Telling It Like It Is

THE ENTERPRISE--FOOD FOR THOUGHT

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND?  DISTRICT COURT INVALIDATES OBAMA'S BOGUS RECESS APPOINTMENTS

Unless it is taken to the Supreme Court and subsequently overturned, the District Court finally slapped down Barack Obama's overreaching behavior.  If you have not read about it, the particular issues of note were three choices for the NLRB who were named during a pro forma Senate session which Obama claimed was a de facto recess--even though he had employed just such a season (non-recess) to further one of his issues in his first term.  This was also the issue around the naming of Richard Cordray to his powerful position over Consumer Affairs.  The 200+NLRB rulings made since the illegal appointments are now in serious doubt as to their validity. This could be just the first of several such verdicts.  Next up Church rights against Obamacare's contraception rulings.

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WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND?  AIR POLLUTION IN BEIJING, CHINA REACHES NEW HIGHS

Flights must be cancelled due to limited visibility. Highways are closed due to the dense pollution.  The concentration of particulates in the air of Beijing is 35 times the World Health Organization's safe limit.  When things get this bad, something has to give.  But what?  There are places in the interior of China that are worse yet.  Will the Chinese government act?  And do what?

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CHECK OUT MY POST ON THE BRENNER BRIEF THIS WEEK. http://thebrennerbrief.com/author/johnmariotti2012/

I weigh in on how the GOP is mismanaging what they choose to fight about.  

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A big problem currently troubling the Republican party greatly is the lack of a unified strategy and a party spokesperson.  It is neither good nor appropriate for party leaders like Boehner and McConnell to also be speaking for the party--while they are trying to legislate and do their jobs.  I think it is time to find a highly competent person to do this for the party:  help shape strategy and speak for the GOP.  I have a choice to propose, so please spread the word if you agree.  JEB BUSH.

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Since he is an unlikely 2016 Presidential candidate, and can't become FL Governor again (been there, done that), the only other GOP option (in politics) is to run for Senate from FL…but not in place of Marco Rubio…in addition to Rubio.  Taking on the strategist and spokesperson role would be great prep for this.  What do you all think???

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OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS THE ALTERNATIVE OF NEWT IN SUCH A ROLE 

http://www.gingrichproductions.com/2012/12/memo-the-challenge-confronting-the-republican-party/

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IF YOU HAD THE PERSEVERANCE TO READ THE LONG MEMO FROM NEWT IN THE LINK ABOVE, HERE IS MY REACTION:

Newt's lengthy epistle is not wrong--it is largely right--but takes far too much space, thought and words to frame the issues at hand--and nearly overlooks the most serious issues--the vastly different psyche of Americans between his heyday and now!

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There are two fundamental parts to the challenge of GOP relevance to a voting majority of Americans. Newt doesn't frame hem this way.

1. Fiscal, ideological and constitutional beliefs and positions.

2. Social, lifestyle and psychographic/demographic beliefs and traditions.

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If the GOP moves too far left (liberal) on #2, it will alienate a large portion of it's current, more conservative, religious and moralistic membership.  If it does not move more to the center, it has little chance of representing (getting votes from) the factions that supported Obama so heavily--minorities, young, single, secular voters of all kinds (including LGBT)...if you don't know what that acronym means, that's part of the GOP problem!). These groups are a collection of niches who value a different set of rights and roles for government than most GOPers even can imagine!

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That leaves #1, where there are realistically acceptable GOP positions that could appeal to minorities, women, youth, and LGBT voters--many of whom have a good grasp,of fundamental economic issues and the principles of fiscal responsibility.  This area is the easier bridge for the GOP to cross in attracting support and voters.

However, as in most human affairs, in a conflict between logic (#1) and emotion (#2) emotion usually wins.

THE ENTERPRISE--PROLIFERATING PROBLEMS …& FEW SOLUTIONS?

I CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT--BUT…

A great leader engenders positive, "can do" attitudes and even engages opponents to participate in finding solutions to the challenges.  A weak leader demeans the competition, and is openly critical of them, lording victories over them. In sports, "taunting" draws penalty flags.  What penalty flags would this president deserve?  Consider Peggy Noonan's insightful column.  You can almost hear Barack Obama saying, "NYAH, NYAH, NYAH" to the GOP…That is weak leadership at its worst.

