It's okay Elfie, not everyone has to love 'deth. We love you anyways!
I always think of Tipper Gore when I hear that song, although the one she inspired is Hook In Mouth. I think my favorite line in Peace is "What do you mean I don't believe in G-d?/I talk to Him every day."
*note: Siggs it is, "What do you mean I don't support your system?"*
Raiden wrote: Despite its subject matter, I think "A Tout Le Monde" is beautiful.
Dave was definitely right about one thing; the world really does need a hero.
A Tout le Monde is, yeah. I was glad Dave didn't let the critical ones keep him from rerecording the song nor playing it live. I was STOKED when he played it for us in Vancouver.
The world does need a hero. More than one, in fact.
There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of
this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the
economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges.
However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to
your job.
What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape
in this country. Of course, as your employer, I am forbidden to tell you
whom to vote for -- it is against the law to discriminate based on political
affiliation, Race, creed, religion, etc.
Please vote who you think will serve your interests the best. However, let
me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is
in your best interest:
First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there
is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by
what you see and hear.
Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home
at last years Christmas party. I'm sure all these flashy icons of luxury
conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life. However, what you
don't see is the back story.
I started this company 12 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square
foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living space was converted
into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company,
which by the way, would eventually employ you.
My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent
went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a
defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed
home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying.
In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made
a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove
flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer
clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item,
I was trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item that
didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's.
My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I,
however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business
with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these
luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at
about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for
me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend
all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, ****, and
breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is
no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached
to me like a 1 day old baby.
You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the
Mercedes, the vacations... You never realize the back story and the
sacrifices I've made. Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy
that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out
all the people who didn't.
The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the
same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for. Yes,
business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not
without wounds. Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and
employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and
let me tell you why:
I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough.
I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes.
Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes
on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then
guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government
mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now
occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US
Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus"
check was?
Zero. Nada. Zilch.
The question I have is this:
Who is stimulating the economy? Me - the guy who has provided 14
people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with
a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant
with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check?
Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this
country. The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck
you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's
nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I
agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand; to stimulate the economy you
need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government
mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of
depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have
spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic
growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in
the form of promotions and better salaries.
But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't
defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life,
do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart?
Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it,
you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in
Washington believe the mud of America are the essential drivers of the
American economic engine.
Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you
can keep. So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple. If any new
taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and
simple.
I will fire you. I will fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the
government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future.
Frankly, it isn't my problem any more. Then, I will close this company
down, move to another country, and retire.
You see, I'm done.
I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the
unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be
destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
While tax cuts to 95% of America sounds great on paper, don't forget the
backstory: If there is no job, there is no income to tax. A tax cut on zero
dollars is zero.
So, when you make decision to vote, ask yourself, who understands the
economics of business ownership and who doesn't? Whose policies will
endanger your job? Answer those questions and you should know who
might be the one capable of saving your job.
While the media wants to tell you "It's the economy Stupid" I'm telling you
it isn't.
If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at
the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country,
steamrolled the Constitution, and will have changed its landscape
forever.
If that happens, you can find me in South Caribbean sitting on a beach,
retired, and with no employees to worry about.
That one is really ringing around my heard, and probably will for the next hour or so.
Quick question for you guys... let's say that because of a downturn in business, rather than lay you off, your employer keeps you but your salary is cut by 40%.
We love you anyways! 
