This email and photo that was sent around right after 9/11,  reminds me of how lucky we are to have young men and women fighting for our freedoms and that when we see them here at home, we should thank them.  To all of our armed service men and women, to our Veterans and to those that our still abroad…We stand by you.

My Best,

Mary

If you haven’t served aboard ship — “manning the rail” is a shipboard ceremony reserved for only high ranking dignitaries, such as Heads of State.

This is an e-mail from an Ensign stationed aboard the USS WINSTON CHURCHILL.

________________________________________

Dear Dad,

Well, we are still out at sea, with little direction as to what our next priority is. The remainder of our port visits, which were to be centered around max liberty and goodwill to the United Kingdom, have all but been canceled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security watches, and trying to make the best of our time.

It hasn’t been that fun I must confess, and to be even more honest, a lot of people are frustrated at the fact that they either can’t be home, or we don’t have more direction right now. We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated as we are, I don’t think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects. About two hours ago the junior officers were called to the bridge to conduct Ship-handling drills. We were about to do a man overboard when we got a call from the Lutjens (D185), a German warship that was moored ahead of us on the pier in Plymouth, England. While in port, the Winston S. Churchill and the Lutjens got together for a sports day/cookout on our fantail, and we made some pretty good friends. Now at sea they called over on bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass us close up on our port side, to say good-bye.

We prepared to render them honors on the bridge-wing, and the Captain told the crew to come topside to wish them farewell. As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer announced through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag. As they came even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast. The bridge-wing was crowded with people as the Boatswain’s Mate blew two whistles- Attention to Port- the ship came up alongside and we saw that the entire crew of the German ship were manning the rails, in their dress blues. They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read “We Stand By You.”

"We Stand by You"

Needless to say there was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes. It was probably the most powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and more than a few of us fought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day outside today. We are no longer at liberty to divulge over unsecured e-mail our location, but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It’s amazing to think that only a half-century ago things were quite different, and to see the unity that is being demonstrated throughout Europe and the world makes us all feel proud to be out here doing our job.

After the ship pulled away and we prepared to begin our man overboard drills the Officer of the Deck turned to me and said “I’m staying Navy.”

I’ll write you when I know more about when I’ll be home, but for now, this is probably the best news that I could send you. Love you guys.

Mary Fleet Manager Wall

In 2006, the California Legislature passed AB 2330. This law mandated the Office of the Small Business Advocate to commission a study on the cost of regulation on Small Business. This month the study was published with concerning results:

• The direct cost of the regulatory environment in California is $176.996 billion in lost gross state output each year. The direct cost does not account for second order costs.
• The total loss of gross state output for California each year due to direct, indirect, and induced impact of the regulatory cost is $492.994 billion.
• In terms of employment the total output loss is equivalent to the loss of 3.8 million jobs for the state each year. 10% of the total population of California!
• The total regulatory cost of $492.994 billion is four to four and a half times the total budget for the state of California, and almost five to six times the general fund alone.
• The indirect business taxes lost could have helped fund many of the state’s departmental budgets. As an example, the indirect business taxes lost are 60 times the budget of the Office of Emergency Services, and would have paid for almost half the budget of the Department of Education.
• The total cost of regulation was $134,122.48 per small business in California in 2007, labor income not created or lost was $57,260.15 per small business, indirect business taxes not generated or lost were $4,359.55 per small business, and finally roughly one job lost per small business.
• The total regulatory cost of $492.994 billion translates into a total cost per household of $38,446.76 or $13,052.05 per resident. The total cost per household comes close to the median household income for California.

For the complete report, description of the methodology used, go to the Small Business Advocates webpage, www.sba.ca.gov. Many thanks to Assemblyman Juan Arambula and the former CA State Controller, Steve Westly for authoring and sponsoring AB 2330. I have requested information from the Advocates office on the “now what?”. Will let you know what I learn!

My Best, Mary

(I found the list of the Bill’s Supporters and Opposition “interesting”)
Support (partial list)

California State Controller, Steve Westly (sponser)

California Chamber of Commerce

California Manufacturers and Technology Association

California Metals Coalition

California Small Business Association

National Federation of Independent Business

Small Business Action Committee (SBAC)

Opposition (partial list):

AFL-CIO

Ca Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union

California Conference of Machinists

California Teamsters Public Affairs Council

Strategic Committee of Public Employees, Laborers’

International Union of North America

Unite Here!

United Food and Commercial Workers Union

Mary Fleet Manager Wall policy, regulation, small business

Where to begin? The Waxman-Markey bill, the “Amerian Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009″, is designed to stop the threat of global warming. The legislated course for doing this is through the following key provisions*:

• Require electric utilities to meet 20% of their demand through renewal energy sources and efficiencies by 2020
• Mandate new energy savings standards for buildings, appliances and industry.
• Reduce US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, based on 2005 levels.
• Invest in new clean energy technologies using a Cap and Trade System.

The Cap and Trade program places a value on CO2 emissions. The Authors believe that with the appropriate value placed on CO2 emissions, industries that can more easily reduce their emissions may sell their allowances to other businesses that cannot. The Cap setting the top limit of allowable emissions and the Trade taking place to maintain it.

