DR. SPOCK PLANTED THE SEEDS OF SOCIALISM

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD Neo Traditionalist

Newsweek’s cover story on February 14, 2009,  “We Are All Socialists Now” was shocking to see in print.  This attention getter is certainly premature although it does dramatically state the road we are traveling. It is true today that many Americans are not disturbed by the phenomenal growth of government and its intrusion into our daily lives.

Just a few years ago America overwhelmingly understood the ultimate devastation to a nation’s freedom and prosperity of following the unworkable, phony promises of socialism. The mention of “American socialism” was taboo. As our affluence has grown our appreciation of the nightmare unrealistic notions has faded. The lack of knowledge of history, the media’s infatuation with socialism and especially the way we are raising our children for the past 60 years are the reasons socialism has become more acceptable to Americans.

The permissive/materialistic approach to child rearing started by Dr. Benjamin Spock after WWII has lain the foundation for dependency on the government. His advice influenced not only the “baby boomer era” after WWII but also our child rearing practices up to the present. The permissive/materialistic philosophy he promoted was a radical departure from our traditional child rearing practices. It has made us more susceptible for a “something for nothing-take care of me for life” attitude.

Dr. Spock’s guidelines are a compatible formula for raising adults to conform to a socialistic agenda. Children under this approach are taught they are equal to parents and other adults. In a democratic family, members have an equal vote regardless of their abilities and responsibilities. Children are convinced they are entitled to anything they want by asking or by demanding it.

This unrealistic idea encourages children to do and get what they want without having to contribute anything. Instead of learning to be givers to the family and society, these princes and princesses become debaters and manipulators pushing the envelope to get what they want. Children raised in this manner have little appreciation and understanding of the cost of their existence. Ultimately it produces instant gratification, credit consumers with a warped sense of how the real world functions.

One of the reasons this type of child rearing became so fashionable with parents is that it takes them off the hook for having to work at parenting. There was no more need to instill traditional moral values that require close supervision, firmness and disciplining until the child reaches adulthood.

The primary goal of parents who follow Spock is for them to be the child’s friend not to prepare him to function as an adult. This allows parents to have more time for personal enjoyment and pursuits without the burden of everyday responsibilities and hassles of raising their children. The parents do pay the price of doing things for their children that the traditionally raised would easily do for themselves. These parents do not realize if they invested the time in teaching the skills and habits to do things for themselves when the child was young they would no longer have to constantly manage their children’s lives.

The children and grandchildren of “baby boomers” are even more removed from the traditional moral training of right and wrong, personal responsibility and the work ethic. This lack of reality training makes these future adults more willing to accept the loss of personal freedom for a material bribe. The self-reliance of traditional childhood has been lost in the instant gratification and no limits world created by Spock’s child rearing approach.

It is no wonder that consciously or unconsciously Dr. Spock’s parenting would encourage acceptance of a socialistic world. In 1972 Dr. Spock ran for president on the People’s Party platform. He called for a guaranteed median income for families, legalized abortion, homosexuality, marijuana and called for an immediate withdrawal from Vietnam.

The present child development experts who mostly promote permissive/materialistic practices are being exposed for their inability to produce strong, self-reliant and hard working adults. These inadequacies of this philosophy are hard to gloss over in a more competitive world.

In economic prosperity, parents can afford to be complacent about their child’s productivity. They can use their resources to buy expensive gifts and “experts” who can attempt to correct their lack of diligence in parenting.

Tough times demand more steadfast parents who have no illusions that their money can purchase their child’s success. Parent’s complacency is replaced by urgency when they no longer have the resources to buy their child’s future.

The economic correction of living beyond our means that is now taking place will serve a positive unintended consequence. Parents will be forced to understand that they have knowledge that their children do not have.  They will have more clarity of the responsibility they have to share this with their children.

Parents must again be parents. They must insist that the child do quality work in all activities especially the ones the child dislikes or finds difficult. Parent’s finite time with their child should be primarily devoted to preparing them to be decent human beings who persevere to accomplish whatever they set their sights on.

The way we rock the cradle does determine our national character and future.

Weak, helpless, dependent citizens are the essential ingredient for a small group of power elites  succeeding in robbing us of our freedoms by imposing a totalitarian state.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

AMERICANS SHOULD PROUDLY SPEAK UP FOR THE USA

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Neo Traditionalist

It is easy to understand why foreigners dislike the USA. Night after night on our own and foreign television and in the press, America is portrayed as a violent, prejudiced and greedy nation that has accumulated wealth and power through exploiting foreign nations.

America is hated worldwide partly due to jealousy of our success but mostly because of the horrible way our and the foreign press corps depict our nation.  Any wholesome news is rarely published as it would either not be sensational enough or appear as USA propaganda. Significant positive events, no matter how real, also would be dismissed by the people as propaganda. The result of this constant negative reporting creates the false image that the USA is a country to be despised.

Chavez is cheered for his anti-American diatribes in the United Nations. No wonder the Miss America candidate was booed in Mexico. Throughout the world there are politically staged anti-American protests casting America as a regime on a par with Nazi Germany.

This constant negativity is not only impacting our international image, it is affecting our best and brightest. Our students are not taught about the incredible personal sacrifices of our countrymen throughout our history. Instead they receive anti-American propaganda emphasizing individual frailties and policy shortcomings while dismissing the overwhelming generosity of our nation towards other peoples of the world. The heroes of our past and our victories in liberating nations and assisting in humanitarian endeavors are unrecognized or spun to render them worthless.

The answer to remedying this distorted view of America is simple. Citizens must do their duty to explain to others the facts about America. We need to teach about our incredible history based on our Constitution and Bill of Rights to our own children and the students in our schools. No one else is better than the American people to tell the truth about America. It is up to each and every citizen to dispel ridiculous conspiratorial theories spread by the likes of Hollywood’s Michael Moore and Oliver Stone.

First, parents should point out to their children citizens in the neighborhood whose daily exemplary lives are inspiring to them. They need to tell the children the wonderful things others have done in their lives that has gone above and beyond their duty to help them. Secondly, highlight the media incidents like the pilot Chelsey Sullenberger and his crew and the New York ferry boat workers who saved the 155 people in the airplane that landed on the Hudson River.

Patriotic citizens need to inform other citizens and foreigners that our prosperity is not based on luck or oppressive power, but on our morals, rule of law and dedication to the work ethic. We should describe in detail to them the hectic lifestyle we have to live in order to maintain our standard of living and position in the world.  Up to this point, the average American has earned what he has.

