Business 101 From the President

As many of us have become acutely aware, President Obama recently gave a speech regarding the relationship between businesses and government in Roanoke, VA.  This speech has created plenty of ammunition for the conservative side because of the brazen comments the president stated regarding dependency on the government.  "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen.".  Yes it is fair to say that we all help each other along the way but there is NOT a necessary dependency on the federal government in order to have success.  Jeff Brown of the Teaching Kids Business program in Seattle stated
“I’m not sure I agree with the comments made," Brown said. "I think there is a partnership between government and business but they are not dependant on each other.  The government tends to justify their spending by touting job creation," he said, "but it’s a self-serving position.”.  I couldn't agree more.  The relationship is present because of the federal government commerce and economic sanctions but other than that, tax dollars and everyday people are the main supporters of American business.  The strong men and women who build these organizations from the ground up are the backbone of our society and the deserve to be praised for their hard work. 
We need a leader that is willing to give praise to hard work and stamina instead of patting himself on the back and giving a big thumbs up to the sprawling government programs he supports. 

Makers versus Takers

In the words of out beloved freedom fighter, Abraham Lincoln "A house divided against itself cannot stand".  There is an increasingly large number of individuals that are becoming less independent and more dependent on not only the government but those who create the wealth.  There is a battle stirring between the private and public sector in regards to strengthening the economy and increasing job availability for the millions that are out of work.  Arthur Herman compared the outcomes of both sectors over the past 60-70 years incredibly well "
The private sector built the strongest economy in the world.  It armed the free world in World War Two, and then in the three decades after the war turned America into the most prosperous society history had ever seen.  It revived America in the  Reagan and Clinton years, and thanks to the Bush tax cuts brought this country back from economic collapse after 9/11.
In those same years a growing public sector, by contrast, turned Europe into a cesspool of debt, stalled economies, and chronic social dysfunction that’s set the streets of Athens -- and perhaps other European capitals--on fire".
What does this tell us?  We need to focus on the economy and stop taxing the people increased amounts.  If the people have less money to spend, the economy will bot be strengthened and we will ultimately fail.  We need to elect those who are well versed in finance and economic backgrounds.  Trying to save the world when we cannot even support ourselves is irresponsible to the citizens of this nation and we need to demand that out government takes responsibility and turns the power over the private sector to bring us back.

Independence vs. Dependence and Freedom vs. Bondage

When we think of the United States many words and ideals come to mind; freedom, independence, liberation, dreams, etc.  There are countless opportunities available to those in this Land of the Free but are we really moving in a direction of freedom?  As the debt moves to $16 trillion and policies are passed that will in fact incur trillions more it seems as though this land of opportunity is becoming a land that is becoming dependent on the government far too much.  We the people pride ourselves on rising above despite mitigating circumstances in our lives, we do not demand assistance for what we can easily do on our own, and we do not take "freebies" or "handouts" from the government as a means of living.  These truths are quickly becoming less than that unfortunately.  As the welfare program costs surpass the military spending and as issues of healthcare, marriage, and government assistance which have always been privileges are becoming rights that are demanded by far too many drain what is paid in taxes, we see a frightening amount of dependence on the government.  This is not freedom!  If citizens become more and more dependent on government programs and are taxed for noncompliance we will lose our opportunity to grow.  Debt is not freedom.  Laziness is not freedom.  Dependency is not freedom.  Government dependence does not teach us to build ourselves from the ashes and to strengthen our resolve to succeed.  Mediocrity is not the American way and yet we are allowing these policies to pass that will put so much more power in the hands of the federal government whereas it should be in the hands of the people.  We need to go to work America and we need to work hard.  Vote not for party, but for who is willing to take the initiative to protect the rights of the people. 

We The People... Need a LEADER

The United States of America has definitely had great leaders and unfortunately, some who were not so great.  We are in dire need of strong leadership in this time when the world is so unstable and yet we have been without a great leader for almost 4 years.  Now is the time to change this.  Political parties aside, we can compare and contrast the two candidates on standards, experience, and policy preferences and it is clear who should be our next president.  President Barack Obama has had little leadership experience, has surrounded himself with people who do not produce results, and has yet to make a contribution that is economically sound.  He is willing to sing his own praises when something is done well (whether or not he was involved) and is compelled to place blame on everyone but himself when anything goes wrong.  Luckily, we have a viable candidate on the Republican ticket this year.  Mitt Romney has shown strength, honesty, and integrity in many aspects of his life.  He proven himself a strong leader during his governorship in Massachusetts, he has shown his expertise in business and economic soundness, and has been a true patriot who can admit his wrongs and move into the future with stability and strength.  As the American people, we have the right to choose and the right to vote for whomever we feel will progress the continuity of this great nation.  Make the right choice (pun intended) and choose conservative values this November.  Mitt Romney is the greatest option for the future and one of the greatest men overall that I have ever met.  Vote Romney!

