Friday, July 22, 2011

Negotiation: The Essence of Capitalism - Jack Donaghy

*EDITING IN PROGRESS




With NFL and NBA lockout labor disputes, Republicans, Democrats and the President all trying to hash things out, negotiation is certainly in the air. Powerful men with powerful arguments playing their best games of strategy looking to get the upper hand that will ultimately lead to more money or what some would believe most important, bragging rights. It's all so All-American, negotiation. So how appropriate for negotiating be at its peak this All-American month of our independence, July. So I thought the below scenes of man among boys '30 Rock' exec Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) displaying his negotiation prowess was appropriate to celebrate the chess game that is the negotiation month of July. Below are 2 great resources from Inc.com. on negotiation. Enjoy


Negosh by Beckylooo
Understand Your Leverage

Never Negotiate Against Yourself

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The American Debt Ceiling: The Difference Between Debt & Deficit

For those of you who may consider the country's fight to raise or not raise the debt ceiling to be a confusing, overdrawn, untrustworthy pain in the ass I would like to quickly put into perspective the way that I understand what is at hand regarding why our country will not go into default.

For starters the country has both debt and a deficit. Two separate things. Many times the both are placed under the umbrella of just "debt", Debt (we owe) is something that requires immediate attention like social security and the interest on our debt. The equivalent of  our credit cards, utilities, cable bill etc. Obligations.
The Deficit is what we plan to spend. This would be future programs paid for by the FED. Equivalent to our need to repair the fence, repair the roof, take the kids to Disney World,  a promise to the wife to put in a new pool for the summer. Future spending. Now imagine if you (personally) have been living paycheck to paycheck and you just lost your job. Let's say you went to your parents and said I need $10,000 or your family won't make it, withholding the fact that you only need $5,500 to cover your debts (obligations/necessities)  the rest of the $4,500 would go toward your deficit, (future frivolous pending). You told them if you don't get $10,000  your family will be broke and will be out on its luck. This is what many in Washington are doing when they threaten default will result by not raising the debt ceiling. 

$5,500 Debt (Utilities, Mortgage)
$4,500 Deficit (Fence Repair, Disney, Pool)
Total Loan $10,000

The point is, it would be irresponsible to misconstrue what is needed to meet your obligations by asking for a loan that lumps together frivolous expenses under the same name as obligations.You would have to show some integrity, and be accountable to your realistic situation. As a country we can cover our debt. You wouldn't get kicked out of your house for not repairing your fence or not getting your wife the pool in the backyard (depends on who your wife is maybe) but you would be in trouble if you didn't pay your mortgage, or light bill.You would be force to prioritize spending based on obligation and need. If you were broke and won $2,2000 would you put in a new pool or pay your mortgage? Priorities I assume would be taken care of first. Dave Ramsey stuff, accountability. But to delve deeper you have to understand that this is a fight over more than money. This is a disagreement on the direction of the country, the role of government, and which party's ideologies are right for the country. It's become personal for each side. What Americans want from the government is a smidge of honesty and communication on the true state of economy. We can swallow that pill, but we won't eat peas the President won't even entertain on his own plate. Exiting soap box...

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Nothing New Under The Sun: Hip Hop

Growing up as children every new experience you learned was both new and exciting. Little did we know that our fresh experience and discovery regardless of how enlightened the experience had been was "experienced" before. So when we swear we just heard the most original song, saw the coolest movie, athlete, actor, or argue a topic yet to be addressed, most likely it came from some origin before your time, or, may be a carbon copy of someone or something before your time (see Lady Gaga/Madonna). 
Been there done that. Nothing new under the sun. The premise of history repeats itself. Those words were imparted to me by my pop growing up and it would drive me NUTS! This is what I thought of when I heard the Ticket host Donnie on BAD radio do a segment on where some popular rap songs origins came from. Pretty amazing stuff. Credit is definitely due to the producers of the world who can turn the "whack" into an epic beat track, which leads me to an obvious ironic epiphany, ...There's Nothing New Under The Sun.  Enjoy.
http://www.whosampled.com/