Believe It Or Not : The Incredible Qualifications of Herman Cain as a Presidential Candidate
73Qualifications, you say? Yes. If you get most of your news from the mainstream media, you may know Presidential candidate Herman Cain as "the pizza guy", maybe as a talk show radio host, and almost certainly as a survivor of Stage Four intestinal cancer....but not much more than that.
As it happens, that's a bit like studying a radiator cap and deciding you know everything there is to know about the automobile industry.
The most likely reason for this "oversight" is simple: If the voters en masse ever truly get the "big picture" on Herman Cain, he wins both the Republican nomination and the Presidential election in 2012 in a double barreled pair of landslides. I'm hardly the least informed voter "out there", but even I was flat-out amazed at not only the level of accomplshments but the number and scope of accomplishments in this man's life to date.
Here's a relatively brief and far from complete recap.
College Degree #1
Born to hardworking blue collar parents, Herman became the very first member of his family ever to graduate from college at all, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Morehouse College at the age of 21.
Stop right there. Think about that. High school plus four years of college, outa there at the age of 21 with a math major. Folks, you have to have some serious smarts between your ears plus a serious work ethic to pull that off.
College Degree #2
Four years later, having worked as a civilian ballistics analysts for the Navy while going to graduate school, up he pops with a Master's Degree in Computer Science, receiving that degree in 1971 from Purdue University at the age of 25.
Where were you at 25 years of age--or, if you're one of our younger readers, where do you expect to be? Not many can say, "Hey, I had four years of experience designing fire control systems for fighter aircraft by that age!" Plus, "Oh, yeah, I also picked up my Master's Degree that year, having put myself through grad school at Purdue along the way."
I'm not ashamed of my own resume, but I can't compete with that. Nuh-uh.
Another point worth serious consideration: Herman's vision, his ability to peer into the future and know the right thing to do, the preparations that need to be made. In 1969, I remember with great clarity my own insight. I knew nothing about computers but understood they were the coming thing and that I would need to become as knowledgeable about them as possible
Few indeed were the people who perceived that at the time. There was no Internet, no PC, and all information was keypunched into cardboard punch cards that were fed into huge collating machines by the thousands--and that was just to (for example) monitor a bank payroll. Programming languages had names like Basic and Cobol.
Yet Herman saw the trend and was well on his way to receiving his Master's Degree in that very science.
He can see what's coming at us folks. This man as President will be very hard to blindside.
The Pillsbury $Dough$ Man
For the next ten years, starting as a computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola, he eventually ended up as Pillsbury's VP of Corporate Data Systems and Services--which is as high as it goes in the computer world, running the entire computer show for one of the big guns.
He was then 35 years of age with nothing left to prove in the world of computers as applied to business. Most "corporate types" I've known (and I've known a few) would have coasted from there. Taken up golf, maybe.
Not Herman. Herman decided to clean toilets.
No, that's not a joke.
The Burger King Turnaround
When Cain was 35, Pillsbury offered him a challenge he couldn't resist: Take charge of Pillsbury's Burger King restaurants in the Philadelphia area. They were the poorest performers in the entire country, and there were 400 of them.
Yes, he cleaned toilets, cooked burgers, learned the business from the ground up. He did that for nine months before deciding he was ready to start making serious changes. After three years, he turned those 400 "losers" into the company's best performers.
Three years. Three years. Why does that sound familiar...oh! Right! President Obama's had almost three years now to turn America's economy into the planet's best performer. How's he doing with that? Huh? Huh?
Godfather's Pizza
Now we finally get to "the pizza guy". Godfather's, also owned by Pillsbury, was on the verge of bankruptcy. Pillsbury asked Herman to take over management of the chain. It took him all of 14 months to make it profitable.
Almost a yawner by this time, isn't it? Ho-hum, Herman rides again! There is more: In 1988, he led a buyout of Godfather's from Pillsbury--and thereby became the owner of a restaurant chain.
National Restaurant Association Chairman
During his "Godfather's Pizza period", Cain was so well regarded by his fellow restaurateurs that he was elected Chairman of the National Restaurant Association. This group stands up to oppressive government policies on behalf of restaurant owners in much the same way the National Rifle Association stands up on behalf of gun owners.
