Wednesday, November 12, 2008

How do I become "too big to fail"?

So I am tired of hearing about these banks and automakers that are "too big to fail." I have to disagree, no company is too big. I know Nancy Pelosi would think I am heartless because I don't care if 240,000 people lose their jobs (see this link for her "concern"). I do care but I also think people are better than that. I don't think that just because a major automaker fails people are going to just stop working. Those people who are building cars or working at banks well there are probably many of them who are very good at their jobs, so they can start their own small businesses. This is how innovation works. Both the Banking and the Auto manufacturing indutries have been wanting an overhaul, and now government (that includes congress and the executive branch) wants to stop that from happening. Why?
I know it's tough to let people loose jobs but that is how the economy renews and becomes better. In my opinion it is obvious that the business models for automakers and banks were outdated, or maybe they were never intended to be profitable? So how do we fix a broken industry, with either an outdated or poor business model? Let it die and start over.
I would hate to see so many people loose their jobs but I would hate, even more, to see us propegate a bad business model just to keep people employed.
I think most people would agree that economically based businesses have an end goal of making money. If a business is not able to accomplish that end objective with current business strategies then an overhaul is required, sometimes that means abandoning the old business model. In the case of automakers I think unions are a serious challange to the success of that industry, why is Subaru so efficient? No unions. Banks I think just got greedy, the senior executives were (still are in many circumstances) living well beyond the means of the company, on the company's dime. So scrap the old business model and come up with something better, surely this is possible. I don't have all the answers, but I am sure there are probably at least a hundred or more people in that 240,000 that can figure out a way to create a better automobile, and actually sell it for a profit.
Alright well that's enough for today

Friday, November 07, 2008

So much for "Change"

I guess the change will be to bring in more people associated with scandal:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6201900&page=1

I sure hope he appoints better people in other areas.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Prop 8 and hypocrisy

So even though I didn't get to vote on this, since I don't live in the Golden State, the impact of this is very broad. This was the most expensive ballot measure ever $73million dollars spent, and a voting count that went right down to the wire. I was really disappointed by an ad put up by the opponents of Prop 8 that shows LDS missionaries (they even announce themselves as such in the add) barging into the home of a lesbian couple, they proceed to take their wedding rings, tearing up their wedding license, and rummaging through their home. I am not sure what the message is other than the opponents of Prop 8 seem to hate members of the LDS faith so much that they find it necessary to degrade them. The hypocrisy of this add is astounding, the whole campaign is based on not discriminating, and that is the very essance of this add. I was really happy to read the LDS church's response to the whole deal.

click here to read the whole release, otherwise at least read my excerpts ;-)

Two of the most notable excerpts in my mind is this paragraph:
"The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians. Even more, the Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches. "
and:
"Before it accepted the invitation to join broad-based coalitions for the amendments, the Church knew that some of its members would choose not to support its position. Voting choices by Latter-day Saints, like all other people, are influenced by their own unique experiences and circumstances. As we move forward from the election, Church members need to be understanding and accepting of each other and work together for a better society."