Don't you just love it when a reckless neophyte driver tells the mechanic how to fix the engine of a broken car? That analogy describes a professor of bankruptcy law advising entrepreneurs and legislators how to survive the worse economic downturn in recent history. Elizabeth Warren, the newly elected Senator from Massachusetts, is a job killer when broadcasting $22 an hour as a "minimum wage." Maybe she is just trying to get media attention, but, arguably, irresponsibly.
She just gave away more American-based jobs to China and India by the very notion of such an unrealistic starting pay in a competitive global economy. We need economic growth for more jobs. Reaching that goal comes from driving revenues which comes from being competitive. Which countries will buy produce from our farms when the cost of bringing our fruit and vegetables to market is unrealistic? Goods will rot, jobs will flee. Solution to this problem: Entrepreneurs and workers unite! Circle the wagons and together drive revenues and advance. That is the American pioneer spirit which made America strong and leader of the pack.
Professor Senator Warren's course in "How to kill jobs 101" is cruel and unusual punishment especially to hard working small businesses, family owned farms and companies trying to survive since 9/11 in struggling communities across our nation. Just look around at all of the retail space for lease and the turnover or demise of businesses. And the cost of buying goods and services and basic food would sky rocket. Middle class families would be most hurt. Anything that can be built or serviced overseas will take the jobs with them. In the tourism, manufacturing, banking and software development sectors we already see jobs go offshore. How many solicitation calls do you get currently at home from workers in other continents? With higher labor costs here, shifting of jobs to overseas will escalate. Senator Warren's rhetoric is absurd, counter-productive and reckless to the serious debate of how to jump-start America's economy and generate significantly more America based jobs a.s.a.p.
The highest unemployment is amongst the youth and more will be looking for work soon when grads step out into the "real world." Senator Warren's mentality smacks of elitism, emanating from a highly endowed university, and "out of touch with reality." Is it because she has forgotten or shed her Oklahoma, heartland of America, pioneer roots? Politicians like Elizabeth Warren, who have never had to make a payroll with their money nor take on the personal risk of saving and growing jobs, should defer to the expertise of entrepreneurs and business owners in this debate. They are the steadfast mechanics, keeping the engine of America running in the race of the 21st century for the big prize-more good jobs and sustained growth. Another Massachusetts senator had notably different philosophy to Senator Warren. Concurring with the foresight of the Chamber of Commerce, New England Council, President John F. Kennedy adopted the economic growth slogan, "A rising tide lifts all boats!" In other words, rising revenues lifts all job sectors. How do we raise revenues? Entrepreneurs and workers unite. For the good of the company and the employees future. And our country will be stronger. We must compete or we capitulate.
When we discuss reality versus fiction, the recent film release of the 1957 treatise "Atlas Shrugged" touched a raw cord in the gut of entrepreneurs, whether they are from farms, shops, mills, offices or restaurants. It was written by Ayn Rand, who immigrated to America from the Soviet Union in 1926 after experiencing the loss of her family owned pharmacy following the 1917 revolution. Rand is considered in academic, political and business circles to offer respected thought for advancing open market economy philosophy. Rand projected in her fictional story that by 2016 America would succumb to a people of the government, by the government and for the government and no longer be "a government of the people, by the people and for the people" as established by our founding fathers (and mothers). It is disconcerting when "out of control" fictional stories begin to ring true to real life experience.
The conclusion for how to save the farm (and jobs), figuratively and literally speaking: entrepreneurs and workers unite, and America will do fine. Senator Warren would be well advised to listen to the 1943 pioneer song of American entrepreneurial legends Rogers and Hammerstein from their Broadway and Hollywood hit, "Oklahoma!" Elizabeth's original home state:
"We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!
We're only sayin'
you're doin' fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma O.K.!"
United States Congress members and fellow Americans, let us recall the moving words from President Abraham Lincoln so eloquently stated on November 19, 1863 in his Gettysburg Address, during another critical time in our nation's history:
"That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
America is the unique nation where someone can rise to the top, even if their parents had humble beginnings, and where a waitress can become a successful entrepreneur or even a United States Senator, like Elizabeth Warren became. God bless America!
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