Debt and Dishes

When I have a slow day at my restaurant I do a fast calculation of my assets:  dishes, booths, kitchen equipment and other paid-up assets.  It just makes me feel better after a slow business day that I am going to be OK.  I look at our country's debt and want to add up the assets our country has.  The American worker and family that is honest and puts in a hard day's work to support their family, that is worth a lot for our country, but what about our country's debits?  15 trillion in debt, leadership on both sides at a standstill, spending more money than we are taking in.  It is hard to see a future for our country unless we get this under control and I mean to the point of national legislators watching every penny.  I tell my servers one straw per drink, not two, but one.  In Washington DC we can not even afford one straw for our politicians' milk cartons during their nap break.  About 3 years ago I asked Vern Elhers' aid about having a balanced budget amendment.  Some people say that this is not the compassionate thing to do but I think that we have no choice.  A friend of mine told me about his family member who could not budget money and was always behind on bills.  He would help her with money but finally said, "I will help you out by giving you a budget and financial advise."  This was one family member caring about another.  I picture the balanced budget amendment as the same thing:  us caring about our country and getting things in order.  I am still waiting for Vern Ehlers' aid to call me back about the balanced budget amendment.  Maybe his aid could not afford the minutes on his government cell phone.  I can understand that.  Remember one straw per drink when you come in my place and if you're at Chilli's ask for three.

Howie for Congress

Being a small businessman I go to business meetings.  Everyone in these meetings has an ego (some bigger than others).  We all have an ego and there's nothing wrong with this if you keep it in check.  I also notice the participants doing the "Howie."  Let me explain... Howie is my dog and when I take Howie for his morning walk he marks his territory by peeing in the field.  Some mornings he marks his territory about 10 times.  I have seen my business associates mark their territory and I see politicians mark their territory.  We all do the "Howie" but what sets Howie apart from others is that once Howie finishes marking his territory he moves on to a final conclusion.  We can learn from Howie the dog.  He is focused, listens well, has his ego in check, and he moves on to another task.  All I can say is Howie for Congress.  The milk bone PAC would be his biggest donor.

The Buffet Tax

The Buffet Tax has had quite the media play for Warren Buffet.  Buffet inserted himself in the national political landscape with his tax idea.  Where was he when President George W. Bush had the idea about putting 1.5 percent of each individuals' social security into the stock market?  The 1.5 percent would not be risky for the individual social security investment and it would show a belief in America.  The 1.5 percent also would be a great boost in our social security payoff especially for the young people at 18 working an thus investing every week into their stock portfolio.  Buffet got rich through investing in the stock market.  So, the new Buffet Rule is to tax the rich but make sure that the average person does not get richer.  Mr. Buffet, give me a call I want to give you some advice.

You Deserve A Break Today!

McDonald's had the slogan, "You deserve a break today."  I would like to adopt that slogan for an initiative to help our fellow citizens who are down on their luck.  Submit to me a name and a reason why your recommended family needs a break and I will buy that family dinner at my place and take care of the tip also.  Submit a family that has been out of work, or a family who has barely enough money to make ends meet, let alone go out for dinner.  I need your help.  Submit to me names and phone numbers and let's give these people a small break in life.  I am not trying to embarrass anyone or make a fellow citizen feel bad, I just want to make them feel happy.  I will do the best that I can.  This offer will take place at my restaurant only:  Tommy Brann's 4157 South Division Avenue Wyoming, MI.

Please submit to:
You Deserve a Break Today
Attn:  Tommy Brann
25 Commerce Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

10 to Defend

1.      Creating a job is a compassionate thing to do.

2.      Billions of dollars are paid by Free Enterprise when an entrepreneur owns a commercial building and pays property tax.  (This helps local schools, police and Fire.)

3.      The employer and employee are the backbone of Free Enterprise.  Three’s a crowd so Government can sometimes get in the way.

4.      Anyone with good work ethic and makes an honest effort can participate in Free Enterprise.

5.      Free enterprise even provides for the unemployed.  Businesses pay 100% of unemployment insurance.

6.      Michael Jordon, the best basketball player ever, is often applauded because of his skills, Successful business people should be applauded too.  We don’t take away from Jordon’s accomplishments; please don’t take away our successful accomplishments.

7.      Free Enterprise is not free==Participants work hard to create jobs and pay by spending long hours away from their families working to be sure they can meet a payroll.

8.      For every hour a person works in a Free Enterprise business a portion of their Social Security and Medicare taxes are paid by the business owner.

9.       When Steve Jobs was 24 years old he told his girlfriend he was going to become a millionaire someday.  Free Enterprise is for dreamers—don’t take that dream   away or America’s future will be a nightmare.

10.  After Steve Jobs died admirers laid flowers at his home.  They respected him as a businessman and a participant in Free Enterprise.

 

THAT IS THE AMERICA I LOVE

 

Please join me to support Free Enterprise at my TEN to DEFEND Rally on Wednesday, December 7 from Noon until 1:00 pm at the Calder Plaza, downtown Grand Rapids.