Apr
21
Hillary Clinton Took The Time
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The real measure of a person’s character is not what they do when everybody is watching, it’s what they do that no one will ever see. That’s why I feel the need to tell a recent story about Hillary Clinton.
Just to give some background to the story, my mother-in-law, Ann McCoy, worked for the Clintons at the Arkansas Governors Mansion and later at the White House, but she has not worked for them in 8 years. The Clinton’s were always nice and polite to all of Ann’s family but Hillary probably got to know Ann’s mother, Hazel, better than any of us.
Recently, Hazel, 95 years old, was admitted to a Hospice. How Hillary found out is beyond me, but 5 hours before her big debate with Barack Obama, she called Hazel at the Hospice to see how she was adjusting. At perhaps the most critical point in a very long and impressive career, with the world spinning around her, Hillary Clinton took the time to console another great lady. Many people think Hillary is cold and impersonal. Maybe it’s because she is so principled that she doesn’t know how to pretend to be sincere. If I weren’t writing this here, no one would ever know about the phone call. Hillary didn’t make the call because it would end up in a story or photo shoot. She did it because she is a great lady. One day, after the history is written, everyone will know, as do I, exactly how great she is.
Ms. Hazel Askew passed away yesterday, Sunday, but not before one great lady spoke to another great lady. Hazel was born when women couldn’t vote and she almost lived to see one in the White House.
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Apr
16
Taxation without Representation
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2007 was the first year since 2001 that Flag and Banner has shown a decent profit and I had every intention of reinvesting that profit into my business, my employees and ultimately, the American Economy. “But, noooo, the tax man cometh.” So instead of reinvesting in my community, I sent the extra money to Washington, where it seems like they just toss it in the air or maybe toss it towards each other. Our politicians just don’t get it… Small business is to our economy what the middle class is to our society. We pay the highest taxes, bear the biggest burdens, and while small business does not literally “die” for our country as the middle and working classes often do, it seems Washington has no qualms about trying to tax us to death.
When the government needs money, we are the first group of people they go to for higher taxes (can you believe Exxon just asked for a tax break, they’ll probably get it). And then when we (the middle class or small business) complain, we are the ones accused of being unpatriotic. I’m not the most well read person in the world, but one quote does come to mind, from Alexis De’Toqueville’s “Democracy in America…” “America is great because she is good. When she ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” It’s awfully hard to be good for too long when things aren’t fair. And the tax burden in this country has been unfair for far too long. Not surprisingly, when discussing this blog with one of my friends, he mentioned another lesser know quote from Alexis De Tocqueville, “A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.” Go figure.
I started wondering just how well we compare with the taxes of other countries and so I did a Google search. Low and behold, the only super powers with taxes higher than ours are China and Germany, one a communist and the other a socialist.
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Apr
2
I’m Winning
Filed Under creative stories, personal | Leave a Comment
For the first time ever, all the number one seeds have made it to the final four. This phenomena has made all the chicks in our office winners in the pool.
If Memphis wins, Stephanie wins. If UCLA wins, Holly and I have to split the pot. I am glad to split the pot with Holly, because it alleviates some of my female guilt that would have come from being the boss and winning the whole pot.
It was really fun having the NCAA tournament in Little Rock. You don’t realize how big those players are till you stand next to one. Recently at the Tip Off Club I had my picture made with big Joe Klien, formerly an Arkansas Razorback and a Chicago Bull.
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