Hubris

When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities” - David Hume

Looking for the discretionary fund thread?

For those of you who "Googled" my name looking for discretionary fund information, this is the wrong blog.  Go to "Washington unplugged" for one point of view.  Enjoy!


On the other hand, if you're interested in an eclectic set of random thoughts, this might be the right place.

Finally, a group for "dependent voters"!

I'm starting a "dependent voters" group for people who can't think for themselves. I keep hearing all of this wild talk about "independent voters"; however, I also notice most people count on others to tell them what to think, do and say. 

These folks often don't engage in politics or vote anyway; however, they do deserve a group just like everyone else. If you're one of the millions of "dependent voters" out there who really don't like to inconvenience yourself by paying attention to politics, legislation, taxes, or whatever... stay tuned. I will be happy to "fill in" what you think, do and say for you. 

If you don't really care (and most people don't), this group's for you!  On the other hand, if you're one of those rare people who likes to think for him or herself, I'd love to buy you a cup of coffee...  and hear what you're thinking.

Perfection...

This news article, Pursuit of perfection: The Japanese swordsmith, caused me to ponder.   The pursuit of perfection is being replaced by "good enough".   Is "good enough" really "good enough"?


I believe all things evolve.  While we think of evolution in terms of natural selection and survivors, its really about the many things that don't make it.  When we look around at our current state, we really don't know who or what are the "winners" in this never ending cycle.


I often wonder if the pursuit of perfection in morals, ethics, and honesty are similarly being replaced by "good enough".  I think that every time I see someone run a stop sign or slip through a red light and wonder about the broader implications of a "good enough" society.


The death of craftsmanship pursuing perfection in favor of "good enough" might be just one more evolutionary instantiation
.  We don't really know if its a "winner", a "looser", or if it doesn't really matter at all in the larger scheme of things.


I think it matters; however, I don't really understand why at the moment.  Evolution takes cycles of time that we really don't understand.  I'm not sure we are really "winners" in evolution's lottery yet.

I'm taking a break from blogging and Facebook for a while to work on my book.   For those of you who know where and how to find me, I'll be here.

I'll be back.

Al

Don't get a job... start a business!

Today is small business Saturday. I love small businesses. I spent part of my day doing my Christmas shopping at stores where the owners were the clerks, stock people, bookkeepers, janitors, and coffee makers. They started work before the store opened and went home after the store closed (which was often 16 or 18 hours later) and took paperwork home with them. There were no paid "holidays" or "weekends"... when you own a small business, you are always "working".

Then, I came home and turned on CNN (I'll admit it with no shame, I am a "news junkie") to be treated to pictures of the OWS crowd. I have no doubt that they have some legitimate grievances; however, I have little sympathy for their strategy or their nebulous cause. I do know that they have the themes of resenting those who have made too much money while perhaps also complaining that these same folks aren't providing enough jobs. They don't like "evil" corporations in general, but probably wouldn't turn down a job with one of those "evil" corporations should one become available.

I've worked for three of those "evil" Corporations over the years. Every one of them started out as a small business, as someone working in a garage with an idea, opening a shop with a dream, starting a service with a business plan. My favorite is SAIC. Dr. Bob Beyster and a few of his friends started this services company in a store front in San Diego, California. I was lucky enough to be recruited by a friend while it was on its way up. I remember when we broke into the Fortune 1000 then the Fortune 500... 400... 300... 200.

Most of the small businesses that I patronized today will fail within five years. A few will successfully continue and perhaps fund a nice retirement for the owners or a legacy for their Children. A very few will turn into large Corporations following the path of every other Fortune 500 Company in America. All of the Companies for which I worked: GE, Texas Instruments, SAIC... all of them started out as one Man's dream.

Where are the dreamers today? Where's the next Steve Jobs? From the looks of things, he or she is probably in India... or China... or Malaysia. For the record, that's ok with me... but I wish we still produced one or two now and then.

When I watch the OWS crowd on CNN, I can't help but wonder exactly what they want. They resent those who have achieved business success; however, it appears that they also expect these same folks to give them jobs. I can assure you that if I were still a Vice President at SAIC, I would "Google" every resume that crossed my desk for some association with OWS... and quickly "shred" anyone I found. Why would I possibly hire someone who pretty much considers my existence to be "evil"?

This is a conundrum. I'm guessing that the OWS folks have pretty much rendered themselves unemployable with any major corporation or successful business... and protesting isn't a career. What do do?

Don't get a job... start a business!

Quit bitching! Decide what skills you may possess, what service you may provide, what product you may make. Beg, borrow or... well... borrow $100, buy something wholesale, mark it up, and sell it retail at a flea market, sporting event, or park. Take the profit, buy more stuff, and do it again... 18 hours a day... weekdays and weekends... until you save enough to rent a store front. Keep saving and hire your first employee. Repeat until you drop.

That's what many of the people against whom you are protesting did to get where they are. Stop complaining about them and join them. Start a small business. When it fails, start another one, and another one, and another one. Jack Welch, CEO of GE during my tenure there, valued failure. It is the best education.

If you think a traditional "job" will get you that "middle class" dream, think again. The irony was that "it really was a dream". We talk about the "joys" of home ownership, the "pleasures" of two cars, a boat, perhaps a vacation home, the good life. The fallacy of this appealing scenario is that no one ever actually "owned" anything. The "middle class" rented their lives from others. They lived in homes they never intended to keep, drove cars without ever seeing the title, I could go on.

My point. The "new normal" to achieve what we wistfully call middle class is small business. We should replace the term "middle class" with "entrepreneurial class". The American Dream in the new normal will be reserved for those with the courage to start their own business and claim their own future. There's plenty of room in an ever expanding global, multinational world for those willing to take the risk.

My fear is that the OWS generation is a generation of entitlement waiting for others to "do something" for them. I hope I'm wrong.

So... happy small business Saturday! The best way to celebrate this day is to start a small business... and perhaps give an OWS protestor a job to get them off the street! But then, why would possibly hire an OWS protestor?

Libertarian Philosophy - Peace, Freedom, and Justice!

I've seen war... I've seen peace. Peace is better.

There are always those with some "vision" of how others should behave, organize, or share their resources. They are willing to bet our lives and futures to impose their vision on others (and "us"). Why would anyone actually want a Government to have that power over our lives?

Once we give Government the power to decide what we believe, how we may live, what women may or my not do (ironically popular over the course of human history), what we should think or let it create a dependency among its citizens to they look to Government for the basic necessities, we have given others the power to take it all away... Often in the most unexpected ways.

I propose that justice and economic power are truly the keys to a peaceful world. That's why I am a Libertarian. Don't hurt other people, don't take their stuff, don't ignore others who do ("Justice").

The "short answer" for Libertarian philosophy: Peace, Freedom, and Justice!