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The Business Times Contributors THE BUSINESS TIMES January 6-19, 2022JANUARY 15-28, 2015 Opinion Opinion Business BriefsA new year affords Business Peoplea new opportunity to meet local needs Almanac

A new year almost always brings an opportunity for a fresh start and renewed ambition to do things better.

In business, that usually boils down to providing customers better products and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process must include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then meeting that need. After all, it does little good to offer the latest and greatest if nobody actually wants what you’re selling.

Just like the businesses that belong to the group, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment of the services and resources it provides and how well they match with members needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors, personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role for the coming year: listen to members, determine their needs and then meet those needs. It’s a role with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bank of Colorado.

The process will take on a more structured approach in what the chamber plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the program, business owners participate in in-depth interviews to identify barriers to growth and other problems they encounter.

The new year offers a good time to join the proverbial club.

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The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers.

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It’s that time of year when resolutions and prognostications abound. My favorite saying applied to New Year’s resolutions is in saying they’re basically a bunch of promises to break the first week of January. And while I won’t predict a whole lot, I can pretty much accurately nail a few things that without question will make the news. You will see these are pretty, well, predictable: ■ Prediction one: There will be some sort of weather event, natural disaster or heinous occurrence where someone will be interviewed and say the following: “I’ve never seen anything like that in my lifetime.” It’s as if this person is a required attendee at every news reporting event. While I understand most people’s perspective can indeed be limited by, or contained within, their own personal experiences, it is too much to ask to consult some historical perspective before saying such a thing? Yes, this response can apply to some events. But when it comes to weather and natural disasters, I’m pretty sure this is simply history repeating itself. Same as it has for millions and millions of years. More important, the planet made it! What didn’t were certain species. How’s that for perspective? ■ Prediction two: When it comes to a crime or something that occurs between humans, the other required attendee at all news reporting events is the person who says this: “They we’re just the nicest people, and in no way did I see something like this coming.” Exactly. No one does most of the time when it comes to neighbors and acquaintances. People should be surprised at what goes on from time to time in their neighborhoods, towns and with people they know because people are good. And for the times that they shouldn’t be shocked — like with politicians, repeat offenders and terrorists — where’s the interview that says, “This doesn’t surprise me in the least.” ■ Prediction three: Something good will happen economically, and the government will take credit for it. The most recent example is gas prices, where people ask me why I won’t credit the president for low gas prices. My answer is simple: Government never makes the price of something go down and simply takes credit for good news. Gas pricing is subject to many global factors. Now there are government answers to addressing some of them to keep prices stable for Americans, but our government has none of them in place. The only things it has in place in the

Bold predictions for 2015 more like not-so-bold repeats long run always hurt consumers. Another fact is that unemployment reaches a certain level based on the economy. And while the government might brag the number is low, it’s more than likely the government did something to cause that number being low — and not in a good way. Conversely, when business picks up, it’s because the people who need to buy widgets who were not buying widgets because the economy was contracting due to natural (or unnatural, government caused) reasons, decided we better buy some widgets. The government had nothing to do with this. ■ Prediction four: In keeping with things the government does, I predict the government will manipulate the numbers to make the claim the economy is getting better because of how hard it is working to help all of us “working Americans.” Now Craig Hall you might say, “Craig, you always say this about President Obama because you don’t like him.” You’re right in a sense. I don’t know the man, but what I know of him and his thinking, I don’t like it or him one iota. Before you go off, however, I didn’t like President Bush and his bailouts, stimulus and his abandoning the free market to save the free market. And I don’t know him either. What the government does, and the only thing it can do, is hurt the economy. Unless it does nothing or put criminals in jail instead of partnering with them, nothing the government does will help. Always look at it this way, whatever the government says it is doing, whatever the name of the law it is passing, or whatever the name or goal of the bureaucracy it is presenting to the people, expect the polar opposite to occur. I guess what I’m saying is that perhaps it’s time to get out of our own perspective. There’s plenty of history books and historical research out there to begin to understand that all of this has happened before. And it will again, whether the topic is people or government. The best recommendation is to find some books or try that whole Google thing. There’s a lot of information on the Great Depression. The truth is it wasn’t even a good one until the government got involved. There’s also plenty of research on the medieval warm period when the planet was much warmer than today with a whole lot less people (and warmer well before man was here at all). And yep, people have been killing other surprised people since history was first written. Maybe some research will help stop all of these trends. Otherwise, we’ll be saying we’ve never seen anything like it in our lives. And not in a good way. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 Copyright © 2022 — All rights reserved. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦

Because when push comes to shove — and it’s always some type of force when it comes to government — that’s exactly what we’re living under now.

