A Nation of Takers, Not Makers

Today in America there are nearly twice as many people working for the government (22.5 million) than in all of manufacturing (11.5 million). This is an almost exact reversal of the situation in 1960, when there were 15 million workers in manufacturing and 8.7 million collecting a paycheck from the government.
More people in the wagon then pulling the wagon?

Stephen Moore: We've Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers - WSJ.com

Why the era of top secrecy for the Federal Reserve should end

The US FED is a privately owned bank. It will only disclose what it wants to. 
No-one including the US president will be able to get what info they want out of them. Even the US treasury is run mostly by former Goldman Sachs employees. It's a revolving door. They don't call it Government Goldman for nothing. 
Doesn't matter anyway. All shall be revealed in a few months when QE2 runs out. The FED has become the lender of first and last resort. 70% I'll say again 70% of treasury purchases are coming from the FED. They are in effect printing massive quantities of digital dollars. 
The US is in trouble either way it goes. If QE ends the economy collapses, if they continue, the dollar collapses. The pyramid scheme of money creation is coming to an end.

Why the era of top secrecy for the Federal Reserve should end - Telegraph

Ireland still hasn't fixed its broken banking system – Telegraph Blogs

The larger financial system is still a worry.

Ireland still hasn't fixed its broken banking system – Telegraph Blogs

Business is not easy

Being committed to business is hard

"There is a reason so few companies and people make it: It's not easy. Be honest with yourself. What price are you willing to pay to make the business work and be successful? Would you sacrifice your time, your family, your friends, your golf game, your entire social life? I am not advocating that you should, but you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to," says Robert Herjavec.

This is what my business coach says to me all the time. I agree with Robert - it is the struggle of business that is so hard and to be a good entrepreneur, you must develop that tenacity to keep going. Tenacity is the element of entrepreneurism which although DNA can determine this, you can also be trained to deal with stress and bad times to get back to the more profitable situation.

What business awards should be celebrated?

Awards for business are coveted by many but Tom Deans has a problem with CAFE and the way they celebrate the longevity of a family business. Tom thinks that is giving the worst possible message to family businesses. Even worse, Tom says,

"These awards are like stabs through the heart of family business owners"

Here's more of Tom's view:

It’s time for family business organizations to celebrate something more interesting, positive and inclusive and give awards that put multi-generational wealth creation on an equal footing with multi-generational wealth preservation. And if family business institutions don’t want to go down this road then maybe it’s high time that the M&A industry supported its own set of family business awards.

Here’s my list of new awards for everyone to consider.

1. Liquidity Event of the Year – Inside Sale: Awarded to a business owner who works with his or her children to sell their business inside the family. (I don’t call this multi-generational – I call this a fresh start based on risked capital).
2. Liquidity Event of the Year – Outside Sale: Awarded to a business owner who works with his or her children to sell their business outside the family.
3. Redeployment of Family Capital Award: Granted to the family that reinvents itself by helping the next generation pursue businesses they’re really passionate about.
4. Family Business Philanthropy Award: For the business owner who works with his or her family to use the proceeds of their life’s work to fund extraordinary good works to benefit their community, country and planet.

Read more at Tom Deans Every Family's Business