Telling It Like It Is

THE ENTERPRISE—HEADLINES—UPCOMING ELECTIONS, ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT, INFLATION, CRIME, BORDER CHAOS, FAILING EDUCATIONS, & CONTINUING LEADERSHIP PROBLEMS

DECADES AGO (1998 & 2006) I WROTE "CHANGING THE WAY AMERICA WORKS”--(AND THE WAY PEOPLE WORK.) 

At that time I was drafting a book, of the same name, which remains unpublished.  That title morphed into a series of articles, and a discussion topic at The Reunion Conference™ a Roundtable I hosted annually from 1997 to 2013. Here we are, another decade later, and see how much has changed, and yet how much remains the same.

 

Download ARTICLE-Changing the Way America Works

 

Starting in 2020, COVID caused the American people to realize they could change their workplace from an office or a job location to their home. In many cases, they could avoid long commutes, high gas prices and the watchful eyes of management—and still get their job done in less time than before—creating free personal time to use as they wanted. This led to the worker preference for Work-at-home, and made managers wonder if this was a good idea. How could they manage and control this widely distributed workforce and its workplaces?

 

CULTURE IN WORKPLACES CHANGED, AS DID FREEDOM TO WORK AT A NEW PACE—HIGHLY VARIABLE, LESS REGIMENTED

But it’s hard to collaborate on getting things done when people are widely distributed, or even know if collaboration is occurring. For the first time in generations, workers are more measured by how, when and if the jobs get done. That’s not a bad thing—until the jobs that required collaborative efforts on defined time frames don’t get done. Who is to blame? Workers? Management? Both? Or the new way of working?

 

PEOPLE IN CERTAIN KINDS OF JOBS BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD TO LIVE AND WORK IN A DEFINED PLACE—AN OFFICE COMPLEX, WITH CUBICLES, AND CONTROL

Some kinds of work had to be done where the customers were—personal service jobs were especially customer-location-delivery sensitive. The entire restaurant & dining out industry changed a lot. Remote ordering via tablets grew, but someone had to deliver the food. A whole industry of food delivery arose.  Without large offices full of employees, there was no lunch-time rush, and cocktail hours changed too. The “Great Migration” has begun (I don’t mean immigrants from outside our borders—but that too has begun). I mean the migration of value adding people and companies out of failing cities and states led by NY, CA, and IL, but those three are far from the only ones—moving to places like TX, FL and even OH and a host of sensible Midwestern and South Central states and cities.

 

NEW FORMS OF SELF-SERVICE EXPLODED

What changed very little was personal services like beauty salons, barber shops, etc. because the service-delivery person and the customer needed to be in the same place at the same time. Not so with many other jobs, and customers. Air travel shopped, reserved and ticketed by electronic devices—smart phones, tablets, personal computers. DIY pump and pay at the gas station (until or unless gas stations get replaced by EV charging stations—another topic entirely). Grocery stores still exist where people “pick & pack & pay for” their groceries—or simply order electronically and have them delivered to a huge Work-At-Home society. Many jobs previously done by people are now done by the customers using electronic devices or smart swipe-insert-or tap credit cards.

 

HUMAN WORKER-CUSTOMER  INTERACTION IN THIS NEW MODEL IS REDUCED DRAMATICALLY

With no “boss” at the “office” people work when they want (within boundaries and deadlines), and often practice “quiet quitting,” disappearing from jobs only to be discovered when no one answers the phone or computer or does the work at all. When workers are no longer tied to the jobs and people they serve, more changes. Companies no longer must stay in locations that are not “company-friendly” and the "great migration" is underway. Why live in traffic clogged cities, to work in large office buildings, requiring expensive commutes (trains or cars) and incur big fees including parking the car. Workers found an hour or two per day free—not trapped in traffic, listening to radios in their cars or working on electronic devices on a commuter train. 

 

THE DECENTRALIZATION AND MOBILIZATION AND FLEXIBILITY OF SO MANY OTHER PARTS OF WORK & LIFE ARE NOW CHANGED, NEVER TO BECOME THE SAME AGAIN

Working women, now over half of the work force, find new child-care solutions when working at home. It’s possible to change diapers or get kids off to school, while on Bluetooth wireless ear buds, talking to a colleague at “work.” Unlike prior periods, Immigration is totally out of control. The America that welcomed LEGAL immigrants in the past, who were assimilated, became part of the fabric of the US economy and an expanded workforce. Not in 2022. Immigration is now a flood of an uncontrolled, unmanaged and illegal/undocumented immigrants.

 

AS SOCIETY CHANGES, GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CHANGE—LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS GROW IN IMPORTANCE—FLEXIBILITY, ADAPTABILITY & CONSENSUS BASED COLLABORATION BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.  

 

HOW ARE WE DOING IN AMERICA’S NEW ENVIRONMENT?   A HEADLINE GLIMPSE AT AMERICA’S SITUATION LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE MID-TERM ELECTIONS SAYS, “NOT VERY WELL AT ALL.”  MANAGEMENT IS NOT GOOD. LEADERSHIP IS EVEN WORSE. A MASSIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGE IS NEEDED—AND COMING—IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS!

"BIDEN’S MAKE-BELIEVE VICTORY OVER INFLATION"—A Bizarro world detached from reality.
Don’t turn on the TV for too long. You’ll wonder what reality America’s elected leaders are living in these days. President Joe Biden and his administration seem to be totally lost in an alternate reality, one in which they are declaring success of their misguided policies that are in fact, not making things better. The facts say that those policies are making everything worse. The old Seinfeld TV show in 1996 called it a “Bizarro" universe in which everything seems normal, but nothing is really normal at all—quite the opposite.

“ROBUST ECONOMY WEAKENS MARKETS OUTLOOK”—A contradiction in itself, this headline sums it up. The economy seems conflicted; growing and struggling to find enough workers, and each upset causes the stock market to either dive or climb—illogically. The inept Biden’s border “czar” is the equally inept VP Kamala Harris, who has yet to even visit America’s southern border to experience the chaos there. Immigrants flood into the US by the millions, with no idea where they will go or what they will do, but somehow believing it’s a better place to be. However, the Fed continues trying to slow inflation by crushing the economy with higher interest rates, forcing the country into a needless recession.

AMERICA’S LARGEST STATES AND CITIES ARE HOTBEDS OF REBELLION AND CRIME (“defund the Police”). Experience has proven that Democrats in control of those cities and states cannot (and do not) lead or manage the states or cities well at all. They do, however, convince the largely poor, misinformed/uninformed populace to vote them into office. How? The same way Biden and the Dems have caused the country’s economic malaise: throw taxpayer money at problems, and give handouts to keep the poorly educated in intellectual/factual dependence, (because Dems run the schools there too). This places the people in a new form of economic dependence—“monetary slavery.” Tragic, but true! Think about it.

BIG MEDIA IS AS GUILTY AS POLITICIANS FOR AMERICA’S WOES
The power of the mainstream media and its control over the news is at the heart of the problem as much as poor leadership. Media is critical to political success in getting elected. News media was once a form of oversight—checks and balances—on political power. Not any more. Media is now part of the problem. Insulated by long-standing immunity from prosecution, intended to offer them the ability to “tell the truth about news,” that has now been an easy protection for (disguising) biased opinions as real news. The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will be reviewing that abuse in its upcoming issues.

 

IMMIGRATION CONTROL IS A MISNOMER—AN OXYMORON—BECAUSE THERE IS LESS AND LESS CONTROL OF THE ANNUAL 4 MILLION PLUS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS—SINCE BIDEN THREW OPEN AMERICA’S BORDERS AND PUT HIS INEPT VP KAMALA HARRIS "IN CHARGE OF BORDER CONTROL” A PLACE SHE’S NEVER EVEN VISITED

 

In a word, immigration is a huge disaster, ranking along with Biden’s big three great failures: 1) Immigration control,  2) Exit from Afghanistan & Loss of respect globally, and 3) Rampant Inflation. Foreign Policy could be listed as a fourth failure, but there aren’t any rational Foreign policies to examine (except random reaction and then retraction.) 

 

Biden has failed in every way, as he falls further and further into cognitive decline with no viable replacement (in the VP spot). President Biden (the compromise “not-Trump”) candidate, and his Teleprompter script writers, have failed to realize that dithering, blustering, misspeaking and then correcting (to a different error) is neither good leadership nor good management.

 

I will repeat this line: A MASSIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGE IS NEEDED—AND IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS!

 

AN VALUABLE READING RECOMMENDATION: This link is to the Tuchfarber Report. It is full of good info, well thought out and factually sound. READ IT—before you vote. (FYI,  I subscribed months ago, and suggest that you do too.)

 

https://tuchfarberreport.com/tuchfarber-report/in-depth/we-have-an-important-election-coming/

 

A FINAL TOPIC, ONE THAT GETS FAR TOO LITTLE ATTENTION: THE EDUCATION OF AMERICA’S YOUTH.

Shutting down America’s schools (impetus, teacher’s unions who didn’t want them to stay open due to Covid risk) has set back American youth at all levels—by several years—from a level that was weak to begin with. Disclosure: I am a member of Columbus Rotary, and our club is trying to help students in Columbus City Schools, who were behind before Covid, and are now further behind. I recently found articles describing a small study showing that reading aloud in primary grades (3 & 4 especially.) helped literacy and learning in many ways. 

 

Just Google https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Benefits+of+Reading+aloud+for+3rd+graders&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8  This is a perfect example of Occam’s Razor at work. Occam’s Razor is a theory that the simplest, most direct solution is usually the best one. The cost is negligible, the benefits are huge. Combine this with school vouchers to enable its widest use, and watch the results improve. Our Rotary Club has been providing 5000+ Dictionaries, hand deliv

 

ELECTIONS ARE LESS THAN 4 WEEKS AWAY.

Research candidates, think, consider, decide and then VOTE!

 

IT’S TIME WE CHANGED HOW AMERICA WORKS—AND HOW IT THINKS ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES.

