Ok. . . This is terrifying.

[Gaspar]

Interesting, you provide people with quotes from business owners who are saying they are not hiring at the moment because of the uncertain political, taxation, and regulatory climate, but it's simply ignored and jeered at and those jeers are propped up with op-ed pieces from academians and bureaucrats who have never created a job in their entire life.

Here's a great local example as three of the global leaders in the combustion industry (i.e. flares and burners for the petroleum, chemical, and heating boiler markets) are HQ'd in the Tulsa area.  Their business is fairly stagnant right now for new orders pending the outcome of cap and tax and uncertain federal emission guidelines amongst other issues.  Local companies like Zeeco, Calidus, and John Zink are not adding any significant jobs right now and putting off capital expansion projects which is having an additional effect on local contractors who work with these companies.

Citing Keynes, Friedman, or a disgruntled former bureaucrat under Reagan still doesn't take into account that real people with logic and emotion run small companies and large corporations.  It's not all about lower taxes as being the key to productivity, it's mostly about government stepping aside as much as practical and creating an environment which instills confidence in which those who make buying and hiring decisions feel confident enough to start spending money in those areas again.

Conan, you have simply provided them with more messengers to attack. 

You're right, taxes are not the only issue.  There are layers of potential burdensome legislation waiting for the gavel. I think Cap & Tax is dead, but the minds behind it are still in charge. 

They have no intension of getting out of the way, and those that elected them don't want them to.  So we are stuck in this ideological divide where the people want jobs but hate the very instrument that provides jobs.  Some how the administration has fooled people into believing that prosperity is guided by government, and business is out to get them.

[nathanm]

Citing Keynes, Friedman, or a disgruntled former bureaucrat under Reagan still doesn't take into account that real people with logic and emotion run small companies and large corporations.  It's not all about lower taxes as being the key to productivity, it's mostly about government stepping aside as much as practical and creating an environment which instills confidence in which those who make buying and hiring decisions feel confident enough to start spending money in those areas again.

Hey, if you want to trade anecdotes, my clients are spending money like gangbusters. Housing, Distribution, Hospitality, and so on. Even the attorneys have taken on new partners lately and are buying more stuff. When I ask them about their taxes going up, they roll their eyes and ask me if I thought they also refused to make money in the 90s. Seriously.

This whole "business is afraid to expand" is a canard being pushed by people trying to score political points. The reality is that where money isn't being spent it's due to a lack of demand, not some nebulous thing that might happen in the future. Very much like the mythical bond vigilantes, actually.

People don't refuse to start, expand, or continue in a business because they're scared.

[Gaspar]

Hey, if you want to trade anecdotes, my clients are spending money like gangbusters. Housing, Distribution, Hospitality, and so on. Even the attorneys have taken on new partners lately and are buying more stuff. When I ask them about their taxes going up, they roll their eyes and ask me if I thought they also refused to make money in the 90s. Seriously.

This whole "business is afraid to expand" is a canard being pushed by people trying to score political points. The reality is that where money isn't being spent it's due to a lack of demand, not some nebulous thing that might happen in the future. Very much like the mythical bond vigilantes, actually.

People don't refuse to start, expand, or continue in a business because they're scared.

I hope you are right.  I would love to see this economy kick into gear.

[we vs us]

I think this is a transcript of the radio interview with Tarkington.  It's front page news on www.winbackwashington.com.  Gaspar, correct me if I'm wrong. 

FRAN - Yeah, what we're doing is I built 20 companies from the dirt. We work with hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs there with information, and now web-based tools that now help them to have a better chance to make it...our latest ones that we have built (is) a CRM product which is "Customer Relations Management" and they can go it and download it free and take a look at it. Here it is www.startercrm.com and what this product allows an entrepreneur, it allows you to expose your message to other people, organize your marketing, your sales, and get you one more customer. Go there, download the software free. We use all this cool technology and that is really what I wanted your listeners to go to. I think we can help that entrepreneur to get one more customer.

SCOTT - God love ya! Because they are swimming up a tide right now against their government are they not?

FRAN - I've listened to your programs...you're spot on. The truth has to be told to the silent majority, and that is the American people that are taxpayers...that are workers out there paying an unfair amount of taxes compared to the rest of the people. If we don't create a sense of desperation, change never happens and the silent majority has started its moving from the tea parties to other things going on. We're building momentum to November 2, to change the course of this country because we have a president and an administration that's inept. This president has no background for leadership. We have been afraid to really tell the truth: he has no background in leadership, no background in decision making. He has run nothing in his life. Harvard Law School: you don't learn how to make decisions in Harvard Law School. You learn how to make decisions and solve problems by running businesses every day. He's never had that, so therefore he has no ability to weigh in on the terrible spill out in the Gulf. He didn't contact the Chairman of the BP until 38 days after the spill. You know what his excuse was? "I didn't contact him because I knew he would tell me just what I wanted to hear."