In other words, when pundits swear up, down, and sideways that Cain has "no political experience", they're sadly mistaken. He has plenty of political experience--it's just from the other side of the table, dealing with legislators and bureaucrats (and even with the President) instead of being one himself.
If you haven't seen the video of Herman Cain explaining the financial realities of Hillarycare (pre-Obamacare) at a town hall meeting in 1994, it might be worth a looksee now.
When it comes to numbers (remember that math degree?) Cain is Able.
Herman Cain Vs. Bill Clinton on Hillarycare
The Federal Reserve
Herman Cain still wasn't done qualifying himself for the Presidency of the United States. Big banking? Federal Reserve?
Why not ?
Beginning as an advisor to the Fed, he worked himsel up to the position of Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, one slot away from Chairman of the overall entire whoop-te-do Fed.
How impressive is that?
That's a big deal, folks. Here, Herman gained "inside understanding" of how money works in the economy, how money policy is made, the political pressures involved...the whole works.
Man, this guy makes me tired just reading about him. You bet I want the chance to vote Herman Cain for President in 2012. In 2016, too, when it gets down to it.
Writer and Public Speaker
After all this, he began writing and speaking on Leadership.
About time, wouldn't you say? His books to date include:
• Speak as a Leader
• CEO of Self
• Leadership is Common Sense
• They Think You're Stupid
• This Is Herman Cain
That takes us up to 2007, when (after 40 years of one stellar accomplishment after another)Cain started hosting a radio show on WSB in Atlanta (the largest talk radio station in
The country).
Then whupped a really nasty cancer.
Bottom line, it's no wonder the media is trying to blindfold the public about Herman. Not one of their favorites from Obama to Obama Lite (i.e. RINO Romney) has the chance of a snowball in...uh, any really warm place...against Herman Cain once the voters have Full Disclosure.
Remember in November 2012.
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Thanks for the "nice job", Ralph.
You have a point about having military service when it comes to being the Commander in Chief. However, Cain WAS involved as a civilian computer analyst for the Navy during four of the Vietnam War years. As a former vet myself (Vietnam Era, but not sent in-country), I'm more than happy to count that in lieu of actually wearing the uniform. Helping upgrade Navy fire control systems is high service in my book.
Others will, of course, have to make up their own minds.
As for choosing not to participate in the Civil Rights movement per se, hey. He had parents who'd busted their butts for decades to help him get a step up. You may be correct that some minority voters may not care about that, but others may well see improving himself (and thus becoming more able to take care of both parents and descendants) as a thoroughly acceptable choice.
In his own way, what Cain did was every bit as quietly revolutionary as marching in the streets.
Sounds like he didn't need the Civil Rights Movement to Kick A$$. He made it without it, when you didn't make it without being white. More admirable than sit-ins and marches while burning everything. He was building and they were burning. Sounds good to me.
A good description of the mans accomplishments.He is very impressive.I will certainly consider voting for him. I am not up to speed on the other candidate. I hate to say anyone but Obama but it is coming to that.Up and interesting.
Becky: Sounds about right to me, too.
dahoglund: I've been in ABO (Anyone But Obama) mode for some time, but Cain does stand head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates--at least so far as I've been able to determine to date.
Thanks for the Up and Interesting.
If the election were tomorrow, Cain would certainly get my vote. We need his business expertise now more than anytime in the history of this country. We have seen what politicians do for us, it is past time to try a new approach, and Herman Cain could do this.
Ghost, thank you very much for revealing many of Cain's accomplishments. I read Cain's "They Think You're Stupid" book a while back, it changed my life!
Nancy Pulosi should run so that the Democratic party is torn and we can ensure the defeat of Obama in 2012.
Mike: Yes, he could. (And yes, he would definitely get my vote if the election were held tomorrow.)
Jed: I certainly intend to read it. Just waiting for our finances to improve enough to buy myself a copy. Which, fortunately, should happen before long now (and well prior to the primary election in Arizona).
gmv: Never thought of that. The Democratic party seems to be tearing itself pretty well without her help, but yeah, that would be fun to watch.
Not that San Fran Nan would pull many votes nationally. Only in San Francisco!
