We Can Fix the Economy. This is why we don't.

Am I an optimist?  Usually.  However, when it comes to fixing the economy, the fact that I keep beating a dead horse is more in indicator of my willingness to embrace hopelessness.


The metaphor I created for experts in economics involves this:

One economist works for a company that sells red paint. He says, "If you want to improve your business, paint the walls red."

Another economist works for a company that sells blue paint. He says, "If you want to improve your business, paint the walls blue."

That much may be obvious. The difficulty arises when they cite the statistics.

The Red Paint economist says, "Our study shows that red paint motivates employees. They produce more widgets. Your productivity will go up."

The Blue Paint economist says, "Our study shows that blue paint creates a greater sense of well-being. Your employees will make fewer mistakes and the quality of your widgets will go up."

What each side does not tell you, is that with red paint, the employees work faster, make more errors, and reduce the quality of the output; and, is that with blue paint, the employees make fewer mistakes and produce higher quality widgets, but make fewer widgets and reduce the quantity of the output.

To further the explanation, as most people don't understand economics, I posted several monographs, using metaphors, to explain the concepts.

1. A Primer in Economics.

2. The Multiplier Effect.

3. Economic Stimulus

4. How to fix the economy.

5. Another monograph on the economy

The Several Monographs on Economics will help non-economist visualise what happens in the economy.

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/understanding-economics-introduction-by.html

Regards,

Slim

PS.  I am not Paul Harvey.  However, I am open to becoming a commentator, columnist, or paid blogger.

If you’ve found anything I said to be helpful, please don’t hesitate to send me one of those tricked-out laptops and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note.

Sincerest regards,

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview

Going Postal: How to Revamp the Post Office

1.  Reduce delivery to five days a week with a Saturday pickup at the Post Office.

2.  One Postmaster for every five Post Offices.

3.  Have larger sorting centres (now called lead offices) with smaller retail outlets for stamps, money orders, post office boxes, etc.

4.  Realign carrier routes to make them more efficient.

5.  Hire an outside, professional, successful Public Relations & Marketing company to improve the parcel post business.  [The one the Post Office gave away during the gas crisis 35 years ago.]

6.  Remind people that the mail is protected by the Postal Inspectors--Federal Agents--and that unlike with regular shipping, theft of shipped material is treated differently.

7.  Provide extensive customer-service training for clerk supervisors.  In short, tell them to forget about being irritating and start being accommodating.  By direct order, Postal Policy, and a condition of their continued employment.

8.  To reduce the expense of the Grievance-Arbitration Procedure, remind each and every Postmaster that the existence of the grievance-arbitration procedure is not a justification for violating provision(s) of the contract.

9.  Bring in a Professional Management Team to manage the Post Office as a business.

10.  Do not think of the Post Office as a store with the American People as the Customers.  Think of the Post Office as a store with the American People as the Owners of the Store.

Sincerest regards,

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

European Union: Less a Fraternity more a Tontine

The problem the EuroCrats are having arises from the fact that they are dealing with problems on a propter hoc basis.

True, Greece needs help with its debt. However, while the EuroCrats have become fixated on Greece, they are ignoring the problems of Ireland, Italy, Spain, et. al.

When other countries like Ireland begin to reach the state Greece is in, the EuroFolk may try to heal Ireland's malady with Greek medication. This does not always work.

The analogy: Any woman who ever had children can tell you, when one gets sick, they all get sick. Then, they give whatever it is back to the one they caught it from in the first place.

EuroFlu is no different.

No sooner than Greece gets well, than Ireland will need help. Or Italy.

Then there are the issues of incompatible medications and competing physicians. As I've read in the news, only recently have Germany and France formed a compact. EuroBankers have contradicted EuroCrats, Analysts have argue with both and each other.

The solution must involve all the nations. The solution to one country's problems may not work for another.  However, the solving of one nation's problems must not cause problems for another nor make it impossible for the other country to move forward.

The EuroCratic approach is beginning to appear less like a fraternity and more like a tontine.

Regards,

Slim



slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Wolf Blitzer Buys a New Suit: How to fix the economy

Wolf Blitzer Buys a New Suit

For those who still have no grasp on how to fix the economy, another metaphor.

Wolf Blitzer wants to buy a new suit.  This, he figures, will attract more viewers [customers].  He borrows the money from John King—a CNN colleague.

Mr. Blitzer’s ratings [revenue] go up.  He repays Mr. King.

Mr. King, seeing Mr. Blitzer’s success, uses the profits from his lending venture to buy a new suit.  His ratings [customers] go up.

