Everyone is going to answer that question differently based on their own personal situation. But what I can tell you as a business person trying to look at the big picture, I don't remember four years ago as being a good time for business. As a starting point of reference, here is a reminder of what the stock market was going through in the fall of 2008.
Out of the top 10 point declines in the history of the Dow Jones, five of them occurred in the fall of 2008:
Oct 22, 2008 -- 514 pts 5.7pct
Oct 9, 2008 -- 679 pts 7.3pct
Dec 1, 2008 -- 680pts 7.7pct
Oct 15, 2008 -- 733 7.9pct
Sept 29, 2008 -- 778 7pct
Is that what we liked better ?
I bring this up because I'm sick of slogan marketing of candidates. Four years ago we were worried about whether or not our financial system would fail. We were worried about whether the auto industry would fail. We were worried about whether or not housing would drop to zero and we were concerned with whether or not it would ever come back. We were concerned with what the bottom in job losses would be and whether or not there even was a bottom.
Four years ago we were looking around and describing our situation as "The Great Recession". Just the fact that we are no longer saying "We are in the midst of a Great Recession" by definition means that as a country we are better off financially and psychologically than we were four years ago. Can we please put that slogan to bed already?
All that said. Can we please change the discussion to -- What comes next ? What specifically can be done to create jobs ? I want to know the details of what both candidates plan to do. And please don't tell me that you are going to "Create 12 million jobs." That just costs you credibility. Tell me how you are going to create jobs. Specifically.
This administration has failed us in terms of transparency. Transparency, IMHO was a key feature of what I hoped for when I voted for Obama in 2008. He hasn't lived up to what I hoped for. With transparency we would have a better understanding of what was working and what wasn't working. We as citizens could participate in the process of understanding the true State of the Union. Not only did I want transparency from the last four years, I want transparency, not hype in what I hear from the candidates leading up to the election.
I only wish that candidates were held to the same standards of fact that CEO's of public companies are. If CEOs were as vague, fast and loose with the facts as our candidates are, they would be in big trouble. How sad is it that our presidential candidates are not required to hold the same levels of fact as our corporate leaders are.
Can we get a Grover Norquist type out there to get candidates to sign a George Washington Petition saying "I will not tell a lie, not even a white lie, not even a 'if you look at it this way, its not a lie, lie.'"
I would be the first to salute the person that gets the presidential candidates to sign that petition!
I am just so sick of the "You suck, no you suck more" politics that both sides are playing.
Cross-posted from Blog Maverick.
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Here's something I've been working on which fits right in with your closing statement. I'm passing it around to certain politicians & pundits who may be receptive.
Since Grover Norquist & his organization, Americans for Tax Reform, created a pledge for politicians to be locked into never voting for a tax increase, I would like to emulate his example with another pledge for all of our politicians, be they national or local, to promise to follow a simple, but very important concept---tell the TRUTH. Who could be in opposition to that?
Norquist’s pledge is found below:
AMERICANS FOR TRUTH AND CIVIL DISCOURSE
Pledge to Truthful and Civil Discourse
I, pledge to the citizens I represent, and to the American people, that I will:
ONE, never knowingly lie to them nor intentionally misrepresent my own or my opponents’ positions or policies, and
TWO, never support, condone or ignore lies or misleading messages from groups supporting me via TV, radio, print or speeches.
This is Grover Norquist’s (Americans for Tax Reform) pledge for Senators, Congressman, State Legislators & Governors to never raise taxes.
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Taxpayer Protection Pledge
I, _______________ pledge to the taxpayers of the ______ district
of the state of _______________ , and to the American people that I will:
ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax
rates for individuals and/or businesses; and
TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and
credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing
See the last four CEOs of Hewlett Packard and get back to me.
I was forced to train my replacement in Costa Rica, then let go last November.
CEOs forfeited their credibility when they started feeding at the troughs years ago.
However, "it is the voter, stupid" to paraphrase Clinton's campaign catch phrase. We have probably the majority of voters in this country that do not want to hear the truth! Well, are you surprised they are fed what they want?
Most of these voters are on the right because there are about 600 radio stations, religious and other, that cater to this voter and creating phony reality for them. They live this phony reality truly believing it exists and they demand others to live it too!
When no GOP politician would ever stand up to Rush, who is running this party, Mark?
Mark Cuban. I too am tired of the negative rhetoric.
No they wouldn't. Either you've been living under a rock or your blind as a bat. In fact, when CEO's of public companies fail these days, without giving anything substantial outline as to why they failed, they're still rewarded with golden parachutes and massive salaries. You need to pose your absurd theory to the financial industry and wall street itself before you start finding ways to excuse their behavior and pin it on others. Your premise is all wrong. I've never seen an oil, bank or tabacco company executive brought before congress under oath that was willing to offer the public any specifics on their mistakes when questioned by our representatives...you know...we, the people.
You think? How about this little blurb from my company's quarterly report:
"This does not include an unrealized loss of $314 million from hedging activities this quarter."
This, in a corporation that created roughly $500 million in free cash in the quarter - somehow, the risk group found a way to lose 3/5 of the free cash in the quarter, and it is addressed in one completely unexplained sentence. That would be like a presidential candidate providing a budget that consists of vauge tax policies that can't possibly be made to balance as he described it. Well, come to think of it, I guess that actually happened - by the self-described CEO Presidential Candidate.
I love Super PACS and I am a Progressive
Super PACS' factual expose of truth and facts, without the need or fear of being politically correct, can serve us all well. It was the Super PACS that exposed the smooth-talking Newt Gingrich and his shenanigans in Congress; including raiding the Social Security Trust Fund to balance the budget.
Similarly we know a lot more about the true Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum from Republicans Super PACS than from political opponents.
Now we'll see Ryan (Republican) budget in the glare of Super PACS. This will likely reveal backroom-deals worked out in smoked-filled rooms.
Let's see the tax loopholes for Oil / Gas / Energy and other big campaign donors. Studies report that for $1 of campaign contribution, companies receive $35 of govt largess. That is a great 'return on investment' at tax-payers' expense.
Unquestionably Ryan's Medicare proposals of 'every individual is on their own, with or without govt voucher', creates permanent room for health insurance industry. They will siphon off 15%-20% of the healthcare dollar for no medical care and for processing the paperwork.
Thanks to Hurricane Issac, we know Ryan budget cuts dissaster-relief at a time when dissasters are getting more frequent and expensive.
"I hope to..." I'm sick of all the "You lied!" accusations which politicians seem to set themselves up for...