 

JOHN

SPECIAL EDITION OF THE ENTERPRISE—DON’T BE FOOLED BY “ACTOR” (TIM RYAN) PRETENDING TO BE A MODERATE REPUBLICAN

From: John Mariotti <[email protected]>

Subject: SPECIAL EDITION OF THE ENTERPRISE—DON’T BE FOOLED BY “ACTOR” (TIM RYAN) PRETENDING TO BE A MODERATE REPUBLICAN

Date: September 30, 2022 at 10:31:25 AM EDT

Democrat OH Senate Candidate Tim Ryan has been flooding the TV with him playing a role of a politician that’s nothing like how he acts when elected.    Talk like a “middle of the road moderate” hoping to fool enough people to get elected.  His behavior when he’s actually in office is nothing like the TV character you see him pretending to be!

 

Tim Ryan’s ads sound like he started with what J. D. Vance might have been preparing, and claim he’d oppose the Democrat Party at every turn.  Except the facts are,  In the past, Tim Ryan voted 100 percent with the Pelosi/Democrat party.  He even tried to unseat Pelosi as Speaker of the House!  The “actor" in Ryan’s ads doesn’t talk about that.  He’s THE GREAT PRETENDER—"Taxing Tim Ryan!"

 

Worse yet, Ryan’s ads blame J. D. Vance for not taking actions/positions on things Vance couldn’t do yet—because he’s not in office—YET!  Ryan HAS been in office, so why hasn’t he done the things his negative ads accuse Vance of not doing?

 

So, who is this guy acting like something he isn’t? A typical politician. A ROLE PLAYER who can lie and promise whatever it takes to seem like a good choice. Then get into office and let his true liberal Democrat colors show! Raise taxes & add regulations for big government control. A true-blue Democrat. FYI—The same thing is being done in the Colorado governor’s race, where Joe O’Dea, the Republican running on “balanced” principles, is opposing Michael Bennett, a Democrat (voting record—heavily Democrat) posing as a moderate conservative. It’s a trick as old as time!

 

Once you know how to recognize this trick, you see it clearly (it is happening a lot as Democrats run from the past 20 month of Biden-Harris-Democrat mistakes and folly.) Tim Ryan figured if it worked for Biden from his basement—e.g., when he claimed he had a plan to slow Covid. He did follow all that President Trump had already underway…. (Operation Warp Speed to get vaccines faster than ever imaginable, then flood the country with “free” shots, which Trump had already ordered.)

 

Don’t let these “Great Pretender” Democrats fool American voters with their bogus acts! Tell others about their tricks! Most large US cities & states that are Democrat controlled are a mess—failing financially, crime rampant,and demonstrations always planned to  deny the negative impact of Democrat policies on America: inflation, recession, border crisis, increased taxes, and on, and on. 

 

Your  future depends on seeing through their lies and misleading campaigns by acting one way vs. later behaving an entirely different way! It’s the Democrats only strategy to cover multiple mistakes—claim they didn’t mean to do it! Time to throw them out!

More as Election Day comes closer!

John

 

PS: First— reclaim House & Senate majorities—then figure out what to do about a failing President, (and the next in line VP that’s also inept!)

 

 

 

HARD TO DECIDE WHAT TO COVER IN WHAT ORDER—JUST UNDER 2 MONTHS BEFORE ELECTIONS—LOTS OF TOPICS

HARD TO DECIDE WHAT TO COVER IN WHAT ORDER—JUST UNDER 2 MONTHS BEFORE ELECTIONS—LOTS OF TOPICS

Please make sure you’re all set to vote—registered, requested absentee ballot if needed, and aware of the key races & candidates. This is your chance to elect better leaders 

 

START WITH HEADLINES & COMMENTS ON THOSE

—Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan Gambit Reshapes Political Risk in Asia—She putting all Americans at risk to show she’s more powerful than our inept President Biden. That’s why the Chinese reacted so strongly. They sense an American leadership weakness.

 

—The Coming War Over Taiwan—Between Biden’s dithering over how much military support to give Ukraine (like sending powerful weapons with important features like "longer range” disabled)—he’s trying to please everyone and not confront Putin in a bigger fight. Putin only understands strength & unity of purpose. Ukraine is proving that.

 

—Ukraine War Is a Boon to North Korea—the strength of Kim Jong Un of N. Korea only comes from hiding behind bigger allies: China & Russia. He’s volatile and dangerous. Biden has no effective policy for dealing with Un & North Korea.

 

—Biden’s Bluto Moment—A Half-Trillion-Dollar Executive Coup—Debt Plan Tests Emergency Powers—Student Loans and the National Debt—Biden can only seem powerful by breaking the law (Constitution) and blustering (from his TelePrompter) vs. dithering. “Bribes” like these are his favorites, even those hidden in Executive Orders that SCOTUS finds unconstitutional. Then his cast of liars say it’s all paid for “somehow”—but we know that can’t be true. Everyday Americans also know better!

 

—Student Loan Forgiveness Raises a Basic Question About College—Not everyone needs a college degree! Many (most) necessary jobs require practical training and a “Pathway“ to existing jobs in trades, professions, etc., and some of those who didn’t start toward a degree, migrate into the equivalent. During the 2020 GOP primaries, Sen. Marco Rubio said it well, “America needs more plumbers and fewer philosophers!”

 

—Biden Touts Climate Law, GOP Focuses on Economy—The Coming Global Crisis of Climate Policy—The hoax panic about climate change is unraveling as more and more countries find that reliance on non-fossil fuels is an attractive delusion. It can’t be done in any foreseeable time frame at anything less than extravagant costs. Edicts and mandates don’t make good things happen. They create unforeseen and unmanageable chaos.

 

—Solar-Panel Maker To Put $1-Billion Into New U.S. Plant—America Is Getting Battery Plants—It Also Needs Mines—The Sun Will Keep Shining On Chinese Solar Companies—America needs to invest, but wisely, into new energy technologies. However, if EVs (Electric Vehicles) are so good, why does CA need laws requiring them?

 

—As Population Nears 8 Billion, Some See Peak—pandemics, population control policies and simple personal economics have driven birth rates down below replacement levels in countless countries. Fewer births mean fewer productive workers and slowing economic growth. Longer life-spans mean aging populations, without enough younger workers to support or care for growing numbers of older people. In the USA alone, 10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day, and many leave the workforce, further limiting support for growth.

 

—Inflation and the Scariest Economics Paper of 2022—Another Doomsday Scenario Is Looming—Dissecting a Case for a Soft Landing—The article cites the fact that to bring inflation back down to 2%, we may need to tolerate unemployment of 6.5% for two-years!  A so-called "soft landing" to compensate for big-spending inflationary policies will be a" not-so-soft” landing. Many middle and lower wage earners will suffer greatly. The key problem is the inability to “Un-spend” the excessive past years’ inflation drivers--big spending and bad policies.

 

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America's CORE PROBLEM IS A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM

Too few leaders who are willing and able to do what Reagan did: make tough decisions that put the country’s interest ahead of his own (party’s) more than once. He was a leader who knew what he wanted to accomplish, could keep a broad perspective, and stay on course to get there, in spite of small-minded political foes trying to drag him off course, Phil Gramm described it well, “People have a way of judging a person’s character and knowing when a man is doing right.” Reagan also believed in maintaining a military “margin of safety” as a deterrent to war. Instead, Biden & Democrat Allies continue to talk big,  but do little except continue to shrink America’s margin of safety in military superiority.

 

—Schumer Shrugs as Roe Falls—the budget reconciliation bill provided the Democrats a way to fund abortion. They didn’t even try! They showed their true colors. They’d rather have a hand-wringing, teeth-gnashing campaign policy than to fix what they are complaining—about in the correct way.

 

—Republicans Should Stand for More Than Opposing Democrats—The Not Ready for Prime Time Republicans—Can the U.S. Become Exceptional Again? —to which I say “hell yes,” but only if enough American voters choose elected officials who prefer offering a “hand up” to help them, and not a “hand out” to keep them dependent (trapped in economic slavery). The GOP desperately needs to unify behind a simple agenda of policies and programs to address Americas problems, and then choose courageous leaders who will stay unified. “United we stand; divided we fall.” That famous statement says it all.

 

WE NEED LEADERS WHO WILL “WALK THEIR TALK” but…

In answer to those who ask me about 2024…first I say, “let's concentrate on 2020 and win back Congress!" EXAMPLE: In OH, Democrat Senatorial candidate (Ryan) is flooding the TV with ads slinging “mud” and talking like he’s a middle of the road Republican, His past record shows that when in office he nearly always votes the Democratic Party line, (95%+ of the time.) Can a “leopard change his spots?”  No way. Can Ryan lie in campaign ads, and say what he thinks you want to hear, then trash his opponent (Vance’s) motives? Sure he can—he’s doing it to excess spending Dem Party money coming from outside OH to do it.  DO NOT BELIEVE RYAN’S “ACT." THATS HOW AMERICANS (MISTAKENLY) GOT BIDEN INTO THE WHITE HOUSE

 

FINALLY, YES, I VOTED FOR TRUMP—BOTH TIMES—BECAUSE THE ALTERATIVES WERE WORSE—HILLARY CLINTON & JOE BIDEN (now proving that he is WORSE!)  TRUMP DID WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO, AND HE TRIED TO DO IT ALL, THE PROBLEM WAS HOW HE WENT ABOUT DOING IT. (And his personal behavior along the way.)  My concern is that Trump will run again in 2024, and in the process, split the normal American GOP voters, who realize that he did most of what he promised (until Covid came along) and it was working— but the way he did it was “messy or ugly!” 

 

(Even then, Biden’s Covid plan was built totally on Trump’s plan, preparation and execution—"Operation Warp Speed” and all that came after it: vaccine available that fast, would never have happened without Trump pushing it. The rest of Biden’s presidency has been about reversing what Trump did that was working or "buying votes" (with inflation-creating handouts and terrible policy decisions e. g.,botched  Afghanistan exit, uncontrolled border chaos, inflation-creating spending & handouts, bail-free release of criminals, etc. OR simply “dithering” until he was forced into decisions—most of them wrong.

