Posts Tagged ‘America’
Real America
Posted by Jamie Hutson | Filed under Life
America was founded on the belief that all men were created equal. That each and every person who came to our shores should be afforded the same freedoms and liberties and their piece of the American dream. Over the last 232 years the definition of the American Dream has changed and morphed as the quality of our life has increased and recently decreased, but it has always been a symbol of hope that everyone can become anything they want.
In 2000 John McCain ran a campaign on his values, his ideals and his belief that everyone could be the American Dream. I supported him then, I saw him speak twice - he was an American hero - and he still is. Unfortunately today he has become everything he despises, everything he ran agains 8 years ago. If he had been elected 8 years ago I have no doubt the world would be a better place. However today he is running a campaign to divide a stake in the middle of America. His choice of a running mate is an embarrassment to our country, the country he nearly gave his life for. His choice of Sarah Palin was one of the most sexist, outrageous and egregious decisions made in thie country in my lifetime. She is unqualified, unaccustomed to dealing with “real” issues and a blaring example of how out of touch he is with the world today.
Quantifying “real” America as a place where people are “pro-America,” having surrogates demand examinations of “pro or anti-American” congressmen - thats Socialism. Need Mr. McCain be reminded that it is a Republican administration, supported by a bill he voted for, that is currently nationalizing our banking system. Apparently his campaign needs to be reminded of some of the more ominous tenets of Socialism, particularly in the specter he is using, that Socialism creates a tangible fear of speaking out against your government. Socialism demands you listen to your government, not question it; Socialism puts a blanket name on all those who disagree or dissent. Socialism is what Russian was for 70 years, Socialism created massive starvation, gulags and trembling fear amongst the people - that they might be next, just for thinking ill thoughts of their government.
Real America is asking why the people in charge aren’t doing a better job. Real America goes to college, learns about the world outside of America - not just in a “liberal elite” manner where students are taught to hate, but where students are taught to think.
Real America is in New York City, its in Seattle, Washington, its in Nebraska, its in Wyoming its in Missouri and Florida. Its in Ivy League schools, its in southern baptist high schools, its not black or white and its not Catholic or Muslim. Its America - we’re the melting pot. Where good ideas and good people come together to form the best nation on earth - the best nation ever.
I try to keep politics out of this blog, but I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Its insulting to me, and its insulting to the people founded this country. If you’re reading this, chances are you feel the same way. Because I am Pro-America. As Pro-America as anyone in this country. And if you’re voting for McCain this election, you’re not voting Pro-America, or for “Real” America. If you are voting at all this election you are voting for Pro-America and for “Real America.”
I believe we already fought a war to keep the United States of America - united.
God bless America.
The Leaves are Falling
Posted by Jamie Hutson | Filed under Life, advertising, revenue models
Its October and unfortunately the leaves aren’t the only things falling. As the days get shorter and the weather a bit colder its an interesting time to be thinking about business. I have so much fun running a business, marketing, strategy, different things every day - its great. But there are some times when business is not easy, hiring/not hiring, letting people go, dealing with soured relationships, etc - and of course its never fun to see the sky falling all around you.
This time around (referring to the recurring October market crashes), I have a stake in whats happening. I didn’t know what the stock market was in ‘87 and I was too busy crushing life in 2000-2001 to really see the affects of that downturn. But now I’m here and I’ve got everything I have in the stake of the economy. I read recently (today) that ad supported businesses are in danger, and hear major VCs telling their portfolio companies to “tighten their belts.” This is laughable, what kind of business model - not website, tech company, ad network - but business model encourages or allows operating with no constraints? Of course companies are going to have to tighten their belts, a third of them are going to close! Look at JP Morgan. Look at your regional banks that only lend money to the best qualified.
