tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post7549650573525131665..comments2023-02-16T06:53:07.658-08:00Comments on Amy Deardon: Obama's View on Small BusinessAmy Deardonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04334990399511204484noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post-6370052129574695672012-08-23T09:41:59.437-07:002012-08-23T09:41:59.437-07:00Bob, thank you so much for visiting! It's a pl...Bob, thank you so much for visiting! It's a pleasure to hear from you.<br /><br />I have a great respect for IT and computer programmers, both in maintaining current systems and in pushing the technology further. You go! It's sad that the higher-ups are not recognizing that you are allowing their company (and society) to function. It sounds like they have a utilitarian mindset with which I strongly disagree, and what's worse, the higher-ups in using this standard are not even respecting your utility in the first place. I hope the job availability and quality for those in your field improves.<br /><br />The erosion in job availability in the US across the board over the past few years is alarming, and it's unclear how this can be turned around. Beyond poor statistics, people are hurt by these complex and difficult problems. For what it's worth, I am a strong believer when solving problems in the collective wisdom over any one individual/power, and also in the concept of managing over controlling a problem. The government, in my opinion, does better to step back rather than micromanage how everything should work. At the same time, unrestrained capitalism is problematic -- some governmental controls to protect people from unethical products and so forth are essential. The problem is working out the balance between these two factors, but right now the controls seem to be stronger than optimal.<br /><br />JFK said in his inaugural address in 1961, (I'm paraphrasing) we should think of how we can contribute instead of what we can get from the government. I often wonder how much this *getting* attitude also contributes to our national malaise and work situation.<br /><br />Perilous times. Bob, I'll keep you in my prayers.Amy Deardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04334990399511204484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post-92041973900995924532012-08-22T19:48:01.067-07:002012-08-22T19:48:01.067-07:00I don't know the history of taxation in the US...I don't know the history of taxation in the US, but I am proud that my taxes help support things I believe in, and shamed by the many things over the decades my taxes have helped pay for which I do not believe in.<br /><br />One other thing I wish to respond to, though I don't know if I'll be back for a dialog: As hard as I work, I will most likely never be able to afford a house or a new car. Nothing I do will cause my employer to view my contribution as having sufficient value to pay enough for 'the American Dream'. I am a database programmer, so I contribute knowledge or access to knowledge, and I am simply a business expense, bringing in no profit in any direct fashion. Some things I have heard indicate that there is little gratitude (from the front office) for what I and my fellow IT workers bring, while we should keep our gratitude alive and growing. I like my job and the end users for and with whom I work, and I like the stability of a regular paycheck, but I see an ongoing erosion of the lifestyle I had even a few years ago, with little hope of improvement. I recently spoke with a professional in a related job who had to accept a job with no benefits at about 1/2 his former pay. I have seen evidence that the economy is s.l.o.w.l.y picking up, but wages and benefits are being held down, possibly even nation-wide.<br />I don't write this to complain, but to share a perspective.<br />Be Well,<br />Bob GriffinBobGriffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01183453950758862010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post-83882671611415781992012-08-21T18:12:55.095-07:002012-08-21T18:12:55.095-07:00True enough that the government built the roads. B...True enough that the government built the roads. BUT... who pays the taxes that the government uses to build the roads? I like to think that the USA is "of the people, by the people, for the people" and not governed by a separate ruling class making decisions. We now have career politicians, but it wasn't meant to be so. The government bureaucrats are not Caesar dictating where and how roads should be built for the rest of the empire, after all -- they are the people's representatives.<br /><br />Bob, thank you so much, and I agree with you, I think also that that's what Obama meant! However, I also think in this case that he's wrong. Glad you stopped by to visit (and good luck to your friend Willie).Amy Deardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04334990399511204484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post-30918713216852393732012-08-21T16:57:43.539-07:002012-08-21T16:57:43.539-07:00I believe the core context is the following:'S...I believe the core context is the following:'Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that.' In other words, you didn't build the roads and bridges.<br />My friend Willie has a successful Hot Dog eatery, which _he_ definitely built. However he didn't build the street in front nor the alley in back. He didn't put in the sidewalks, nor did he lay the pipes for the gas stoves.<br />_That_, as far as I can tell, is what Obama was referring to. Claiming that the business owner didn't build his or her own business is only true in that no one built their success alone. Claiming that they didn't build those parts of the framework which permit us to succeed in business is simply correct, and should be no more surprising than 2+2=4.<br /><br />On the other hand, apparently the canals which were used in England for so long appear to have been built by the business community which would benefit by them. However that is over 300 years ago, and across the pond, so it doesn't apply here.BobGriffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01183453950758862010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post-91817312738657114482012-07-27T14:33:19.608-07:002012-07-27T14:33:19.608-07:00BB, you make a good point with the semi-trucks. Ra...BB, you make a good point with the semi-trucks. Railroads seem to be the most practical way to transport many or most goods across country. And you're right, infrastructure matters. I wish money collected/borrowed for repairing the infrastructure were actually used for this purpose -- shovel ready jobs, anyone? We sure need an overhaul of highways, bridges, and yes, building even better transportation systems.<br /><br />How might this be accomplished? Do you think private enterprises to build/rebuild might be a better way to go?<br /><br />The railroads remind me of Dagney Taggert :-) We have a transport railroad near us and I am amazed to see the many cars chug by and imagine the engine power to pull all that weight. It sure seems efficient.Amy Deardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04334990399511204484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7529225240634507800.post-62585543990778701022012-07-26T12:19:17.371-07:002012-07-26T12:19:17.371-07:00Too much/too little government affects many types ...Too much/too little government affects many types of businesses. Not sure about the roads and bridges in N. Korea, but here there are businesses that worry about and need <a href="http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-nations-with-the-worlds-best-infrastructure/20110912.htm" rel="nofollow">infrastructure</a> . Transportation-wise, the ubiquitous semi-trucks that clog our interstates certainly depend on gov't infrastructure more than say the<br />railroads which build and maintain their rights of way privately. IMO, it can be a factor helpful to business, and our own infrastructure<br />is slipping at present.BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01168862935045755393noreply@blogger.com