gov. Romney while he spoke in order to project an image of solidarity with Romney. Romney praised the manager for his wonderful management skills in front of those workers. Those workers were not behind Romney by individual choice, but by the coercion of the company they worked for. (Moreover, as I commented in a prior post, Romney is satisfied to have “image” stand in for reality as long as the public buys it as reality. He does not value authentic reality any more than George W. Bush did when he wore his bomber suit aboard the “Mission Impossible” military ship to create his strong military “image,” as reality. In both cases, these men have disrespected the American citizen by undervaluing their intelligence to see reality for what it is.)
Definition of “coercion” – The power of dominating by nullifying individual willl.
Anyone who believes that Gov. Romney will enhance the “liberty” and “freedom” of ordinary workers and ordinary Americans is fooling himself or herself. Many have unfortunately bought into rightwing propaganda of “liberty” and “freedom” of those who are only looking after themselves and their financial self-interests at the average person’s expense. This type of hierarchial vision of human beings does not respect the ordinary worker, or the average American, and Romney’s 47% video remarks clearly showed that.
This election is not about who did better in a debate. This election is about sustaining the principle foundation upon which America was built and that core foundation is the belief that “all are created equal.”
Classic Conservative
October 10th, 2012
12:03 am
Two topics: one is an article from Ohio: http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/annette_john-hall/20121005_Annette_John-Hall__Race_and_the_campaign__Hear_that_dog_whistle_.html
(also see book ‘the New Jim Crow’)
Two is a response to the poor guy bouncibg his wife on his knee above. when the very wealthy in US were in line with the very wealthy of other countries, it seemed they plowed their gains back into the economy and middle classes moved up. In the last 30 years they’ve risen 40 times above the very wealthy of other countries by money plays and arbitrage to the detriment of the middle class.
Wilcox
October 10th, 2012
12:08 am
WOW is all I can say. If someone works their ass off and is able to become a part of that 1% they should NEVER be penalized or forced to hand over more money than the next guy. Fair Tax, simple as that. If the guy truly lives and breathes his business, he should be able to hang-out in Disney Fucking World if he so chooses. You asking if he REALLY sinks every dime back into his company shouldn’t necessarily be taken literally. He started in a GARAGE? So NOW 42 years later he can afford 3 pools if he wants them…….who are you to judge THAT? Ugh…..I hate politics, nobody should tell anyone else how to spend their $$, who they should sleep with, and ANYTHING else that doesn’t hurt you. You don’t have sympathy for HIM? Why then should he have any for the other 99%?
Billybob
October 10th, 2012
12:10 am
mary,
romney never said or incenuated any of the beliefs you have of him aside from 47% dumb comment….and obama is the one who has stated he will bankrupt the coal industry….just today big bird asked obama to leave him out of the obama compaign……a conservative believes all are created equal while obama believes that all should be equal in outcome…….you are right that this election is about bringing back the core beliefs and foundations of this country and the guy who has stated that he WANTS TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE ONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN OUR FOUNDATIONS…..his words state HE WANTS TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM THE COUNTRY……thanks for playing……easy
Tim
October 10th, 2012
12:16 am
pogo — this is the new “post-Citizens United” world. You have the right-wing Supreme Court to thank for this. Would you join the 99% in opposing that ruling and other 5-4 “judicial activism” by Scalia and friends?
RF
October 10th, 2012
12:21 am
“socialism and gov’t spending and over promising politicians did the damage”
So billybob, we were under socialism with Bush and the Boyz? WOW, who knew? I thought Obama was the socialist. Now I’m just confused….or are you? You do realize the recession hit during the administration of, and the first bailouts were begun by Georgie-boy Bush, right?
Big Al
October 10th, 2012
12:25 am
It’s no secret that the wealthy pass on the expense of their lifestyle onto those who lack the resources or the knowledge to walk away. But, we should always remember, as he said, his workers ARE free. They are closer to peace and enlightenment than he is. So if any of them see this letter as some kind of threat, they should stand up to this attempt at making them afraid and walk away. Obama’s plans helps the greater good, not the priveleged few. Obama’s plans liberate people, not enslave them. If you’ve ever been in a situation where you felt trapped, read this again and see what the face of oppression looks like. You have a job because you EARNED it, it was not handed to you to be treated like a gift you should have to sacrifice anything else to keep. In other words folks, when you’re off the clock, you don’t owe nobody nothin!
Mary Elizabeth
October 10th, 2012
12:30 am
Billybob, we simply see reality differently. I have to call it the way I see it.
