Sick of the AIG bailout? Boycott Stowe!

[JD]

Why at those areas?

Would you ride a lift at Burke?

How about out of VT at say Cannon or Wildcat?

Because I get 2fers when I buy beer for them.....and I like the vibe. I would ride lifts at nice chill areas if they got hammered and I was in the area...prolly wouldn't drive for it though...This year I didn't ride any lifts....I went to but MRG never opened the Single so I just lapped it all day. I'll never give Stowe any money though.

 

[deadheadskier]

Isn't this just like saying, "I'm not going to say anything and risk losing money"?

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this.


I'm not happy about the bailout of AIG and that it's coming from my tax dollars. That said, not only are their employees in other divisions that I don't feel should be penalized because of the behavior of one corrupt division, but I don't want the many innocent people who own stock in the company to be penalized either.

My hope is that they are able to break up the company in a way that innocent employees are able to keep their jobs in better ownership environments and share holders can recoup some of their investment.

The greedy few that caused this mess I have no mercy for, but those who have nothing to do with it I most certainly do.


One thing that amazes me is that the Stowe development project initially around 97 was much smaller in scale and centered around a pipeline to waterbury resevoir. The cost was $220 million. The project was proposed because the state was going to reduce Stowe's water withdrawal ability to 25% of the current amount at that time. AIG refused to pay for simply larger snowmaking ponds and wanted a real estate project to finance it.

Amazing that they wouldn't pony up what was probably $15 million necessary to construct snowmaking ponds, yet today they have no problem giving out $173 million in bonuses to a couple of hundred crooked executives.

 

[mondeo]

but I don't want the many innocent people who own stock in the company to be penalized either.

They aren't innocent. They're the ones invested in AIG because of the terrific short term gains that resulted from the risky decisions. If you don't understand and accept the risks of stocks, you shouldn't be in the stock market.

 

[Phildozer]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this.

My point is, right, wrong or indifferent, Stowe is part of AIG.

If you patronize Stowe, you're in-part supporting a corrupt company. It may be small gesture, but every little bit counts. Although my ski season is over (ok, it never started) I certainly wouldn't do it at Stowe.

Smuggler's Notch would be the logical choice.

 

[deadheadskier]

My point is, right, wrong or indifferent, Stowe is part of AIG.

If you patronize Stowe, you're in-part supporting a corrupt company. It may be small gesture, but every little bit counts. Although my ski season is over (ok, it never started) I certainly wouldn't do it at Stowe.

Smuggler's Notch would be the logical choice.

Like I said, I have a personal connection to the resort with many, many friends living and working in that area. They've done nothing wrong and I don't feel they should be penalized for it. I'm concerned with the little guy. If you want to go after 'the man', go for it.

Smuggs is no more a logical choice than Sugarbush. It's equally as far away from Stowe.

 

[deadheadskier]

They aren't innocent. They're the ones invested in AIG because of the terrific short term gains that resulted from the risky decisions. If you don't understand and accept the risks of stocks, you shouldn't be in the stock market.

Fully aware of that, but if they were uninformed, had their 401K tied to AIG unknowingly or mislead by a crooked broker, I do have some sympathy. The stock market is legalized gambling essentially though, I agree with you there.

 

[bigbog]

...skiing resort expenses...

Phildozer...(Agree with you about how it smells)
I don't think the employees or lower management at Stowe would have much to say about who their leader is.... It's usually all about $$$. With AIG and the rest of the scumbags, it's been Washington that has allowed them the freedom to operate without any regulation, from 1980s till now...*NOT that that should dictate how one abides by the law...I'd like to see the lawyers/accountants who live to find the legal gaps for AIG management...become part of target practice for the US Army.
$.01

 

[billski]

It's odd isn't it, how the guys at the top benefit big time when things go great and the little guy in the company is rewarded disproportionately less. Juxtaposed against when things go bad, the little guy takes pay cuts, layoffs and the like, while the big guys responsible for those decisions still get their "retention bonuses" because the very perpetrators of bad decisions are deemed "essential" to the future success of the company.

Agree, let's not make the little guy pay for the deeds of the stupid. Unfortunately, that often comes to pass. I can only say that I'm glad they got the mansion built and is operating (while I take great delight in ribbing and ridicule in the court of popular opinion and will ne'er rest my head on their pillows.), with gainful employment before this happened.

 

[dmc]

My point is, right, wrong or indifferent, Stowe is part of AIG.

If you patronize Stowe, you're in-part supporting a corrupt company. It may be small gesture, but every little bit counts. Although my ski season is over (ok, it never started) I certainly wouldn't do it at Stowe.

Smuggler's Notch would be the logical choice.