Upstairs, Mr. Turner is looking over the balance sheets.  He sees this uptick in [revenue].  He asks his accountant what happened.  His accountant tells him.  Mr. Turner gets an idea.  He issues a memo to his on air people.

CNN will make low interest loans to those who want to go out and buy a new outfit to wear on the air.

Ratings go up.  Revenue goes up.  Mr. Turner issues another memo.

Up until now, in the cafeteria, employees could buy a meal [breakfast, lunch, or dinner] for $10.  Due to the increased revenue, we are going to charge you [tax you] only $5.

As a result, the employees have more money to spend.  John King buys a new tie.  Gloria Borger buys a new scarf.  Candy Crowley buys a necklace.  Don Lemon buys a new shirt.

This upgrade in the “metaphorical image” generates more viewers [customers].  Revenues go up.  Salaries are increased.  All is well in CNNtopia.

However, what if all were not so enlightened.

What if Wolf Blitzer had borrowed the money for his new suit from Bret Baier?

Well, Mr. Blitzer would still have a new suit.  However, the profits would have gone to Mr. Baier who would have used his profits to buy a new suit.  Mr. King, not having the profits from his loan to Mr. Blitzer, would have had to go to Shepard Smith for a loan to buy his new suit.

Now, Bret Baier and Shepard Smith could use their profits to invest in a business partnership to lend money to fellow Fox News Anchors.  They would have a spiffed up image and more viewers [customers] generating more revenue.

Back to CNN.

With Mr. Blitzer and Mr. King having to pay interest on the loans to people at Fox, they have to cut back on expenditures.  Now, instead of buying lunch or dinner in the cafeteria, they brown-bag it.  Revenues in the cafeteria fall.  CNN issues a memo.  Due to lost revenues, the cafeteria will have to raise prices [taxes] on lunches and dinners.  This affects the other employees.  No shirts, no scarves, no ties, no necklaces, declining image, lost customers, decreased revenues—CNNistant.

What is the crucial difference between CNNtopia and CNNistan?  That is the difference between solving the US economic crisis and not solving the US economic crisis.

Now, on to Economic Experts.

In another monograph, I referred to selling blue paint.   I chose blue because blue is my favourite colour.  As Freud said, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

However, there is an opportunity to create a metaphor.

You watch CNN.  You watch as experts explain the economy. 

One economist works for a company that makes red paint.  He says, “If you want to sell more widgets, paint the walls of your company red.”

Another economist works for a company that makes blue paint.  He says, “If you want to sell more widgets, paint the walls of your company blue.”

Well, the bias is obvious.  Less so, the supporting facts.

Red:  “We have a study that says employees in companies with red walls are more pumped up and make more widgets—increased productivity.

Blue:  We have a study that says employees in companies with blue walls are more serene and make fewer mistakes—higher quality.

What both sides don’t say:

Employees in companies with red walls make more widgets but make more mistakes resulting in many widgets rejected for poor quality.

Employees in companies with blue walls make higher quality widgets with fewer mistakes, but make fewer widgets which results in lower productivity.

You can say both the Red Economist and The Blue Economist told the truth, half the truth, or half a lie [by omission]. 

Both sides misled the customers of the benefits of the paint they sell.

How do you fix an economy?

Here are a few easy to understand monographs on the topic.  Will this help you fix the economy?  Well, is fixing the economy your job?  What it will do is protect you from the politicians trying to sell you paint you don’t need to fix a problem that can’t be fixed with a can of paint.

Will $1 Billion Dollars create 7,000 jobs?  Yes and No.

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/will-1-billion-create-7000-jobs-yes-and.html

Economic Stimulus, by Metaphor

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/economic-stimulus-by-metaphor.html

The Multiplier Effect

http://www.slideshare.net/slimfairview/the-multiplier-effect-4962273

Regards,

Slim

PS.  I am not Paul Harvey.  However, I am open to becoming a commentator, columnist, or paid blogger.

If you’ve found anything I said to be helpful, please don’t hesitate to send me one of those tricked-out laptops and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note.

Sincerest regards,

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview

Understanding Economics: An introduction by metaphor

Commentary on Global Political and Economic Events by Slim Fairview. Please also see also http://sidestreetjournal.blogspot.com  Please do click the follow button for Slimviews--and please email a link to your friends.

Thank you.

Slim

As Congress is approaching the solving of the economic crisis in a manner consistent with the layman’s approach to understanding economics, I shall offer a series of monographs on economics aimed at explaining economics to the layman.