Look at those coal miners’ unexpressive faces and their vacant eyes. Nonverbal communication tells more than words sometimes. You have made, imo, a sweeping remark with “Obama believes that all should be equal in outcome.” I do not believe he is advocating that. He is simply advocating that government can play a positive role in helping to give citizens a chance for greater upward mobility, as the GI Bill had done for working class veterans coming out of WWII. What is wrong with that? To consider the GI Bill as making “all equal in outcome” is not true; it simply gave those veterans equal opportunity to succeed, which they did not have before getting the education that the GI Bill offered them. Government can help to give people a “hand up” in becoming more successful and self-sufficient.
Obama does not want to “fundamentally transform the U.S.” anymore than Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted to “fundamentally transform the U.S.” Both men simply want(ed) the U.S. to live up to its highest promises and ideals. They both want(ed) the American Dream made realistically available to every citizen. You will not see that kind of America under Romney. Under Romney, you will see an inherently unequal America, in which the rich elite are the ruling power class and the other Americans become the underclasses serve their will and needs. That vision is essentially unAmerican. Don’t be fooled.
I would love to “play” more, Billybob, but I am heading to “dreamland” now.
Have a good night!
Welcome to the Occupation
October 10th, 2012
12:31 am
Billybob: “socialism and gov’t spending and over promising politicians did the damage”
Not so.
bman
October 10th, 2012
12:34 am
Mary E -
Fear tactics. What message do you think Obama is running on? Hope and change is so 2008.
By the way, I don’t think anyone likes the guy in the article…including his wife.
RF
October 10th, 2012
12:35 am
“and obama is the one who has stated he will bankrupt the coal industry”
Well, he ACTUALLY said in January 2008, before he was even nominated as the Democratic candidate in a discussion about opening new coal-fired plants:
“The only thing I’ve said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a (sic) ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.”
His “bankruptcy” comment was based on a hypothetical cap and trade policy. He said that if someone wanted to open a NEW coal plant, then he thought the cap and trade policy would bankrupt it. That was part of a theoretical energy policy to control pollution from coal burning and generate funds for alternative energy. It was months before even the nomination, and I don’t recall hearing anything about it after Jan. of ‘08. It didn’t come up in debates and hasn’t made it into any legislation or policy yet. Sooooo, your point?
As if
October 10th, 2012
12:38 am
First of all, to the one who posted…wealth envy. Give me a break….envious of the tasteless empty pompous excess of this pathetic human being is really laughable. Look at him! He’s disgusting. Its really telling that hes doing so well to be able to build that gaudy…make me vomit…waste of space on this earth, yet can’t afford to pay his employees. I thought he said his business is doing better? In this economy thats pretty good, huh? So with Obama he does well. Basically he wants to continue with the Bush tax cuts, which SHOULD BE LEFT TO EXPIRE. He’s selfish and he’s threatening his employees. The people who got him where he is today. Again…give me a break! People can have wealth and have character at the same time. Look at Warren Buffet.
James
October 10th, 2012
1:00 am
This is baloney! This argument of his “attained” wealth has flaws… No one told him he didn’t have to take off from developing his business or investing every single dime he has into his own private wealth fund which is enabling him to build a 23 room mansion! F**k him and his fat belly… He needs to get a liposuction and stop playing the violin on his poor employees who don’t “understand” the woes of business ownership! And don’t infringe on my voting choices with my job! That is NOT right! Ohhhhhh this article makes me so mad. I could slap him with a greasy double cheeseburger right now!!
CEO sends letter to employees of Westgate Resorts telling them they’d better think twice about who they vote for, because if Obama is reelected they may lose their jobs. « Family Survival Protocol
October 10th, 2012
1:58 am
[...] David Siegel and the billionaire’s sad lament (blogs.ajc.com) [...]
STEVEN JOSEFSBERG
October 10th, 2012
3:08 am
I will celebrate his death with some fava beans a a nice Chianti.
STEVEN JOSEFSBERG
October 10th, 2012
3:14 am
David Siegal, I will celebrate your death with son fava beans and a nice Chianti!
TJ
October 10th, 2012
4:12 am
LOL this guy a clown. He even went so far as to rip his letter from the scare letter that was going around the net in 2008!
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/valuedemployees.asp
Mitt Romney's Debate Format (STYLE)
October 10th, 2012
5:13 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3I6t3VodO4
stands for decibels
October 10th, 2012
5:55 am
F**k him and his fat belly…
yeah, you’d think with all this alleged self-discipline he’s yammering about in his screed…
stands for decibels
October 10th, 2012
5:58 am
the scare letter that was going around the net in 2008!
which in turn probably originated in Karl Rove’s boiler room.
