Christmas does seem to come earlier every year. Just ask the retailers; they have to make room on the shelves and the back rooms for merchandise that will sit for about five months. Some will be sold, others won't, but they have to have it on hand if possible. The retailers also have to put up those decorations that make us gasp and think, "Oh man! Already??" but trust me, we're not mad at you. We know you have to have those decorations up early.
That's the red tape of retail.
This year is more critical than before. The economy has contracted so far, a lot of people are having a tough time even thinking about the holidays, let alone shopping for them. It's been hard for the business owners, too, retail or not. The contraction has many business owners scrambling to find ways to stimulate their bottom line so they won't have to make ugly choices, such as layoffs or closing their doors. Nobody has a good answer, or a good solution, for this deep a problem.
My solution is probably not a popular one, and it won't make anybody rich, but somehow it makes a little sense to me. Seems to me, we all need to do a little shopping. And the feds? I say bail out the people, the small business owners - not the huge corporations who helped cause this mess to start with! And someone tell me WHY these executives should be sitting on any board that decides where the bailout goes? I've heard it had to do with their "experience" in business management. HELLO?! Earth to Feds: How the hell do you think America got into this mess in the first place? Joe Consumer here didn't cause it!
Let's see: the auto makers want part of the bailout to avoid "millions becoming unemployed". Where was this thinking when times were better, they could charge whatever they wanted for a vehicle, and oh yes, they didn't have to worry about coming up with a more fuel efficient vehicle because everyone needed a vehicle and gas! It was a great cash cow, and we, the American public, were their patsy! The auto manufacturers get to finger the government and the public while times were good; now that they're in a jam, suddenly the feds are their best friends!?? It's insane! I say make them EARN the bailout! They should be made to sign a lending agreement, similar to the type we would see when applying for a loan. In the agreement, the auto makers MUST agree to come up with a more fuel-efficient vehicle and/or find an alternative fuel within two years, or be forced to repay the entire loan back in full plus an additional 35%! I guarantee you, Joe Consumer would see very different results.
Now the insurance industry: Folks, you guys have had it good way too long. AIG, I don't know what you were thinking, other than double-dipping?? Probably not the right phrase...how about messing over both the public and the equivalent of perjury to the government? Uncle Sam bails you out and you take a $300K party??? At the Hilton??? You guys take the cake! I don't care how many meetings you canceled prior to this shindig, and I don't care how much of the event the sponsors actually covered - what gives you the right to cry "wah, wah, poor me, help me!" and then, days before you get more money from Uncle Sam, turn around and host a seminar for $343K? Ain't'cha never heard of brown-bag? Pot luck? How about simply canceling the seminar in favor of a webinar? Gee, guess that's too much like making sense - there would have been virtually no money spent!
I say businesses that's aren't being fiscally responsible should be allowed to fail. Now, I do realize that puts lots of people into the unemployed statistical column, but let's face it: would you rather work for someone who's lying and cheating to the people and their government, or let them figure out how they're going to recover? Lord knows we, Joe Consumer, have to figure it out - why can't they??
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