THE ENTERPRISE--"WE THE PEOPLE" ACCELERATING TO WHERE?
HERE IS A REPORT ON HOW AMERICANS FEEL
This is from a highly credible and large sample of Americans. It is far more accurate and believable than the "poll of the day" which surveys perhaps 1000 people on a few topics and which are often biased depending on who paid for it or commissioned the poll. (E.g., CNN and CNBC polls lean one way and FOX polls lean the other. Wonder why?) [Note: my emphasis added in the text below.]
THE PROBLEMS START CLOSER TO HOME--IN OUR STATES
Over the next few months, I will comment on issues facing states, with particular emphasis on OH where I happen to live--and know more about. I encourage readers to provide me with "state relevant" information for future issues. After all, the USA is a Federal republic in which the Constitution grants many rights to the state--rights which are in danger of being revoked, abused, or lost. States, meanwhile, receive "help" from the Federal government, and many times, this help comes with "strings attached," some of which drive entirely wrong behaviors. States are mostly as guilty of spending more than their means as the Federal Government is. This tendency to be fiscally irresponsible is very bad--and must be stopped and reversed or our country and our states--and the citizens in them--will suffer greatly.
WE THE PEOPLE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE
WHAT IS THE TRUTH IN THE TOYOTA DEBACLE
ARE THE TOYOTA PROBLEM REPORTS FUELED BY "HERD MENTALITY, "IRRATIONAL PANIC," HUNGRY LAWYERS AND PUBLICITY SEEKERS? for entire story see: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_bi_ge/us_prius_panic
[My emphasis added to this March 10 Yahoo News/AP Report]
Reports of sudden acceleration in the Toyota Prius have spiked across the country. But that doesn't mean there's an epidemic of bad gas pedals in the popular hybrid. Experts on consumer psychology say the relentless negative media attention Toyota has received since the fall makes it much more likely that drivers will mistake anything unexpected — or even a misplaced foot — for actual danger. Is the US government crucifying the Japanese giant to help the US carmakers (in which it owns large stakes)?
"When people expect problems, they're more likely to find them," said Lars Perner, a professor of clinical marketing at Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California. In just the first 10 weeks of this year, 272 complaints have been filed nationwide for speed control problems with the Prius, according to an Associated Press analysis of unverified complaints received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. By comparison, only 74 complaints were filed in all of last year, and just eight the year before that. Or have people just now caught on to the nature of these problems?
ARE THE PROBLEMS REAL--BROUGHT ON BY THE WIDESPREAD USE OF "DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEMS
During the past ten years, automakers and notably Toyota among them abandoned the old mechanical linkages that controlled acceleration, braking and other auto functions in favor of "drive by wire" using computers to control the car. Has the rapid growth and market share gains of Toyota combined with real flaws--consistently replicated in millions of cars, to create this problem? For problems with the brakes, rather than the gas, the figures are even more stark: 1,816 filed so far this year versus just 90 in all of 2009 and fewer than 20 in every other year of the last decade. Toyota recalled 440,000 Priuses on Feb. 8 because its antilock brakes seemed to fail momentarily on bumpy roads. It's doubtful the Priuses of the past two years suddenly became more dangerous than those made in years past. After all, Toyota's own recall for Prius floor mats that can trap gas pedals covers model years 2004 to 2009. Or is it widespread panic?
TOYOTA HAS BEEN "BURYING COMPLAINTS" FOR A LONG TIME.
The Japanese culture would make you wonder. Saving face means not raising problems to the top of the organization but handling them at lower levels--or perhaps, hiding them at lower levels? The vaunted Toyota production system is a masterpiece of consistency--but when something is wrong--it could also be just as consistently wrong. I know of several instances where Toyota "downplayed problems" (not sudden acceleration however) and managed them by "Special Service Programs" fixing the problems as the cars came in for regular service.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE TRUTH OTHER THAN ONE THING. WHEN A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA HAS ITS MANAGERIAL CONTROL SWITCHED FROM "ENGINEERS" TO "FINANCIERS" (DURING THIS ERA) AND WHEN IT DRIVES FOR GLOBAL GROWTH AS ITS PREEMINENT GOAL, AND RAPID RELEASES OF NEW CAR VARIANTS--THIS SORT OF PROBLEM CAN OCCUR. I WONDER IF WE'LL EVER FIGURE IT OUT.
HOWEVER--THERE IS ONE POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE PRIUS PROBLEMS: Toyota must have used Eveready batteries in the Prius. You know that Eveready Bunny--he just keeps going and going and going. [Sorry--I know it's not a laughing matter, but that one was too fitting to resist.]
