Opinion

The Business Times Contributors THE BUSINESS TIMES November 25-December 8, 2021JANUARY 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 © 2021 — All rights reserved. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦

If you’re a fan of the movie “The Parent Trap,” I bet you just sang that little ditty. And whether it’s Haley Mills or Lindsey Lohan singing, the image in your head was innocent, happy and just darned cute. Just like most of America used to be before all the pandemic panic for the past two years.

And what a two years it’s been. Hell, the tyrants in charge even cancelled the holidays in 2020. And if you’re like me, you’ve been waiting for them to do it again, because experience backed by wisdom tells me they’re chomping at the bit. It’s why they count cases only, ignore natural immunity, count staffed beds available, run endless advertising campaigns to get the shot and suggest only the un-vaxxed are the spreaders, carriers and those catching this serious version of the flu.

Sadly, that’s exactly the opposite of what many other countries are reporting — unless you count the ones under martial law run by evil, dictatorial rule. But that’s what tyrants do, considering that until 2020, there’s never been a study showing lockdowns, masking and social distancing have actually worked. Yet time and again, areas of America keep going to those wells. It’s past time these wells run dry.

I’ve said this a thousand times. Treat the sick with everything we have. Protect the vulnerable. Get on with life. I’ll even add: Get the shot if you’d like. But for the love of all that’s holy, can we just get the government back to the busybody state we had on March 15, 2020? After all, Joe Biden had a plan to defeat COVID-19, did he not? I’m guessing Joe’s plans were the same ones that never worked, like — I don’t know —- masking, social distancing, lockdowns and now, “vaccines” that lose pretty much all efficacy.

It’s about time as human beings we simply say, “No more. We’re done.”

I’ve been around the sun almost 60 times in this adventure titled “The Life of Craigy.” If I finally learned one thing, it’s this: Humans are communal creatures. Heck, even in the movie “I Robot,” the robots got together in groups after being decommissioned. And isn’t that what these folks who think they rule the world have been doing with their collective efforts for the past few years — decommissioning human interaction?

Pretty much every COVID mandate (under the guise of your safety and health) has been about not being with certain humans. Well, unless it’s for bread and circuses like sporting events, gambling, select concerts, “protests,” liquor stores, dispensaries and special gatherings deemed

Now more than ever, a time for gratitude worthy by our know-it-all elected betters. Let’s get together yeah, yeah, yeah ... But church services, Thanksgiving,

The best part about Thanksgiving and the holiday season — along with all the Christmas, dinners and drinks with friends, delicious food, of course — are the remainders this time of year provides about court appearances and places where onewhat’s important. That includes family, friends and all the other blessings we enjoy. on-one communications could occur about It’s been a challenging couple of years with a pandemic, what’s happening to our laws are verboten. political and social unrest and what appears like a growing Yes, the German is emphasized for a reason. gulf between the citizens of a country where far more should You must ask yourself why. Just look unite us than divide us. There’s ample justification for the at technology the past several decades and view the world’s going to hell and we’d be well-advised to what it’s designed to do. How many folks do invest in handbaskets. you know who live their lives inside a less Call me a Pollyanna, but I remain optimistic. More so, than 6-inch screen? Look at what Facebook I remain grateful — equally cognizant things could be much is moving towards with its “Meta” better, but also far worse. technology — living your life while never So in the spirit of Thanksgiving and the upcoming leaving your home in a virtual world where Phil Castle holidays, allow me the opportunity to count some blessings. Please be patient. There are a lot to count. everything you want, need and desire is just a click away. They’ve made movies about First and foremost, thank you to the readers of the Business Times. You remain the reason I do what I do. Thanks also to the Craig Hall this folks, and they are legion. If you know a lick about history, you know just how much businesses and organizations that advertise in the Business Times and provide the of our revolution, ending of slavery and financial wherewithall that enables me to do what I do. Your support has never freedom movements took place across the been more important — or appreciated. dinner table, at the pub or in church. You’d

I remain grateful, too, for my boss, Craig Hall. He not only makes it possible understand why a government lusting to for me to do what I do, but also gives me unbridled freedom to do so. While I’m control has outlawed them. at it: Happy birthday, Craig. No one plans a revolution drunk at

Thanks to Alowetta and Marc Terrien, the indefatigable couple that conjures the ballgame or screaming at their idol. the Business Times website out of Thin Air. Thanks to Kitty Nicholason, who Conversely, everyone “protesting” at riots builds many of the ads that appear in the paper. helped the tyrants. These opposing examples

For this newspaper editor, blessings most definitely include the columnists are happening right before our eyes. who so generously share their time and talents along with their excellent advice There’s an old adage that says for readers. They include Janet Arrowood, Dean Harris, Phyllis Hunsinger, Paula something like if you put 1,000 monkeys Reece, Marcus Straub and Tim Whitney. That’s not to mention the good folks with on 1,000 typewriters for 1,000 years, one Bray Real Estate; Dalby, Wendland & Co.; Mesa County Public Health; Monument of them will write Shakespeare. No they Health; and the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. wouldn’t. They are monkeys, and incapable.

