Posted on 10/28/2011 9:48:27 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
To All My Valued Employees:
There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your j What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.
However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.
First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. I'm sure you've seen my big home at last years Christmas party, all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.
However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY :
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.
My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, someday, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9 am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5 pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bailout all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.
Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.
Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:
I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes, Federal taxes, Property taxes, Sales and use taxes, Payroll taxes, Workers compensation taxes, Unemployment taxes, Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000.00 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? ME, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next WELFARE check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree. Which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had government suddenly mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.
So where am I going with all this?
It's quite simple.
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you and all your coworkers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
Then, I will permanently close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. WELFARE, WELFARE, WELFARE?? My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steam rolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, happy and with no employees to worry about....(that would be you).
Signed, The BOSS
‘On the Beach’ a metaphor;(
Oldie but goodie.
I am reluctantly looking at retirement in Costa Rica (decades from now).
Atlas is shrugging.
Let me guess, this guy owns a lobbying firm.
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years.
Believable up to here... good story of American Dream type startup guy...
They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes.
Really? Getting pretty inconsistent here. Firstly, MOST people work, MOST people don't start companies. In addition, isn't this letter purportedly to your employees who presumably work and want to live comfortably.. and 'fancy designer clothes'? huh?
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9 am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5 pm, I don't.
OK, this is where the BS flag finally hit max and I switched off. If you are the boss, why don't you have enough managerial skills to get 8 hours of work out of your people. Why are you insulting your employees?
Just dumb.
*
I got so little support that I frankly don't care what happens to those students or their parents any more. I'm not interested in trying to teach my subject matter much less trying to instill the correct values in a people with hardened hearts. What is going to have to happen is a complete and total collapse and probably subsequent bloodshed before people will wake up, open their ears and finally listen.
Until then, keep partying; keep living immorally; keep doing the stupid things that are dragging the nation down and keep trying to destroy those who would prevent you from falling off of the cliff of foolishness and watch what happens next. Oh, and make sure you kill the messenger.
yhea, I remember this letter....
This has to be a fake. Entrepreneurs don’t think like this.
This writer is right on. Hope your employer can keep you employed, with your attitude you should have been gone a long time ago...Its all about you, right and your rights to his rewards that he earned by risks he took and time he spent building the small company so you could have a job.....
I half joking told him to check his parking lot for Obama or democrat bumper stickers and fire them first..
I wonder if you are one of those employee's that really start to work at noon and go home at 5. Sounds like you are the dog that got hit with the rock, your the one yelping.
Oh and by the way, who do you think starts up all the companies that give people like you a job...Unless you work for a large corp. You know the kind I'm talking about. Those corrupt corps that long haired, dope smoking pseudo hippies that love all the benefits the corps. give to you...like the computer that your using to post on FR.
No need to list the rest of the items corps make to make your life livable. Or are you a union person? Just curious with the last question..and don't you just love those smelly parasites protesting (LOL) the nasty capitalist that make all the toys you enjoyed in your youth and the great stuff you use now.
This is an old email that went around quite a while ago, and its still true today. The boss may not be your favorite person, but you seem like the kind of person that bites the hand that feeds them... Or do you think its your right to a job and to hell with the greedy owner.
Yep, blame the owner for your own laziness. Your remarks are quite telling...
This is not meant for those unemployed and honestly are out there trying to find a job.
You are right about one thing.. MOST people don't start companies, just those with drive and desire to be their own boss and as a by product give whiners like you a job.
Quit your whining and build your own company. Then you can hire people like you that think you owe them a living and all the benefits that the government demands the owner give you, plus you love the government that dictate regulations that 90% of which are not necessary but sure do keep the boss from giving you a raise if you deserve it..
Those tax hikes are what government employees call “austerity.” Get out while you can, Bossy. Don’t come back, until all education in the USA has been privatized. That’ll be the signal.
Civil Disobedience in Greece Grows Over Government’s Austerity Measures
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2799237/posts
I'll take your moniker at face value and treat you respectfully as an elder. That said, I think you need to pull the reins WAYYYYYYYyyyyyy back on the ad hominem. Did I personally do something to you? Wow.
Perhaps you need to read what I wrote. I believe the original post is a fake. It's a fake email probably written by a cranky old person and then spammed across the internet. It is fiction.
I completely agree with the underlying sentiment; however, the writing style is that of an advocate trying to prove a point. In conclusion, third rate writers with a grudge ought not spam the internet for their cause.
Ding ding ding!
The Greek government chooses the tax hikes instead of spending cuts, BTW—not the choice of the EMU creditors (Germany, France and other northern manufacturing countries). Things to come for our USA, with a debt-to-GDP of over 100% now.
Civil Disobedience in Greece Grows Over Government’s Austerity Measures
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2799237/posts
Added more keywords, Granny. *Snicker*
Your last paragraph puts your view clear and that is a view I can agree with except I don't think a cranky old person was spamming across the Internet. I didn't write it honest injun.....probably someone getting tired of being made out to be the bad guy. Who ever wrote it strikes a cord for many small business men and women...
I appreciate your respect for my age. I am a grandmother of 13 and its my reward for raising their parents...:O)
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