THE ENTERPRISE—ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW ERA

THE ENTERPRISE—ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW ERA

IT’S ALMOST TIME TO GET VERY SERIOUS ABOUT WHO WILL LEAD AMERICA OUT OF THE OBAMA DESOLATION

Seven years of very low growth (under 2%); a lower percentage of Americans working than in 40 years;  more people dropped from the unemployment statistics than on them;  the weakest foreign relations in decades; and no plan stop ISIS…but lots of talk and no action, except to pun wish the innocent and let the guilty go free (IRS, Benghazi, Hillary).

Regular readers know my choice: Marco Rubio…but I am also a fan of Chris Christie for his strong, direct leadership style. Those two would make the most powerful GOP Combination vs. Hillary Clinton (who, while “guilty as sin,” will not be indicted by an Obama led In-Justice Dept.) Combine them with Paul Ryan as House Speaker, and retain control of the House and the Senate and the GOP could have a terrific trio to lead the New American Century.

I like John Kasich for his competence and government experience—but he is mediocre/uninspiring on mass media/large-scale speaking situations. This is not good for a top level candidate—who must engage and energize crowds. The rest of the candidates are not even on my short list. 

—Cruz: The “right wing darling” is self-serving, and is too far right to be electable. Plenty smart, fiery, articulate, and clever—just like Obama.
—Trump: A proven corporate entrepreneur and risk taker, but has used too much bluster, too little moderation; a competent private sector executive.
—Carson: A fine man, a good person, woefully unqualified for the presidency. A great surgeon, smart man and a key supporter in the next administration.
—Jeb Bush: Time to gracefully bow out, quit wasting backers money—but he needs to lose badly in Iowa, NH and SC—which he will! Make amends and throw support to Rubio.
—Fiorina: Bright and articulate, but snarky and unlikable. A liability on any ticket.
—All the rest: Withdraw! 

Pick Rubio and/or Christie and/or Kasich, and throw your support their way…do it now…and let’s mount a  GOP “Hammer Hillary” team effort.

I AM NOT SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP—BUT I CANNOT TOLERATE THE LYING, DECEITFUL LIBERAL MEDIA AND DEMOCRATS
The following material, from Breitbart, shows unequivocally that Trump’s statements about Muslims in NJ celebrating 9/11 was true. He may have exaggerated the numbers of people involved, since he probably heard vague news reports (all we get of real news if it is not in support of the Liberal/Socialist/“Muslim sympathizer” in the White House)

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/12/02/trump-100-vindicated-cbs-reports-swarms-on-roofs-celebrating-911/  

 

DOES ANYONE WONDER WHY NEW GOVERNMENT SPENDING NEVER IS ACCOMPANIED by “HOW IT WILL GE PAID FOR?”

When Congress decides to spend $281 Billion on transportation infrastructure, does anyone say, “Wait, we don’t have any excess money. We are deep in debt already. What are we going to cut to make room for this? Or alternatively, where will we find new revenue (taxes of course) to pay for this. Does it bother anyone that we will need to borrow this money, on top of our enormous debt, to pay for it?”

 

TAXING THE RICH WON’T SOLVE THE FISCAL DEFICIT PROBLEM—NOT EVEN CLOSE

Along comes Hillary Clinton (or worse yet Bernie Sanders) proposing massive new spending programs with nary a whisper of how to pau for them. Oh, wait, tax the rich, right? If you think that is viable, watch this 13 minute video by Tony Robbins on why we can’t just solve all of our problems by taxing the rich.  Please, take the time and get anyone over the age of 10 who is around to watch most of it with you. It is entertaining and sobering all at once.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osB88PInVMs

WEB SALES MAY SURPASS RETAIL SALES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
It’s unlikely that the mass of retailers won’t outsell the on-line community, but the trends are unmistakeable. Folks like to pre-shop electronically, and if they find what they want, buy it on-line with free shipping and fast delivery.   I wrote an article “What’s a Retail Store, Gramps?” in which I pointed out the obvious flaws in mass retailing—and how a new generation, just now in their very young ages, will wonder why we ever did it this way.  Here’s an excerpt:

 

Excerpt from “What’s a Retail Store, Gramps?” by John Mariotti, www.brennerbrief.com June 2014

The time is only a decade or so in the future. Little 4-1/2 year-old Susie just finished her Christmas—whoops—“Year End Annual Holiday” (YEAH) wish-list using her latest 3D tablet. The list was instantly posted electronically to Gramps’ and Gran’s tablets. They reply with a question. “Would you like to go to a retail store to shop for your YEAH gifts?” The answer nearly floors them because it comes as a stream of sobering questions: “What’s a ‘retail store,’ Gramps? And how do you ‘shop’ in one? What does ‘shop’ mean? How will I find what I want? Is there a way to ‘search’ for what I want? And then do we buy it and carry it home with us, or will it be delivered?”