I also count among my many blessings the individuals and organizations So there’s no chance unless some human who help the editor of a business journal report on business, among them Robert is doing the monkeys’ work. What’s the Bray, Keira Bresnahan, Christopher Chavez, Curtis Englehart, Celia Kohn, Karen chance of vaccine manufacturers working Martsolf, Mike Moran, Kelly Murphy, Diane Schwenke, Fran Stephens, Annette on an MRNA vaccine specifically to fight Young and Tamara Vliek as well as the Business Incubator Center, Grand Junction against a spike protein with human receptors Economic Partnership and local chambers of commerce. that’s magically attached to a bat virus? It

Thanks as well to Dan Barton and the team at Colorado Mountain News Media wouldn’t happen unless some human was that prints the Business Times twice a month. doing the work on both. So what we’re

I tend to count a lot of blessings this time of year — especially when I’m living under is something that could never enjoying whipped cream served with a slice of pumpkin pie. But I’m most occur naturally. thankful for what’s most important. Vaccines that work take years and decades of testing and studies to be placed Phil Castle is editor of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or into society. Yet, we’ve taken one which phil@thebusinesstimes.com. has never worked in trials and installed it F within a few months — all under the guise of allowing us to “get back to normal”. Yet one year in, and it’s arguably worse than ever across every arena of life. You can certainly take the shot, but I’d suggest a good look beyond the ad campaigns. Just think of where’d we’d be if we had done my suggestion in the beginning of this column — with the added bonus of uplifting times with friends, family and freedom the past two years. Be thankful, vigilant, safe and enjoy fellow humans this holiday season. We might not get another one even this free. Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.

Rube Goldberg scheme threatens drug industry — as well as our health

When government steps in with a massive regulatory scheme to control prices in an industry, the effort equates to a Rube Goldberg machine — that is, a way of doing something in an unnecessarily complicated way.

Imposing Rube Goldberg price controls on the pharmaceutical industry means lives will be diminished and lost. After all, the pharmaceutical industry produces drugs, medicines and vaccines that improve and save lives. But when government seeks to inflict price controls, it’s effectively limiting potential returns on innovative endeavors in the areas of drugs, medicines and vaccines fraught with high costs, uncertainty and risk.

Keep in mind that due in part to strong property rights and not imposing price controls, the United States is a global leader in pharmaceutical development and innovation. While creating new and improved drugs, medicines and vaccines are costly and complex endeavors in and of themselves, the policy framework for incentivizing these vital undertakings should remain straightforward and simple.

That policy framework should be low taxes, a light regulatory touch and a strong system for protecting property rights through patents. If elected officials are concerned about affordability for certain segments of society, then that policy choice should be dealt with directly. While any kind of consumer subsidies along those lines would come with their own costs and consequences, they wouldn’t carry the broad negatives for entrepreneurship, investment and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry — and resulting negatives for patients — price controls would.

But rather than keep policy straightforward and aligned with common sense and sound economics, assorted elected officials — among then President Joe Biden and many Democrats in Congress — continue to push for price controls.

In true Rube Goldberg fashion, the latest scheme would have the process of price controls getting under way via Medicare, with the Department of Health and Human Services secretary ranking drugs according to the amount spent and setting a maximum price on at least the top 20 based on an assortment of criteria and for varying lengths of time. For good measure, manufacturers refusing government price dictates would face a 95 percent tax on revenues from the targeted drug. An inflationary rebate penalty would be imposed on price increases on drugs exceeding the rate of inflation — another form of price controls.

It’s all rather ridiculous, although with tragic consequences.

Elected officials have long sought to inflict price control schemes on an industry that improves and saves lives by producing drugs, medicines and vaccines — while also reducing overall medical care expenditures since drugs eliminate the need for more costly treatments. One would hope the realities of what drug makers accomplished during the COVID-19 pandemic — producing vaccines in a near-miraculous period of time — would at least give pause to the drive for price controls. But that’s not the case.

And make no mistake, the latest Rube Goldberg price control scheme would build the regulatory infrastructure for the inevitable expansion of price controls. Indeed, this would only be the first step in the march to widespread price controls. Investors certainly understand this fact, and entrepreneurship would suffer in the industry.

The pharmaceutical manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy is about smaller businesses with 59.4 percent of employer firms having fewer than 20 employees, 78.9 percent fewer than 100 employees and 91.3 percent fewer than 500 employees.

The traditional idea of a Rube Goldberg machine is the machine would produce the same product via its chain reaction complex process. But when it comes to the Rube Goldberg regulatory scheme of price controls on prescription drugs, medicines and vaccines, the results would turn out quite differently. Price controls not only create unnecessary complexity, but among its consequences are reduced incentives for entrepreneurship, investment and innovation in the prescription drug industry; lost competitive advantages for U.S. firms; fewer high-paying jobs in the industry; and, most tragically, diminished patient care, including more deaths.

In sum, price controls are a bad idea and ideal political tool for undermining the production of new and improved drugs, medicines and vaccines.

Raymond Keating

Price controls not only create unnecessary complexity, but also reduce incentives for entrepreneurship, investment and innovation in the drug industry.

Raymond Keating is chief economist for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. For more information, log on to www.sbecouncil.org. F