Conservative Think Tank - Seeks Comments, Founders, Writers

Vanity | 11/16/2012 | Self

[PieterCasparzen]

My company hires subcontractors, often similar in size, to do work for larger companies, among which are some of the largest corporate entities on the planet. My company's fiscal health and theirs is interrelated.
...
What defense do we as small business owners have against those (often agenda-driven) regulations and the regulators who promulgate those regulations, especially since the probability of influencing regulators (short of injunctive or legislative relief) whose motivations approach religious fervor is nearly nil?

Excellent question. That is precisely the influence gap this think tank is aimed at filling.

This think tank's goal is to operate at a level on par with others. And then to get additional influence, we do "general promotion" (see mission Statement). We could have a public outreach campaign to generally support subcontractors by saying "have carve outs for subcontractors". Big biz has plenty of representation to take care of themselves; we focus exclusively on small. But we can make a big point of "even if a law is intended to apply to big biz and it will cost them, make sure the law is designed as much as possible to balance things out so small vendors are not hurt". It might be possible by adding in something not pertinent to the big co. at all, but something to benefit those small vendors to the point of offsetting their loss.

See, without something like our think tank the small guy has no seat at the table. These things are all ignored by elitist organizations, since they know you're probably voting for their generic pro-big-business viewpoint anyway !

[PieterCasparzen]

ping

[Smokin' Joe]

It is evident in much of regulation without exemptions written in for smaller businesses, that what cannot be attributed to malice on the part of regulators displays the lack of knowledge and foresight that leads to 'unintended consequences' for small business.

Insofar as being able to inform those bodies and regulators of those consequences which might be better predicted from a different viewpoint, there is some possibility this might have a beneficial effect.

I am somewhat skeptical, considering the apparent hostility of the present political environment toward certain subgroups developing viable commercial concerns, and given the apparent tendency for the administration at present to back highly questionable ventures with substantial sums taken from the public coffers while looting through fees and taxation those who do not receive such aid, I wonder how much real effect can be obtained at present.

However, in establishing credibility, especially in regards to deleterious effects, being able to point to predictions of negative outcomes given certain policy shifts may provide the only good derived from those policies in the long haul.

Being able to say "I told you so." might be the only benefit derived in the short term, but will add credibility in the event the political winds change and policy can be reversed, removed, or altered beneficially in the future.

I'm interested, although I do not know how much good I can do.

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping, for your consideration.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks LucyT.

[thackney]

It is evident in much of regulation without exemptions written in for smaller businesses, that what cannot be attributed to malice on the part of regulators displays the lack of knowledge and foresight that leads to 'unintended consequences' for small business.

I have my doubts on these are unintended consequences.

Although small business has been the backbone of this country, the current administration is more interested in control than productive and the associated jobs.

A few large business are easier to control (and provide kickbacks) than a large multitude of small businesses.

[Smokin' Joe]

A few large business are easier to control (and provide kickbacks) than a large multitude of small businesses.

True enough.

Someone once said 'Never to attribute to malice that which can be attributed to stupidity or incompetence'.

With this administration, though, that old saw may not hold.

[rodguy911]

This sounds really good to me.Count me in.

[rodguy911]

I have run four small buisnesses, one of which i still run, since 1970. I’m beginning to know the drill.
Plus radio,print blogopshere since 72.

[Graewoulf]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

In our Society there is a disconnect between those who think and do and those who feel and do.

A well thought-out Conservative Think Tank could significantly reduce the size of that disconnect. The key is to set up the Group to succeed.

As a Scientist I have little patience with those who hold assumptions or hypotheses that they refuse to test, or worse, refuse to acknowledge that their assumptions and hypotheses have already failed many tests.

Here is a perfect example: “ - - - The only emergency thing they can do is just what Hank Paulson told GWB, give me 700 billion dollars. - - - “

The assumption is that ‘priming the pump’ will actually achieve positive, national, financial success.

