THE ENTERPRISE
LOTS OF SHORT TAKES--BUT BIG NEWS:
CONGRESS CONTINUES TO FLEECE THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS
$1.8 BILLION IN EARMARKS IN MILITARY SPENDING BILL ALONE--THROW THE CROOKS OUT & MAKE THE SENATE DISCLOSE WHO SPONSORS THEM
Some members of the US Congress have so badly abused the earmark process and to render it unusable. Earmarks were created to fill in for mistakes and omissions on funding bills. Now it has become the "honey pot" and "pork barrel" for outspoken Congressional miscreants like John Murtha (D. PA--$166MM), Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House (D. CA--$32MM), C. W. "Bill" Young (R. FL--$117MM), Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader (D. MD--$26MM)
ARE YOU READY FOR THE PUNCH LINE? THIS IS AFTER KEEPING THEIR PROMISE OF THE NEW ELECTED DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY TO CUT THEM IN HALF! THEY WERE TWICE AS BAD BEFORE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE ELECTING "ROYALTY" TO CONGRESS, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT IS HAPPENING. THERE MUST BE SOME HONEST PEOPLE IN OUR GOVERNMENT THAT CAN REIN IN THIS CRIMINAL INSANITY.
NEXT BIG NEWS: FORD GAINS, TOYOTA SLIPS--IN QUALITY ACCORDING TO USERS
Consumer Reports showed that two redesigned Toyota models, the V-6 Camry and V-8 AWD Tundra pickup(and the AWD Lexus GS!) were no longer on its "Recommended" list due to user reported quality problems. Toyota now ranks 3rd behind Honda and Subaru. Ford, however, has risen considerably, with 93% of models rated average or better in reliability and the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan among the most reliable vehicles in their class. WAY TO GO FORD! NOW UNLOAD THOSE LOSS LEADER LUXURY LINES AND GET ON WITH BUILDING GREAT CARS IN ALL SEGMENTS. (I drove a Fusion, and didn't buy it, but it was the best riding and handling mid-sze of the four brands I drove. Only the Acura TL at a $7k premium beat it, and that was more on quality history and features than on core function.)
THE ECONOMY--UP, DOWN, ALL AROUND --MOSTLY "FLAT" (NO FIZZ) FOR 2008
Jobs are up; consumer confidence is down. Housing is down and debt is up, but the Fed has cut rates twice, and may do it again before year end. Inflation is not bad except for oil prices, which will drive heating and gas prices up, taking significant money out of consumers' discretionary spending. Christmas sales are already starting, which means deals abound. Prices will be lower, thus comp sales for the same amount of goods will be down. 2008 forecast--not a recession--but four quarters of very low growth--1-2%+/- depending on Iraq and the election. Time to tighten the purse strings and be ready to weather a challenging year in 2008. While you are at it, wring out every bit of COMPLEXITY that has crept into your business--and life. It just sucks money away and you don't realize it until it's gone.
EARMARKS CLOSE COMPETITOR: FARM SUBSIDIES THE BIGGEST OBSOLETE TAXPAYER RIPOFF
Led by lobbies from agricultural states, the debate to sustain the $286 billion...that's right $286 BILLION in farm subsidies, many of which go to the profitable (corporate farms) and prosperous (wealthy farm owners like a couple of Rockefellers, Edgar Bronfman (Seagram's wealth)...and the Arkansas Department of Corrections, (to the tune of $1,966,597 for it's contribution to agriculture). This is TOTAL BS--it is government THEFT from taxpayers, and wealth redistribution of the most obsolete and onerous kind. WHO CAN STOP THIS? ONLY YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR...WRITE TO THEM.
JUST TO MAKE YOU FEEL SAFE--NOT!
Recent tests at O'Hare and LAX proved that our airport security does not detect explosives most of the time. The failure rates for screeners were 60% at O'Hare and 75% at LAX. The TSA chief could only offer the excuse that some of the undercover agents were concealing explosives as small as pen cap. Great, as if that wouldn't blow a hole in the fuselage of an airplane leading to catastrophic decompression and a huge emergency--if not a crash--especially if detonated on takeoff or landing, the two most critical times, where recovery from a mishap is near impossible. You know the old line about "locks keeping out the honest burglars?" Scares me...and once again...the government run functions FAIL TO WORK! And the Democrats want to turn more of our life over to the government? THIS SHOULD SCARE THE HELL OUT OF ALL OF US WHO USE AIR TRAVEL.
HOAXES IN THE FORM OF MARKETING
Tests reported by the New Scientist have concluded that inexpensive ($80-$90) running shoes actually absorbed more shock and protected the runner from painful injuries like shin splints, better than the very expensive ($140-150), feature laden ones. So much for trading up for any reason except status. Another mistaken consumer perception is that "bagless vacuum cleaners'" (including the very expensive Dyson Cyclonic) do a better job of cleaning than older "bagged" models. They don't. In fact, many do worse, and often they do so because people either don't realize or don't bother to change old, dirty filters. It's ironic that one model (I don't recall which brand) claimed a "lifetime filter" and then supplied an extra one with the cleaner! And dumping that dust cup is like shaking out the old cloth bags--you get a snoot full of dust. That's why disposable, replaceable, filter-material bags were "invented." They work and are easy to use. MARKETING IS NOT ALWAYS "THE WHOLE TRUTH" OR EVEN CLOSE TO IT
MULTI-TASKING CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH--AND JOB
Today's electronic age allows people to always be "ON", and that includes when driving. Do I need to say more. Text messaging while driving is incredibly dangerous. Talking on a handheld phone is about as dangerous as driving drunk. Talking on a hands free phone is only a little less dangerous--since you often devote more of your attention and brain power to the conversation than to driving. You know this is true--you've either seen it or been guilty of it. Walking in heavy traffic areas while on the cell phone is equally hazardous. Doing multiple things at your job similarly insures you'll do a lousy job at all of them. IT'S YOUR LIFE...LIVE IT HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE--BUT FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED.
SOMEONE WILL SHUTDOWN OUR CYBER-SYSTEMS ONE OF THESE DAYS
Five years ago I wrote a novel titled THE SILENCE still available at amazon.com. It was about an international conspiracy to use cyber-terrorism in combination with other proven approaches (military jamming, to name just one) to completely "SILENCE" all forms of electronic communications at once. The more convergence, the more inter-networked our communications systems become, the greater the threat. The government is just now starting to allocate money to "police" this area. Talk about "closing the barn door after the horse is gone." it happened (sort of) in Estonia in May. it could happen here. Imagine, Wall Street, Banking, Air Traffic Control, Phones, Networks, Radio, TV, etc. all shut
down. Incredible. If you want o read about how it could happen, get THE SILENCE.
http://www.amazon.com/Silence-John-L-Mariotti/dp/0595744591/ref=sr_1_1/002-0730596-3529632?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194137990&sr=1-1
Businesses are among the most vulnerable to attacks, so smart CIOs are paying attention to security and backup routines. The worst problems--disgruntled former employees who get out with their passwords and do great harm.
I didn't start this edition of THE ENTERPRISE to frighten or worry you. I just had accumulated these interesting (and I guess, alarming in some cases) tidbits. In any case, now you know about them. Finally, how about a big smile for Ford and GM starting to move up and challenge the Japanese in auto quality. Could it be the start of a new era? Maybe!
Best, John
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