BY RUSSELL TURNER
MORE EXPERIENCE NEEDED
I have been in business for over 30 years; during those years I have seen the incompetence many of our elected leaders exhibit on business principles. The political class simply doesn’t have the experience to make logical decisions when it comes to business management. Many of our elected officials do have some type of degree, but when it comes to everyday practical experience many of them do not have it. Many years ago a good friend of mine gave me business advice and guidance that he had gained over a lifetime of operating several different firms. I will never forget one statement that he made, he said, “It should be required of anyone seeking public office to have had to make a payroll and actually operated a small business”. There was a lot of wisdom in what he told me, it wasn’t long after our conservation that I read an article about a congressman who retired from politics and decided to operate a small bed and breakfast. Once in business he got a good dose of what the rest of the business sector has to deal with on a daily basis. The retired congressman made the comment that he only wished he had the business experience before he held public office.
A short time ago our president issued an executive order that contractors on military bases would have to increase their minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. He and others made the comment that a person could not support a family on the current minimum wage. While that may be true, we need to remember that the minimum wage jobs are for the most part entry level jobs. For all of the information I have seen about our president I have found nothing stating that he has ever owned or operated a private sector business. His tactics of promoting class envy for political gain do have consequences. Recently I read about some changes that are happening on military bases.
Burger King and other food franchises arepulling their franchises from our military bases. The companies cite the fact that a limited military customer base cannot sustain acceptable profit margins while still offering up a hefty share of profits to The Army and Air Force Exchange System's Health and Morale fund and paying $10.10 an hour as Obama has directed for any contractor doing business with The DOD. Hundreds of commercial franchises have operated on military bases for years. All profits go toward programs such as organized athletic programs for the military and their dependents, exercise equipment, support for social clubs and the like.
I learned a long time ago that any business can only charge what the traffic will bear. People in the restaurant business are especially affected by increases in the minimum wage. They know that to stay in business they have to pass the costs on to the customer. From experience they know that if the cost goes up their customers will start brown bagging. It is a shame the highly educated government class can’t understand cause and effect.
Comments
Post a Comment