Combine the Armed Forces?

Here is an interesting concept to potentially save money and lives and boost federal government morale.  We currently have 5 seperate branches of the military; Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the Marines.  They all have different weapons, transportation, etc but imagine the  money that the government would save and the efficientcy if they combined these forces to have the same forms of communication, ground, water, and air support, and weaponry.  The Department of Defense would be wise to consider options to boost the efficientcy of the department.  Just some food for thought.

At Last We Can Breathe Easy... For a Few Months

Finally the United States chose a worthy candidate for the presidential job!  Mitt Romney is a spectacular person with an immense amount of leadership, finance, and business under his belt.  Just what this nation needs.  We saw the terrible effects of choosing anyone but a governor to lead the most powerful nation in the previous 4 years and it is time to choose a leader.  We need someone that will stand strong for the morals and beliefs of this nation and its history.  We need someone that has led and will continue to lead the way into the future with passion, patriotism, and respect.  We need Mitt Romney.  Obama tried his best but his record works against him.  He had little experience in leading anything until he became the president and has yet to show a strong leadership style worthy of the title he holds.  It is EXTREMELY difficult to remove an incumbent from office but it is my hope and wish that this upcoming voting season is attended by intelligent thinkers who understand a good man when they see him and recognize a wolf in sheep's clothing when they hear him speak.  Lets go GOP!!!  Take back the White House and lead this nation back to an economic surge!

Arizona, Michigan, and Washington... You decide.

The wonderful states of Arizona, Michigan, and Washington are the final 3 states to decide on a nominee before the Super Tuesday votes on March 6 which is the day where 563 delegates will come forward and vote on a GOP nominee for their states.  This is a major event for the GOP and will be an indicator as to how the 2012 Presidential election will turn out.  It is clear that the two front runners are still Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum however Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are still holding on for those 20 states in several weeks.  This is an exciting year and a great time to become involved.  These next three state caucuses coming up will be heavily broadcasted and will set the mood going into the March 6 elections.  PLEASE make sure you vote and vote with who you feel will be a great leader and will best lead us out of the recession.  This should be someone that has experience in leadership and the business world that has truly proven their worth *cough* Romney *cough* but let facts lead you.  Choose wisely because if the nominee for the GOP cannot win in 2012, why vote for them?

Occupiers. Please Stop?

What is the Occupied Movement?  Why did it begin and where is it going?  The point of this movement was to protest against economic and social inequalities within the United States.  They originators decided it was time to stand up to corporate American and fight back with the poor hand they had been dealt.  This began in September 2011 and is FINALLY beginning to phase out.  Although conservative bloggers and media have been pointing out the disfunctionality of these movements for months, the liberal left is finally beginning to make statements to end this ridiculous group.  Bill Maher stated that he would like to see the Occupiers "Go home and get a job.  Enough already"  It has attracted people into the movement that are bored, lazy, and unwilling to rise above their given circumstances.  It is people like that that cause other nations to scoff at America.  The sense of entitlement is sickening and although it may seem like the wealthy have the "easy life", most had to work hard to get there.  They began at the lowest rung and worked their way up just as every American should.  Not everyone can be a millionaire but at least get a minimum wage job to help support the economy instead of camping out around federal buildings and wasting time and space.  Take some of the rare good advice from Bill and get a job.  Move on because the rest of us are.

Who Will It Be GOP?

This is an intense election year because the path the United States takes will be determined in November.  The main issue that arises with this election is the dispute from within the Republican party.  The Democrats already have their candidate so the debates between the GOP candidates are becoming more juvenile and far-reaching.  There are strange assumptions being made and ridiculous rumors being spread about each of the candidates although most are circling around Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich as they are the clear front-runners.  Newt has quite a bit of baggage from his personal life which extended to his political career in the 1990's when his fellow congressmen found him unethical in his conduct.  Mitt has a well polished record and he has held leadership and governing positions which make him an ideal candidate.  It is unfortunate that many do not realize that legislators do not do well in governing roles and with only Kennedy and Obama being legislators turned president, it seems obvious that a governor would be a better choice.  This nation needs a leader, not a smooth operator that is used to backroom deals and sneaky legislation as a means to power.

