While I do sympathize with several of the opinions posted here it seems that the real demon here is regularly overlooked.  The fact that everyone wants more, regardless of whether they are willing to work for it, continues to be at the heart of most of the problems facing America.  CEO's of publicly traded companies are over-compensated in today's culture because they continue to be the face on which hundreds of millions of investment dollars are placed daily.  They are beholden to an exponentially larger shareholder base who they report to and push-come-to-shove, shareholders want higher stock prices....they want higher dividends.  If it comes at the expense of some poor worker then you may want to consider that the next time you go asking your investment broker which stocks show promise for better growth.  What you want may come at someone else's expense; the only problem is no one likes it when the shoe is on the other foot.  I don't even want to get started on the whole UNION issue because it is and will continue to be the single largest problem facing domestic companies today.  The working conditions that were present during the Industrial Revolution and the need for a workplace with fair employment practices that have been pretty well remedied by OSHA and the EEOA.  The entire spirit of a union is one which says "we will band together to get what we want and if we don't get it, forget the company, we just won't work".  TAKE A LOOK AMERICA...it didn't work for the steel industry, it has crippled the auto manufacturers and is ruining markets all over the U.S.

For those of you who think that O'Bama is simply going to remedy this situation by waving a majic wand and chanting "O Yes We Can" you are sorely O'mistaken!!  Tighten your belts....we have several years of lean harvest ahead.

From another Alcoan poised to lose his job  - I don't think the communities can begin to understand how devastating the loss of jobs at alcoa will be. Over the years I have had "I hate my job" times when I have searched in vain to find a paycheck anywhere close to my Alcoa paycheck. We make good money, it comes out in blood sweat and tears and sometimes as much as 18 hr days on concrete floors but it is good pay. This money goes out to the community stores. When I think of what it means to all the of us.....I shake in my boots.  

When are you union employees going to wake up and smell the coffee?  You guys/gals had your day, but now the economy can't afford you any more.  Pure and simple.  Alcoa is no different than the auto companies going through the same thing.  You cry because the results of your union greed after all of these years is catching up to you.  You now expect your sorry asses to be covered under lucrative union contracts and make the rest of us pay for it in the long run.  It's because of your greed that drives companies to other countries.  Don't blame it completely on NAFTA and CAFTA.  You started it, so stop crying now that the economy you helped create is now molding your future.  What did you expect?   An endless pot of gold and benefits?  Guess what....here is the end of the rainbow.  Surprised it's an outhouse?