SCOTT - You're absolutely right! You know what else, not only is it him, it's everybody around him---the lowest amount of private sector experience of any administration in modern history. I mean they have nobody that has done a darn thing around this guy. Now, you said something that caught my attention:  we've been afraid to say it---why has business in general---you see the US Chamber a little more forceful now...there's this round table. Why are you afraid to say what you believe is the truth about what they mean for businesses and the economy in this country?

FRAN - I think that he has been getting a free pass. He's our first black president. He's an attractive guy. He's a great speaker, we wanted him to work but he hasn't. We didn't look at the signs; the signs are very clear. This young man does not have any background, what he does (is) he reads the teleprompter. You're right, he has people around him who come from the progressive side of the Democratic party. Which means they think that they're smart and that we're dumb.

SCOTT - Bunch of academics, I mean everything's in theory. Theory is amazing. If I said I were to arrange a meeting with Fran Tarkenton and President Barack Obama with global office doors shut, what do you say to him?

FRAN - I would say to him, he needs to involve business people in his inner circle, he needs to go out and cut taxes, he needs to go out and promote entrepreneurship-building and take these barriers that we have as small business people that makes it more difficult for us---not only too much taxing but we have regulations upon regulations which makes it more difficult. But our problem is really this: at the end of the day you talk to anybody on the inside of Washington---Democrats or Republicans---this guy is a socialist. This guy is left of left. That's just what he believes, he does not believe in what we are and what has built this country. He is never going to be a promoter of business. He wants to redistribute the wealth.

SCOTT - If he was in that meeting with you he would tell you, "Wait a minute Fran, I'm pro-business. I got Bill Clinton running around saying, "No, no, no he's pro-business." When he came up with that talking point what would you say?

FRAN - You are what you do, not what you say. Your words ring hollow to me because what you're doing is not pro-business, it's not pro-job growth. It is bigger government. The government harm with people spin ourselves into oblivion. The spending that he has got us in. We will be in the same state of Greece, of Spain, of Russia. Big government has never worked.

SCOTT - Amazing! I saw you with Neil Cavuto the other day, and right after that was a buddy of mine, Steven Moore from the Wall Street Journal, I don't know if you stuck around long enough with your ear piece in, enough to hear what he said. You made some similar comments, but I'm in full agreement with Steven Moore from the Wall Street Journal: "Fran Tarkington for President." Are you up for that?

FRAN - No, I am not up for that, but I tell you what, the strength of our country has always been in the people and now the people have to get out and we have to be heard. It's a simple thing. Right now there is twice as much cash in businesses as there was a year ago today. We understand.

SCOTT - Obama would call you greedy for that. He would say, "See, bunch of greedy businesses hoarding their cash."

FRAN - Yeah were hoarding our cash, here's what he's promised us: higher taxes, more regulations. Health care costs have already gone up, making it harder for businesses. So we understand something that he doesn't: you cannot spend more than you make. So we have already adapted, we are being more efficient spending the money. We are doing more with less because that is the American culture. That we understand you cannot go and spend money that you don't have. The state of California is bankrupt and let me say this: Minnesota, Wisconsin are broke because they spent more than they had.

SCOTT - Government should try it on for size; you know, just tighten the belt. That's what lit the match in my view of this Tea Party movement. I call it a sleeping giant of the American people that have been awakened, that have said "enough already." I agree with you. We will be fine because of the American people and because of good folks and entrepreneurship and worrying about the mouths we gotta feed, the families---that's what makes this country great and we will be fine because of it. Fran what a pleasure this was. Can we do this on a more regular basis my man?

FRAN - Will do, whenever you like.

SCOTT - I really, really, enjoyed it. All the best to you take care.

FRAN - Thank you.

 

[nathanm]

Oh, the anti-intellectualism is rather funny coming from someone who made his money in software.

[Conan71]

Hey, if you want to trade anecdotes, my clients are spending money like gangbusters. Housing, Distribution, Hospitality, and so on. Even the attorneys have taken on new partners lately and are buying more stuff. When I ask them about their taxes going up, they roll their eyes and ask me if I thought they also refused to make money in the 90s. Seriously.

This whole "business is afraid to expand" is a canard being pushed by people trying to score political points. The reality is that where money isn't being spent it's due to a lack of demand, not some nebulous thing that might happen in the future. Very much like the mythical bond vigilantes, actually.

People don't refuse to start, expand, or continue in a business because they're scared.