Susan Komen vs. Planned Parenthood

It is no secret that one of the main functions of the Planned Parenthood organization is to assist women in aborting an unwanted fetus from the womb.  This is a typical reference for this group however there are multiple other roles the group plays.  Planned Parenthood also gives free screening for breast cancer, STD's, and pregnancy.  The fees for these screenings can be incredibly expensive in hospitals and doctor's offices and therefore unrealistic for many men and women.
Recently, the Susan B. Komen Foundation for the Cure decided to drop the funding for grants for this organization because of the fact that they support and carry out abortions.  I agree that the money given should not assist in funding abortion but these screenings are so incredibly important for so many people and lives are saved because of them.  The Komen Foundation recently retracted that statement and will continue funding breast cancer screenings for the group.  Hopefully this money is ONLY being used for the screenings and for other purposes.

Immigration

With the recent notoriety the GOP candidates have been receiving, other topics and debates have been temporarily pushed aside and one major issue is immigration.  I have had the opportunity to work in immigration for the past month and a half and through this experience, it is clear that something must be done.  A simple bill or "one size fits all" legislation will not fix the issues that are rising each day.  It is not right to simply deny each immigrant that may have been tied up in the numerous forms a chance to contribute to society in this country and it is not right to give clemency to each person that came to this country illegally at any age but the answer lies somewhere in the middle.  As I mentioned before, there is not one single law that will correct the current issues but we must begin somewhere.  I work with families and students that are wonderful people who work, pay taxes, and rise above in almost every aspect and I work with people who are criminals and want nothing but a free ride through life but often times it is difficult to discern which is which from a piece of paper turned into the local USCIS office.  What can we do?  I have come up with a solution to begin and this would not only assist those in need of immigration help but it would also create jobs in this downward spiraling economy.  If these state and federal offices would create branches that would actually sit down with those who are vying for residency in this country and speak with them and get legal paperwork together to decide if they belong here, many problems would be solved.  There would be an element of fairness that I believe both the left and the right could see.  This would save the lives that people have built and eliminate those cases that could cause crime and tax dollars of hard working citizens.  Just a thought for personal experience.

Debt not Debt Limit

Marco Rubio presented an interesting perspective today on Face the Nation.  He pointed out that the debt limit is really not the underlying issue in this nation but debt itself is.  I must say, we focus so much on the legislation of limiting or expanding the debt ceiling that we forget that debt itself is what caused this dilemma to begin with.  This country came from a great economic standing in the 1990's and has experienced an obvious drop within the past 12 years.  It is not just the government (local, state, and federal) that is spending too much but as a whole, the people of this country rack up incredible amounts of debt on credit cards and are unable to pay it back.  This is a serious issue that cannot be just be "fixed" with a bill.  This must be taught in schools and at home because that is typically where we as humans learn our habits.  This habitual spending pattern we have seen increase drastically is not healthy for the level of economic standing we should be at.  I am not suggesting that we quit spending all together but there must be moderation.  There is so much waste and pointless spending that we must do away with before we have nothing left.  There is supposedly a deal in the process of being made between the two parties in Congress but will it be before the dreaded August 2 deadline?  My guess is no but only time will tell.

Tax Reform... PLEASE?

Since the 2010 Republican take-over of Congress, the major debate has been focused on the astronomically high debt this nation is accruing.  This past Thursday, the House Speaker John Boehner pointed out that the reform is under discussion but tax hikes are out of the question for the GOP.  This has been a continuous standstill in congress; who to tax, how high, how low, etc.  There have been several imminent government shut-downs that have been narrowly avoided by last-minute legislation that puts off the inevitable awhile longer.  How long can we survive on this?  This nation MUST get out of the deep hole of deep that it is currently standing in.  Today the highest tax bracket pays 35% in taxes while the lowest pays 15% however at the beginning of Reagan's presidency, the tax rate was 50% for the highest tax rates.  There has been discussions and pushes for raising the tax rate to similar percentages on those who make $250,000 (families) and $200,000 (individuals) or higher to relieve the over debt burden the government has gotten themselves into.  Although it seems like a quick fix, a better answer would be to lessen the spending in areas that are not dire within the government.  There are programs in place that take an immense amount of funding with little to no return and these programs need to either be reformed to require less money or eliminated all together.  Some of the programs that are not necessary as they are now would be NASA, Social Security (which needs to be reformed), the Food and Drug Administration (also needs to be reformed), and all cloning research (because it is NOT necessary).  These are just some ideas that would take a very long time to change or eliminate but they would save billions for the future which is where we need to look to in order to prepare now.  