Download Noonan: His Terms Are Always Hostile Ones - WSJ.com

STAFF CUTTING IN THE USA, CORPORATE GROWTH FROM OUTSIDE THE USA

January 10, 2013,. AmEx to Cut 8.5% of Staff--Overhaul to Cost $400 Million in Severance, With Travel Unit Taking Big Hit

There are many examples to cite beyond this one…  Just read the news. For every one citing imminent growth in jobs there are 2-3 citing deep cuts.

January 19-20, 2013,  GE Profit Rises on China Demand—" said demand in China and other emerging economies offset an "uncertain" outlook in developed markets like the U. S> and Europe…"

Corporate profits are  not holding up because if President Obama, but rather in spite of his policies and programs.  His friend Jeff Immelt's company, GE, is typical of what is buoying earnings and supporting Wall Street.

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SOME MAY DISAGREE WITH THIS, BUT IT IS OPENLY AND DIRECTLY CRITICAL OF WHAT IS BEING DONE AND HOW…AND AS SUCH, STANDS ON ITS OWN.

BY Historian Arthur Herman

The New Year has started with a monstrosity of a budget deal, one that proves that neither political party, Democrats nor Republicans, is really serious about controlling the growth of big government.  

 

But soap opera dramatics about fiscal "cliffs" and sequestration shouldn’t deflect from where President Obama and Congress are really taking this country. Consider this story from the Wall Street Journal a few days before Christmas:

        “Thousands of people in several Argentine cities ransacked supermarkets for a second day in the latest challenge to President Chistina Kirchner, who is struggling to revive a weak    economy...In the central city Rosario, two people were killed during the incidents and 137 people arrested.  “The violence puts Mrs. Kirchner in a difficult position as the poor are [her] core constituents...Her government spends billions of dollars a year to help low income families, including free health care...[Yet] Argentine activists who claim to represent the poor traditionally block access to supermarkets in the month of December to demand free food and other items...The latest events were some of the worst acts of looting and vandalism in years.... Local media showed dozens of men, women, and children hauling away televisions, refrigerators, and food.”

 

Some have said my warnings about a coming civil war between makers and takers are exaggerated. It’s true that Argentina’s politicians have been waging class warfare since Juan and Eva Peron–and they aren’t fazed when it turns bloody.

 

Obama and the Democrats are relative newcomers to the game. But Argentina reveals who really suffers when those who create a nation’s wealth get mugged by those who spend it – as just happened this week in Washington.  It’s the poor and the middle class, the very ones big government says it’s trying to protect.

 

And that’s where Mitt Romney had it wrong.

 

That 47 percent of Americans who get unemployment benefits, Social Security disability checks, Medicare and Medicaid, and government student loans, aren’t the real takers. Like the rioters in Rosario, they’re just pawns in a perennial battle between those who see wealth and prosperity as something created by hard work, ingenuity, and innovation in a free market system – or something to be doled out by government.

 

Experience teaches that those who believe in free markets are right. The November election and the budget deal, however, show that the other side is winning, and winning big.

 

Since 1970, America’s public sector has exploded as a percentage of GDP, rising to almost 25% last year. While the national unemployment rate hovers at the 8% mark, government worker unemployment rate is a cozy 3.8%. Sixteen percent (16%), or 1 out of every 7 members of America’s workforce now work for government. By the time the Obama administration ends, we won’t be that far away from Argentina’s 21 percent.

 

Yet as an economic and social enterprise, government creates nothing.  Far from adding to people’s standard of living, government is the number one cause of poverty in this country. It forces those who depend on its largesse to live hand to mouth, with no time or money to plan for the future. They become unable to fend for themselves---and increasingly resentful of those who can.

 

When the economy tanks and the government checks have to shrink, their only alternative is to take to the streets. That’s what happening in Argentina, and in Greece; and that’s where the growth of government is taking us here, as this current budget deal increases handouts–and more and more Americans are finding that an unemployment or Social Security disability check is their only life line.

