Toshiba is also attacking costs, with plans to eliminate about 10 percent of its work force, or some 19,000 jobs.

Merrill has eliminated about 25 percent of its jobs in the last 18 months.

That would eliminate the tax for about 99.7 percent of all families, according to lawmakers in both parties.

To meet that goal, the banks plan to eliminate 6,000 jobs by March 2009, about 8 percent of their combined work forces.

Other analysts estimate that companies still need to eliminate about two million more jobs, or 5 percent of the work force, to reach efficient levels.

The moves will eliminate about 8 percent of Danone's 15,000 jobs in the next three years.

The companies said they would eliminate about 4,000 jobs, or 10 percent of their combined work force, over the next three years to reduce costs.

Also, the company would eliminate 1,000 jobs, about 4 percent of its work force.

The company also announced plans to eliminate 5,000 jobs, about 13 percent of its work force.

I guess that eliminates about eighty percent of the population, maybe more, but it's not good enough.