John Spencer Yantiss - Business

<< John Spencer Yantiss

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Insider trading should not be legalized. Only after mugging and burglary have been de-criminalised.

Starbucks should not serve wine and beer.

I do not smoke cigarettes.

Unemployment insurance should be expanded to cover part-time workers.

I prefer to live in an urban area.

I prefer wine to beer and liquor.

Ben Bernanke should be reappointed as Federal Reserve Chairman in 2010. The seeds of the financial debacle in which the entire nation, and much of the rest of the world, currently stuggles, were not planted on his watch, but have been cultivated over many years, and several administrations, including the years of his predecessor.

General Motors (GM) will become a successful company again. Almost certainly; their corporate infrastructure is such that, and despite the doomsday reports of their financial condition, GM will again sell automobiles profitably. However, their gargantuan presence in the market will never again be possible. Their product line was bloated in the extreme, lapping over in every category. IBM learned a long time ago that it is impossible for a firm to be all things to all people, even within a single sector.

Privacy is the most important accommodation factor when traveling as a tourist.

Bed & Breakfasts offer tourists the best opportunity to experience the local lifestyle.

Race and ethnicity should not be a factor in hiring and promotion.

The quality of Starbucks coffee does not merit the price. For anyone really wanting the best, for a fair price, visit Moonstruck Diner--three locations in NYC. Of course, if you live outside of Gotham, as a grand uncle of mine used to say, "Yes, well, uh--" :)

The U.S. unemployment rate will reach double digits in 2009. I hate to be able to say it, but since I was laid off in January, know how tough it is finding work, and of not a few personal acquaintances in the same situation, I have to say, yes, it is likely.

Facebook is worth the $15 billion valuation implied by Microsoft's investment. Not now, but it probably will be within the next year to year and a half, which actually means that--O!--it is?! As recently as ten years ago people were saying that Amazon.com would never fly. For those of you too young to have been aware at the time, Amazon.com began in the DOS era of commandline and green screens, and lost money for well over ten years. The commercial world is no longer driven solely by tangible goods, but at least as much by services. Whether or not I, JSY, think that a given service is worthwhile is irrelevant, regarding its value as a revenue generator.

Communities should not be allowed to print their own currency for use at local businesses. Whence this!? If we wish to make 21st century economics, commerce, and markets confusing beyond all hope of reason, then by all means go for it!

The U.S. should bar the sale of major American corporations to China. If America does not soon move to protect its own business entities, at least to the extent that with whom we wish to do increased trade, to wit, China, Japan, India, Russia, and the various Arab nations, we will not HAVE goods and services to trade. The reason Japan monopolises the production of technology goods is because we made lopsided trade and technology agreements with them, in their favour. We allowed them access to our technology in exchange for paltry, worthless trade concessions. Further, we allowed them to buy into, and buy out, major U. S. corporations, for instance, RCA Victor--now Japanese Victor; Columbia Pictures--now a subsidiary of Songy Pictures; and on, and on. Many people say, "Hey, they employ thousands of Americans, and pay taxes, and, and, and..." The truth is that the PROFITS go to Japan, and the taxes they do pay are not anywhere close to what American-owned corporations pay. Do the math--in other words, serious, independent research, and not based on figures provided by the mainstream media and Hollywood.

Congress should not enact the Employee Free Choice Act. Taking the privacy, the anonymity, out of voting is about as anti-American, anti-democratic, anti-representative republic, ad infinitum, as is possible. The fact that virtually all major unions, and Democrats support this spuriously-named bill should tell people who and what the Democrat Party (calling that coniving political entity "Democratic Party" is also fraudulent) really is, has become since the days when, for the most part, JFK shared the same opinions and policy views as Reagan. Open, public balloting is a feature of totalitarian governments, whether extreme left or extreme right. Those who favour a socialist system do not even know that for which they wish. Look out, brother, here comes your Big Brother.

Dunkin' Donuts brews a better-tasting coffee than Starbucks.

