Masonry Magazine October 1996 Page. 7
FROM THE PRESIDENT
As we close the book on the summer of '96, two analogies from a couple of my favorite pastimes come to mind. At first you'll probably think I'm nuts for really stretching for material but humor me and read on.
When this issue comes out, several of the pennant races will have already been determined. But what really keeps the interest of baseball fans, are those races not yet settled. They probably will be won by underdogs. Seems as if baseball may be getting its act together after their disastrous strike of '94. Baseball has had it tough for the last couple of years and rightfully so! They put their selfish interest before the fan and lost our respect. Right now they are trying very hard to regain it.
Big League baseball is a kids game played by adults. Then there is politics, an adult game played by kids. Even in a town (Washington, D.C.) where politics is the sport of choice and things turn rough and personal in a hurry, what's happening these days is unusual.
Republicans voting for an increase of the minimum wage and Democrats supporting welfare reform. After watching the two great political parties have their conventions, along with all their hoop and holler, it seems as if a new era in politics has arrived....that of "Echo Politics or Me Too Politics."
Democrats agreeing with the Republicans for the need of reform (i.e. welfare, minimum wage, OSHA, balance budget, etc.) but accusing Republicans of going too far "an act of extremism." A proposed reduction in the rate of an increase in entitlement programs by Republicans is called a "Draconian cut" or "savage cut"........ Foul Ball, Strike One. Voters are smart enough to cut through the rhetoric. A reduction in an increase is still an increase not a cut.
If you watched Gen. Powell give his compelling reasons why he is a Republican, it would be a good reason for us all to consider his position. Take an average voter who goes into our business as a mason contractor, and I guarantee within a few years they will become a staunch Conservative. The overwhelming paperwork, subjective OSHA requirements, outrageous punitive damage awards, the inability to pass on our business as it so exists to our families, are just a few of the milestones we must overcome.
A perfect example comes from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). They reported that businesses spent more than 6.6 billion hours annually collecting, reporting, and retaining information in response to federal requirements and requests. This is equivalent to 3 million people full time, each year. No wonder unemployment is down. Did I mention increases in taxes the last 3 years? Enough said ...... Strike Two.
Senator Dole's acceptance speech was a home run with the bases loaded. The theme of trust was etched in my mind after he finished speaking. Trust us to spend our own earnings wisely and to exercise our freedoms with less government regulation.
Character was another key issue. Character is described by what you do when no one is watching. If character doesn't matter, what does? Honesty and integrity is not only what our country needs but what it deserves!!
I guess what I'm asking is for you as business men and women working as contractors, to become involved citizens of your community, state, and country. We must be part of the system that not only teaches you how to earn a living but how to make a life.
The year 2000 is not a specious symbol. The philosopher H. Schwartz notes there are really three millennia ahead. If I may paraphrase him, "The first in the year 1999. It signals the end; it's apocalyptic; it's an omen." If you feel bad already, it'll be a lot worse when it arrives.
The second millennium is in the year 2000, a midpoint in people's
Continued on page 20
Donald Grant
President, Mason Contractors
Association of America
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MASONRY-SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1996 7