Let’s say you were a little low on funds. Maybe you lost your job, or if you are a government employee and don’t understand that concept, had a slight cutback in your overtime pay and can’t pay the cable TV bill on time or some other similar hardship has befallen you so that it seems like the really big depression is here. So, let’s say you are considering the alternatives. They might include cutting back on expenses, using up some of your rainy day fund or cutting lawns and delivering newspapers (or writing a blog because that pays real well) until you can get back on your feet. Sound like reasonable alternatives? Sure. But wait. Along comes a fellow with a shiny suit and slicked back hair and a big smile and he says, “No way, Jose. You don’t need to subject yourself to such drastic deprivations. Not in the US of A at least. Here’s what we are going to do.”
And this fellow lays out a very simple plan. He pulls out a credit card with a picture of Uncle Sam on it. The same Uncle whose image was on bond drive posters in WW II. The same Uncle who exclaimed his need for YOU to help out in the past during tough times. And the fellow says take this credit card down to the race track. Use it to make some bets. Just make sure that the horses you choose have names that include or sound like Stimulus, Bailout, Saving Jobs or, even better, Creating Jobs. See if there is a pony or two called Banking System, Investment in the Future or Building for the Future and maybe Looking out for You or Best Times to Come. Other favorites would be Green Jobs, Energy Independence and Corn Pone Fuel. And, he says, “If you are really fortunate, bet on a horse called Reducing Health Care Costs. It’s a sure winner.” He says you can bet up to $11,000.00 on this credit card but then he says, “Do you have a wife? Any Kids?” And you say, “Sure do. I got one of those and two of them.” So, he hands you three more cards and says, “What are you waiting for? You get four cards, each with $11,000.00. Get on down to the track.” Let it roll.
But you are now wondering just what the heck is going on. Where is this money coming from? Who’s going to pay for this? Is this a setup? Are the cops just around the corner? Somebody should blow the whistle on this guy. And you have this skeptical look on your face that suggests that just maybe something a little bit goofy is going on. And the fellow detects this concern because this fellow is rather smart and good with the words. And he says, “Look. I got all these references. I got references from Harvard University and Columbia University and the entire state of California is behind me and one of the biggest corporations in the world is with me so what’s with you questioning me?” Yeah, who am I to question the guy?
Take the cards. Bet on the nags. What’s to lose? Ain’t no horse running named “Too Good to be True.”
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Golf and Men
So, you ask, “What is the appeal of golf to men?” Here is a possible answer.
Most men are competitive. Most men take other men’s measure to see where they stand.
Golf is an excellent medium in which the measurement occurs. Here’s how:
1. Golf requires a degree of skill in both strategy and execution. In 3.5 to 4.0 hours on a golf course a man will be able to measure another man’s ability to make correct decisions about club selection, confidence in same and shot placement/execution. Where else can you see strategy, choice and execution in a matter of moments? In a meeting? On a conference call? Sitting in a lecture? Watching TV? Flirting with women?
2. Golf is played according to a well established, well tested and pretty well understood set of rules. So, when measuring another player, after the determination of strategy and execution, comes the measure of knowing and playing by the rules. Does he know the rules? Does he play by the rules? Does he stretch the rules? Does he cheat? Does he shave strokes or do any one of many little things to help improve his lie; his shot execution; his putt? Does he shave strokes to keep his handicap down and thereby think he looks better to others? Or does he add strokes at unneeded moments to keep his handicap up? And here’s the good part. Everyone knows even though the cheater doesn’t think everyone knows! Messing around on the course is transparent because everyone is watching!
3. Courtesy. Knowing what to do next. Keeping the pace of play going. All of these are unwritten rules of golf. How does a man respect the game through his respect of the others with whom he is playing? Does he stand still, out of the way, keep quiet?
4. Then comes the big one. Competitiveness. You can take the measure of a man’s competitiveness in a short time on a golf course. What does he do when his opponent has hit a good shot? How does he respond? What does he do when he makes a mistake? Do the clubs go sailing through the air? Does he blame the wind? The lie? The grass? The clouds? The sun? The beer cart girl? TheFundamentals once witnessed a male golfer mess up a tee shot and blame the spectacular breasts of the beer cart girl. So there.
5. And maybe, more than anything, golf brings a man face to face with his greatest competitor, his biggest critic, his most constant supporter, himself. Golf mostly works between the ears of the golfer. When it’s cookin’ it’s just plain divine. When it’s sputtering it’s just plain horrible. Golf is life.