America is a magnet to many people around the world. Foreigners worldwide pour into America to visit and return home with many goods. They see wide boulevards, large modern homes, orderly neighborhoods, a vast array of consumer products and constant opportunities to shop, which are impressive to them. Immigrants prove, regardless of the distorted media, that the USA is still highly admired. It is the destination to which most people would like to migrate.

Our nation like other countries has many areas in need of improvement, although we are, for the most part, a generous and decent people. We possess more economic and individual freedom than any other country on earth. There are many more reasons to be proud of than to be ashamed of our country.

A triumph of America is dramatically witnessed every four years. In a lawful electoral process, the power of our federal government is handed over to the electoral winner. This is done in a peaceful manner even though a small percentage is usually the determining factor between the winning and losing candidate.

There is no other major nation on the face of the earth that has had a more stable and uninterrupted federal republic form of government. Regardless of the intensity of the presidential campaign, majority rule has prevailed. There has been no armed resistance to reverse the election results in the United States. This peaceful transition, by itself is a tribute to American exceptionalism.

The peace, prosperity, vast national resources and especially our constitutional republic gives every American reason to count his blessings. Instead of despising America for its imperfections, we should unite in our appreciation for what America has done to make each citizen’s life full of opportunity.

Americans need to proudly stand up and speak to help misinformed anti-American citizens and foreigners comprehend the virtues of living in the freest nation on earth.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SHOULD BE OUT-ON-BAIL NOT BAILING OUT

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD.    Neo Traditionalist

The American public has seen enough of Congress’s political sleight of-hand. Like a “Shell Game” they move the focus from one emergency bailout to another crisis to keep us from finding the truth about their filthy hands in creating this economic disaster.

We the people must demand a special prosecutor to get to the bottom of punishing governmental representatives receiving unethical and illegal kickbacks. The money can  easily be traced back to executives who donated money or special benefits to Congressional leaders to initiate laws that serve their special interests. The people’s interest is ignored

The Congressional Club, the Executive branch and the media are no longer functioning as a check-and-balance on each other.   They glibly talk about transparency while behind the citizen’s back, not only do they bailout incompetence amongst their corporate buddies but make deals to avoid being “outed” for self-serving unethical behavior. The government elites’ self-protection club is about the only thing in Washington, DC that is functioning well.

The most immoral of our congressional leaders are using their spotlight to give hush, bailout money and allow “golden parachutes” to the very executives that line their pockets with contributions and corporate benefits.   These pompous crooks are given a pass by the press corps who laughs along with them while they verbally crucify other elites in business and government without calling for investigations and punishment that might singe them. After their tough antics in front of the cameras these phonies continue to grant lucrative bailouts to their friends.

The imperial Congress has to be made accountable for their mutual, beneficial and probably corrupt relationship with corporations. The Barney Franks, Christopher Dodds and Charles Rangels have to be immediately investigated for their already identified unethical and possibly criminal behavior. They can no longer be allowed to cast more dubious legislation and bailouts to solidify their power.  President Bush and other executive personnel need to testify under oath the reasons for their silence or cooperation in the mismanagement of the economy.

This farce of smoke and mirrors continues each week with another revelation and bailout scheme to stabilize the economy. It only causes uncertainty and inflames fear that enables them to push their personal agenda.  We need to get to the bottom of this cancer.

The American people know in their own lives that to regain health you have to “suck it up” and take the right bitter medicine. First you have to identify the problem by examining all the possibilities of what is causing the difficulty. In this financial panic

before we can remove the financial uncertainty that is compounding the fear, we need to demand a special prosecutor. Like any competent professional he will examine the history of this debacle to determine the web of deceit and remove the parasites that have infected our economy.

Citizens understand the imposing of bailouts is not solving the cause of our economic downturn. It is the government elites’ underhanded attempt to control our economy. In a Socialized America, government elites will magnify their importance and power  attempting to micromanage our economic decisions. This will radically decrease our freedom.

Only we middle class Americans will lose. The rich and the poor will gain. The upper class will lock in their wealth and power while the poor will be given redistributed wealth for their vote. The taxes will primarily come from the middle class taxpayers. This will cause the demise of the middle class and capitalism.

The Special Prosecutor can and should cut through the special interests presenting the facts of how this happened and punish the scoundrels.  We the people should become more vigilant in electing moral representatives who will follow our constitutional law.

Citizens need to take the power back from government representatives. A march on Washington will put fear into the hearts of these out-of-control egotists. The free market economy and individual rights protected under the constitution attracted worldwide immigration to the shores of the USA. It was our freedom to excel and incredible work ethic that has made us the envy of the world. In the past we were blessed by moral leadership.

The present cast of greedy power grabbing and self-serving buffoons is leading us down a path towards being a third world nation. Their excuses, lack of responsibility and blaming everyone else must be ended. We should drain the swamp that is infesting America.

Our destiny as the leader of the free world depends on our ability to cleanse the government of these slimy politicians.

Dr. Maglio is the author of  Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING ENDS WITH LESS THAN NOTHING

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD Neo Traditionalist

November 17, 2008

In 1916 Rev. J.H. Boetcker wrote “The Ten Cannots”. These “Cannots” still ring true especially in our current economic meltdown.

   1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

   2. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

   3. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

   4. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

   5. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

   6. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

   7. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

   8. You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

   9. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.

  10. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

There should be another “Cannot” Number 11, added to this list.

   11. You cannot build national prosperity by giving mega companies and 40% of the citizens something for nothing.

It appears that almost everyone except our national leaders know that when people are given something without earning it they do not appreciate and just waste it. They might have won the lottery or received an inheritance or a substantial job promotion because of their good looks, their friends or ability to con others. Sometimes we even are dumb enough to be envious of what seems to be their good fortune. These people who have not earned and sacrificed for what they have been given, place little value on it. In a short interval they blow the money ending in a worse financial and psychological state than they were before.

AIG, the world’s largest and most notorious insurance company insists on having outrageously expensive retreats in luxurious settings with $87 billion of taxpayer’s money. AIG continues its addiction to non-prudent business practices. It asked for more bailout money because “it is too big to fail.” It has received yet another bailout totaling $150 billion. This is not capitalism it is incompetent socialism.

