General Rant

My 100th Column

My 100th Column (07/27/2011)

This week I celebrate my 100th column, a huge milestone for me as I could not have imagined writing for “The Observer” for nearly two years without missing a week; I just wish my high school English teacher could see me now. I want to thank the publishers for the opportunity, seeing something they liked and allowing me free reign to pontificate as I desire. It was freelance writing, “Death and Taxes” that won me the opportunity and I find it ironic it is that issue, taxes, currently in front of the American people. As I look back over the last 99 weeks I note my philosophies have emerged where I feel I can clearly define my views: libertarian (with a little “L”), constitutionalist fearful of eroding liberties, and angry at politicians feeling anointed to spend, steal, and create laws but yet hold themselves above the people.

My early columns could be republished today: “What is Government’s Role”, “When Should Citizens Fear their Government?”, and “Big Brother is Watching.” Sadly I look back and see a country that has worsened during the last 100 weeks and continues to spin into the abyss while the citizenry look the other way to take in meaningless hype like Casey Anthony, the NFL, and “Dancing with Stars.” Two forces have united to provide the Kool-Aid for apathy, the media and the President. Right now we are two years into the economic recovery: remember “Green Shoots”, Biden and Obama touting all of the jobs they saved, and the National Realtors Association calling the bottom to housing prices? This deception is dutifully reported by the three networks and bull-horned by General Electric owned MSNBC and CNBC.

Over the weekend, the networks gave more time to the Amy Winehouse drug-induced death than the critical issues. Did you know last week gold hit a historic high over $1,600/ounce; jobless claims topped 400,000 for the 15th week in a row; and Borders (closed 399 stores), Cisco and Lockheed Martin announced combined layoffs of 23,000? Since January state and local governments have laid off 142,000 workers. Let’s not forget last week’s media celebration of American Airlines ordering jets from Airbus, a consortium of European companies, a staggering loss to domestic aircraft producers. Although our President tells us things are better and improving it is impossible to conclude the same when looking at the numbers. Likewise the 1930s were a long road of government missteps trying to fix problems created by the same banking cartel whose lineage has brought the same destruction upon us today. Looking back, history provides hilarious quotes from our leaders during the Great Depression trumpeting the recovery and “Happy Days are Here Again.” I believe Obama and Biden will be similarly chided for their mistruths when history is chiseled.

July 24, 2011 by Civil Rights Depression General Rant Great Recession Mainstream Media Obama

Left – I agree more than you think

I rarely read the columns to my Left and Right on this page, but recently was made aware of a comment asserting I had a “Right” bias. Although probably not far off at first glance, due to my fear of tyranny through larger government, I thought I might take on the challenge and clarify many of my positions for all who read. I compiled a list of my columns for the last 80 weeks and saw a common theme emerging, one that distances me from most on the Right and those on the Left, but more so defining a tolerant middle-ground. Let me proceed.

We should not have a death penalty, in my opinion to put one innocent man to death is far more grievous an error than all the guilty men “legally” killed. In contrast I would argue the same applies to abortion and we should not terminate those who cannot speak for themselves. I do not support school sponsored prayer, or even prayer at a public event. At the same time I feel it is wrong to tell someone they cannot pray or express themselves religiously, both positions fail to respect the individual. I do believe the environment should be protected at all costs, to not be a conservationist is only destroying the world for future generations. However I am of the opinion Global Warming is complete hogwash. Regarding health care, as dutiful men we need to care for the indigent and infirmed, but government is least likely the right mechanism to transfer such wealth whereas charity and selflessness will more efficiently provide.

I move far from the left on the concept of income redistribution and sincerely believe all men are created equal, and therefore have an equal chance of success. However, I do believe some amount of government regulation is necessary as many men will choose cheating and scheming over honesty. Like many on the Left I believe the Patriot Act was the most abusive attack on our civil rights ever made and it should be immediately abolished. Unlike those on the Left I believe the Founding Fathers did not see the Constitution as a living document, fearing tyranny, and wanted to give liberty from government to future generations.

I can state my position succinctly: I love my country, but fear my government. “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson.

March 25, 2011 by Big Government General Rant

My Buddy Neil (1/26/2011)

My buddy Neil is a great guy and well entrenched in his opinions as he is in his mid-70’s. One topic which always leads to vigorous, friendly disagreement is politics; as a senior citizen Neil enjoys and takes advantage of many of the programs offered him, like Medicare and Social Security. Overall, he feels entitled to benefits available to someone like him who worked hard all his life. I guess I can’t blame him, but I grew up being told social security would not exist when I needed it. In fact, it is now broke and taking in less money than payouts. Sadly, the government “borrowed” against the Social Security trust fund and there is nothing but journal entries reflecting what should be a solid program.

