The Worst Possible Choice

How 'bout that Supreme Court pick by B. Hussein Obama, President, and all around great guy. Let's just hope no major constitutional issues come before the court in the next 20-30 years. I love all the assurances given to the Republicans (our own Orrin Hatch) the he would not pick a radical, activist judge. So much for the integrity of the president. I scares me to think about what other "promises" might go amiss. I hope everyone now understands what a promise from the White House is worth. To quote a great American "It's not worth JACK SQUAT."

BK

The letter below illustrates very well that elections have consequences. Despite all the hyperbole about Hope and Change, this country will go in the dumper if action is not taken to "change" the socialist agenda being shoved down our collective throat. I realize that it is not a presidential election year, but it is not to early to begin "changing" the way people think. Remember when the next election come around, that the likes of Jon Huntsman Jr., Arnold Schwarzenegger, and John McCain are just socialists in Republican drag or Republicans in Name Only (RINO's), if you prefer. Real, free market conservatives are hard to find. One of the great ones just passed from this frail existence (Jack Kemp). Free market economics is not a new concept. As early as 1620, William Bradford realized that the contract signed by the Plymouth colonists was crap. The contract required the company to have all things in common and to distribute the collective production of the colony equally. Sound familiar. I believe Karl Marx was the next one to advocate such a system. Don't misunderstand, this is not the same as the "United Order" as practiced by early Mormons. In that system all were required to produce if they where to benefit, but I digress. William Bradford soon realized that having all things in common was bad for the community. It caused the industrious to support the lazy, which pissed off the industrious ones. Again, it sounds familiar doesn't it? To make a long story short, Gov. Bradford tore up the contract and started what might be the first free market society in what would become America, and it worked.

As a new election cycle nears, I encourage all to study issues, not personalities. Find the candidates that will "change" this great nation. Change we can count on, like a return to tradition values. Like a return to rugged individualism. Like a return to a true market economy. Ask the 900 or so Chrysler/Dodge dealers and 1100 GM dealers what it feels like to be shafted by the government (by the way, you can help the economy by buying a cheap new car from one of these dealers). Sorry for the soap box, but I felt it was needed.

The Big Kahuna

To All My Valued Employees,


There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this
company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has
changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good
news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does
threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this
country.


However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you
decide what is in your best interests.


First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers
against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner
there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and
overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes
outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure;
all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about
my life.


However, what you don't see is the back story.


I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300
square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was
converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a
company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.


My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent
went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a
defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed
home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In
fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and
sacrifice.


Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a
modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy
cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes.
Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was
trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item that
didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their
mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time,
my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some
day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly
had.


So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in
at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no
"off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done
and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the
freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There
is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this
business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child.
You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the
Mercedes, the vacations... You never realize the back story and the
sacrifices I've made.


Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right
decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who
didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled
to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life
for.


Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep
and not without wounds.


Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is
starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you
why:


I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I
have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes.
Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on
taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess
what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and
regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of
my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for
quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero.
Nada. Zilch.


The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy
who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000
people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother
sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next
welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic
stimulus of this country.


The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit
and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who
wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is
why your job is in jeopardy.


Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy
you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government
mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of
depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have
spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic
growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the
form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it
now.


When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't
defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to
life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart
of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not
kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of
America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine.
Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change
you can keep.


So where am I going with all this?


It's quite simple.


If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be
swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead
with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's
future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.


Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and
retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the
productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to
provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my
citizenship.


If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be
at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country,
steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape
forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired,
and with no employees to worry about....


Signed,


Your boss

Some Thoughts on Election Day

IF "The Dear Leader" is, in fact, elected I will indeed hide my guns (guns? I don't have any guns), my wallet, and everything else that I have that someone else doesn't. I will be in mourning...but I will also put up the "Sarah Palin 2012" sign. Remember 1980 after 4 years of Obama's mentor Jimmy Carter.

As far as Super Dell goes I will vote for him not because of some silly notion of eternal accountability, but because I refuse to vote for the Democrap, and Smilin' Jonny needs to be called to the carpet for his lying insistance that he is a Reagan Republican. He just needs to come out of the closet (so to speak) and admit he is a Democrap.

Welcome

Welcome to The World According to Mark. I have created this blog as a place to share my thoughts about just about anything. The content will normally be family friendly, but never R-rated. I hope you enjoy what I have to say and I welcome your comments. As my blog evolves I hope to add photos and other such content as well as advertising at some point. Enjoy, come back often, and pass it on to a friend if you feel so inclined.