Smarter Stimulus Package

[Nortechnorth]

Injecting good news into the marketplace is a positive stimulus. One thing that we at Double R are fortunate to have is contact with dozens of people every day in a virtual cross section of the economy. I personally speak with manufacturers in the marine industry, dealers, haulers and every other aspect of the marine industry. But I also speak with boat owners who are plumbers, doctors, car dealers, inventors, dentists, engineers, pavers, scrap metal dealers, accountants, restaurant owners, realtors, carpenters, home builders, oil drillers, demolition contractors, lawyers, truckers, furniture installers, road line painters, chocolate bar packagers, drywall hangers....you name it.

Do our customers complain about the economy? Sure. But that is not all I hear.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING FACT:

Of the more than 70 offshore boat owners we regularly service around Canada, USA and Europe, we have had a grand total of ZERO customers who have lost their businesses since the news channels told us that the world was ending last October. Sure, we hear that business is down from many of them. Sure, their portfolios are down so they may have to work a couple more years before retirement. But the lights are on, the workers are still there and life is going on. As business owners, they seem to have a little better view of the economy than the general population who rely on the news media to read the pulse. The general consensus is that we are in a bit of a storm, but it will pass.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM:

Businesses surviving and staying in business do not sell any advertising on the news. We have 24 hour news now. Google News, CNN, New York Times, alerts to your Blackberry, electronic billboards... Good news does not sell advertising. Blood and guts sell advertising. Blood and guts. Plant closures, stock plunges, people in line at the welfare office, people having their homes foreclosed upon... Let me repeat once more. Blood and guts sell advertising.

No matter how much money you inject into struggling sectors of the economy, if you continue to scare your consumers with constant negative messages, constant doom and gloom, constant blood and guts, they will not spend. When you hear there is a storm coming in, you conserve your food. Even if they are in the 92% of the population that is still employed (and never mentioned on the news,) people can be scared out of spending.

You can take any time, boom or recession, and find some economic failures to talk about. There may be more economic failures than usual right now. But there has never been a time when they have been so publicized, so exploited.

HERE IS MY STIMULUS PACKAGE:

For a tiny portion of the money the government is earmarking for industry stimulus, the government buys every page and second of advertising of the top news channels and newspapers in the country for the next year. "OK networks. Your advertising is sold now. Report the news. Feel free to talk about the 92% of the population that IS employed a little bit. No need to put a disproportionate amount of blood and guts in there. The advertising is already sold for the next year. If you can't sell it next year, we will subsidize that too. Just take it easy on the blood and guts." The beautiful thing is, it would hardly cost anything because the government could still resell the advertising space!

Of course the freedom of speech people will freak out. I could care less. Times of war call for drastic measures. Right now, the news media is at war with our economy.

Call me crazy. But stopping the constant stream of negative messages the public is being force-fed would be the best money the government has spent in a long time.

If you want to come on this thread and talk about how bad the economy is, feel free. I don't think you are helping yourself or anyone else. But feel free. It is an open forum after all. Maybe some people would like to come on here and let us know they are doing ok. In my opinion, we don't think to do that often enough. Doing ok isn't sensational enough for us. According to the cross section of people in different industries I speak with every day, I think we will be fine. Some of the fat will be trimmed off the economy and there have been some casualties. But as a whole, life will go on. Just my two cents.

[RLJ676]

Bingo.

The media has killed the economy, by killing consumer confidence.

Let's say 8% are unemployed (it's more but that's the rate based on their metrics). If we go to "hell in a handbasket" they're saying we'll hit 13%. So, 5% more of the working crowd could lose their jobs worst case.

However, due to the damn media, 75% of the public act like they are about to lose their job. This then cripples the economy, and ensures the other 5% do lose their jobs, and downward goes the spiral. So, for the majority of people, who are probably not losing their job, need to just get over their fears (or quite watching the damn news) and get back to life as usual.

The markets will come back, 401K's will return over time, home values will rebound, etc. Panicking now helps nobody. For the people who were near retirement, they are in trouble of course as they don't have time, but they are just a portion of the people sitting on the sidelines right now.

Hopefully though this is a wakeup call for people to not buy homes, etc, knowing they can't make the payment.

Oh, and tell the damn banks to start loaning for boats!

[Jassman]

Well put guys....I agree 100%..

