Opinion

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The Business Times Contributors THE BUSINESS TIMES NovemberJANUARY 10-23, 2022 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?

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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?

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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. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦

In 22 years of writing opinion columns, I’ve never written a truer headline. And in 22 years of writing columns, it’s never been a more important rule to understand about those we elect.

Two reasons for the headline. 1. It’s because the folks opposite me expect their “representatives” to do what they say or demand. 2. I simply want my “representative” to adhere to the Constitution. I don’t care who’s elected or from what party they’re a member. The Constitution limits their power. I also realize my “want” in this case might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever wanted from a politician in my life. Then again, maybe not.

In literally every out-of-control Facebook back and forth and forth and back regarding the two candidates running in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, those on the left keep demanding or spouting two things: 1. What has U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert done for her district? 2. She votes against veterans. That’s a load of fertilizer. And it’s being spread for the same reason. The left demands its representatives provide special rights, force people to do act and speak how they demand and punish enemies. Those are literally how Democrat politicians garner votes. See: Bennet, Michael.

By the way, it’s the same with all the propositions we vote on in Colorado. They’re unconstitutional on their face because you’re voting to change the constitution. And if they pass by even one vote, they become law. Folks, that’s not democracy, that’s mob rule. And mob rule never benefits the people. Because eventually — no matter how many times you or your special interests win — eventually the mob comes for you.

That’s why I voted for Boebert. She’s done what’s constitutional for her constituents (the left hates that) while fighting laws that are already unconstitutional. In addition she’s voted against every new unconstitutional bill. Let me help the rabid liberals: THESE BILLS ARE WHERE ALL OF THOSE “VOTES AGAINST VETERANS” COME FROM. Democrats bury little lines into omnibus — look that up along with “continuing resolutions” — bills so they have talking points you’ll argue about on Facebook. I also voted straight Republican hoping to elect folks who will do the same.

Here’s to waking up with two more years with representatives who represent you and me while following the Constitution.

One more point on why your congressional member shouldn’t pass special laws you want to minimize

At workforce center, it’s all about service personal responsibility, force your beliefs and behaviors on others or punish those No matter the election results, you and I won’t be represented who think differently. There are plenty

It bodes well for businesses looking for employees and people looking for on the right who should listen up as well. jobs that Lindsay Bullock brings a passion for service to her new role as director Term limits will never work. of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. Our founders thought term limits

The center provides an array of resources — everything from hosting would be obvious because no one in job fairs and screening applicants to helping with resumes and preparing for their right mind would want more than interviews, to name four. It’s a matter, though, of not only what the center one term in Congress. That’s because the provides, but also how. It’s about meeting the uniques needs of businesses and Constitution limited members’ powers and individuals. It’s about solving problems. It’s about service. certainly didn’t make it a paying career.

Bullock brings to her duties experience as a career development supervisor at The problem? Slimy politicians have done the center. She’s worked the last three months as manager. She previously worked nothing over the centuries but increase the as an eligibility specialist and then supervisor with the Mesa County Department power and money involved since the first of Human Services. Before that, she worked with her mother and sister in election. It’s near the point of no return operating a Grand Junction store selling clothing and furnishings for children and other household goods. It’s always helpful in overseeing programs for businesses Craig Hall outside of abolishing the Constitution, firing all the swamp creatures and starting to have experience in overseeing businesses. over. Which might not be a bad idea when

Along with her passion for service, Bullock also emphasizes her commitment you think about it. to collaboration — not only in working with staff at the center, but also businesses Given the power and money cesspool and other local organizations involved in workforce and economic development. in Washington, D.C., all term limits would The Mesa County Workforce Center plays a crucial role in that regard. It’s difficult, do is give us more slimy creatures more if not impossible, to expand existing businesses and recruit new ones without the often. So instead of four- or five- term availability of a well-prepared workforce. That’s why efforts connecting students at slimeballs going into lobbying after Colorado Mesa University and Western Colorado Community College with local becoming millionaires, they’d be doing employers remain so important. it after two terms. Just what Washington

Bullock is especially familiar with one of her collaborators. Her predecessor, needs. MORE lobbyists. And believe you Curtis Englehart, left the workforce center in August to become director of the me, they’d figure out a way to become just Grand Junction Economic Partnership. Bullock and Englehart join a new generation as rich after two terms as they did after four, of Grand Valley leaders that also includes Candace Carnahan at the Grand Junction five, 10 or 150, like Nancy Pelosi. After Area Chamber of Commerce and Dalida Bollig at the Business Incubator Center. all, there are cattle futures, pharmaceutical

The Mesa County Workforce Center has developed a well-deserved reputation stocks and defense contracts among the over the years for offering in one place a range of resources — a one-stop shop myriad insider info still out there. businesses and jobseekers would be well advised to use. Given her passion for But remove the power and trillions service and commitment to collaboration, Bullock is well-suited to sustain and build and what do you get? Citizen servants and on that success. We wish her well. few, if any, insider trading tyrants like we have now. This way, if you have someone When elections and deadlines coincide serving several terms while adhering to the limits of the Constitution, no one

If it’s election day, it must also be deadline day. cares. The best news for Democrats, they

At least it seems those two events coincide more often than not when won’t be representing me either, which is production deadlines fall on Tuesdays. The polls didn’t close until seven hours something everyone on the left wants. That after the latest print edition of the Business Times went to press. should make everyone happy, but it won’t.