 

But…no matter...because Trump still has the same enemies: the Democrat captive—mainstream media, propaganda-machine attacking him, along with (As we know now) based on lies, Biden’s FBI & DOJ lining up to investigate and pursue him—to no positive outcome!. Trump still has a solid 30-40% “base," that’s not big enough to get elected — and Trump won’t change.  His behavior made him his own worst enemy. There are many people (and media) who still "hate Trump.” (But, his behavior is part of his problem, of who he Is!) 

 

There are NO STRONG DEMOCRAT LEADERS on the horizon, NONE that I’d even consider voting for. 

Certainly not Calif Gov. Newsom or the current Dem party stalwarts like Pelosi, Warren, Sanders, “Beto” O’Rourke, Mayor Pete, et. al. or Dem Governors who can’t even run their own states! Look at the financial messes and crime in big cities/states: NY, NY—LA & SF CA—Seattle, WA—Chicago, IL,  and many, many more.

 

IF I KNEW HOW TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS I’D SAY SO—BUT I DON’T. 

Then what? There is no “none of the above” choice on the ballot? 

 

THE BEST THING WOULD BE FOR TRUMP TO STEP BACK AND SUPPORT A DIFFERENT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE

Who? DeSantis, Haley, Scott, Noem, or who else.  BUT I FEAR HE WON’T DO THAT EITHER. HIS EGO, ANGER, AND RESENTMENT FROM 2020 ARE TOO STRONG FOR THAT.

 

So what to do?  Concentrate on finding the best candidates to vote for in 2022, to take back control of the House (should be possible) and the Senate (may be harder due to Trump-backed candidates who are trailing in races they were expected to win.)

 

IT’S A MESS. MAYBE THE BEST THING TO DO IS FIND THE RIGHT, BEST CANDIDATES, SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR THEM, AND HOPE FOR "DIVINE INTERVENTION" TO FIX THE REST!

 

FOR SOME BETTER IDEAS.

BEST,

JOHN

 

PS: A newsletter I have found to be good, and mostly “fact-based” is: https://tuchfarberreport.com

Check it out,

 

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE—PUTIN/XI, PANDEMICS, PERSONALITIES AND PARTISAN POLITICAL POLARIZATION = UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS FOR AGING LEADERS

THE US ECONOMY MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN A “RECESSION”—WHO DECIDES THAT?
U.S., recessions are determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research’s (NBER) Business Cycle Dating Committee (BCDC), referred to  as the “official” definition. Though the terms “technical” and “official” are useful shorthand references, not completely accurate. The “technical” definition is less technical than the much more complicated “official” NBER definition, and the “official” definition’s source doesn’t even claim it’s “official.”  “The NBER makes no claim to being the ‘official’ determiner of recession and expansion dates,” said Charles Radin, a spokesman for the organization.”

 

THE US ECONOMY IS “STALLED”—NEITHER GROWING NOR SHRINKING

Some call this “stagflation”, a creative combination of the terms stagnation and inflation. In nature few things can remain unchanging for very  long. They either grow or shrink (and die). Form your own opinion about which is happening in the US right now.

MORE POLITICS—WHY ALWAYS POLITICS

Many times I’m asked, “Why do politics creep into THE ENTERPRISE so often?”
The answer is simple. The pervasive invasion of American lives, the country’s economy, and much more it involves, and has driven politics —and inept leadership—to the top of our minds and news. So many decisions, personal, professional, and moral are influenced (many times negatively) by the growth and over-reach of government in America?

Simply consider several of the men (they were all men!) that have occupied the White House in recent decades. Five Presidents—Bill Clinton (charming but scandalous). —George W. Bush (rich TX Gov., w/Middle-East problems, but handled 911 attack better than expected). —Barack Obama (articulate, multi-racial, but without evidence of real experience, but loved by media ). —Donald Trump (celebrity, famous, decisive but a flawed personality/behavior and hated by media). Finally —Joe Biden (anybody-but-Trump winner of a flawed election, w/zero accomplishments in 40+ years in Senate, a bumbling, confused non-leader.) Worst of all, IF Biden must take a medically/cognitively induced early retirement, his replacement is the poorly chosen, proven incapable VP, Kamala Harris!

Whether you loved some of these presidents or hated them—everyone falls into one of those two camps—this is striking evidence of why America is in a mess. Simply revisit the stated positions of many career politicians (such as Sen. Chuck Schumer, and lots more like him) over the past several decades. Their stated policy positions are littered with diametrically opposite statements. Question: what do partisan politicians stand for! Answer: Whatever they must, to get elected. (How do you think Biden endured more that 4 decades in the Senate? “Flexible positions & politics!”)

WHAT MAKES STRONG LEADERS?
Two of the most powerful traits of excellent leaders are consistency and integrity. Those traits come from reliably saying what they will do and why, and then doing what they said, (and credibly explaining any differences between the two). It’s called  "walking the talk!”  

Is this too much to expect of corporate leaders, government leaders and civic or community leaders? This should be the ultimate litmus test of leadership. Why isn’t it? Because a combination of a malleable media, an apathetic populous, and growing moral decay, has seized America.  Lying is normal and accepted. Cheating is common and usually goes unpunished. Revisionist thinking is rampant, “he or she simply misspoke…”. Really?

Democrats just passed a bill they called the Inflation Reduction Act, which is both misnamed/misguided, and a mistake. Only by creatively manipulating future economic projections dies it reduce inflation. It doesn’t! Plus, no one cares that the country is deeply in debt, and neither political party will do anything but dig the hole deeper. Money created out of thin air and the Fed’s printing press, with no material underpinning, is the very definition of inflation. Why is anyone surprised?

RUSSIA/PUTIN'S INVASION OF UKRAINE—WITH LITTLE ORGANIZED RESISTANCE, UNTIL TOO LATE & XI/CHINA’S AGGRESSIONS (HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, COVID & TAIWAN/SOUTH CHINA SEA .)

These two huge and bold aggressor countries have started global spread of evil. Consider this well known statement:
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It’s a quote routinely attributed to Edmund Burke. Apparently, he never uttered these words. At best, the quote can be traced back to John Stuart Mill, who delivered an 1867 inaugural address at the University of St. Andrews and stated: “Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. ... He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.”

Corporate executives are equally at fault.  VW falsified emissions reporting for fo.  Boeing executives looked the other way while the 737Max was proven dangerous or fatally flawed. Millions of Takata air bags were used by automakers, who knew of their flaws. Lately, Toyota admitted emission reporting flaws. Ethics? Integrity? Nope! Just CYA politics.

Most egregious of all is the Climate Change misinformation still being spread by media, and people, many of them so-called experts, who rely on a mythical calamity to retain their funding.  Only after Obama’s top scientist in the field “bails out” to write an accurate and scathing book (Unsettled, by Stephen Kooning) is it revealed fully how wrong all the Climate Change hysteria is.  
Yes, weather is variably bad and worse at times. People lose lives and property because they insist on building in places known to be vulnerable to regularly recurring natural events—floods, hurricanes, etc.—Weather!  And no, weather is not the same as climate. Climate spans decades and centuries. Weather spans days, weeks and seasons.

IGNORING THE UNANSWERED  QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND ELECTRIFICATION IN GENERAL
Electrification is not as clean as it is claimed to be; the electricity must be generated somehow, which is usually neither free or clean. The popular EV (Electric Vehicle) and "carbon neutral by 2030" (or even 2050) proclamations are a popular political and aspirational myth. No one knows where all the new electricity and the rare earth elements needed will come from (except maybe China?) and with what consequences. 

No one knows how or where to ecologically dispose of huge worn out auto batteries, giant wind turbines which longer work, and massive (but also worn out) solar panel arrays. Those are unsolved problems of the 2030 — 2050 ill-defined future  (FYI—Only millions of small, high-tech, clean nuclear power plants can do that…but the cost will be enormous! (Plus NIMBY—Not In My Back Yard) resistance comes into the decision.)

Leave it to California, the land of impossible extremes (e.g.,the mulli-bilion-dollar train to nowhere) just weighed in with legislation banning gasoline cars and trucks in 2035. In 13 years, the Hollywood glitterati, celebs, corporate execs and politicians will all be riding in EV Limos, while the flood of illegals “ into the “sanctuary statedoes all the real work. I wonder what will fuel all the trucks that serve businesses? No diesel, no gas. (if only they could run on BS and booze?)

OFFICES ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED HOW MANY OTHER WAYS BUSINESS COULD BE CONDUCTED
When people are motivated to do the work in less time, and use the leftover time for personal things, that’s a powerful motivation. When it includes avoiding 30 minute commutes using $4-5/ gal. gas, the incentive grows.  If it reduces them to being “supervised” by a micro-manager, who know less about the work than the workers do, the incentives to work at home are immense. Requiring partial attendance is a good idea, especially if the workforce participates in the decisions about when, for how long, why, and how.

What’s  lost in a work at home decision? Collaboration. Face to face interaction and teamwork. Camaraderie of a positive culture. What enables those benefits? Good, engaging, and positive leadership. Ask yourself, when is that present, and when is it absent? Why? Will some people slack off? Sure. Will they miss deadlines, fail on assignment agreed to, yes. When those symptoms show up leaders who have put in place measurable goals, documentation of who will do what, by when, and how much—thoee leaders must lead, guide, clarify, and require accountability. What a unique concept.🙄

WHAT TO DO ?
Choose leaders much more carefully, and then support them, elect them, and stay in touch to hold them accountable. Don’t be afraid to stand on principles and debate issues. Care about people and use common sense and the facts, when making decisions. Find consensus between parties on what is best for America and Americans—not for Dem or GOP—for the common good. Be financially responsible about spending and quit running up deficits by printing money that’s worth less and less due to inflation.

AFTER ALL THAT, WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT AND HOPE FOR… Facts, truth, strong, positive leadership, pride in accomplishments and a return of the great American work ethic.

Jack Webb, in the old TV show, Dragnet, always said: “The facts, just the facts…”  but the facts are inconvenient things. They are often at odds with beliefs, hopes, wishes and selfish agendas.
But be careful…The famous line spoken to Tom Cruise, by Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men comes to mind:  
“You want the truth? …You can’t handle the truth!”