A small businessman faced with a red bottom line would have to do the opposite of AIG. He would have to review his policies, cut back on discretionary spending, decrease his personal income and reluctantly lay off employees in order to turn a profit. The past reality was if he did not place his business in the black he would be out of business. Even if the business failed, self-reliant people would learn a lesson that would help them be more successful the next time.

In this chaos of bailouts the small entrepreneur would not be able to learn from the “school of hard knocks”. He might hold out hope that the government would give him a present too. A handout would stop innovation plus feed the addiction to other’s money. In the same way people who have blown their lottery winnings or inheritance bonanzas often expect family and friends to subsidize the above-their-means lifestyle. Eventually, like any addict, the people close to them get tired of their whining and back off to let them crash back into reality.

Unfortunately our government is not ready to say “enough.” The corporate and government elites who are directly involved with the embezzlement of our treasury are receiving no criminal or financial consequences under our present approach.  Forty percent of all potential taxpayers, the lower class, do not pay federal income tax and will not care about the destruction of our currency as long as they keep on receiving checks from the government.

We need to get government out of attempting to micromanage the economy by changing the rules as they go along. By not allowing businesses to fail we are encouraging bad business practices and discouraging corrective actions. Our financial institutions, international insurance companies, the automobile industry, state and local governments and our next bailed out industry will continue to have its hands out for more and more money. The lower class will gladly take another stimulus package to spend someone else’s money for their Christmas gifts. Everyone would line up. They are creating a bottomless pit. “Something for Nothing” economic policy will cause many hardworking middle class innocent bystanders to wind up with worthless money and savings. Continuing down the path of printing more money to save undeserving corporations while paying off the poor to keep them quiet and happy will end in an economic collapse.

United States citizens must denounce our present disastrous economic enabling greed. The middle class that has the majority of the tax burden will demand holding our government and corporate elites accountable. The middle class revolt will force our elected and corporate leaders to stop their manipulation of the market.  These elites will no longer be able to protect the poorly run companies from suffering the consequences of their actions. These companies that have discarded their competitive edge will make the necessary changes under Chapter 11 or go bankrupt like any other failed venture. The well-run businesses will not only survive but also grow and prosper.

You cannot build economic prosperity by giving mismanaged entities something for nothing. Stopping government influence peddling for money will unleash capitalist principles to keep our economy free and viable.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

SOLVING OUR NATION’S CREDIT ADDICTION

By Domenick Maglio PhD Neo Traditionalist

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance” Cicero, 55 BC.

History repeats itself although the officialdom has not learned its lessons. Alan Greenspan, former long-term head of the Federal Reserve, consistently assured the American people that the 5-year housing boom would not negatively affect the national economy. On October 23, 2008, instead of taking responsibility for not stopping fraud and reckless financial practices, he stated in front of the House Oversight Committee that the present “melt-down” had revealed a flaw in a lifetime of economic thinking and left him in a state of “shocked disbelief.” He had to know the housing bubble, like the “Dot.Com” bubble would eventually burst.

What goes up must come down except for powerful government elites. Arrogantly our nation’s elites through the privately owned corporation, the Federal Reserve, are attempting to alter the natural laws of economics. Ben Bernake, presently the head of the Federal Reserve, told Congress on October 19, 2008 that another multi billion-dollar stimulus package will be needed. This statement gave a blessing to throwing more of the taxpayer’s dollars into propping up an out-of-control speculative boom.

The elite financial gurus of our nation insist we need to loosen credit so people can buy houses, autos and other large purchases so we can keep the economy humming. Increasing the money supply lowers the value of each dollar. Anyone who recently traveled to Europe knows the dollar has fallen to 65% of its value compared to the Euro. Eventually if we continue without cutting back on our spending we will be like the German Weinberg republic where a person needed a wheelbarrow full of money to buy a loaf of bread.

Most Americans have been pragmatic not delusional citizens. They understood that there are economic downturn periods. When times are prosperous they know they had to save and live within their means.

Times have changed in balancing our budget. Americans have the lowest percentage of savings and the highest level of bankruptcy in our history. With the constant barrage of no money down, buy on credit, spend, spend, spend, we have jumped on the bandwagon of living for today and forget about tomorrow’s obligations.

 “Credit addiction” has not only invaded the common sense of many citizens, through the consumerism propaganda campaign, but government/corporate elites appear to also have become addicted to spending money they do not have. Through the immoral exchange of kickbacks for corporate welfare congressmen sold out their sacred responsibility of balancing the budget.

As with any addiction you reach a pivotal point where you choose to face painful withdrawal or you choose to suffer an agonizing death. Many of our citizens and now our governmental representatives have to decide to stop kidding ourselves and begin the difficult task of living within our budgets or suffer personal or national disaster. Not many sane Americans want to be a slave to a personal or national addiction.

Our government and corporate elites have to admit they are addicted to “loose money” and bailouts. By acknowledging they created and sustained a false “boom market” can they begin the process of righting this artificial economy. Passing laws, backed by our treasury to give credit to people and now corporations, who cannot pay them back is fertile ground for corruption and another Great Depression.

Alan Greenspan can do our nation a great service by admitting the housing boom was largely his fault and not a flaw of the free market economy. He turned a blind eye to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and CEO shenanigans and kept the interest rate of borrowing money at unprecedented lows that spurred on reckless lending. His policy as well as that of his protégé, Ben Bernake, was to continually increase liquidity: the money supply, by printing more money, which lowered the value of our currency.

By not allowing the free market system to work we are compounding, not solving the problem. The bitter medicine is to let the free market set home prices no matter how low they fall and determine solvency of corporations no matter the political influence or the size of the corporation. No industry or international company is too big to fail.

As the truth of the loose morals and money debacle surfaces, these elites who perpetuate this pillage of our economic system will be forced to step down from their non-elected positions of power and our corrupt politicians need to be voted out of office.

Only by exposing the real culprits and their destructive policies can our economy’s credit addiction be held in check for the benefit of all responsible Americans.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

THE AMERICAN SPIRIT WILL PREVAIL

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Neo Traditionalist

The current monetary crisis was a long time coming. Almost everyone knew the mortgages given to people with no money down who could not afford to pay them back was a disaster in the making. Those of us who played by the rules, paid our mortgages, worked hard every day and did not participate in the risky business of flipping homes saw our interests disregarded. We are panicky that our way of life, savings and freedom will be gone each morning when we wake up.