 

Washington’s Republicans and Democrats alike have become the toll collectors on the road to serfdom–and the road to Rosario.  

How far down that road we end up depends on how our private sector rallies in 2013 after two numbing defeats, first on November 7 and then on Capitol Hill this week.  Washington needs to explain to the 47 percent that when big government wins, we all lose–and that this nation won’t survive if it does.

 

Historian Arthur Herman is the author of the just released "

Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II " (Random House May 2012) and the Pulitzer Prize finalist book "Gandhi and Churchill: The Epic Rivalry That Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age " (Bantam, 2008).  

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/03/were-now-one-step-closer-to-america-coming-civil-war/?intcmp=obnetwork#ixzz2HW0lg9Rs

THE PREDICTED WAVE OF CYBER-TERRORISM IS NOT ABATING--IT IS GROWING--AND NOT NEARLY ENOUGH IS BEING SAID, OR DONE ABOUT IT

I initially wrote about this problem in 2000, and then again, with THE CHINESE CONSPIRACY, in 2009-2010.  Someday, the real crisis will be here.  If you have anything to do with systems integrity or security-learn more--a lot more, about how to increase it.  Build tools that anticipate instead of react.  They exist, but take new thought to use.  Read all of this next piece, not just the map!

Download Operation Red October-malware

FINAL NOTE:  WHILE I AM DOWN HERE IN FL WITH TIME TO THINK, I WILL DO JUST THAT.  I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK WITH ME.

That's why I wrote Roadmap To Profitable Growth, and why it has been called "The little book that could help save the US economy."

BEST, JOHN

 

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New Book: ROADMAP TO PROFITABLE GROWTH… GET IT EARLY…MAJOR MEDIA "LAUNCH" IS IN FEB. when Kindle edition will also be available.

http://www.amazon.com/Roadmap-Profitable-Growth-John-Mariotti/dp/1479125083/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357746104&sr=1-1&keywords=Roadmap+to+Profitable+Growth

 

Author of the Award Winner: THE COMPLEXITY CRISIS, the exciting novel: THE CHINESE CONSPIRACY, and co-author of HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY: Leadership Lessons from the Obama Presidency   

John L. Mariotti, President & CEO, The Enterprise Group,  http://www.mariotti.net,   http://mariotti.blogs.com/my_weblog/

THE ENTERPRISE--THE REPUGNANT, THE REVOLTING,THE REPULSIVE AND THE RIDICULOUS

LET'S START WITH RIDICULOUS IN A DIFFERENT SENSE--IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY FEAR CHINESE GLOBAL DOMINANCE, THIS MIGHT PUT YOU OVER THE EDGE

Ironically, there is little in this video that isn't known technology in the USA. Why doesn't it happen here?  Politics, unions, regulations, and government meddling--all of which are revolting and repulsive.  Watch this for 3 minutes and ask why it wasn't done here in the USA.  Better yet, send it to your Congressional representatives and ask them.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/GVUsIlwWWM8?rel=0  By the way, the Empire State Building was built in just over 18 months and that was more than half a century ago, with far less technological advancements.  It could never happen now!  Tragic?  You bet it is!

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THE LENGTHS TO WHICH WE TAKE SOME THINGS IN AMERICA ARE RIDICULOUS--AND TO WHICH WE DO NOT TAKE OTHERS ARE REVOLTING

I saw a college basketball game stopped today because a player had a small scratch that was bleeding, and they needed to put tape over it to protect the other players from the obscure risk of being contaminated (with what) by this athlete's blood.  Yet this weekend, the Gun Show(s) held openly all over out country allow people to buy lethal weapons with killing power (and speed) that so far exceeds the needs of any hunter, sportsman or citizen protecting their home--and often with no waiting period, and little or no background check or verification.  That is truly revolting and ridiculous both.  And this from a person who defends Americans rights to bear arms, and own them…but not arsenals of lethal weapons of war and terror.  Those should constitute a serious criminal offense to just own them, and carry with it a sentence of prison time.  To make room, upon a review of their behavior, release all of the "white collar" and "harmless crime" inmates who have served at least 25% of their initial sentences. That will save money for the states and country, and not increase the danger at all.

