To Bail or Not to Bail – That is the Question
Our Big three automakers: GM, Chrysler and Ford, are teetering. Does the government bail them out and save the US auto industry? Or, do we let them fail and move on past the idea that America makes American cars – and let the Honda’s and Toyota’s and BMW’s and Mercedes’ of the world do it.
GM’s stock is trading where it was 40 years ago although talk of a bailout has brought a speculative tiny bump. Chrysler – you couldn’t give it away when Daimler unwound it from the ill-fated merger a few years ago. Ford – well, the venerable epitome of the American car maker could not even keep Kirk Kerkorian, investor extraordinaire, interested in keeping his stock holdings. By the way, my Mustang GT Premium convertible is a wonderful car, but wonderful cars do not save a US auto maker. It gets better gas mileage than you might think, too.
Governor’s Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
As the Governor’s Small Business Advocate, I have been hearing firsthand about the challenges facing California’s small business owners in this troubled economy. The state’s budget system is also facing a tough financial crisis, but Governor Schwarzenegger is pushing for economic stimulus to aid businesses large and small across the state. He’s also very concerned with hearing from the business community about what issues they’d like to see the state tackle to help in this climate.
That’s why the Governor is welcoming small business leaders to the first-ever Governor’s Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Los Angeles next week on November 18 & 19.
Patterned after the White House Conferences on Small Business held in Washington occasionally since 1981, the Governor’s Conference will bring together leaders from all the sectors of the California economy by region, business sector, ethnicity, and generation. The diversity of the state’s small businesses will provide the breadth of vision for better and more inventive ways that the state can work with small businesses to pave the way to greater prosperity.
Prop. 8, Mao, Lenin & Newsom
Folks on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate should consider the words of Gavin Newsome and John Lennon.
For Prop. 8 supporters: "It’s gonna happen…Whether you like it or not."
For Prop. 8 opponents: "If you go around carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow."
More and more Americans, and therefore more and more states, are going to recognize the marriages between adults of the same gender. Whether you like it or not, same-sex marriages are now legal in Connecticut, and surely more states are going to legalize it either through the courts or through ballot initiatives.
Here in Los Angeles, I have been watching the Prop. 8 protests with interest. Passionate rallies have been held in front of the Mormon Church, L.A.’s Cathedral, and even our city’s worst Mexican restaurant (but great margaritas) because its manager contributed $100 to Prop. 8.
The FBI and Me
I am a recent graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy in Los Angeles. The Citizen’s Academy was set up to in 2000 as part of the FBI’s Community Outreach Program.
Firing a 1930s era Tommy Gun at the FBI firing range with an FBI instructor looking on