Excerpts from the
Declaration of Independence
July 4th, 1776
The Rally for Our Cause!
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another . . . We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . . That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness . . . But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Are we not at such a crossroads in our country once again?
AND/OR
Now more than ever!
We need to be a
NATION OF INNOVATION!
THE STATUS QUO MUST GO!
COMPROMISE & CORRUPTION
BLOCK the very INNOVATION
WE NEED to solve our problems.
A conservative, smaller, reformed and innovative government.
Generosity, what a powerful word! The choice to be generous with others of one's discretionary income or spend on thyself for thy own luxury, pleasure or entertainment. What a world of difference it makes for one to be involved with people and companies with a philosophy set around generosity for hard work achieved. Companies rise only based upon their ability to achieve the goals they set out to attain. Companies that share revenues with ALL employees and pay living wages for worked performed, consistently produce a better company top and often bottom line. Employees of companies that share in success also are more happy, loyal and productive.
What if a site existed that created a standard emblem or logo signifying the company was one that paid generous wages for those will to work hard (maybe there is one - please let me know)? A logo posted on the company job board and job listings and advertisements that said the company cared about employees so much that if the company succeeded, the employees would share in it's success. Yes, many startup companies in need of hard to attract tech or managerial talent may offer stock options, but most people don't work for a tech startup or cannot afford to work in the short term for lessor wages paid by startups.
Nearly ALL Americans Are Very Wealthy
First off, in America we are nearly ALL wealthy. All but the poorest 5% of Americans are richer than 95% of the rest of the world. Most of us take for granted a REAL roof over our heads, food in the fridge, the wardrobe filling our closet and drawers, going out to dinner and movies, owning a car, watching cable TV and surfing the net at home or on our smartphone. But most in the world lives off just a few hundred dollars a month. Which means most of all of this is but a fantasy to most of the world.
Addressing the reality of our wealth is important in gaining a perspective of generosity both here and abroad. While most of the world lives in poverty may lack in financial wealth, most Americans are TIME STARVED. Having to work 2-4 jobs per household to have a chance at obtaining the American Dream is a reality for many if not most American households.
Forty-eight million Americans receive food stamps. Many millions of Americans receive public assistance (federal or state funded). All but two federal programs have work requirements. The benefits received, are in most states, greater than working for minimum wage.
However with many, if not most BIG and profitable corporations having as their primary goal to meet or beat earning expectations so executives and shareholders are happy, workers get squeezed out of raises and are often laid off. Those remaining at work are asked to work harder without greater compensation. If they don't like it, then there is the door, many bosses say. More and more corporations operate under this harsh and non-success or revenue-sharing philosophy and with it less and less options for workers to find a better job.
Leveraging employees to the maximum, without allowing them to share equitably in the success of a company is plainly not right and not a good business practice. Yet this is a reality most Americans face. This reality hits HOME HARD. When mom and dad are away working, the kids don't receive the quality parenting time they need to learn and grow mentally and emotionally. Kids that don't have parents actively teaching and promoting the values of morality, education and hard work stand little chance, once adults, to earn a living wage and support families of their own. This cycle of wealth, income and time depravation in our country in one that has now repeated itself for more than one generation. It has left us with adults, without labor skills that are of high value in the job market. Though it need not be this way! All kids and even many grown adults need is the opportunity to succeed.
Our country has millions of high income jobs ($75,000+) just waiting to be filled in the areas of technology and healthcare. All that is needed is training and education of millions of smart and eager Americans to fill those jobs. Even when adults receive technical training, many do not complete their education and are stuck with large debts and no high paying job. Why? Because working full-time, raising a family and going to school 10-20 hours a week is a tough thing to do over an extended period of time. What if there were the time freed up for millions of smart, but unskilled Americans to gain the skills and knowledge they need to obtain that high paying job?
Starting a Business
Your boss may say, "If you want to start your own company, go ahead. It's a free country." But gaining resources to start a small business is now as difficult as it has ever been. Crowdsourcing and recent changes by the SEC show promise to raise limited funds, but getting a loan from a bank or venture capital firm is still a very long shot for startups.
I've been a lifelong entrepreneur and know the world of fundraising and startups well. But the truth is starting and running a profitable business is HARD WORK and most fail within the first five years, which is why it is not for everyone. Sometimes businesses fail for reasons you would never or could never have anticipated. Right now I'm hesitant to jump back in and start another business due to all the red tape and difficulty of finding a solid and committed team and sophisticated investors. One axiom for CEO's and founders of startups seeking cash is this: Be sure your team and investors are trustworthy and commited to the plan agreed to and the roles everyone has agreed to. Without integrity and trust you will end up with division and chaos.
Generosity is the Engine of Good. Corruption and Selfishness Block Innovation
Well if you've read this far know that I could have done a much better job on writing about generosity as it relates to sharing the blessings of success in business. But with taking care of my nine month old, managing my mobile commerce site, loving my wife, up keeping my 'Man Chores' around the house, making time for God and meeting a launch date prior to CPAC St. Louis, this is the best I can do for now. Hopefully it is GOOD enough for now. I'll return and improve upon this page and likely several others. Until then I'll leave you with a core philosophy (to the right) I learned long ago.
Site founded by Randy Smith with the purpose of sparking REAL CHANGE thru REAL SOLUTIONS. All rights reserved, 2013.
About Sharing of Wealth By The Rich to Have Riches in Heaven
1 Timothy 6
New International Version (NIV)
6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[a] of their slaves.
False Teachers and the Love of Money
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Final Charge to Timothy
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all.