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I HEAR ABOUT THE "REPUGNANT NATURE OF TORTURE," BUT LITTLE ABOUT THE REPUGNANT NATURE OF MASS MURDER BY TERRORISTS

Why is that?  The bleeding hearts of the Politically Correct faction in America are both ridiculous and at times repulsive in the way they distort their "pet issues" and in doing so deny the vast majority of Americans either their God-given or their Constitutionally granted rights. When criminals and terrorists are treated better than ordinary citizens--that is just plain wrong.  When the rights of all Americans are trampled (including by the president and his minions) and then the rights of brutal, deranged and misguided criminals/terrorists are held sacrosanct--there is something seriously wrong.  Perhaps those people who are most passionate about protecting the evil minority should have to live with them for a month or a year,  in a constrained area of our country, isolated from good, God-fearing, honest Americans.  This might have a dual purpose:  the ACLU and bleeding hearts would see just how bad the bad people are--and there might be some of that a rancher friend of mine used to call "thinning of the herd."

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SOMETIMES THE CLEAREST OBSERVATIONS COME FROM OUTSIDE…

TOP-11 "ONLY IN AMERICA " OBSERVATIONS -- BY A CANADIAN* 1) Only in America could the rich people - who pay 86% of all income taxes - be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all. 2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black while only 12% of the population is black 3) Only in America could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury Department and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes. 4) Only in America can they have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash. 5) Only in America would they make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege while we discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just 'magically' become American citizens. 6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists." 7) Only in America could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote. 8) Only in America could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. oil company ( Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike). 9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per year - for total spending of $7-Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money 10) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00 a plate campaign fund-raising event. 11) Only in America can a man with no background, no qualifications and no experience ... and a complete failure at his job ... be reelected.

AT THE END OF THIS KIND OF EDITION, YOU DESERVE A CHANCE TO SMILE.  HERE IS ONE!

IMPOSSIBILITIES IN THE WORLD 1. You can't count your hair. 2. You can't wash your eyes with soap. 3. You can't breathe when your tongue is out. Put your tongue back in your mouth, you silly person. 10 Things I know about you. 1) You are reading this. 2) You are human. 3) You can't say the letter ''P'' without separating your lips. 4) You just attempted to do it. 6) You are laughing at yourself. 7) You have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5. 8) You just checked to see if there is a No. 5. 9) You laugh at this because you are a fun loving person & everyone does it too. 10) You are probably going to send this to see who else falls for it.   You have received this e-mail because I didn't want to be alone in the “Idiot” category. Have a great Day. Laugh, and then Laugh and sing It's a Beautiful Morning even when it's not.

WHEN THINGS IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU ARE NOT GOING SO WELL, IT HELPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR.

BEST, JOHN

 

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-----New Book:  ROADMAP TO PROFITABLE GROWTH… is AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON.COM…LOOK FOR IT AND GET A COPY … OR SEVERAL!

 

Author of the Award Winner: THE COMPLEXITY CRISIS, the exciting novel: THE CHINESE CONSPIRACY, and co-author of HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY: Leadership Lessons from the Obama Presidency   

John L. Mariotti, President & CEO, The Enterprise Group,  http://www.mariotti.net,   http://mariotti.blogs.com/my_weblog/

THE ENTERPRISE--UNKNOWABLE ANSWERS OR REASONABLE ONES?

FIRST TWO UPDATES:

====  ROADMAP TO PROFITABLE GROWTH is on the way.  I am awaiting the final edited version of the actual book.  If I approve it, it's up on amazon very soon.  THIS IS THE LITTLE BOOK THAT CAN HELP SAVE THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.   It is a gold mine for small businesses, but it is equally applicable--or more so--for large ones.  When it is on sale, I will give you the final heads up and hope that you buy multiple copies of it to give to everyone in business that you know and care about.

