Both America and our industry’s members face a similar set of challenges and opportunities.
Common sense suggests what is needed, and yet agendas that often make little or no sense are all too common.
We can’t hope to change the world, without changing our little part of it first.
A hodgepodge of agendas has been force-fed to millions on ‘both sides of the political aisle.’ But aren’t there more than two sides to the vision of what is or should be best for America?
ThisDayInQuotes states that the quote, “The business of America is business” or “The business of the American people is business.” are incorrect versions of what Calvin Coolidge said.”
What Coolidge actually said was “…the chief business of the American people is business.”
The speech the presidential candidate gave that day was titled “The Press Under a Free Government.” It focused on the role of the news media of their day in a free market America.
ThisDayInQuotes asserted that Coolidge thought the press was far more likely to publish propaganda in autocratic or socialist nations.
Coolidge acknowledged concerns about how business considerations might impact editorial positions and news reporting.
But he also said the reverse could be true.
“There does not seem to be cause for alarm in the dual relationship of the press to the public, whereby it is on one side a purveyor of information and opinion and on the other side a purely business enterprise.
Rather, it is probable that a press which maintains an intimate touch with the business currents of the nation, is likely to be more reliable than it would be if it were a stranger to these influences.”
That, ThisDayInQuotes states, was followed by Coolidge’s famous quote:
“After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world. I am strongly of the opinion that the great majority of people will always find these the moving impulses of our life.”
Then and now, the economy and jobs have routinely been a key motivator for voters. Coolidge noted a moral character must also be involved in the mix.
“Of course, the accumulation of wealth cannot be justified as the chief end of existence,” Coolidge said.
“But we are compelled to recognize it as a means to well-nigh every desirable achievement. So long as wealth is made the means and not the end, we need not greatly fear it…But it calls for additional effort to avoid even the appearance of the evil of selfishness. In every worthy profession, of course, there will always be a minority who will appeal to the baser instinct. There always have been, probably always will be, some who will feel that their own temporary interest may be furthered by betraying the interest of others.”
The commentary ends with the author’s claim that:
“It’s true that Coolidge was generally a pro-business, small-government type politician; sort of a Ronald Reagan without charisma.”
Trump is not the Typical Democrat or Republican
Intentionally or not, the president-elect took a key concept from the Ronald Reagan playbook, and made it his own.
Reagan famously said:
“Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people.”
Isn’t it the bold colors of Donald Trump that set him apart from a field of GOP candidates who largely had more political or Republican credentials?
Even before he takes the oath of office, Trump the businessman turned successfully political maverick is showing in word and deed that he wants to make the business of America to be doing more “good deals” that will bring “more jobs” and make ‘America more prosperous again.’
The Plane Truth…
The president-elect met with the heads of Boeing and Lockheed-Martin, and with their CEO’s with him, they all agreed that the costs for the next Air Force 1 and F35 fighter aircraft can be cut, saving taxpayers money. Trump works to bring his own projects in on-time and on or under budget. He ran his campaign that way, and won. It seems he is serious about making the government more cost/savings minded too.
And his policies are what economists call, ‘pro-growth policies.’
So today’s announcement is another signal that it isn’t going to be government-as-usual in Washington, D.C.
This could be good for manufactured housing. But it won’t just fall into our industry’s laps.
Beyond wisely welcoming the president-elect and his choice for HUD Secretary, what will MHI and MHARR do on a practical level on such pressing issues as:
- A HUD Program that is increasingly going rogue, taking positions contrary to the process established by the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000?
- Will enhanced preemption be a reason for the two national associations to join forces?
- Will there be a joint push to bring energy standards back to HUD from DOE?
- What will the new administration do about protecting domestic manufactured, modular and prefab home producers from foreign firms that are poised to make a billion-dollar plus entry into the U.S. housing market?
Chanukah and Christmas are right around the corner. Millions already get it. But while millions of others may not see yet is this following fact. America and manufactured housing were given a great gift in the wee hours of November 9th.
But like any gift, it can be taken for granted, mishandled or wasted.
Embracing and working with this new, pro-business, pro-jobs administration could make a huge difference for factory-builders, our customers and home owners. Because we in factory-crafted homes can do it for less, and we can do it Made-in-America.
From Coolidge’s speech on business and the free press – linked here as a download – are these words: “The chief ideal of the American people is idealism. I cannot repeat too often that America is a nation of idealists… No newspaper can be a success which fails to appeal to that element of our national life.”
And the chief business of America, is not out-of-control government regulations – it’s business. ##