I’ve posted these monographs:

1.  Economics Illustrated: A Primer in Economics, by metaphor

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/economics-illustrated-primer-in.html

2.  Economic Stimulus, by Metaphor

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/economic-stimulus-by-metaphor.html

3.  The Multiplier Effect: Illustrated

http://www.slideshare.net/slimfairview/the-multiplier-effect-4962273

4.  Wolf Blitzer Buys a New Suit or How to fix the economy

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/wolf-blitzer-buys-new-suit-how-to-fix.html

5.  Will $1,000,000,000.00 Create 7,000 jobs?  Yes and no.

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/will-1-billion-create-7000-jobs-yes-and.html

6.  You Don’t Create Jobs by Selling Blue Paint

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/you-dont-create-jobs-by-selling-blue.html

Regards,

Slim

PS. I am not Paul Harvey.  Still, I am open to becoming a paid blogger, columnist, or commentator.

In the meantime, if anyone finds the monographs on my blog to be especially helpful, please do not hesitate to send me on of those tricked out laptops and few dollars tucked into the envelope with the thank you note.

Sincerely,

Slim

Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Publishing: The Silent Film Industry of Publishing

 

Commentary on Global Political and Economic Events by Slim Fairview Please also see also http://sidestreetjournal.blogspot.com  Please do click the follow button for Slimviews--and please email a link to your friends.  Thank you.

Slim

Would silent films have had any success after talkies came out if the silent film makers began making silent movies in colour?

Will the publishing industry survive technology if the publishing industry comes up with clever new ways of doing the same old stuff?

I know, I know, I've heard it before.  The Publishers are doing a bang up job. Business is good.



The Metaphor:


"Don't tell me how to run my business you rapscallion.  My Great Grandpa started the Corn Cob Shipping and Delivery Company nearly a hundred and fifty years ago. 


We're the only shipping company in the surrounding 11 counties and the only company to ship U-Needa Biscuits in the surrounding 17 counties. 


I'm not gonna have some whippersnapper come in here and tell me I gotta buy no new fangled motor car to stay in business.  We been delivering U-Needa biscuits by horse and wagon fer 150 years and we'll keep right on doing it that way fer another 150 years.  Now git, you varmint."


Enough said?  No.  Enough said!


Sincerest regards,


Slim

PS. I am not Paul Harvey.  Still, I am open to becoming a paid blogger, columnist, or commentator.

In the meantime, if anyone finds the monographs on my blog to be especially helpful, please do not hesitate to send me on of those tricked out laptops and few dollars tucked into the envelope with the thank you note.

Sincerely  

Slim

Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Pakistan: Friend or No?

I have two skills.  An analytical mind and the ability to speak in metaphors.

Analogy.

We have a round table and two chairs on the front porch.  In addition to Trygg, our cat, Trygg has about 8 to 10 free-range friends who show up regularly for breakfast and dinner.

Trygg likes to come and go through the window.  There is a latch.  I open the latch and push the window out.  Trygg jumps from the table to the chair and in through the window.  The other cats see this.  Only Buddy is influenced.

Buddy likes to stand up on the window sill, to try to push the window open.  He leaves paw prints on the outside of the window.  When I open the window for Trygg to come in, I leave fingerprints on the inside of the window.  The window gets dirty.

Now, the window needs to be washed.  If I wash the inside of the window first, Buddy looks like the culprit.  If I wash the outside of the window first, I look like the culprit.

My wife keeps tabs on what is going on.  Guess which side of the window I wash first?  However, as I said, my wife monitors the situation.  I am not going to fool my wife by washing the inside of the window first.

We are not going to make Pakistan look bad by washing our side of the window first.  We cannot claim we are washing our side of the window first, so we can better see where the outside needs to be cleaned.

Pakistan?  Friend or No?

I say,  friend.

Sincerest regards,

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview

Does Publishing Have a Future in Education?

Slimviews:  Commentary on Global Political and Economic Events by Slim Fairview Please also see also http://sidestreetjournal.blogspot.com  Please do click the follow button for Slimviews--and please email a link to your friends.  Thank you.

Slim

The Future for Publishing in Education.

Quill Pens and Powdered Wigs in Today's Classrooms Corporate Update

On the matter of education. The topic of technology seems to be lost in a quagmire of tradition. I tradition I embrace. However, I am 58 years old, not 8 years old. We need to change. Thus:

Quill Pens and Powdered Wigs in Today's Classrooms

http://www.slideshare.net/slimfairview/quill-pens-and-powdered-wigs-in-todays-classrooms

&

Social Media is the Medium: Greater than the sum of its parts.

http://www.slideshare.net/slimfairview/social-media-is-the-medium

This should do it.
Regards,

Slim


Because, Everyone, my postings are not about cash and prizes.


