Couple Of Points
As we approach the end of the year it might be time to reflect on the year that just passed and look to see what the next year may bring.
I really don’t need to regurgitate the highs and lows of this past year do I? We all have experienced different levels of anxiety and upheaval and after almost two years of this, I have to say, enough is enough.
No matter what side of the fence you sit on as far as mask mandates and vaccinations you have to see the damage this is doing to states that have restrictive policies. I understand getting in front of that “next wave” but by now, I think almost every person has some opinion about wearing masks indoors or getting vaccinated. People have made their choices and having the government try in step in and make those choices for you is overreach.
As I said, the amount of knowledge and understanding that is out there regarding the benefits and the pitfalls of having mandates in place is well known. The people who have gotten vaccinated got vaccinated, the people that have chosen not to have not and most likely will not regardless of the mandates that are in place. They have made their decisions and forcing the idea will only steel their resolve against it.
The macro picture is not that complex if you ask me. States with strict guidance and enforcement have suffered economically more than states with less restrictive measures. Workforce upheaval is now common where it used to be rare and how all of this lands is anyones guess but I am pretty sure businesses will look to locations where there workers can live, work and ultimately succeed without having to deal with the “Mask police”. Strangely enough, these locations are ultimately much more business friendly and have managed to create a functioning state government without the burden of a state income tax.
So let’s get this straight, you mean I can operate my business as I see fit, in a business friendly environment, with no state income taxes? Seriously, thats possible? Yes, Virginia, it is.
No wonder some states are having a hard time keeping people. Being the cultural, entertainment and business center of the country has not helped New York. It’s about the quality of life and the ability to spend more of what you earn. I do believe that New York will recover a lot (but not all) of what it has lost. It is a World Class city and every country has to have a World Class city. Sometimes, the issues are bigger than what a city brings to the table. Sometimes it’s the overall environment a city is in that sets the tone for a city’s success or failure.
The virus has dragged on longer than we would have ever thought possible. The finger pointing has only just started and honestly, I could care less who is right or who is wrong. Theories have floated in and floated out and ideas have disappeared as quickly as they started. What happened to herd immunity I wonder. Anyway, enough is enough. People are free to make their choices. My choice is no better or worse than your choice.
The other story of this year that has me scratching my head a little is the border crisis. Not so much about what is going on and how it eventually may end up being a crisis for the Democrats. No, my issue is a little deeper and something to think about. You have roughly 1.6 million illegal aliens allowed into this country. Some were granted asylum, some were put in the system to help them become functioning members of society, some disappeared into the wind. With all that in mind, how could there possibly be a labor shortage in this country? Let’s be honest. A large portion of the jobs that are not getting filled are low wage, entry level jobs. You have this vast pool of labor that is most likely very willing to take those jobs and become the backbone of thousands of small businesses. So, why is there a labor shortage?
The Federal Government has not put 1.6 million people in facilities waiting to be sent back to their home countries. They have dispersed a large number of these people around the country and set up shelter for them in multiple communities. I hardly doubt that they are all sitting around playing Uno. These vast pools of migrants are working, somewhere and while most are being hired illegally, that has never stopped migrants from holding the jobs that most Americans don’t want.
Obviously, this is a conversation that is uncomfortable for many but the reality is, this country has always relied on migrant workers, legal or illegal, to do certain jobs and like it or not, there are probably up to a million illegal workers looking for ( or filling ) jobs. Just not sure why no media outlet has ever brought that up.
As I have said a few times in the past. I believe legal migration is important and as long as it is controlled, it can be a positive for this country. The people that complain that illegals are stealing their jobs are actually full of it. How many people actually want to do the jobs that migrant workers do. Name one 17 year old that wants to work as a busboy or a landscaper? How many people out there actually have ever done the jobs that the migrant workers willingly take on? Not many, I am sure.
I don’t think there is worker shortage, I think there is an accurate information shortage and to me, that might be the biggest story of the year.