[glh]

Injecting good news into the marketplace is a positive stimulus. One thing that we at Double R are fortunate to have is contact with dozens of people every day in a virtual cross section of the economy. I personally speak with manufacturers in the marine industry, dealers, haulers and every other aspect of the marine industry. But I also speak with boat owners who are plumbers, doctors, car dealers, inventors, dentists, engineers, pavers, scrap metal dealers, accountants, restaurant owners, realtors, carpenters, home builders, oil drillers, demolition contractors, lawyers, truckers, furniture installers, road line painters, chocolate bar packagers, drywall hangers....you name it.

Do our customers complain about the economy? Sure. But that is not all I hear.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING FACT:

Of the more than 70 offshore boat owners we regularly service around Canada, USA and Europe, we have had a grand total of ZERO customers who have lost their businesses since the news channels told us that the world was ending last October. Sure, we hear that business is down from many of them. Sure, their portfolios are down so they may have to work a couple more years before retirement. But the lights are on, the workers are still there and life is going on. As business owners, they seem to have a little better view of the economy than the general population who rely on the news media to read the pulse. The general consensus is that we are in a bit of a storm, but it will pass.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM:

Businesses surviving and staying in business do not sell any advertising on the news. We have 24 hour news now. Google News, CNN, New York Times, alerts to your Blackberry, electronic billboards... Good news does not sell advertising. Blood and guts sell advertising. Blood and guts. Plant closures, stock plunges, people in line at the welfare office, people having their homes foreclosed upon... Let me repeat once more. Blood and guts sell advertising.

No matter how much money you inject into struggling sectors of the economy, if you continue to scare your consumers with constant negative messages, constant doom and gloom, constant blood and guts, they will not spend. When you hear there is a storm coming in, you conserve your food. Even if they are in the 92% of the population that is still employed (and never mentioned on the news,) people can be scared out of spending.

You can take any time, boom or recession, and find some economic failures to talk about. There may be more economic failures than usual right now. But there has never been a time when they have been so publicized, so exploited.

HERE IS MY STIMULUS PACKAGE:

For a tiny portion of the money the government is earmarking for industry stimulus, the government buys every page and second of advertising of the top news channels and newspapers in the country for the next year. "OK networks. Your advertising is sold now. Report the news. Feel free to talk about the 92% of the population that IS employed a little bit. No need to put a disproportionate amount of blood and guts in there. The advertising is already sold for the next year. If you can't sell it next year, we will subsidize that too. Just take it easy on the blood and guts." The beautiful thing is, it would hardly cost anything because the government could still resell the advertising space!

Of course the freedom of speech people will freak out. I could care less. Times of war call for drastic measures. Right now, the news media is at war with our economy.

Call me crazy. But stopping the constant stream of negative messages the public is being force-fed would be the best money the government has spent in a long time.

If you want to come on this thread and talk about how bad the economy is, feel free. I don't think you are helping yourself or anyone else. But feel free. It is an open forum after all. Maybe some people would like to come on here and let us know they are doing ok. In my opinion, we don't think to do that often enough. Doing ok isn't sensational enough for us. According to the cross section of people in different industries I speak with every day, I think we will be fine. Some of the fat will be trimmed off the economy and there have been some casualties. But as a whole, life will go on. Just my two cents.

I have not read the papers since the day before the last elections here in the US at least anything else than sports.

The media influences WAY TOO MUCH what people do here in the US.

Business wise as of mid-march my book of order is already three times the highest volume I have ever done in a fiscal year And I am on track to end up between 4-6 times my best year's volume & most importantly profits.

I am also putting back into the economy. I control my faith not the media and in my world the sky is far from falling cause hopefully my work keeps it up there.

Let the influenceable go mainstream I am more comfortable in my little world on my own little path with my friends and family.

[masher44]

I agree 100% but there are some real casualties that are scary. Bear, AIG, Merrill CITI, BofA. Yes they got into trouble, but the media has gave them a grave.

So what if they took a loan from our government? Why is that such a bad thing? The media thinks it is but we should all be proud and happy that we have the ability to save those world wide businesses.

[RLJ676]

I agree 100% but there are some real casualties that are scary. Bear, AIG, Merrill CITI, BofA. Yes they got into trouble, but the media has gave them a grave.

So what if they took a loan from our government? Why is that such a bad thing? The media thinks it is but we should all be proud and happy that we have the ability to save those world wide businesses.

I think you're forgetting the guys who are purely the casualty of the bankers mistakes and crashed economy, and the outrage by this country over their loans, GM (oh, and Chrysler).

