Archive for August, 2007

“Back in the hot summer of 1990, Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell proudly engineered the infamous “luxury tax,“ a nasty little tithe on everything from furs to jewelry to yachts.

Democrats were proud: Not only were they throwing new dollars at the Treasury, they’d done it by socking it to the rich. The wealthy, in the words of then-House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, would finally pay “their fair share.“

Within a year, Mr. Mitchell was back in the Senate passionately demanding an end to the same dreaded luxury tax. The levy had devastated his home state of Maine’s boat-building business, throwing yard workers, managers and salesmen out of jobs.

The luxury tax was repealed by 1993, though by the look of today’s tax debate, its lessons haven’t been forgotten. Top Democrats are working to implement a new class-warfare tax strategy, only this time they’re getting pushback from those in their party who fear the economic consequences.“

Continue reading article here. 

Sometimes a great-sounding idea has unintended consequences. Like when Tucker and I decided to boost sales with a promotion last December. Little did we know just how many additional orders we would get. It’s a nice problem to have – up to a point.

I appreciate your patience. We’re a small shop with a big reputation and a backlog.The great thing about it is that customers are happy with the product when they get it. That makes our work worthwhile. Let us hear from you if you have comments.                

I wrote a post on June 20, 2007 suggesting that often political advocates, after failing to persuade their fellow citizens of their point of view, use the government to force that point of view upon the rest of us. Government then uses force and forgets about persuasion altogether.

John Stossel makes the point in his recent article, “Live and Let Live” on the ABC News website.

“Is it really necessary to explain that government is force? When the Salvation Army asks you for a donation, you are free to say no, and you suffer no consequences. When the U.S. government demands a tax return and a check on April 15, you can’t say no and go about your business. You comply or face fines or imprisonment. Yes, you get to vote for candidates periodically. But having an infinitesimal say in who will coerce you doesn’t change that fact that they are using force.”

What’s your take?

You are no doubt aware of the large number of Muslims in Europe and the fact that their percentage of the population is growing.

In his blog post in the Brussels Journal Paul Belien writes, “The number of Muslims in contemporary Europe is estimated to be 50 million. It is expected to double in twenty years. By 2025, one third of all European children will be born to Muslim families. Today Mohammed is already the most popular name for new-born boys in Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other major European cities.”

If you want to know more, check out Paul’s entire post from last October. It’s thought provoking in many ways. 

Here’s a video follow up on Russia’s claim to the North Pole. It will take resolve and commitment to blunt this bold Russian adventure.

I’ve posted new, longer lead times on the website. Longer is not good.

They reflect more accurately the nature of our huge order backlog. Accurate is good.

Tucker has installed a new sewing machine to speed production. More production is good.

Setting this machine up to run properly has cost a week’s work time. That’s bad.

It’s almost running perfectly and will do so soon. That’s very good news, indeed.

Your patience with us – that’s priceless. Thank you.

History illustrates why we shouldn’t pay much attention to naysayers and predictors of doom. Maybe we should take every prediction with a grain of salt.

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” -Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” — Bill Gates, 1981

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” –Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” –Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

“I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and walked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” –The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” –Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” –Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.

Want to see the latest paradigm shift in technology? Unless you’re a very old geezer, you’ll be seeing this in your lifetime.