Economist-Trashing
August 16th, 2007 . by CaryThis morning’s paper brought the easiest target to me.
There is an article (I don’t know how long the link will be good; azcentral seems to not like being linked) that talks about the length a particular zinc-supply company has gone to ensure a couple of things: that the penny is still used, and that the mint continues to use zinc as the core for the pennies.
The company, Jarden Zinc Products, has paid lobbyists to kill bills relevant to their industry – one, in 2006, that would have made the penny extinct (legislation that would have rounded transactions to the nearest nickel) and now they are lobbying against the ability of the United States Mint itself to decide what materials to use in the minting of coins, in order to best keep costs down (it currently costs 1.7 cents to make a brand new penny, and nearly 10 cents to make a nickel). This would, in effect, cause Jarden to lose their number one customer. According to the article, Jarden has been paid more than $170 million dollars between 2004 and 2006 under a contract with the United States Mint. Also according to the article, the change in legislation would save the American taxpayer $100 million annually.
This is, in my opinion, a clear case of the greater good being usurped for a special interest. Going back to a pure supply-an-demand model, a single zinc supplier is being kept alive (or at least highly profitable) by law, rather than by market forces. If the legislation passes, and the Mint is allowed to choose the materials, then the free market would drive the costs, not an ironclad contract.
This is an example of Common Sense being allowed to drive a need instead of a network of backroom deals. This is, in the end, how I would urge the entire government to do business – by best price, not best friends.
In other news, papers have been filed for the creation of casework by cary, inc., a custom-woodworks firm. Finally, a boss I can’t disagree with and that I can have a reasoned discussion with when he makes a boneheaded mistake.
Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!
It is examples like this which make one wonder what happened to the Fair Market System and Anti-Trust Laws; which were supposed to prevent these kinds of monopolies from taking over a market.
Also, what a better Military we would have if the “by best price, not best friends” system were in place when it came to the awarding of contracts for R&D and procurement. Considering the level of intelligence among our service members today, a career path for them upon receiving their Honourable Discharge might be to devote themselves to fighting a new kind of fight……to ensure that a change for the better in how these contracts are awarded is effected so that the needs of each branch of the Service are met, for the fairest price, and the current system of “friends” receiving a contract is abolished.
This would be a win/win situation all ’round…for the active-duty Military, for former Military members, for National security, and, most importantly, for the American worker who would reap the rewards of an increase in the number of jobs in related industries.
Lastly, congratulations on the creation of your woodworking firm. May you have much success, Cary, and be awarded many contracts!
Veritas et Fidelis Semper
Exactly my questions, Deborah – what happened? What happened to allowing business to grow or die as they were able to adapt to the changing market?
What happened to making a go of it on your own abilities, as opposed to who can get you a sweetheart deal? (it’s who you know, not what you know!)
Thank you for the well wishes, I hope to have a thriving business soon. That is, if I don’t have to make a pit stop in DC to run the country for a few years…
Although this is related only to your last paragraph in the post, may I ask how one prevents real wood, as opposed to laminates, from drying out and warping in Arizona?
Yes there is lemon oil and keeping the wood out of direct sunlight, only with the need for air-conditioning for so much of the year…?
The reason for the question is that even here up North, with the A/C on from sometime in May ’til late Sept. or Oct., between the A/C in the summer and the dry indoor heat of the winter, I was wondering if you would be able to recommend a product other than lemon oil to help prevent the wood from drying.
Veritas et Fidelis Semper
P.S. As Meg appears to be a most capable lady who is already Campaign Manager and most adept at PR, what role do you forsee her having in the new company? Friendly suggestion: a post from Meg’s perspective. Subject: her choice.
P.P.S. Another wee attempt at humour.
First, the real challenge in the dry environment of Phoenix is to keep enough moisture in the wood to keep it workable.
I have found that a good coat of a clear sealant will keep the color where you want it, and the moisture from varying too much. This, of course, is provided the piece was stable to begin with and ALL surfaces are finished or sealed from the air.
As to your new post from MEG’s perspective – good idea! She is a model for the company, as one of the main product lines is the “Face Vase” – a wood turning using the profile of a loved one as the outline. As soon as I have a decent shot of a finished product I will show you what I mean. First, since all the magic smoke leaked out of the lathe’s motor, I need to replace that …
Good luck on the business venture. If that boss makes a boneheaded mistake, will you fire him? LOL
Nah – can’t “fire” the “boss” – physics, you know.