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DUPAGE COUNTY BUSINESS BLOG
Looking for Someone to Blame? Congress is Good Place to Start - June 9, 2010
This editorial was written in 1985 and revised again in 1995. It is an excellent and succinct perspective on accountability of our public servants. Someone has modified it and is circulating it through cyberspace to make it more inflammatory. In reading it, note the US population is now well above 300 million, not the 260 cited in the article.
It is still pertinent and applicable today. While voter outrage is supposedly high (heck, in the Illinois primary we had all of 25% of the voters show up!), the fact is the lack of voters holding leaders accountable is certainly at least one part of the problem.
Enjoy....
Orlando Sentinel
March 7, 1995
Looking for Someone to Blame? Congress is Good Place to Start
By: Charley Reese
Politicians, as I have often said, are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Everything on the Republican contract is a problem created by Congress. Too much bureaucracy? Blame Congress. Too many rules?
Blame Congress. Unjust tax laws? Congress wrote them.
Out-of-control bureaucracy? Congress authorizes everything bureaucracies do. Americans dying in Third World rat holes on stupid U.N. missions? Congress allows it. The annual deficits?
Congress votes for them. The $4 trillion plus debt? Congress created it.
To put it into perspective just remember that 100 percent of the power of the federal government comes from the U.S. Constitution. If it's not in the Constitution, it's not authorized.
Then read your Constitution. All 100 percent of the power of the federal government is invested solely in 545 individual human beings. That's all. Of 260 million Americans, only 545 of them...
Generation Web 2.0 Workers May Prefer Facebook Perks Over More Pay - June 9, 2010
FastCompany.com
May 20, 2010
Generation Web 2.0 Workers May Prefer Facebook Perks Over More Pay
By: Kit Eaton
If you want to motivate your staff to succeed, then trusting them to manage their own time--and use the Net when they like, including for accessing social networks--could get you better results than offering more pay, says new data.
Over 1,600 managers and staff were surveyed by Clearswift (a firm specializing in "unifying information security") for this research, covering the U.K., Australia, Germany, and the USA during the first two months of 2010. The headline figure from Clearswift's resulting report, "Web 2.0 in the Workplace," is that over 79% of respondents said that the most important feature of a workplace for them, above job title and even pay, is to be trusted to organize their own work schedule and have free access to the Net.
In addition, some 62% of workers thought it should be allowable to use social networking services from their desk for their own private purposes. Just 51% of management-level respondees had the same viewpoint, which indicates that in their mind social networking is a distraction, or something not to be performed while on the company's dime.
Clearswift even labeled these folk "Generation Standby," and noted that some 57% of 25- to 34-year-olds surveyed already are social networking, shopping, and reading personal email at work. 21% of those surveyed even said they'd turn down the offer of a job that was otherwise good, but forbade access to the Net and Facebook, Twitter and so on. The implication of Clearswift's jokey name is that we're all so increasingly connected to the world digitally that we're constantly awaiting the next digital hit, and even expect it to be a norm while working.
The figures seem dramatic, but they don't address the concerns that social networking and free Net access may actually degrade employee performance, if they're privileges that get abused, and they contrast with notions that good employees censor their Facebook pages. Still, the data sets up a bold challenge for forward-thinking companies looking for new ways to move their staff into better productivity: Let them do what they like on the Web, with the understanding that they're still required to deliver their daily tasks on time and up to scratch. If it works, you may even be able to avoid bumping up your pay bill this year.
Illinois ranks low on CEO survey of business-friendly states - June 8, 2010
May 13, 2010
Illinois ranks low on CEO survey of business-friendly states
By: Lorene Yue
(Crain's) - Illinois is mired near the bottom on a list of the best states for business, according to a nationwide survey of CEOs.
In Chief Executive Magazine's annual "Best and Worst States for Business" list, Illinois ranks No. 46 out of 51 - the same spot as last year.
The list, which ranks the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, is based on responses from 651 CEOs nationwide. They were asked to rate each state in three main areas: taxation and regulation, quality of workforce and living environment.
Texas came in at No. 1 for the fifth year in a row, ahead of No. 2 North Carolina.
California landed at the bottom, just below New York.
A spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity called the ranking a "one-dimensional view" that has limited measurements.
"Illinois has always had a very competitive business climate that is support by key assets including our centralized location, highly-skilled workforce and effective business incentive programs," she said in a statement.
Illinois has seen its ranking slip over the past five years. It was No. 17 in 2005.
