Baseball Playoffs -- Large vs.Small

This is a completely different take on my normal posts.  I want to talk sports other than politics or philosophy.   It is towards the end of September and the playoff teams are are starting to line up.  As as the title of my blog states... "Large and Small of it All", we have large market teams and small market teams going to compete for a title.  (I know a little weak on the topic relation, but I love baseball.)



Comerica Park -- Detroit, MI
Home of the Detroit Tigers

In the American League, we have perennial teams like the Yankees, and Red Sox (the Large Market) against teams like Detroit and Texas (Small Market).  Not really hard to lay that one out, but anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE Tigers fan.   And this season could really not be more perfect for a town (Detroit) that is trying to rise from the ashes of economic ruin.   The Tigers have been a bright spot in a year that has seen empty neighborhoods being bulldozed, double digit unemployment, housing values dropping by up to 50% in some neighborhoods, and generally decaying infrastructure.   The Tigers have been the antithesis of this.  The ball park is always clean and shiny, the players always ready to play and the crowds large.  Maybe to forget the problems, or to find something good to root for.  Either way, the results are a team heading for the playoffs very hot. 

Texas is the team that was in the series last year, and is gunning for a repeat.  While not from a small market, the team is from an area where Football is king and baseball is just something to do in the summer when you can't play football.  The team there is solid and it is hard not to root for Nolan Ryan, the GM of the team.  So for the purpose of this article, I will call Texas a small market team, because of the sport following in the area.

Then you have the Yankees and Red Sox.  Teams that are the icon franchises of the league.  The Yankees are the team everyone loves or hates.  There is no in between.  They have the highest payroll in baseball and just seem to reload by free agent year after year.  That is the definition of  Large Market.  Then there is the Red Sox, since curing the curse a few years ago, they have become another version of the Yankees.  They have history and large payroll to add to their following.  Most Yankee haters are usually Red Sox faithful.  Another major market team.

So the playoffs in the American League are the big guys against the little guys.  At the time of this writing, it looks like the Tigers will get the Red Sox, and the Rangers will get the Yankees.  Depending on your take of rooting for an underdog or the favorite, the playoffs in the American League have some great intrigue.  Of course you you know who I am rooting for.



Now on to the Senior Circuit, the National League.   As far as regular season records, you have the Phillies and then everyone else. As I said, you have the large market, Phillies, who are shooting for a second straight World Series pennant.  Currently the NL version of the Yankees.  Big payroll, lots of free agents and a perennial powerhouse at least the last 5 years. Then you have the revamped Atlanta Braves, who have a strong history of playoff appearances and is probably one of the most overexposed teams over the years due to the broadcasts of TBS. They qualify for the large market team category.  The small market players are the Arizona Diamondbacks.  A worst to first kinda story with Kirk Gibson at the helm. It is hard not to like them.  Then last but not least you have the Brewers.   A small market team who has suffered years of disappointment, but now is in position to get to the series.  Another feel good story.  The large against the small again.  In this case, I will probably have to root  for the D'backs, just because of Gibby's history in Detroit.

So, there is plenty of new intrigue in the baseball season and it will soon play out in the next few weeks.  Get some popcorn, a hot dog and batter up!!







The Economy

I watched our President speak thusday night on a program to put America back to work.   He spoke for about 30+ minutes, said "Pass this bill, now", about 30 times and spoke in great platitudes.

Now, many people know that I am not a big fan of the President, but I have always considered myself a fan of his gifts.   This guy has the gift of public speaking down to an art.  He is smooth, confident, speaks in terms that endears him to "Regular Joes".   All gifts that I admire.  I would love to have that gift.  Reagan had that gift and very few others have that gift.  I  think I would personally like our president.  He seems like a great guy to set down with, shoot the breeze, watch a ball game or just talk current events.  But I honestly believe he wants to do the right thing.
On this particular night, he was using his gifts to speak on the condition of our economy and what he would like to do about it.  He spoke in high details about how Americans are special and how once again, "Made in America", should be a source of pride throughout the world.  All great things to say and all things we want to believe.

However what we want to believe and what is really happening are two different things.  Currently we have a 9% unemployment rate, stocks are down, home values are roughly 20-40% off of what they were just 5 years ago (depends on where you live), and many homeowners owe more on their homes than what they are worth.   Also, retirees are finding that their 401K's are worth less, gas costs more, health care costs more, and the Medicare-Medicaid that they were looking to depend on are going to go bankrupt soon,  To top it all off, Social Security will soon be a thing of the past, unless some big changes are made.

Further reality is that our federal government is spending money at a rate that would make the Trumps blush and those that we have elected are in a deadlock on which way to take our country.

It a short synopsis, we are up crap creek, and the only paddle available is being fought over by the local bullies.  In the meantime, we are careening toward crap falls with a big crash at the bottom.

Our President, is telling us that we need to keep pumping government dollars into the infrastructure and eduction. As well as offer tax deductions to small business.  But, he wants to tax large corporations and "millionaires" at a higher rate to help with the deficit.  In other words, more of what we have heard from our government the last 60+ years.