[2112]

Business wise as of mid-march my book of order is already three times the highest volume I have ever done in a fiscal year And I am on track to end up between 4-6 times my best year's volume & most importantly profits.

Don't you contract to the Federal Government? (I think you said that once)

BTW...more power to you.

[glh]

Don't you contract to the Federal Government? (I think you said that once)

BTW...more power to you.

Yes I contract with the Federal Government. All the work currently that I have been awarded as nothing to do with the stimulus package. Hopefully we will bid some of that soon.

Three years ago all I was doing was building homes, I adjusted my business plan to contract with the federal Government when home demand when south and got qualified with bonding and all the requirements you need to work Federal Projects cause I saw potential in that field.

BTW the volume of projects has not changed one bit yet, what I hear from the contracting officers and heads of Contracting Dept. are that they are now earmarking their standard budgets as stimulus which was going to be issued. I have been told in some Bases that they are getting additional funds for stimulus project specifically but those have not been down the pike yet.

Also a chunk of those profits are going straight into the performance boating industry promoted here!!!! Here is an example, I am not adventurous enough for Ford power however.

[2112]

One can work hard or smart. You obviously are in both categories. I wish I were in the smart camp.

Like I said, more power to you. Somebody has to do it, It is good it is you.

You'll never let me live down that Ford thing will ya?

[Ratickle]

Good news vs bad news is important. The only thing I think you're missing is that the current government WANTS to drive down the economy so they can control business, health care, banks, Wall Street, etc. Even Bush thought he may be ending our free market economy when he gave the money to the banks instead of letting them fail.

If the government can control the banks, etc. they have changed our system to one of government control and then the socialist agenda can be put into place and enforced by deciding who succeeds and who fails.

They will never instill good news or let the natural selection process run its course until they have control of what they want. Period.

[masher44]

I think you're forgetting the guys who are purely the casualty of the bankers mistakes and crashed economy, and the outrage by this country over their loans, GM (oh, and Chrysler).

Nope didn't forget. The blame list for mistakes is long and it goes deep. Everyone is effected. Perception will turn us around now.

The problem with the country is management and oversight.

[nortech4play]

Injecting good news into the marketplace is a positive stimulus. One thing that we at Double R are fortunate to have is contact with dozens of people every day in a virtual cross section of the economy. I personally speak with manufacturers in the marine industry, dealers, haulers and every other aspect of the marine industry. But I also speak with boat owners who are plumbers, doctors, car dealers, inventors, dentists, engineers, pavers, scrap metal dealers, accountants, restaurant owners, realtors, carpenters, home builders, oil drillers, demolition contractors, lawyers, truckers, furniture installers, road line painters, chocolate bar packagers, drywall hangers....you name it.

Do our customers complain about the economy? Sure. But that is not all I hear.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING FACT:

Of the more than 70 offshore boat owners we regularly service around Canada, USA and Europe, we have had a grand total of ZERO customers who have lost their businesses since the news channels told us that the world was ending last October. Sure, we hear that business is down from many of them. Sure, their portfolios are down so they may have to work a couple more years before retirement. But the lights are on, the workers are still there and life is going on. As business owners, they seem to have a little better view of the economy than the general population who rely on the news media to read the pulse. The general consensus is that we are in a bit of a storm, but it will pass.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM:

Businesses surviving and staying in business do not sell any advertising on the news. We have 24 hour news now. Google News, CNN, New York Times, alerts to your Blackberry, electronic billboards... Good news does not sell advertising. Blood and guts sell advertising. Blood and guts. Plant closures, stock plunges, people in line at the welfare office, people having their homes foreclosed upon... Let me repeat once more. Blood and guts sell advertising.

No matter how much money you inject into struggling sectors of the economy, if you continue to scare your consumers with constant negative messages, constant doom and gloom, constant blood and guts, they will not spend. When you hear there is a storm coming in, you conserve your food. Even if they are in the 92% of the population that is still employed (and never mentioned on the news,) people can be scared out of spending.

You can take any time, boom or recession, and find some economic failures to talk about. There may be more economic failures than usual right now. But there has never been a time when they have been so publicized, so exploited.