Have you ever heard of a serious down-turn for attorneys, Nathan?

It's hardly a canard when you work in a business directly impacted by regulation.  Engineers, salespeople, and people who run small businesses have no political points to gain by espousing such views or hording cash. 

[Gaspar]

I think this is a transcript of the radio interview with Tarkington.  It's front page news on www.winbackwashington.com.  Gaspar, correct me if I'm wrong. 


 

That wasn't it, but it looks like he's playing from the same script.  He must be on a book tour or something.

[guido911]

Blueberries, I like 'em.

Trickle down economics, I like 'em.

WARNING:  Evil conservative website:

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/08/02/remember-when-people-laughed-at-trickle-down-economics/

[nathanm]

Have you ever heard of a serious down-turn for attorneys, Nathan?

It's hardly a canard when you work in a business directly impacted by regulation.  Engineers, salespeople, and people who run small businesses have no political points to gain by espousing such views or hording cash. 

Uh, sure they have political points to gain. Everybody prefers less red tape and lower taxes. Some just realize that taxes pay for nice things. Either way, they made money back when most everything was under much more stringent regulation than will even be the case after the reregulation-lite we seem to be having, so I think most folks will be fine.

And yeah, I have. The recession put a big dent in many areas of practice. However, those who were already heavy into bankruptcy and collections have been doing very well for obvious reasons.

Either way, part of what makes a successful business successful is the ability of the organization to adapt quickly to changing situations. If a business fails because of any regulation we're likely to see out of the business wing of the Democratic Party (which pretty much is the Party), it was weak in the first place.

[Conan71]

Either way, part of what makes a successful business successful is the ability of the organization to adapt quickly to changing situations. If a business fails because of any regulation we're likely to see out of the business wing of the Democratic Party (which pretty much is the Party), it was weak in the first place.

I'll agree that flexibility is an important asset to a business, but in the real business world, you can be as flexible as you like and still not be able to keep up with new regulations.

You won't get far passing that pap off to the former owner of a metal finishing (i.e. metal plating) business who could not afford the kind of equipment it took to keep up with ever-tightening environmental regs.  How about pet subisidy programs and food safety legislation from the Democrats which have been more friendly to large corporate farm conglomerates while smaller farmers have been squeezed out of existence?

What is interesting about tighter environmental and safety regs which are the usual domain of Democrats, is they serve to benefit the larger corporate interests that they espouse as being "evil" due to smaller businesses being unable to afford to keep up with new regs either by not having cash on hand, the necessary credit available, or simply being sick of having the government up their arse.  Oh wait, the smaller business failed because they had an unsound business model when the government regulated them out of existence.

Until you've worked around the manufacturing and producing end of our economy extensively, you will probably never be able to fully appreciate what effects government regulation has on commerce.  It can be good and it can be bad.  Right now there's simply too much of a questionable to negative environment which is making companies horde cash and refuse to hire, expand, or spend.

I'm hearing, seeing, and living first-hand what is causing a lingering sluggish economy.  You guys keep wondering why the economy is still limping along and wondering what it's going to take to pull it out, but when it's explained to you by people who are actually working in areas still heavily impacted by the sluggish economy, it's like you don't want to hear the truth.  It's all canards to you people.  

[guido911]

Have you ever heard of a serious down-turn for attorneys, Nathan?

Business is a boomin for lawyers in this state. The bar journal is packed with ads about job openings.

[nathanm]

I'm hearing, seeing, and living first-hand what is causing a lingering sluggish economy.  You guys keep wondering why the economy is still limping along and wondering what it's going to take to pull it out, but when it's explained to you by people who are actually working in areas still heavily impacted by the sluggish economy, it's like you don't want to hear the truth.  It's all canards to you people. 

We have different experiences. You seem no more interested in hearing the truth from my perspective than you claim I am in hearing yours.

I can't feel a great deal of sympathy for people being forced to not make a gigantic mess when they produce things. Clean drinking water matters more to me than somebody not being able to afford to properly contain their waste. If the business can't make money without polluting, it wasn't much of a business to begin with.

I do agree 100% on the farm subsidy (not food safety) issue, though.

[Red Arrow]

Maybe people making $20,000 a year are also middle class?

I hope you are being sarcastic.  Full time minimum wage ($7.25/hr) is approximately $15,000/yr.

[nathanm]

I hope you are being sarcastic.  Full time minimum wage ($7.25/hr) is approximately $15,000/yr.

My point was that a person making $20,000 a year is as much "middle class" as a person making $180,000 a year. As in, they are not.

[Gaspar]

I hope you are being sarcastic.  Full time minimum wage ($7.25/hr) is approximately $15,000/yr.

Do people on minimum wage want to make more?