LeRoi2
October 10th, 2012
6:20 am
What a bunch of class envying cellar dwellers. You all fall over your selves trying out do one another with snarky comments, that show your true selves. This man started a business that employs 7000 people, and provides them with a good living. He put everything he owned at risk, and a few of you idiots tried to criticize him for that. Most of you work and live your entire life and never save more than 6 weeks of salary in the bank at one time in your lives. You have nothing in common with a man like this, and would never want to. It’s easier to elect a Comrad Obama, and have him use the Federal Government to redistribute the wealth to everyone. Let the good times roll, until all of someone else’s money runs out. Gimme gimme gimme, I want!
Anyway, here is a nice little article about Comrad Barack. Many of you may have seen, through alternative media, of foreign media, Comrad Obama appearing in front of black preachers, faking a deep black accent, and complaining that the money the Federal Government loaned New Orleans had to have a local match in funds, or the Federal Government would expect to be repaid. The Bush Adminisration was doing this because the victims were mostly black, and Bush and ALL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT are racist!
Just one problem, OBAMA VOTED 2 WEEKS EARLIER HIMSELF TO DENY FUNDING! He was one of only 17 senators to vote against it! Then he goes in front of his people, and LIES!
I have attached the link. It’s pretty straight forward but I know how deeply in denial his Zombies are. After November 6 he will get his wish to live in Hawaii and goof off all day. Same thing he has done his entire life.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/barack_obama_pants_on_fire.html
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
October 10th, 2012
6:29 am
“Neoliberal austerity sending Europe into a downward spiral towards fascism. ”
ummm … neoLIBERAL austerity??
UK – Tory government (maybe you remember the Tories … brought you Maggie Thatcher)
Spain – Conservative
France – was conservative until a few months ago
Germany – Gauk is an anti-communist centrist (and then there’s Angela Merkel by his side)
Italy – Monti is actually A-political and has appointed a government of technocrats to pull Italy out of the mire that Berlusconi left the place in …
so neo-liberal??? not so much.
A Simple Man
October 10th, 2012
6:37 am
It’s okay if no one’s rich as long as everyone’s poor…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
October 10th, 2012
6:41 am
“It’s okay if no one’s rich as long as everyone’s poor…”
no, it’s okay to be rich as long as you’re not threatening your employees about how they vote.
godless heathen
October 10th, 2012
6:49 am
Granny Godzilla – Union Thugette
October 9th, 2012
4:55 pm
That’s a trophy wife?
I see he didn’t come in …first.
Madmax
October 10th, 2012
6:52 am
New report from State Department that says there was no demonstration outside the embassy. As Alice said, it gets curiouser and curiouser. What is the truth and who is running the country?
Wilbur
October 10th, 2012
7:03 am
All Obama has brought this country is more division, more hatred, more envy, more debt, more misery and more lies. By his own measures and by any other he has failed miserably as president and as a leader. He is an insular ideologue bent on a narrow, left wing agenda for America.
Jm
October 10th, 2012
7:04 am
“cellar dwellers”
That’s about right
The Wealth envy is overflowing this morning
Shows that the critics have as little class as Dbag Siegel
Jm
October 10th, 2012
7:08 am
Hillary Clinton is looking worse and worse in the Benghazi Stevens assassination
Why was Stevens request to take security with him to Benghazi denied??
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
October 10th, 2012
7:10 am
well THIS is promising:
When they leave, instead of switching churches, they join the growing ranks who do not identify with any religion. Nearly one in five Americans say they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.”
This is a significant jump from only five years ago, when adults who claimed “no religion” made up about 15 percent of the population. It is a seismic shift from 40 years ago, when about 7 percent of American adults said they had no religious affiliation.
Now, more than one-third of those ages 18 to 22 are religiously unaffiliated. These “younger millennials” are replacing older generations who remained far more involved with religion throughout their lives.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/us/study-finds-that-the-number-of-protestant-americans-is-declining.html?hp
Call It Like It Is
October 10th, 2012
7:12 am
Idiots on both sides. Wonder if Jay will hit on all the jackwagons calling Stacy Dash an indoor slave because she came out to support Mitt?
Doggone/GA
October 10th, 2012
7:14 am
“Wonder if Jay will hit on all the jackwagons calling Stacy Dash an indoor slave because she came out to support Mitt?”
blogspot.com is ready when you are
Madmax
October 10th, 2012
7:15 am
Jay, This is a pitiful attempt to paint the rich as evil by finding the most flamboyant idiot you can and exposing him (assuming the letter is real?) in the hope of convincing people, by inference, that this is the group that is targeted by the Obama tax policy when nothing is further from the truth. The vast majority of the people that will be hit by the Obama tax increase, passed (Obamacare) and proposed will be the people who work hard and where both partners work so that they can provide a better start for their children. But you are not interested in truth, you are interested in stirring up class division and keeping your pack of followers fed with propoganda.
