21 minute read
Opinion
Page 30PAGE 22
The Business Times Contributors THE BUSINESS TIMES SePtember 15-28, 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.
As an advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times?
While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant news to readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially true as Web sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever.
Good publications don’t exist in a vacuum. They respond to the needs of advertisers and readers. They provide what’s needed.
So what do you need?
Is there additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or useful? Is there advice that would make your jobs a little easier?
It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need. With limited time to produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be better devoted to something else?
What’s good? What isn’t? What’s needed? What isn’t?
Let us know. Send us an e-mail. Comment online on the Business Times Web site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to the editor if you’d like. Your feedback, both positive and negative, is valued and will be carefully considered.
Good publications are the result of not only the efforts of their staffs, but also collaborative efforts involving advertisers and readers.
Like any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs.
It’s a new year. Please help us to do so. ✦ THE BUSINESSTIMES 609 North Ave., Suite 2, Grand Junction, CO 81501
TEL (970) 424-5133 • FAX (970) 424-5134
Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall Editor: Phil Castle Reach advertising at: publisher@thebusinesstimes.com Reach the editor at: phil@thebusinesstimes.com.
Subscribe or submit press releases online at www.thebusinesstimes.com
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.
Copyright © 2015 — All rights reserved.
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. F or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. ✦
I wish I was writing today about the best, every-fall option on flavoring, because pumpkin spice is an easy choice for me. It suits my taste to a T.
And no, I won’t get sucked into an online debate of tacos versus pumpkin spice. This is America for crying out loud! I will defend my right to enjoy the completely different flavorings of the aforementioned treats for my tastebuds. If only we could say that about our elected representatives.
To be honest, having both parties in charge together would only make things worse than I could ever imagine — although gridlock is best when it comes to government — because we’d get the worst from both parties working together to achieve their Machiavellian ways.
That said, the 2022 elections once again offer up the lessers of evils and automatic re-election for too many feckless incumbents. Still, the are obvious choices between candidates who care about Americans who still stand a chance of losing to folks who only now say they care about Americans.
Heck, we’ve already had lot of that in party primaries. In Colorado, we even have a group of Republicans running — some losing and not quitting or screaming voter fraud — who’ve made an art of attacking other Republicans for not thinking, acting and speaking exactly as they demand.
Wow. Republicans running like Democrats. Who knew?
This brings me to our local race for Congress. We have a candidate who comes out in an ad for lower inflation, local economic growth and jobs, safer and stronger communities, affordable energy and fixing Washington, D.C., because it is broken. Boy, it’s difficult to get Lauren Boebert off message, isn’t it? Problem is, that’s not Lauren’s ad — although it certainly could be for every moment since she announced her candidacy more than two years ago. It’s the new ad for her opponent.
I realize it would be difficult to imagine for those paying scant, if any, attention to the coming election just what kind of ads Lauren’s opponent has been running. Allow me to help. They’re all attack ads about Lauren’s character, belief system and basically calling her crazy with cult-like support for Donald Trump. The crazy tag is one of the most dismissive things one can say about another because it removes humanity — hat tip to Dave Chappell. Of course, they’re mostly lies. Boebert supports many of Trump’s policies. but I have no idea the level she supports Trump the man. Knowing Lauren,
Does the Fed actually know what it’s doing? she’d look at each situation as she would policies and make up her mind in doing It’s once again that time of year when you have to make a choice what’s best for her constituents.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell took part in an interesting But that’s not what Democrats want us discussion, courtesy of the Cato Institute, about monetary policy. A few points to do. They’d like to make up our minds for jumped out and raised questions in my mind as to whether or not the Fed has any us. That’s why Lauren Boebert’s opponent idea as to what it’s doing and what are the effects of monetary policy. is trying to sound just like Lauren the closer First, the Fed chairman spoke about policy focusing on we get to the election. He knows what the slowing the economy, which would reduce labor demand people of Lauren’s district actually want for and thereby limit wage growth and bring down inflation. their lives, and he has to say it to get elected. This confirms the Fed believes further crippling an already The problem is, he doesn’t care what anyone struggling economy makes sense. This should be deeply wants outside of Democrat leadership. And troubling to everyone. he doesn’t realize we care. Second, Powell put forth that monetary aggregates don’t If Democrats are against cultural seem to matter anymore, or at least not right now, in terms of inflation. That, of course, raises major questions as to Craig Hall appropriation, they should certainly be against alien-like, persona appropriation. But what exactly the Fed is doing. It would seem the only issue many will vote for this imposter anyway.
