Alone in the Car: Leave My Marriage Alone

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The first time the word "marriage" appears in the English language is around 1300.

It came from Old French--"mariage", from the verb "marier" (to marry).

There is nothing in the English etymology dictionary to define it between man and woman or between same genders. I can only assume it means between a man and a woman, befitting the centuries of Western culture and religious traditions. It would be assumed the reader would know marriage would mean between a man and a woman since civil and religious authorities would only approve of a marriage between a man and a woman. Certainly this author grew up in a law abiding,  church-going community where "marriage" meant between a man and a woman.

Therefore, it is a rather recent question for most in the United States to determine what constitutes a legal marriage. I am not here to debate other cultures or religions and their interpretations of the definition. I am merely bringing up the fact that defining marriage to include 2 people of the same gender is new for those of us living in America. And those who want to include the same gender into the definition have gone to the civil authorities to do so, not to those authorities who may include the "traditions of our fathers". Civil authorities, it could be argued, have to stay with the facts. Those who rely more on traditions and churches, may be on the side of "what does your gut tell you?" 

And that is the simpler side of the debate. Here is another one. If we really look at this from a panoramic view, why break down marriage in the first place? What is so wrong about marriage between a man and a woman? And to follow this out further, what is so wrong about families, making a firmer promise, a commitment if you will, to stand by each other no matter what? Service is the heart of any culture. One must think of someone other than yourself in order for a culture to survive. Marriage means you have decided to give service under your roof to someone else. A man and a woman forming and forging a new family with love and service to each other, and then also when children arrive.

I bring to you evidence that the movement to include same gender marriage is not about the simple right to include that in the definition. It is to break down families. Families are essential to the healthy well being of every child and an inalienable right given to everyone by our Creator. That is why there must be a father and a mother. A child receives teachings from each for survival, development, and encouragement. They approach subjects from different angles and the child learns structure, discussion, and challenge from each.

Here is one of the leaders of the same gender movement discussing why she wants the change of marriage definition. The experiments of children being raised outside of a family structure have failed. The basic unit of a father, mother, and children has proven through the test of centuries to be the best.
theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/29/lesbian-activists-surprisingly-candid-speech-gay-marriage-fight-is-a-lie-to-destroy-marriage/#

Working Wednesday: Updates on Previous Posts

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1. I know I have written several times how important it is to "break bread" together. This helps people relax, allows ideas to flow, gives them something to do with their hands while they are listening and thinking, and if necessary lets them be active during awkward moments of silence. Some people believe this requires a large budget, but it does not. I found this article on the SHRM website which confirms that food can enlist your company in moving forward in-house as well as making connections in the community with the goal to improve your business's profits. The article  is full of ideas. See:

http://www.shrm.org/Publications/HRNews/Pages/Employers-Food-Reward-Motivate-Workers.aspx

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2. I am almost hesitant to write about this, knowing some small business owners will take this information and use it the wrong way, but I am hoping there will be some good that comes out of it too. Every February, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issues new Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, commonly called "poverty levels". Many charities, education, state and federal sponsored programs determine who is eligible for their programs by using the poverty levels charts.

They look at how many people are in a family and how much income the family has from various sources. Each program decides what sources they will use to determine family income. If the family falls at or below the income on the poverty level chart, the family is allowed/not eligible for the program.

Some employers keep salaries low so their employees can be eligible for programs. I do not concur with this line of thinking. It is not the local citizenry's responsibility to pick up the tab for groceries, immunizations, childcare, or housing (to name a few) for capable people in their community because the owner wants a much higher rate of profit. A business owner should honor certain commitments with business ownership and one is to give a fair wage.

But to those who truly need a helping hand, and we all know at least one person who does, here are the new income guidelines. Many programs will allow people to have more income than 100% of the FPIG income rate. These are listed also for your convenience.

 2013 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines:

 

Family      FPIG          150% of          200% of         250% of         300% of

Size

 1              $11,490       17,235             22,980            28,725            34,470             

 2              $15,510        23,265            31,020            38,775            46,530             

 3              $19,530        29,295            39,060            48,825            58,590             

4               $23,550        35,325            47,100            58,875            70,650              

5               $27,570        41,355            55,140            68,925            82,710             

6               $31,590        47,385            63,180            78,975            94,106            

7               $35,610        53,415            71,220            89,025            106,830           

8               $39,630        59,445            79,260            99,075            118,890            

Each         $  4,020          5,347              6,030              8,040              12,060              

Add.