I post because, as much as I can see what is coming, I am:


a.) naive in believing that the publishing industry will move forward in any way that would be consistent with my having gone to B-school

b.) I believe that what I have posted on these matters is an indicator of what will happen.
"The fact that one cannot predict the future is not a proper rebuff to someone who says, get off the tracks, a train is coming." The Quotations of Slim Fairview (c) 2011 Slim Fairview


I published a comment in a Linkedin discussion about publishing and copy-pasted it into the Notes on my Facebook page.  The Future of Publishing: if it has one.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&note_id=10150236691940698#!/notes/slim-fairview/the-future-of-publishing-if-it-has-one/10150236691940698


For the Publishing Industry to be a player in the future of education in America and around the world, it must go outside the Publishing Industry for advice.


That is why I have chosen to post on the matters propounded here at HMH. If anyone in the Publishing Industry cares about the future of the Publishing Industry, they may pursue the information.  I will not, however, chase them on the matter of their survival.

Sincerest regards,

Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com


Thank you for your encouragement.


I went to the Q&A.  I started working as a free-lance website designer 11 years ago.  (I was an elementary education major for a while and taught 7th & 8th grade math briefly.)  I liked your idea.  I voted for it.


The Q&A here is like the Q&A everywhere.  It is a customer service provision.


As I've stated.  If HMH is interested, they will contact me. This is not about gifts and prizes.  The future is going to happen no matter what the Editors at HMH do.  The only question is "Will HMH be a part of it or not?"  Just trying to navigate this website it is intuitively obvious to the casual observer that they will not be part of the future.  

There is no indication that this website functions in the smooth and "user friendly" way other websites function.

Consider the following business blunders:

"That will never get of the ground.  If God wanted me to fly, He'd have given me wings."

"The Motor Car?  Noisy, smelly toy for the rich.  It will never replace the horse."

"Talking pictures?  People don't want to listen to all that chatter, they want to see real acting."

"We are concerned about our youngsters and the future of education in this country.  That is why we are opening up to suggestions from as many people as we can to embrace the potential of the ideas of so many gifted, created, and talented people who have so much to share with us especially in the areas of technology.  We are committed to bringing technology into the classroom because we see this as a powerful tool for helping to educate young people to meet the challenges of tomorrow by giving them a head start in the latest advancements....................."

I think you get the idea.  I have heard no reports, have read no articles, have seen so evidence that the publishing industry (especially in the area of education) is being the least bit pro-active in embracing the reality of what is to come.

If the publishing industry in the field of education, wants to survive, they must take the lead.  This leadership comes from the top.  Not from marketing, not from sales, not from a new business team.  This leadership must come from the top. Leadership is taking initiative.  

If HMH or any other firm wants to survive, they must go outside the firm--not necessarily to me, but certainly to someone like me--they must make the first move, they must initiate the contact, they must want information.



"Some people ask questions seeking information.  Other people ask questions so they can interrupt, argue, and pretend they're right."  From the Quotations of Slim Fairview (c) 2011 Slim Fairview.

I am not going to pursue them if they are going to sit back hoping a good idea comes across the technological "slush pile".

If publishing is to survive, the Publisher is going to have to become involved.

This is not about books.  This is about business. The business of books is business.

Thank you again for your kind comments.

Regards,

Slim

ps.

I have 8 thumbs up and 12 thumbs down.  Right away, I can see that that this project appears to be the "Dancing with the Stars" of the publishing industry. 40% in favour and 60& against.


What I have described is what we will have in our classrooms.  What we already have in some classrooms.  It is a propter hoc system of education reform.


"Education reform:  A government programme based on the fear that someone, somewhere is learning to read."  Slim Fairview from the Quotations of Slim Fairview


Thank you again.

Regard,

Slim

PS.  I am not Paul Harvey.  Still, I am open to becoming a paid blogger, columnist, or commentator.

In the meantime, if anyone finds the monographs on my blog to be especially helpful, please do not hesitate to send me on of those tricked out laptops and few dollars tucked into the envelope with the thank you note.

Sincerely  

Slim

Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

You Don't Create Jobs by Selling Blue Paint

You don't create demand by creating jobs.  You create jobs by creating demand.

I explained this in part in a previous monograph.  You may want to review that now, or you may choose to review it later.