Competition, execution, strategy, playing by the rules, temperament, compatibility, friendliness, supportiveness, fair play, sportsmanship and meeting your best friend/worst enemy face to face. Holy cow!
Keep your head down. Slow down. Plant your feet.
Golf. It is one of TheFundamentals.
Most men are competitive. Most men take other men’s measure to see where they stand.
Golf is an excellent medium in which the measurement occurs. Here’s how:
1. Golf requires a degree of skill in both strategy and execution. In 3.5 to 4.0 hours on a golf course a man will be able to measure another man’s ability to make correct decisions about club selection, confidence in same and shot placement/execution. Where else can you see strategy, choice and execution in a matter of moments? In a meeting? On a conference call? Sitting in a lecture? Watching TV? Flirting with women?
2. Golf is played according to a well established, well tested and pretty well understood set of rules. So, when measuring another player, after the determination of strategy and execution, comes the measure of knowing and playing by the rules. Does he know the rules? Does he play by the rules? Does he stretch the rules? Does he cheat? Does he shave strokes or do any one of many little things to help improve his lie; his shot execution; his putt? Does he shave strokes to keep his handicap down and thereby think he looks better to others? Or does he add strokes at unneeded moments to keep his handicap up? And here’s the good part. Everyone knows even though the cheater doesn’t think everyone knows! Messing around on the course is transparent because everyone is watching!
3. Courtesy. Knowing what to do next. Keeping the pace of play going. All of these are unwritten rules of golf. How does a man respect the game through his respect of the others with whom he is playing? Does he stand still, out of the way, keep quiet?
4. Then comes the big one. Competitiveness. You can take the measure of a man’s competitiveness in a short time on a golf course. What does he do when his opponent has hit a good shot? How does he respond? What does he do when he makes a mistake? Do the clubs go sailing through the air? Does he blame the wind? The lie? The grass? The clouds? The sun? The beer cart girl? TheFundamentals once witnessed a male golfer mess up a tee shot and blame the spectacular breasts of the beer cart girl. So there.
5. And maybe, more than anything, golf brings a man face to face with his greatest competitor, his biggest critic, his most constant supporter, himself. Golf mostly works between the ears of the golfer. When it’s cookin’ it’s just plain divine. When it’s sputtering it’s just plain horrible. Golf is life.
Competition, execution, strategy, playing by the rules, temperament, compatibility, friendliness, supportiveness, fair play, sportsmanship and meeting your best friend/worst enemy face to face. Holy cow!
Keep your head down. Slow down. Plant your feet.
Golf. It is one of TheFundamentals.
Friday, May 1, 2009
20 Questions
Some weeks ago, the new US attorney General (seems like a nice young man) opined that Americans weren’t up to discussing at least one “difficult” topic. Well, TheFundamentals is not about to sit idly by and ignore that challenge. So, here are 20 questions (you provide the answers) that never seem to get much discussion in public forums:
1. How long can the US buy more from others than it sells to others? ____yrs. ____mos.
2. What do you do when all the big US urban areas are occupied by majorities of groups of people whose demographics in all major cultural/economic and societal metrics (literacy, employment, illegitimate births, crime and education) are below the national averages?________________________________.
3. What do you do when the people identified in #2 above have the ability to determine, through the democratic process, the taxation and spending policies of the country? ________.
4. What do you do with a religious group, already dominant in the world, when it claims its freedoms in the US even though it will deny those same freedoms to others when it can? ___________. Who will prosecute this group in the US? _______. Who will speak against it in the US?________.
5. Why would anyone seek to address these issues and their unintended consequences when any attempt to even discuss them in the terms of the above language produces derogatory and pejorative representations about the motives of those who seek a discussion?_____________. Mr. Attorney General, why don’t you answer these questions and post your answers?
6. How long can Israel survive? ___yrs. Which of your younger relatives will you encourage to go fight for the state of Israel? _________. Will each member of the House of Representatives and the US Senate answer the same two questions. ___yrs and ____________. On second thought, why bother asking them.
7. When, if ever, do you think investors will be ready to buy more US mortgage backed securities? 20__. How much will foreign bankers buy in 2010? $_____. In 2011? $_____.
8. Have you ever considered earning less and spending less as the easiest way of controlling your taxes? __y or n. Do you think that the government paid folk will ever stop borrowing to pay themselves unless and until there is no one left to loan them another penny?__y or n.