Person 

I am sorry about the chart. I tried numerous times and ways to correct it. The blog application just did not "like" the graph. My apologies.

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3. Cyprus. The fall of the banks in this country will require any of the wealthier accounts to give 60% of their funds to the government to stabilize the banks. This will include the major church of the island, the Orthodox church, to do the same thing. They will loose over $130 million. But of course there is more to the story. Please see the graphic from Glen Beck's website that describes some of the reasons for the financial destruction of Cyprus. See:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/03/this-chart-will-tell-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-crisis-in-cyprus/

Now ask yourself, can the same reasons happen here? Are the same things happening here? France is purposing a 75% tax on their richest inhabitants. What really is the difference between this tax and the bail-in imposed by Cyprus leaders? Think about the taxes Congress is considering for us.

As we watch others making decisions, always remember to take care of what you have stewardship over. What is within your sphere of influence? What can you do to be prepared? Act. Now. You have a plan. Start now to implement it.

Working Wednesday: Cyprus and It's Lessons For Us

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I have been watching the bank situation in Cyprus recently and then the European Union for quite some time. I believe our world is quite small when it comes to finances. I suppose my readers have also seen where Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa have formed an institution (BRICS) similar to the World Bank and will be its competitor.

Back to Cyprus, which is an island where those with Greek heritage and the Turks have argued about ownership for years. Turkish troops occupy 40% of the northern part of this little piece of land in the Mediterranean Sea. Now the government has another crisis on its hands-going bankrupt.

The two news articles at the end of this blog gives details to the problem, but essentially this has been coming for a long time. As soon as the Greece banks fell, Cyprus knew they would be next since their banks held major deposits in that country too. Russian backed banks have a presence on the island and they are having problems also.

Bailout or Bail-in? The European Union has bailed out banks in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Greece.
What they are planning for Cyprus--have personal accounts bailout the banks. In other words, a "bail- in". I couldn't quite understand if this will go through, but people cannot get all of their money out at one time. They are limited to a daily quota. The regular "Joe on the street" is bailing his own bank out by not being able to access his funds. So far, people are not rushing their banks and getting only what they need. Perhaps the seriousness of the situation has sunk in since the Orthodox Church has announced they will loose about $130 million from their deposits. But they are ready to stand with the people as the people loose too.

Lessons Learned
1. Have an emergency fund on hand. And make it cash, in small enough bills to transact anywhere. I know this may be hard depending upon where your business is located, so make arrangements, find a location you can travel to, etc. where you can access cash that is not in a bank. Banks fail. Take precautions. In fact, think of several emergency scenarios (weather, etc.) and plan ahead.

2. How dependent are you on credit card transactions? How many transactions can you make with the cash you have on hand? Likewise, would you insist on cash from customers if banks fail like in Cyprus? If not when? Start working with some of your more solid suppliers and customers with basic discussions. Perhaps an emergency 7-14 day plan can be put into action due to the forethought of yourself and them. 

3. Diversify your funds. Think of opening several accounts in different financial institutions. Check out what each offers, what and how they lend to small business, and to you as a person. Don't keep all your funds in one place.

4. Ask yourself how many steps back can I take? Write it down. How close are you to shutting your doors? Get help now if you need to and/or ask questions to steady your business foundation. Take the time to seek for ways to improve your business now. I know this is hard because there is always something that needs your attention. I know there is always critical mass when you are a small business owner. That is why I talk about the "panoramic view" so often. Being too close deflects what you need to see. Step away every once in awhile and give the other side of the brain something to think about. Planning is just as important as action. It is a partnership, a relationship that has to have balance. If done right, it is one you can always count on.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/26/186997/in-cyprus-financial-crisis-even.html

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-03-27/cypriot-banks-to-open-for-first-time-in-2-weeks-with-cash-curbs#p2

Alone in The Car: Almost Time to Pay Our Federal Taxes. Oh, Yea.

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April is almost here. Where I live the snow won't go away. Lucky for us, the white stuff does melt quickly this time of year, but we really don't want any more. April is also the time to pay taxes. Oh, joy.