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/will-1-billion-create-7000-jobs-yes-and.html


This is election season.  You cannot expect much in the way of substance.  If Jonathan Swift were alive today, he would still be writing about small people who bicker over whether to crack open a soft cooked egg at the big end or the small end.

For the purposes of this discussion, we live in Chicago.  We live across the street from one another. 

You pull out of your driveway on your bicycle to announce you are pedaling to New York.  You make a right. 

I call out after you.  "If you want to go to New York, you have to turn left."

You reply, "Your way isn't the only way of doing it, you know?"

A few months later, you return.  You concede that I was right.

I tell you that I am planning to bicycle to New York.  You say, "Don't forget to turn left."

I reply, "If I want to go to New York, I have to turn right."

You become indignant.  "How come when I want to go to New York, I have to pull out of my driveway and turn left; but, when you do it, it's okay for you to turn right?"

That may have brought a smile to your face.  Unfortunately, I've had a similar discussion before.

Every Economist you hear discussing the economy works for somebody.  That should be simple enough to explain why we have not yet solved our economic crisis.  If not, let me say quite simply just this:

If I sell blue paint, I will tell you that if you want to create jobs, you have to paint the walls of your business blue.

There are two Dixie Cups in the freezer.  I take one out, look at it, see it is chocolate, and smile.  I like chocolate ice cream.  You walk into the kitchen, see the Dixie Cup and want to know if there is any more.  I tell you there is one left.  You open the freezer, take out the Dixie Cup and look at it.  You don't smile.  The Dixie Cup is strawberry ice cream.  You like chocolate: you are allergic to strawberry.  Because I am not a politician, I offer to switch.  We both know I am not all too fond of strawberry.  If we switch, we both get to eat ice cream.  If we don't, only I get to eat ice cream.

I suggest the voters watch closely at how Congress and the White House hand out the Dixie Cups.  Oh, yeah, and don't listen to the economists.  They do more than give advice on economics.  They also sell paint.


Regards,


Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com



Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

The EuroVisioning Process: Shared Visions or Divisions

As I've been following the EuroCrats, a few questions have come to mind.

Is there no SOP?

Is there no metaphorical algorithm?


There are cause and effect relationships in economics.

There seems to be one of two possibilities.


That actions in one country (or agency, e.g. The EuroBank) will have an effect on another country's economy, those actions will either hurt or help the other country's economy.


If such actions are helpful, they should be taken.

If such actions are not helpful, then this EuroTopian vision won't work because the policies to benefit two countries are mutually exclusive.

Does no one have a pencil and a piece of paper?


Regards,

Slim


slimfairview@yahoo.com 


Copyright (c) 2011  Slim Fairview

The EuroVisioning Process: Shared Visions or Divsions

As I've been following the EuroCrats, a few questions have come to mind.

Is there no SOP?

Is there no metaphorical algorithm?

There are cause and effect relationships in economics.

There seems to be one of two possibilities.

That actions in one country (or agency, e.g. The EuroBank) will have an effect on another country's economy we can expect the following:

That those actions will either hurt or help the other country's economy.

If such actions are helpful, they should be taken.

If such actions are not helpful, then this EuroTopian vision won't work because the policies to benefit two countries are mutually exclusive.

Does no one have a pencil and a piece of paper?

Regards,

Slim

Slimfairview@yahoo.com


Copyright (c) 2011  Slim Fairview

Don't be so EuroCratic

Will Europe Survive its Efforts to Survive?

The EuroProcess seems to be one that stopped in midstream.  The grand Eurotopian Vision. (If you can believe the stuff you read in the Wall Street Journal, or the people they quote.)

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  Apparently not.  The Euro is a concept based on the goal that Europe would function as a single economy. Op. Cit, The US.  50 states, one currency.  I presume that the intention was a single government, a single currency:  all are one and attuned to the spheres.

As Yogi Berra once said, "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."  You can promote unity or you can promote diversity, but you can't do both.

There is no recipe for Stone Soup and no one is interested in eating it, anyway.
My interest is self-serving.  When I watch channel 13 I want to hear people saying things, like two and six, tuppence, and a fiver ( five pound note.)

For Europe to survive, as in the individual member nations to do well, there will have to be a re-scripting.  Preferably without the one who wrote the treatment for the disaster they face today.

Recognise the separate countries, recognise the separate economies with their respective industries, strengths and weaknesses, assets and liabilities, see what each country needs to fix its problems; see what assistance each country can offer those who have problems [preferably without creating new ones for themselves or others.] and begin to (herein lies the rub) negotiate in good faith with one another.

