2008 for me and for many has been an emotionally and physically exhausting year. Sleep became as much of a commodity as money. Aside from the daily headlines, uncertainty as to what would happen tomorrow was our greatest concern. Both in the mainland and in PR the election results were very telling of a population desperate for change, and a new vision. And in the mainland and in PR the minority party has refused to accept the election results.
In the mainland there is a greater likelihood that both parties will find a common ground to get the nation on track. Here in PR we have the third wheel which will make attaining our goals for prosperity much harder. What level of tolerance do the people of PR have for the politics of the third wheel is yet to be determined. Just as how hard will the new administration come down on those who refuse to follow law and order and justify every action as civil disobedience.
How we balance our love for the First amendment and a civilized government will be as important as to what policies we implement to get there. Ronald Reagan set the tone of his presidency when he fired all the union workers of the Air traffic controllers at the beginning of his presidency. The nation was not in the mood for me first and screw the needs of my neighbor. Though his fiscal policy left much to be desired, Ronald Reagan brought back to the American people pride and confidence lost during the Carter years.
I trust Obama will bring back this trust to America as a Nation and as a people, here and abroad. I hope and pray Fortuno will do the same in PR. Sadly, there are many who are by the sidelines wringing there hands hoping for him to fail so they can say "I told you so" and to hell the future of our island.
The press, that is the Ferre-Rangle conglomarate and the third wheel have already been thrashing the governor elect and have purposely hidden the chaos we are inheriting from two terms of atrocious governing by the Calderon/Acevedo Vila administration.
La voz del sinchi will continue, I will do my part to provide my opinion so we may have a discussion as to alternatives for a better Puerto Rico, better living environment, better future. I also make a call to those who truly believe in statehood as an alternative to the betterment and future of PR to start acting and stop talking. And the first cause of action must be to boycott the Ferre Rangel conglomerate.
To 2008 I say so long farewell. 2009 will be tough, but if we play our cards right we can start talking about the future again. Thank you, May God bless you and all your loved ones, and may the new year give us "peace, love and understanding along with health and prosperity.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Call me Grinch
It's Christmas and we are in the worst recession since the depression IE the going back to 1930's. We are not close to what transpired during those times. But, we are at the ledge staring down a very deep ravine. It's Christmas and as an employer it's time to give out Christmas bonus (yes all denominations take advantage of this great Christian giveaway). I do not mind giving out bonuses. I do mind being forced to give bonuses. And it really frosts my ass being told the amount I must give out as a bonus. This is the classic example of government bureaucrats who have no idea what it is to meet payroll, to pay a commercial loan, pay rent, you work for a living.
So, in the middle of the worst recession ever we are forced to increase the bonus amount we are to give our employees. Even the lazy bum, who you are forced to keep on payroll because getting rid of him cost too much (that a whole other issue and another bottle of whiskey). We are talking about $300.00 minimun and $600.00 depending on how many employees you have. OK, let's do some quick math, 14 employees (like the majority of small business) 300 x 14=4200.00 plus that weeks payroll. Now say you are lucky enough to have 15 employees well its 15x600=9000.00. But wait, there's more. You are paying every employee the same amount. What about the employee who's been with you through thick and thin, you can't pay him the same as "lazy bum". So, good employee gets well, pissed, bummed, disappointed, and to an extent rightly so. The law makes no distinction between the good employee and the bad, the one who always is willing to give that little extra, and the one who is always staring at the clock.
You see the law was 1. written by incompetent buffoons,2. and written to mainly benefit government employees. Since the government can play poker with our money they do not care what it costs. They can be magnanimous. The outgoing administration at the Executive level has given out over 500,000.00 in bonuses that we know of at a time when the government has to borrow to make it's payroll, is over budget, and has IOU's in the hundred of million's.
And lastly, you are one of the thousands of businesses coping with losses, struggling and want a dispensation from the government agency who regulated the bonuses ( of course there is an agency who oversees this and they too have no clue what it is to have a real job) you MUST PRESENT AN AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM YOUR ACCOUNTANT. Which will cost you thousands, and will be, can be used against you in the future. Of course, no one had, has the money for an audited statement so we are stuck, screwed and having to pay the bonus required by law. Call me Grinch, I just don't feel like paying what the government tells me to those who do not deserve it. Have a Merry Christmas, courtesy of "Estado Ensuciado de Puerto Rico".
So, in the middle of the worst recession ever we are forced to increase the bonus amount we are to give our employees. Even the lazy bum, who you are forced to keep on payroll because getting rid of him cost too much (that a whole other issue and another bottle of whiskey). We are talking about $300.00 minimun and $600.00 depending on how many employees you have. OK, let's do some quick math, 14 employees (like the majority of small business) 300 x 14=4200.00 plus that weeks payroll. Now say you are lucky enough to have 15 employees well its 15x600=9000.00. But wait, there's more. You are paying every employee the same amount. What about the employee who's been with you through thick and thin, you can't pay him the same as "lazy bum". So, good employee gets well, pissed, bummed, disappointed, and to an extent rightly so. The law makes no distinction between the good employee and the bad, the one who always is willing to give that little extra, and the one who is always staring at the clock.