Speaking of Cain's non-Vietnam military service, I don't actually hold that against him. I hope you, Ghost, weren't one of the Swift boaters against Kerry a couple of elections back. He was a true hero who was smeared by George Bush (a Vietnam avoider) supporters. Cain's lack of enthusiasm for Civil Rights is another matter that is harder for me to excuse.
Thank you Ghost32. I am certainly looking hard at Cain (love the Cain is Able!) I agree with most of his views. I just wonder if he can get the full breadth of support from conservatives with his 9-9-9 plan. I know little about economics at that level. I would love to see a sweeping change to the IRS and the tax system, but will the politicians (or the political system) let him even get traction to change that. And can he get the minority vote? I am excited because he is NOT a politician and has the mind and experience to help in our nations biggest struggles, the economy. And if people bring up his lack of experience in other areas, they need to give me a shred of evidence of experience that Obama had in foreign policy, etc. coming into office. They can't.
Sorry, Ralph. I wasn't all that politically active when Kerry was running, but defintely approved of the Swift Boaters.
I wouldn't expect you to vote for Cain, though. Not because of the peripheral non-issues you cite, but simply because his politics would seem too far to the right for you.
elucidator: I actually agree with Ralph that Cain won't get "the minority vote" en toto; not even Herman himself is saying he can. (His stated position as that he believes he can get 35% of the African American vote, for instance.)
Tell you what I strongly suspect Herman really has in mind IF he DOES get into office:
1. Institute the 999 plan (if he can--no guarantees till done is done, of course).
2. THEN--later on, possibly even in his second term, SEGUE into bumping the sales tax part of it up but DUMPING the IRS (which would also necessitate dumping the 16th and 17th Amendments to the Constitution)...and going to the Fair Tax Plan.
Why am I guessing this? Because Herman Cain is one of the few who has previously expressed strong support for the Fair Tax Plan (which I happen to believe would rescue America's economy AND a whole lot of Americans) in one swell foop). It occurs to me that (a) he's one canny, smart sonofagun when it comes to getting things done, and (b) that if we ALREADY had the sales tax in place, it might be "more doable" to "switch out" to the Fair Tax Plan than trying to sell it "all at once".
I could be wrong, of course.
Good job, I did not know that much about him before,except my daughte in-law is rooting for him. Now I know
Have to concur with being impressed with Cain's resume, particularly since I know what it takes to have a math degree at the age of 21. It takes knowing your goals, a combination of self-sacrifice, talent, and a willingness to adopt a no-nonsense approach to achieving your goals. When those values are ingrained by practice at that age, a person can achieve anything they set their mind to.
On top of that, as Mr. Cain continues his career it is apparent that he understands the benefit of knowing a system from many different perspectives, thus the first hand experience at all levels, summarized in the words learning 'the business from the ground up'. My own way of summarizing his approach would be that he uses the basic principles of system of systems engineering, that is, the concept of optimizing a collection of mutually supporting systems to the benefit of the collected set of systems, rather than to the benefit of any one single part. The sheer scope of adopting that perspective implies a certain amount of respect he held for those who excel at knowing how any one part of the system works. The fact that he has been successful in those endeavors implies to me that he has earned the respect of those who work for him.
That sort of experience goes far beyond the experience required to simply motivate people to protest. In my mind it is easy to bring together folks to organize and protest (nearly everyone finds it easy to find fault with the way things are), and much more difficult to bring together people to work and develop solutions (few are willing to work to come to consensus to solve problems). The latter is what is needed.
That is what impresses me about Herman Cain, and truth be told, it is also what impresses me about Sarah Palin. Anybody can complain or say what is wrong, but only a few solve problems.
Hi Ghost! Great hub on Herman Cain! I know there are many of us that appreciate you sharing his qualifications with us. I hope many more people become more aware of him and his talents.
Voted up, up and away!
Another great hub, Ghost! The more I know about Herman Cain, the more I am convinced he can lead us out of this mess. I just feel bad that the liberals have not stopped attacking him for almost every other comment he makes. I think he is just so un-politically correct and just say it like it is, which is what I like most about him. Unlike the politicians who will only say things the masses want to hear. Voted up!