And let's all follow the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!”

Celebrate “Labor Day” —in recognition of all the fine Americans who are still working for a living and to create wealth—(even though they now number only about half of all American🥺).

God Bless America.
JOHN

PS: Finally, a brand new English word that describes not only the present but our future:

 INEPTOCRACY - A DEFINITION

 Ineptocracy(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead, are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

THE ENTERPRISE—PERILOUS TIMES, FLAWED LEADERSHIP, AND HOW TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS

 

TO SOLVE ANY PROBLEM, IT MUST FIRST BE RECOGNIZED AND UNDERSTOOD. THEN DEFINED. ONCE PROBLEMS ARE WELL-DEFINED THE SOLUTIONS BECOME MORE OBVIOUS.

“A problem well stated is a problem half solved” (Charles Kettering). 

If you can define the problem, solving it becomes easier. Running away from any problem only increases the distance from the solution. “The easiest way to escape from the problem is to solve it.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” —Benjamin Franklin

Now that you’ve read these pieces of timeless wisdom, how will you spread the word to remind everyone you know or work with of their truth?

 

CONSIDER THE PROBLEMS FACING US TODAY—RECESSION & INFLATION

Are we in a recession or not? Yes & no!  If it Quacks like a Duck and walks or swims like a Duck—it’s probably a Duck! Conclusion: We are in the first stage of a recession, but it’s an unusual one, because it has many positive symptoms of a short, or shallow recession. Some areas are still “doing ok” and labor shortages still persist—for now! The Fed policies & Dems actions can cause “stagflation.” This is a tough one.

 

DOING THE WRONG THINGS MULTIPLE TIMES DOESN'T MAKE THEM RIGHT—IT MAKES THEM WORSE.

When inept leadership only knows how to throw money at problems, the problems do not get fixed—they either get hidden—or worse! Ironically, Joe Biden learned this at the knee of an expert—Barack Obama—who applied this wrong remedy over and over. This was a chapter in my 2012 book written with Dave Lukas, Hope is NOT A Strategy—Leadership lessons from the Obama presidency.

 

INFLATION IMPACTS EVERYTHING

First Biden & the Dems “created” a lot of new money (borrowed, debt) with no intrinsic value supporting it…the textbook definition of inflation. Sort of like throwing gasoline on a fire instead of water to put it out! The Fed comes to the rescue to rein in inflation. How? Increase interest rates. They think that will slow down the economy. (Like throwing a blanket over the fire, it seems to help hide the flames until the fire burns even brighter!)

 

BIDENS BROKEN PROMISES COULD BE A BOOK TITLE

No one making less than $400,000/year will get a tax increase. Not exactly. Their money will just be worth 8-9% less in purchasing power—sort of a hidden tax increase. But wait, says Biden & the Dems,  we need more money to throw at problems! We can get that by taxing the big companies that provide the goods and services Americans buy (with their inflation reduced dollars). 

 

HIDDEN TAX INCREASES ARE REAL…FOR MANY MAKING UNDER $400k

What must these big corporations do to raise the money to pay Biden’s new taxes (the misnamed Inflation Reduction Plan)? Companies must raise their prices or lay off workers to pay the new taxes (or alternatively lower company earnings, which impacts everyone whose pension, IRA or 401(k) plans have been invested in those companies!) Who bears the brunt of all this? You, me, and all Americans who now have dollars worth less (inflation & higher interest rates) goods & services that cost more (to pay more taxes so Biden & Dems have more new money to throw at problems), or face layoffs 

 

WHAT COMPANIES CAN DO TO OFFSET HIGH INTEREST, INFLATION & TAX INCREASES.

1. Use all available technology. Smart phones like Apple iPhone have capabilities that most users don’t begin to fully utilize.  Learn more, use the technology better!

 

2. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is coming fast, and it’s poor cousin Machine Learning is here now. EXAMPLE: Consider a vacation/ business travel plans: YOU make reservations on line, get flights on line, get cash from an ATM, buy supplies/groceries, etc. on line or use self-checkout, pump your own gas/pay at the pump, use WAZE or AAA to navigate your driving, order your meal from GrubHub, use TeleMed to verify your Doctor’s cautionary Input, get RX via mail order or delivery, get movie tickets via Flixster/Fandango, and call the people—FaceTime—that you hope to see, and more—everything that was once done interacting with people, is now done by you, via technology.

 

3.  Cancel out busywork. Stop using Reply to all, use out of office notices, replace time-wasting, lengthy voicemails with short texts, start storing info on your phone, tablet, etc., and use calendar reminders, add notes to your calendar, add addresses & use Maps to navigate. Set rules about meeting length (most meetings don’t need an hour!) Curtail phone tag, and weather reporting on a business call!

 

4. Learn how to avoid the boom & bust of supply chain cycles. Human nature seems inclined to deal with shortages by over-ordering, resulting in worse shortages and inventory excesses later. Measure and manage wasteful Complexity (see my 2008 book, The Complexity Crisis).   (Copies are readily available from my stock, just for cost of shipping—it weighs 1 lb.!)

 

5. Shop at warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s for quantity buys, and that includes company purchases and big personal items like cars, big screen TVs, furniture, etc. and high quality private label goods (typical example: Costco’s private label of Zyrtec antihistamine costs the same for 365 tablets that a 30-tablet bottle costs at drug or grocery stores.) Shop groceries at ALDI whose prices are amazingly low and private label products are very good quality.  Read the latest issue of Consumer Reports magazine which is devoted to Saving Money.

 

6. Ask for price matching on purchases. Example: A recent Microsoft Surface laptop I bought was advertised at $300 less at Best Buy than at the MicroCenter (A favorite full-assortment & service computer store) who price matched, and a sales associate price matched the Microsoft Pen reducing the cost by 1/2!

 

7. Share copies of Rocketships and Parachutes, my latest book, which is full things learned over 50+ year career. It’s a great gift item for up and coming managers and professionals. “”..like having a mentor in your hand” is how one reviewer termed it. Either buy it on amazon.com — https://www.amazon.com/Rocketships-Parachutes-Lessons-launch-career/dp/1545316406/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13XAS7SL49PE&keywords=Rocketships+%26+Parachutes+%2B+Mariotti&qid=1660509426&sprefix=rocketships+%26+parachutes+%2B+mariotti%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1 or email and ask me if you want a signed personalized copy for a gift.

 

A PERILOUS PARADOX

The IRS & Biden’s Justice Dept. — the one place in America where you are “guilty until proven innocent.”  Melania Trump thought she was leaving middle European countries’ autocracy for a real representative Democracy—Wrong!

 

WORRISOME TOPICS TOO BIG TO COVER NOW—I’LL SAVE FOR THE NEXT EDITION.

—The line of succession to the US presidency is full of incompetence! Now Biden, next Harris, then Pelosi—unless the GOP Retakes the House Speaker position!

—Putin’s brutal, illegal invasion of Ukraine continues…need military help!

—China’s blockade simulation threatening Taiwan…let’s hope it doesn’t escalate.

Both countries—Russia & China—economies are tanking due to their failed ideologies.

—Who runs against whom for the presidency in 2024?

 

PLAN AHEAD—TO VOTE FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS—THIS COMING NOV.

Both Senate and House, plus important elections in your State.

Best,

John

 

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE: A PARADOX, PARTISAN POLITICS, FLAWED POLICIES AND A PERSISTENT LACK OF LEADERSHIP — AT ALL LEVELS — A BIG MESS

THE ENTERPRISE: A PARADOX, PARTISAN POLITICS, FLAWED POLICIES AND A PERSISTENT LACK OF LEADERSHIP — AT ALL LEVELS — A BIG MESS

 

LACK OF COMPETENT LEADERSHIP IS OUR COUNTRY’S GREATEST ISSUE

1. Biden is not a leader, never has been. He’s a flawed compromise candidate whose age and cognitive decline is perhaps America's greatest dilemma. He’s currently a puppet of behind-the-scenes Democrat operatives, and he can’t even deliver Teleprompter speeches well.

 

2. Removing Biden passes the presidency from bad to worse.  Because he chose a VP based on “political correctness—female, mixed race” instead of competency, Kamala Harris is clearly proven and recognized as being incompetent to serve as President. She simply has no idea what to do, or how. She laughs and parrots the same lines over and over.

 

3. Next in line is Nancy Pelosi, who is at or past her “use by date,” She is probably “technically more competent and experienced” than either Biden or Harris. However, she too has decades of political “baggage,” that makes her poorly suited to be in the line of succession.

 

4. Biden won’t fire anyone — regardless of how they screw up —the opposite of Trump , who fired staff at a whim, in an instant of pique, even when doing well! A failing staff needs to be replaced, to support a failing president.

 

5. Sending Biden abroad is a disaster on many levels. He misspeaks, misreads the Teleprompter, ad libs (badly), and is an embarrassment. Staff spends the next week, walking back his mistakes.

 

6. Optimism is a good characteristic in a leader; but wishful thinking is not; convoluted logic is a disaster. Each one of those leads to a different (serious) problem when misapplied.

 

7. Biden’s words are seldom his own—even when his intended words have merit—he can’t deliver them clearly. The VP is incapable of doing “clean up duty.” No Cabinet member, or leading members of Congress is able (or willing?) to put aside their political agenda “axes to grind,” and stand up as leader(s) of the entire US Congress.

 

8. Blind ambition brought Biden into a job that he is clinging to by his fingernails, in hopes of retaining some shred of (or respect for) the dignity of the high office he now holds—until he can finish his first term.  That is more worrisome than anything else.

 

9.  When he doesn’t know what else to do, and goes into the executive “Beast Mode,” Biden skirts the law and tramples the Constitution—only to be reined in by the SCOTUS. Otherwise he seems to be “dithering and indecisive”—because he is!

 

10.The policy mistakes and bad decisions of the Biden Presidency’s first 18 months have been chronicled everywhere. No need to repeat them

 

 

AMERICA FACES SERIOUS ISSUES, IS IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF FAILED LEADERSHIP, AND NO EASY SOLUTIONS

 

1. A brutal, protracted and illegal invasion & war in Ukraine by Putin & Russia.

 

2. A struggling, stumbling giant in China is throwing its weight around; threatening Taiwan‘s  independence, terrorizing the South China Sea, tolerating Kim Jong Un’s belligerence in N. Korea, and facing down the USA — just because it can!