9. How does the US government plan to service the debt of the US when interest rates double? ______. When rates triple?_______.
10. I am going to buy a new car from GM or Chrysler in the next ____ mos? Ford_____mos? Others____mos?
11. Whither goes the states of California, Michigan, New York and Illinois? ______. Would you buy the securities issued by these states or any of their lesser political subdivisions? ___y or n.
12. I support the city of Chicago in selling its assets to pay it workers and its pensioners? ____y or n. I prefer the sale of assets versus more taxation? _____y or n. What do they sell when all the assets are sold?_________.
13. Do you think you can count on the SEC to look out for your investments and make sure that you are forewarned of possible bad investments? _____y or n. When was the last time you remember them warning you away from a bad investment? 198___? 199___? 20___?
14. How long does it make any sense for the US military to engage in overseas missions? _____mos. How long do you really think that the US can afford these forays? ____mos. Name three other countries who have engaged in as many foreign military operations in the last 50 years as the US?_______, ________ and _________. Name one? ______.
15. What grade (A thru F) would you give the Federal Reserve for its assigned tasks of:
a. Maintaining the safety and stability of the banking and financial system? _____
b. Maintaining the strength of the US dollar? ____
c. Maintaining a strong economy to support full employment? _____
16. Would you buy a US treasury security that pays 3.80% for the next 30 years? ____y or n. If not, why not? ___________________________.
17. I’m fine with the debt of the US going to $20 trillion in the next 8 years? ___y or n. I’d prefer if it got there sooner? ___y or n.
18. Do you intend to keep paying taxes so that city and state employees receive job security and pay levels above those available to you? __y or n. Do you intend to continue to pay taxes so that these employees can receive benefits, vacation and overtime pay and pension plans that are substantially more generous than anything you can receive from private employers? ____y or n. I like this system? __y or n.
19. The constitution of the US empowers the federal government in many ways explicit and implicit and restricts the powers available to the individual states? ____y or n.
20. The republicans are responsible for the mess we’re in? ____y or n. The democrats are solving the mess we’re in? ____y or n. Doesn't it seem like we're always in a mess?____y or n.
Extra Credit:
21. HClinton has asked for $900 million to underwrite the cost in Gaza of Israel’s war games. How much of that cost are you personally willing to underwrite? $__.
22. It is OK for the US to bomb locations anywhere in the world and cause innocent civilian deaths and maiming as part of the it’s war games? ___y or n.
23. There should be no liability to any US citizen for the activities in #22 above? ___y or n.
24. Water boarding fat (or skinny) terrorists (see photo at left), however, is a crime? ___y or n.
25. Is HClinton’s flying around the world part of Obama’s plan to IMPROVE America’s image abroad? ___y or n. What designer told HClinton that she looks good in bright greens, yellows and blues? _______. Would not a darker color camouflage some of her nates? ___y or n. Sooee.
1. How long can the US buy more from others than it sells to others? ____yrs. ____mos.
2. What do you do when all the big US urban areas are occupied by majorities of groups of people whose demographics in all major cultural/economic and societal metrics (literacy, employment, illegitimate births, crime and education) are below the national averages?________________________________.
3. What do you do when the people identified in #2 above have the ability to determine, through the democratic process, the taxation and spending policies of the country? ________.
4. What do you do with a religious group, already dominant in the world, when it claims its freedoms in the US even though it will deny those same freedoms to others when it can? ___________. Who will prosecute this group in the US? _______. Who will speak against it in the US?________.
5. Why would anyone seek to address these issues and their unintended consequences when any attempt to even discuss them in the terms of the above language produces derogatory and pejorative representations about the motives of those who seek a discussion?_____________. Mr. Attorney General, why don’t you answer these questions and post your answers?
6. How long can Israel survive? ___yrs. Which of your younger relatives will you encourage to go fight for the state of Israel? _________. Will each member of the House of Representatives and the US Senate answer the same two questions. ___yrs and ____________. On second thought, why bother asking them.
7. When, if ever, do you think investors will be ready to buy more US mortgage backed securities? 20__. How much will foreign bankers buy in 2010? $_____. In 2011? $_____.
8. Have you ever considered earning less and spending less as the easiest way of controlling your taxes? __y or n. Do you think that the government paid folk will ever stop borrowing to pay themselves unless and until there is no one left to loan them another penny?__y or n.