Once again Congress is thinking about how to pay for all the programs the federal government funds.
I think it has been interesting how different agencies, etc. have decided to cut 2% during the sequester period we are now in. No more White House tours? Really? That was the best you all could do? There were other examples to catch the public's attention, but you understand Federal decision makers didn't take the cuts seriously. Guess I don't have to either.

Well, each chamber of our Legislative Branch has passed a budget. Wow, after 4 years way to go! Of course the federal fiscal year ends September 30th. The question is, "Can the Senate and the House be able to form a conference committee, make compromises, send it back to the House and Senate for a vote to approve the revision budget before September 30th?"  Good luck with that, because then they will have to start all over again for next year's budget.  Oh, by the way, the Senate version wants to raise taxes for the top wage earners (I wonder where they will move to?)

In keeping with my last blog about the Middle Class (Middle Class and Their Discretionary Money )
here is a website about low wage earners, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865576307/Minimum-wage-workers-cant-afford-their-rent.html This news article describes how tough it is for low wage earners to pay basics such as rent. What does this have to do with taxes?

I believe if everyone pitched in and paid taxes, better programs could assist those who really need help. Americans are known for their charity and are willing to give to the truly poor and needy. But I am not sure if we have all the best programs right now. Government has gotten so big, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Sequester could have set a model for eliminating, even a little bit, the programs that don't work. But what do the people inside the Beltway do instead? Make a mockery of it while those like the poor continue to suffer.

How do we get everyone to pay their fair share? A Federal sales tax. I know, I wasn't for this either awhile back. But that was before illegal immigration was such a problem, before drug dealers were stealing farmers' fertilizers, and before my grandchildren will have to fund their great-grandparents' Social Security checks. Everyone contributes by eliminating income tax and beginning a sales tax.

Right now many illegals don't file income taxes, but they make purchases daily. Drug dealers create profits all the time. Do they pay taxes on their businesses or personally? No, but they would with a sales tax. High, middle, and low income members of our society would be treated exactly the same. Isn't that what all the controversy is about anyway? I purpose 10 percent. It is easy to understand, partners better with our consumer based economy, and doesn't have exceptions for certain lobbying groups. Government: you live within your means just like everyone else. You don't get a "bye" just because you are government. Ten percent is your budget, period.

Other solutions:
1. Federal agencies are required to cut their programs. Just like when you are organizing your home:
keep if you are using it, trash what is broken, donate to charity what you no longer use. In this case, coordinate/turn over to non-profits parts of programs that were working, but not enough to justify funding anymore with citizens' money. Ultimately this means more funding available to efficient and successful Federal programs.

2. Get the Federal Hand out of every cookie jar. I know, the Federal Government feels their view from the top can make a contribution. Wrong. We simply don't have the extra cash for this. If you think of how many people "touch" income taxes going all the way up to the Feds and then all the way down again to fund programs in a city/town, it is just not worth it. Keep Federal programs that make sense at the Federal level. The states should do the same. This again would release more funds to reduce the debt or give to successful programs.

3. Inform the public. I bring this up because I believe some of the "low information public" will start to pay attention again if they are part of the equation. Once cash in their wallet is less than before by paying a federal sales tax, they will want to find out why, discuss with others, and evaluate what is going on. What will happen when the poor pay taxes? Hopefully become more informed, better their circumstances, and vote for people who will engage with those across the aisle. The ones that really have dire situations? Well, we Americans will gladly support them. We all know friends, family, and those we care about who need a helping hand.

Middle Class and Their Discretionary Money

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Have you ever heard of the Bell Curve? Basically, it is a symmetrical graph with low ends on either side and high in the middle. Much like looking at a cross section of a bell. For our discussion today, I am going to assume the Middle Class sustains the economy. Yes, the wealthy do their share. I just think that because the Middle Class has more people, they influence the consumer-based economy more.

That is why I found the article on the zerohedge website interesting. Please see:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-02/guest-post-16-signs-middle-class-running-out-money

Now I am aware this blog could be long if I wrote about all 16 signs individually and quite frankly I don't want to. So I have picked a few themes to comment on and please bear in mind I have done so because they relate best to the Panoramic View. The numbers correspond to the list in the article.

2. / 6. / 7. / 8. / 9.  These all discuss retail chains such as J.C. Penney, Best Buy, Walmart, etc. They are all struggling. The next time you go into a large retail establishment, look at their shelves. Are they stocked as well as they were even a year ago? The article also mentions transportation. If no one is buying, no trucks are rolling, and no products are moving through the manufacturing and distribution process. Cash flow has become a problem because the consumer is not buying.