Doggone/GA
October 10th, 2012
7:15 am
“This is a pitiful attempt to paint the rich as evil ”
And yet another to add to the list who missed Jay’s point
GT
October 10th, 2012
7:16 am
Stevens case is very coincidental. The news comes out at the right time. If this was the administration doing this Jack Welsh would be screaming. Sometimes I think these guys set their stage by doing before hand a distraction like the unemployment numbers so when they do their sabotage , while people are looking the wrong direction.
Madmax
October 10th, 2012
7:18 am
No Doggonee, you lap up Jay’s bilge which keeps you fed.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
October 10th, 2012
7:19 am
“And yet another to add to the list who missed Jay’s point”
whatever happened to teaching reading comprehension in our schools???
this is what happens when you teach to the test. I’m just sayin’.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
October 10th, 2012
7:21 am
seriously, Mad, the point has evidently gone whizzing over your head if you think this is a screed about his wealth.
Jm
October 10th, 2012
7:23 am
Madmax – generally true
But in fairness to Jay, this thing is getting pretty wide “play”
The dbag wrote the letter, Jay is just highlighting it, as are many others on both sides of the political spectrum
Madmax
October 10th, 2012
7:24 am
USink – yes reading comprehension is a very good trait, unfortunately, the brainwashed, and I include you in this group based on your response, don’t seem to be able to discern the underlying theme of why Jay picks certain people and topics for discussion.
Morning Reads for Wednesday, October 10 — Peach Pundit
October 10th, 2012
7:25 am
[...] Owner of Westgate Resorts writes to employees economy isn’t threatening their jobs, Obama is [...]
GT
October 10th, 2012
7:25 am
One of the things Romney is doing is daring someone in a debate to call him a liar. I watch some tape of his Mass. debates, he trash his opponent a woman who back off him while he flip flopped on abortion. His whole defense is to act indignant, his wife even gets into the act. He lies and then tell the audience he is sick and tire of people calling him a liar. What O has to do is connect this guy to his supporters, there is no way he can support his new liberal agenda that is taking votes away from Obama while feed his mob. The lady in Mass. didn’t have that option, in Mass. the Republicans are paper tigers.
Doggone/GA
October 10th, 2012
7:26 am
“No Doggonee, you lap up Jay’s bilge which keeps you fed”
Too late. You’ve already made it clear you completely missed the point. Insulting me won’t change that.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
October 10th, 2012
7:29 am
“why Jay picks certain people and topics for discussion.”
“Jay” didn’t pick him for this topic – maybe if you read the news a bit more, you’d see that this story is being WIDELY reported by such liberal rags as Forbes – hell, it’s even been picked up here in the UK in the Daily Mail (NOT a liberal broadsheet)
Madmax
October 10th, 2012
7:31 am
Everyone agrees the guy is an idiot both before and after he wrote the letter. Jay puts it out here for an example of the “1%”. With our national debt at $16.2 trillion, unemployment at 12-13 million, conflicting reports from within the administration about the ME, a president who campaigns with Sesame Street characters and Jay decides the most pressing thing to discuss is a wealthy jerk.
Doggone/GA
October 10th, 2012
7:32 am
“Jay puts it out here for an example of the “1%”
And he STILL misses the point. Give it up Bud, before you’re in so deep you can’t climb back out.
Jay
October 10th, 2012
7:33 am
Some 500-plus comments, and not one mention of the Death of a Salesman reference in the post?
Sheets.
Glenn
October 10th, 2012
8:01 am
From Glenn Oct 9 10:52 pm
Jay, your article lit up the boards tonight. Doesn’t take much to stir the class warfare and envy crowd. Let’s take a little time to research the authenticity of the letter. The letter you attribute to David Siegel looks oddly similar to a letter scored as LEGEND on Scopes.com. http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/valuedemployees.asp
Great “journalism”, JB. Do the work.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So after 500 comments based on your blog post yesterday, JB, still no admission on your part that the letter was most likely a hoax? Man up, JB.
Citizen of the World
October 10th, 2012
8:01 am
This may have already come up, but there was a movie that came out recently about this guy and his wife and their incomplete mansion — “The Queen of Versailles.” Quite entertaining on many levels.
In it, he claims responsibility for GWB having won Florida in 2000, and then laughs and says he better not say anymore since what he did was probably illegal.