9. How does the US government plan to service the debt of the US when interest rates double? ______. When rates triple?_______.
10. I am going to buy a new car from GM or Chrysler in the next ____ mos? Ford_____mos? Others____mos?
11. Whither goes the states of California, Michigan, New York and Illinois? ______. Would you buy the securities issued by these states or any of their lesser political subdivisions? ___y or n.
12. I support the city of Chicago in selling its assets to pay it workers and its pensioners? ____y or n. I prefer the sale of assets versus more taxation? _____y or n. What do they sell when all the assets are sold?_________.
13. Do you think you can count on the SEC to look out for your investments and make sure that you are forewarned of possible bad investments? _____y or n. When was the last time you remember them warning you away from a bad investment? 198___? 199___? 20___?
14. How long does it make any sense for the US military to engage in overseas missions? _____mos. How long do you really think that the US can afford these forays? ____mos. Name three other countries who have engaged in as many foreign military operations in the last 50 years as the US?_______, ________ and _________. Name one? ______.
15. What grade (A thru F) would you give the Federal Reserve for its assigned tasks of:
a. Maintaining the safety and stability of the banking and financial system? _____
b. Maintaining the strength of the US dollar? ____
c. Maintaining a strong economy to support full employment? _____
16. Would you buy a US treasury security that pays 3.80% for the next 30 years? ____y or n. If not, why not? ___________________________.
17. I’m fine with the debt of the US going to $20 trillion in the next 8 years? ___y or n. I’d prefer if it got there sooner? ___y or n.
18. Do you intend to keep paying taxes so that city and state employees receive job security and pay levels above those available to you? __y or n. Do you intend to continue to pay taxes so that these employees can receive benefits, vacation and overtime pay and pension plans that are substantially more generous than anything you can receive from private employers? ____y or n. I like this system? __y or n.
19. The constitution of the US empowers the federal government in many ways explicit and implicit and restricts the powers available to the individual states? ____y or n.
20. The republicans are responsible for the mess we’re in? ____y or n. The democrats are solving the mess we’re in? ____y or n. Doesn't it seem like we're always in a mess?____y or n.
Extra Credit:
21. HClinton has asked for $900 million to underwrite the cost in Gaza of Israel’s war games. How much of that cost are you personally willing to underwrite? $__.
22. It is OK for the US to bomb locations anywhere in the world and cause innocent civilian deaths and maiming as part of the it’s war games? ___y or n.
23. There should be no liability to any US citizen for the activities in #22 above? ___y or n.
24. Water boarding fat (or skinny) terrorists (see photo at left), however, is a crime? ___y or n.
25. Is HClinton’s flying around the world part of Obama’s plan to IMPROVE America’s image abroad? ___y or n. What designer told HClinton that she looks good in bright greens, yellows and blues? _______. Would not a darker color camouflage some of her nates? ___y or n. Sooee.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
State of Michigan R. I. P.
There is a great sorrow among those of us familiar with this beautiful place. It is quite a big place. You can drive more than 600 miles from one corner to another. You can get to a body of water within minutes. You can get a good education and join over 100,000 somewhat delirious fans in one of the greatest sports stadiums ever built. The state was home to some unique branded products: Stroh’s beer (fire-brewed), Kellogg’s cereal and Vernor’s ginger ale. They also used to make cars in the State of Michigan.
So what went wrong?
Well, some say it was bad management at the car companies. Some others say it was the nasty demands that the union foisted on these companies. And then some others say throw in bad political leadership over the last 20 years. Add the three together and you’ve pretty much got your answer.
Can Michigan survive? What happened?
In the April 27, 2009 issue of The New Yorker, Peter J. Boyer writes about Detroit and the automobile industry and the future in an article entitled, “The Road Ahead, Smyrna, Tennessee, vs. Detroit.” Here’s an excerpt from this well researched article describing events almost 30 years ago, “Ishihara (president of Nissan) had a low opinion of American manufacturing and workmanship. Detroit’s management focused more on short-term profit than on quality, and the antagonistic labor-management relationship, governed by a tangle of burdensome workplace rules, seemed designed to frustrate efficiency. The high rate of absenteeism on the American assembly line was shocking to the Japanese. Ishihara wanted to make cars in America, but he was determined that Nissan would not become an American automaker.” TheFundamentals recommend that you read the entire article.