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Some of my best posts are appearing weekly on www.thebrennerbrief.com:  Click on this and read on: http://thebrennerbrief.com/author/johnmariotti2012/

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THE POLITICAL CLIFF, THE DEFICIT AND THE PATH FORWARD IN A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, AND A GROWING NATION OF DEPENDENCY 

Does anyone think these kind of issues will ever really get resolved?  I don't.  Not now, maybe not ever actually.  There are two opposing forces:  a president who believes in the welfare state, spending on whatever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do it, and blaming the opposition for anything that goes wrong after that.  The GOP is in disarray. They only agree totally on one thing.  They oppose Obama and his programs.  But that is not enough. Obama's power wins out…for now…and the country loses. I encourage you to read more about this in my recent posts on http://thebrennerbrief.com/2012/12/15/the-gop-must-do-these-6-things/

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QUESTION: ARE YOU WILLING TO CLICK ON A LINK THAT TAKES YOU TO A BLOG--AND THEN COME BACK TO YOUR EMAIL?

I am trying to decide if I should replicate my posts on TheBrennerBrief on here in their entirety.  It is easy to follow the stream of my posts on TheBrennerBrief so I am inclined to continue just posting links here.  If you have an opinion on this, please let me hear from you.

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BY THE WAY: BOTH PARTIES ARE WRONG IN THEIR ENTRENCHED POSITIONS

Obama's wrong in taking his single minded path to everything by raising taxes and increasing deficit spending.  The GOP is wrong by contending that the only solution is the dramatically cut spending.  Spending needs to be reined in--but very carefully and very wisely--or it will tumble the economy back into recession.  This is a task that Barack Obama is not competent to lead the nation in doing.  The GOP needs unity--in fact and in leadership--and then it needs to get realistic about what can be done, and what will really solve America's financial problems. ONLY ONE THING CAN SOLVE AMERICAS DEFICIT PROBLEMS AND ITS ECONOMIC WOES:  GROWTH--SPECIFICALLY ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

--------UNTIL OR UNLESS GOVERNMENT GETS OFF THE BACK OF BUSINESS AND FIGURES OUT HOW TO STIMULATE GROWTH (OTHER THAN THROWING BORROWED DEFICIT SPENDING AT IT)…the problem will get worse, not better.  I will write much more about this both here in THE ENTERPRISE, and in THEBRENNERBRIEF  in the coming weeks and months.  MAYBE SOMEONE WILL ACTUALLY READ IT, AND HEED IT…I CAN ONLY HOPE SO!

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A FINAL NOTE:  IT'S BEEN A TROUBLING DECEMBER.  FIRST THE CT SHOOTINGS.  THEN THE CONTINUED ABYSMAL DISARRAY IN WASHINGTON.

I saw the word repugnant used to describe torture recently. I guess it comes down to what you think is more repugnant--torture or mass murder?

What I find most repugnant is the irresponsible, demagoguery that is masquerading as governance in Washington DC.  (One Congressman I am close to said, "it makes me sick to my stomach," and added, "but I don't know what else I can do about it." )( That is an honest elected representative's opinion!  SCARY, HUH?

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We are almost at the New Year, and nothing much was getting done in Washington except Obama playing "musical chairs" with his staff and administration.  Will those changes make any difference in his misguided policies?  That is one of those unknowables, but most likely--given that he's the "'boss" the changes will be minimal and not very positive.  John Kerry--UGH.  Another thing you can depend on is that every change will be carefully vetted for its PR effect and for how it will be perceived by Obama's followers.

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FROM MY FRIEND DOLPH SANTORINE-- A VERY SHARP AND THOUGHTFUL GUY:

RE: THE SCHOOL SHOOTING, ETC.

I've been to Columbine High School. They were a customer of my company.

I have seen first hand their physical commitment to preventing it from happening in their school again.

The mention of Columbine to those outside of the Denver Colorado metro immediately causes people to remember the tragedy. To those who live in Jefferson

County, it’s just another high school. The wounds heal for the locals, and they leave a scar.

For those of us outside the area, all we remember is the bleeding.

The Sandy Hook school shooting is a national tragedy. Much has been written about it, and the great national outpouring will continue for quite some time.

