Business Beliefs
1. A majority of adults--at least 80% --should own and operate their own businesses. Until 1870, some 80% of Americans did. But with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, people became enslaved in mind-numbing "jobs," toiling tirelessly to make others rich. By 1970, only 7% of Americans were self-employed. During the last 37 years, self employment has grown dramatically.
The "Industrial Revolution" is over, as outdated corporations (firms which refused to adapt to changing times) have become dinsoaurs and are dying.
2. The Internet is the most radical development in business, selling, and marketing communications since the introduction of commercial TV. To survive and prosper in the 21st century business world, all business people must become Internet proficient and learn how to sell their products, services and information online, saving on operating costs, locally and internationally.
3. The "mass market" no longer exists, if in fact it ever did. Market segments clearly now exist, defined in various ways--geodemographic, ethnic, regional, etc.
As a example, many wrongly see Generation X'ers as just younger Baby Boomers, although the attitudes and consumption patterns of both groups are very dissimilar.
Both groups have the power to create trends and wealth, if you understand their mindsets. We must understand and use precise market segmentation.
These segments are becoming even more complicated due to the additional of Generation Y, younger than the boomers, and the next youngest generations, tweens and teens."
4. Ignoring both the death of the Industrial Revolution and the "mass market," many people still "don't get it" and continue to crave jobs, thereby courting lifelong financial instability, since the average tenure in of a job today is only three and one-half years.
5. Large corporate mergers and acquisitions are unproductive usually. We see these corporate married corporate couples file for divorce within five years, using lame explanations about enhancing shareholder value and refocusing corporate strategy.
These firms would have been better off to "stay single," get really focused on the core business, and increase market share in this core line of business.
Large "blue chip" firms are falling down financially like stacks of dominos, as their leaders live in the continuing fantasy that everything has been unchanged since 1950 and that the Industrial Revolution is eternal.
John J. Alquist
Political Beliefs
1. America's underlying economic anxiety is caused by a 15 to 30% drop in real purchasing power of wages and salaries during the past 23 years--plus the hardball consequences of freer world trade.
The 2002-2003 decline of the stock markets added the the insecurity.
The late 2003-2004 stock market, while increasing steadily. still was jittery and overreactive.
Actually, the 2004 stock market had poor gains of less tha 10% overall, and it stayed negative until after the 2004 Presidential election, had a quick "Santa Claus" rally, which fizzled in January 2005. Throughout 2005, stock markets in the USA have shown unspectacular performance.
The 2006 stock market at first went nowhere, then shot up about 13%. Though described as a "bull market," the 2006 performance of American stock markets ranked poorly--56th in the world.
Compared to our 13% increase, as examples, China's markets moved up 30% and India's increased by 40% a few years ago.
This was caused mostly be the decline in the U.S. dollar which is falling due to our budget and trade deficts.
In 2007, we're suffering from the sub-prime debacle. Our stock markets are suffering. Meanwhile, China's markets are soaring and the nation's treasury has about $1.4 trillion in currencies.
Now, in 2008, our stockmarkets are flat, a recession is upon us, and Washington is getting ready to print more no-value currency and grant over $140 billion to revitalize to stimulate our slugish economy.
2. America has two odious personal income taxes and collection systems--the IRS and U.S. Title 26, as well the onerous Social Security tax on payrolls and the Social Security Administration.
During the last 18 to 23 years, the increases in Social Security taxes--as well as the massive Clinton and George H. W. Bush tax increases--have diminished the positive impact of the tax cuts of Ronald Reagan. George W. Bush's tax cuts of 2003 helped substantially.
Nevertheless, the federal income tax must be replaced with a national sales tax, so that consumers can cut government spending by not making purchases.
3. In an futile and unwise attempt to offset lost purchasing power, many families have increased "purchasing power" through the explosive and expensive use of endless revolving credit card debt.
Credit card debt per person has tripled within the last 10 years, averaging over $8,000 per household, but real personal purchasing power dropped 15 to 30%. These factors keep U.S. Bankruptcy Courts busy indeed.
Rather than racking up credit card debt, families need to be self-employed and expand their incomes to meet their needs.
4. The Grace Commission's report in the 1980's indentified billions of dollars in wasteful federal spending. Without eliminating any programs or purchases or benefits, government spending can be slashed up to one-third--just by doing things right. Both Republicans and Democrats failed to implement such massive savings.
Both parties are trying to outspend Lyndon Johnson and FDR. George Bush--or Lyndon Baines Bush, as I call him--has kept up and surpassed his fellow Texan, LBJ, in wild government spending and dubious wars. We must manage government as a business.
Beliefs on Religion
1. God is one and is a spirit person--as Christians, Jews and followers of Islam claim. God is not part of nature, the core belief of pantheism. And there are not many gods, as polytheists claim.
2. As a born again Pentecostal Christian, I believe in one God with three distinct persons--the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and The Holy Spirit.
3. I believe that Jesus Christ offers eternal salvation, starting now, to all who "believe on Him" for it. This faith to believe this is a gift from God--so take it when He offers it.
4. The Holy Spirit is still active in the Christian Church today, manifesting signs, wonders, and miracles--including physical healings, supernatural spiritual gifts, and immediate deliverance from personal bondages, including but not limited to drug and other addictions.
5. The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, and the writing of the Bible was inspired directly by God. All other religious writings, church rules and regulations are useless expressions of man's vain, haughty spirit. God's revealed word is enough.
6. Today's popular culture is mindless, amoral and immoral, filthy, degrading, disgusting, and sick. This culture must be vehemently rejected by serious and sincere believers of God and seekers of righteousness.
Contact Information:
John J. Alquist
Owner/Operator
Alquist Enterprises
6822 22nd Ave N #146
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Phone: 727-545-8547
Fax: 727-547-2445
Yahoo IM Screen Name: Emancipator21
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