Jay
October 10th, 2012
8:07 am
Glenn, that’s quite a charge you make there. However, as I already knew but you clearly did not, Gawker.com called David Siegel directly, prior to my posting, to confirm the email’s authenticity. This is what Gawker found:
“Shortly after we posted this letter, we found out, thanks to multiple readers, that it bore suspicious resemblances to a popular chain letter that was circulated just before the 2008 elections. Well, we just got off the phone with David Siegel, who told us the letter below is real, and that it was sent out to all of his employees yesterday. “I did use the letter that had circulated before as a guideline, but I changed it [to fit my circumstances],” he told us. “It speaks the truth and it gives [employees] something to think about when they go to the polls.” He also said that its threats of possible layoffs are real, based on his assessment of the political and economic climate. He added that he “hasn’t had any negative feedback” on the letter.
Now, in a general sense, your admonition to “take a little time to research” before making claims is perfectly valid and good advice. In this particular instance, however, it is you who failed to undertake that necessary research, not I. It is you who made ungrounded accusations.
So find a mirror and tell “Glenn” exactly what you told me above.
Scott
October 10th, 2012
8:18 am
I wish he would have just spent his time in the park business so we would still have the Mystery Fun House her in Orlando. Nope I sure do not care he wont make millions more.
Glenn
October 10th, 2012
8:31 am
Wow! JB, I stand corrected and apologize. I made an assumption that that the similarities of the letters proved both to be Legend. Do wish you had made us all privy to your background check with Gawker. Nevertheless, when I am wrong I will admit it. I was wrong.
Mighty Righty
October 10th, 2012
9:02 am
Wealth envy is not pretty. Take from those who labor, sweat and earn their wealth and give that wealth to the King for the purpose of bribing the peasants into keeping the King in power until the King can retire on zillions of dollars or “tax exempt” income seized from the peasants unearned wealth trough. Obamarxisim at its finest.
BUBBLES
October 10th, 2012
9:03 am
IS VERY SICK OF THIS MADNESS….OR REALLLLLLLLLLY HUH? DO HE REALLLLLY HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO??? WELL, I HAVE BETTER NEWS THEN THIS TIRED BLAH BLAH BLAH…WAKE UP PEOPLE….REVELATION 19:16-17 AND HE HAS ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH A NAME WRITTEN: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! PSALMS 1:4-6 HE WHO SITS IN HEAVEN SHALL LAUGH; THE LORD SHALL HOLD THEM IN DERISION. THEN HE SHALL SPEAK TO “THEM” IN HIS WRATH, AND DISTRESS “THEM” IN HIS DEEP DISPLEASURE: “YET I HAVE SET MY KING ON MY HOLY HILL OF ZION”….GOD MAKE KINGS, AND CAN ALSO, BRING DOWN KINGS!!!!…..SLOW DOWN devil…..
LETS US NOT FORGET WHO REALLY “IS” INCONTROL HERE….I WISH I COULD SEND MR. DAVID SIEGEL AN EMAIL OF WHAT I AM ABOUT TO WRITE….I BELIEVE ALL POLITICS WORK TOGETHER, AND WORK FOR satan himself! A NEW WORLD ORDER IS BEING SET IN PLACE!…IS IT SCARY??? ABSOLUTLY!!! BUT JESUS SAID, “THESE THINGS “MUST” COME TO PAST”! (MATTHEW 24) GOD SAID, I AM, WHO I AM! WHO HAVE THE MIND OF GOD? OR WHO CAN NUMBER THE STARS IN THE SKY?? Ezekiel 3:8, 11, 27 — “Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads….And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse….But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.”.Ezekiel 29:3-5 — “Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, Who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’ But I will put hooks in your jaws, And cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales; I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, And all the fish in your rivers will stick to your scales. I will leave you in the wilderness, You and all the fish of your rivers; You shall fall on the open field; You shall not be picked up or gathered. I have given you as food To the beasts of the field And to the birds of the heavens.” ’ ”
…Foolish men exalt themselves before You, O God, thinking they are “creators” in some original sense, and “self-made men.” It is You who have made us, and not we ourselves (Psa.100:3). Those who exalt themselves against You will be utterly overthrown, along with all those who rely on them. Prevent Your people today from thinking that we need alliances with the ungodly. Give us an absolute trust in You alone. Teach us that “the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (II Cor.10:4). Humble the nations and their leaders; cause them to bow in Your presence and acknowledge Your as their Creator, Judge, and only Savior. Let us fear being “self-made men,” or ever thinking of ourselves as those who create and control their environment and our own lives. Keep Your church from foolish pride, O Lord. Let us take note of the example of the Egypts of the world, going their own way and setting themselves at the center of the world. Cause us to bow before You today in humble submission and acknowledge You as Lord.