We were not given the opportunity to finish grieving before the "left" started blaming the "right" because of their defense of the second amendment. 

Simultaneously, the "right" blasts the "left" over the alleged moral disintegration that they have championed since the

1960s

.

The extremes are passionate about their positions. Most of us are somewhere in the middle, but we are looking for safety, and all we are getting is “blame storming” and finger pointing. 

The television has an endless parade of talking heads pontificating about their position. It’s the weapon. It’s violent video games. It’s our society. It’s the mother. It’s.... whatever. What we need is a more measured approach.

1960s

My heart and prayers go out to the families of the slain innocents. Yours do too, I know. In the light of our national discussion of this disaster, and the loud call for immediate action, it’s essential we remember that all extreme statements are wrong, including this one. 

What do we know without doubt?

The killer is to blame. 

This is the action of one mentally ill individual. A murderer. He killed to get the weapons, and then used them to kill. He killed his own mother.

No action we take as a society will stop this from happening again. History proves this unequivocally. Banning weapons will not stop it. Taking the civil liberties of those with mental illness will not stop it. Changing society’s fascination with “entertainment violence” will not stop it. Some combination of all of these factors, and more, will make the next spree of evil less likely.

In 1927, a murderer bombed Bath Consolidated School in Michigan, killing 38 elementary school children, two teachers and four other adults. Like Sandy Hook, it was a deliberate planned act. The deadliest school massacre in American History.

The press of the day did not blame anyone but the murderer. The headlines contained words like “Maniac”, “Killer

 “Insane”, “Madness”.

 It was crystal clear who was responsible. There were no video games to blame. No violent entertainment to blame.

Just one person, and depression.

Even looking back just 13 years to Columbine, the headlines contain words like “slain" and "psychopath” and clearly assign the actions to two individuals, and their depression.

In Newtown, Connecticut, it’s one person, and depression. The common thread remains people, and mental illness.

We are rational society searching for answers. Simply saying that there are three hundred million of us and this will happen again is not enough, even though statistically it is correct.

We are going to have to decide what civil rights we trade off for what level of security. 

There are mentally ill among us, and sometimes, they need to be forced into treatment. 

They need to be treated for their own well being, and for society’s. Just like the laws are wide open regarding gun ownership through the work of the NRA, it’s become nearly impossible for parents and mental health practitioners to forcibly treat an individual until after they have destroyed the lives of others. This is through the work of the ACLU.

We have the "right" providing the means, and the "left" providing the ways. We remain the middle in a quandary.

There is no single, simple answer. Making this less likely to occur will not be explained in a headline or a sound-bite. It’s complex. 

The only thing that might result in absolute security for our children would be banning people, and that is an impossible solution.

I have seen the security measures in place at Columbine post massacre. There were security measures in place at Sandy Hook. That treats the symptom, but where is the cure? How do we insure the safety of our children until the cure is in place?

The extremes will tell you their prescription for cure is a panacea. Deep down we know better. 

Will we be fortunate enough for leadership that will seek a carefully measured approach that includes all the factors? It will not be easy. It demands compromise from all of the stakeholders. It puts us on a very slippery slope.

To find a cure, we will have to sacrifice civil rights. There is no option. Which ones, and by exactly how much? 

To fully cherish the memory of the victims of these tragedies, we must demand balance, as the extremes are just that, and America deserves better.

WHERE WILL OUR NEW LEADERSHIP COME FROM--HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT KIND OF LEADERS WE NEED.

(NOTE:  I didn't have time to vet this to make sure it is all accurate, but it came from a usually reliable source.)