Ghost, glad to see you pick this up. Ralph Deeds evidently doesn't understand how war time service is recognized. The man received his uniform insignia just as anyone else. He may have lacked the ribbons designating combat involvement and then he may have been aboard a ship providing coastal fire power to the ground targets. See this account of one of the many reasons we Marines loved the Navy, he is a veteran no matter how Deeds wants to cut him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U0Mex36J_4
'Nuff said, as I look back at Mr. Deeds comments, he's most likely a vote Democrat regardless of the situation, as well as being like me to old to suffer much over what is going on. I have a younger generation to look out for and will not vote party but for the needs of the country and a phrase I like here is a "Financial Physician over a Dirty Politician" and have submitted it to Cain head quarters in a few formats that are PC.
We don't know what Cain did in the Civil Rights Era truth be told. I doubt he did as little as Deeds or many others who would love to dismiss Cain on grounds that will surely return if obama is allowed to continue his path.
Great endorsement as well as outing a man worthy of the vote.
Dusty
BTW: I'm facebooking this hub.
Ghost, I jumped on the Herman Cain bandwagon a couple of weeks ago...he is my guy. Now just watch and see the personal attacks to begin surface...the "uncle tom" and how he "sold out to the white guy" comments..
I am very excited about him, and how refreshing would it be to actually have a POTUS, who is NOT a politician, but a very common sensical businessman?
Thanks for this hub, it is very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Chris
As he gains traction there will be the standard box of rocks thrown at him, Deeds just threw one of them but it won't find target and many will accuse him of being a "capitalistic right winger of greed". I think that is what America is about, a person being able to excel in their trade or craft. He made more money than the employees but he saved their jobs while doing it, where is the fault? As well, what does America need the most, jobs and cash flow at the lowest levels while the Fed gets cut off from trillions of spending money. I wish I could find the statement of the Fed. Spending more money in the obama years so far than the entirety of a large number of administrations I just can't remember but it don't matter it just needs stopped and Cains a good stopper it seems he can speak on topic sans a teleprompter.
Wow- wow, wow, wow.
I knew I liked the guy but had no idea his C.V. was SO impressive!!!
I have to take a bit then read this again.
I will then send it to everyone I know AND everyone I DON'T know. (If you don't mind, of course, Fred).
THANK YOU MY FRIEND!!!!!!
I love your Hub. I agree with you that Herman Cain is vastly more qualified than President Obama to run this country.
He is a great candidate and I am all for him.
You are an outstanding writer. I loved this:
"that's a bit like studying a radiator cap and deciding you know everything there is to know about the automobile industry."
And this: "Cain is Able."
Ha! I just love it. Thank you.
applejack2: Thanks; glad this helped.
Jim: What you said, including the inclusion of Sarah Palin. She and Herman have a great deal in common when it comes to problem-solving capability.
Dex: Thanks. Figured I had to write this one after finding out I'd been underinformed on the man myself.
caltex: Don't feel bad about the liberals attacking him; feel good. Think of it as a "political LATMUS test" (Liberals Attack The Most Useful Solutions). Generally speaking, the harder liberals are attacking, the better the guy (or gal) is doing from the conservative perspective.
Dusty: Thanks for a great post...plus the Facebooking...plus forwarding the email that made me realize I needed to write this one.
I'll go check out that video as soon as I'm done here.
Chris: Glad you liked the Hub, and yes, and once Herman gets elected, he'll have "broken the pattern", opening the door for OTHER non-politicians to run and win in the future.
Dusty (again): I love the fact that he actually has executive experience working FOR the Fed--that's amazing when you think about it.
Patti: Love the enthusiasm--absolutely I don't mind; share it with the world! The solar system! Heck, the Universe would be good!
Even if the Fretricrets out on Pluto probably don't speak English....
James: Love it that you enjoyed those lines. When it comes to "Cain is Able", I'd be surprised if we don't see a bumper sticker like that during the general election campaign (AFTER he wins primary, of course).
The same people who voted for an unqualified and inexperienced Barack Obama, are now worried about the qualifications of a Herman Cain?
And why would the Navy put a math genius/rocket scientist in the line of fire?
Excellent, Fred, and you should contact the campaign with "Cain is able"! It's a great slogan.
