Mr. Trump, I couldn't agree with you more! I have to admit, however, that I went full circle with this. Growing up, I was scolded - just a look from my dad, or, a nice explanation from my grandmother that I was being impolite, when I didn't mind my own business - or bees wax, amongst children.

In Kansas, back then, you just didn't meddle into other people's affairs. In fact, even within my family, we don't discuss salaries. We just instinctively know how everyone is doing. If someone is not doing well, then, we help each other out. But, usually, a person would rather drop dead, then, admit that they need assistance. I know that is extreme, but, I think it is the attitude that everyone would rather figure it out for themselves, than complain. It is an attitude that my grandparents developed, having lived through Wars & the Great Depression. In other words, things could be a lot worse, so why complain.

Back to what I was saying earlier... I held onto these values until I moved to Florida at age 21. Suddenly, I met people who would broadcast everything! Not only did they broadcast their own business, but, if I told them something about myself, EVERYONE knew about it. This was very disconcerting in the beginning, and, I had a difficult time fitting in.

Eventually, I thought... okay, when in Rome... that didn't feel right, so I stopped talking, altogether. Very quickly, people realized that I was the ultimate confidante. I didn't say a word. It was almost as if they used me as their priest or something. I didn't think anything of it until I moved to NYC. This happens in Florida, as well... Not only do people discuss salaries, but, they become real tacky when it comes to buying things. I mean, plane tickets, cabs, or pre-owned automobiles are one thing, but, with most of these women, AND MEN, it's all about the least amount that you can pay for the most expensive of items. That's really off-putting to me. But, again, I thought... okay, if it's all about the deal, I bet I can spend even less money than you do! I did most of my shopping at the Salvation Army, and, was perfectly honest about it. After all, I was living within my means. I positively cringe when someone asks me how much something costs. It's none of their damn business. But, I jumped on the broadcasting bandwagon, like everyone else...because that's what people do, and, suddenly, they didn't like me. Guess I have too big of a mouth! Now, I'm back to my family values, because we were taught not to compare. My mother's saying for that was "tit for tat." We don't do that. This isn't a socialistic society. You have to work! Keep putting out positivity, and you will reap the rewards, ten-fold. But, I had to learn the hard way... tried short-cuts...like other people were taking, and, that put me back to square one. I should have stayed true to my instincts.

But, getting back to the way I was raised, I know what quality is, and, I know that you get what you pay for. I had to have the most expensive clothes when I was a kid, and, when times were tough, if someone wanted me to have cheap stuff, I'd say, "I'll pass... I'd rather have one pair of great jeans and wash them every day, then, five pairs of crap!" But, that's just me! Everyone can do whatever they want, but, I don't care! I don't care that they bought their Chanel bag for $5. I don't care! And, I don't like e-bay, either! If I'm buying something beautiful... I want it to be new, special to me and only me. That is, unless someone else, whom I care about, had it before me. That goes for most things, not everything.

But, this is funny... I worked for an accountant in NPB. His present wife was engaged to another businessman who had given her a HUGE rock. They broke off their engagement. She started dating the accountant, and an engagement followed. Guess where he bought the engagement ring? From the businessman who was engaged to the gold digger in

I think that if we are ever going to have salary equity in this country, we would need to be able to see what our co-workers and our bosses make. Think that for most people, it would be an eye-opener. It will also help break down the unequal distribution of wealth. People would get paid what they deserved. I think that this whole privacy issue is really for the employers and not the employees benefit. If you are ashamed to have others see how little you are being paid, then it is time to re-negotiate your salary.

I absolutely agree with you. In America, we have that problem everyday. The Celebrity Gossip Shows bare all, salaries and the price someone pays for "the clothes on their back," are flaunted for the world to see in rag magazines and newspapers. In Business publications, you can make the top 10 list of the wealthiest women, and then be critiqued for being successful. And don't forget the "designer babies." I never see them with muddy shoes after playing in a rain puddle with their friends. But the evening news can tell you how much money they are likely to inherit before the living relatives die.

Politics not only reveals the wealth of individuals, but how much money is donated to various causes. I always thought Charity and "giving because you want to" is a sign of good character not the sum total of unearned revenue. But if you don't give, the government will just take it as taxes.

If you win the lottery "BIG TIME", you had better change your address and telephone number. Every long lost relative, friend and enemy will know about it. How's that for privacy?