Raymond that matters to the Fed is manipulation of interest rates. In turn, that would point to increased attempts by the Fed to His only other beef with Lauren is another YUGE reason to vote for her: She hasn’t
Keating manipulate the economy and increased risks and uncertainties passed any legislation. Someone needs to tell regarding the Fed creating economic instability by going back this guy most of us don’t vote for lawmakers and forth between hitting the accelerator and brake. — we’ve elected too many of them making
Third, Powell was asked if the Fed will ever get back to a balance sheet too many laws already. We want someone aligned with history as opposed to the sky high levels of the monetary base to represent us. Frankly, the new ad is proof (currency in circulation plus reserves) since 2008. His answer was striking in that Lauren is doing just that. Maybe Lauren Powell basically said it was unlikely the Fed would return to pre-2008 balance should do the voiceover and provide a picture sheet levels. As to why, that was unclear with Powell asserting that “ample for producing the next ad? reserves” made more sense given the volatility in monetary demand. The idea the In writing about campaigns for the Fed’s unprecedented expansion in the monetary base over the past 14 years has coming election, I’d be remiss if I didn’t contributed to uncertainty in the economy, including, to some degree, our recent mention the insanity in the Pennsylvania bout of inflation, obviously doesn’t factor into Powell’s thinking. Or if it does, Senate race where the Democrats are running only to a periodic and mysterious degree. This, too, is troubling. someone whose public speaking makes Joe
Unfortunately, my takeaway from this discussion with Powell was the Fed Biden seem like he taught Barack Obama doesn’t seem to have a clue as to how to deal with inflation other than trying everything he knows about eloquent rhetoric to undermine economic growth. That’s a dated view on inflation — that is, that that states nothing but lasts for hours. inflation basically is caused by an overheated economy, including the labor I know many are going to say it’s market — and disconnected from an economy that’s already in a recession. heartless to write about stroke victims in
These are precarious times in that the Fed, Joe Biden administration and recovery in such a harsh manner. To that, I’d Congress all seem devoid of economic common sense and advance policies that say stroke victims in recovery shouldn’t run work against economic recovery and expansion and, by the way, price stability. for Senate. They should work on recovery.
That leaves people in the United States with the hope a private sector battered My personal knowledge tells me stroke by public policy nonetheless has the strength and resilience to forge ahead. victims lose many cerebral and physical abilities and need at least moderate, if not Raymond Keating is chief economist of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship full-time, assistance to even attempt to live Council and author of the book “The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help a normal life let alone run for one of the 100 You Think Like an Economist.” The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council highest offices in the land. is nonpartisan advocacy, research and education organization dedicated to I should also mention our governor, protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship. For more information, whose latest ad promotes highlights visit www.sbecouncil.org. that can be boiled down to distributing F federal COVID funds to his favorite constituencies and giving back the money from over-taxation he’s required to by law. I mean, that is who he is. But how he says it is complete fabrication. That’s the election environment in America today. Vote for who one is pretending to be versus who and whatever that same one says their opponent is. My solution? Pay attention to what candidates say and have said and what they do and have done. Believe your own ears and eyes. And go with the pumpkin spice. It’s the real deal. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.
Hispanic Heritage Month opportunity to celebrate small business resilience
Each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month as a time to recognize the many contributions, diverse cultures and extensive histories of the American Latino community.
More Hispanics than ever before are seizing opportunities to start businesses. The fastest growing segment of the United States population, they own and operate a total of more than 350,000 businesses nationwide, in turn employing more than 3 million people and counting.
Both President Joe Biden and Isabella Castilla Guzman, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, have made strengthening Hispanic-owned small businesses a priority over the last 18 months.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the leading cause of business failure over the last two years. This was especially true for businesses owned by communities of color, women and veterans. The president took decisive action in partnership with Congress to implement programs and policies that bolstered millions of struggling small businesses and gave them a fighting chance to survive and thrive after the pandemic. President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which helped millions of small businesses with continued financial aid and targeted smaller minority owned firms in underserved communities. Hispanicowned businesses were some of the most severely hurt by the various lockdowns at the height of the pandemic.
The ARP directly invested in our hardest-hit small businesses to ensure they could safely reopen and remain open. The ARP also bolstered the Paycheck Protection Program with an additional $7.25 billion in funding to support small businesses and non-profits that were previously excluded, such as businesses owned by women, veterans and minorities. The plan also launched the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which targeted restaurants and other hardhit food establishments, as well as the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program. In November 2021, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law, which created enormous opportunities for minority businesses to gain access to more than $1.2 trillion in federal, state and local government contracts on a variety of projects nationwide.