BTW, the mental midget who suggested that Herman Cain avoided Vietnam was listening to that other mental midget, Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC.
Herman Cain promptly handed Lawrence O'Donnell his far-left, liberal ass for making such a stupid statement.
Herman Cain is someone I will have to watch for..thanks for giving us all the information on what seems a very promiseing canidate.
Sunnie
PS..Will "Cain is able"! I would buy one of those Tshirts..very witty!
The Army as well as the Airforce and Atlantic Navy manned their out fits in Germany and other bases all through the Vietnam war, you got orders and you went or not, it wasn't your choice. Deeds didn't serve or he'd know better.
Will: I'm pretty sure they're not worried about his qualifications but rather about him beating their buddy on Election Day.
You think "Cain is Able" isn't already on their radar? Well...maybe not. I may do that.
Sorry I missed the Lawrence O'Donnell smackdown.
Sunnie: Okay, okay, if you'll buy a T shirt, I've GOT to let 'em know about "Cain is Able". Just in case.
---INTERMISSION: EMAIL SENT TO CAIN!---
Dusty: Near as my research has been able to determine, Herman Cain didn't actually wear the uniform per se. The most concise explanation comes from a website covering all the Republican candidates. Under "military experience", it states that,
•Cain does not have any direct military experience. However, he did spend six years in the United States Department of Navy, which provides operational and organizational support for both the Navy and Marines.
Sounds good to me.
Great hub, Ghost. Voted up!
What would have happened if every Civil Rights protester listened to Cain's father's advice and go sit in the back of the bus and don't cause a stir? He wouldn't have had the opportunity to "kick ass." He would be cleaning your toilets for life rather than for a week. The reason black voters don't listen to Cain isn't because they are brainwashed, it is because he sides with those who think blacks should go to the back of the bus.
Herman Cain's father was talking to a young high school student, not an adult. Cain explained his father's reasoning.
Criticizing a black man for not participating in what you view as essential to being black is a great example of Democrat plantation thinking. Falsely claiming Cain wants blacks to sit in the back of the bus, because he does not toe your plantation line is plainly dishonest.
resspencer: Thanks.
Texasbeta: By the numbers:
1. Not every highly intelligent, inwardly driven African American man cleaned toilets for life before the Civil Rights protestors did what they did. Our nation has had black men who lived lives of high achievement from the time of the Revolutionary War. George Washington Carver did not clean toilets for his entire life. Heck, even with segregation in full swing, not even the Harlem Globetrotters or the Buffalo Soldiers cleaned toilets for their entire lives.
2. Herman has never said or even implied that every Civil Rights protester should have stayed in the back of the bus, only that he himself had a different path to follow.
3. "The reason black voters don't listen to Cain isn't because they are brainwashed...." That statement is based on the false assumption that black voters don't listen to Cain. On that note, let's you and me just wait and see. If Herman does get the Republican nomination (as I obviously and sincerely hope he does), the political statisticians will be all over the demographics of the general election.
After Election Day, when the percentages are counted, we'll know for sure just how many black voters did listen to Herman Cain...and of course how many did not.
Will: Good response also; thanks for commenting.
Cains father is not Cain any more than I am my father or you yours. His qualification {Cain} has nothing to do with the past tense "Civil Rights" movement, it has everything to do with Cain being a positive result of that era and his ability to create a positive environment that all will benefit by. He would be Americas first black president with solid credentials as a legal citizen of this country as well.
He is our best shot at ridding ourselves of a failure who is still voting "present" from the golf course or game of hoops between his constant campaigning for a second term. He has not stopped his campaigning since 2008 and I suspect he knows as well as any thinking voter knows that if he gets term two, he can plunge head first into an all out destruction mode with nothing lost since he will be paid for life and get a 5 star benefit package whether America likes it or not. He will be free to move to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa and run for office, maybe take Sadam Hussein's position in Iraq, now that would be a scream! hahahahahaha
Dusty: Very well put; I especially like the "send him to Iraq" potential--as long as the last of our troops are back home before he gets there.
As for none of us being our fathers (except, apparently, Obama, who is a dream from his own father??), the first portion of Kahlil Gibran's comment "On Children" says it almost as well as you did:
On Children
Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams....
