Relax•
on September 10th, 2011• by
cotton •
When my fiancé suggested we go to New York over the weekend, the weekend of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, I was not excited about the idea. Visiting heads of states, tourists and a city reflecting on a horrific event sounded like a nightmare. Shockingly, she prevailed and we landed in NY last night.
We made our way down to Stone street in lower Manhattan last night to enjoy a beer and a really good burger. After that we sat outside on Water and Wall Street and enjoyed a good single malt as we discussed the fact that I have a better handle on relationships and what makes them work- oh and to my friends it’s going to be a few weeks before Cindy makes any great salsa for our College football Saturdays – it’s a relationship thing!
The next morning feeling a little groggy from one to many scotch’s I hit the gym to sweat out the left over scotch in my system. After a quick shower we were off to Bubby’s for a mid morning breakfast. It was fantastic, if you find your self in lower Manhattan, specifically on the corner of Huson and North Moore, stop in you will not be disappointed.
After breakfast we took a walk to the site of the 9/11 attack, you could not help but become reflective about the last 10 years. We walked through Battery park and saw many folks out and events to remember 9/11. Across the harbor the Statue of Liberty was standing in all her glory, ferries were departing to Ellis and Staten Islands and people were enjoying their Saturday. Then it hit me what is great about our country and specifically my fellow countrymen in NY – we may get knocked down, but we bounce back and get on with it!
We get on with the things that make our country great, college football, beer, baseball, debates about differences, worshipping as we choose regardless of our faith, and expressing our right to express our views. What Bin Laden and the other terrioists will never understand is you can not destroy a country’s values and culture by striking physical assets such as the twin towers – what NY has shown me is they suffered a unimaginable loss 10 years ago, but they did not lose their heart, soul and values and this no terrorist can ever take.
It’s been a great trip, more like a long good scotch that should be sipped and savored! Thanks NY for reminding what’s great about the American Spirit!
Tweet This Post
Coffee with Cotton•
on September 9th, 2011• by
cotton •
Mr. Obama, put forward a long over due jobs/stimulus package to a joint session of Congress and while my conservative friends would hate to hear me say it, it was a good start. I must admit I’m seriously tired of hearing Obama drone on about taxing the rich or how Buffett wants to pay more taxes by closing loop holes, but that said I like elements of his plan.
Reducing both the employee and employer ( small businesses) social security taxes is a strong step in the right direction. Small businesses need relief and as a CEO of a small business I’m happy about this.
Giving incentives for companies to hire long term unemployed is also a good step in the right direction.
Finally, I don’t like government jobs programs; however, if you are going to do it, the best place to do it is in infrastructure projects as the President proposes.
The Republicans should not dismiss this Plan with partisan politics, instead they should use this as an opportunity to improve and add to Mr Obama’s plan. They should pass his plan with the following additions:
1. Allow a one- time repatriation of off-shore profits back to the US at a flat 20% tax rate. With off shore untaxed profits of roughly 2 trillion dollars the treasury could raise some fast cash to help pay for Obama’s plan. The repatriated profits aftertax could be used by corporations to invest in new business leading to more jobs.
2. Eliminate the capital gains tax for investments made into small business permeant. Small business creates over 50% of the jobs in the US. Let’s create an ongoing incentive to invest in the Google’s and Apple’s of tomorrow today.
3. Eliminate all tax loop holes to all of Warren Buffett’s companies. Also introduce a windfall tax on the expected profits he’ll make from investing in Bank of America a TARP sponsored bank and any other assets he buys that the government rescued. His shareholders will be pissed but it should make him happy as he seems to want to pay more taxes. I seriously doubt that Warren Buffett personally pays lower taxes than a secretary does – this is self serving disingenuous rhetoric from Obama about the man in Omaha who is looking to stay in the good graces of this Adminstration. Good graces that will allow him to feed from the trough of TARP sponsored assets that our government has invested in, that he wants to buy on the cheap.
4. Allow families to deduct the cost of tuition for there dependents and allow tax credits for displaced workers to go back to school. We need to focus on having good jobs, but we also need to focus on having well prepared workers as well.
5. Eliminate unnecessary regulations that prohibit growth.
I’m sure there is more that can be done but this is a good start and will boost employment, investment and increase the tax base. The Republicans have an opportunity to contribute to the President’s plan, I’ll be watching for leadership by Congress.
http://usat.ly/od7kQX
Tweet This Post
Coffee with Cotton•
on September 6th, 2011• by
cotton •
9/11 and the Successful War | STRATFOR.
It has been a long journey since 9/11 and we have stumbled along the way to be sure. However, we need to take stock of where we are and what has been accomplished on this journey we did not seek. This article does a nice job of giving us perspective as we mark the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.
Tweet This Post
Coffee with Cotton•
on September 6th, 2011• by
cotton •
Poll shows California voters dissatisfied with nations direction.
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. We are headed in the wrong direction and it will continue as long as we have a leader that coddles us into believing we can get out of this simply by taxing the rich. We need a serious jobs program that starts with:
1. Elimination of capital gains taxes permanently for investments in companies with less than 10 million dollars in revenue.
2. A simplified tax code that creates incentives for increased investment and employee productivity.
3. Elimination of regulations that make us less competitive overseas.
4. Reduce taxes on repatriated income earned overseas by multi-nationals – reduce the rate to 20%.
5. Allow parents to deduct 50% of educational expenses for their children to go to college if their housold income is less that $100k.
6. Cut entitlement programs across the board by 10%. It hurts but we can’t afford it. Everyone suffers.
Those are my thoughts Mr President!
Tweet This Post
Coffee with Cotton•
on September 5th, 2011• by
cotton •
I came across this article in the Mercury News this morning about San Jose falling on Hard Times and cutting their doggie bag budget. Admittedly San Jose is more of a Tech Mecca than Huntington Beach but we have a good Dog Beach and our bags are safe for now 
Tweet This Post
Taking Care of Business•
on September 4th, 2011• by
cotton •
FireScope celebrated it’s 5th Anniversary a couple weeks ago. As a founder of the company, I’m really proud of the hard work the team put into getting our company this far. It’s been a difficult road getting through what was arguably the toughest economic recession I can remember in my life time. But thanks to our investors, customers and especially the people who make up FireScope who were earlier believers we are enjoying continued success.
Happy Birthday FireScope.
Tweet This Post
Coffee with Cotton•
on July 14th, 2011• by
cotton •
Calculated Risk: Retail Sales increased 0.1% in June.
This is some good news! In spite of Washington doing everything it can to slow the economy down it still is growing over last year. Comments about a government shutdown or social security checks not being sent out next month if the debt ceiling is not lifted does not help the economy or a consumption based economy. I sure wish those guys worked in the real world. Well back to work – I have a real job to do
Tweet This Post
Taking Care of Business•
on October 26th, 2010• by
cotton •
Congratulations to the Ford Motor Company, the Ford family and the shareholders of Ford for sticking it out during a very rough period and surviving a tough recession with out a government bail-out. I’m confident that Ford will be a stronger Company as a result of their ability to navigate this storm.
To our politicians who have never made a payroll, tough decision or competed in the market place this is what capitalism is all about – wake up!
Ford Posts Third Quarter 2010 Net Income of $1.7 Billion; Announces Additional Debt Reduction Actions+.
Tweet This Post
