Choosing a President

The Presidential election creeps towards the late summer and early autumn when it will heat up. Right now, not everyone is paying attention but they will as September rolls around. Right now, smoke is serving as substance. Right now, no one is talking to the people about the real issues. Oh, they say words that suggest they are talking about the issues, but the words are only that; words. Who cares if Gov. Romney outsourced jobs other than those who lost theirs because of the need to find a less expensive way to run a business? Would he have preferred to keep everyone hired? Most likely, although I can't speak for him or his motives. Would he have preferred to keep all the manufacturing plants operating? Most likely, but then again, I can't read his mind or know exactly what was going on during those days of decisions back in the 1990's. Can you? What I do know, from my own experiences is, it is tough running a business, whether in the corporate world or in small business. I have been in both worlds. Hiring is tough. Firing is even tougher. But good business people make decisions that they believe, at a particular point in time, with the particular facts and assumptions they have at their finger tips, are what is best for the business and the majority of the employees, and in the case of Corporations, the stockholders, regardless of what some employees and their families believe. It is just not human nature to enjoy firing people. That is not to say that some don't enjoy it; that some see it as some power ride. But most people I know in business, hate having to fire anyone, even the most deserving; and there are times when people really do deserve to get fired. And don't use the word "Fair." The world is not fair. There is nothing that is fair when it comes to making decisions. People make their own fairness or at least they try. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Small business owners know that failure is just around the corner nearly every day. Is it fair? I don't know because fair doesn't enter the equation. The real issues right now, in our world as it now sits, when it comes to picking a President are: * Does a person have experience in business? * Did he make the tough calls? * Did the majority of people, the majority of time, benefit? * Can he transfer that knowledge to the White House, not in running the White House but in understanding how government policy impacts business and the employees of business? * Can he build a consensus within Congress, regardless of party? * Has he shown an ability to leave his comfort zone to meet with people on their turf in their environment, regardless of whether he is comfortable or not and regardless of how the far extremes of his Party view the move? * Is he a leader and not just someone who talks a good game but can't deliver? What does it matter if he is rich and used the loopholes our previous leaders put into place? He'd be stupid if he didn't and the last thing I want is a stupid President. What does it matter what his religion or sexual preferences are as long as he is honorable, believes in some power higher than himself, is humble enough to admit mistakes, and loves those who love him while also loving those who don't? Can he lead us out of this mess? That is the question. I believe our current President has many of those traits listed above. I believe he is honorable. I believe he is trying to do the right thing. The problem is, he is not a leader. He has never led, has never shown a propensity to lead and has not shown that he can build a consensus, in understandably one of the hardest periods to do so. Will he be able to do things differently in the future? Do people actually change? Can he get those who have said repeatedly -- no, to change their tune? I don't think so. Can Gov. Romney do those things? Can he build a consensus? Can he figure out how to have a government that serves the people and our economy while also having programs that help those who need it at a specific time or maybe need it forever? I don't know, but I do know that his history is that of one who makes things happen and mostly for the good.