Speaking in the vernacular of an American:  Everybody's gotta get somethin'.

Some EuroCrats give the appearance of being able to contribute.  I will suggest Chancellor Merkel, Madame Lagarde, and some guy from one of the EuroBanks who said something sensible in a WSJ article.  However, there is a need for some outside objectivity.

Marketing:  Find a Need and Fill It.

Job Opening:  Analyst to assist EuroCrats in their effort to clean up their mess.

Responsibilities:  Too many

Compensation:    Not enough

Satisfaction:         Fleeting

To apply:  Don't bother, They don't want to hear your opinion, they want to hear their opinion.

Regards,


Slim

slimfairview@yahoo.com


Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Will $1 Billion Create 7000 Jobs? Yes and No

Joe the Barber.  One man shop.

Customer: Sam

Sam gets his haircut every week.

If Joe hires another barber, will Sam get his hair cut twice a week?  No.

If Jack starts going to Sam’s barber, Joe the Barber will hire another barber.

Because Sam is vain, Joe the Barber uses up a can of hairspray doing Sam’s hair.  Will he buy two cans of hairspray to do Sam’s hair?  No.

However, if Jack is also vain, Joe the Barber now will buy two cans of hairspray.  One to do Sam’s hair, one to do Jack’s hair.

Since Joe the Barber doubled his order of hairspray, Willie the hairspray salesman will order more hairspray from the River City Hairspray Company.

The River City Hairspray Company now must order more spray cans for their hairspray.  The River City Spray Can Company now must order more steel to make spray cans.

Because Joe the Barber’s business has picked up, the money, please forgive the expression, trickles up.  This is trickle up economics.

Those who believe that this is supply side economics are only half-right.

We are not offering major tax cuts to make products cheaper so more consumers can buy them.

We are offering major tax cuts to those people who get haircuts, buy shoe-laces, Q-tips, detergent, cat food, newspapers, aluminum foil, Pizza, M&M’s, potato chips, oatmeal cookies, caffeine- free diet Pepsi, Chinese takeaway, candles, CD’s, DVD’s, ketchup, key-chains with their names on them, and so on.

Can A Billion Dollars create 7,000 jobs?  That depends.  Where does this money come from?  The vaults of the wealthy that are hoarding their ill-gotten gains while the world suffers?  The people whose hoarding is purported to be causing all this misery?  If they spend their billions, will that create the 7,000 jobs?  Only if the rich guy gets 7,000 haircuts a week. 

You know that idea floating around that those big corporations must spend their money to create jobs.  That is trickle down economics.

What this country needs is trickle up economics.  Money put into the economy by people who spend the money on Main Street.

Addendæ: 

Two ways to put money into the economy and create jobs.

Number 1.

Tax Peter $5,000.

Give $5,000 to Paul to create a job.

Number 2.

Don't tax Peter $5,000.

Tell Paul, "When you calculate your taxes, knock off $5,000 from what you owe Uncle Sam--If you created a job."

There is a vast, but fathomable difference between methods one and two.

 

Sincerest regards,

Slim

Please Read, the Multiplier Effect.  My ppt. presentation on SlideShare.

http://www.slideshare.net/slimfairview/the-multiplier-effect-4962273

However, to understand this even further, please read Economic Stimulus by Metaphor

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/economic-stimulus-by-metaphor.html

 Sincerest regards.

slimfairview@yahoo.com 

Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview

Team Building: Contributors and Those Seeking Validation

Teams:  Contributors and Those Seeking Validation.

As I read various discussion boards, I notice something not at all unusual. Some people repeat what has already been said--repeatedly.

Other people give evidence of not having read comments posted by others.

As with the Twitters and Emails to News People, some people just want to say something whether or not it is worth anything. Except, perhaps, for the therapeutic effect.  Case in point:  I blog because I can't sing and I'm not cute.

We learn to acknowledge what someone has said, provide some response to it, sometimes ask for amplification, and solicit comments from others. (Of course, I learned that when majoring in elementary education.)

Employees will find satisfaction for contributing something of value--as evidenced by others in the group responding to it as if it were valuable. This is different from positive reinforcement and other "techniques".

Employees who do not contribute something of value will not be satisfied. Team mates may say nice things, but the absence of value in the contribution will become evident.

One thing that may help is to have the challenging members of your virtual team track his or her own development, advancement, improvement to achieve a higher quality of input.

A second is to give the bright ones more challenging assignments; to tell them that it is a more challenging assignment; and letting them know that achievement is the issue. If they fail to pass muster, they must do a self evaluation, find the flaw in their contributions, and fix the problems so the quality of their contribution rises.