HERE IS MY STIMULUS PACKAGE:

For a tiny portion of the money the government is earmarking for industry stimulus, the government buys every page and second of advertising of the top news channels and newspapers in the country for the next year. "OK networks. Your advertising is sold now. Report the news. Feel free to talk about the 92% of the population that IS employed a little bit. No need to put a disproportionate amount of blood and guts in there. The advertising is already sold for the next year. If you can't sell it next year, we will subsidize that too. Just take it easy on the blood and guts." The beautiful thing is, it would hardly cost anything because the government could still resell the advertising space!

Of course the freedom of speech people will freak out. I could care less. Times of war call for drastic measures. Right now, the news media is at war with our economy.

Call me crazy. But stopping the constant stream of negative messages the public is being force-fed would be the best money the government has spent in a long time.

If you want to come on this thread and talk about how bad the economy is, feel free. I don't think you are helping yourself or anyone else. But feel free. It is an open forum after all. Maybe some people would like to come on here and let us know they are doing ok. In my opinion, we don't think to do that often enough. Doing ok isn't sensational enough for us. According to the cross section of people in different industries I speak with every day, I think we will be fine. Some of the fat will be trimmed off the economy and there have been some casualties. But as a whole, life will go on. Just my two cents.

Spot on as I see it...yes we will be working in a different dynamic than before but if you or your company is willing or able to try new things it can be a very exciting market to be a part of.

For the short term it will be difficult due to so many of our competitors running scared and artificially driving the prices down but they will soon come to the realization that this is just a time where conditions are different and to do business one must adapt to the conditions at hand...

We look at is as the new beginning of a new chapter in our business model...We will have to think outside our normal box and go into some areas that are uncharted waters so to speak, some may be smooth sailing while others are a little rough but if you have the stones to see this thing through you will all be better off in my opinion....

[Steve 1]

So far I have not heard anything from the Neo Marxist Junior Senator that is going to get the Economy going; like cutting the corporate tax rate, knocking down the capitol gains tax and of course cheap energy which we have plenty of.. Then the enviro Mental cases need put out of business.

[glh]

One can work hard or smart. You obviously are in both categories...

Smart......maybe a little... Hard; no effing way!

You'll never let me live down that Ford thing will ya?

[Offshoredrillin]

What the media is sensationalizing is the people that have tried the get rich quick schemes. the madoffs and others that were lured in by his false promises of big money and profits. makes me think of the rolex watch from here, everyone went nuts for it and it was too good to be true. Most of the successful people on here and in life realize that although you may make a few quick bucks once in a while, nothing comes with out working and thinking it through.Many times the mental stress of getting a new product or line going IS hard work, I know I have had my share of night with little sleep while making business better. My clients come to me because of what I do, but more so because of them knowing my business is stable.

[BlackJack58]

Slowly, though -- I think some of the mainstream media are starting to "get it" re: the overkill on "bad news." I think even they are getting sick of reporting it - I watch NBC News every night and they are ending every broadcast with some good news; some story about how people are pulling together to help each other out and get through the tough times we're having. Seems the NBC affiliates are following suit as well, since they seem to be doing it, too, on the local level.

I think the overall attitude is focusing on the old adage - "when the going gets tough, the tough get going"...and that's always nice to hear. There are a lot of good stories out there that people need to know about. Anybody with a parent who lived through the Great Depression knows we'll get through it...hopefully stronger than ever.

[cuda]

Good news vs bad news is important. The only thing I think you're missing is that the current government WANTS to drive down the economy so they can control business, health care, banks, Wall Street, etc. Even Bush thought he may be ending our free market economy when he gave the money to the banks instead of letting them fail.

If the government can control the banks, etc. they have changed our system to one of government control and then the socialist agenda can be put into place and enforced by deciding who succeeds and who fails.

They will never instill good news or let the natural selection process run its course until they have control of what they want. Period.

It's better known as socialism.

[cuda]

What the media is sensationalizing is the people that have tried the get rich quick schemes. the madoffs and others that were lured in by his false promises of big money and profits. makes me think of the rolex watch from here, everyone went nuts for it and it was too good to be true. Most of the successful people on here and in life realize that although you may make a few quick bucks once in a while, nothing comes with out working and thinking it through.Many times the mental stress of getting a new product or line going IS hard work, I know I have had my share of night with little sleep while making business better. My clients come to me because of what I do, but more so because of them knowing my business is stable.

I make my money the old fashion way. I earn it. I had more jobs the last two weeks, than I had in the previous year.

[cuda]

This country has survived worse attack than the frigging news media, and we will survive this one.

[Steve 1]

It's better known as socialism.

Right the Kenyan Clown is a Neo-Marxist.