Arguments From Within

Debates and arguments are a large part of politics however, it seems that as time goes on these debates morph into all out wars with words.  Politics inspire and cause a passion that is infectious and can spread like wild fire as is well portrayed in elections and by the media.  Passion is key but more and more often it is leading to anger and hate which are not democratic emotions.  I was recently involved in a discussion with a friend and several of his family members that were frustrated with people on the Fourth of July that were making comments about the disappointment they felt in the Obama administration.  I made a point that this is a country that allows freedom of speech and this frustration towards these people was unfounded and selfish.  Obviously this was not taken well because no one enjoys hearing that they are being narrow-minded and the war with words began.  I was shocked at the immaturity that ensued and backed out of the conversation as it was turning into a juvenile name calling contest.  I realized this all began with a few words.  Words are powerful and can stir emotions that cause us to act in a way that is beneath us.  The family members were self-proclaimed moderates in their political beliefs but refused to be logical or reasonable and I could not help but laugh at the hilarity of the situation.  This is what America is coming to.  These are the types of people that are voting for leaders that are incapable of leading and yet will stand to blame others for the problems that they voted for.  There will always be anger and frustration in politics but with a healthy dose of logic, many of these outbursts would never happen.  PLEASE be reasonable if a conversation turns sour.  Sometimes the best action is to walk away as difficult as it may be.

2012 GOP Candidates

There have been many people that have stated their dislike of the options for the GOP nomination for the 2012 Presidential election however, these candidates are some of the best this party has had since Reagan.  These people love this country and they love the freedoms that we as a nation enjoy.  They all have various levels of experience in public office and most have succeeded in other fields such as business and media as well.  Some may have some extremist views but they will slowly be dropped from the race as they represent viewer citizens.  The front runners are obviously Mitt Romney, Michelle, Bachmann, and Herman Cain and they as a whole are representative of the Republican Party.  Each offer a very different promise as the leader of the most powerful nation in the world and each have a shot at winning the seat from the current administration.  Why would these not be considered the best the GOP has to offer?  Some mention religion, extremism, and lack of political suave are the major reasons however in reality, none except extremism could deter an individual from being a true leader.  A true leader is humble, passionate, and able to admit when they are wrong.  A true leader also surrounds themselves with advisers that posses differing opinions and backgrounds in order to better represent a larger group of those being represented.
A leader that actually connects with the people of this country will be a wonderful change from President Obama.  We need someone that stands up for the people instead of standing against them with an audible air of pride.  In turn, we need voters that educate themselves on those running.  There will be more trust in the government and the elected individual will be held to a higher standard with more accountability to those they represent.  Really learn for yourself about these candidates instead of trusting wholly a media source... that is the key to true learning.

Middle Eastern Political Climate

I think it is safe to say that the year 2011 has come with a flurry of political and military activity in the Middle East.  Egypt began to protest their government on January 25, 2011 in the city of Cairo and it wasn't until February 11, 2011 that President Mubarak decided to step down.  this revolution began a string of events that took place in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and most recently in Libya.  This is a very strange turn of events that will have powerful effects on the world.  Many have already felt the hit to their finances as gas price rose up to $.40 in one day in some areas and food prices have spiked in most areas.  The worry that I have is the power vacuum that will take place as these governments in the Middle East fall... who will step in?  The Muslim Brotherhood, the United States, Europe?, a terrorist group?  Who knows, one thing we can be sure of is the candidate hopefuls for the upcoming 2012 election in the United States will be watched and scrutinized very carefully over the course of these events and their actions could determine who will be running for president against the current administration.  Only time will tell but please be aware of false promises being made and lies being told by those running and those already in office.  Search it out for yourself and make an educated vote.  That is the soul of Democracy right?