The current governor of the state of Michigan is Jennifer Granholm (see left image.) A few days ago she opined on the situation (banking crisis and auto crisis), “Who knew when we were bailing out the banks we were setting them up to kill the auto industry," Granholm said. "They need to think about the tens of thousands of workers whose lives hang in the balance because the banks want to get a better deal than what even the market will bear. It's totally unacceptable."
That statement says nothing about the facts but speaks volumes about the political leadership in Michigan. The cabal of democrat politicians and unions has destroyed an economic machine. Think about it. In a matter of a few decades, democrats, unions and the management that would not face them down has destroyed an entire industry that basically fought and destroyed the Hun and the Jap and put the US on the road. These folks either are incapable of introspection and self analysis or engage in blatant deceit in order to cover up their sins. Thirty years ago they were being ridiculed by their competitors! Granholm should be fired! The UAW leaders (?) should be fired. The community organizer (co) fired the head of GM. Hallelujah! What about the other little piggies (re: TheFundamentals 3/18/09)?
The co wants to spend his time with Bush, the CIA, credit card companies and tin horn dictators around the globe. But if he wants to lead he should read the New Yorker article and get to real work, serious work, and real change. All he needs to do is suggest that the folk who support him take a pay and benefit cut and start working 40 hours per week. That would be transparency and honesty and change that we can all accept. All the stimulus; all the bailout money and all the recovery act wasteful spending is not about saving the financial system or creating new demand for products. It is about sustaining dopes like Granholm and their constituency with the remote hope that they can reinflate the balloon and keep their jobs for a few more months. You want change? Fire them all!
So what went wrong?
Well, some say it was bad management at the car companies. Some others say it was the nasty demands that the union foisted on these companies. And then some others say throw in bad political leadership over the last 20 years. Add the three together and you’ve pretty much got your answer.
Can Michigan survive? What happened?
In the April 27, 2009 issue of The New Yorker, Peter J. Boyer writes about Detroit and the automobile industry and the future in an article entitled, “The Road Ahead, Smyrna, Tennessee, vs. Detroit.” Here’s an excerpt from this well researched article describing events almost 30 years ago, “Ishihara (president of Nissan) had a low opinion of American manufacturing and workmanship. Detroit’s management focused more on short-term profit than on quality, and the antagonistic labor-management relationship, governed by a tangle of burdensome workplace rules, seemed designed to frustrate efficiency. The high rate of absenteeism on the American assembly line was shocking to the Japanese. Ishihara wanted to make cars in America, but he was determined that Nissan would not become an American automaker.” TheFundamentals recommend that you read the entire article.
The current governor of the state of Michigan is Jennifer Granholm (see left image.) A few days ago she opined on the situation (banking crisis and auto crisis), “Who knew when we were bailing out the banks we were setting them up to kill the auto industry," Granholm said. "They need to think about the tens of thousands of workers whose lives hang in the balance because the banks want to get a better deal than what even the market will bear. It's totally unacceptable."
That statement says nothing about the facts but speaks volumes about the political leadership in Michigan. The cabal of democrat politicians and unions has destroyed an economic machine. Think about it. In a matter of a few decades, democrats, unions and the management that would not face them down has destroyed an entire industry that basically fought and destroyed the Hun and the Jap and put the US on the road. These folks either are incapable of introspection and self analysis or engage in blatant deceit in order to cover up their sins. Thirty years ago they were being ridiculed by their competitors! Granholm should be fired! The UAW leaders (?) should be fired. The community organizer (co) fired the head of GM. Hallelujah! What about the other little piggies (re: TheFundamentals 3/18/09)?
The co wants to spend his time with Bush, the CIA, credit card companies and tin horn dictators around the globe. But if he wants to lead he should read the New Yorker article and get to real work, serious work, and real change. All he needs to do is suggest that the folk who support him take a pay and benefit cut and start working 40 hours per week. That would be transparency and honesty and change that we can all accept. All the stimulus; all the bailout money and all the recovery act wasteful spending is not about saving the financial system or creating new demand for products. It is about sustaining dopes like Granholm and their constituency with the remote hope that they can reinflate the balloon and keep their jobs for a few more months. You want change? Fire them all!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Witness to History
Is this the demise of America?
This question may not be in the headlines but it sure is on the minds of many thoughtful Americans. The issues facing America have nothing to do with recession, low demand in the housing and the auto markets and a novice president bowing to an Arab potentate. These are catchy topics, some with more carry power than others, that fill the chatter party lines at the various cable TV and network “news” programs. These issues are passing. They are not fundamental.