THE LORD WANT ALL, TO COME TO REPENTANCE!!! AND PRAY AS A NATION!! TO STAND FOR HIM, NOT “THEM”….(SHAKING MY HEAD)…..
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,[a]
As in the day of trial[b] in the wilderness,
9 When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Psalm 95:6-11
Classic Conservative
October 10th, 2012
9:11 am
“love thy neighbor…”
kay moroney
October 10th, 2012
9:13 am
What an obnoxious individual. Useless people on this earth. Does he think his wife would look at him if he didn’t have $$$$$. He needs a girdle !!!
BUBBLES
October 10th, 2012
9:19 am
A quick bible study lesson- When the Most High gave instructions to the Israelites to put the Blood around their door post, the BLOOD was to SAVE them from the destruction ahead… Since the beginning, when sin fell unto man, the blood of animals has always been a sacrificial ritual used to TEMPORARY blot out sins from a Holy GOD, however, once the sacrifice was made, the people would continue to sin… This is why the sacrifices of animals was soon REPLACED….. by the sacrifice of the One who was WITHOUT sin, and who’s blood was POWERFUL enough to PERMANENTLY take away the sins of the world. The most High had a backup plan, the animal sacrifices was only used until the coming of the MESSIAH, who was empowered by GOD to take away the sins of the world! This is why we LOVE HIM, SEEK HIM, PRAISE HIM….Because He IS our SAVIOR & REDEEMER… IF U BELIEVE & FOLLOW HIM *JESUS* THE MOST HIGH WILL SURELY WATCH OVER YOU, GUIDE YOU, SUPPLY FOR YOU… JUST AS HE DID THE ISRAELITES!!!:) AGAIN, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU?… ALL “JESUS SAID”, “IT IS FINISHED”.! BUT ASK YOURSELF… DO ‘U’ BELIEVE HIM?!?!
John 3:16 KJV For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should NOT perish, but have everlasting life.
BELIEVE, IS THE KEY…BELIEVE IN HIS SALVATION, BELIEVE IN HIS PLAN, BELIEVE IN HIS WILL, BELIEVE IN HIS BLOOD, BELIEVE IN HIS DIRECTION, BELIEVE IN THIS SECOND COMING, BELIEVE IN HIS PROMISES & PROMISE OF EVER LASTING LIFE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BELIEVE THAT “IT IS FINISHED!” AMEN!!!
BELIEVE IN HIS CALLING, BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, BELIEVE THAT “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, AND IS CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE” I CAN GO ON AND ON…BUT NOTICE GOD SAYS “WHOSOEVER BELIEVE” THIS IS THE.FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH…FAITH IS BELIEVING IN THE “UNKNOWN” AND “UNSEEN” AND WE ALL NO THAT WITHOUT FAITH, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD!!!
Bless ALL who come in the Name of the Lord! Bless ALL who reads this. I Pray that the One and True God, will show you GREAT and MIGHTY things in Him, in Jesus Name I Pray Amen! Come and be apart of a POWERFUL movement that change History, and still changing, PLUS changing lives Every single day! Remember Jesus Loves you & so do I! ~WALKING IN DESTINY MOMENTUM & ENJOYING EVERY DAY LIFE~
too little time
October 10th, 2012
9:19 am
I’m not feeling too sorry for this guy. But what got me is Jays comment:
If he couldn’t support a family that large, why did he keep having children?
When someone says this about the poor, liberals jump all in their shiite. Feeling a little hypocrisy here, Jay?
Or how about this statement:
And if he made all the right decisions, why did he come so close to bankruptcy?
Seriously? MILLIONS of folks in this recession made the right choices and still lost their houses, their savings and went bankrupt. You championed those folks. Feeling a little more hypocrisy?
I don’t feel sorry for this guy, but it is not because of the reasons you mention. He took a risk, and almost lost it all. He is not asking that you feel sorry for him. He merely wants to point out that he WORKS FOR and DESERVES what he has earned. He DID “build that”.
RR
October 10th, 2012
9:20 am
I may not agree on Siegels family lifestyle and choices, but I certainly agree in less government FEES and TAXES (look at your cell phone bill, gas bill, cable bill) even for the Siegels of our country who CREATE JOBS people!!! I tried to open a business 7 years ago and every time we turned around some government entity was gettting a check from us. We had to close after 5 years and a $40,000 loss to us along with people losing their jobs. Learn to read more AMERICA, pick up the Naked Communist written in 1958 and see what can happen if we let government be our father, mother, employer and sole provider.
BUBBLES
October 10th, 2012
9:25 am
17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.