BIGGEST QUESTION: WHY ARE MORE AMERICANS ARE NOT PANIC STRICKEN ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S "RUNAWAY" SPENDING BEHAVIOR? "UNDESIRED ACCELERATION" DESCRIBES IT PERFECTLY.
It's far worse than Toyota's record. There is an old joke: "To err is human, to really screw up, you need to involve the government." More than half of all Americans want to step on the brake on spending. A sizable portion of them have both feet firmly planted on the brake pedal, but the message is not getting to President Obama or Congress. Too bad there is no selector to put in neutral and let them just rev and rev until they run out of gas.
I CANNOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING ABOUT THE CENSUS, BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO ME--And TruthorFiction.com says it is the "TRUTH.
Best, John
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mea
-----------------------------------------------------------
John L. Mariotti, President & CEO, The Enterprise Group, Phone 614-840-0959 http://www.mariotti.net http://mariotti.blogs.com/my_weblog/
------------------------------------------------------------
HERE IS A REPORT ON HOW AMERICANS FEEL
This is from a highly credible and large sample of Americans. It is far more accurate and believable than the "poll of the day" which surveys perhaps 1000 people on a few topics and which are often biased depending on who paid for it or commissioned the poll. (E.g., CNN and CNBC polls lean one way and FOX polls lean the other. Wonder why?) [Note: my emphasis added in the text below.]
American Pulse™: Overwhelming Majority Concerned about Financial Future for Kids, Say They No Longer Have a Voice in Washington
Dissatisfaction Evident in President Obama’s Report Card
COLUMBUS, OH – (MARKET WIRE) – 3/9/10 – 70.6% of Americans say future generations will have to settle for less as a result of rising national debt, according to the latest American Pulse™ survey of 5,311 Americans. Further, 70.4% say they’ve lost their voice when it comes to how the U.S. is being run and that too much is being dictated out of Washington. 68.4% say the U.S. is losing its position as a world economic power.
66.2% of Americans think Congress and President Obama should solve the jobs/economy issue now while healthcare is a distant #2 (16.3%). President Obama’s recent push to pass healthcare reform appears to be out of line with Americans’ priorities and as a result, his report card is suffering.
Grades for President Obama on Key Issues (Adults 18+)
Economy Healthcare Job Creation
Mar-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Feb-10
A Excellent 4.5% 4.6% 4.8% 5.0% 4.0% 4.1%
B Good 16.2% 17.8% 16.5% 16.3% 13.4% 14.4%
C Fair 29.7% 30.3% 27.4% 27.5% 26.5% 26.9%
D Poor 22.2% 22.3% 21.2% 23.0% 23.0% 25.5%
F Failure 27.4% 25.1% 30.1% 28.2% 33.0% 29.1%
Dissatisfaction is also impacting President Obama’s popularity. If the Presidential election were held today, 35.1% of registered voters would vote to re-elect him, compared to 40.5% who would vote for a generic candidate from the Republican Party. Not to be left out, people are also unhappy with the Democrats on Capitol Hill. If the Congressional elections were held today, 37% of registered voters would vote for a Republican vs. 32.3% who would vote for a Democrat.
Other key findings:
• 65% think it is somewhat likely/very likely that another financial crisis is imminent as a result of the bailouts and government spending.
• Americans say Democrats using reconciliation (56.2%) to pass healthcare reform is worse than Republicans using filibuster (43.8%) to block it.
• 48.3% say Democratic leaders are bullying Democrats into voting for healthcare (v. 21.9% who say they aren’t).
Complimentary report: http://americanpulse.bigresearch.com.
About American Pulse™
The American Pulse™ Survey is collected online by BIGresearch® every month exclusively utilizing Survey Sampling International’s (SSI) U.S. panel covering topics such as politics, pop culture and the economy. Over 5,000 respondents participate, providing greater insights and accuracy of +/- 1%. http://www.bigresearch.com
THE PROBLEMS START CLOSER TO HOME--IN OUR STATES
Over the next few months, I will comment on issues facing states, with particular emphasis on OH where I happen to live--and know more about. I encourage readers to provide me with "state relevant" information for future issues. After all, the USA is a Federal republic in which the Constitution grants many rights to the state--rights which are in danger of being revoked, abused, or lost. States, meanwhile, receive "help" from the Federal government, and many times, this help comes with "strings attached," some of which drive entirely wrong behaviors. States are mostly as guilty of spending more than their means as the Federal Government is. This tendency to be fiscally irresponsible is very bad--and must be stopped and reversed or our country and our states--and the citizens in them--will suffer greatly.