Look at whats happening these days, this part isn’t laughable. Lehman, Merrill, and others… people are losing their jobs. Big white collar jobs. And you know what alot of these startups that are competing in the same arena as 12 other startups funded by 12 other $2 Million dollar rounds, how are they all going to survive this economy? Well maybe the economy will be just fine. Maybe the $12 Million dollars we raised last year will get us through 2009? Maybe. (we didn’t raise $12mm, its rhetorical)
My point here is that when people buy houses they can’t afford, when people sell loans they know can’t be repaid, when consumers rack up tens of thousands of dollars of debt buying iPhones, new laptops, expensive jackets and all this - some people think thats the American way. Well thats a shame if it really is, I mean REALLY is. I don’t think thats the American way. Entrepreneurship, new business investments, commerce, advertising (invented/pioneered by Ben Franklin) these are the American way. But even we can go astray -even advertising can! ;).
We make so much of the people who took out loans they couldn’t afford, but Citibank was telling people it was ok - “Live Richly” What about the lenders who backed these loans, and sold them. What about the Bear Sterns Executives who sold their stock at $92 a share in December in January, but told the world (and their employees) all was fine. What about the SEC and the Fed who stood by idly and watched de-regulation and absurd speculation create a pile of fake wealth sitting on top of a very delicate bubble. People were angry at “Wall Street” for creating this mess - what about our government oversight - WHOSE JOB IT IS TO PREVENT OVERREACHING SPECULATION IN THE MARKETS!? What about the administration that deregulated the banking industry in the same way we did 5 years before the Savings and Loan Crisis 20 years ago.
I’m sorry I got off track, but I’ll leave that rant for now… I can’t believe what I’m seeing these days. I can’t believe that a start up, no matter how well funded, needs to be told they should tighten their belts. You’re a start up, starting a new business. This economy is going to be bad. People lost their jobs, they’re losing their homes, and I am losing my mind looking at all these experts who didn’t see this coming. Those who neglect history are destined to repeat it.
I don’t even know how to finish this off because I started out much more benign, but its true, this country has forgotten how it works. We got lazy, we built another bubble, we got greedy, we got rich and then we destroyed everyone else. America is about creation. Creation of jobs, of wealth, of art, of relationships, of lasting businesses. America needs to look in the mirror, because we are awesome, but we need a little check here and unfortunately its going to come too late (if at all).
We need to get back to the real us, the real US. Taking or making an idea better; inventing new products. Not just multiplying some jumbo loans together, and calling it money.
Customer: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?
Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of shit. That’s all it is, isn’t it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer’s sake, for your daughter’s sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.
AIG - didn’t you gaurantee loans?
American Ramble
Posted by Jamie Hutson | Filed under Life
Alright, I was watching CNN today during lunch and they were discussing the “Obama Children-On-TV Story.” While two panelists where discussing the incident (which couldn’t be less important to anythingI), I noticed “Iran conducts missile tests, intl community worried.”
So the ring leader of the “Axis of Evil” with a president who doesn’t believe in the holocaust, launches a missle tests and says “Our Finger is always on the trigger” and we are talking about whether or not Barak Obama bringing his children on an interview during his daughters birthday party is good for his electability. No wonder the news is losing its credibility. These people were having a serious debate over how Obama’s children will affect his public perception, while one of the biggest issues in the middle east became even bigger.
Iran is testing long range missiles to shoot at Israel and we are concerned over the vanity of who is on TV. That is what is wrong with our country, we have no idea what is going on and the majority of us get our information from major media outlets. The media has its own agenda - the people making news have their own agenda. The news media should just be reporting what happened - all of it. I watch MSNBC because I like their point of view; I listen to conservative talk radio because it gives me a middle ground to compare to the liberal news. But what about the people who only listen to one. Is it so ridiculous that some of our opinions might be slightly biased?
Jon Stewart made a good analogy to our current outlook in Washington. If we are addicted to drinking and we are all out of alcohol, getting more alcohol doesn’t solve the problem - it makes it worse. We shouldn’t be concerned over getting more oil and destroying our native earth to get more oil - even thought it won’t matter for 5-10 years - we should be concerned about fixing our problem: inefficiencies. Its the same with newspapers, its the same with oil, its the same with just about every struggling industry these days.
Stop trying to hang on to the old way and embrace the new way. And seriously America, lets take a look at what is really important to us - I love this country.