The other side of the isle is divided.  There are the "tea party" conservatives, the neo-conservaties, and the social republicans.  Kind of a large scale on the same party.   The tea party group is a more libertarian than republican.  The neo-conservatives believe in big government but only if it benefits the wealthy.  The Social Republicans are basically conservative democrats.  They are socially liberal, but fiscally conservative.  Seems like an oxymoron but it is really a true position.

So, we have one group that wants to cut the size of federal government, bureaucracy. and taxes.  The other side says we need to expand the size of government, take control of business and direct the economy from the top down.

Now as a college graduate who took both micro and macro econ, I can say that there are models in the world of both methods.  It all depends on what the people are willing to accept.

China was a stone cold communist state, everything was controlled by the state and the party.  It has now loosened up it's economy, but had kept a tight reign on the social and political power of the country.  It is a top down economy.  By the same token, many European countries are very geared to social liberalism, while trying to keep business afloat.  The US used to be a country with very few rules, great freedoms and a chance to make a fortune in business.  But as some abused the privileges, rules were cast and the more rules and more rules, (you get the gist), until we are more like the European countries than the US that we were.

We all long for the time when the US was the leading innovator, producer and consumer nation in the world.  We are now just he leading consumer.  As we regulated, we reduced the incentive to innovate and produce.  All facts, nothing new here so far.   As a people we seemed to be alright with that.  Our "poor" enjoyed the highest standard of living of any industrialized country on earth.  But still there are those that wanted more.

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude. -- Alexis de Tocqueville

American started out as a democracy and became socialistic.  I am not saying that the goals of helping the poor and working toward equality are bad, it is just that we sacrificed our freedom and liberty to do so.  The pendulum has swung toward the socialistic side, it just needs to swing back to get our economy back on track.

Those who exploited the economy in the late 90's and 00's were a group looking to make a fast buck be transferring wealth rather than creating it.  They created artifical wealth with the .com boom, the energy boom and lastly real estate.  They extracted large sums of money from others toward themselves. The resulting crashes by these artificial balloons have taken a toll on our economy. High fuel costs are raising the cost of production and transportation.  Finally, terrorism concerns and overseas wars are extracting tolls both in human and financial terms.  The result is a business community trying to keep their cards close to the vest, making profits as they can, investing or growing only when necessary, and avoiding any innovation or growth unless it makes for a larger market share with little investment.

Our economy will have to recover if anyone is going to see the "American Dream" fulfilled again.  The two sides of the aisle will have to become one with the people.  The possible outcome of failure is great.  I could see the US breaking up into smaller countries, groups of 4 or 5 states with no federal government.  I could also see us becoming a pure socialistic society with a very strong federal government, a political ruling class and tax rates approaching 50% on most people.  Both are very scary.

As a country we need to allow our companies to grow and innovate without large regulation.  We need to continue to help the least fortunate among us.  We need to reward those who create wealth by creating something, not by transferring wealth.  We need to make quality goods and services as a partnership with our business owners, instead of an adversary relationship.  Finally, we need to allow all Amercians the freedom to make their own decisions, both good and bad and live by the consequences of those decisions.

Out government needs to put those items at the top of the agenda.   We as voters need to elect people who are responsible and live with the same rules they pass. 

I am for reforming the tax code, simplify it, and lower the rates.  The results are astounding.  As a business owner, if you can reduce your accounting and regularatory costs, you can make more money and have more money to invest.   As a straight tax payers, a simplified code, with a one sheet tax form and no loopholes would make for more money by eliminating the need for large amounts of enforcement people at the IRS.  A tax holiday for multi-national companies would bring large sums of capital back to the US that is setting in foreign banks because of the tax burdens on bringing that money home.  Let them bring it home, just forgive the tax if they invest it in the US.

I am for reducing regulations on companies who are actively involved in innovation.  I also am for, investing in our roads and infrastucture as long as it is done competitively and as the money is afforded.  We need to find sources of energy at home.  Coal, natural gas, oil and more are needed right now to produce what we need to create an atmosphere that allows us to compete.  Cheap energy makes for competitive production on a world stage.

Does Charity Really Begin at Home?

Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, food banks, helping a neighbor clean out gutters, giving money at the Salvation Army kettle at Christmas, food stamps, WIC, low-income tax credits and low-income housing are all examples of man helping man.  It is people reaching out to people who are less fortunate, going through a rough time, or unable to help themselves.  Some call it social programs, others call it community help, while still others call it a moral obligation, but whatever you call it, its is charity.

My purpose is a simple one.  I want you to explore your feelings about charity and give you some of the differernt options for participating.

First of all lets define charity...  Websters Dictionary on-line defines charity as...

char·i·ty

1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one's life to charity.

2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms: She asked for work, not charity.

3. a charitable act or work.

4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.

5. benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity

The bible refers to charity (depending on your translation) as works, deeds, or acts.  Matthew 6 talks about doing charitable works and not being boastful or making your acts known, while 1Corinthians 13, talks allot about love and how charity is part of love.  There are so many references to charity in the bible, I cannot cover them all in this post. So, God is pretty clear on the fact that he expects us to care for one another, love one another and charity is part of that love.