Fundamental issues have to do with beliefs and values. Fundamental issues have to do with trust and reliance. Fundamental issues have to do with charity and faith.
The fundamental issues facing Americans are growing with everyday. The debt of this country and its lesser political entities is just too high. It is a millstone around the neck of every taxpayer and is now the birth defect of unborn generations. It is a fundamental issue when the unborn cannot look forward to the clean slate provided by nature but is instead burdened with the promiscuity of their parents. Nature provides most children with hope and innocence and strength and vitality. We all feel sorrow for those children who face challenges because they are denied this opportunity and marvel at the spirit and ingenuity of their small persons to adapt and grow. Promiscuous parents frequently deny their children this opportunity through disease and abuse. We have all become promiscuous parents because of our inability to practice denial and discipline. Denial and discipline are fundamental values.
America needs a cleansing. We are not talking about a bath or a diuretic. There is no laxative that will provide an easy solution for this challenge. We are talking lengthy fasting and exercise and denial and discipline.
It is easy to blame our elected “leaders.” Frankly way too easy. They are a group that reflects the greed, pride and promiscuity of the source of their power. We can change them as quickly as soiled clothing. In a matter of months they can all be gone. But who do we choose? Pro life or pro abortion? Pro free enterprise or pro government control? Less spending or more spending? Pro states or pro national government? These are not passing cable TV topics. These are fundamental issues.
Where do you go if you want to live within your means and you want your government to live within its means? Where do you go to be rid of government forms and invasions of your privacy and home? Heck, where do you go to find people who don’t seek a government solution to everything that comes up? Where do you find people who take care of each other, don’t call 911 and think that families set the standards and values for themselves? Are these values gone? TheFundamentals thinks not.
The country was founded on the belief that not all people wanted the same thing but that there would be benefit if the thirteen defined political entities could form a common bond that would provide benefit to all the citizens. So the compact said several “enumerated powers” could go to the common bond and all others were left to the states. That concept is a fundamental that may well be the only hope for America. In the meantime, the fasting has begun. Fasting, self denial and discipline. American Fundamentals. Have you embraced these fundamentals? If not, why not?
This question may not be in the headlines but it sure is on the minds of many thoughtful Americans. The issues facing America have nothing to do with recession, low demand in the housing and the auto markets and a novice president bowing to an Arab potentate. These are catchy topics, some with more carry power than others, that fill the chatter party lines at the various cable TV and network “news” programs. These issues are passing. They are not fundamental.
Fundamental issues have to do with beliefs and values. Fundamental issues have to do with trust and reliance. Fundamental issues have to do with charity and faith.
The fundamental issues facing Americans are growing with everyday. The debt of this country and its lesser political entities is just too high. It is a millstone around the neck of every taxpayer and is now the birth defect of unborn generations. It is a fundamental issue when the unborn cannot look forward to the clean slate provided by nature but is instead burdened with the promiscuity of their parents. Nature provides most children with hope and innocence and strength and vitality. We all feel sorrow for those children who face challenges because they are denied this opportunity and marvel at the spirit and ingenuity of their small persons to adapt and grow. Promiscuous parents frequently deny their children this opportunity through disease and abuse. We have all become promiscuous parents because of our inability to practice denial and discipline. Denial and discipline are fundamental values.
America needs a cleansing. We are not talking about a bath or a diuretic. There is no laxative that will provide an easy solution for this challenge. We are talking lengthy fasting and exercise and denial and discipline.
It is easy to blame our elected “leaders.” Frankly way too easy. They are a group that reflects the greed, pride and promiscuity of the source of their power. We can change them as quickly as soiled clothing. In a matter of months they can all be gone. But who do we choose? Pro life or pro abortion? Pro free enterprise or pro government control? Less spending or more spending? Pro states or pro national government? These are not passing cable TV topics. These are fundamental issues.
Where do you go if you want to live within your means and you want your government to live within its means? Where do you go to be rid of government forms and invasions of your privacy and home? Heck, where do you go to find people who don’t seek a government solution to everything that comes up? Where do you find people who take care of each other, don’t call 911 and think that families set the standards and values for themselves? Are these values gone? TheFundamentals thinks not.
