As I sat in my den last night listening to proposals concerning the government regulating the amount of salt in our foods, I had to stop and wonder what the "ham sandwich" is going on? As Americans, we have always prided ourselves on freedom, that certain inalieanble right that makes this country great. Have we now resigned our freedom to those who know what’s best for us? Has freedom of choice be usurped by societal pacifism? Has the inevitable happened like the scenario in "I Robot" where they are trying to protect us from ourselves?

Seriously?? Part of true freedom is making wrong decision…even if they eventually kill us. How the government has the audacity to try to prevent us from partaking in a legal action is not only offensive, but constitutionally unacceptable. Unfortunately, enough Americans are asleep at the wheel and cannot see the impending doom this proposal will bring. If they are allowed to place regulations on enitre industries for "the greater good", how long before we have a government quality of life commission that will create a list of products and industries that will be deemed detrimental to society. How long before the Internet is seen as a threat to society because of the anti-social nature of its use and the ease with which subversive information can be spread among the electorate?

Just as some Americans are convinced the Healthcare legislation is needed, there will be those who agree with the government stepping in to make sure you don’t do anything to that could be potentially harmful…but where does it end? Should we have legislation to regulate carbs? Should McDonalds have to offer healthy alternatives such as lamb or bison burgers? Should fat people pay more for goods and services because of elevated consumption?

Folks we have to get a grip!! There are no easy answers and many hard choices that have to be made in life, but those choices will never lead to breakthroughs if someone else is making them for you. Stand up and demand the government stick to what we elected them to do…protect our shores and watch over the sovereignty of our nation. Resist the ease and temptation of cradle to grave provision and return to the rugged, tough, "don’t tread on me" individualism that made our country great! In the words of Earl Pitts (Native American Red Neck), WAKE UP AMERICA!! 

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Can someone explain what is going on with customer service these days?

While I can understand the need to downsize staff during tough economic times, there is no need to punish the people who do patronize your store as a result. I was in a restaurant with a friend and during the ten minutes it took for our drink order to be taken, two other couple walked out. We were really in the mood for their food, so we were a little more patient than the others, but it amazed me how rude the waiter was because they were short staffed.

What their management and others need to understand is your customer has come to expect a certain level of quality and service, that is why they return to your establishment, and any diminution of that service is interpreted as a breach of contract. If during prosperous times I receive fast service, then the same should be true during tough times, in fact, even more so. By continuing to meet your loyal customer’s expectations, you increase the amount of recommendation that result from their having discussions with others about the poor services they received elsewhere.  

Cutting back on staffing and trimming wherever possible is a part of doing business, however, the sure way for your business to fail is to lower the quality of your product. A company would do better shortening its hours of operations and keeping a suitable staff, than staying open and having their patrons endure poor service.

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Americans are feeling pain at the pump greater than ever before. Politicians are seizing this opportunity to suggest nonsensical solutions such as reducing the gas tax by penalizing the oil industry for benefiting from the very thing they do…sell gas! How ridiculous!!!

If you want long-term relief from rising fuel costs and food costs, tell the government to let you keep more of the money you actually earn! Just imagine how you would feel if you earned $1000 in a week and received a $1000 paycheck? That would certainly help cope with the ever rising cost of filling up.

How is that possible? The Fair Tax. Before your eye glaze over and you begin shaking your head as if to say "here we go again", let me explain a few truths. Our system of taxation has made it impossible for businesses maximize profits and offer competitive wages and benefits. The United States has the highest corporate tax of any industrialized nation at 40% and the affect of that can be seen in the growing trend toward outsourcing.   

Here is an abridged version of the Fair Tax and its benefits:

• Abolish the IRS (Saves over 10 billion per year)
• Removes all embedded taxes (25%)
• Monthly stipends for food expenses
• Adds a national value added tax of 25%
• No inheritance taxes, ad valorum, or capital gains
• Receive every dime of your paycheck
• Bring jobs back to the United States
• The underground economies pays their fair share

Of course there are far more details than I have listed here and you can read them all at www.fairtax.org, but for our purposes I wanted to highlight why the Fair Tax is a better solution.

Of the benefits listed, the most pressing reason for the change is "Brings jobs back to the United States". By removing the corporate taxes, several things happen;

• Companies will be able to invest more money in technology and innovation, which not only produces a better product, but in most cases lowers the price.
• Employers will be able to indentify "best practices" and pay higher wages to employees who embrace those practices.
• Foreign businesses, whose corporate tax average 28%, will relocate to the U.S., create partnership with U.S. firms, or expand into a multinational organization. Either of which means more jobs!!

As you can see, the solution to many of our country’s problem are cured with the implementation of the Fair Tax. So why hasn’t it happened? One word….Power! Making the Fair Tax law would remove all of the leverage of the Washington Lobbyist, who mainly lobby for tax favors, and special interest groups who exchange votes for favorable subsidies and tax breaks.