19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
Relevation 3:17-19
Former Westgate manager
October 10th, 2012
9:34 am
I worked for David (Westgate) for 4 years in the mid 90’s. I was paid very well (six figures) duing that time. The one thing I hated about him is he ALWAYS forced his own political agenda onto his employees. When the county sheriff was running again for office…A check for $500 was required, Mayor meant another $500. This went on all the way up from county, state and to the president. It was claimed as your cost to have the luxury to work for him and make a good living, if you didnt pay, you wouldn’t be there long. I remember when all of his employees bought his wife (now ex) a new Bentley that came straight out of your paycheck, wasn’t an option to say no.
I knew a guy from the UK that filed a lawsuit after he left the company and won.
I see more legal troubles in his near future after that email.
He’s not the quality person he claims to be. Just watch the movie “Queen of Versailles” and you cane see just how engaged he is with his own children.
BTW, his wife Jackie is a drunk and has fooled around with at least two of his employees that I personally know of. Bash me if youd like, but dont bash the truth!
Former Westgate manager
October 10th, 2012
9:34 am
BTW, Im already voting for Mitt!
ATC Zer0
October 10th, 2012
9:37 am
A “1 percenters” bitch and moan. Quit your crying! For Heavy Snakes, you got billions.
Its kinda of long, but it shows you the attitude of the extremely rich not wanting to share.
David Siegal is a tool. You sound like a 3rd grader on a playground after some less than fortunate kid took your candy. Shut up ! we dont care if you cant build your 90,000 square ft home. Boo HOO!
independent thinker
October 10th, 2012
9:48 am
I don’t know what is more pathetic- this guy with his huge house and trophy/stripper wife or Mitt with hsi offshore accounts and car elevator. Is this the reality we want a president to live in? Mitt spilling his inner disdain in front of rich donors for the 47% is not different than Republicans taking the no tax pledge and refusing to consider any proposal of the President. They are not capable of performing their constitutional duties of representing the best interests of the entire country..
Randy
October 10th, 2012
9:49 am
Once again we are off the subject…this is not about how rich a person is, how he or she spends his or her money, or the choices he or she makes. Its about government taking away choices. The abillity to build a business and employee people. When taxed beyond reason (Obamacare) the business will not grow and or expand and in fact many times fail. Our president is not for jobs (unless they are government…which is where the most seem to be created). He talks good but his record does not back up his talk. There is only one choice come election day…if someone is not doing the job or can’t do the job they MUST be replaced. PERIOD!
Sharon Smith
October 10th, 2012
9:50 am
You are a old rich ass white man and everyone should boycott Westgate. My family has a timeshare and I will be encouraging them to sell it now. I guess billionaires stick together. GOD HELP YOU.
Brad Inwood
October 10th, 2012
10:28 am
Why should we give OBAMA 4 more years, so he can finish us off for good?? If he had the answers, things would have improved by now.
Erin Porter
October 10th, 2012
10:38 am
“If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at who he gave it to.”–Dorothy Parker
Darryl Hitchings
October 10th, 2012
11:18 am
Mr Bookman, your comments below clearly show that you do not understand the concept and the heart of Mr. Siegel’s point. You are caught up in jealous envy like the majority of the commentators. If you think that EVERY person that has their own business is doing as well as this man, then you are mistaken. Redistribution has never succeeded for long throughout the world. Think Stalinism and the Third Reich. Have you ever heard of the Industrial Revolution that started in the late 1800’s? This was taught in history class. You don’t need a degree in economics and finance to understand this. I ask you: did this occur through redistributional socialism, or through capitalism? Obviously capitalism. All socialists (democrats) are attacking the wrong people, i.e., those who are successful. As Mr Siegel says, you should be attacking your elected leaders in Washington who are promoting the wrong policies. The reason we no longer have an industrial revolution and lack of jobs is because jobs are being shipped overseas through HIGHER TAXES and OVER-REGULATION. Californians are now experiencing this very thing through higher gasoline prices caused by over-regulation by the government and the Clean Air Act passed in 1990, among other senseless regulation requiring different blends for each state. I could go on and on, but anyone thinking about voting for Obama again had better change their mindset or as Mr. Siegel says, they REALLY could be out of a job.
Juan De la Sierra
October 10th, 2012
11:27 am
This CEO is what is really wrong with America: pure unadulterated selfishness. In time this tycoon fascism will destroy the America that has been the beacon of freedom for the world.
Mary Elizabeth
October 10th, 2012
11:34 am
“Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.”