CPAC 2011

I went, I saw, I learned... Although the Republican party had a great comeback in the 2010 election it is now the time to rally behind a single candidate to hopefully remove President Obama from office.  These splits within the party will not increase the chances of a Republican win in 2012.  The straw poll showed Ron Paul as winning 30% of the votes but it is common knowledge especially to those that attended the conference that the polls were packed and dozens of people voted up to 7 times for Ron Paul.  Mitt Romney was a close second with 23% of the vote and he was a much more viable candidate.  His speech calling for the Obama administration to focus not on healthcare, but on the failing economy and high unemployment rate was spectacular created massive support as round after round of applause from the thousands present echoed from the walls of the auditorium.  There were many other speeches given that were incredible that asked why this nation has not seen the change that was promised.  They asked this country to stand together and not not fall apart no matter the leader.  The United States is the most powerful nation in the world in so many aspects and we need to challenge ourselves and live up to that standard.  We can change the course that this country is headed and we can do this by participating.  Vote, petition, call your representatives, run for office, etc... These are all avenues that we are able to use and we need to.  God bless America.

Florida Judge Deems Obamacare UNCONSTITUTIONAL

It is common knowledge that the health care plan proposed by President Barack Obama has brought in a torrent of fear and anger nationwide.  President Obama claims that everyone should have health care whether they want it or not.  The main problem with the plan is the fact that although it brings health care to each and everyone of us, it lacks hugely in quality.  This exchange for quantity versus quality is by nature against what the United States of America stands for.
Justice Roger Vinson of Florida made a bold ruling that pointed out some unconstitutional flaws within the health care bill.  He points out that because of the bill forcing citizens to purchase health care and violates the Commerce Clause, it becomes unconstitutional thereby making the bill void.
There is of course many who claim this was an unfair ruling and this decision will be taken to the Supreme Court but I have high hopes that the highest court of the land will take note that the Congress who passed this law overstepped the bounds of their authority and also refused to take into account the many constituents that they represent DID NOT want the bill passed.  Time will tell what will come of this Obamacare but for the sake of quality health care, I hope the law dies.

Veterans Day of Honor

This is a day on which we celebrate those who serve and have served in our military.  These brave men and women who fight for the rights and liberties of this glorious nation are an important and incredibly special part of our country.  The comprise of about 1,455,000 men and women on active duty and 833,616 on reserve.  This means that this country has the second largest military in the world, second only the People's Republic of China.
This is a time of great unrest in the world with wars, natural disasters, disease, and a new issue that has become more prevalent and that is hate.  There has become a widespread feeling of distrust and ill-feeling for this within our own nation and those who are elsewhere but this horrible feeling must end.  We just had another election and we celebrate the opportunities that we have to vote freely and speak our minds freely.  This is a right that is protected by these phenomenal men and women of the United States Military.  Let us honor them by doing our part to add to the feelings of unity and trust in this country.  Let us stand together lest we fall apart from within.  Happy Veterans Day to all.

All is Fair in Love and War... and Politics?

The American Government has problems... There is no doubt about it and there is no small amount of literature spouting ideas and reasons why this travesty came to pass.  One such book is written by Sunil Ahuja and although the book has an obvious bias (Liberal) there are some truths listed within.  The 1950's and 60's were a time of great changes happening within policies and congress was working together (bipartisanship) to create a greater good for the country.  The were able to work on health care, education, and welfare together because as former congressman Bob Michel (R) puts it "they respected the institution".  It seems that today the opposing sides demonize the other and have become exceptional blame game players.  As Fred Greenstein states in his incredible book "The Presidential Difference", oftentimes what it takes to run for and be elected president are not the same characteristics to be a great president.  There are few men that have been truly remarkable presidents although they did run a great campaign filled with promises and pledges to the American people to create "change" and "hope".  Why do we keep voting for people that have proven they will never change.  The goal is to become safe in a position and get re-elected which means they are because less bipartisan.  There are less and less bills that go through congress and the house that are bipartisan which means that no matter what, a large group of people will be feeling very unrepresented and there will be consequences.  After the Newt Gingrich revolution in 1994 the Republicans were in control of both houses until 2006 and here we have again, less than 4 years later the Democrats lost the House because they were not doing their jobs.  They were not representing their constituents and it has come down to the Republican party to help change the path this country has taken over the past 4 years.  Let us hope that congress will work together to ensure a safe and economically stable future for this nation.  The greatest nation in the world: The United States of America.  Congratulations to those who were elected in this intense mid-term election.  Serve the country well.