 

3. The volatile Middle East remains trapped in Centuries old tribal warfare, but with 21st century weapons being developed. And the US sends over the feckless, biased and misguided John Kerry to sort it out? Dumb (again).

 

4. At home the Fed can’t decide whether it wants to avoid a recession (too late) or rein in inflation it helped Biden & Congress cause (also too late)!. In the end, they’ll do neither—leaving yet another mess to clean up.

 

5. The GOP, who should by all measures be the beneficiary of Biden and the Democrats foolishness, can’t seem to get out of its own way. Trump makes matters worse by backing candidates who support his irrational vendetta over the 2020 election and its aftermath—some of whom are not the best ones to support! 

 

6. Spend now—worry later is irresponsible. Now the GOP has learned that, after supporting too-generous money handouts to help post-Covid distress, many American workers would rather stay home on government largess and loaf. The most partisan GOP-ers also noticed that by signing onto irresponsible spending bills, they can “buy some votes!”  Work ethic is being destroyed—what a tragedy.

 

7. Meanwhile, hard working Americans, joined by a large cadre of responsible Hispanics, are getting hammered by rampant inflation, high gas prices (after Biden erased Trump’s American energy independence), and coming next—high interest rates, which filter through into everything people buy!

 

8. Washington deceives Americans by more than quadrupling the cost of the CHIPS bill from $52billion to $280 billion by loading it with political “pork” — very, very loosely connected with the intention—helping America compete globally.

 

9. Supply chains will eventually self-correct. Walmart will push its costs back to vendor who will pass them on in higher prices to middle-income America!

 

10. Finally Biden & Schumer & Pelosi’s outrageous $$$ bills will wear down Joe Manchin & Kirsten Synema’s opposition, until they agree to raise taxes on those nasty, big corporations. How will those nasty, big corporations (that many of us own their stocks in our IRA & 401(k) accounts, handle those increases and stay profitable? Simple: Pass them on in higher prices (how else?);  prices to whom? To the poor middle income Americans Joe Biden promised "no tax increases unless you make over $400k.” Wrong!

 

Don’t worry!  Mid-term elections (and football season) are right around the corner, and if we stay “boosted” against Covid’s new strains (and Flu), life in America will go on—as chaotic as it is. YOU CAN VOTE FOR NEW LEADERS ON TUESDAY, NOV. 8!

 

WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO ELECT SOME COMPETENT LEADERS IN NOVEMBER 2020—AND IN 2024—BUT WHO? 

Best, John 🤞🇺🇸

 

 

,

THE ENTERPRISE—BIG CHANGES UNDERWAY—INEPT GOVERNMENT AT ITS WORST—TOO MANY ISSUES TO COVER, BUT A START

TOO MANY THINGS TO COVER IN ONE ISSUE--BUT A START:

MASS EXODUS FROM FAILING STATES

It’s impossible to read business news since about 2020 without reading about major companies relocating away from dysfunctional & failing states like CA, IL, and others like them.the reasons are a veritable litany: high taxes, regulations, cost of operation, business unfriendly climate, high cost of living, and in some cases, rampant crime, rioting, defunding or failing to support police & rule of law, and on and on!

 

Read a longer one from the WSJ 

 

Download Red States Are Winning the Post-Pandemic Economy - WSJ

 

Big winners are Texas and Florida, with literally over 100 companies moving HQ there in the past 2+ years. Amazon is moving out of WA. Intel newest move is to OH — IF the inept Congress can ever pass the law encouraging re-shoring of chip plants! South east & south central states like MS, AL, SC, have landed big auto plants. Even Tesla is moving from The West.

 

What about Labor? Highways? Infrastructure? These will inevitably follow sooner rather than later! Business friendly states will win; losers will suffer economically and are already losing population—and seats in Congress!  The winds of change are blowing up a storm.Winners will “ride the wind,” not try to oppose it. There is no guarantee what the political mix of those who move will be, but a likely outcome is that people abandoning liberal states will find their new homes attractive both physically and politically.

 

PARTISAN PARALYSIS VS, PRODUCTIVE UNITY—1972 SONG BY STEALINGS WHEEL “STUCK IN THE MIDDLE”

Has a line that says, “… Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you….and I’m wondering what it is I should do…”. 

Does this sound fitting? Here in OH the biggest industrial investment here in decades—multi-billions—by Intel a world leader in computer chips, is “stuck” between Biden’s stupid plan to dump still more money into his over-heated inflation-driving spending spree and Mitch McConnell’s blocking of the promised bill to support re-shoring of jobs & industries into the USA.  Intels designs are done and site prep started, but Intel has postponed groundbreaking while politicians have them “stuck in the middle” 

 

DEMS ARE FINDING BIDEN UNABLE TO COMPREHEND HOW FREE ENTERPRISE, PRIVATE BUSINESS GROWTH BENEFITS SOCIETY

Dems on the left are busy being Woke (avoiding micro aggressions)  or allowing the Cancel Culture (e.g., George Washington University must change its name?), hopelessly messed up open-border disaster, while AOC & her squad introduce still more bad, foolish and naively wrong ideas into Biden’s garbled policy proclamations. 

 

A SENSIBLE, EXPERIENCED VOICE — PEGGY NOONAN WEGHED IN

“Trump and Biden Both Face Rejection “ June 25-26 WSJ Column

Download Trump and Biden Both Face Rejection - WSJ

 

WHO WILL LEAD THIS GROUP OF DEM “CLOWNS” NEXT?

An 80 year old Biden, his diversity pick for VP the laughing Kamala, aging Socialist Bernie Sanders, Mayor Pete, Beto O’who, sourpusses Schumer & Warren, or the latest hopeless-hopeful, CA Gov. Newsom. (Note, under his time as SanFran Mayor, the legendary “city on the bay” was virtually ruined, and lately liberal elected officials are being thrown out; a mass exodus of companies and people is underway; leaving one of Americas most beautiful cities in its troubled state?)

 

OR WHO WILL IT BE OF THE GOP “JOKERS ON THE RIGHT?” MAYBE A FEW GOOD ONES?

NOT Donald Trump, whose personal negative haters now equal or exceed his devoted group of MAGA followers. He lost to Biden already, after a hugely positive list of accomplishments (strong economy, low unemployment, prosperity, growing racial positives, etc., etc.) because he couldn’t just shut up and act like a worthy leader—or hidden out in Biden’s basement with him? Is Mike Pence, maybe a bit too mild-mannered? Ron DeSantis—IF he can win FL re-election, and IF Trump will step aside? Or Tim Scott? Or Niki Haley? Or Kristi Noem—both far better women than Biden’s Kamala. None of which are too Trumpian?

 

BIDENS DEMS HAVE MADE SO MANY BAD MOVES—THEY ARE DESPERATE TO PARLAY THE ROE VS. WADE ABORTION OUTRAGE INTO A ONE ISSUE WIN

 

ROE V. WADE SCOTUS RULING HYSTERIA RUNS RAMPANT—BUT FACTUAL OUTCOMES ARE UNKNOWN

Finally, the flawed Roe vs. Wade law is gone, after 49 years and countless (some estimate 40-50 million-plus) babies “terminated”—political speak for either “murdered” or simply “disposed of” —by people who accepted no responsibility for unwanted pregnancies. The now repealed Roe V. Wade law created a huge “industry" to dispose of unwanted children-in-process in the name of Women's rights. Now comes the media and political hysteria. Caught in this are a large group of women who feel "less protected” by losing the right to abort a pregnancy. 

 

HERE WERE SOME OF MY INITIAL REACTIONS—THAT’S ALL I’M GOING TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT.

I didn’t like the old law and I’m not sure how I’ll like the many new ones either. I object to government officials telling people (of any gender) how to live their personal lives…thus I disagree somewhat with both political parties on this.  The old way allowed way too easy & lax abortions, at the whim & wish of irresponsible desire for personal convenience, no matter how late in term it was. Now it will be different all over the map — State by State. People will find the optimum solution, left to their own situation, without either “all or none” government control/laws. Unity seems to be an impossible dream—as it is in so many things these days!

Individual states will now enact laws that suit the wishes of their elected officials, and the people who elect them. Not better, not (necessarily) worse, but just chaotically different. Many women feel disenfranchised, helpless and angry. It’s a mess, and emotions will rule logic until some rational solutions evolve. People have the right to get pregnant, so therefore it’s logical that they should have the right to get unpregnant—which is where the moral issue of when in the gestation period does terminating a human life (whatever that is interpreted as) acceptable, 

Abortion in cases of rape or medically non-viable fetuses/pregnancies enters the debate and it gets very emotional… Only God knows the ideal solution, if there is one (e.g., don’t get pregnant in the first place)!   I’m only certain of one thing—elected officials, who can’t run their own lives, are ill prepared to decide how others must run theirs. (E.g., is using an abortion pill in the first trimester better morally, medically, legally than allowing surgical abortion after months of pregnancy up to “partial birth abortions?”)  This is more a moral, medical, and social issue than one to be governed by “one size fits all—or none” rules. Unfortunately, that’s what it may come down to…State by Stare. Whew…God help us!

 

A few headlines that say a lot: (and comments)

The Fed Can’t Cure Inflation By Itself—especially with Biden’s garbled policies making it worse. After reversing all the Trump moves to make the USA Energy Independent—Biden blames everyone in sight for inflation caused by his/Dems flawed policies and ideas:: OPEC, Big Oil, Putin’s War, US Gas Taxes, and thousands of Gas Stations—for trying to stay profitable, while selling $5/gallon gas & $6/gallon diesel, which together are huge drivers of inflation—second only to the Dem’s profligate spending of borrowed money.

