Headlines in the Midlands
A 2012 Wish List
By Blake DuBose and Mike DuBose
Although our families had a pleasant holiday and a pretty good 2011, we didn’t quite get everything we wanted for Christmas this year! Like us, don’t you wish that…
People with guts would step up as leaders in Washington?
Congress and the President would set aside their differences and come together to solve our problems, rather than hoping the “other side” looks bad while our country declines?
Obnoxious political attack ads were against the law, and politicians could only say specifically how they planned to lead us, not talk trash about their opponents?
Environmentalists, scientists, and politicians would cooperate to cease America’s dependence on foreign countries for fuel? (Imagine needing only the oil and gas reserves within our own soil!)
Someone would stop radical nuts in Iran and North Korea from obtaining nuclear weapons?
People and nations could learn to get along without war (or the threat of it)?
All political primaries and general elections for all offices were held on the same date nationwide?
Politicians were only allowed to run for office twice?
There were DO NOT CALL or DO NOT E-MAIL lists that really worked?
Voters had the option of selecting “none of the above” on the ballot?
Our country would learn to spend within its limits?
The 50% of Americans who pay no tax (most of whom are paid cash “under the table”) would begin paying a value added tax (VAT), which captures all spending and rewards saving?
People would make small sacrifices (like giving up Saturday mail) and contribute what they could toward balancing our national budget?
America would get back some of the $2 trillion dollars it spent helping Iraq become a democracy?
America applied the $50 billion planned for foreign aid in 2012 (while broke, no less) to solving its own problems?
Everyone would stop talking about making education a priority in South Carolina and actually do it?
South Carolina state government employees stopped answering phones with, “It is a good day in South Carolina” when, to the struggling businesses and people in the state, it is certainly not?
Businesses (especially banks) would quit nickel and diming us to death and learn how to make a profit without bleeding the customer dry?
Businesses and individuals alike focused more on the “golden rule” than on helping themselves?
We could go to the grocery store, pharmacy, airport, or political events without having to worry about being blown away by some nut with a gun or bomb?
When we called customer service numbers, we could actually speak to a pleasant human being?
Bank Certificates of Deposit paid 5% interest?
All automobiles had their gas tanks on the same side of the car, similar windshield wiper and light controls, and simple dash instruments and car manuals that were developed by a 60-year old with a 10th grade education and limited vision?
Traffic lights would change based on traffic flow so no one would have to idle for five minutes with no one else around? (Just think of the gas that could be saved!)
Hawaii was only an hour away?
Oh well, we guess you can’t always get everything you want! But, hey, as the Bible says, “All things are possible.” With USC’s success this year - eleven football wins and another national baseball championship - maybe we should send Steve Spurrier and Ray Tanner to Washington to get things done!
Here’s to a happy (and hopefully very productive and profitable) 2012!
Blake DuBose graduated from Newberry College School of Business and is president of DuBose Web Group. View our published articles at www.duboseweb.com. You can reach him at blake@duboseweb.com
Mike DuBose has been in business since 1981 and is the author of The Art of Building a Great Business. He is the servant owner of three debt-free corporations, including Columbia Conference Center, Research Associates, and The Evaluation Group. Visit his nonprofit website at www.mikedubose.com.
Katie Beck serves as senior writer to the DuBose family of companies. She graduated from the USC School of Journalism and Honors College.
