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My wife has been bugging me, telling me that all I write about is what's wrong with the business community. Jeanette says I have not offered solutions to correct the problems I talk about. Okay, maybe she's right. Here are three ideas.

Idea #1: Register Republican

In my business, I have learned that you often succeed by copying the most successful person in the business. Who shall I suggest we copy in politics? The union. They're politically successful; in fact they run this State.

When I was in California learning to make candy, I had to join a union. I learned my first lesson then about union politics because my boss, the union shop steward, was constantly after me to register to vote as a Democrat. In politics numbers count so if you agree with my letters, and are a registered Democrat, change your registration and encourage others to do the same. One person cannot change the Democrat party with all the money and votes the unions contribute. Why be a part of something you don't believe in or can't change?

Idea #2: Contribute Money Wisely

Next., give money to a good Republican candidate who has a chance of beating a liberal Democrat supported by unions. I suggest that you send money to gubernatorial candidate, Frank Bond. Frank is neither a trial lawyer, nor supported by the unions, and he is honest. (When you have these qualifications, it is very hard to raise money.)

Idea #3: Go Public for Republicans

Put a bond bumpersticker on your car or truck, or write and I'll send you the bumper sticker I put out two years ago that said, "A businessman who votes Democrat is like a chicken who votes for Colonel Sanders." Stand up and be counted, it doesn't hurt.

The following quote explains why supporting Republican candidates is critical in 1990. Headline, front page, February 23, 1990, Christian Science Monitor:

"DEMOCRATS, LABOR JOIN FORCES TO REDRAW DISIRICT MAPS"

The first two paragraphs of the article read:

"Some of the biggestprizes in this year's election will be in the smallest places.

"They are the seats in the state legislatures. Whoever controls them will hold the pen that redraws the national political landscape. Organized labor is playing a major role in helping Democrats grab the map."

I believe that in return for helping the Democrats, labor will continue to call the shots in the Democrat Party just as they have in the past. Why should you help them with money, or even by being registered as their supporter!

In May 1988 when the AFL/CIO held its state convention in New Mexico, not one Republican candidate was endorsed -- only Democrats. The unions understand the political game. Do you, or the business community? The business community still thinks it's just wonderful to be non-partisan. Business people support both sides, or they vote for and help the candidate, not the issue.

An example of this is seen in a list of campaign contributors gubernatorial candidate Paul Bardacke released. (The list shows each person giving one thousand dollars or more.) Over 400 thousand dollars has been given. On this list are some of the most illustrious business leaders from around the state. Bardacke is considered a liberal trial lawyer who has said he would use the Severance Tax Permanent Fund to pay the state's on-going expenses. This would steal from our grandchildren's savings accounts.

How can business leaders support a man who proposes a plan which would shaft us by forcing future tax measures? Who do you think loses when the unions, the president of a large bank, or auto dealer, support and give money to the same candidate? (Hint: it isn't the unions!)

Prediction

When filing day ended on April 3rd, over twenty-five legislative races were uncontested. I think the union-liberal Democrats will control the next legislature. The business community's only shot is to increase Republican representation as much as possible and to elect a Republican Governor who can veto liberal laws (and gerrymandered reapportionment proposals) that will be passed. The business community must stop helping union-liberal Democrats who are philosophically opposed to a strong business climate. Business people must also stop doing the dumb things that help Democrats politically.

Speaking of dumb things, I have decided to take my own advice. I am going to copy someone who successfully pointed out the things that were done in Washington. A few years ago, U.S. Senator William Proxmire from Wisconsin, gave an award every so often called the "Golden Fleece Award" to the government agency that, in his opinion, wasted the most taxpayer money through stupidity. I'm beginning my own award for the business person or group who, through the lack of "political IQ" or backbone, hurts the business community the most. I figure that with some of the things that happen, the award winners must have a "political IQ" of about 10 points above a "pansy." I'll call this award, the "Golden Pansy Award."

First Ever "Golden Pansy Award"

The first "winner" is an organization I belong to -- the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. For once the Albuquerque Chamber had a great idea. They set up a "Legislative Issues Analyst Task Force" to monitor, record, evaluate and report to Chamber members the business issue voting records of Legislators during the 1990 legislative session. Great idea. Now, the dumb part: they appointed Lenton Malry as its Chairman. Mr. Malry has been a public employee his entire career until he retired. He was also a union-endorsed Democrat politician for 20 years. You would think that the Chamber would be smart enough to find a knowledgeable businessman to judge the Legislature on business issues, rather than a career bureaucrat and longtime liberal Democrat politician. This earns the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce the distinction of receiving my first "Golden Pansy Award." Congratulations folks!

When those of you around the state observe people or organizations qualified for the "Golden Pansy Award" let me know. It would be a shame for the Albuquerque business community to get the whole bouquet before we recognize the not quite bright people out in the hinterlands. (I'm sure it's not an Albuquerque-only epidemic.)

I have been told I may be too hard in my judgment of business leaders. Do you think there might be another reason for these mistakes .... Perhaps it's "Battered Businessman Syndrome," which is similar to Battered Wife Syndrome. (That's when a woman stays with a man who harms her physically and emotionally. She keeps saying to herself, "It's my fault because I'm not nice enough" and tried to be better.) I think this new syndrome, "BBS" has some similarities to Battered Wife Syndrome. A businessman who suffers from BBS contributes to liberal Democrat candidates, pays high Workman's Compensation rates, pays high taxes, and knows deep in his heart that he would be better off if fewer liberal Democrats were elected to office. But the businessman keeps telling himself, "It's all my fault because I'm not nice enough to the liberal Democrat politicians."

If you have BBS, and have the urge to give money to liberal Democrats because you're not nice enough, call your local insurance agent and ask to hear the New Mexico Workman's Compensation rates compared to other states. If that doesn't work, check the number of bankruptcies in the Monday Albuquerque Journal. If that doesn't work keep repeating to yourself that we're 45th in average income and dropping. Then get out your checkbook and send a check to Frank Bond for Governor, or the State Republican Party, or even both. Re-register as a Republican. Put a bumper sticker on your car. You will feel a lot better when your self-respect returns. And in the long run, your business will even get better if we can change Santa Fe.

Sincerely,

George D. Buffett

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