 

Biden Has To Choose: Climate Change or Human Rights in China—maybe he should have Dr. Jill read from & explain Steven Kooning’s book “Unsettled” to him—sort of Presidentiafl bedtime stories? And, do not go back into the pointless Paris Accords—simply an excuse to siphon off $$ billions from the USA. China & India are the two biggest polluters/Climate Change culprits. They both foul the Earth’s climate AND pollute their own countries, poisoning their people’s and land, water and air. They must stop their pollution, largely caused by continued building of dirty-coal-fired power plants

 

Student Loan Forgiveness Is a Political Bribe—This punishes everyone who honestly paid off their loans and rewards those who have not (or will not) do so. It also bribes the naive generation who took such loans to believe the Dems liberal delusion that the government can make things “free” when and how it wants to.

 

Europeans are Hooked on Russian Oil & Gas—Every sanction used to stop Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, also hurts NATO/Euro-fuel needs (40% of natural gas, 25% of oil and 10% of diesel fuel comes via Russia.

 

America must offer as much help to Ukraine as possible without engaging in part of the “shootng war.”  How? By providing modern weapons for Ukraine to use as often as possible—with other NATO allies as the conduits for delivery.

 

OK…THATS ALREADY TOO MUCH…BUT WITH SO MUCH CHANGING…”telling it like it is” IS MY MANTRA FOR THE ENTERPRISE.  

NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE ISSUES & FACTS, YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO NEXT.  

 

VOTE TO GET RID OF BIDEN’S DEMOCRAT MISCREANTS IN MID-TERM ELECTIONS. TAKE BACK CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

 

HAPPY BELATED INDEPENDENCE DAY, AND THANKS TO ALL OUR SERVICE PEOPLE AND VETERANS WHO KEEP US FREE.

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE--BUNGLING BIDEN'S DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING AMERICANS SUFFER

LET’S RECAP

In Biden's first 18 months with Democrat control of Congress, their  actions and the knee jerk reaction to progressive pressures now have America and Americans suffering—and it will get worse—before it gets better.  Each line of this recap could be an entire paragraph (or chapter of a book) about how smiling Joe Biden,  came out of this basement and made a mess of American prosperity is 18 months. 

1. A summer of crime and shootings the summer are legacy of his Democrat/Progressive mistakes last year(s).
2. Inflation is at 8.6% heading to 10% and nothing Biden and the Fed can do about it.
3. Gas is at $5/gal, diesel is higher—industry’s fuel. Biden caused it shutting down US energy. No fuel cost relief in sight.
4. Recession is right around the corner, but Biden doesn’t know what to do about it. (Don’t cause it by flagrant spending.)
5. The Stock Market is in free fall, reflecting lack of confidence in everything Biden & the Dems have brought on.
6. The Housing bubble is about to burst from over-inflation and over-valued properties.
7. Immigration is a huge disaster allowing countless undocumented and questionable immigrants hurtir ng Americans.
8. Democrats and try to distract attention with Jan. 6 Hearing “Show:” but it is a "red herring" at most, albeit a sad one.
9. Where’s the prime time special on the Afghanistan bail out fiasco?
10. Ukraine needed big (weapons) help to avoid being overwhelmed by Putin’s deadly killers, but Biden bumbled & did little.
11. China hates the US support of Taiwan, and is a threat, but with its own struggling economy
12. Iranian nuke deal stinks worse than ever, but being exposed now—an Obama-Biden carryover.
13. Kim Jong Un is still dangerous, a petulant, insecure leader in N. Korea
14. Threats to SCOTUS Justices because of leaks about Roe V. Wade plans. Awful.
15. Biden brags about his robust economy; its only rebounding from the damage of Covid.
16. Biden had NO plan for Covid—he did Trump started—Warp Speed—vaccines & meds in record time.
17. Millions of jobs remain unfilled and twice as many Americans not filling them. Bidenomics killed the will to work.  
18. Supply chains are still messed up, and now the whiplash effect of "too much, too late" is strangling retail. (e.g., Target).
19. Shortages of 2-3-4nm chips are crippling growth in equipment and products, relief is far off. No foresight?
20. America would like to go "bacK to work,” but not commute to offices with $5+/gal gas and middle-management oversight.
21. What is Liz Cheney doing—more harm than good? Whose side is she on? (Her own?)
22. Even the Magic Kingdom is "not so magic,” as turnover turmoil ripples through its ranks.
23. Even replacing Biden is no answer because Kamala is "waiting in the wings” with NO IDEA what to do (except laugh).

 

Democrats and their Progressive and “woke" mistakes are even causing Biden to complain.  Joe Biden didn’t learn the Blame Game well enough from Barack Obama, and he is not articulate enough to use it anyway. 

 

Just watch and listen to the blame game and excuses. It’s no wonder Biden’s approval ratings are at record lows.

Let’s hope the US is unified and strong enough to retake the Congress in 2022, and decide on a good candidate for President in 2024 (other than  Trump or Biden).

 

Best, John

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE--A LOT GOING ON THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN RECENT DECADES--WHAT TO THINK? WHAT TO DO?

THE ENTERPRISE--A LOT GOING ON THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN RECENT DECADES--WHAT TO THINK? WHAT TO DO?

 

PERSONAL NOTES: A BUSY SIX WEEKS HOME FROM FLORIDA AND FINALLY SETTLING IN 

Our FL stay was blessed with great weather, and lots of beautiful settings. But, it was marred by getting Covid (Omicron we think) in late Jan.-early Feb, and that is after 2 Moderna shots in OH last Jan.-Feb., and a booster in late Oct. The vaccinations helped me get over it in a week, with minimal discomfort. However my wife suffered for several weeks, and is still finally getting her sense of taste back after 3 months! Ditto, the adverse impact on her stamina. 

 

"CYCLE OF LIFE” AND AGING HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME—THREE TIMES

In 2021, one of my best, long-time friends, Doug Dempsey, suffered for several months in Spring before passing away. He was one month younger than me. Then this spring, on St. Patrick’s Day, another of my long-time friends, Joe Kokal died suddenly in his wife’s arms. He was a year younger than me (I was 81 in mid-April) Last week another friend of more than a decade, Bill Sparks passed away. I’ll be going to his funeral in 2 days. He was also 80. These deaths of friends are to be expected when we reach the age of “four score” (80+) years, but they still hit home—hard. I should be thankful that God lets me continue to find and remove bladder cancers when they recur (as they do, often in men).

 

 

NOW FOR THE MATTERS AT HAND—IMPACTING MANY OF US: PUTTING AMERICA "BACK ON COURSE"

 

PLEASE READ & SHARE THIS GREAT ADVICE FOR ANYONE, ANYTIME, NOT ONLY RECENT GRADUATES...

 

Download A To-Do List for the Class of ’22 - WSJ

 

WARNING: COVID IS NOT GONE, AND THE CONSTANT VARIANTS VIRUSES FORM WILL BE A PROBLEM

We may find that the annual flu shot, or vaccinations for pneumonia or shingles are not the only ones we will need regularly to maintaining good health. Few things are as important as a healthy lifestyle—eating wisely, exercising frequently and maintaining the necessary supplements, which our tendency to eat unwisely make advisable. Covid is still a serious problem, but our behavior can help keep it less deadly than it was before we found the “Warp Speed” delivery of vaccines and treatments.

 

TODAY THE SUN IS SHINING, AND THE WEATHER IS GOING TO REACH THE 70’S IN MOST PLACES—GOOD NEWS!

The USA is still the best country in the world to live, and be in business, but lately (Post-Covid and post-Biden & the Dems) it’s been harder. Why? Let’s list the ways, but remember—people from all over the world are doing everything they can to get into the USA. Which other countries can say that?

 

AMERICA HAS ENEMIES—REAL, SERIOUS ONES—DON’T HELP THEM BY FOOLISH DECISIONS

America’s enemies (Russia, China, N. Korea, Iran, et. al.) are watching gleefully as Biden and his cast of characters tear apart the America fabric of life in the name of “free everything," and no consequences for the rule of law, order or fiscal sanity. The next target might be the Electoral College—created to distribute the elected leadership across the balance of the 50 states—and not concentrate it in a few distorted, large, urban cities with largely uninformed or misinformed populace. For evidence, look at the plight of many of America’s largest cities and states, while under Democratic political control—all failing failing. Consider how much harm has been done to America in only 17 months of a Biden presidency and Democrat control of the House and Senate.

 

INFLATION: Thanks to the Obama & Biden philosophy of throwing money (printed with nothing to back it up) at problems they have no idea how to solve, the result is rampant inflation. Now at 8%+ and climbing, the value of everyone’s money is reduced by the series of wrong-headed, foolish “Bidenomics" policies, all made worse by the Dems liberal-Socialists pushing for "free everything,” paid for by taxing the half of Americans who still pay taxes! These so-called Progressives (liberal-Socialists) ignore historical failures of such policies and totally disregard the principle that governments were organized to work for the people to (ONLY) do what they couldn’t do for themselves. "Other people’s money" always runs out—eventually.

 

IMMIGRATION: Under Biden & the Dems, the American Border is now an imaginary line, being erased by clueless, foolish and un-principled policies—and no “sensible management” at all. Illegal (undocumented) entries are climbing astronomically and being methodically transported all over the USA to disrupt and add financial/welfare burdens on taxpaying citizens everywhere.  This is a classic case of poor policy, made worse by poor management, with no one in Biden’s administration realizing or admitting the havoc they are creating. We, the people, don’t basically dislike immigrants—many of them are good, hard working people who add value. But when the border is an illusion (or in Biden’s case, a delusion) no one even has to “sign in” to enter the USA, and certainly not to follow its rules and laws. This is a tragic failure of the Biden presidency.

 

ELECTIONS: One of the great parts of a Constitutional Democracy is free and fair election of leaders. We had that in the USA until the last election when ballots were distributed like handbills being dropped from airplanes, and there was no control of who was voting, and whether they were legally qualified to do so. Thus, no control got Biden into the White House and Dems in control of Congress.  How is that working out? Like every thing else done by Democrats (e.g., the disastrous, riotous mismanagement of most large US cities and some states) poorly, flagrantly in violation of both the rule of law, and any semblance of fiscal or behavioral order. 