You see the law was 1. written by incompetent buffoons,2. and written to mainly benefit government employees. Since the government can play poker with our money they do not care what it costs. They can be magnanimous. The outgoing administration at the Executive level has given out over 500,000.00 in bonuses that we know of at a time when the government has to borrow to make it's payroll, is over budget, and has IOU's in the hundred of million's.
And lastly, you are one of the thousands of businesses coping with losses, struggling and want a dispensation from the government agency who regulated the bonuses ( of course there is an agency who oversees this and they too have no clue what it is to have a real job) you MUST PRESENT AN AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM YOUR ACCOUNTANT. Which will cost you thousands, and will be, can be used against you in the future. Of course, no one had, has the money for an audited statement so we are stuck, screwed and having to pay the bonus required by law. Call me Grinch, I just don't feel like paying what the government tells me to those who do not deserve it. Have a Merry Christmas, courtesy of "Estado Ensuciado de Puerto Rico".
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
It's all about service
At the beginning of AVV tenure the government ran out of money and could not pay the hundred of thousands of government workers. The Government shut down for what was it a week a few days. During the debacle the sentiment on the street was one of complete apathy towards the workers. No one really cared and the reason was simple. The public at large sees government workers as overpaid, lazy, opportunistic, and callous towards our needs the taxpayers. This is not true of all the government workers, but the stereotype does fit the majority of them.
This dysfunctional attitude has permeated many a private industry. To the point where we are actually surprised when we receive good service. We go out of our why to promote this particular company, person, professional, whatever. I am part of this industry. There are times I could give a rats ass about a particular client, but when you least expect it that is the one person who will pass one a good word about your product.
Large corporations are particularly prone to this sort of callousness. A dear and very very close relative had such an experience with a health care provider. She as all of us is going through very difficult times and fell behind in her payment for medical insurance. Not once but...twice. The insurance company told her she now had to have her case reviewed by "the panel". Coverage denied. Coverage cost increased. But the real reason the insurance company took the action it did was due to the fact one of the insured has a pre existing condition. The delay in payment was the perfect excuse to get rid of the liability.
These are the same companies who came running to get a bail out. Citi, AIG, and all the other high priced zoot suits crooks who can't manage there companies but berate us when we fall behind in our payments. Does anyone care when these workers are out on the street. Doubt it. Like the Government workers in PR they too are over paid, if not lazy, they are greedy, callous and self righteous. Remember the Masters of the universe.
We will cheer those who bend over backwards to help us. Who go the extra mile to give us good service, that manager who will empower his employees to make a decision and help a client. Whether its about changing a cell phone, making a payment plan to keep coverage, changing the plate because the food was just not "as good as it usually is". It is about service and when we receive this service we spread the word, we recommend, we defend. The business, person, which understands this principle will survive these troubled times. The ones who don't will not or should not survive, they are not worthy of our money, time, or anything in between.
This dysfunctional attitude has permeated many a private industry. To the point where we are actually surprised when we receive good service. We go out of our why to promote this particular company, person, professional, whatever. I am part of this industry. There are times I could give a rats ass about a particular client, but when you least expect it that is the one person who will pass one a good word about your product.
Large corporations are particularly prone to this sort of callousness. A dear and very very close relative had such an experience with a health care provider. She as all of us is going through very difficult times and fell behind in her payment for medical insurance. Not once but...twice. The insurance company told her she now had to have her case reviewed by "the panel". Coverage denied. Coverage cost increased. But the real reason the insurance company took the action it did was due to the fact one of the insured has a pre existing condition. The delay in payment was the perfect excuse to get rid of the liability.
These are the same companies who came running to get a bail out. Citi, AIG, and all the other high priced zoot suits crooks who can't manage there companies but berate us when we fall behind in our payments. Does anyone care when these workers are out on the street. Doubt it. Like the Government workers in PR they too are over paid, if not lazy, they are greedy, callous and self righteous. Remember the Masters of the universe.
We will cheer those who bend over backwards to help us. Who go the extra mile to give us good service, that manager who will empower his employees to make a decision and help a client. Whether its about changing a cell phone, making a payment plan to keep coverage, changing the plate because the food was just not "as good as it usually is". It is about service and when we receive this service we spread the word, we recommend, we defend. The business, person, which understands this principle will survive these troubled times. The ones who don't will not or should not survive, they are not worthy of our money, time, or anything in between.
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