Ownership of a project too often causes its own set of problems. People tend to become territorial, possessive, defensive, and hyper-sensitive.  Actually, that can be said better.  Let me say instead, "people tend to become attached to the project.  They may resist change due to that attachment."  Much better.

Sometimes we can have brain-storming sessions, do the fish-bone thing, do consensus building, find a shared vision; however, other times it is necessary for a boss to implement a change--Quickly!--in order to get the project moving again. Despite what some people have to say about the last suggestion, That does have a powerful effect of energizing the whole team and the project. People still do like leaders.

[The Constitution declares the President of the United States to be the Commander-in-Chief of the US Military. It does not declare the President to be the Chairman of the Committee--in-Chief of the Military.

Regards,

Slim

PS. If you find anything here to be helpful, please don't hesitate to send me 
a really tricked-out Mac Book and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along
with the thank you note.  Sincerely, Slim. 

Bob Asken
Box 33
Pen Argyl, PA 18072

slimfairview@yahoo.com



Copyright (c) 2011 Bob Asken
All rights reserved

China: The Economy and a Word Beginning with the Letter P

How will China do in the coming years?  Fine.  How do I know?  It is all about three little words. They are not “I love you”. 

They are words that begin the letter P.

Plan.  Process.  Project.

Years back two things happened to me that crystallised my perceptions.

The First:

While working on an Economic Development Committee, I observed that the committee was obsessed with the process.  Whom should we contact, include, discuss this with?  Should we write a letter?  Should we take a survey?  Should we include this in the newsletter?  Whom do we invite to the meeting to discuss this, that, or something else?

As the months passed, we eventually had a plan.  We also had a stroke of good luck. A big, important Government Official, who worked for an agency whose raison d’etre was to give money away, was coming to meet with us.

We made every effort to impress.  We arranged a tour, a presentation, a luncheon.  We even had a helicopter tour of the area.

Long story—very short.  We were told, “We give money away for projects, not plans.”  [We were shot down!]

After the rebuff, we licked our wounds.  We agreed with the one who said, “We got all wrapped up in the big P.” 

Well, no we didn’t.  The big P was project.  We were all wrapped up in the little p.  Plan.

This acceptance of responsibility is actually an abrogation of culpability.  That is correct.  Not to tell tales out of school, but it was similar to what my wife said to me in a discussion about a topic I long forgot.  However, I did not forget her assessment.

“You’re blaming me.”

“I’m not blaming you.  I’m blaming myself.”

“No you’re not.  You’re blaming me.  You’re just taking the responsibility.”

My wife spoke the truth.  That is how I know that our illustrious group member was washing his hands.

We had a plan.  However, that is not the worst of it.  The worst of it was the process.  Another word beginning with the letter P.

The Second:

The County Executive had a project.  Infrastructure.  His administration tried to float a bond issue—very low nine figures:  like $100,000,000.  That is low nine figures.

This was not for warm and fuzzy, touchy-feely programmes.  This was, as stated, for infrastructure.  The purpose?  Make the county attractive to business.

I was asked by an elected official to speak to the council.  Not as a chamber member, but as a citizen.  I spoke for 22 minutes on The Multiplier Effect.  I know this because I received an e-mail from an opposition activist who informed me that no one addressed the council for longer than 5 minutes in over two years.

Nonetheless, my contribution notwithstanding, the bond issue passed.  We had infrastructure.  This helped to blunt the effect of the first recession during the Bush administration, but not the second.  Still, we are better off than we would have been without the bond issue.

This man may or may not have had a plan.  What he did have, though, was a project.  A Project.  As in PMP^®   Project Management Professional.  Not, process management profession.  Not planning management professional.  Not, “Strategic Planning.”  Only Project!

Now, what does this have to do with China?

China has a project.  China, in fact, has several projects:  A Dam—hydroelectric power; Housing (Bubbles notwithstanding.); Currency—making the Yuan a global currency.  China is working on projects.  Elsewhere, countries are trying to come up with plans.  Elsewhere, countries are obsessed with “The Process”.

Two articles that will not please the chattering classes.  (Once a phrase having to do with the friends of Truman Capote.)  The Chattering Classes.  Those with credentials.  Okay, so maybe credentials are important.  Still, today, everyone has credentials.  Today, everyone disagrees.  A topic covered in my monograph: on experts.  http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/experts.html  

Today, China is in the news again.  This time, unrest.  The sad thing is, experts are looking to this unrest as a source of validation for their considered opinions.  They are, after all, in a fencing match with other experts.  Therefore, I offer up two more monographs on the topic of China.