The hypothesis that was built on that assumption is commonly called the Keynesian Economic Hypothesis.

That assumption was tested by President Harry Truman right after WW2 and Give ‘em Hell Harry sent Keynes packing back to England empty handed!

This topic warrants a lengthy set of Threads on FR or several White Papers from your group.

My question remains: ‘Splain in short, declarative sentences the mechanics of how such a topic would be dealt with in your Group?

1.) Reduce each of your paragraphs to one sentence.
2.) ‘Cut to the chase.’
3.) Assume that I have the attention-span of a 6 year old, (note that I did NOT say intellect of a 6 year old, although sometimes my wife brings up that topic - - - ).

[GOPJ]

Is part of the goad to expose non-profits for what they really are? That holds promise...

[PieterCasparzen]

My question remains: ‘Splain in short, declarative sentences the mechanics of how such a topic would be dealt with in your Group?

A) The tank will maintain it's own master list of the broad topic categories it's currently concerned with.

B) The topic categories are very broad; let me see if I can state your specific topic clearly.

C) From the tank's perspective, I would describe your specific top as: intended versus real effects of Keynesian monetary policy, starting from the viewpoint of small business.

D) The tank will have standing committees covering broad areas of research: Economic Policy, Regulatory Policy, Finance and Capital, Community Environment, etc., each chaired by a Fellow and having access to researchers, support staff, etc., and a collaborative document management system.

E) Each committee can initiate their own research projects, and they handle incoming requests (both internal and external) that are first reviewed by a top-level Proposal Committee; all this work is ongoing.

F) The Economic Policy committee would undoubtedly have your question as one of the first topics it initiates itself since it's so fundamental.

G) Let's just say a topic may have been input by one of our thousands of business owner members in the collaborative document management system - their local "group editor", say, for Northern New Jersey, took a few input requests, checked to see if there ALREADY are papers that answer the question, and formulated them into a request and sent it on to say and "Eastern region" Editor, who had some back and forth, then published the writeup of the question (everyone can now see it) and put it in the Inbox of Proposal Committee.

H) The Proposal Committee discusses with all the Comittee chairs what they want to assign to who based on various factors; out of this process the research request is assigned to the Economic Policy Committee and some sort of work process is defined.

I) The EPC needs to start by creating some kind of simple overall plan to research the question, but it does not want to assume it's conclusions, so there must an iterative process, managed by the EPC, where they start off in one or more investigative directions, giving assignments to research assistants or external paid consultants, then review results and see where they want to go next.

J) The EPC sends a draft to the Exec Committee, etc., a process to approve finalization; the document becomes part of our library for all to read internally via the CMS, it may be select for online "public" publication or inclusion in the Quarterly Journal (subscribed to by thought leaders).

K) The paper may generate questions from thought leaders or the others in the public who may then contact the "Institute" for consultation; it may be linked to on the web, the author may speak on the paper at one of our symposiums or that of some other interested group, government, business, school, etc.; our members may want to discuss it and they can certainly read it online.

L) Related papers and topics that the Executive Committee sees there is or should be great interest in, may be the basis for more activity; perhaps they touch on some basic principle that would be beneficial to start an advocacy campaign for, where we use marketing, events, schools, etc., to raise awareness of what the EC sees as a good ideal to strive for, like "Small Business Heroes!", etc., that can be marketed.

M) A goal is to establish numerous Annual Symposium long weekend events at nice resorts that are an important destination for lawmakers, church leaders, business leaders, academics, etc., so they can hear our speakers, which are drawn from our staff and members and carefully selected visitors (the purpose is not for politicians, VP's of banks, real estate, office supplies, etc. to talk to our members but to hear the speakers) - big business wants most for small business to grow so it creates jobs and their big businesses will then get going again - biggies are banks, cars, real estate, retail, etc., so if sm bus gives them a simple actionable set of requests they'd be all ears.