Our leaders are unwilling to make the hard decisions we know must be made to correct previously unintended mistakes or outright corruption and deceit. This is especially despicable for CEOs who “cooked the books” to receive obscene multi million dollar bonuses. Our faith in our elite leaders and institutions is disintegrating in front of our eyes.  We are a nation without a rudder.

This present national crisis is not a figment of our imagination. It has to be confronted and systematically solved and no longer be swept under the rug. The people are realizing that our charismatic leaders and their “kiss up” colleagues have built up a “something for nothing” fantasy world. This alternative world based on an illusion of wealth is seducing us away from our morality and our instinctive knowledge of reality. This house of cards is falling apart in front of our eyes

This not the first time America has been on the brink of disaster but each and every time we have refused to give up. US colonists could have demanded George Washington surrender after losing battle after battle to the immensely superior British forces. Over 600,000 deaths in the Civil War could have forced the dissolution of the United States. WWI, the Great Depression and WWII were powerful crises that could have left America in shambles utterly destroyed as a sovereign nation.

Our Bill of Rights has allowed us: individually and congressionally, the freedom to debate possible strategies to overcome any breakdowns impeding our future. Each and every challenge we faced has made us a stronger more united nation.

Recently the Iraqi war was grabbed from the jaws of defeat. American young men and women soldiers under the command of General Petraeus with the support of the quiet majority of citizens won over and unified the entire Iraqi nation. This was done amidst the political and media’s drumbeat of certain defeat.

The citizens of America knew intuitively that there was no way that we could or should lose a war in the middle east without long term negative consequences. Defeat, no matter how formidable the opposition or crisis, is not an acceptable option for our citizens. Americans, when we put our minds to reaching a goal, we get the job done.

 During the spring’s Midwest floods and the summer’s hurricanes: Gustav and Ike, destruction showed American’s goodness. Neighbor reaching out to neighbor and personal effort saved lives and property. The beginning of rebuilding these devastated areas starts with local citizens and officials not big government bureaucrats. The United States’ greatest resource is its people.

Although we courageously came from all over the world leaving our mother countries, we assimilated and revitalized this country with each new wave of immigration. Our dynamic culture is a blend of the energy of these people who learned to believe in the principles of a just world.

These self-selected people are self-reliant, responsible and freedom loving doers who expect to be part of the American dream. As we study US history we learn our nation has never succumbed to evil. We believe we can accomplish anything so long as we work hard enough, sacrifice and do the right things. We believe good always conquers evil as long as good people stand up to it. This belief has repeatedly rallied us to action.

Americans are an optimistic and moral people. We will rediscover our moral compass and entrepreneurial spirit. This will unleash our ingenuity generating new capital to place us back on a morally and fiscally sound course. We will not accept the loss of our American Dream. Surrendering to socialism is not in our DNA.

Americans need to demand accountability from our current local and national leaders. We need the guidance of a strong and courageous person. A leader will appear out of this chaos to accomplish the “will of the people” not his own self-serving agenda. Character and times produce great men.

Evil will lose every time to the challenge of righteous citizens. Justice, personal responsibility and individual initiative will reward American institutions creating an even stronger force for good on this planet. The American spirit of good conquering evil will prevail.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

BREAKING UP GOVERNMENT-CORPORATE “ORGANIZED CRIME”

By Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D.  Neo Traditionalist

The government came to the American people saying, “the sky is falling.”  Henry Paulson, Treasury secretary and President George Bush notified us if we did not provide the financial institutions with the $700,000,000,000, that is “billion,” bailout by the next Monday, we would have another Great Depression.

We, the American people, spoke clearly by overwhelmingly contacting our government representatives saying “NO”. The House denied the bailout. A week later the Senate added a “sweetener” of $150 billion to pass the bill. The original 3-page Paulson bill ballooned to over 400 pages to hide the pork.

As noted in the “Godfather” movie, one man with a briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns. The modern model of organized crime is government officials taking donations from corporations and passing special laws to assist corporations to squash competition and use the stockholder’s finances to enrich themselves and friends. This mutually beneficial relationship is a replica of the methods used by criminals paying off dirty cops except the “organized crime” is happening in Washington’s federal buildings paying off government officials.

CEOs of financial institutions could not personally receive “golden parachute” bonuses without the congressional oversight committee avoiding their responsibility. The relationship between government and Wall Street has evolved into a revolving door. Franklin Raines, a budget manager under the Clinton administration, became the head of Freddy Mac earning $90,000,000 in six years. He, like many others CEOs, “cooked the books” to show a $6.3 billion overstatement of profit to reach financial goals in order to receive exorbitant bonuses.

Alan Fishman of Washington Mutual, $19 million in three weeks

Richard Fuld, of Lehman Brothers, $500 million in 10 years.

Stanley O’Neal, Merrill Lynch, $110 million

Jim Johnson, Fannie Mae, $28 million

These “golden parachutes” were taken by CEOs who destroyed their companies and robbed their shareholders.

These executives need to return this unearned money to the shareholders, face huge fines and be investigated for criminal wrongdoing. AIG executives, after receiving 85 billion of our tax dollars wasted $440,000 for a spa retreat and then received another bailout of $38 billion. Something is fishy.

We should follow the money into the halls of congress and remove all dirty politicians. Barney Frank, Charles Shumer and Maxine Waters continued to praise the work of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while the companies were falsifying their profit statements and eventually brought our economy to its knees. Their behavior is suspicious and needs to be investigated.

The CEO of Countrywide, Angelo Mozilo received $110 million while bankrupting the company in the subprime loan debacle. Investigators uncovered FOA (friends of Angelo)

who were political elites. Senator Christopher Dodd, chairman of the banking committee and Ken Conrad, chairman of the budget committee were given special VIP loans below market levels. Any politician profiting from his or her oversight responsibility is a crime that should be punished.

Politicians need to be held accountable as well as CEOs. We, the taxpayers, cannot allow our government representatives to take our money to whitewash the theft of our treasury especially when the politicians themselves are the thieves signing the blank check. The lack of punishment for fraud and extortion will only continue the crisis until the economy totally collapses. Our capitalist economy without enforcement of the law will morph into a centrally controlled fascist or socialist system.

Only by having public hearings on the connection between government officials and the financial institutions can we unravel and identify and correct the problems that caused it in the first place. Government transparency will lead us to the government and corporate elite who robbed the system by disregarding the most basic moral principles and the law. An outside person of impeccable character with a heavy dose of courage and morals needs to be appointed as a special investigator to clean up the mess.

