Get out of the way
Two headlines caught my attention today. The first was this one, featuring CEO's from a variety of businesses suggesting over and over again that government scale back regulations on various sectors of the economy and spend time fixing our nation's infrastructure. It is a good article and reflects a growing chasm in this country between people who want to grow and develop in the private sector and those who want the public sector to take care of them.
Sadly, these two aims are completely at odds with one another. . .and are sometimes held by the same people. "Cognitive dissonance" is the term. Get the government off my back except when I need it.
The media may chuckle when Sarah Palin proclaims we are at a "tipping point" in this country. But we are closer than many think to a point where those who receive the benefits of an all-powerful government have more political power than those taxed to pay for the benefits. Whether it is the tidal wave of baby boomers who will hit the government retirement roles in the coming years, the public unions or the corporate welfare recipients, the receivers may already outnumber the payers.
The other headline was the flight from risk in the stock market today. "We are all bureaucrats now" may be the developing theme as more and more money sits on the sidelines in an increasing fear of risk. Uncertainty in the public sector results in a flight from risk in the private sector. When you don't know what will be taxed or regulated tomorrow, you sit on your money today.
So my advice for the President in his upcoming speech is to announce a moratorium on new regulations, new taxes and the implementation of any regulations until the economy improves. Explain that government will work on finding ways to make it easier to do business by spending time eliminating regulations rather than dreaming up new ones. A simple message: We will get out of the way so you can grow.
I'm not holding my breath but if it is truly jobs and growth the President wants, such a speech - and the ensuing effort - would go a long way.
Sadly, these two aims are completely at odds with one another. . .and are sometimes held by the same people. "Cognitive dissonance" is the term. Get the government off my back except when I need it.
The media may chuckle when Sarah Palin proclaims we are at a "tipping point" in this country. But we are closer than many think to a point where those who receive the benefits of an all-powerful government have more political power than those taxed to pay for the benefits. Whether it is the tidal wave of baby boomers who will hit the government retirement roles in the coming years, the public unions or the corporate welfare recipients, the receivers may already outnumber the payers.
The other headline was the flight from risk in the stock market today. "We are all bureaucrats now" may be the developing theme as more and more money sits on the sidelines in an increasing fear of risk. Uncertainty in the public sector results in a flight from risk in the private sector. When you don't know what will be taxed or regulated tomorrow, you sit on your money today.
So my advice for the President in his upcoming speech is to announce a moratorium on new regulations, new taxes and the implementation of any regulations until the economy improves. Explain that government will work on finding ways to make it easier to do business by spending time eliminating regulations rather than dreaming up new ones. A simple message: We will get out of the way so you can grow.
I'm not holding my breath but if it is truly jobs and growth the President wants, such a speech - and the ensuing effort - would go a long way.
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