Monday again and time for some thoughts to live by, or the bizarre inner workings of the mind of Dave, whichever you think is appropriate.

I had something happen the other day that kind of reinvigorated my love of country a bit (Lord knows it could stand a bit of a boost these days).  I stopped to get diesel on the highway and I realized I hadn’t checked my tire pressure in a while, so I pulled over to the air pump after fueling.  The attendant got his tire gage from his pocket, but I stopped him and handed him my own gauge that I keep in the glove box.  Not because I am that fussy, or because I think it is some sort of precision laboratory pressure gauge, but because I just always like to use the same gauge so my tires always stay close to what they should be.

Well, the fellow took the gauge, squinted at the dial and his whole body language changed.  "Yes sir!, I can see why you want me to use this one sir.  Made in USA.  The best!".  Then he went about checking and adding some air to a couple of tires that were a pound or two low.

When he had finished checking and airing he handed the gauge back carefully, almost reverently into my hand.  Corny to some I suppose.  To tell you the truth I had no idea the gauge was made in the USA, it’s just a halfway decent round dial gauge with easy to read numbers that I bought years ago in Wal*Mart or K-Mart or some other discount store.  But sure enough, it’s made in Illinois

When is the last time you held anything made in the USA?  You know our country still is "the city on the hill" to many, everywhere in the world.  If only we could present ourselves that way, instead of chasing after this little stop gap project or that internally, debating minor issues like whether or not specific examples of ‘dead tree’ technology should follow the path of normal business or become wards of the government, as if the world didn’t matter.

The US started out as 13 little ‘special interest group’ colonies that didn’t even like each other.  Massachusetts, for example was founded by some of my ancestors who wanted to split from the church of England and practice their own religion.  The idea of separation of church and state hardly entered their minds, virtually every rule followed or law passed revolved around religious beliefs, and woe to those who didn’t want to comply.

A few malcontents split off and founded tiny Rhode Island to get away from that pervasive Puritanical rule of God in their neighboring colony.  Pennsylvania was mostly organized by Quakers who couldn’t bear the thought of militias and the bearing of arms.  Maryland was founded for the single-minded purpose of being a refuge for “true to Rome” Catholics who couldn’t really stand to be in the same community as the rebellious protestants.  The list goes on. (Bonus question:  In case you don’t believe that the original colonies got together on very, very few issues, ask yourself how many ‘states’ the United States of America is currently composed of?  (Hint, it is not 50).  For double bonus points which US states are not states and never have been?)

The nascent nation had one thing in common, though, in its disparate and sometimes quarrelsome colonies.  They were not able to live on handouts from the British government,  They struck out, from day one, and started making things on their own.  The real root of the American revolution was the British government devotion to what is called the Mercantile Theory.  The Colonials were supposed to be dependent upon the support and guidance of the central government and to make themselves useful in providing raw materials to the “important” economic engine of the Empire, manufacturing pants located in the UK.

This didn’t sit well to the Colonists, and it doesn’t sit well to me today, either.  We hear nearly nothing on the news except government bailouts for banks and investment houses that quite frankly proved they were being managed by incompetents.  The US “financial industry”, a contradiction in terms if I ever heard one, it’s an ‘industry’ that produces nothing, is judged ‘too big to fail’ and propped up like a house of cars.  meanwhile all across the US are companies like Victor Automotive Products, Inc, who actually do make things.  They make things that people around the world aspire to hold in their hand.  Why isn’t our leadership focusing on the real strength of the US … we make things.  Think about that some night, as you are nodding your head in agreement with the babbling bobblehead on TV who is parroting the latest press release he was handed from the White House.  If ever there is a country who has “lost the bubble” on what its true strength is, and where its focus ought to be, it is my dear old USA.  “too big to fail” and “bonuses for failure” indeed.

Where’s the Filipino connection you might be asking, recalling the headline I used?  Simple.  The Philippines of today, where many citizens think of themselves as Bulakeños or Davaoeñyos, Cebuaños, etc.  One school of thought might be that this is a divisive thing, which detracts from nation building.  On the other hand, maybe this i9ndividuality should be harnessed and supported.  As it is now, in my view, when the “imperialist” style government in Manila (which holds the widely seen view that the Philippines consists of manila and then everywhere else) come up with programs to help the people, they focus on colonial style things … like programs to convince a whole town of diverse skills and personalities to focus on growing on obscure strain of onions, or teaching that the only way a man or woman can support their family is to remove themselves to foreign shores to be modern day indentured servants.

My message to American and Filipino readers alike is to reject the prattle of central government economists that have spent years in college and government service learning what “can’t be done”.  The Us and the Philippines are both rich in talented, hardworking people, in natural resources and in an independent spirit.  Put you strengths to work and make things and sell them … and set your sights on selling to the world, not just your barangay.

Just like my little tire gauge example, it absolutely can be done … especially if you don’t put your life on hold waiting for “the government” to hand out money or send out a certificate of special permission.  This post is already up over my intended thousand word limit, so stay tuned.  I have shown in the past and will in the future show more Philippine entrepreneurs who took up the challenge and are succeeding, and yes, US entrepreneurs as well.

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