Meet Maine 's New Governor  --- In case you haven't heard about this guy before, his name will stick in your mind--Paul LePage The new Maine Governor, Paul LePage is making New Jersey 's Chris Christie look timid. He isn't afraid to say what he thinks. Judging by the comments, every time he opens his mouth, his popularity goes up.   He brought down the house at his inauguration when he shook his fist toward the media box and said, "You're on notice! I've inherited a financially troubled State to run. Observe…cover what we do...but don't whine if I don't waste time  responding to your every whim just for your amusement."  During his campaign for Governor, he was talking to commercial fishermen who are struggling because of federal fisheries rules. They complained that O'bama brought his family to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park for a long Labor Day holiday and found time to meet with union leaders, but wouldn't talk to the fishermen. LePage replied, "I'd tell him to go to hell and get out of my State." The Lame Stream Media crucified LePage, but he jumped 6 points in the pre-election poll.  The Martin Luther King incident was a political sandbag, which brought him national exposure. The 'lame stream' media crucified him, but word on the street is very positive. The NAACP specifically asked LePage to spend MLK Day visiting black inmates at the Maine State Prison. He told them that he would meet with ALL inmates, regardless of race, if he were to visit the prison. The NAACP balked and then  put out a news release claiming falsely that he refused to participate in any MLK events. He read it in the paper for the 1st time the next morning while being driven to an event and went ballistic because none of the reporters had called him for comment before running the NAACP release.  He arrived at that event & said in front of a TV camera, "If they want to play the race card on me they can kiss my *—ss," and he reminded them that he has an adopted black son from Jamaica and that he attended the local MLK Breakfast every year that he was mayor of Waterville. (He started his morning there on MLK Day.)   He then stated that there's a right way and a wrong way to meet with the Governor, and he put all special interests on notice that press releases, media leaks, and all demonstrations would prove to be the wrong way. He said any other group, which acted like the NAACP could expect to be at the bottom of the Governor's priority  list!  He then did the following, and judging from local radio talk show callers, his popularity increased even more: The State employees union complained because he waited until 3 P.M. before closing State offices and facilities and sending non-emergency personnel home during the last blizzard. The prior Governor would often close offices for the day with just a forecast before the first flakes. (Each time the State closes for snow, it costs the taxpayers about $1 million in wages for no work in return.)  LePage was CEO of the Marden's chain of discount family bargain retail stores before election as governor. He noted that State employees getting off work early could still find lots of retail stores open to shop.  So, he put the State  employees on notice by announcing: "If Marden's is open, Maine is open!"    He told State employees: "We live in Maine in the winter, for heaven's sake, and should know how to drive in it. Otherwise, apply for a State job in Florida !" Governor LePage symbolizes what America needs; Refreshing politicians who aren't self-serving and who exhibit common sense.  THE LAW IS THE LAW! This is one of the better e-mails I have received in a long time! I hope this makes its way around the USA several times over!!!!! HERE IS WHAT Governor LaPage said,  "THE LAW IS THE LAW So "if" the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.  And "if" that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be  it.    I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen I say, "So be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.  I would like to think that those people have the American public's best interests at heart.  BUT, he said, "YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?""    Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe Government (Federal, State and Local) and its employees should participate in Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.  I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day.  I'd like the" US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well  as Sundays." After all, it's just another day.   I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.  I'm thinking a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."  In fact....I think our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...). Because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day...."  What do you all think???? If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the "minority opinions" and begin, once again, to represent the "majority" of ALL of the American  people.    SO BE IT...........Please Dear Lord, Give us the help needed to keep you in our country! 'Amen' and 'Amen' Touché!

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I GUESS THAT IS ENOUGH FOR ANY ONE WEEKEND.  OUR COUNTRY IS BEING LED DOWN A PERILOUS PATH BY BARACK OBAMA AND HIS ACOLYTES IN THE SENATE AND HIS MINIONS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.  IT MAY BE A PATH TO DEVASTATION--UNTIL OR UNLESS SOMETHING DERAILS HIS "BANDWAGON."

LET'S HOPE SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT SLOWS OR STOPS HIM BEFORE HE DOES MORE IRREPARABLE HARM.

BEST, JOHN

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-----New Book: COMING SOON: ROADMAP TO PROFITABLE GROWTH… 

 

Author of the Award Winner: THE COMPLEXITY CRISIS, the exciting novel: THE CHINESE CONSPIRACY, and co-author of HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY: Leadership Lessons from the Obama Presidency   

John L. Mariotti, President & CEO, The Enterprise Group,  http://www.mariotti.net,   http://mariotti.blogs.com/my_weblog/