Don't worry about it! Afterall, people need something to talk about besides the latest drug interventions, and Celebrity screwups. Gossip makes the world go 'round. It's fun, if it's not hurtful.

This is a little off topic but it is very relevent in todays economy.

The very fact that the stock & commodity markets influence our economy to the extent that they do is proof positive that we need to reduce the influence these casinos have upon our economic system. I have yet to meet any intelligent individual that disagrees with that statement. The fact is that our economic engine is far more important than the markets--- & that is the way it is & always will be. With that fact in mind I would also suggest that the American public needs to have it's awareness level brought up to speed so as to begin to focus on the important thing--> The economic engine. In raising that level of awareness we might also let the public know that a 1.2% consumption tax upon $25 Tril in BEA documented purchases would eliminate the need for the income tax upon 90% of us! Doing that would begin to let the public know how much the current method of taxation is hurting our economy & it would make us more aware of the fact that a huge take home pay raise for 90% of us would have little effect upon the upper 5% or 10% of income earners because they would pay only 1.2% more for all of their purchases while most taxpayers would receive a significant take home pay raise that costs employers zero $ & it would have a huge effect upon their ability to survive.

Early in my career as a Controller (CPA), financial matters of the company were a "need to know" basis. Employees entrusted with payroll information were held to a high standard of confidentiality and if breeched would face termination. Later on in my career in academic medicine, state salaries are a matter of public record. Anyone could make a trip to the Medical School Library and ask for the state budget and spend more hours than they could possibly endure....looking up everyone's salary.

In the private sector, salaries should be confidential. Certainly, employees are curious, but you may find out something that will make you feel miserable. My advice is to know the market rate for your skills and ensure that you have a career strategy that moves you along with a competitive salary. Remember, good employees can always find better jobs - focus on doing your best and keeping your skills sharp. If an employer is not paying market rate, there are plenty other options for successful people willing to take calculated career risk.

All the best,
Jessica Bond, Medical Careerist
http://jessicabond.blogspot.com

Mr Trump,

There's always a limit to what you can earn in a specific career position.
And it isn't going to do anybody any good by knowing the other person's sallary.
It just creates envy, jelousy and prejudice.
Its a question of morality in society and not a question of who has more.
Like in your case, you can have everything today, and lose everything tomorrow, so knowing who has more really doesn't matter. Its how the person gets it and why he gets it that matter more.

We would really like to know about how you handle decision making in your business, and also handle your business. It would create more value if you can tell us more about what's selling and what's not selling. Tell us more about what you are doing. It interests me a lot to learn from you.

Prince Dudley
Systems Engineer
http://birdseyesview.blogspot.com

I would have to agree with your assessment on not posting salaries. People sharing salary information one on one is nothing new. Unfortunately in the work environment it can cause a serious amount of tension if someone who has been with the company less time makes as much or more then the person who has been there for years. Production levels can be seriously hampered and thus the reason most companies have a rule against disclosing a persons salary.

I am surprised that any country would do something like this. Some things are better to be left out of the public eye and this would have to be one of them.

Dear Billionaire Trump,

I really appreciate your word " keep your salary ".

All the people really want to know how much money do their colleagues earn, but after they've known they've got much less that their colleagues, they really feel discouraged, disappointed, overwhelmed, some may really want to hide their face in the table draw. That's why all organization culture bans from letting them know about their colleagues salaries. The staffs surely be so discouraged especially when seeing some people who just know how to bow down to their bosses without quality of works at all are getting higher salaries than them. They surely be so discourage when look at their report books are full on their desks with no appreciations at all, but look at their colleagues desks are empty more than that got appreciations and salaries promoting.

Anyhow, I hope Billionaire Trump will be fair to all your staffs even though I'm very far away, no possibility to work for you.

God bless and prosper your business.

Please accept my highest respect.

Sincerely yours,


Dany

Dear Donald Trump,

With all due respect for the Italian Heritage, best works of Art in the World, and very best Architecture ever conceived on Earth: That sounds like something the curious Italians might try! Some one special once told me that "a friend is someone who will go first!" Well, let's let that be the proof that being 'too open' about everybody's personal business is not good for business, like you say, Sir!

Maybe some things really are "better left unsaid."

JGD, SP Fla., USA