The Federal and State Government are empowered by us to take money in the form of taxes and fund organizations and programs, such as food stamps, women-infants-children (WIC), and in the form of low-income housing to help those that cannot afford a house. There are many more of thise social programs, but I wanted to cover the easiest to identify.  Even our local townships have a fund set aside for poor relief.  All funded with tax dollars.  George Bush the first, gave a great speech about a thousand points of light.  The cruxt was to get people to serve and help charities.

So, now that we have established that all of us participate in charity either voluntary or involuntary.  The question becomes what is the best way to perform charity.  Is it better to have a portion of our money taken in the form of taxes to help people, or is it better to support our local charities to help people.  Both methods help people but which one does it more efficiently and closer to the definition of charity.

I will first delve into the public side of charity, the government side.  Currently our government is spending money faster than we as a people can earn it.  The "entitlement" programs are growing at a rapid pace because of our poor economy and are now a topic of discussion.  Government programs have a few layers of management involved.  This reduces the actual amount of money that actually gets to the those that need. There are literally thousands of people getting paid to administrate the food stamp program. Those are relatively high paid jobs as compared to what people are paid working at Wal Mart, and those jobs come with benefits, insurance, retirement and more.  So the 40 million people who need food stamps are getting less money.   As a guideline, we are told not to give money to charities that have an administrative fee of more that 5%.  Unfortunately the government does not comply with this guideline, but I have no choice but to support that charity.  In the case of food stamps, there are federal, state and local people all drawing salaries from the program.  Many off the same money.  While government charity does serve a purpose and do good works, they are very inefficient in doing so.

Now onto the the private sector,  the 501c3 corporation, or non-profit as many of us know it, is sometimes confused with charity.   All charites are 501c3's, but not all 501c3's are charities.  Seems complicated and in terms of supporting those true charities, it becomes a maze to determine which ones are charities and which ones are just fronts for people taking your money and pocketing it.  For all the confustion, true charities, that fall into the 5% administration costs are by far the most effective way to get money, goods and services to those in need.  Since many of these charities are local, the connection between giver and receipiant is very evident.  Habitat for Humanity homes are an example of this.  Volunteers from the community donate time, talent and money to build a home for a deserving person who needs help.  It is a direct way to see the effects of charity in a community.  Local churches hels their communities, by hosting food banks, raising money for those in need and having "work days" to help those repair or clean their homes. They also provide services, such as counseling, transportation of elderly, and daycare as well.  Another example of a more one on one giving.  In other words giving with accountability.   While private charities are a maze, the good ones are the most efficient way to help those in need.

Whether you are a big proponent of government social programs, or a big proponent of local charites, the end result is that both groups want to help our fellow man.  As a Christian, I do have some affinity for local charitable giving and the art of tithing, that is the act of giving of your first earnings to the chruch.  While I have my own thoughts on what the bible teaches in amounts and types of giving, there is no doubt that the bible teaches charity and kindness to each other and our communities.  Nothing makes me happier than to be able to help another person, quietly and directly without need for recognition. 

My favorite charity story, has to do with helping a mother with 4 kids at a local McDonalds.  I didn't know her or her family.  It was very evident though that she was not having a good day and as usual the kids were helping to make it a little more difficult.   After getting the orders placed for everyone, she begins to dig for her wallet, in her purse, while balancing a two year old on the other hip.  The more she digs, the more she realizes that she forgot her wallet at home.  So she begins to dig for the loose change and other money in the bottom of her purse.  She comes up with some money but not enough for the stop.  She looks at the counter person and tells them that she cannot pay for the food and she is sorry.  The kids begin to ask mom about why they are not going to get lunch.  The counter person is looking annoyed and it is uncomfortable for all those involved.   I reached into my pocket and gave the money to the counter person and told them to complete the sale.   The mom was very defiant, telling me that it was ok, and that she did not want to put anyone out.  I told her that I had kids, and I understand how hard that can be.  I told her to take her kids to lunch and if she ever had the ability to help someone else in the future, just pass it on.   She finally gave in, said thank you, and then proceeded to the playground area.  That felt good.  Really good.  Did I ever know her or meet her again?  No.  But, I didn't care, I was able to help another human being with a simple act.  Did I ask for notoriety or fame, did I get all puffy chested as if to say, "Look at Me.. I am great!"  No, because I didn't need it.  That simple thank you and seeing the look of relief on her face was more than enough.

My local church takes mission trips to central america, regularly to help a village, both medically and construction wise.  Those that participate come back amazed and I am sure full of the same warmth I felt that day, only on a cosmic scale.  These people are to be commended, and their actions emulated.  Not just in going to a foreign country to do work, but giving unselfishly of themselves to others.

To me that is charity.  Not these grandios programs and projects. It is one on one, helping people and families that we come in contact with as the need arises. I do not get that same feeling of warmth from paying my taxes, because it is not my choice but my obligation.  The definition of charity is generous actions to help aid the poor. To me the word generous means voluntary.  So, in my case, charity does begin at home and is probably best done that way.