Meanwhile I, in my mid 40’s, feel like I carry the world on my back to produce and earn income, not only for my own family, but due to taxes for many other people too. Neil and I have conflict on what we see as the role of government. Last week we discussed politics: Obama, Fox News, Democrats and Republicans. In the course of conversation Neil commented he didn’t realize I write this column every week, thinking I was an occasional guest appearance. He challenged me, wondering about my position and I explained I try to hold a middle ground and this earned a respectable smile.

I quickly reminded him I don’t have cable television and therefore the opinions I write are original. He asked how I see the world, “left or right?” I replied I have realized during the last 70 columns I am a libertarian and my friend’s eyes opened wide whilst asking me to define myself further. Suddenly I found myself defending what I would call the anarchists view of libertarian politics. Instead, I explained my definition of libertarianism is quite easy, “we need nothing more than 7 of the 10 commandments and they serve as a guidebook for libertarianism.” In short, in the middle, I believe less government is good; I can make better decisions than anyone else can on my behalf, and we should not legislate against stupidity. As the “Man in the Middle” I try hard weekly to maintain a balance and offer original opinions and insights. By the way I sent Neil my last 70 columns and look forward to debating what he reads.

January 26, 2011 by General Rant

Welcome Back

Welcome Back
The 112th Congress began last week and last Monday night I found myself watching C-Span replaying Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s inaugural speech to the 111th Congress. In January 2008 we were on the cusp of driving over an unforeseen cliff into financial armegeddon. Therefore I wonder if Ms. Pelosi’s speech was sincere in its lofty promises regarding spending. She did manage to accomplish many of her goals including the passage of national health care. However, her single biggest failure was the blatant spending, supporting increases and propelling the national debt higher by $5.3 trillion dollars. One can easily argue it was not her fault, the financial crisis created a historic problem requiring spending unprecedented monies.

This past November Ms. Pelosi was re-elected by the constituents of the ultra-liberal California Bay Area 8th district identifying gay rights, social programs, and government intervention as the solution to America’s problems. On the other hand, also welcomed back was Rep. John Boehner, Pelosi’s outspoken critic in the House and the new House Speaker. The 112th Congress comes to Washington with great expectations to generate jobs, protect our soldiers, and provide tax relief. Influenced by the Tea Party movement Congress started its session with a historic reading of the Constitution to remind members our founding fathers had a vision for a great republic, guided by fiscal conservatism, and relief from tyranny. I applaud the efforts to require all new bills cite the Constitutional authority given to Congress to enact it. With this citation the legislature would no longer spend many nay years awaiting the judiciary’s decision to overturn unconstitutional legislation.

Sadly it appears we remain at a crossroads in American politics as even a reading of the Constitution is called pompous theater by the likes of the New York Times. Regarding the 112th’s efforts, much debate will take place regarding the “Constitutionality” of their proposed actions, and only one man knows the intent of the Constitution although many consider that intent clear. I welcome back the members of Congress and hope they will look to Jefferson’s writings to protect our future, “Our tenet ever was…that Congress had not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, …was never meant that they should provide for that welfare but by the exercise of the enumerated powers, so it could not have been meant they should raise money for purposes which the enumeration did not place under their action; consequently, that the specification of powers is a limitation of the purposes for which they may raise money.” – Thomas Jefferson, 1817.

January 16, 2011 by Big Government General Rant Obama taxes

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

My buddy Noel and I were talking this week about the rising cost of fuel, unemployment, President Obama’s actions in Asia, rising gold prices, crashing housing prices, and “Dancing with the Stars”. I said it felt like we were in the “The Twilight Zone”. You see, Noel and I are the same age as each other, born in 1967. I commented that we grew up with Gene Cernan hitting golf balls on the moon and promises of us living there someday. We were influenced by TV re-runs like “The Brady Bunch”, “Leave it to Beaver”, and “Andy Griffith”. The 1970’s had the gas crunch, Nixon going to China, the Bicentennial, Jimmy Carter, and the Iranian Hostage crisis. As we entered high school Reagan protected us from the Soviets, and the Big 3 auto companies saved themselves from the Japanese. In college Bush 1 continued the legacy of Reagan and we graduated to a healthy job market. Clinton first scared us with Hillarycare and reinvented himself to ultimately steer a healthy economy where everyone talked dotcoms, and knew Peter Lynch’s name; investment returns less than 15% were despised. Even as we partied like it was 1999, life remained good, our careers flourished, and although terrorism was new to our shores, we all jumped on the real estate rocket ship.

