May 2009
2 posts
Size of Canada`s government - another post →
An insightful piece by Niels Veldhuis.
I think the best way to reduce the size of government is to eliminate deductions at source and require taxpayers to write cheques every two weeks. This would remind most of us that our largest expense, by far, is that of the taxes we pay to various levels of government. This reminder would cause us to question what we`re getting in consideration of our...
The size of Canada's government →
It’s not the economy, it’s temporary spending growth! Temporary, of course, defined as permanent!
March 2009
3 posts
9 tags
Maria Bartiromo or Jim Kramer won't pay for my...
I am not a regular watcher of Jon Stewart’s show. In fact, I don’t think I have ever watched more than five minutes at a time. However, the following vignette was sent to me last night by a friend who is an investment advisor with a major firm. I enjoyed it and thought you might too.
http://tinyurl.com/bd5soh
Using his own dry humour and some clips from business media over the...
4 tags
Warren Buffet's take on 2008 and beyond - page 3... →
8 tags
BRK.B
There is not much good news being published in the stock and bond markets these days. While I have no idea when the current economic malaise will subside, I do have hope that we are closer to the bottom than the top (although I don’t believe I am able to time the market, so I don’t try).
As a class B shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway stock I haven’t been been totally...
February 2009
4 posts
10 tags
The Stimulus Bill – it’s about government growth,...
“It’s the economy, stupid” was a popular phrase during President Bill Clinton’s first run for the White House when he challenged President George H. W. Bush in 1992. Fast forward to 2009 and Congress has passed a $787 billion “stimulus” package that is supposed to create jobs and invest in America’s future.
Government has this nasty habit of passing...
8 tags
Should bank executives` pay be pegged to that of...
Barack Obama will make $400,000 this year as President of the United States. Some are arguing that as part of the bank bailout, auto maker bailout, everybody who’s taken too much risk bailout, the government should peg senior executives’ pay at companies that take TARP funds to no more than the President’s remuneration.
I have referenced a January 30, 2009 post from http://dealbreaker.com...
Hand on hot stove = pain
In the interest of full disclosure, I do believe that government has a role in society. Protecting property rights, enforcing the law and keeping our borders secure are some of the most important functions. However, manipulating the economy, owning businesses or running businesses are not functions government is equipped to do well.
I have been very disappointed that over the course of this...
January 2009
2 posts
Customers are partners, not adversaries: WestJet...
This post is on customer service because of an email I recently received from WestJet. I’ve appended it below.
As a valued Guest, we would like to remind you that you currently have a credit which will expire on the date listed in the above subject line.
You can use your credit to book a flight for yourself to visit friends and family, or you can surprise a friend or relative by...
Entrepreneurship - make a plan
“Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” - Sir Winston Churchill
For those of you who do not know me, I have started, managed and sold two start up businesses. My first was a restaurant which grew to about $4 million in revenue, was profitable and employed about forty people. My second business was a computer services firm which grew to $1.5 million in...