A Tale of Two Visions for America

Member Group : Glen Meakem

Read what President Obama and Ronald Reagan had to say about entrepreneurship and economics, and then decide which policies you think are best for America.

Here is what President Obama had to say about job creators on July 13, 2012 in Roanoke, Virginia (see video embedded here).

If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the internet so that all the companies could make money off the internet.

Using a fable (a moral story), here is what Ronald Reagan had to say about economics in November, 1976 (I played Reagan’s fable on my radio program this past weekend. Listen here).

This is a little treatise on basic economics called "The Modern little Red Hen."

Once upon a time there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said ‘If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?’

"Not I," said the cow.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen. And she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I’d lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I’d lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

At last the time came to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I’d lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I’m a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I’m to be the only helper, that’s discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see.

They all wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I can eat the five loaves myself."

"Excess profits," cried the cow.

"Capitalist leech," screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights," yelled the goose.

And the pig just grunted.

And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched round and round the little red hen shouting obscenities.

When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That’s our wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations productive workers must divide their products with the idle."

And so they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, I am grateful." But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked any more bread.

It’s clear to me that during his life, Ronald Reagan understood, and today Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney understands the economic and moral principles that will enable America to become economically strong once again.

Here is what Mitt Romney had to say following President Obama’s July 13 comments.

I don’t think anyone could have said what he said who had actually started a business or been in a business, and my own view is that what the President said was both startling and revealing. I find it extra ordinary that a philosophy of that nature would be spoken by a President of the United States. It goes to something that I’ve spoken about since the beginning of the campaign — that this election is to a great degree about the soul of America. Do we believe in an America that is great because of government, or do we believe in an America that is great because of free people allowed to pursue their dreams and build their future?

Clearly, Mitt Romney understands what has made America great, free and powerful, while Barack Obama does not. I hope and pray for the sake of ALL AMERICANS that Mitt Romney is elected in November and sworn in as President in January 2013.

This is Glen Meakem, thanks for reading.

Glen Meakem is a successful technology entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and conservative talk radio show host, who offers information and insights on how individuals and our nation can be more successful. Glen’s unique perspective has been shaped by his experiences as founder, chairman and CEO of the B2B internet success Freemarkets Inc – which he founded in 1995, took public in 1999, and sold to Ariba in 2004. In 2005, Glen co-founded Meakem Becker Venture Capital, a firm that invests in early stage start up companies. Concerned about the liberal political agenda that has gripped the United States and his home state of Pennsylvania, Glen launched the Glen Meakem Program in 2008. Glen served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve and is a veteran of the First Gulf War. He also earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard and his MBA from Harvard Business School. For more information about Glen and the Glen Meakem Radio Program, or to read his blog, please visit http://glenmeakem.com.
________________________________________
Tune in each Saturday or Sunday (Click here for stations and times), or listen any time at GlenMeakem.com. And if you enjoy the show and these updates, reply and let us know, and please forward them to your friends!
Unsubscribe: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?u=82673202L-1b611464