The American Jobs Act-A Critical Decision

The American Jobs Act presents an important choice for America. We will have to determine if we want to give up and join the bean counters in their rush to the economic bottom or fight to regain a booming American economy. This decision is so important that a wrong choice could portend the concluding stages of the American dream.


It is not that the proposed Act is the final solution. There is much more to do and this Act is over two years late. But at last there is an aggressive middle class oriented plan put before the nation. It shines when compared to the special interest actions of the ineffective congress with which we have been living. We need it to pass now, however, not in fourteen months with a new congress. Sadly, the only way we will see significant action with the current congress is through such overwhelming public support that each congressman decides that to oppose it would be political suicide.

Your understanding is very important. You will need to educate yourself on its’ contents to withstand the misrepresentations, half truths and delaying tactics that are on their way from the ideologues and their politicians. You can move toward an independent and knowledgeable judgment by reviewing the American Jobs Act Fact Sheet.

The Act addresses four major areas, all focused on middle class issues.

Tax Cuts to Help America’s Small Businesses Hire and Grow ($70 billion)

Putting Workers Back on the Job While Rebuilding and Modernizing America ($140 billion)

Pathways Back to Work for Americans Looking for Jobs ($62 billion)

More Money in the Pockets of Every American Worker and Family ($175 billion)

The items in each area are explained in detail in the fact sheet. There is also a detailed cost table in the fact sheet. The fact sheet further claims that it is fully paid for as part of the president’s long-term deficit reduction plan.

As the proposed Act is further understood we should begin to see the results of legitimate public polls as opposed to the unscientific self serving ones starting to be published now.

Understand it and you will support it.

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A National Economic Restoration Plan Versus a ”Grand Deal” for Deficit Reduction

What was the Administration thinking when it asked congress to present a “grand deal” for controlling the deficit in return for the increase in the national debt ceiling? The plan had Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as “on the table”. What a morale killer for an already demoralized population!. They learn that their leader wants a plan for full retreat that threatens what little support they have left. They certainly don’t need a bean counter driven plan of retreat that discounts the national potential we would have if the system would only let us work.

Does the administration think the current special interest controlled congress is even capable of developing such a “grand deal” of retreat for the country? No one else in the country does.

In any event I am tired of listening to the Republicans and Democrats talking right past the citizens. They then negotiate with each other for final results that always seem to satisfy the special interests and shortchange the citizens.

Addressing a real problem, the “grand deal” we need is one directly with the citizens to develop and really implement a comprehensive road map for Americas’ economic restoration. The plan would assemble our total talent pool and make both the economy and the American spirit soar again. Its progress would be completely transparent to the citizens.

Nothing of this nature will come from the bean counters. Retreat is in their DNA. Not only will the bean counters say we can’t do it-they will say we shouldn’t even try. They support the sure path to mediocrity.

This is America. Our greatness is not due to bean counters. Don’t let them set “the things that need to be done”.

Restoring our economy is the only acceptable way to cut into the deficit-but more importantly it is also the only way we can remain true to the American Dream.

Unfortunately we have voted in a Congress that is pitifully inadequate, both organizationally and talent-wise, to lead us down this path. They are proving this every day. Somehow we must identify the few competent and honest members of congress and vote the rest out.

It is critical that the plan make use of the extensive citizen talent pool that has blessed this country. The sections of the plan must be explained in understandable English to the citizens and progress completely transparent. Congress has to be prevented from injecting special interests at the expense of the country. All elements of the US economy must become dedicated to its success.

Elements to be resolved are: trade balance, manufacturing deficit, constructive employment of our citizens, an honest and stable financial system, energy policy, and an efficient political system.

Sound impossible? Not as complicated as going to the moon. And extremely important.

American Dream vs. Bean Counters

The cerebral cortex (i.e. problem solving) component of the Government has shut down. The conversion of our nations’ management from a producing to a corrupt financial society has left millions unemployed, and losing their homes. As our infrastructure decays the two party government that is suppose to protect us from such mistakes continues to fail. The focus on loyalty to the party instead of to the citizens is obvious. The latest poll shows that Congress in total has a favorable rating of only 17%. We have no current means of correction. At the next election in 2012 we will be given choices between candites selected by the same two parties that have led us here. There seems nowhere to turn.


Bob Lutz, a long time executive in the automobile industry who returned from retirement to help GM through its’ recovery has written a book “Car Guys vs. Bean Counters”, The book describes the difference between product people and bean counters. Car guys love cars and take pride in the manufacturing of automobiles that are creative and give the customer pride in their ownership. Bean counters view the automobile as an object of finance that has value only by the short term money that can be extracted from it.

Although the subprime financial meltdown and high price of oil were major hits to the industry, the rise to power of the bean counters was the killing event for General Motors. The book is a detailed description of how the bean counters coming to power brought associated actions that almost destroyed General Motors. The bean counters business plan emphasized making the minimum car that extracted the most money from the customers. The car guys’ goal was to make automobiles that gave the customers maximum value for the price. As the customers were exposed to automobiles built under the bean counter philosophy they moved to other companies that gave them better value. Taking design, manufacturing, quality control and company philosophy back from the bean counters was a major milestone toward survival.

It is a great read for those who have followed the automobile industry. As I read it I was struck by how closely this story describes what we need to accomplish to manage our country. If only congress was controlled by those who love and really care about America and its citizens. This is in contrast to the current environment where decision making is under control of those who view the citizen as a financial object for exploitation. It would be great if someday we could write a book with the title “The America Dream vs. Bean Counters” that described how the US was turned around.

A key event in the resurgence of GM was the creation of an energized work force that was dedicated to creating products that please the customer. Our governance is failing miserably in this area.

It is encouraging that once the “car guys” attitude began to be established in GM the employees became re-energized and creative. There was actually plenty of talent available but it was being hobbled by the bean counter management. Perhaps this is true for congress. An approval of only 17% would certainly seem to be a legitimate reason for a change of leadership.

In discussing the tough competitive environment that the American auto industry must meet in the future Bob Lutz begins his conclusion with the following statement.

In a sense the decline, failure, and rebirth of General Motors is simply a metaphor for what is happening in the whole United States

I certainly agree.