As a company who worked with the California Energy Commission of the Methanol program two decades ago and who for a blink of an eye was the largest importer of ethanol in California (does anyone remember Gasohol? I didn’t think so) we are the ultimate middle man. If you buy it, we will sell it. But to watch the government try to mandate technology and consumer behavior in the name of the environment (MTBE anyone?) to the detriment of our country and its economy is irritating to put it mildly. Does it ever work? Rarely, very rarely. In fact in California, if the politicians really want to reduce emissions, they should just issue carpool lane passes to the people that accumulate the most CO2 savings. It is the carrot, no stick necessary, and it seems to have worked before…

My Best – Mary

If you want to be heard, follow this link www.voicesforenergy.com to a website created by Valero. It allows you to send a message to your representatives in Washington, DC and let them know you are concerned. You can use the boiler plate language, or write your own. (Full disclosure- Valero is the largest refiner in North America, but it was also voted the Best Big Company to Work for by Fortune Magazine nine years running, is a fervent supporter of the United Way and is in the renewable fuels business.)

If you want to do your own research, try the links below. Think about how it may affect you, your company, your family and your country.

1. HR 2454 (The bill itself – over 1,400 pages)
2. Waxman-Markey: Homeowners, Small Businesses, and Farmers Hit the Hardest
3. Cap and Trade for Dummies – What Everyone Should Know
4. Summary of Waxman-Markey (Enviro-viewpoint)

Mary Fleet Manager Wall California Fuel, Cap and Trade, Co2 emissions

Do you remember the events of 1966?

• The Vietnam War was ongoing
• The Supreme Court ruled on Miranda v. Arizona, stating police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning them.
• The Beatles released “Revolver”
• Actor Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California
• “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was shown on TV for the first time
• Dow Jones hit a high of 950
• A gallon of gas cost $0.32
• My sister Kate was born
• Air conditioning was installed in the Capitol Building in Sacramento
• The California legislature went full time

Air conditioning a notable event? Well for those of us who don’t have air conditioning right now, 101°F today, it would definitely be a big event. Even more importantly, is what followed in our state Capitol. The heat of Sacramento no longer limited the Legislatures desire to be there in the summer. Instead of having a limited session, our “leaders” were able to stay in Sacramento and create mischief and mayhem longer. While there are a few stars, Senator Mimi Walters to name one, who stand on principle and do the right thing, the vast majority of politicians have made a career out of politics. Decisions based not on what is a good for the state, but what will get them more financial support for their next election. (Or in some cases, the less nefarious but still troubling less financial opposition for their next election!)

I am intrigued by a new movement a foot to return our legislature to pre-1966 format. Citizens for California Reform (www.reformcal.com) led by Gabriella Holt is collecting signatures to put a measure on the ballot next year to return California back to a part time legislature. The website, especially the Learn More section with a history of CA government structure is worth a perusal. (One of my favorites, in 1911, each member of the legislature could only propose 2 bills a session!) Is this the right approach? I don’t know, but if I am on a diet, I try to stay out of the kitchen. Seems like it might work for the politicians too.

My Best,

Mary

Mary Fleet Manager Wall CA State Budget, Reform California

With the continuous talk about the state budget negotiations, I sent the following email off to Sacramento a few months ago . . . No Poof yet.

Are there any small business people working with politicians to redo this budget? Businesses are constantly faced with our own crisis’s caused by changes in the business environment, regulations, etc. . . Many many business people have the experience in cutting with kindness. (AKA- transitioning into cuts in pay, staff, and benefits.) Not tapping into these resources would be a shame and I for one would feel much better knowing that someone who is not paid by the state, who has business background, is actively engaged in the process.

How about the Small Business Advisory group that was started by the governor? I hear it is a nice lunch, at best. There are only a handful of business people and the rest are lobbyist or association executives. As well meaning as these types are, they are speaking with third hand knowledge. Their paycheck is determined by dues or fees and if there are budget shortfalls, then dues can be increased (sounds like government and taxes to me!) Why isn’t a group of business people being asked for insight on how to live within a budget?

According to the Governors own budget summary, we had a balanced budget 10 years ago and we let the dot com boom get to our heads and we spent and spent and spent.

“The surge in revenues resulted in massive – and unsustainable – new spending commitments. ” Source: Governor’s Full Budget Summary 2009-10

To that note, we allow each of the legislators to introduce 30-40 bills per session, every single one COSTS money. I am not talking about the money to run the bills through the process, or the money to create the regulation, nor the money to monitor – or in many cases – fail to monitor compliance. I am talking about the money it costs to change how we operate as individuals, businesses and yes even government.

I don’t have a good handle on, how the back room budget process work. Who is working to improve; reviewing line by line, comparing today to 1998-99 balanced budget and adjusting for inflation, population, etc? Who is working to improve our budget? What are their credentials?

We need to reduce the size of the entitled population and increase the size of the self sustaining members of society. My hope is that there is some office in Sacramento doing this, outside of political maneuvers, there is some office creating a business based budget for the state that can be published before the Politian’s start negotiating. I would love for you to be able to read this and poof, send me a link to monitor the process, so that when I wake up at 4:00 am to start my day, worrying about how my company is going to survive the rest of the year, at least I will be able to see that some really smart people in Sacramento are tackling the state budget and making the same hard decisions I am faced with.

I would love to know who is leading the charge. Is anyone?

Mary Fleet Manager Wall