 

EDUCATION: This area, publicly funded education, has become a twisted version of its original intent, and the principle of tenure, designed to protect and reward the best teachers, of which there are many, but now protects the weak/worst ones from being replaced. Public employee unions, which FDR wisely stated should not be allowed to form, protects and spreads mediocrity. Throw in the way these teachers “propagandize” Americas youth with distorted liberal mis-information (like Critical Race Theory), and it’s easy to see why so many public schools have gone badly wrong. Even San Francisco, that bastion of liberalism, voted to throw out a group of misguided school board members. Private (or charter) schools and voucher systems to enable good schools to thrive, must multiply and grow.

 

FOREIGN POLICY: This area could fill pages with commentary on the Biden administration’s misguided and poor (non-existent) leadership. The Afghanistan withdrawal —sudden, poorly managed, leaving behind chaos, suffering and billions of dollars of US paid for assets. The slow to respond and lukewarm reaction to Russia’s brutal, immoral and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Re-inserting John Kerry (a biased misguided leftover from the Obama regime) to reinstate the awful Iran nuclear agreements.  Rejoining the Paris Climate accords that siphon off US money to support “Climate Crisis” illusions of the biased media and misguided climate zealots.

 

In his fine book Unsettled,  Steven Koonin says: "It’s clear that media, politicians, and often the assessment reports themselves blatantly misrepresent what the science says about climate and catastrophes. Those failures indict the scientists who write and too-casually review the reports, the reporters who uncritically repeat them, the editors who allow that to happen, the activists and their organizations who fan the fires of alarm, and the experts whose public silence endorses the deception. The constant repetition of these and many other climate fallacies turns them into accepted “truths.”” ― from "Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters"

 

FINALLY—A TRAGIC SITUATION THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN THE USA, DUE TO MANY THINGS, INCLUDING COVID, BAD LEADERSHIP, MISGUIDED POLICIES AND BIASED MISGUIDED MEDIA (& too many misguided educators).

Americans—at least a lot of them have lost the will to work. They have lost the sense of pride in being part of the greatest economy on Earth, and worst of all, they have been taught by the “Progressives” that if you wait and whine long enough someone will give you handouts and welfare that removes the necessity of “earning a living” through motivation, personal effort and hard work. We must choose and elect leaders who realize the importance of accountability, fiscal responsibility, and contributing to American society.

 

MEMORIAL DAY IS THE PERFECT OCCASION TO REMEMBER AND MOURN ALL THE BRAVE MEN & WOMEN WHO SACRIFICED TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY FOR OVER 200 YEARS.

The very freedoms that America offers are now being misused by factions to support failed ideas fro the past: Socialism now renamed “progressive” in hopes of deceiving an uninformed and naive populace—specifically the poorer and/or younger Gen Z, that has been preconditioned by liberal, “progressive” elitist educators. They haven't yet realized that "there is no such thing as a free lunch;’ those always are paid for somehow. 

 

This younger demographic group hs been protected, coddled and raised to see a distorted picture of America’s many wonderful successes and principles. Ideas like “earning your own way,” working for living, paying your bills, following the law, and embracing, supporting, and defending our freedoms as stated in the US Constitution, have proven to be enduring and insightful for over 200 years. Change may be good, but only prudent change, based on wisdom, honesty, morality and integrity.

 

America the beautiful, when viewed from right the lens, is truly the best place on earth to live. Anyone who otherwise, should pack up and move somewhere else—anywhere else—but they will soon see how badly they want to come back to the USA. They will learn "the grass always looks greener," until you live there.

 

PLEASE, JOIN THE “MOVEMENT" TO DEFEND AND BUILD ON AMERICA’S CONSTITUTION & FOUNDING PRINCIPLES; START WITH THE NEXT TWO ROUNDS OF ELECTIONS (2022 & 2024), AND SUPPORT PEOPLE & ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WORKING AND FIGHTING TO SUSTAIN FREE ENTERPRISE, CAPITALISM, DEMOCRACY, AND THE RULE OF LAW... AND MORALS… IN OUR COUNTRY.

 

GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

JOHN

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE--HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND OTHER POSITIVE THOUGHTS

THE ENTERPRISE--HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND OTHER POSITIVE THOUGHTS.  I WANT TO COVER SOME IMPORTANT "SIGNS OF THE TIMES”—THAT WILL BE HARD TO REVERSE

 

EDUCATION: "Least surprising headline:" In-Person Classes Boost Test Scores.  The impact of school shutdowns (driven largely by teacher's unions) is huge. The loss of learning, especially by the under-performing, heavily minority youth in big city schools has set this group even further behind. This headline article pointed out that return to regular school classes has helped catch up, but there is still a residual negative impact. Unintended consequences of misguided decisions and actions are pervasive—and too often unnoticed until further problems surface.

 

CAREERS: “The tip of an iceberg:” The Hot Job Market Is Killing Cover Letters. The inability of today’s youth to express themselves in writing is partially a byproduct of school failings and partially the impact of smart phones and texting with abbreviations (e.g., LOL) and emojis 🙄. This combination has undermined the ability of youth to express their thoughts—and in the case of “cover letters”—their job qualifications and aspirations. There is only one chance to “make a first impression.” Covid discouraged the firm handshake, and the hot job market has further undermined that important first impression by encouraging less and less use of a thoughtful cover letter and resume use by job seekers. The outcome is that important indicators of probable job success or failure are missing, leading to rampant turnover (worsened by voluntary job switching).

 

OVERFLOWING EMAIL (& VOICEMAIL) INBOXES ARE FALLING PREY TO TEXT MESSAGES (AND OTHER BRIEF, GRAPHIC EXCHANGES--SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER).  When we tried emailing college age veteran students about a mentoring program, responses were slow, few or none at all. Texting got a relatively faster reply, better even than a telephone call (telephone voice—remember actually hearing spoken words?). Zoom fatigue was epidemic at many schools and companies. The problem: long emails and voicemails with no meaningful “subject” or indication of whether the purpose was to ask a question, provide information or seek a decision (or CYA by cc:All). 

 

Add the blizzard of Attachments, Political Campaigns, Junk Mail, Solicitations, Spam/Phishing, and Cartoons/Pictures and in-baskets become almost like electronic “waste baskets.” Solution: try making and enforcing “rules” for reducing email clutter and verbosity (and on overflowing voicemail boxes—restrict the message time allowed to seconds, not minutes—just enough time to leave a name, subject and return phone number.

 

"DRESS FOR SUCCESS” HAS DETERIORATED TO DRESS FOR COMFORT, AS CASUAL OR SLOPPILY AS POSSIBLE

A piece of good advice for all job seekers is the dress for one level of formality higher than you expect the prospective hiring company to use.  Even on Zoom, when only the upper half of a person shows, a neat, pressed shirt or blouse makes an important impression. Caution: occasionally a person will stand and move about during a Zoom call. If the camera is on, be sure what you are wearing from the waist down is “appropriate.”  IF very casual dress is the favored choice, it’s still wise for that to be “presentable” and not “sloppy!” Few things look worse than a wrinkled T-shirt or blouse with a badly stretched out or ill-fitting collar.

 

UNINTENDED OR UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES—THE “RIPPLE EFFECT” OF CHAOS, WARS, AND GLOBAL TURMOIL

While countless buildings in Ukraine are being destroyed by Putin’s violent invasion, other places are finding that a key part of concrete construction—steel reinforcement (rebar) is in short supply. Ukraine, Russia and neighboring places (like Turkey) are (or were) major steel producers. Not any more. Nearby ports are locked down or disrupted. Mills are shut down, or face demand disruption due to sanctions. Sanctions on Russia, China, North Korea and Iran have a ripple effect of driving buyers to seek alternative suppliers from other countries—who may be unprepared to respond. That goes for oil too.

 

President (Clueless) Joe Biden will find that the costs are climbing for his alternative, renewable energy sources. They will now cost much more and the mining, refining, fabrication and transportation of batteries and electronics, wind turbine blades, solar cells and again, rebar—and maybe concrete for reinforcing the bases to support huge wind turbines. Anti-dumping sanctions against China (on Solar equipment) is adversely impacting solar.

 

Supply chains are not likely to recover any time soon due to these sanction driven disruptions. There is very little cushion of inventory in the supply chains either. Ports are making progress but shortages and imbalances  have been hard hit by transportation problems—both labor and equipment (like containers and truck chassis for to & from transport)

 

Cyber attacks, ransomware and simple network disruptions are impacting more places that are publicly reported. Prices of everything are up and will continue rising as labor shortages lead to wage increases, oil price increases lead to higher energy and fuel costs ($5.00/gal. gas & diesel) is just one item.

 

Climate Change, being blamed for everything, is a media-driven sensational-headline hoax. Yes, weather varies wildly and destroys things humans build in nature’s way…but weather and climate change are two very different things. Related but different. Read Steven Koonin’s fine book “Unsettled,” to learn the truth.(Or articles he’s written, including for the WSJ.)

 

FINALLY, A VERY INSIGHTFUL EDITORIAL FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

(Attached below is also the .pdf file of this editorial in case you want to share it via email or text.)

 

NO ONE KNOWS WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHAT THE FUTURE HGLDS IN STORE FOR US.   ALL WE CAN DO IS DO OUR BEST TO FIND THE FACTS, THE TRUTH, AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND  WISDOM,

 

BEST OF LUCK

JOHN

=================

OPINION | REVIEW & OUTLOOK from the WSJ

The President We Have

Biden needs new advisers and help from Congress to deter Russia and other escalating threats.

By The Editorial Board March 27, 2022 6:31 pm ET   ©DOW JONES 

More or less the whole world—including his own advisers on background—has criticized President Biden for his latest gaffe in saying in his Warsaw speech on Saturday that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.” There’s no need to pile on. And someone should say that Mr. Biden’s unscripted remark did have the virtue of telling the truth that the problem in Russia won’t end even if Mr. Putin orders his troops out of Ukraine.

Mr. Biden’s remark, even after its repudiation on Sunday by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, may well make it harder to negotiate with Mr. Putin over Ukraine or anything else. And Mr. Biden’s habit of misstating his own policies—no fewer than three times during his European trip—is especially dangerous amid an international crisis.