============================================
Jay, I did notice your ironical reference to Willy Loman, the traveling salesman in Authur Miller’s prize winning play “Death of A Saleman,” as stated by Willy’s wife, Linda, played by the fine actress Mildred Dunnock, in your words, above.
I caught that the “attention, attention” line was meant as a lament by Miller’s Linda for the cruel fate of the average American – the traveling salesman – of that era, of 1940s and 1950s America, and that you used it ironically to show how there is – now – a lament for the situation of the wealthy, such as for the David Siegels of modern day America. That is the unfortunate and strange twist that has happened in the American consciousness in the past 60 years. Of course, I think this change of consciousness has been deliberately twisted, by the stealthy means.
loren
October 10th, 2012
11:35 am
The point is not that this guy has his opinion, its that he chooses to try to force it on his work force. Doing that is against labor laws and that’s the problem. He pays his employees to perform a duty. They earn there money based on the task they perform. I assure u that he didnt ask their opinion on business decisions he makes or personal decisions he makes. He shouldn’t involve himself in the decisions they make in choosing a president. Btw, if he thinks he and his employees have the same challenges he is sadly mistaken. I own a west gate property and due to this guys decision to go public with his ideas its going on the market. Thanks for letting us 99%ers know how you really feel.
Sincerely,
A (former west gate owner)
mary virginia devine, ph.d.
October 10th, 2012
12:16 pm
Mr. Siegel ought to remember what happened to the original Versailles. Alas, the revolutionaries trashed the place. (Since it was nothing but a Bourbon ego monument, the partial destruction of Versailles was no loss to humanity.) If Mr.Siegel doesn’t want to witness a replay of 1789, he’d better grow a brain and start sharing his stash with his wage slaves. A Romney victory could spark a revolution whch would make the events of 1789 look like the sack race at a Cub Scout carnival. Assuming that Mr. and Mrs. Siegel don’t desire to end up like Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, cessation of their oligarchic arrogance is sincerely recommended. Here’s a message for the Siegels: NOBLESSE OBLIGE.
Mike_T
October 10th, 2012
1:07 pm
This guy Siegel doesn’t get it. He puts himself in a class by himself by stating that as a member of the so-called 1%, he is not like the other 1%. “I did this, I did that, I didn’t do like the others”. Does that not establish some form of existence of the stigma he is crying out against. Ok Mr. Siegel, so you are not like the others. In this great land of America, you are the beacon Mr. Siegel. We were all wrong. Yet in all your 42 years of business, where was this lament to the others to stop fueling the stigma that you are indirectly disassociating yourself from and now pleading to your employees to vote for what benefits you and your business. Nevermind any other reasons for voting for a candidate, let’s just plead your case here for whom you want in office Mr. Siegel. Because I am sure you know, we all want you to be able to finish that house. And you’re shocked at the labeling. The gross mistake here Mr. Siegel other than infringing on someone’s voting right without perceived repercussions, is that you are talking to your employees as if they are peers. Nothing in your letter rewards the employees if your candidate wins. Oh!, they get to keep their jobs…really. Isn’t it quite possible Mr. Siegel that everyone of your employees could vote for Romney and he still loses. How will you know this or not? So your letter is utterly disgusting. Now we know who Romney was speaking to when he made the 47% comment. Mr. Siegel, you are an ironic desperate hypocrite for lamenting to your employees as peers about the stigma. Don’t cry about the position, your real peers have put you in. Maybe you should talk to them.
Mike_T
October 10th, 2012
1:14 pm
meant to say “infringement on one’s voting right WITH perceived repercussions” in my previous statement
Bluecrab
October 10th, 2012
2:18 pm
Thank you very Mr. Siegel for clarifying your political stand regarding our current President and especially for your threat to your employees. We have never knowingly stayed at any of your resorts or time-shares, now we will certainly NEVER do that.
I feel for your many employees, some (or many) of whom are members of the middle class, and will never reach your vaulted economic class, especially while working for a CEO as you.
mic cat
October 10th, 2012
2:37 pm
DAVID SIEGEL- WHAT A SCUMBAG. HE IS TYPICAL OF HIS KIND: GREEDY, SELFISH,EGOTISTICAL, SHAMELESS and. GENERALLY EVIL. BOYCOTT WESTGATE RESORTS. DON’T SUPPORT THE GRINCH’S EMPIRE. AND MR. SIEGEL, DON’T FORGET TO PAY YOUR TAXES,I NEED THEM. BUT I DOUBT THAT YOU. PAY MUCH TAXES.
J Corley Ackley
October 10th, 2012
3:11 pm
OH FREAKIN BARF!!!!!
Thedinger
October 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
What a dick…head, as he is playing with peoples livelihoods. I hope he goes broke.