A large proportion of Hispanic-owned businesses are in the construction and service industries, which will directly benefit from this comprehensive bill. This bill will fortify entrepreneurship, innovation and domestic supply chains and in the process strengthen our democracy by creating equitable pathways to the American dream. Finally, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 makes urgent investments that will bring down costs, level the playing field and open historic opportunities for America’s 33 million small businesses and innovative startups — especially those businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans.
This law not only tackles inflation and powers America’s transition to safer, cleaner energy, but also shrinks the budget deficit and — most importantly —drives down health care and energy costs for small businesses and their employees. Lower costs mean small businesses can focus on doing what they do best, creating jobs, developing talent, innovating and opening doors of growth and opportunity across our communities — including selling more American-made goods and services to the world’s largest buyer: the U.S. government. The president’s policies over the last 18 months have had positive effects on Hispanic-owned small businesses.
National Hispanic Heritage Month offers a time to applaud the accomplishments and fortitude of our Hispanic communities as well as celebrate the American dream of small business ownership.
Aikta Marcoulier
Aikta Marcoulier is administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration Region VIII. Marcoulier oversees the programs and services of the federal agency in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.sba.gov. Follow the agency on Twitter @SBArockymtn and @SBA_colorado.
Consequence of going green could prove a disastrous one
Journalist and author Henry Hazlitt offered in his book “Economics in One Lesson” this insight. “The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate, but at the longer effects of any act or policy,” Hazlitt wrote. “It consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group, but for all groups.”
His lesson hasn’t been learned — as evidenced by a myriad of public policies enacted with disastrous results. One of the latest examples includes the implementation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores around the world. The scores quantify company behavior and are used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments. In less than 20 years, the ESG movement has grown from a corporate social responsibility initiative launched by the United Nations into a global phenomenon, coercing countries to go “green” to increase ESG scores. It hasn’t taken long to see the folly of such initiatives. As Stephen Moore wrote in “The Story of Sri Lanka,” the Asian nation enjoyed commerce, wealth and a thriving middle class. But government officials started listening to the advice of anti-growth greens. They adopted an anti-capitalist agenda and achieved the highest ESG scores in the world. They were going save the planet while gaining wealth.
But unintended consequences followed. Sri Lanka is now in a state of economic collapse. Schools and businesses are shut down.
While Sri Lanka had been self-sufficient in food production, there’s now hunger. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides were banned by the former president, who “fell under the spell of Western green elites peddling organic agriculture and ESG,” wrote Michael Schellenberger, author of “The Death of Environmentalism.”
Hunger exists everywhere in Sri Lanka as food prices rose by more than 80 percent. Angry citizens stormed the official residence, and the president resigned. Sri Lanka is under emergency law, and food is shipped in to prevent famine.
“Decades of economic progress have been squandered,” wrote Moore, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
Victor Davis Hanson, a historian at the Hoover Institution, put it this way: “Sri Lanka may be the first modern nation to adopt deliberate policies that have led to mass hunger and bankruptcy.”
Sri Lanka isn’t an isolated case of adopting policies without considering the longer effects for all groups. Guilty of “going green” and closing coal and nuclear power plants, Germany has insufficient energy and recently announced families will have to burn wood this winter. The Netherlands have dramatically cut the components in fertilizers to protect nature reserves, reducing the amounts of livestock and agricultural products available for consumption. Against the advice of his agronomists, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau forced a reduction of chemical fertilizers. Here in the United States, the Biden administration has canceled oil and natural gas leases causing fuel shortages, yet begs Saudi Arabia to produce more oil while selling part of U.S. strategic fuel reserves to China.
Nikolaos Antonakakis, an economics professor at the University of Portsmouth, said societies should rethink their approach toward environmental sustainability and promoting renewable energy resources as a reliable alternative. No country adopting ESG or green energy policies has shown economic growth.
The unintended consequences of “going green” will prove as disastrous to the United States as it has in Sri Lanka.
Phyllis Hunsinger
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. A former teacher, principal and superintendent, Hunsinger wrote “Down and Dirty: A ‘How To’ Math Book.” Reach Hunsinger at phyllis@free-dom.us.com. For more information about the FREE Foundation, log on to the website located at www.free-dom.us.com.
F
SHARE YOUR VIEWS
The Business Times welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor on issues affecting businesses in Western Colorado. Submissions should be emailed to phil@thebusinesstimes.com and include names and telephone numbers for verification.
