Spreading Democracy

How would the Las Vegas or London odds makers evaluate the probability that the U.S. or U.K. will ever return to tribal or true monarchical government and economy? What is the likelihood that Japan will return to imperial rule? The odds would be staggering the probability minuscule.

Why?

Because a free-market, entrepreneurial based economy is the strongest defense against government intervention and any form of government other than democracy (or democratic republics). Give small business the opportunity to do business and they will greatly dictate the form of government citizens will tolerate.

Even the much smaller Hong Kong (by geography and population) has dominated the impact on China since England transitioned governmental control back to the mainland.

So, how may the world's free economies positively spread democracy? How may we positively impact Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Africa, and many others?

Presidential candidate Mayor Rudy Giuliani has the answer when he posed and answered the question, "What do Americans want to do? We want to sell something."

Giuliani correctly suggests that by establishing free-trade policies with the people of Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, and others they, the citizens of those nations, will demand a more democratic and open government. The business community will demand a nation of greater peace, of stronger laws - to preserve their own prosperity.

Rudy's right. It's time to find creative ways to do business in all nations. Establish strong trading partners and we will benefit not only the American business community, but the safety and prosperity of people across the entire globe.

Orlando Republican Presidential Debate

McCain had the line of the night commenting on a proposed Woodstock museum. He said (paraphrased), "I'm sure it was the cultural and pharmaceutical event of a generation, I didn't attend as I was tied up at the time . . .(laughter, applause, standing ovation).

Nice job John. McCain is unquestionably a national hero and this debate was an excellent event for him and perhaps a great opportunity to begin transitioning out of the Presidential race.

Huckabee hit on a solution I've proposed (jokingly) for several years to address the nations ever increasing entitlement programs, traffic congestion, rising health care costs, and high unemployment. He reminded the nation that when Social Security originated, benefits were paid at age 65 and typically stopped about age 67. Our increasing life expectancy has consequences impacting many areas of our economy and it's time to focus on addressing the impact of longevity. Huckabee may be an good choice as V.P. in November.

Romney was average - again. He certainly looks Presidential, but he's so stiff and scripted rather speaking from conviction and passion. The Presidency is much more than a business negotiation. Back to the Board Room Mitt.

Thompson disappoints for second time in a row. I expected a seasoned actor and attorney to excel in televised debates. Thompson has fumbled his answers, frequently looks down when responding rather than at the questioner, and demonstrates no depth of knowledge or command of the issues discussed.

Giuliani remains a solid debater and plays well on TV. He surprised many with solid answers on foreign policy - an area his opponents expect is his weakness. His answers are clear and easily understandable - no nukes in Iran for example.

Asked how to measure success of military efforts Giuliani alluded to the standard of Reagan, "we win, they lose". He also demonstrated a keen understanding of foreign policy and the relationships between nations when he suggested that China and Russia, to preserve their economic interest in Iran, may support the United States efforts to prohibit Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Final ranking of top tier candidates for this debate: McCain, Giuliani, Huckabee, Romney, Thompson.

Ingenuity of business

In recent years, many communities have adopted new standards to address architecture, aesthetics, and signage. The primary role is to create an inviting place to live and do business.

These standards often require enhanced landscaping, decorative street lights, sidewalks, and monument-style signage of limited height and size. The new standards typically limit outdoor signage, banners, wall signs, balloons, and many other forms of attention getting advertising not consistent with the community's desired image.

Faced with reduced opportunities to display their message as large and often as they would like, business adapts and implements other types of outdoor advertising. Enter a proliferation of over sized trucks painted with advertising, mobile billboards, and the sidewalk sign carriers.

The community in which I live is being flooded with such advertising. Large panel trucks backed up to the curb of the highway advertising a hair salon or smoothie store - both businesses clearly visible from the highway and neither likely to use the large vehicles as a routine part of their daily business. Trucks with rotating, mobile billboards moving from intersection to intersection frequently backed into a parking space with the driver taking a "cat nap" in the cab while ad after ad scrolls across the back of the vehicle. Sidewalk hawkers at busy intersections waiving poster-sized signs as drivers pass.

I've gotta give business points for creativity. The marketplace has, at least to this point, effectively circumvented the intent of many communities when adopting such standards to control aesthetics and signage.

Too often there is much less creativity at work on addressing these attempts to bypass the community's desire. Advertisers, often third party companies selling space to local business unaware of the regulations, quickly claim constitutional protections in defense of their activities. The claim seems to paralyze enforcement efforts, but it shouldn't.

New York appeared over run with "squeegee men" who attacked cars at busy intersections wiping down windshields with dirty rags and demanding payment for the "service". New York Planning and Legal Departments were initially paralyzed on how to eliminate the nuisance. These men have constitutional rights to free assembly, free movement, free speech, etc.

Then Mayor Rudy Giuliani asked, "Do these men leave the cross walk when performing this "service"? The answer was - yes. Giuliani then instructed the NYPD to issue tickets for jaywalking every time a "squeegee man" stepped off the curb into the street outside the cross walk. Problem solved, no constitutional litigation.

I expect with a little ingenuity here, perhaps through parking regulations and enforcement within our public rights-of-way, the creative circumvention of community standards may be reduced or eliminated as well.