F that...

Man you gotta be careful who you punish... Justice needs to be divvied out to those that did the dead not the guys who support families...

It's like people that idiotically say BOYCOTT GAS STATIONS!!!

Who do you think that hurts??? Big boss man??? No way... it's the guys that own and operate the station...

You should think more before you lay out your own special brand of justice...

 

[jjmcgo]

Dems didn't do due diligence

The Democrats should have done their due diligence and known that AIG had contracts to pay bonuses. The time to scream was before they voted, not after.

There are disasters like this in every bill they've passed.

 

[Phildozer]

You should think more before you lay out your own special brand of justice...

I vote with my dollars.

Just like I didn't go to Exxon stations (and still don't) after the oil spill in Alaska, I won't be skiing at Stowe. It's no different than someone choosing not to ski at Mad River Glen just because they exclude snowboarders.

 

[dmc]

I vote with my dollars.

Just like I didn't go to Exxon stations (and still don't) after the oil spill in Alaska, I won't be skiing at Stowe. It's no different than someone choosing not to ski at Mad River Glen just because they exclude snowboarders.

Do what you gotta do...
Just be careful who you punish....

 

[dmc]

The Democrats should have done their due diligence and known that AIG had contracts to pay bonuses. The time to scream was before they voted, not after.

There are disasters like this in every bill they've passed.

Yo,,, No politics....

Cause I'm ready to pounce all over this neo-con bullshit,,,

 

[deadheadskier]

I vote with my dollars.

Just like I didn't go to Exxon stations (and still don't) after the oil spill in Alaska, I won't be skiing at Stowe. It's no different than someone choosing not to ski at Mad River Glen just because they exclude snowboarders.

So, when Stowe inevitably changes hands to a new ownership, you'll give them your business? Even though the service providers are the exact same people you currently shun?

What if the Stowe Mountain Company treats their employees better....better pay, better benefits than Smuggs? You'd still rather give your business to Smuggs?

If the gas station down the street changes hands from Exxon to Sunoco, you'll start going there? What if the owner of the station would like to switch to Sunoco for the very same issues he has with Exxon regarding the oil spill that you have, but Sunoco charges ridiculous franchise fees and he can't afford to feed his family by doing so?

I'm someone who typically is all about principle, which is what you're talking about with this thread. I get that. However, in the grand scheme of things; if my choices are hurting the little guy more than the entity I'm trying to protest, my choices will always reside with supporting the little guy.

 

[mondeo]

So if you boycott Stowe, why stop there? Boycott every ski area whose insurance policy is with AIG, to cut off that source of income (70% of them.) Don't fly Alaskan, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, or US Air, because you might fly on a plan leased by ILFC, another unit of AIG. While you're at it, quit your job so you don't give the government any money that they can then send off to AIG.

The problem with doing something like boycotting is that there's no logical point to stop at. Often it's just whatever's convienient. Boycott Stowe, you have a larger impact on that business unit directly than the corporation as a whole, and meanwhile you don't really give up anything - just go ski somewhere else.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

good points by Mondeo and DeadHeadSkier

 

[Phildozer]

So, when Stowe inevitably changes hands to a new ownership, you'll give them your business? Even though the service providers are the exact same people you currently shun?

Just for the record, I am not calling for a boycott of Stowe.

Given the plethora of choices of places to ski, as long as Stowe is owned by AIG (which won't be long), I will chose to patronize other resorts.

Once it is sold, yes, I'll move it back up the list.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Just for the record, I am not calling for a boycott of Stowe.

Given the plethora of choices of places to ski, as long as Stowe is owned by AIG (which won't be long), I will chose to patronize other resorts.

Once it is sold, yes, I'll move it back up the list.

There's only one Stowe!!!! I like the vibe, the lifts and the terrain...

 

[Phildozer]

So if you boycott Stowe, why stop there? Boycott every ski area whose insurance policy is with AIG, to cut off that source of income (70% of them.) Don't fly Alaskan, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, or US Air, because you might fly on a plan leased by ILFC, another unit of AIG. While you're at it, quit your job so you don't give the government any money that they can then send off to AIG.

The problem with doing something like boycotting is that there's no logical point to stop at. Often it's just whatever's convienient. Boycott Stowe, you have a larger impact on that business unit directly than the corporation as a whole, and meanwhile you don't really give up anything - just go ski somewhere else.

Why stop there?

Because Stowe is owned by AIG. Airlines aren't. If AIG Airlines was flying, then no, I wouldn't give them my business.

 

[Phildozer]

There's only one Stowe!!!! I like the vibe, the lifts and the terrain...

I've never been so it's easier to not know what I'm missing!