Microsoft retail stores will effectively compete with Apple. Absolutely! Even if Apple had a superior OS, a judgement with which I cannot agree, having used both Mac OS, and Windows 95-xxx, MS still has twenty-plus times the installed base of Apple, and will continue to dominate. It is too pervasive in all markets except intensive graphic arts. Coupled with the continuing pricing chasm between MS/Intel and Apple-made machines, and the simple needs of the casual consumer user, Apple will never achieve the numbers of MS, much less exceed.

Congress should have passed the $787 billion stimulus bill. Though the bill as architected was not at all satisfactory, passing it was better than none at all.

The $787 billion stimulus bill is not satisfactory.

Legalization of marijuana would have a negative effect on the economy.

Capitalism is the most effective economic system. The record is undeniable. Human vagaries and shortcomings cause periodic economic crisis in a capitalist society. In socialist/communist systems economic crisis is the norm, that is why China has introduced capitalist principles and organs into its social fabric. Socialism and "communism" (the latter, never having actually existed--pure communism and pure democracy are the same thing, and neither has ever been established beyond an extremely short-lived utopian experiment), in their real-world iterations, are nothing more nor less than totalitarianism in the guize of benevolence. Contrary to the thinking of many, His followers did not fabricate or "embellish" His life and works. To maintain that they did, in the face of certain death, and virtually assured, extreme hardship, and likely torture, is another example of protesting too much.

The federal government should allow General Motors (GM) to file for bankruptcy.

TARP funds should be restricted from reaching foreign institutions.

It was appropriate for the Obama Administration to force GM's CEO Rick Wagoner to resign. I say this with much reservation, as it is extremely dangerous for an American president to take upon himself such powers; indeed, I am not at all certain that he HAS such authority under the constitution. However, drastic measures must be taken if the American automobile industry is to survive, and, contrary to the thinking of some, allowing U. S. manufacturing industries to go away is the surest way to guaranty American decline, economically, and as far as our national security. Japanese automobile manufacturing in the U. S. is NOT American manufacturing; where do the profits ultimately go? Take a wild guess.

The U.S. dollar should be the world's reserve currency.

The MTA fare hikes are not justified. The MTA has grossly mismanaged its own services and facilities. Not only have the executives given themselves sizeable raises and bonuses during the past four years, but have initiated "improvements" which are/will be attractive, but are not nearly as important as the actual service, which is their primary responsibility. Also, in the past five years, ridership increased significantly, with the concommitent rise in revenue, and STILL they cannot meet budget. As is true of most governmentally run businesses/services, if it were a private corporation it would have been OUT of business long ago. MTA can easily be compared to the USPS, another example of organisational incompetence.

Secretary Geithner's public-private partnership to buy up toxic assets will help stabilize the financial system.

Congress should grant the Treasury Department authority to take over non-bank financial institutions that pose a systemic risk.

The proposed 90% tax on AIG bonuses is not constitutional.

The U.S. government should not try to recoup AIG bonuses.

Congress should not tax AIG bonuses.

The Obama Administration is more responsible than the Bush Administration for the U.S. stock market decline in 2009. For those of you who delight in playing the blame game, NEITHER ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MARKET DECLINE! Get a grip! If any political group or body is responsible it is the Democrat congress which pressured lenders to grant risky loans, in conjunction with ACORN and all the other ultra-liberal ORGs.

AIG should not be forced to reveal the names of executives that received bonuses. If disclosed confidentially to the proper government authorities, I would change my position. This is not a cut-and-dried situation. The bonuses were contractually promised before the implosion began. Also, threats have become a potentially critical factor.

The New Deal prolonged the Great Depression.

Coke makes a better tasting cola than Pepsi.

The government should not allow large banks to fail.

JetBlue is the low-cost U.S. airline I prefer to fly with.

Governors should not reject federal assistance allocated in the stimulus package. How many of those who voted "Yes" would have done so if they had been laid off, and had to move from an apartment to a room, as has happened to me. Unemployment assistance extension, and much, much more is in that stimulus bill. Someone like myself, in his fifties, who lost everything in the aftermath of Katrina, and was just beginning--BEGINNING--to make a little headway needs help. As much as we would all like to think it so, such aid is not going to show up from benevolence organizations or family. Ideologically speaking, such non-governmental sources of help in time of trouble is absolutely preferable, but will never happen en masse.