Will the Facebook Revolution Spread to China?  Probably not.

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-facebook-revolution-spread-to.html

Will the Facebook Revolution Spread to China?  Part 2. Credentialism

http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/credentialism.html

The way the world is moving, and I have said this before, we cannot afford to approach global matters as a zero sum game.

To underscore what I’ve just said, I will cite two experts.  (Je vous en prie, remission.)

General George Washington.  A General

Dr. Albert Einstein.  A Physicist.

George Washington, a General Washington said, to paraphrase “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

Dr. Einstein said, “You cannot simultaneously prepare for peace and war.”

In a paraphrase, Washington the General admonishes that to secure the peace we must be prepared for war.

Einstein, the Physicist admonishes, we must fight for peace.

Well, in plain English, we are all quite prepared for war.  Now that we are quite prepared for war, we should be prepared to fight for peace.  This will come when we abolish the zero-sum game mentality of international balance of trade, currency rates, and military one-upmanship.

China has a project.  Other nations have a plan.  Let’s not end up like a chamber of commerce economic development committee and find ourselves shot down.

Regards,

Slim

Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview

Economic Stimulus, by Metaphor

Slimviews:  Commentary on Global Political and Economic Events by Slim Fairview Please also see also http://sidestreetjournal.blogspot.com/  Please do click the follow button for Slimviews--and please email a link to your friends.  Thank you.

Slim

Now to explain. For this, we will need to create that all-important metaphor. Too, I should like to apologise in advance for the one snarky remark I will make about a former President. (One must compare apples to apples.)

For the purposes of this lesson, we will assume that Joy, brown-bags it every day except Friday. On Friday, she takes 10 hard-earned dollars and goes to Whoopi's Sandwich Store for a baloney sandwich.

Now Elisabeth is out of work. However, Jimmy Carter feels her pain. Therefore, he taxes Joy $10 and gives it to Elisabeth so she can buy a baloney sandwich. Joy is not happy. She's being ripped off. Elisabeth is no better off because she still does not have a job. Now, what about Whoopi? She is no better off because she is still selling one baloney sandwich a week.

In response to critics, Jimmy decides to tax Whoopi $10 to train Elisabeth how to make baloney sandwiches. After getting her certificate, she goes to Whoopi's store looking for a job. However, Whoopi tells her, "Sorry, Friday is my last day. Jimmy Carter taxed me out of business."

Now, President Obama comes along and says, "That is not how to do it. I am going to have the SBA lend Elisabeth the money to go into her own business."

Elisabeth opens up a soda store next door to Whoopi's Sandwich Store.

Back to Joy. Aptly named because her tax cut allows her to go back to Whoopi's store and buy a baloney sandwich; and she goes next door to buy a soda.

Elisabeth is happy because she's making money, so she treats herself to a baloney sandwich.

Whoopi is thrilled because she doubled her sales volume and revenue. In fact, she is doing so well; she hires Sherri to help make sandwiches. (Whoopi trains Sherri, as it should be in business.)

Sherri is happy because she has a job, and, please forgive my little joke, her compensation package includes a free lunch. However, no beverage. Therefore, Sherry goes next door to Elisabeth's soda store to buy a soda. Well, with all this soda being sold, Elisabeth hires Barbara to work in her soda store. Now Barbara is thrilled because she has a job.

Back to the Oval Office:

The President's economic advisor comes in.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Yes, I have some money for you. It is part of Sherri and Barbara's benefits payments. They are out of work. I want you to send the money to Sherry and Barbara."

However, the advisor says to the President, "But Mr. President, Sherri and Barbara don't need that money anymore. They have jobs."

"That's great," the President says. "The government is saving money."

The advisor continues. "It's better than that. Since they are working, they are paying income taxes. So, I have some money to give to you from Sherri and Barbara."

"Wow", the President says. "I save money because Sherri and Barbara are working, and I bring in money because they are paying taxes. This stimulus package is great."

This is how economics works. It takes a little time, but this is how the system works.

Regards,

Slim

 

PS.  I am not Paul Harvey.  Still, I am open to becoming a paid blogger, columnist, or commentator.

In the meantime, if anyone finds the monographs on my blog to be especially helpful, please do not hesitate to send me on of those tricked out laptops and few dollars tucked into the envelope with the thank you note.

Sincerely  

Slim

Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

The Side Street Journal Daily Update Linke

http://sidestreetjournal.blogspot.com/

Regards,

Slim