Secondly, the amount of savings that would be generated from eliminating the IRS and its related expenses, coupled with the increase in empowerment of the American people, would certainly start calls of downsizing the government. While this is welcomed by one political party, the other bases its very existence on dependence and their ability to make decisions for you. Afterall, you aren’t smart enough to figure things out for yourselves….right?

Finally, take the time to look at what the real problems are and don’t let politicians tell you how they are going to solve your problems. Choose a path that allows you to make decisions for you and your family. Have the resolve to make tough decisions and take a stand for the freedom our founding fathers and many others fought for…..in other words, its time to Man Up!! 

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Okay, I’ll try to keep this short. We as a nation have to come to grips with the consequences of our decisions. We have chosen to turn a blind eye to the government and let Congress tax us into the situation we find ourselves in today.

How, you may ask? With corporate taxes being over 40% in our country, businesses have turned to outsourcing to offset tax and employee expenses. This in turn leads to a need for improvements in the infrastructure of the host countries as other countries contract services.

The emerging markets abroad create opportunities for US companies to partner with foreign companies to share in the growth and increase their profitability without the penalties of huge corporate taxes and reduced employee expense. Unfortunately, as we build their infrastructure, we help increase the worldwide demand for oil, food and other natural resources. Add to that the growing

Clearly globalization is a good thing, but why are we acting surprised that is has ramifications worldwide?

Additionally, our refusal to build refineries and nuclear power plants, over the past twenty years has diminished the capacty to serve all of the demand for energy…but the caribou are safe!

To add injury to insult, we are now trying to develop alternative fuels such as ethanol made from corn which is causing food cost to rise because of demand. Farmers who would have normally planted wheat or soy, now plant corn, which causes a stress on wheat and soy supplies. Also, many types of live stock are fed with corn, so there is the increase in meat prices (PETA would be proud).

Back to taxes! Our current system of taxation has taken away the ability for Americans to be competitive in the world. As consumers we are faced with all of the embedded taxes of the products we use, a punitive tax on earnings and the taxes that are passed on to us by the coporations…that’s right, corporations don’t pay taxes, people do!! Whether it is a reduction in the amount of raise you get yearly, smaller bonuses, price increases, or in the worst cases job cuts.

The only way out of the situation we are in today will be to revamp our tax structure, eliminate the IRS and replace it with the Fair Tax. This would make the US more attractive to companies abroad, which brings back jobs and ease the crunch of rising costs. Secondly, we need to begin drilling for oil in places we know it exist Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, etc. 

As the electorate we must vote for candidates that are interested in weening the US off the international energy teet and buiding more local sources whether greater refinery capacity, wind technology, hydro-electricity, cleaner coals, or solar energy. None of these solutions are a quick and we simply have to eat the elephant for the forseeable future. Just know it is we who killed it and put it on our plates! 

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As an entreprenuer, I am always attending networking functions, whether private organizations or those I have been invited to as a result of professional association. Over the past year, I have come into contact with an alarming number of people over the age of 40 that are unemployed and frustrated at their inability to gain employment in fields where they have more than 20 years of experience.

So what’s the problem?

Initally I suggested everything from rewording their resume, to an award winning author I am afiliated with who specializes in helping 40+ executives re-enter the job market. However, upon further investigation and interviews, I have begun to see consistencies with the responses and treatment of those applicants who are a part of the Baby Boom generation.

Phrases like, "you are too qualified for this position", "I would feel uncomfortable asking you to work for this wage", or my favorite, "I don’t think you will stay, if something better comes along", were common in my discussions with more than 20 prospective applicants.

As I began to analyze this rational, it became obvious why employers are so willing to pass up a wealth of experience and knowledge….Money! Statistically speaking, older employees cost an employer more in salary, benefits, and longevity. Therefore, companies look for younger workers who are convinced they don’t need health insurance, will work for a lower wage and typically stay at a company less than two years…but how sound is that reasoning?

Who really loses?

While an employer may save money on the front end by hiring the less skilled worker, this philosophy is contrary to strong growth and a high level of customer service. A company’s success can be identified by it positioning among its target audience and positioning “… is to create a space inside the target customer’s head called ‘best buy for this type of situation’ and to attain sole, undisputed occupancy of that space” - G. Moore (Crossing the Chasm).

Who does a company have a greater likelihood of achieving this goal with? Seasoned employees understand what it takes through years of experience and practical knowledge. While I can’t discount the fact older workers tend to be set in their ways and less flexible with change, who would you rather have Michael Jordan or a rookie straight out of college?

Effective business occurs through critical thinking, process analysis, and strategy development. Having experienced workers allows for a diversity of ideas, insightful analysis from a historical perspective, and in many cases a refinement that only comes from living a while. So the next time you find yourself looking for a new employee, take the time to consider who will bring "the most bang for the buck". 

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