WE THE PEOPLE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE
WHAT IS THE TRUTH IN THE TOYOTA DEBACLE
ARE THE TOYOTA PROBLEM REPORTS FUELED BY "HERD MENTALITY, "IRRATIONAL PANIC," HUNGRY LAWYERS AND PUBLICITY SEEKERS? for entire story see: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_bi_ge/us_prius_panic
[My emphasis added to this March 10 Yahoo News/AP Report]
Reports of sudden acceleration in the Toyota Prius have spiked across the country. But that doesn't mean there's an epidemic of bad gas pedals in the popular hybrid. Experts on consumer psychology say the relentless negative media attention Toyota has received since the fall makes it much more likely that drivers will mistake anything unexpected — or even a misplaced foot — for actual danger. Is the US government crucifying the Japanese giant to help the US carmakers (in which it owns large stakes)?
"When people expect problems, they're more likely to find them," said Lars Perner, a professor of clinical marketing at Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California. In just the first 10 weeks of this year, 272 complaints have been filed nationwide for speed control problems with the Prius, according to an Associated Press analysis of unverified complaints received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. By comparison, only 74 complaints were filed in all of last year, and just eight the year before that. Or have people just now caught on to the nature of these problems?
ARE THE PROBLEMS REAL--BROUGHT ON BY THE WIDESPREAD USE OF "DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEMS
During the past ten years, automakers and notably Toyota among them abandoned the old mechanical linkages that controlled acceleration, braking and other auto functions in favor of "drive by wire" using computers to control the car. Has the rapid growth and market share gains of Toyota combined with real flaws--consistently replicated in millions of cars, to create this problem? For problems with the brakes, rather than the gas, the figures are even more stark: 1,816 filed so far this year versus just 90 in all of 2009 and fewer than 20 in every other year of the last decade. Toyota recalled 440,000 Priuses on Feb. 8 because its antilock brakes seemed to fail momentarily on bumpy roads. It's doubtful the Priuses of the past two years suddenly became more dangerous than those made in years past. After all, Toyota's own recall for Prius floor mats that can trap gas pedals covers model years 2004 to 2009. Or is it widespread panic?
TOYOTA HAS BEEN "BURYING COMPLAINTS" FOR A LONG TIME.
The Japanese culture would make you wonder. Saving face means not raising problems to the top of the organization but handling them at lower levels--or perhaps, hiding them at lower levels? The vaunted Toyota production system is a masterpiece of consistency--but when something is wrong--it could also be just as consistently wrong. I know of several instances where Toyota "downplayed problems" (not sudden acceleration however) and managed them by "Special Service Programs" fixing the problems as the cars came in for regular service.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE TRUTH OTHER THAN ONE THING. WHEN A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA HAS ITS MANAGERIAL CONTROL SWITCHED FROM "ENGINEERS" TO "FINANCIERS" (DURING THIS ERA) AND WHEN IT DRIVES FOR GLOBAL GROWTH AS ITS PREEMINENT GOAL, AND RAPID RELEASES OF NEW CAR VARIANTS--THIS SORT OF PROBLEM CAN OCCUR. I WONDER IF WE'LL EVER FIGURE IT OUT.
HOWEVER--THERE IS ONE POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE PRIUS PROBLEMS: Toyota must have used Eveready batteries in the Prius. You know that Eveready Bunny--he just keeps going and going and going. [Sorry--I know it's not a laughing matter, but that one was too fitting to resist.]
BIGGEST QUESTION: WHY ARE MORE AMERICANS ARE NOT PANIC STRICKEN ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S "RUNAWAY" SPENDING BEHAVIOR? "UNDESIRED ACCELERATION" DESCRIBES IT PERFECTLY.
It's far worse than Toyota's record. There is an old joke: "To err is human, to really screw up, you need to involve the government." More than half of all Americans want to step on the brake on spending. A sizable portion of them have both feet firmly planted on the brake pedal, but the message is not getting to President Obama or Congress. Too bad there is no selector to put in neutral and let them just rev and rev until they run out of gas.
I CANNOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING ABOUT THE CENSUS, BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO ME--And TruthorFiction.com says it is the "TRUTH.
==============Don't forget to set your clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time in the wee hours of Sunday AM. Have a great week...spring is almost here.
THIS IS PRETTY BASIC ADVICE: Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.
The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S.Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:
If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door; they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.
REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.
AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION..
No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.
Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS...
==============
Best, John
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mea
-----------------------------------------------------------
John L. Mariotti, President & CEO, The Enterprise Group, Phone 614-840-0959 http://www.mariotti.net http://mariotti.blogs.com/my_weblog/
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