The top five states for 2010 are:
1. Texas
2. North Carolina
3. Tennessee
4. Virginia
5. Nevada
The full list can be found here: "Best & Worst States for Business 2010."
Why Politics Is Stuck in the Middle - June 8, 2010
New York Times
February 7, 2010
Economic View
Why Politics Is Stuck in the Middle
By Tyler Cowen
Market competition, under the proper circumstances, has the power to make a business better serve its customers. Cellphone companies, for example, compete via cheaper prices, clearer connections and better apps. Political competition, though no less vigorous, is conducted on very different terms - and often ends up stifling innovation instead of encouraging it.
When viewed through an economist's lens, the quest for voter approval helps explain some recent developments in domestic politics, including the stalling of health care reform and the proposed freeze on the federal government's discretionary spending.
Economists approach political competition with a simple but potent hypothesis called the "median voter theorem." Anthony Downs, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, proposed the idea in his 1957 book, "An Economic Theory of Democracy." Essentially, the idea is this: Any politician who strays too far from voters at the philosophical center will soon be out of office.
In fact, there is a dynamic that pushes politicians to embrace the preferences of the typical or "median" voter, who sits squarely in the middle of public opinion. A significant move to either the left or the right would open the door for a rival to take a more moderate stance, win the next election and change the agenda. Politicians will respond to this dynamic, whether they are power-seeking demagogues or more benevolent types who use elected office to help the world.
When it comes to the big issues, voters at the midpoint usually get the policies, if not always the exact outcomes, they want. In the federal budget, the largest line items include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and military spending - all very popular programs. The interest on the national debt is mounting because we don't like paying higher taxes now for all those benefits, so our government borrows to postpone the pain.
Upon his election, President Obama stepped into a world already...
Upcoming Events - June 2, 2010
Our Second Quarter meeting will be June 18th from 8:00 am to 9:00 am at Center Point Properties, 1808 Swift Drive, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
Testimonials - April 6, 2010
"The DuPage Business Council is a key partner in our collective effort as Republicans to protect the vitality of the private sector. I'm appreciative of the opportunity to work with the DuPage Business Council and I rely on its members for advice on a variety of business issues. Through ongoing engagement in the political process, the business community can have a positive impact on state and local policies. This is a critical time for anyone involved in the private sector. The dedicated members of the DuPage Business Council are a necessary voice on behalf of everyone invested in our business community."
State Sen. Dan Cronin Republican Candidate, DuPage County Board Chairman Chairman, DuPage County Republican Party
"Fantastic! The only word that can describe the recent meeting put on by the DuPage Business Council for the elected officials, candidates and GOP Party leaders. From the information presented to them at the meeting many candidates returned to their respective districts armed with a new strategy that will guide them to victory in November."
Patrick Durante, Addison Township Republican Chairman
DuPage County Republican Candidate Conference - March 15, 2010
We had a great turnout at our Candidate Conference this Saturday. It was a great time to come together as Republicans and learn from the research completed by Chris Perkins and his team at Wilson Research Strategies.
If you were in attendance and did not get a printout please email Ted at events@DuPageBusinessCouncil.com for a copy of the slideshow.
1st Quarter Meeting Review - March 13, 2010
On Thursday February 25, 2010, we held the 1st Quarter 2010 Meeting of the DuPage Business Council. The focus of our meeting was an interim update on the first-ever comprehensive DuPage voter research to benefit all Republicans in DuPage County.
Chris Perkins of Wilson Research Strategies shared the results of our focus group sessions, which are the first phase of the research.
The next research phase includes extensive polling to give us significantly more detail and confirm conclusions by demographic group and defined districts within the County. This total research effort will be complete over the next several weeks and will provide insights that will be helpful to all candidates running for office in DuPage County as well as provide lasting insights and perspectives to help all Republicans widen our base of support in the future.
The DuPage Business Council will be presenting the conclusions and insights of this research at the first ever DuPage Republican Candidate Conference on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m at the Oak Brook Marriott, 1401 West 22nd Street in Oak Brook, IL. All Republican candidates and elected officials in DuPage County have been invited to attend.
The agenda will include remarks from Congressman Peter Roskam, Chris Perkins will give a presentation explaining the data from the poll and focus groups and how to best use the results, and breakout sessions involving social networking, fundraising and media strategies.