The main issue is that the government officials and CEOs are corrupting the free market. The CEOs are donating money to congressmen’s campaigns to buy influence to change the laws and limit competition. The subprime loan disaster was an attempt by some in the legislature after receiving corporate perks and money to mandate that low-income families be given houses without the savings or means to pay for it. “NINJA” loans were given with No Income, No Job, (and) no Assets.

Our present system is rewarding vice not virtue. We must expose the elites who do not follow ethical and moral behavior and make them pay a heavy price for their corrupt behavior. The message has to be heard loud and clear that corruption will not be tolerated.

The future of the United States depends on the justice system punishing to the full extent of the law all the government and CEO elites who gain from this Wall Street/government organized crime.

Dr. Maglio is the author of  Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

MARXISM 101: AMERICA BEWARE

By Domenick J. Maglio, Ph.D. Neo Traditionalist

Our U.S. of A is flirting with becoming a centralized economy directed from Washington, D.C.’s bureaucrats and their corporate bigwig buddies. The corporate heads donate the money and congressmen bail them out with OUR money when they run their businesses into the ground. Our government is rewarding corrupt and wasteful business practices by not accepting corporate failures. Without inefficient corporations being replaced by more efficient ones, competition is eliminated and so is our free market economy.

These Marxist notions being practiced in Washington, D.C. and being sold in our educational institutions have been implemented in actual countries and were miserable failures. North Korea, China, the Soviet Union, Vietnam, Columbia, Laos, Cambodia have faltered and even imploded. The reason for these failures is simple. Marxist ideas sound great but they go against human nature.

People will work harder for their own self-interest, including family, than for the collective good of others.  When individuals see concrete gains in their standard of living they are motivated to work harder.  Increases in material wealth and power help people to make more independent choices to become happier and freer.

“To each according to his needs from each according to his ability” may sound great on the surface to the arrogance of youth. Students and the poor who have nothing to lose and everything to gain from receiving something for nothing have little reason to question the fairness and impact of this practice. The segment of the population that has inherited their wealth or has recently gained a large amount of money by underhanded means are more cavalier about the government taking their money because it soothes their guilty consciences. The people who take offense at the government redistributing their money are those who have accumulated assets through their own mental and physical effort. They are still the majority.

The unwillingness of the best and the brightest to labor for the governmental power elite’s sake leads to a downturn in the vibrancy of the economy. This process saps the opportunities and enthusiasm of its people to put forth sustained physical and mental effort to improve existing conditions. The entire society sinks to the lowest common level.

The average man’s resistance to work for the interest of the power elite has led to dictatorial societies. The elite’s response to the natural urge of man to satisfy his own interest is to force utopian propaganda down their throats through “re-education.” This is done by politically correct thinking spread by the media as well as educational institutions in an attempt to stifle human nature. In reality this re-education results in an initial totalitarian phase. No Marxist nation has ever moved beyond this first stage.

Government’s centralized control and handouts eventually strip people of their personal responsibilities making them zombies dependent on the state. The inherent problem of centralized controlled society’s displays of power is the cost to individual freedom and unintended consequences of having bureaucrats make the decisions. Innovation comes from the free spirit of people who have personal incentive to do something better.

Americans must stop going down the path of giving hard earned wealth from one citizen to one who has done nothing for it, and from government to companies that have failed, or we might never be able to return to a free society. In Eastern Europe after 40 years of communism there are many citizens who prefer the state of dependency from cradle to grave rather than self-reliance and freedom. At this moment in the USA, over 40% of the population does not pay any income tax. Once a nation’s people and corporations feel entitled to government handouts, which means taking from others to give to them, the freedom of the society is doomed.

In “Marxism 101,” the acceptance of robbing Peter to pay Paul will cause Peter to stop producing and everyone will experience a dull, oppressive life. Only the powerful, politically connected will have real choices and therefore, freedom. The majority of citizens of a centrally controlled society will witness continual “five-year-plan” fiascos making their lives more and more impoverished- spiritually as well as materially.

In a free society, citizens make decisions more efficiently and effectively creating a more balanced and healthy society. Capitalist society’s change comes from the grassroots up not by governmental change from the top down. Failure has to exist to measure success in a capitalist system. Bailouts and entitlements eliminate the competition essential to capitalism. People who take risks and work hard have a right to be protected not robbed by the government taking their earnings.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

FIRST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

By Domenick Maglio PhD. Neo Traditionalist

Barack Obama is a highly attractive Kennedyesque candidate who is the Democrat 2008 nominee for president. He has proven that an American Black man can win the support of the majority of members of one of the two major parties in the most powerful and vital democratic republic in the world. His victory as his party’s candidate is historical. It demonstrates that Americans have transcended race as a disqualifier for the highest office in the land.

The two hundred thousand plus Berliners and worldwide media’s enthusiastic reaction to his speech shows his broad appeal. He spoke about being a “citizen of the world” wanting to establish strong global institutions by “workers uniting for the collective good through shared sacrifice and the tearing down of many walls of injustice” throughout the world. Dismantling America’s traditions and institutions would please the rest of the world by leveling the playing field. His speech appealed to the world’s interest rather than America’s self-interest.

The election this November between Barack Obama and John McCain is about who will be the best able to lead the United States not who will be the “president of the world.” We have our freedom due to our beliefs and our spirit to fight for it. There is not a “one world government,” only nations cooperating, competing and at times warring with each other. The myriad of decisions the leader of a country has to make daily, both nationally and internationally is mind-boggling. Perhaps that is the reason why heads of state seem to age more rapidly than the rest of us.

Just as it seemed that Russia was joining the global society as a reasonable member, we woke up to learn Russia had invaded the democratic state of Georgia. Another day it could be Iran, North Korea, Venezuela or a host of other countries flaring up causing an international incident. National leaders like any other individuals are not always reasonable or rational. Evil has and does exist in the world.

As soon as the American president thinks everything is under control a natural disaster or a power play by another country is front and center on the president’s desk. Important decisions have to be made rapidly and judiciously. The presidency of the United States is rightfully considered the most difficult and the most powerful position on the planet.

The president of the USA cannot say anything is “above his pay grade” or “not in his job description.” He will be expected to do something to solve the issue because the “buck stops there.” He will use advisors to give him ideas or plans but he will ultimately be responsible to decide what is best for America.

