Letter From "The Boss."

email received this morning | January 13, 2008 | Unknown Boss

[IbJensen]

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 job. 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. You've seen my home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure 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 the yearned. 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, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, 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 bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed decades of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has its 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 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 23 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 suddenly government 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 fire you. I fire your co-workers. 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 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. 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, and with no employees to worry about....

Signed, THE BOSS

[IbJensen]

...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.

535 elected-for-life, mostly liberal pansies who know as much about running a business as a pig knows about applying makeup.

(Barney may know a thing or two about applying makeup.)

[caver]

Posted here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2159808/posts

and here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2160245/posts

[reaganator]

Who is John Galt?

[Le Chien Rouge]

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 for quarterly taxes. You know what my “stimulus” check was? Zero Nada. Zilch

....and I talk to people everyday who, after reading this article, would STILL want this business man to pay more in taxes in the name of FAIRNESS........Unbelievable!!!!!

[jr.ewing.78]

Amen. I love owning my own business, but people who check in for the daily 9-5 and just expect that steady paycheck to magically appear every two weeks have no idea how easy they have it. Then they vote for the thieves and crooks who know nothing about business and instead cater to them because they want to be reelected.

This country is circling the drain and with every passing day Ayn Rand looks less like a nut and more like a prophet.

[Tainan]

Thanks for the referrals...however this one is the first I’ve seen.

Thanks Ib. Gonna send this one around. There will be quite a few heads nodding in agreement.

[Red Badger]

Signed, THE BOSS??.............Bruce Springsteen?..........

[bray]

This man has a huge bulls eye on his chest.

Pray for W, America and Our Troops

[stockpirate]

I work for a car dealer. I told all of the salemen that were voting for O that his pledge to raise taxes would require the dealer to cut our commissions.

Everyone one of them said no way he is taxing the rich. After I ‘splained companies don’t really pay taxes they still said I didn’t know what I was talking about.

Well, yesterday we recieved the new pay plan which for a salesperson selling 10 cars cuts his earnings by about $1,000.00 per month.

They all seem to be very quite over this. I tried to tell them.

[Camel Joe]

Finally, Atlas Shrugged...

[adm5]

bkmrkd

[Psalm 73]

From my company's Home page this AM:
" In light of the current business conditions at "xxXXXxx" and our need to continue growing, we will be delaying our merit increase date 3 months....
The effective date for salary increases will be June 16, 2009.
Additional changes may be considered as the 2009 business environment takes shape. All of us at "xxXXxx" must recognize that today’s business environment remains very challenging and requires diligence in managing costs.
Thank you for your continued understanding and valued contributions to our organization."

Hmmm, my company (a well-respected defense firm) is busy as all get-out, the Union workers will get their raise and COLA, upper management will get their bonuses - but salary staff is once again screwed.
One day my company will scratch their heads and wonder: "Why the heck did our salaried staff get unionized"???
(And I hate the unions)

[09Patriot]

actualy Idiocracy looks less like a comedy and more like reality tv lol

[dfwgator]

Yep, and we just elected President Camacho.

[IbJensen]

I understand your frustration.

[armydoc]

bookmark

[Goodwen]

The Wall Street Journal estimates my tax rate to roughly rise to 64% combined federal, state and local with Obama’s campaign pledges. I have told my 8 employees that if we see rates that high the business will close - it's not worth the trouble.

[IbJensen]

Operating on skimpy margins, shortchanging yourself while providing lucrative employment for others is demeaning.

[READINABLUESTATE]

“Well, yesterday we recieved the new pay plan which for a salesperson selling 10 cars cuts his earnings by about $1,000.00 per month.

They all seem to be very quite over this. I tried to tell them.”

If this were me “I TOLD you so” would replace “good morning”

[savedbygrace]

Old Proverb: I’ll work a few years of my life like most men won’t, so I can live the rest of my life like most men can’t.