 

Seems like an inefficient way to sell a wide variety of goods, doesn’t it?  Unless you need to “try it on,” or actually touch/hold the article, is a retail store the best way to find and buy what you want? Another emerging trend: Off-price retailers are growing (TJMaxx, et. al.) and regular department stores are slumping. It takes all kinds of retailers, because without some channel to set “regular price” expectations, there can be no “off-price” relevance. The mix of who and how many of each matters to the future of retailers …and shoppers… alike.

http://brennerbrief.com/whats-retail-store-gramps/

COLLEGES ARE REAPING WHAT THEY SOWED—LIBERAL DISSENT TURNED INWARD—DESERVEDLY
College faculties are about 90% liberal. They have been misleading, and miseducating America youth (protected by tenure) for several decades. Now the very youth they educated incorrectly are turning that misguided mentality against them. I’d say it is good payback…but it is also a huge problem.  I wrote about his in 2012 in a FORBES article entitled “A Generation of Sissies”.  I’ll post the key paragraphs of it here, and a .pdf file at the end if you want to read it all.

Excerpt from A Generation of Sissies, by John Mariotti, on Forbes.com (2012)

In recent decades, American parents have raised a “Generation of Sissies”—of spoiled, lazy, pampered and over-rated youths—who are highly educated, but in things that the world doesn’t value very much (and thus won’t pay for).  Surely the top 25% are as good, as bright, as motivated and will likely be as successful as prior generations were. 

 

But the vast majority of this younger generation consists of formally “educated,” spoiled post-adolescents, who will struggle to be self-sustaining as adults—and as such—cannot support the massive group of retired “Boomers” who will be going “broke.”  The “Boomers” got caught between the end of defined-benefit pension plans, the boom and bust recessions of 1990/2001/2008, and meanwhile spent a lot on college costs for the next generation while failing to set aside nearly enough to retire on.  In the past, the elderly were supported by the coming younger generation(s).  Those days are slipping away fast, thanks to the new “Generation of Sissies.”

 

Members of this generation have been the “victims” of being coddled, babied, pampered, misled, misguided, and under-educations so badly that their “take care of me” upbringing cannot be sustained as they move into adulthood.  Look at some of the Occupy movement participants.  The parents, who did this, also share in the failure of America’s educational system.  

 

I won’t lay all the “blame” for these failures on American youth—although they share in the blame, having been willing accomplices.  They and their parents, and their educators failed to prepare them for adult life in the cold harsh world, and to compete for gainful employment.  They chose “easy and fun” majors in college; but not the ones in that are in demand by employers.  Thus they can’t find jobs, or certainly not good paying jobs.

 

For too long, American parents have also abdicated the responsibilities for educating and “raising their children” to a cadre of teachers and educational institutions who are ill suited for the task at hand.  Somehow, they were too busy to teach values, fundamentals of personal development, responsibility and accountability.  Parents used to prepare children to take care of themselves—sort of an apprenticeship in becoming an adult.  Along the way, they used to teach them, and demand of them that they learn critical personal skills, and useful, responsible habits—like earning your own way in life.

 

RECENT SURVEYS SHOW CEO’S REINING IN CAPITAL SPENDING AND EXPECTING A WEAK ECONOMY

CEO’S surveyed by the Business Roundtable have lower expectations for the economy, and are tightening their purse strings.  Add to that the uncertainty of what illegal executive action or regulation Obama-minions will pass, and why should CEOs risk their shareholders money.  Would you?

 

OK…THAT’S PLENTY.  PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO (OR AT LEAST PART OF IT) AND READ THE ARTICLES…  YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

 

A BELATED HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

JOHN