Becasue once you strip away every bureaucrat and elected know-it-all from the mandates, laws and power grabs by politicos, who is at the core of every decision in our lives today?

The answer is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and federal, state and local health departments. Why? Because we’ve been conned into believing they’re the only ones capable of making healthy medical and life decisions for our country. Let’s look at some things you’ve been warned about should the government take control of our health care.

First up are all the mandates we’re exposed and influenced by daily. Now you might think the reason is because our elected leaders have all these emergency powers, which can be a good thing because crucial decisions must be made quickly in a state of emergency. (I’d tell you the only reason our electeds passed such a law was in the hopes their party was in power when the emergency happened because both parties’ lust for power is so overwhelming, but that’s another column for another day.) But what kind of emergency do we have? A HEALTH emergency.

How else do you get mask mandates, vaccine mandates, shut down mandates, social distancing mandates, vaccine passports and the rest of the evil coming from our elected betters unless they’re discussing all of the above with “health experts?” How many times has the little, petty, evil Dr. Anthony Fauci pontificated on national television (I know, myriad) some grand idea — all while saying it in such a humble, nice manner known from government bureaucrats — which within weeks becomes the next mandate? The answer is EVERY time.

How about rationing of services? It wasn’t that long ago we used to brag about how our health care system treated everyone who came through the door. Now, think about how many folks you know who went to the emergency room with COVID-19 symptoms only to be told to go home. And if they hit the point they can’t breathe, they should come back. Whose idea is that? Who made the policy in Democrat-run states to inflict death and suffering in our nursing homes by sending COVID-positive cases back into our most vulnerable populations?

How many drugs have been banned in the treatment of COVID for outpatient use? How many drugs are allowed for inpatient use (hint: ONE) for COVID sufferers? Why

So who’s resolved How are you liking your government-run health care?to do more in 2022? can’t we visit loved ones in the hospital? Why is the federal government buying up the supply of monoclonal antibodies and

Just like nearly everyone else this time of year, I find myself resolved to do distributing it as it sees fit? Why is it some more. To eat more nutritious foods. To exercise more. To read more. If nothing states are distributing the same antibodies else, to live more intentionally. based on race? And now we’re at the point It’s an interesting phenomenon because every day really where government demands the medical is the first day of the rest of our lives. There’s nothing magical records of certain patients — in spite of the about Jan. 1. It’s just one point along the 365-day orbit of whole HIPPA thing — to see what they are the earth around the sun. Still, I can’t deny the allure of the being prescribed. It can only happen under proverbial clean slate a brand new year presents. Here’s what government-run health care. it is plain and simple: It’s a do-over. Who doesn’t want that? Who do you think came up with the Whatever the motivation, it’s difficult to argue against term “essential” when it came to businesses, the benefits of assessing circumstances, identifying areas of employees and people? Now in Colorado, you improvement and setting goals to achieve them. Moreover, the actions involved in achieving goals can lead over time to Craig Hall might think that was Pontius Polis’ decision. I can assure you it wasn’t. Because just like Phil Castle habits. And habits, I’d contend, are far more powerful than resolutions in effecting change. when President Donald Trump presented the idea of shuttering businesses, entities and I suspect successful business owners and managers go places we work at or desire to go to, there was through this process not only at the beginning of the year, but also on a continual always the fashionista-scarved, gravel-voiced basis. That’s what enables them to compete in the marketplace, recognize the or head- nodding “health expert” on the stage opportunities that arise and take advantage of them. with their reasoned assurance why only certain

So what are your resolutions for 2022? activities in our economy would be allowed

Given the challenges presented by a pandemic, labor shortages, supply chain (for, you know, 15 days) for the “health and disruptions and inflation, survival constitutes a perfectly good answer. I hope well-being” of the nation. business owners and managers continue to find ways in which their ventures not And who and what is essential leads us will only survive, but also thrive. Despite the challenges ahead, the outlook for to the privileged partners of government. continued economic recovery remains bright. Not too long ago, our government was

One of my resolutions is to continue to provide resources that will help owners battling Big Pharma for every little side and managers do just that. To both create and curate news stories, business advice effect (and the ambulance chasers and columns and other information that proves useful. I remain convinced stories about attorneys general as well) known to result successful entrepreneurs and businesses are useful if for no other reason than to from medications. Seen any television detail decisions and techniques others can consider and perhaps replicate. I also ads saying, “If you’ve been harmed by remain eager to share news about Grand Valley businesses — who’ve they’ve hired, the vaccine, call the Bone Crusher, he’ll where they’ve relocated and what new products and services they offer. I encourage get you the compensation you deserve?” those who have such news to email it to me as soon as possible. Nor will you because today, Big Pharma