The most powerful position in our country, and maybe the world, is too dangerous to be an “affirmative action position.” It is too important to give it to a less qualified candidate whose major claim is to correct past wrongs. In lesser positions people with little experience or credentials have developed a level of competence over time by receiving on-the-job training. The learning curve is too steep to expect any person to comprehend the intricacies overnight of national and international politics. The consequences to America and the rest of the world of a president not growing quickly enough into the position is too great to leave to chance.

Although everyone can project his future hopes and desires onto a candidate who has limited experience it does not give voters a glimpse of decisive actions that indicate his true intentions and character. Speeches of platitudes, of a better world, may produce enthusiastic followers although no nation has or ever will obtain that level of perfection. “Change and hope” are emotionally attractive themes to all of us especially the young. Change can either be positive or negative and hope is not a strategy for change. We Americans have an ingrained belief in freedom of choice and personal responsibility, not repackaged, repudiated Marxist concepts.

In a free society racism should not be the reason for a citizen to vote for or against a nominee. Citizens should evaluate a candidate on his past actions, principles, proposed programs and qualifications not on his ethnic background or degree of skin pigment.

All citizens deserve a party nominee to be a candidate with a proven track record with actions that match his words.  This gives citizens an opportunity to evaluate the candidate’s accomplishments and ability to deal with the complexity of the presidency. Anything less is a crapshoot that most citizens rightfully will reject.

If Obama loses it would be inaccurate and destructive to attribute the loss to racism. Calling the defeat “racism” would alienate and disenfranchise many people in the USA. The frustration and anger of these citizens should be directed at the political party for nominating a charismatic individual before he had the opportunity to gain the necessary experience to do the job well.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

INFLATED WALLETS, ARROGANT EGOS

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD Neo Traditionalist

The housing boom has turned into the mortgage bust. Financial experts are stating that people with “upside-down” houses, houses valued less than the mortgage, have no obligation to continue to pay. Their advice is “walk away and in several years you can restore your credit.” It is clear to these experts that money consideration trumps all other values.

Moral considerations of fulfilling one’s contract, keeping one’s word have been tossed out the window. They have been replaced with “it is all about money.”  This is our new amoral guide to existence. The more we measure ourselves in material wealth, the less we follow what is right.  Our humility plummets while our arrogance skyrockets.

Our corrupting materialism has trickled down to the youngest members of society. Children are blasé about even the most sophisticated gifts losing interest shortly after unwrapping them. The more people of any age receive something for nothing, the less gratitude and appreciation they can be expected to feel.

Even people who break our laws entering our country illegally demand the benefits of our social welfare system to which they are not entitled or deserve. Our unaware citizens pay in full. K-12 education, healthcare, subsidized housing, food stamps and college tuition for illegal aliens. Again it is something for nothing. Too many of us unconsciously believe our national treasury is limitless.

Disaster victims and our poorest citizens demand the government do for them instead of the citizens doing for themselves. Too many of us no longer feel it is our duty to help ourselves and our loved ones. Instead we expect the government do it for us. Our entitlement mentality has spread to every crevice of our nation.

Even financial mega corporations and affluent people who make risky investments in the stock or home market want others to bail them out. Financial decisions are being made under the assumption that they are going to make money, not lose it for companies as well as individuals. Presumptuously they believe since they made money in the past, the government has the responsibility to guarantee it in the future. The social welfare or “the government should save me from my poor but freely made choices” has caught on with all segments of society, even the wealthy.

Recent college graduates feel they should start at the top of the ladder. Their degrees should place them at the zenith of the pay scale, give them a great office with no supervisors above them since they already know everything. Their lack of professional experience is a non-issue. They have been told by their instructors that they have the latest knowledge and methods of doing any job.  The professors’ hype and the parents’ material power have created an attitude of conceit that is detrimental to every aspect of their lives.

When the thickness of our wallet makes us feel good about ourselves, then the thinness of it makes us feel like losers. Many of us have gotten into the habit of buying something to make us feel good. People will no longer be able to use money power as their financial situation deteriorates. They will suffer the loss of a falsely inflated identity. The inability to continue to get a shopping adrenaline rush and no longer being able to hire people to do our menial chores will breed resentment.

People are already so desperate they are willing to raid their retirement funds. Using a debit card to withdraw their 401K is only delaying the pain of not being able to buy whatever they want whenever they want it. Eventually the person will deplete his nest egg and demand a social security government bail out.

What goes up must come down to earth. Losing the security of being rich on paper has a deflating effect that can reduce some to chronic depression. The worship of the amount of money accumulated leads to temporary arrogance and elation as well as inevitable disappointment. As the adage about money clearly states, “you can’t take it with you.”

The best antidote to corrupting materialism is to stop believing life is all about money. It is more about spiritual values: goodness, kindness and doing God’s work in every way

Being rich in virtue can never be taken away no matter how poor one may become in material goods.

Thick or thin wallets can be a measuring gage of our monetary wealth but not of a life well lived. The measure of a rich man is not how much he has but how little he needs and uses to live a good life.

Dr. Maglio is the author of  Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

EMBARASSING OURSELVES IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD Neo Traditionalist

As a world power we think we can dictate our cultural ideals no matter how alien our culture is to others. Our overly pampered teenagers are frequently given vacations to foreign countries. Instead of acting reserved and being concerned about how others view their behavior they act as if they are putting on a show. Our teenagers are often loud, silly, sexually provocative and become intoxicated while their parents or chaperones look on unconcerned.

The reality is everyone watches an American. Foreigners are fascinated by our actions, dress and lack of manners. When we allow our youngsters to drink because the country they are visiting or cruise ship they are on has no age restrictions, the young teens’ obnoxious drunken actions are a reflection on all Americans.

The ugly American has changed from wealthy, older people to teenage “MTV celebrity wannabees.” We Americans are not demanding courteous and dignified behavior from our children when visiting foreign nations. We act as if “what happens there stays there.” When something tragic happens we do not question our supervision nor the obnoxious behavior of our youth but arrogantly blame the authorities of the foreign nation.

We have punished Aruba for the “Natalie Holloway” debacle. We now know a token four chaperones were given the responsibility of supervising over 100 American high school seniors. Natalie Holloway was allegedly drunk and drugged the night she was last seen with three young Aruba men. There is ample evidence that the partying was voluntary.

There are people in all nations and social classes who will take advantage of a vulnerable person. Predators are waiting in the wings for these young girls. They are merely doing what they do best: prey on others. It is the parent’s responsibility to keep their children’s behavior under control and to let them know that evil is waiting for any person who loses his faculties or is in an altered state.

