Is eBay's "community" becoming one of those communities that does not care?

[mandy]

eBay's "community" in this case is Santa Clara County which is facing a $201.6 million deficit.  500-1000 county employees are expected to lose their jobs.

(eBay's headquarters is in Santa Clara County which is the only reason eBay is mentioned in the thread title.  Incentives San Jose may have given eBay and other Silicon Valley techs to remain in the city have nothing to do with my mentioning eBay -but feel free to comment on whether government incentives to big business come at the expense of more needy projects and ultimately "the little guy".  :twistedevil: )

Millions of dollars in department cuts, hundreds of layoffs, slashed services and no guarantee of future economic upswings face Santa Clara County in the next fiscal year, County Executive Pete Kutras reported today.

On the table is a $201.6 million deficit projected for fiscal year 2008. That deficit, stemming from accumulated shortages built up from temporary fixes to ongoing problems in years past and reduced federal, state and local financial support, will mean at least 500 county employees will lose their jobs by January 2008. And according to Kutras, that number could rise to 1,000 or more because the budget problems are not going away any time soon.

The county plans to balance the $2.3 billion General Fund budget by cutting about $155.6 million from departments, including nearly $34 million from the Mental Health Department, one of the hardest hit divisions, and about $70 million from the county's hospital. The county is asking Santa Clara Valley Medical Center to set aside $31.5 million in additional reserves to be used each year, thereby freeing up monies in the general fund for ongoing solutions. Additionally, the hospital is being asked to slash about $35.7 million in ongoing expenditures...

full article: http://www.nbc11.com/news/9833797/detail.html

[Anita]

including nearly $34 million from the Mental Health Department

uh oh

[BellisimaJ.]

whether government incentives to big business come at the expense of more needy projects and ultimately "the little guy"

How can they not hurt the average citizen when executive salaries are inflated, prices for the goods these company's produce skyrocket (think oil companies),  and executive perks reach new heights of grandiosity?
While consumers are struggling, these companies are getting billions in tax breaks from the local, state and federal government.

Ebay is located in Santa Clara County? Then Ebay should become a good corporate citizen and offer $ to help.
Thinking ebay exec stock options makes me