Then again, the same critics who are lambasting Mr. Biden helped to hide his obviously fading capacities in the 2020 campaign. They circled the wagons around his Delaware basement because they thought he was the only Democrat who could defeat Donald Trump.

The reality is that we have to live with Mr. Biden for three more years as President. And please stop writing letters imploring us to demand that Mr. Biden resign. Do you really want Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office? She was chosen as a bow to identity politics to unite the Democratic Party in the election campaign, not for her ability to fill the President’s shoes. In the last 14 months she has failed to demonstrate even the minimum knowledge or capacity for the job. We are fated to make the best of the President we have.

In that regard, Members of Congress of both parties will have to play a more assertive role, and the good news is that they have been doing so to good effect on Ukraine. Congress has stiffened Mr. Biden’s resolve on sanctions and military aid. The pattern is that the White House resists a tougher policy until it faces a defeat or difficult vote on Capitol Hill. Bipartisan coalitions of the willing will be even more important as the war continues, and threats from Iran, China and North Korea escalate.

As we’ve argued, Mr. Biden would also be wise to bring some high profile conservatives and Republicans into his Administration. In 1940, as the prospect of world war approached, FDR brought in experienced GOP internationalists Henry Stimson as Secretary of War and Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy. They built credibility with the public and on Capitol Hill for the hard choices to come.

Harry Truman worked with GOP Sen. Arthur Vandenberg to build support for NATO at the dawn of the Cold War. Jimmy Carter at least had the hawkish Zbigniew Brzezinski as his national security adviser when the Soviets tried to exploit Mr. Carter’s weakness.

Mr. Blinken has shown impressive energy as Secretary of State, and he was right in advising Mr. Biden not to withdraw in toto from Afghanistan. But Mr. Biden desperately needs to diversify the advice he gets beyond the liberal internationalists who dominate his councils. Susan Rice, Ron Klain and Jake Sullivan have the Afghan failure on their resumes.

Better advice is needed because Mr. Biden is right that the Russia problem won’t go away as long as Mr. Putin sits in the Kremlin. This doesn’t mean open advocacy of regime change is wise. Russians will have to decide if Mr. Putin must go.

But Mr. Biden’s muscular assertions in the written text of his Warsaw speech need to be supported by more than rhetoric. The U.S. and the West need to urgently restore and strengthen the credibility of their military and diplomatic deterrents. More hawkish advisers would send a more determined signal to the world—and especially to adversaries.

The world is entering the most dangerous period since the Soviet Union collapsed, and perhaps since the 1930s. The Covid crisis obscured the trend, but the dangers have become obvious as adversaries have reacted to what they perceive to be the American decline, division and weakness at the root of the Afghanistan debacle. Mr. Biden needs to back up his Warsaw words with a defense buildup and far more diplomatic realism to confront the great risks ahead.

Appeared in the March 28, 2022, print edition. 

 

THE ENTERPRISE—WHAT'S THIS YEAR SHAPING UP TO BE LIKE—THE MOST COMMON QUESTION PEOPLE ASK. IN A WORD: TURBULENT

THE ENTERPRISE—WHAT'S THIS YEAR SHAPING UP TO BE LIKE—THE MOST COMMON QUESTION PEOPLE ASK.

IN A WORD: TURBULENT 

Election years are always hard to predict. Throw in $5/gallon gas, 8% inflation and a Fed prediction of 6—yes—a half dozen interest rate hikes, and a year of turmoil.

INFLATION IS HERE TO STAY—YOUR MONEY HAS LESS BUYING POWER

I’ll try to identify the factors that will shape the year—or at least the first half of it. First, the government has NO wealth of its own. It only has what it collects from us in taxes, or gets from duties it levies on goods coming into the US—which also cost us more.

 

"Retail sales growth slowed in February.”  No surprise as the $50 fill-up at the gas station and nearly 8% inflation cuts into disposable income. Then Putin’s brutal attack on Ukraine and its people leads the new everywhere. Anyone who sees a government led by Clueless, Bungling Biden, understands how dropping newly printed money from planes into peoples' homes will temporarily create spending growth. With nothing tangible of value behind that new money (but record levels of government debt) you have—voila’—inflation. Contrary to Clueless, Bungling Biden and his acolytes in government and media, this inflation is neither temporary nor can it be blamed on Putin. It’s the fault of Biden and his administration’s stupid policies. (A trick Biden learned from Obama—anytime you screw up—blame it on somebody else!)

 

When government spending climbs because it can, by taxing us and using our taxes to invest in even more, larger government boondoggles, our hard earned, invested money is crowded out of markets. Worse yet, like an illegal money laundering scheme, the government keeps part of it and we can only expect our government largesse (freebies) funded by part of it. Inflation hits us first in things we must buy—gas, food, shelter, clothing, medical needs and so forth.

 

When Putin starts his own private war to take back Ukraine from its independence, he creates still more inflation by spending money to destroy cities, buildings and possessions (and kill innocent people). By destroying productive facilities (and people) in Ukraine, he makes things even worse. So, learn to live with inflation…and it might go even higher before it goes down…as politicians try to force down inflation as a campaign promise.

 

LABOR—TRAINING PEOPLE HOW TO GET ALONG BY NOT WORKING—TAX THOSE WHO DO WORK, AND GIVE FREE MONEY & STUFF TO THOSE WHO DON’T (FLOODS OF “UNDOCUMENTEDS" TO TAKE JOBS — OR USE OUR WELFARE

Then act surprised that labor force participation drops and drops. Ignore border control and let in thousands more who can’t earn their way and pay zero taxes, or follow US laws, but expect to be taken care of. Worse yet, US companies fire their workers in downturns and let the government (funded by tax paying Americans) to pick up the tab, sometimes for more than a working wage would provide! Then getting people back to work—in jobs (when, or if business recovers), competing with illegal immigrants (at lower pay that Americans, is hard or impossible. Plus when they were allowed to work from home (“unsupervised”) during Covid, they learned how great freedom from work felt—and with no commute in traffic, using $5/gallon gas.

 

The best companies (and sports teams) try to get the best people (players) they can afford, and pay them well. With good leadership, the results are usually quite good. The opposite happens when marginally qualified, unmotivated people are hired at rock bottom pay. Companies fail and people are back on the government welfare wagon….Paid for by whom? By working tax payers, of course.

Final thought: Employee Retention is an Oxymoron these days. A regular job used to provide security for the worker and also for the employer, that help would be there when the business needed it. NOT ANY MORE!

 

What’s happened: Culture has changed to an ENTITLEMENT CULTURE; Education has changed to being more focused on WOKE, SOCIAL AND POLITICALLY CORRECT BEHAVIOR rather than skills that are employable and productive. Helicopter parents of  Gen Z+ have provided such a laissez faire attitude that too many young people don’t realize that “work" means showing up, on time and willing to actually work!

 

Wages are climbing rapidly; work at home has become a perk with vague expectations of results, and being there when the zoom call is schedule—but no need to commute and pay high gas prices—and have a government subsidized electric or hybrid car).  Some form of energy (who pays for that) must provide the charging stations with fuel. What is the motivation for this new culture to be more productive, to be more innovative (is it watching streaming TV or playing interactive video games? I’m hoping that the appeal of being part of a productive, collaborative, high energy team with strong leadership will still energize the best people to be the workers of the 2020’s.

 

LEADERSHIP, TURMOIL, INDECISION AND CONFLICT—WAR—OR THE PROSPECT OF MORE ARMED CONFLICTS

It’s clear that Putin is a strong leader in a ruthless, brutal way—to get what he wants at any cost—lives of innocents, destruction of cities, and whatever else he imagines. He’s not crazy per se. He just lacks the human values that most of the world wishes a leader would have. And, in this war—he never should have started—there’s no easy way out for him, to save face when it stalls except to grind Ukraine into blood, rubble and dust.

 

Feckless “old" Joe Biden is totally incapable of strong leadership in the face of such opposition.  He’s slow to act, indecisive, “tone deaf” and easily goes off track—chasing some illusion planted by the radical left wing of his party. All good leaders depend on input from their followers, staff and constituents, but Biden’s counsel is flawed and failing. Worse yet, should his aged body and mind fail him further, his VP choice is even worse as a leader. The best outcome is to hope that Biden doesn’t screw up too many times, too badly, or fatally, and finishes his one term, then gives way to a whole new “regime,.”

There are many articles and columns written about Biden’ failings. Some of the best appear in the Wall Street Journal, including those by Kimberly Strassel, Gerald Seib and Peggy Noonan.

 

IF THIS ISN’T ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT,  ADD CHINA (XI) NORTH KOREA (UN), AND IRAN (MULLAHS).

China wants Taiwan back, and control of the South China Sea (with all the sprawling “manufactured" islands claimed as Chinese territory). North Korea is led by an immature, murderous 3rd generation leader with hopelessly inflated self-esteem. He’s dangerously meteoric in his behaviors. Iran is a country whose leaders’ values and ideas are based on century old tribal and religious cultures and loyalties. There’s the whole next level: Hezbollah, the Taliban, remnants of al Qaeda & ISIS, and so many more. The most frightening thought after making this list is Clueless Bungling Biden (even understanding the threats) and his band of minions “translating" these threats into US policies and actions.

 

AFTER THIS LITANY OF WOES AND PROBLEMS, AMERICA, WITH ALL ITS DIVISIONS & CHALLENGES, IS STILL THE BEST COUNTRY ON EARTH—BY FAR. How do I know that? Apply the most basic test: That’s why so many people from so many places want to come here?

 

WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO MAKE 2022 & BEYOND THE BEST POSSIBLE?  “United we stand, divided we fall.” contains the core answer. We must unify; elect new, better leaders to Congress, in our States and Cities and towns—and ignore the stupid, shallow media who only cares about ratings and sensationalism. 

 

Re-read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. FREE Copies are available on line. https://lp.hillsdale.edu/free-pocket-constitution/   Then do the next right thing, over and over. You will know it when you see it.  Finally, read what's on our money: In God We Trust… and then follow that.  And pray for God’s help.

 

Best, JOHN