Natalie’s parents and stepparents, with the help of the media, put the government of the small Caribbean island on trial for several years. America’s power has devastatingly harmed Aruba’s tourism by painting their judicial system as corrupt and incompetent. It may well be although the root of the problem is our cultural naiveté of human behavior. Drunken boys do obnoxious things that often end in brawls. Young “loose” appearing girls are going to be sexually harassed by high testosterone boys and men in any culture

Too many modern “I want to be your friend” parents have moved so far away from human nature that they believe their personal power can protect their children and control everyone who comes in contact with them. This is delusional.

All of our expended energies after a preventable tragic incident do not bring the person back to life. The ultimate anguish and often guilt is experienced by the parents. Only by acknowledging the real dangers of existence can children live more safely and peacefully with others.

Most foreigners and traditional Americans believe parents and chaperones have the responsibility to demand appropriate and moral behavior from their children. No aware and rational parents can believe they have the power to control the reactions of others to protect their child. Our culture is foolish if we believe we can dictate to others what we want rather than live reasonably within the boundaries of human nature. Ignoring evil does not magically make it disappear.

Bad things happen when youngsters are left to their own devices. We are all at fault if children are not taught this by their parents and culture. No parents should believe they possess world power to change human nature. Attractive teenage “hotties” acting uninhibited places them in a vulnerable and dangerous position. Many males will follow their base instincts and seize the opportunity these girls provide.

Americans are not inherently better or worse than other people from other nations. The majority of Americans who choose morally responsible lifestyles create safe and respectful environments. We must recognize that others live an undisciplined or even criminal life-style. We need to make our children aware that their stupid actions attract dangerous people who can harm them.

Any and all obnoxious or immoral behavior of Americans overseas affects our reputation as a nation more than any presidential actions. We the American people are either good or bad will ambassadors. Our actions out of the country do impact all Americans.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

A DRUGGED NATION IS NOT HEALTHY

By Domenick J. Maglio, PhD, Neo Traditionalist

Most Americans are too busy in their daily lives to face the obvious: we are a society dependent on drugs. We fought only half the war on drugs. “Just Say No” should have targeted not only street drugs but all detrimental drugs including prescription ones.

There is little ethical or moral difference between a drug pusher in the school yard seducing kids into buying the latest feel good drug and the pharmacological/medical industry dispensing antipsychotic medication to children as young as toddlers. Both the street drug or the prescription drug will lead the child down the same path of chemical dependency that ends in being a taker from rather than a giver to society.

According to the national Teen Drug Survey released December 11, 2007 by the White House, teenagers are turning from street drugs to prescription drugs such as OxyCondin and Vicodin. The study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute on Social Research, found a modest decrease in marijuana and other street drugs and an increase in prescription drugs. John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said, “71% of young people have reported their source of supply is their parent’s or friend’s medicine cabinet.”  Theo Milonopoulos, “Survey Finds Teens Smoking Less Pot, But Popping More Pills,” Tampa Tribune, December 12, 2007, pg. 13.

It is a deplorable commentary on our nation that the Center of Medicare and Medicaid says 21% of nursing home patients, who do not have a psychosis diagnosis are prescribed antipsychotic, off label, medication. Lucette Lagnado, “Nursing Homes Quiet Elderly with Antipsychotic Drugs,” Tampa Tribune, December 7, 2007. To give humans of any age medication to induce docility is inhumane. When children are given off label psychotic medication it is more tragic as their lives are ahead rather than behind them.

Although children naturally fluctuate in their mood from laughing to crying, they are being prescribed off-label antipsychotic medication as toddlers. Before the 1990s it was generally accepted in the mental health profession to be illogical and unethical to label a child with a bi-polar disorder. Certainly drugging a child with an antipsychotic medication was considered going against the Hippocratic principle of doing no harm. Assisting nursing homes to control the elderly and parents to control their children is not any better than caging the elderly and children for control. 

Our society has become more than drug tolerant, we have become a drugged society. Drug advertisements dominate women’s magazines and television commercials. You have to wait an hour just to have a prescription filled. Recreational drugs of Hollywood celebrities to “roids” of sports idols, to sexual stimulants for anyone, psychotic drugs for the elderly and for children to control behavior indicate drugs have permeated every segment of our society. Using chemicals for daily life is epidemic.

Drugs may temporarily relieve a particular problem. The side effects to a person taking the drugs may be denied but are evident to those around us. The number of people unable to exist without mind-altering medication is destroying our power to be a vital, independent people. A large number of people dependent on drugs eventually become dependent on the government “safety net.” This leads to a sick and declining society. We must reject the celebrity’s lifestyle, advertising and the pharmaceutical/medical experts or sacrifice our own and our children’s bodies, minds and spirits to the long-term adverse impact of drugs.

The joys of life are best experienced in a conscious state. Life’s ups and downs can be painful at times although they always provide us an opportunity to learn how to better handle the next challenge of life. Problems never cease, healthy people just get better at solving them.

Americans have established a reputation as an ingenious people who can overcome life’s obstacles. We cannot surrender our character as a people who perseveres until we get the job done. If we as a society continue down the drugged path when the going gets tough, we will forget the advantages, assets and wisdom left to us by our ancestors.

Restoring our national vigor requires the discipline to say “no” to any unnecessary drugs.

Dr. Maglio is the author of  Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

FIRST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

By Domenick Maglio PhD. Neo Traditionalist

Barack Obama is a highly attractive Kennedyesque candidate who is the Democrat 2008 nominee for president. He has proven that an American Black man can win the support of the majority of members of one of the two major parties in the most powerful and vital democratic republic in the world. His victory as his party’s candidate is historical. It demonstrates that Americans have transcended race as a disqualifier for the highest office in the land.

The two hundred thousand plus Berliners and worldwide media’s enthusiastic reaction to his speech shows his broad appeal. He spoke about being a “citizen of the world” wanting to establish strong global institutions by “workers uniting for the collective good through shared sacrifice and the tearing down of many walls of injustice” throughout the world. Dismantling America’s traditions and institutions would please the rest of the world by leveling the playing field. His speech appealed to the world’s interest rather than America’s self-interest.

The election this November between Barack Obama and John McCain is about who will be the best able to lead the United States not who will be the “president of the world.” We have our freedom due to our beliefs and our spirit to fight for it. There is not a “one world government,” only nations cooperating, competing and at times warring with each other. The myriad of decisions the leader of a country has to make daily, both nationally and internationally is mind-boggling. Perhaps that is the reason why heads of state seem to age more rapidly than the rest of us.