N) When lawmakers get interested in our research and us, we can't work with them like a lobbyist to write legislation but we can, on a consulting basis, explain the concepts in our white papers and speak as experts in our various fields, i.e., answer what if questions based on our analysis, etc. (we may have something like a roadmap to a radically new healthcare system, etc.).

I guess I ran over! - I tried to make it as short a trip through the mechanics I could and till give you a simplistic ringside view - committee organization is, of course, by State and by Topic.

[PieterCasparzen]

yes, it’s exploring (from the Mission Statement)

“policies and policy sources”

so we’re also looking at where the dang policies come from.

And for simple logical reason:

If policy originator X is a turd that keeps creating policies that destroy small business....

That ain’t good for America

and

why oppose only one bad policy at a time as they come out, if we can just expose the source for the turd that it is ?

Stay on’em like ticks on a hound, policy for policy.

If the turd starts getting widely know as people and papers that are pariahs, their effect diminishes.

[Graewoulf]

Thank you. This is your best description yet.

Now that your framework is here for all to see and comment on, what is your next step?

[Kevmo]

What is your stance on illegal immigration? Here’s one of my proposals. From my home page:

___________________________________________________________________

Whenever an illegal alien kills someone in a drunk driving accident or something similar, here’s what I recommend:
What can we do about it? Here’s my standard post.

RICO —Citizen Recourse

Private persons and entities may initiate civil suits to obtain injunctions and treble damages against enterprises that conspire to or actually violate federal alien smuggling, harboring, or document fraud statutes, under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). The pattern of racketeering activity is defined as commission of two or more of the listed crimes. A RICO enterprise can be any individual legal entity, or a group of individuals who are not a legal entity but are associated in fact, and can include nonprofit associations.

Here’s what I’ve been pushing: it’s time to file Racketeering, Influencing, and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) lawsuits.

RICO lawyers could turn it around in a few years and MAKE MONEY at the same time. I’m surprised they haven’t done it already.

In the absence of enforcement, we can get the word out in the meantime that there is money to be made in filing RICO lawsuits against employers who hire illegal aliens like this jerk.

Employers would have no trouble shutting down the border if they could get sued by someone under the RICO statutes for hiring these people in the first place. The next time an illegal alien kills someone in a drunk driving accident or somesuch thing, I’m going to point out that the victim’s family might be able to seek compensation from the employer under these statutes in the hopes that it would catch on. If this did catch on, would see such a swift backlash against illegal immigration that no employer would go near these people and they’ll all simply want to go back home.

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[Daffynition]

If I was feeling a bit better, I would compose a dissertation to you as to why you are incorrect in your assertion. IIRC, the scope and influence of the Newcomen was not what you claim, as we were active members for c. 15 - 20 years.

After a cursory search, I couldn't find any of the white papers prepared for members on line; it's a shame if they were lost to history; they were a well-spring of knowledge as members/contributors were as bullish on the free enterprise system that you could find in contemporary times, promoting that which made America great.

Best of luck in your endeavor.

[PGalt]

Very interesting. Thanks for the ping, LucyT. BTTT!

[Graewoulf]

PING.

[PieterCasparzen]

I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, I hope you feel better.

It’s clear that Newcomen had a wonderful history - as an avid entrepreneur I love business history. It would be great to belong to an organization that offered good business relationships, and I’m sure they promoted free enterprise and did a great job at that.

In my rush to respond, I’m sure I’ve offended you, and I’m sorry.

That being said, seeing as how Newcomen closed down, but our country is sliding into a moral abyss, insolvency and statism, I feel compelled to pursue a new operation.

It will have to compete with thousands of organizations bent on the destruction of America’s remaining Christian business ethics, and these organizations pervade our government and society.

Thanks, and that’s a funny picture - it’s the only way I can win at chess !

[PieterCasparzen]

Still gathering interested parties.

Need to get hundreds, get to know each other, get comfortable, whittle down to those who will act on incorporation.