It’s frustrating because news is a lot like fish — best served as fresh as So, what does that leave when we possible. On the other hand, the two weeks until the next print issue is scheduled don’t have personal representatives doing for publication hopefully will afford ample time to determine the outcome of our bidding in Congress? Two things the close races as well as provide a broader context to the election results. That’s true left despises: personal responsibility and not only for candidates, but also the plethora of propositions on the ballot. individual freedom. While I’m not the best

Keep reading. at either at times, I live a life striving to be F better for me and my kids. Here’s why and how I vote. In my 60 years on this orb, I see this about our country very clearly: Freedom is built on private property (physical, monetary, intellectual) rights and contract law. Period. That’s the Bill of Rights for me. Do what you want, think what you want and say what you want while interacting with those you want, be it business or pleasure. Your contract? Don’t break criminal laws and don’t break your word while (hopefully) acting ethically and morally. Everything else should left alone. Especially by government. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

Erasing student loan debt a matter of legal plunder

Frederic Bastiat, a 19th century French economist, wrote this in his book “The Law:” “See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.” Bastiat described this as “legal plunder.”

Consider the executive fiat from the Biden administration that declared up to $10,000 of college student loan debt can be forgiven and some exceptions could allow up to $20,000 to be forgiven. Debts aren’t simply erased. The money was borrowed and must be paid back. To offload the debt from an individual, the student, to the collective, the taxpayer, by government edict satisfies Bastiat’s description of legal plunder.

A financial debt is money owed. A loan is a sum of money that’s expected to be paid back with interest. A lender lends funds with the expectation the funds will be repaid. A borrower is the person receiving money from a lender signing a legal contract to pay the money plus interest back to the lender by a specified time. The transaction is personal. The obligation agreed to in the loan agreement is between the lender and borrower. These conditions are the same whether one secures a loan for a car, house or education. Only one person, the borrower, is responsible for repaying the loan.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little was among 22 governors who sent a letter to President Joe Biden opposing the student loan cancellation plan. Little’s letter states: “Only 16 percent to 17 percent of Americans have federal student loan debt, yet your plan will require their debts be redistributed and paid by the vast majority of taxpayers.” The letter went on to explain how the plan shifts the burden of debt from the wealthiest Americans with a “regressive impact that harms lower income families.”

There are varied reasons individuals don’t attend college, ranging from cost to alternative employment or business options. College is not the only avenue for success in America. What about the young entrepreneurs who need loans to start their businesses? What about the individual costs for apprentice programs? What about the individual who bypassed college due to a lack of funding because they did NOT want to go into debt?

How ironic and unjust that with the stroke of an executive pen, indebted college students are relieved of the responsibility of their own choices and a portion of their indebtedness is now shifted to others who didn’t make that choice.

Since the individual borrower owns the debt, a quote by American economist Walter Williams seems appropriate. Williams said: “No matter how worthy the cause, it is robbery, theft and injustice to confiscate the property of one person and give it to another to whom it does not belong.” The same is true for debt. Debt taken from an individual and given to other individuals is morally wrong.

Hard work, perseverance and individual responsibility are characteristics upon which Americans have prospered. The American dream was never achieved by taking from one group and giving to another. Legal plunder has no place in a free society.

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. 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

Take action to reduce risk of cybercrime attacks

In 2021, cybercrimes against small businesses reached a record high value of $2.4 billion. Online sales exceeded $960 billion that year and are expected to surpass $1 trillion this year. As we approach the holiday shopping season, small retailers need to evaluate their susceptibilities to cyberattacks and protect their systems from costly data breaches and online scams. Small retailers are especially attractive targets to cybercriminals because they typically lack the security infrastructure of larger businesses. A recent survey found 88 percent of small business owners felt their businesses were vulnerable to cyberattacks. There are simple steps business owners can take to mitigate their risk of costly and destructive cybersecurity threats. Here are five easy and inexpensive actions business Aikta Marcoulier owners can take to reduce their risk of cybersecurity attacks: n Update software: Software suppliers constantly provide updates or patches to prevent the latest cyber threats. The cheapest and easiest way to prevent online attacks this holiday season is to update your computer systems on a regular basis. n Review online security protocols. It’s critical to ensure your website is secure by getting trustmarked with a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate. An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. Verify that your e-commerce platform has multiple layers of security in place and you’re not storing credit card data. n Create passwords that can’t be hacked. The use of weak passwords constitutes one of the major reasons small retailers are so prone to cyberattacks. Always ensure your employees use unique passwords with at least 12 characters with a mix of numbers, letters, capital letters and punctuation. Use multi-factor authentication, which provides a layered approach to securing data and applications, where a system requires a user to present a combination of two or more credentials to verify identity for login. n Beware of social engineering threats. Hackers love to bait or trick employees into giving up sensitive personal or company information. Social engineering techniques include phishing scams, baiting, scareware and incentives. Hackers can review both your personal and company social media profiles then create emails, phone calls and text messages that appear to be coming from a customer, vendor or someone familiar to gain access to sensitive information. n Enforce strict rules on how your computer systems are used. It’s critical to provide effective training to employees who access your computer systems. Make sure employees only have access to data and tasks deemed necessary to their job functions and roles. You might hire multiple seasonal employees over the next few months. Controlling how they interact with your online systems constitutes a critical management function. The holiday shopping season is a critical time for most small retailers — especially those with a robust online presence. Keeping your online systems safe will benefit not only your customers, but also your bottom line.

Aikta Marcoulier is administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration Region 8. Marcoulier oversees the operations of the SBA in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For more information visit www.sba.gov. F