The REAL Empty Chair(s)

With all the politics in the news, it's easy to miss what is going on for so many families in America. I want to acknowledge those families, and my deepest condolences for their loss.

The notable political joke, about the "empty chair", made me think about the REAL Empty Chairs. Those empty chairs are at the tables of so many American households, because loved ones will never be coming home again. Those chairs, will forever be empty.

So far this month of October, 7 U.S. Soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan (As of Oct. 6, 2012). That's 2,134 killed to date in Afghanistan.

Let us NEVER forget, the REAL Empty Chairs.

God Bless Our Troops, and their Families who await their safe return.

Note:
One of my all time favorite Broadway Musicals, is "Les Miserables". My favorite DVD set, is the 10th Anniversary Production of that musical. (You should rent it, if not own it!)

From that musical, there is a song about such loss. Here are the lyrics, from the Broadway Musical, "Les Miserables"
(Marius, recovering from his wounds, imagines he is back at the ABC cafe)
MARIUS sings ~

There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.

Here they talked of revolution.
Here it was they lit the flame.
Here they sang about `tomorrow'
And tomorrow never came.

From the table in the corner
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On the lonely barricade at dawn.

Oh my friends, my friends forgive me
(The ghosts of those who died on the barricade appear)
That I live and you are gone.
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.

Phantom faces at the window.
Phantom shadows on the floor.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will meet no more.

(The ghosts fade away)

Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me
What your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will sing no more.

The American way - Not Government way

We ALL want the jobs numbers to grow. And, which ever party is in power will claim credit for any such growth, and blame the past actions if they go down. That's politics.

But lets keep in mind something. Americans just don't quit, stop doing what they do, or just give up. The entrepreneur will find a way. To make my point, I'll use a fictional American business (albeit a very realistic business scenario) as an example.

Joe Smith is in the business of building high end furniture. His talents and craftsmanship have shined for many years. Using solid wood, beautiful satin and gloss finishes hand-rubbed on every piece he makes, have been the hallmark of Joe's work and name. Joe also has twelve other people working for him, and helping to put out quality furniture to their customers.

When the economy took a dive, Joe's business did too. Potential customers had to cut back on so-called luxury items. Joe builds great furniture, but isn't cheap. So sales suffered. With that, Joe had to cut back on employees. Joe and his wife worked extra hours to fill in. Sales still suffered. Joe took another disheartening move, and cut a couple more employees.

Joe and his wife struggled to compete for any extra dollars people were willing to part with. So, very reluctantly, Joe changed his business model, and started using less expensive materials. Soon, Joe, his wife, and the remaining six employees were regaining some business. At first glance, the furniture looked great. But it wasn't the best Joe could make. It wasn't the heirloom quality it used to be. But it was paying the bills.

Before long, Joe was able to re-hire three of his people to help make his products and get them out to dealers. While not out of the woods, Joe and his wife were relieved to at least be showing a little profit for a change. This was the first time in 3 years they could say that. They had refinanced their home, cashed in their personal retirement accounts, and heavily dipped into their savings, just to keep their doors open.

One afternoon, a prominent politician stopped by Joe's small factory. The politician had heard that Joe was able to re-hire some people, and Joe's business was showing a profit again. The politician jumped on that "growth", exclaiming the success of his governing as the reason for the job growth at Joe's business!

What did government do to help Joe re-hire a few employees? How did the government help Joe show a profit?

Even though Joe's company showed a slight profit, and was able to re-hired a few people, the government didn't have ANYTHING to do it! And Joe is still 3 people short of where he was 3 years ago. His profits are still not where they were 3 years ago either.  And his furniture, is no longer a "premium" product it used to be.

Joe adapted and found a way to over-come the economic hit. Joe and his wife did it. Joe and his wife worked longer hours, cut back on their own wants, cut employees, just to keep the business open. THEY BUILT IT! No where, did the government help them in any way. And, no where, did any street worker, garbage collector, toll both operator (while important jobs, they are all tax payer employees), go in to Joe's shop to work late nights and weekends, or do any of the things Joe and his wife did, and did without, to keep the doors open.

While we debate who we want to be the President the next four years, it is the "individual" who finds the ways to persevere, over-come, and succeed in face of great odds and hurtles. And Americans, in my view, have been doing that for many decades, and have not stood still and let such obstacles stand in the way for very long. THAT isn't the government. That's the AMERICAN way!

It is MY belief, that Obama thinks that is the GOVERNMENT way, while Romney knows it's the AMERICAN way.

Vote Romney/Ryan Nov. 6th, 2012!