4. Subway Restaurants have seen a dip in sales. Really? To me, you can't beat a 12 inch sandwich for $5.00. I get 2 meals out of that. The founder believes it is the taxes that is hurting their business, but people will eventually come back. Now granted, their subways are a good deal. But people are cutting back on all restaurant eating from their budget. Necessities and nothing else. Subway falls into the "nothing else" category. I am not sure former customers will return.

1. / 10. A quarter of Americans have more credit card debt than savings in the bank. I was surprised at this one. After the 2008 fiasco, people learned they must trim down their debt. And they did. They paid off credit cards, use cash more, and stay within their household budgets. Likewise, Small Businesses knew they had to create profits differently too. Many deleted costs where they could, diversified their products and services, and paid close attention to where they could establish new contacts. But maybe number 10, College Debt, has driven people to use credit cards because a portion of their salary is dedicated (or vice versa) to paying this debt. Maybe this is a much larger problem, not only for the amount of debt but also for the length of pay-off time. Maybe we should be more concerned about this from a panoramic view and its implications to our economy as a whole.

Whether you are part of the Middle Class, your products and services are used by the Middle Class, or you recognize the importance of this topic, you need to understand how our economy is influenced by the purchasing power of the Middle Class. Don't be fooled by the stock market. It is more important to watch the retail quarterly earning reports. It is vital to continue to watch this in the upcoming months and next few years. Prepare yourself and your business for any trends you see coming. The domino effect of the Middle Class purchasing power, or lack thereof, will affect your company. Plan now for that eventuality.

Working Wednesday: Small Business Continues To Lead, Even Without Headlines

I keep looking for major media outlets to give the "large" small business sector credit where credit is due. Something flashy for once. An in-depth look at all the positives small businesses make to Community, USA. They are everywhere, keeping economies going and people employed.

The U.S. Small Business Administration states that:
99.7% of employers are small businesses
50% of the GNP (Gross National Product) comes from small businesses
75% of new jobs come from small businesses

Take for instance a new survey that has interesting facts about small business.
See: http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/02/positive-aspects-of-small-businesses.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=positive-aspects-of-small-businesses&goback=.gde_91651_member_214819775

In this survey:
88% of adults said they view small businesses favorably.
80% of adults said they would view a company negatively if a company sent jobs overseas.
I would think small businesses invest in the town where they "grow up" and stay for a long time.

These statistics show once again:
1. Customers want to have strong, trusting relationships. Continue to go out of your way to answer their questions. Practice reading people's behavior so you know when to invest in a little expenditure for a big pay-off later.
2. You have many resources when you are ready to hire. Check out your customers for potential employees, suggestions from current employees, and those you know through outside contacts, besides those that apply. Also let those you trust know you are hiring. Perhaps they will have ideas.
3. Being honest and hard working will pay off in many ways. It keeps customers coming back. The best want to work for the best and will apply for jobs with you. And small business owners are entrepreneurs. Hopefully you want your employees to be team players and introduce new ideas.  All of these ideas, and more, create a successful attitude and environment able to weather the storm and soar through blue-sky days.

Working Wednesday: How Much Will the Flu Cost You?

 
Most Business Owners have a question before them when deciding a benefit package for their employees. How many, if any, paid sick days should I give them? That is a real serious question.

1. If you give paid sick days, will your workers take them the first week in January? I have actually observed this. Luckily, the company was a large one, could absorb the workload for those calling off, and most employees were smart enough to save the days later in the year when they were really sick. Those that had taken off "sick" immediately then had to come to work later when they felt lousy.

2. Are sick days a luxury? Some owners believe so. It is the fault of the associate for getting sick in the first place. They should be at work every day they are scheduled. No excuses. Sick days are not like vacation days whereby the employee has earned them for successfully completing scheduled time at work.

3. Should a person with a fever come to work? You remember the rules of a childcare facility or school. Do not bring a child to childcare or to school until the fever has been gone for 24 hours. Does this apply to adults?