Just as it seemed that Russia was joining the global society as a reasonable member, we woke up to learn Russia had invaded the democratic state of Georgia. Another day it could be Iran, North Korea, Venezuela or a host of other countries flaring up causing an international incident. National leaders like any other individuals are not always reasonable or rational. Evil has and does exist in the world.

As soon as the American president thinks everything is under control a natural disaster or a power play by another country is front and center on the president’s desk. Important decisions have to be made rapidly and judiciously. The presidency of the United States is rightfully considered the most difficult and the most powerful position on the planet.

The president of the USA cannot say anything is “above his pay grade” or “not in his job description.” He will be expected to do something to solve the issue because the “buck stops there.” He will use advisors to give him ideas or plans but he will ultimately be responsible to decide what is best for America.

The most powerful position in our country, and maybe the world, is too dangerous to be an “affirmative action position.” It is too important to give it to a less qualified candidate whose major claim is to correct past wrongs. In lesser positions people with little experience or credentials have developed a level of competence over time by receiving on-the-job training. The learning curve is too steep to expect any person to comprehend the intricacies overnight of national and international politics. The consequences to America and the rest of the world of a president not growing quickly enough into the position is too great to leave to chance.

Although everyone can project his future hopes and desires onto a candidate who has limited experience it does not give voters a glimpse of decisive actions that indicate his true intentions and character. Speeches of platitudes, of a better world, may produce enthusiastic followers although no nation has or ever will obtain that level of perfection. “Change and hope” are emotionally attractive themes to all of us especially the young. Change can either be positive or negative and hope is not a strategy for change. We Americans have an ingrained belief in freedom of choice and personal responsibility, not repackaged, repudiated Marxist concepts.

In a free society racism should not be the reason for a citizen to vote for or against a nominee. Citizens should evaluate a candidate on his past actions, principles, proposed programs and qualifications not on his ethnic background or degree of skin pigment.

All citizens deserve a party nominee to be a candidate with a proven track record with actions that match his words.  This gives citizens an opportunity to evaluate the candidate’s accomplishments and ability to deal with the complexity of the presidency. Anything less is a crapshoot that most citizens rightfully will reject.

If Obama loses it would be inaccurate and destructive to attribute the loss to racism. Calling the defeat “racism” would alienate and disenfranchise many people in the USA. The frustration and anger of these citizens should be directed at the political party for nominating a charismatic individual before he had the opportunity to gain the necessary experience to do the job well.

Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.

SMALL BUSINESS THE ENGINE OF AMERICA

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Neo Traditionalist

As soon as there is a critical downturn in the economy large corporations turn their lobbyists loose to go to the government trough to get bailouts. Automobile giants to agricorps to mega financial institutions like Fannie May or Freddie Mac are behind the scenes with their hands out for money to solve the problems they created.

There are no small business people in the US who would ever think the government is going to throw them a lifeline during hard times.  Even though small businesses are in every sector of the economy the businessmen know they have to succeed on their own in spite of government. Yet most new jobs in the United States are produced by small businesses. It is the strength of our free market economy.

Usually start up businesses are given a disincentive instead of an incentive to begin and stay in business. The best sweetheart deal a business owner can hope for from government is to be left alone. This means that bureaucrats should refrain from over-regulating or creatively interpreting existing laws or raising the myriad of taxes that businesses must   pay to stay in business. Any success will come from the owner’s ability to endure the everyday struggle to make their business work.

Anyone in small business can tell you the same story. When they started their enterprise. it was a slow and difficult to obtain the smallest loan although as soon as they no longer needed it they would have to beat off loan officers offering more money than needed. Although many people give lip service to help, few do, while others are behind-the-back doubters

The finding of the right location, working at night and on weekends to get the business ready for opening day has to be a labor of love.  The continual upgrading of the business and having the constant anxiety of paying bills, especially the employee payroll, sours some start-ups forcing them to fold while most find ways to stretch their dollars to make ends meet. These real war-stories of persevering to make the dream a reality creates a sense of pride and connection with customers and employees.

Scrimping and saving prepares small business people to adapt more efficiently and rapidly than larger corporations. The owner family and sometimes long-term committed workers remember the hardships of the start-up years. This intimate knowledge of the history of the business and all tasks of the business helps everyone involved to make the sacrifice to offer great service at a reasonable price.

The personal involvement, with all the people affected by the enterprise, is a tremendous motivator. This incentive keeps the business running regardless of the economic conditions outside the control of the owner. Sometimes it means the owner or a trusted employee plugs the hole caused by people coming down with an illness or leaving without notice for a different position. When revenues unexpectedly drop from an accident, catastrophe or societal preference change, the entrepreneur’s intimate knowledge of the market, flexibility and motivation enables him to make the necessary changes to keep the business going.

Unlike million dollar corporate heads who are isolated in their headquarters, the small business person is in the trenches with a ground floor perspective. Large corporations that rely on connections to high places to save them, the little guy’s self-reliance, ingenuity and responsibility directs him to quickly change course to weather the storm. 

The entrepreneurs’ personal commitment to make the business work motivates them to overcome any obstacle that is placed before them. The lean organization gets the job done without much waste or fanfare. There are fewer multi layers of managers to appease in order to execute decisions. The efficiency allows them to take risks placing the business on the innovative cutting edge. Many of these entrepreneurial advances are gobbled up by large corporation’s improving or diversifying their bottom line.

Millions of small businesses throughout the nation are the engine that runs America. The larger international corporations that have the ear of congress and receive our tax money are nothing more than takers not contributors, draining our national assets. Our government representatives are working for us, the American people, not for corporate special interest.

Government regulations and taxes can kill the “golden goose” forcing us into a controlled or centralized economy. When international corporations are in cahoots with government it is called fascism. An economy centrally controlled by government bureaucrats leads to socialism/communism. Only when a nation has many thriving small businesses will you have a competitive, free capitalistic economy. The free enterprise system is the most efficient and rapidly adaptable economic system that can deal with the reality of ever changing circumstances. It is the small businessmen throughout a free market economy that are the key to keeping the economy humming.

 Encouraging, not discouraging small business is the key to our continued economic growth, success and freedom in America.

Dr. Maglio is the author of  Invasion Within and Essential Parenting.  He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School.

Visit: www.drmaglio.com.