Today I feel like a character in the Twilight Zone: I lost my job, like Donald Trump sold real estate at a loss, shed assets like “The Biggest Loser”, have watched two elections with dismay wondering how some get reelected and others lost, and been puzzled by the bank mess and healthcare. On television gay characters perpetuate, obesity delights, and sitcom dialogue offends. I used to love air travel, but George Bush created a Gestapo security force requiring me to show papers, remove my shoes, and in the latest round choose radiation or molestation to board a plane. My president claims Islam was the light of the world, but yet the followers of this political radicalism have killed over 3,100 Americans in the last decade, many on our own soil. America manufactures nothing, we regurgitate services, and our economy is fueled by debt and consumption; there are no jobs and it will take 20 years to recover the 8 million lost over the last three years. Last week the central bank announced it will print money until our economy is fixed, another crazy scheme parallel to the Fed’s efforts of the Great Depression. My only explanation is we are waiting for Rod Serling to step from behind a tree saying, “That’s the signpost up ahead – your next stop, The Twilight Zone!”

November 20, 2010 by Big Government General Rant Obama

Gender Bias

Gender Bias

Last week I encountered a woman I previously knew; a very attractive successful vice president of a national company. Ironically, her reputation is one of being a “total b—ch”. This prompted me to wonder why people feel intimidated by successful women whereas I have always been attracted to and admired successful intelligent women. Personally, my wife LeeAnn is beautiful, has worked as a financial controller for a Ross Perot company with numerous people reporting to her, and is now attaining her CPA. Similarly, my girlfriend prior to LeeAnn turned heads and is vice president of a national healthcare company. But yet, both are denigrated by people who do not know them. Having two daughters I feel hypersensitive to this issue as I encourage and push them to achieve more, challenging them academically. However, their friends, and even some family, fail to support and push them.

Sadly, it appears many Americans regard successful, attractive women as enemies; often denigrated with the “b” or “c” words. A woman relegated to part-time work or a stereotypical female job finds herself held in higher regard, but it seems these women are the first to insult those who have found success. Among males, the opposite is true. A tough, good looking guy rising to a top-management position, becoming a politician or powerful lawyer is admired.

Examples of tough women at leadership levels abound from Pelosi and Palin, Secretary of State Clinton, Germany’s Merkel, England’s former Thatcher, and even our own local Suzanne Kosmas and Dorothy Hukill. These are the women I use as role models for my daughters, the ladies who have proven with hard work and determination, regardless of gender, they can rise and chase dreams. Unfortunately, more Americans uphold Lohan, Spears, and Snooki. It appears there is more regard for pop stars void of opinion and intellect, lacking morals, values, and ethics, but high on scandal, promiscuity, and even criminal activity. Successful women find themselves mocked and maligned, like Sarah Palin. What woman serves as a better role model than Palin, who spoke out locally, rose through the ranks and became governor, and the second female vice presidential candidate in American history? It’s easy to disparage people we don’t know, calling them trailer trash, a b—ch, or reference lipstick on a pig. If dislike is driven by disagreement over issues, then debate, but don’t make it personal

August 25, 2010 by General Rant Mainstream Media

Communication is an Art – work together

Communication is an Art – work together

One of the most important things I have always strived for is communication – everyone should know what everyone else is doing. This speeds response to customers and empowers everyone in the organization to make decisions.

When I worked at Milliken we underwent a lot of training focusing on Japanese management technics. If everyone had a consistent desk layout, papers organized the same, then you could sit at any desk and work.

This holds true in todays environment. I have pushed for this in our company with our IT strategy. I should be able to sit at any computer and see my same desktop I see anywhere else. My mapped drives, programs, etc. Well, we did it! We created images with all of our software installed and built common user profiles. With our IT company’s help they added network roaming to the domain so no matter where I sit down, I see MY COMPUTER desktop.

There will be more to follow on this ….

But, it brings me back to what prompted me to write this. I am amazed at how compartmentalized companies are in how they work. We took multiple phone calls and emails from the same company today reporting a software problem. Each person that encountered it, reported it independently. Each person IGNORED our tech ticket system, except the first person who reported it. And, it was already a resolved, closed issue. Anyone could have logged in and checked the status.

Communication, consistency — can you work from someone else’s desk tomorrow? Do you know what to do if a customer calls them and asks a question? Send them to voice mail or help?

June 24, 2005 by General Rant