Speaking of resolutions of a sort, a survey conducted by the Grand Junction partners with government to mandate its Economic Partnership produced what I considered some interesting results in what product via the select “health experts” who residents believe the Grand Valley should become. Among their top responses: a are actually allowed a voice in the debate. safe and forward-thinking community and outdoor recreation hub offering access to You know who else is in partnership with varied public lands. A top-tier K-12 education system also was a priority. government? Every place of business requiring

The main role of GJEP is to assist new and existing businesses in relocating a vaccine passport for folks to come into their and expanding operations and creating jobs. But it make sense to at least talk about establishments. Every airline (well, airlines aligning economic development efforts with what residents consider important. are government-controlled already) that has

There are always opportunities to do more — as individuals and members of a flight attendants policing the aisles yelling at community. Here’s hoping 2022 really will be a happy new year. passengers to mask up between bites and sips. Every business requiring COVID tests for Phil Castle is editor of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or workers to work even though asymptomatic phil@thebusinesstimes.com. is a thing made up of whole cloth by? Health F experts. Even in Grand Junction, privilege was extended to certain businesses who went above and beyond in doing what the local health director demanded so they could open to more clientele. Name the last time the news led off with any story — outside of some rare, humanitarian disaster event — that wasn’t about COVID. You can’t. And why is that? Because every story about COVID has been manipulated to be about one’s personal health. And one’s health is everything. And the government now runs it. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

A higher quality of life one part of moral case for capitalistic system

The standard of living in the United States remains high today compared to many other countries. Historically, though, that wasn’t the case.

Since the 1840s, economic and social developments, industrialization and technical progress have created new expectations for wealth and longevity. The largest gains occurred during the first half of the 20th century, when life expectancy increased from 47.8 years in 1900 to 68.2 years in 1950. The internal combustion engine, other labor-saving inventions and improved communication, to name just a few innovations, transformed farming and industry. In the 1800s, rising political instability, economic distress, and religious persecution plagued Europe. This resulted in the largest mass human migration in the history of the world.

What made America the draw for those migrants? Freedom and the opportunity to thrive. The U.S. Constitution recognizes the rights of citizens to choose how to live, what work to engage in, what to spend money on and whom to associate with as well as own property and worship freely. The capability to act in self-interest served as a beacon of hope to migrants.

In his book “The Theory of Moral Sentiments,” Adam Smith wrote: “The uniform, constant and uninterrupted effort of every man to better his condition is also based on the need to earn the approval of those around us.” Smith’s self-interest is not just an economic tenet. The approval of others is the moral order serving as the foundation for economics.

Consider the example of Bill Gates developing computer software. He wasn’t thinking of the customer. Rather, he was operating in his own self-interest. Yet today, look at how many people benefit from his efforts. Individuals are successful whenever they’re free to provide products or services that add value to the lives of others.

In “The Capitalist Manifesto,” Gary Wolfram wrote: “The reason people in sub-Saharan Africa and rural India live like refugees is not that they don’t work as hard as we do or aren’t as smart as we are, but that they live in an economic system that doesn’t allow them to be productive.”

Compare North Korea and South Korea. Both countries have the same types of people and similar resources. However, South Korea has an Economic Freedom Index score of 69.1 to North Korea’s 8.9. In 2019, the gross domestic product of South Korea exceeded 1,900 trillion South Korean won, while that of North Korea was about 35.3 trillion North Korean won. The more free the society, the more prosperous its citizens.

The U.S. enjoys one of the world’s wealthiest and most diversified economies, yet ranked 20th in the 2021 Economic Freedom Index. Index scores reflect government policy, labor and trade agreements. A higher ranking equates to more economic freedom.

The U.S. continues to fall in rankings because of excessive government spending, unsustainable levels of debt and intrusive regulation of the health care and financial sectors. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson ushered in what he billed as the Great Society by increasing the welfare state and decreasing economic freedom. With each successive year, welfare programs have burdened working citizens with onerous taxes, limiting people’s financial freedom. The beacon of hope that capitalism provided to generations grows dim because the U.S. is no longer classified as a free market economy.

Capitalism is the only system that can create wealth for the masses and provide a good quality of life for even the poorest person. Capitalism is a moral system.

Phyllis Hunsinger

The beacon of hope that capitalism provided to generations grows dim because the U.S. is no longer classified as a free market economy.

Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction. The FREE Foundation provides resources to students and teachers in Western Colorado to promote the understanding of economics, financial literacy and free enterprise. For more, visit www.free-dom.us.com. A former teacher, principal and superintendent, Hunsinger wrote “Down and Dirty: A ‘How To’ Math Book.” Reach Hunsinger at phyllis@free-dom.us.com. F

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