Welcome to the August Food, Dining and Hospitality issue of NorthBay biz magazine. Also this month, we have a special report on Healthy Living. The editorially enhanced new look of the magazine debuted in our May issue this year. All the feedback we’ve received so far has been encouraging. Readers and advertisers seem to be pleased with all the additional content and the expanded graphics.
After 14-plus years of owning the magazine, our reach into the business community and network of sources and contacts is significant. However, in a marketplace as large and vibrant as the North Bay, and even with the best editorial staff on the planet, we can’t know everyone.
Here’s where you can help. There are a lot of mentors, innovators and heroes out there. People who quietly go about making the North Bay a better place, every day, in their own special way. They probably don’t think of themselves that way, but they are. Too often, their efforts go unnoticed by the general public—and they’re certainly underreported.
Well, several of the new features we’ve introduced are designed to change that. Our intent is to highlight people who are doing significant things. We’d like to shine a spotlight on these folks and help inform the business community at large of these remarkable contributions being made right here in our backyard.
Here are the titles of three of our newest features that fit that definition: People You Should Know, My Mentor and Hidden Heroes. As their names suggest, each feature profiles individuals who stand out for the contributions they’re making to the region’s quality of life, irrespective of the industries in which they work.
So help us get the word out by identifying someone you know whose efforts stand out from the crowd. Please contact us at editor@northbaybiz.com and you’ll help us bring some deserved recognition to the individuals who’re building a better community for all of us.
Some facts
The Media—Despite recent complaints by the President of an overly critical media regarding recent alleged scandals, the three major networks had 198 hours of morning and evening news coverage from June 1 through June 25. During that time, only 20 minutes of the 198 hours was spent on the IRS scandal and just 18 minutes on the VA scandal. That’s less than 1 percent of on-air news time spent on two national, major news stories. I agree with the President, that does sound damn unfair—but unfair to whom?
Income Tax—Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the federal income tax. Upon adoption in 1913, it totaled 400 pages. Today, the tax code is a staggering 74,608 pages long and is administered by a bureaucracy of 90,000 employees at a cost of $11 billion annually. Americans will pay about $3 trillion in federal taxes this year and another $1.5 trillion in state taxes. Do you think we’re getting our money’s worth?
Regulations—At the recent World Economic Forum in Switzerland, countries were ranked from least to most regulated. Not surprisingly, the least regulated countries showed the best economic growth rates. The leaders included Singapore, China and Germany. Listed near or at the bottom were France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Brazil. The U.S. ranking has plunged from 23rd least regulated nation when President Obama was inaugurated to 80th place today. Any chance there’s a correlation to the state of the economy and the increase in regulations?
Some questions
What state has seen a net loss of 4 million people to other states over the past 20 years? What state has lost one-third (or 600,000) of its manufacturing jobs over the past 15 years? What state has the 48th worst business tax climate? What state has 50 percent higher electricity costs than the national average? What state charges middle-class workers, those earning $48,000 per year or more, an income tax rate of 9.3 percent (higher than what millionaires pay in 47 other states)? OK, that was too easy: California.
If you were in charge of returning the country to prosperity by creating jobs to revive the economy, which of the following ideas would support your mission?
• Refusing to build a pipeline that would lower the cost of gas and create thousands of jobs.
• Redefining the meaning of work in welfare to work, to incentivize not working.
• Mandating that every citizen buy a product or face a fine by the government.
• Supporting a higher minimum wage even though studies prove such a move destroys jobs.
• Passing a law that incentivizes hiring part-time employees while discouraging hiring full-time employees.
There are so many more examples, but I trust you get the idea.
A few quotes
“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uniformed. If you do read a newspaper, you’re misinformed.” —Mark Twain
“I contend that for a nation to try and tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” —Winston Churchill
“I don’t make jokes. I just watch government and report the facts.” —Will Rogers
“A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” —Thomas Jefferson
That’s it for now. Enjoy this month’s magazine.