4. When does contagious symptoms/illnesses apply? Currently the United States is going through a flu epidemic. Do you want a person to come to work and infect others? Are they spending more time in the bathroom than at their work station/office? Will productivity be affected? Will some employees have to go home, or not show up at all?  These are tough questions to answer.
To see the interactive map of how states have/are affected through this flu season,
see: http://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/fluview/main.html
 To see full information, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

5. Here are some suggestions to think about.
A. NUMBER ONE: Take time to hire the best people. Not just people with the best skills for the job, but just plain best people. Look at the total picture. Can the best person who has just a little less skills be taught the difference? Ethics do count. Look at the total picture. Who has common sense already? Do you want to spend your whole time lecturing people about when to show up for work or do you want people to already know about responsibility?

B. Look at when you give out benefits package. Do you want to start it at Day One or after Probation has been completed? There are positives/negatives to both. If you have done your job with (A), then Day One shouldn't be a problem. Paying a decent salary to start with/attracting the right kind of people for your company is a discussion for another day. In the meantime, Please do not reward your employees for attendance. When they shake your hand and agree to work for you, they are agreeing to show up for work. Rather, take that "bribe" fund and use it for good wages.

C. Respect goes both ways. Things come up. No one really plans to get sick. I would rather have one person out than a whole department working at half strength. I had an employer who gave paid sick leave but let it be known they expected everyone to come in anyway, except for unusual health problems. So I came in and got 7 people sick over the course of several days. They wanted to get back at the employer for being so unkind and all went home with the contagious "creeping crud". Work slowed down to a trickle. The virus ran its course, they all returned when the symptoms stopped. I did what was required of me. I even tried to stay away from my co-workers, to no avail.
Think of your employees not just with productivity in mind, but as human beings. Also, be practical.
Tell people if they have the flu, etc. to stay home. Practice good hygiene at work. That will help those that are healthy to stay healthy. Buy lunch or snacks during a flu epidemic for example, that have good vitamins and liquids that will help those stay healthy or are recovering. It can be simple, it doesn't have to break the bank. But it will show you value their work and you value them as people. And they will try harder to accomplish the tasks at hand while people are absent and the workload is tighter.

It is a return on your investment because you understand "The Panoramic View".

Alone in the Car: Congress, I Need a New Credit Card

I have been watching the Lo-o-o-ong debate in U.S. Congress concerning the "Fiscal Cliff". The Fiscal Cliff is a phrase describing certain tax cuts and spending cuts that were to expire Dec. 31, 2012. Both houses of Congress couldn't come to an agreement whether to extend the personal tax cuts or what if any government spending cuts would also occur. President Obama also tried to influence the vote with discussions at the White House. There was something of a compromise at the end.

The President now wants the debt ceiling to be raised by Congress. He has issued many Executive Orders and not sure why he can't issue one to grant a higher ceiling, but nevertheless, at this writing Congress is still required to pass a law to raise the government debt ceiling. Currently the U.S. Government debt is $16,432,632,102,288.69.  
Here is the web site for the debt clock: http://www.davemanuel.com/us-national-debt-clock.php

In the President's News Conference (full print coverage: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-01-14/we-are-not-deadbeat-nation-full-obama-transcript), Obama wants the ceiling raised so bills can be paid for services and merchandise already rendered. His words: "We are not a deadbeat nation".

Don't you just love word smithing? We are trillions of dollars in debt!! All he wants is the capability to go to creditors/other nations and borrow more money to pay the bills we shouldn't have spent in the first place.

Hence, the title "Congress, I Need a New Credit Card". That is what it means to us regular Main St. folks. When one credit card is maxed out, just get another credit card. Then another and another until finally it catches up and bills must be paid.

But not the U.S. Government. Congress just keeps approving programs. Sometimes the law lists no funding and leaves it up to the States to figure out where the money will come from. They have to comply, it's the law. But the feds don't give them any money to see that the law is fulfilled. It is called "an unfunded mandate".

Well, now we have a BIG credit problem in Washington, D.C. And who is going to pay it? From what I can see, no one. 1. They argue about stop spending. 2. They argue about raising the debt ceiling. 3. But no one is arguing about how to pay off the current creditors. So the amount due just keeps going up and up and up. What happens when they knock on Washington's door? All 3 problems are huge.

Make sure you have reliable friends, relatives, groups you belong to. They may become very important in the days and short years ahead. Plan with them and organize yourselves to grow a garden, discuss financial planning, etc. Combine your small resources in making purchases together.

Look out for each other in times of weather emergencies, etc. Any practice of this kind now will prove to be so important in the future.