Business is not EZ

As a part-owner of a business, I find it distressing that so many people think that business owners are greedy and "rich." We employ people in several states, Ohio included. Of each and every dollar of company revenue, 42.4 cents go to direct salaries, 16 cents to employee benefits, our overhead (taxes and cost of doing business) averages about 37.9 cents on every dollar (higher in Ohio, lower in Texas.) On average, that leaves about 3.7 cents of every dollar in "profit." From that 3.7 cents we have to maintain and reinvest to grow and meet any contingencies. We are barely able to be price competitive now, despite making all the economies we can find. Any increase in taxes or costs MUST be passed along to our customers or we must close and eliminate the jobs we have slaved to create. If the increases cause us to become non-competitive, we may have the choice of moving to a lower cost environment. Here's a secret for you to share: No business has ever paid a penny in taxes. Businesses simply collect the taxes from their customers and pass them along to the government. Businesses aren't taxed -- people are taxed. George Soros is rich. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are rich. Very few businessmen ever reach those pinnacles -- and if they do, it is because they have offered something of value to millions of working people. I personally don't agree with George Soros' politics, but I love his Progressive Insurance Company because they offer good service and value for the cost. That's good business, and good business is good for the economy and good for the Republic.

Food for thought

I wish I could never again see or hear of violence in public discourse. The posting at the link, below, is certainly interesting.

Source: http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/who-is-violent-left-or-right/

With apologies to Clement Clark Moore, and nearly everyone else...

Twas the day before Christmas and all cross Tempe

The folks were all happy, even Momma and me.

Our granddaughter’s still sleeping, tho’ the sun is quite high

It’s peaceful and quiet, and that ain’t no lie.

The parlor is filled with a tree very large

And the cupboards bear treats like the load on a barge.

Under the tree are presents and gifts

Wrapped with love giving spirits a lift.

Relations renewed with family and friends

To strengthen the circle that death does not end.

Tomorrow’s the day that we reverence His birth

With giving and loving, and joy for the earth.

An open letter to our local NPR affiliate

Dear KSTX:

I know that you do not control NPR's decisions. But you are their local affiliate. If the local affiliates are significantly hampered by the actions of NPR, I’m sure you will all let it be known to NPR, and “voting” locally with my checkbook is my only leverage in a situation like this. I have also already told my national political representatives how I feel.

I’ve been a staunch supporter of NPR as a balanced news source and have greatly appreciated your work. But this was more than a mere parting of ways with a reporter. This was a rude, uncalled for dismissal of an icon of the trade. Not only is Juan Williams a well-known and valuable key asset to any organization he has been a shining light of fairness and equality in the messy world of Journalism.

Over the years I have heard many NPR journalists and analysts say much, much more controversial things than Juan’s admission of a natural fear fed by the evil rantings of extremists who **self-identify** very publicly as the leadership of the Islamic faith. I have heard Judaism and Christianity bashed. I’ve heard heterosexual males stereotyped as hatemongers. I’ve heard Nina Totenberg rave that she hoped a person’s family all dies of Aids. Yet Juan’s simple admission merits firing and public jokes about his sanity or motives? Juan “crossed the line” with his simple statement? NPR’s stated position is so far beyond inconsistent that it boggles the mind.

When NPR clearly and publically shows that it values truth over political correctness, that it supports true journalism (which certainly includes commentary and opinions when clearly stated as such), that it can provide a balanced forum for all reasonable points of view, that it is not cow-towing to any special interest group—not “bought” by left or right, or, when KSTX is no longer affiliated with NPR, you may ask me again for my financial support.

NPR fires Williams for speaking the truth.

October 21, 2010: How ironic! Just this morning, on their fall fund drive, our local NPR affiliate was bragging that our donations help them maintain their "editorial independence." Right. Apparently a frank and honest expression of one's opinion or feelings, i.e., the truth as Juan sees it, has no place in the life of NPR personnel unless it is P.C.--how does NPR's action support "editorial independence"? I think this a disgusting and cowardly act by NPR!

October 22, 2010: Ah, 'tis a thing of beauty, indeed! Our local NPR station, KSTX, now on the last day of their fall fund drive, are falling all over themselves on air this morning to emphasize that they are a LOCAL non-profit with a LOCAL board of directors reporting on LOCAL issues, with less than 7% of their funding from taxpayers. They claim they are getting content from a wide variety of producers and not solely dependent on NPR, and have, in their words, "no influence in any way on decisions made at the national level by NPR." Heh, heh. Rats deserting a sabotaged ship. With their national leadership having proven NPR has no common sense, let alone integrity, KSTX now proves they have no loyalty but DO have a strong sense of survival. I wonder if they have read the words of the greatest of all: "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." Of course, our local announcer is not Peter, and Vivian Schiller is certainly no Christ. - Dan (a FORMER member of KSTX's McLean Circle)

The "good old days."

Is it a flaw in human nature, or an evolutionary defense mechanism that we normally tend to remember the good and repress the bad? I'm feeling especially nostalgic for the optimisim of the late years of the last century. Business booming, the human race more aware of the need to preserve the environment. Asia modernizing, India awakening, the Eurozone, the end of Apartheid, travel and technology, peace and prosperity. What a wonderful world the 21st century was going to bring us! Sigh...

A loss in the family.

From my son's FaceBook wall: "17 years ago, my mom brought home four puppies that she'd found abandoned along a busy road in San Antonio, TX. We were able to convince my dad to let us keep one of them and I named him Miller. He was with me when I finished high school. He was with me when I got married, and he was with us when I set out on my military career. He was with us when I came home from Korea, and he was with us when I came home from Bosnia. He was with us when I left the Army and returned to civilian life. He was with us when my daughter, Sydney was born, and he was with us during the attacks of 9/11. He was even with us when Sam and I celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary. From the beginning of my adult life he has been with me. Last night I fed him a 3/4 lb. slab of Prime Rib followed by a bowl of Jim Beam chicken soup. This morning I took him to McDonald's for a sausage biscuit breakfast and he was put to rest at 8:11 this AM in no pain. He's lived in 3 different states and has touched many lives. If there ever was an example of how loving and loyal one dog can be it is the one I call Miller."