I find it interesting……

that OPEC held an emergency meeting recently, out of which they decided to cut back oil production by 1.5 million barrels.  They figure by taking oil out of the supply chain, they can drive the price back up to where it was back in the summer (around $150/barrel).  Is there any doubt now that we’ve been the victim of price fixing/manipulation from these oil rich countries??

Sure, the global economic slowdown is causing demand to soften; but that’s the shortsighted observation.  What’s OPEC’s reaction going to be once they realize their greed has empowered a movement in this country to eliminate dependence on foreign oil completely by investing in alternative fuel sources?  They better reserve another meeting room in about 10 years…….

Social Networking

I’m trying my hand now at “social networking”.  I’ve been reading a lot about this new phenomena and thought I’d give it a shot.  To put this in perspective and give it a touch of amusement, you must realize that I wasn’t even introduced to computers until I got to college.  Most of the people hanging around in these sites have been playing with computers since they were 5 years old!  When I had to use a computer in college, I went to something called a “computer lab”.  The majority of college students now have a personal laptop in their rooms!  I’m moving slowly, but moving none the less…….

As a small business owner, I’m simply looking for exposure.  Media today (print and tv) is very expensive and cost prohibitive.  With social networking sites, I’m getting additional exposure for Steiner Business Solutions at no cost to my business.  If you’ve read my previous posts, you know that I’m a big believer in the power of networking.  Meeting and interacting with people in all circles can only help grow your business.

So if you see me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Meetup.com…….make sure to say “Hello”, but don’t expect me to know how to “buzz you” or send you a “beer gift”.

The Cost of Human Nature

If you haven’t heard about the stock market and credit market disasters of the last few days, then you’ve been living in a cave or vacationing on a remote island with no communication with the outside world.  I have to admit that I can’t stop watching the news on CNBC, MSNBC, etc.  I don’t know why….I guess I feel like it helps if I at least attempt to understand why we’re in this mess and what people (i.e. our government agencies) are trying to do to instill some sort of order and confidence.  So far….nothing has worked.

I admit that I tend to be cynical when it comes to our government and the “powers that be” who are supposed to be looking out for our best interests.  Well respected companies are either going under or being bailed out because their greed and aggressive tactics have caught up with them.  The decline in the housing market has been the catalyst for this correction – now recession.  Who is to blame?  I think there’s plenty of blame to go around.  The bottom line….people who couldn’t afford a loan (mainly mortgages) were given loans beyond their means.  Didn’t anyone think this was a bad idea?

Meanwhile……I’m watching the value of my investments (retirement/college savings) drop sharply and there’s nothing I can really do about it.  Why can’t the people that acted foolishly and irrationally be the only ones punished?  Big corporate executives, Wall Street traders, government officials, mortgage lenders, (believe me the list could go on and on) and even the irresponsible consumers should be singled out and forced to “own up” to their role in this financial crisis and face the repercussions personally.  That being said, I live in the real world and know that because of the careless acts of a few…..we ALL must pay.  That’s very disheartening to me.  My family has always played by the rules.  We work hard; we live within our means; we don’t carry balances on our credit cards, etc. – and yet, dollars continue to pour out of our savings every day.  Something is VERY wrong with that!

My daughter asked me today “How did this happen?”  I started thinking of something technical or logical I could say to a 12 year old  that would answer her question, but after a few moments, I simply said “It’s human nature”.