The country was founded on the belief that not all people wanted the same thing but that there would be benefit if the thirteen defined political entities could form a common bond that would provide benefit to all the citizens. So the compact said several “enumerated powers” could go to the common bond and all others were left to the states. That concept is a fundamental that may well be the only hope for America. In the meantime, the fasting has begun. Fasting, self denial and discipline. American Fundamentals. Have you embraced these fundamentals? If not, why not?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Free Enterprise, Capitalism and Risk
What do administrators, politicians and bureaucrats have in common?
They are risk adverse. They seek safety, reelection and the avoidance of risk.
What do good businessmen, entrepreneurs and Bill Gates have in common?
They are risk takers. They measure events and circumstances with their knowledge and vision and take measured risks. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fail. In a capitalist economic system risk takers make or lose their investments based on the market provided result of their decision making. When they are successful their returns can be phenomenal and the results of their actions can benefit millions. When they fail they usually fail in degrees of personal difficulty. When administrators, politicians and bureaucrats fail they survive. They have no comparable success factors because they are not risk takers. Selling books and becoming lobbyists are not measures of success in economic disciplines.
Today very few observers are critical of the success of Bill Gates. The vision and risk taking and execution of he and his partners/supporters built an industry that improved productivity and efficiency around the globe and created millions of jobs (the credit for which was taken by WJClinton in a powerful example of the survivability of non risk takers.)
Is risk taking a good or bad thing or is it just a fact of life?
Depends on who you ask. In controlled economies risk taking is minimal to naught. The nomenklatura pretend to be in control. Do we want the US of A to follow this path? Big question for the American taxpayer/voter. As we follow this path and encourage the safety of the masses we discourage the risk takers. The current political regime likes to depict the successful risk taker as a pariah.
In free enterprise economies risk taking is the mechanism by which change occurs. Most folk think this change has been good but it is most certainly difficult when it fails or sputters or gets out of whack. Many folk cannot succeed in free enterprise. It is just too difficult. They need safety nets and effective charities. What they don’t need is risk adverse politicians, bureaucrats and administrators pretending to extend the benefits of risk takers to those who have difficulty competing in a tough, competitive environment. This activity is selling snake oil. In recent history in showed up in Ann Arbor, MI in 1964 with an unlikely Texas politician offering to solve the problems of the world.
Whither goes the US of A?
That is the $64.00 question. A self described community organizer is the director for the next four years. His decisions will have some impact, particularly if he seizes the opportunity to revitalize the environment for risk taking. His training does not suggest that he grasps the nature of the current events but TheFundamentals believes he can grasp the choices if he does his homework. His first risk taking would be to challenge the powerful imbedded forces in his constituency. Only he can take that risk. The early returns are not looking good.
They are risk adverse. They seek safety, reelection and the avoidance of risk.
What do good businessmen, entrepreneurs and Bill Gates have in common?
They are risk takers. They measure events and circumstances with their knowledge and vision and take measured risks. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fail. In a capitalist economic system risk takers make or lose their investments based on the market provided result of their decision making. When they are successful their returns can be phenomenal and the results of their actions can benefit millions. When they fail they usually fail in degrees of personal difficulty. When administrators, politicians and bureaucrats fail they survive. They have no comparable success factors because they are not risk takers. Selling books and becoming lobbyists are not measures of success in economic disciplines.
Today very few observers are critical of the success of Bill Gates. The vision and risk taking and execution of he and his partners/supporters built an industry that improved productivity and efficiency around the globe and created millions of jobs (the credit for which was taken by WJClinton in a powerful example of the survivability of non risk takers.)
Is risk taking a good or bad thing or is it just a fact of life?
Depends on who you ask. In controlled economies risk taking is minimal to naught. The nomenklatura pretend to be in control. Do we want the US of A to follow this path? Big question for the American taxpayer/voter. As we follow this path and encourage the safety of the masses we discourage the risk takers. The current political regime likes to depict the successful risk taker as a pariah.
In free enterprise economies risk taking is the mechanism by which change occurs. Most folk think this change has been good but it is most certainly difficult when it fails or sputters or gets out of whack. Many folk cannot succeed in free enterprise. It is just too difficult. They need safety nets and effective charities. What they don’t need is risk adverse politicians, bureaucrats and administrators pretending to extend the benefits of risk takers to those who have difficulty competing in a tough, competitive environment. This activity is selling snake oil. In recent history in showed up in Ann Arbor, MI in 1964 with an unlikely Texas politician offering to solve the problems of the world.