None of this would be possible without the support and momentum provided by the investors in the DuPage Business Council. We are making a difference and doing the long term work needed to build a more lasting base of support. We have all learned the hard way that if you don’t pay attention to government, government will run your business and life. Through your support, the DuPage Business Council is working to combat the new breed of Democrat-led socialism running our state and country.
Warmest Regards,
Scott Mordell
Chairman – DuPage Business Council
Upcoming Events - February 22, 2010
This Thursday February 25th we have two of our quarterly meetings.
1st Quarter Meeting:
As we look to 2010, we want to invite you to our 1st Quarter Business Meeting for 2010 on February 25, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Superior Ambulance, 395 West Lake Street in Elmhurst.
For the meeting's agenda, we will share the results of our focus group research that will help us reach out to new groups for support of our principles and every Republican candidate in 2010. Our focus groups, which were conducted January, will help us define the best ways to message our principles among important voter groups, including independent women, independent men, Hispanic voters and Asian/Indian voters.
In addition, since the focus group presentation will take up a majority of our time, each of the officers will give an update on their committee report.
1st Quarter Millennial Event:
Thursday night at Quigley's Irish Pub, 43 East Jefferson Avenue in Naperville that evening from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Republican Lt. Governor Candidate Jason Plummer is our invited guest speaker. The event is complimentary for 2010 DuPage Business Council members and 2010 DuPage Business Council Millennial Members.
$100 for Membership in DBC Millennial
$25 for Non-Members
Check out our Facebook Page for more info
A Non-Partisan Look at why Change is so Hard in Washington - and what needs to change - February 15, 2010
As I continue to read the various accounts from both sides of the aisle as to why solutions to any longer term issues cannot be found, it's clear that it's not a single election issue.
There seem to be root causes as to why we are where we are, and they don't really rest in the hands of any single office holder (even Mr. Obama).
In short, the current environment of the US political process is a significant part of the problem.
As I look at the following list of causes I compiled, it seems in part that meaningful long term solutions could very well be directed in turning some of these items into positive. That is, remedy the symptom or cure the disease?
1. The system of governmental checks and balances is intended to default to inertia. This is the exact opposite of the campaign propaganda and promises voters keep hearing, and expecting to be fulfilled.
2. Years of gerrymandering districts to ensure easy re-election chances for incumbents have encouraged elected officials to play to their base which by design represents a partisan majority of the district they typically serve. As such, many legislators have no real electoral interest in appealing to the middle or both parties - reducing room for compromise.
3. Legislators have simply been in office too long. Consider these ridiculous re-election rates. Over the past 23 elections, the percent of US House members has averaged 93%, and the supposedly more stable Senate has averaged 82%. (source: www.opensecrets.org). It has been quoted often that turnover in the old Soviet Politburo exceeded that of the US Congress. This doesn't bode well for any "democracy" and certainly doesn't suggest all that voter unhappiness has translated into any sort of accountability.
4. The exponential growth of media outlets and need for interesting content over the past 20 years has created debate at the extremes, making it more difficult for any well-intended leader to legislate in the middle.
5. Voter participation has declined 15-20% since the 1960's, when the % of voting age people that voted in presidential elections was in the high 60%'s, and in the mid 50%'s in midterm elections. Most recently, voters as a percent of voter age population were 58% in the 2008 presidential election and 44% in the 2006 midterm election. While comparable data on taxes isn't available to the voter data, we do know 1/3 of all tax returns filed show no tax, and estimates suggest that of 50% of the population >18 pay no tax. How it is that almost 1/2 of the citizens do not participate in their civic voting duty, and still another 1/2 pay not a penny for government. A correlation maybe? (source: US Census Bureau and taxfoundation.org data)
6. As voters have become more apathetic and media noise has become more shrill, candidates' need for money and messaging has increased dramatically. More and more marketing effort is needed to "pop through" the clutter to an apathetic population and as the campaign/news cycles extend debate. While political messaging spending is very high, it pales in comparison to certain consumer product spending such as soft drink promotion.
7. The continuous election cycle provides a very short term orientation in government actions and fiscal decisions. While voters regularly express their unhappiness with their political institutions, they vote for their current pocketbook, no matter how unaffordable their entitlements may be a generation down the road. In this environment, no politician concerned more with re-election than long term solutions will propose or be able to execute on closing the gaps in any meaningful way
So, while we all point to 2010 mid-term elections and want all want our side to win, maybe we should look for solutions from either side as to how we might address these fundamental problems so progress can be made after any election. Just a thought.....
-Scott Mordell
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