Whither goes the US of A?
That is the $64.00 question. A self described community organizer is the director for the next four years. His decisions will have some impact, particularly if he seizes the opportunity to revitalize the environment for risk taking. His training does not suggest that he grasps the nature of the current events but TheFundamentals believes he can grasp the choices if he does his homework. His first risk taking would be to challenge the powerful imbedded forces in his constituency. Only he can take that risk. The early returns are not looking good.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Buccaneers and Booty
· What’s the big deal with paying pirates a few coins to gain safe passage around the Horn of Africa? We gave the Indians some good stuff and got the island of Manhattan. It only took us 300+ years to turn that deal into crap. Lobbyists pay millions to our representatives and senators each year to gain favor on legislation that produces economic benefits for their clients. We paid France a lot to get their territory and didn’t even realize that one day it would produce the man from Hope, Arkansas. We’re paying $900 million to fix up the Gaza just in time for the next Israeli war games. We’re bailing out every crook and congressman in DC and New York.
· So, TheFundamentals suggests that each vessel traveling through troubled waters prepare a goodie bag filled with worthless US currency and mortgage backed securities and when the ship is approached by those nasty pirates (some of them appear to be almost entering puberty) the official tribute tosser (union leaders/politicians take note – opportunity to add jobs) tosses the bag at the pirate ship and sails on to calmer waters. Robin Hood, Blackbeard and the community organizer, spreading the wealth around. Bring cameras and teleprompters.
· Everybody is happy. In Sicily they call this protection. In the US we call it a political contribution or foreign aid. In the Indian Ocean we’ll call it “booty bag.” Not, of course, to be confused with a “booty call.” The new Secretary of State can explain the difference to her husband.
· Included in the bag could be invitations to appear on Larry King, if he is still breathing. Or, we could send Catie Kouric to Mogadishu to do a live feed from Camp Booty. Show ‘em your legs Catie. Matt can show them his vacation pictures.
· Next Fox TV could do a reality show featuring talented buccaneers capturing vessels at sea. The Donald could fire the ones who fail. Janet Napolitano could hire the failures for TSA. The ones with teeth could do Burger King commercials. The community organizer could do a cameo in which he explains that failed buccaneers also can become teachers and get all the booty they want if they just join the NEA or the AFT and vote for him, of course.
· TheFundamentals can imagine a pirate union specializing in tribute and extortion. Who could run that union you say? Tee-hee-hee. There’s a softball if ever. Anyone from Chicago politics. Maybe one of Rev. Jackson’s progeny? Blagojevich? Richardson? Daschle? This list can go on forever. Please add your favorite(s) for pirate union leader.
· The opportunities are endless. Buccaneer booty, an American political fundamental.
· So, TheFundamentals suggests that each vessel traveling through troubled waters prepare a goodie bag filled with worthless US currency and mortgage backed securities and when the ship is approached by those nasty pirates (some of them appear to be almost entering puberty) the official tribute tosser (union leaders/politicians take note – opportunity to add jobs) tosses the bag at the pirate ship and sails on to calmer waters. Robin Hood, Blackbeard and the community organizer, spreading the wealth around. Bring cameras and teleprompters.
· Everybody is happy. In Sicily they call this protection. In the US we call it a political contribution or foreign aid. In the Indian Ocean we’ll call it “booty bag.” Not, of course, to be confused with a “booty call.” The new Secretary of State can explain the difference to her husband.
· Included in the bag could be invitations to appear on Larry King, if he is still breathing. Or, we could send Catie Kouric to Mogadishu to do a live feed from Camp Booty. Show ‘em your legs Catie. Matt can show them his vacation pictures.
· Next Fox TV could do a reality show featuring talented buccaneers capturing vessels at sea. The Donald could fire the ones who fail. Janet Napolitano could hire the failures for TSA. The ones with teeth could do Burger King commercials. The community organizer could do a cameo in which he explains that failed buccaneers also can become teachers and get all the booty they want if they just join the NEA or the AFT and vote for him, of course.
· TheFundamentals can imagine a pirate union specializing in tribute and extortion. Who could run that union you say? Tee-hee-hee. There’s a softball if ever. Anyone from Chicago politics. Maybe one of Rev. Jackson’s progeny? Blagojevich? Richardson? Daschle? This list can go on forever. Please add your favorite(s) for pirate union leader.
· The opportunities are endless. Buccaneer booty, an American political fundamental.
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