Gibran did get one thing wrong. I CAN visit the house of tomorrow in my dreams--sometimes. Been there, done that.
But that's another story. For now, let's just elect President Herman Cain and go from there.
Cain is the one who claimed blacks were brainwashed because they wouldn't listen to him. He is the one who threw out the plantation mentality comment. His claim is based upon the idea that blacks weren't listening to him in the first place, and additionally, that the reason was because they were brainwashed rather than just not believing in him or what he stands for.
Several black men did accomplish great things during slavery and segregation, however the vast majority were "pushed to the back of the bus" instead. If those civil rights protesters were not doing what they were doing, Cain would not be allowed to run Godfather's Pizza nor run for President. I am merely stating that his comment about black being brainwashed might have a little more to do with his lack of involvement or support for the civil rights movement, as opposed to the path he chose, which was to look out for himself and ride their achievements.
There is something unique about a black man who was in college during the civil rights movement stating that racism doesn't play a role in modern society, aside from reverse racism against white men. The fact that you guys don't see that as comical says quite a bit.
Thank you for your time and opportunity to comment.
"Cain is the one who claimed blacks were brainwashed because they wouldn't listen to him."
That's not what he said, and how typically leftist to misquote him.
TexasBeta: Will responded to one part of your comment; I'll respond to one more:
"Several black men did accomplish great things during slavery and segregation...."
Several? A lot more than several, I would say. In the Old West alone, the Indians (currently Native Americans) had to deal with a lot more than "several" Buffalo Soldiers. Will (aka William aka Bill) Pickett was famously renowned as one of the greatest cowboys of his time. Picket actually INVENTED the rodeo event of bulldogging (steer wrestling). He was from Taylor Texas, so perhaps he should be considered TexasAlpha. Also, black gunfighters on both sides of the law were not just tall tales.
The list is pretty much endless. One last mention, though: During my time in the Army, by far the finest platoon sergeant under whom I served was a black Airborne noncom who had (amazingly!) been promoted to his rank PRIOR to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of '64.
Huh!
Ghost, are you really trying to tell me that blacks had plenty of opportunity and a chance to "have a fine life" during slavery and segregation? Really dude? Are you really going to try that angle?
With regards to your service, the Army was the first to integrate dude...way before Vietnam. That's basic American history sir. They were given plenty of opportunity to serve their country, then come back to the country they fought for just to be called "nigger" and pushed to the back of the bus. Come on man. Are you really going to take the angle, "segregation and slavery weren't so bad for blacks?" Come on Ghost. You are better than that.
ps- I dig the TexasAlpha comment. UT Austin is Texas Alpha in my mind. Years ago I used my fraternity's chapter name as a login...became a habit.
No, but I am trying to say a man like Herman Cain would have risen to the top with or without the Civil Rights protest era. That was primarily in response to your reference to his riding the protesters' hard work to sucess.
Glad you like the TexasAlpha bit.
Texasbeta, I really think you see hypocrisy in everything.
Cain is a black conservative, and that is not allowed by the liberal plantation cops, so he is attacked by the liberal, plantation racists (and yes, attacking him because he is black, is racist!)
Google any important black conservative, and you'll find the liberal plantation cop attacks. Even Thomas Sowell, one of the most intelligent and gentlemanly men alive is not immune. The left routinely calls him "Uncle Tom Sowell":
TexasBeta: It's time we said goodbye to your comments. I've cut you some slack for a while here, but as I've said many times before, my Hubs are written as opinion pieces, not public debate forums. Which is why your latest comment had been denied.
RE Becky: To our readers in general: Her TexasBeta comment was referring to his statement accusing Herman Cain of hypocrisy. His comment was later deleted when I stopped by to moderate the most recent comments.
Will: Thanks for the accurate statement and the link. Good work as alwyas.
And I was just thinking I should come back and apologize for my nasty comment. I am sorry, I usually don't say things like that.
Becky, I didn't (and don't) see your comment as nasty, just simple and straightforward.
Wow amazing man. A strong personality with great achievements. America will be lucky to have him as President.
Sad thing here is that Herman Cain will be held feet to the fire to prove his eligibility and experience to do the job of the president. The empty suit sitting there now didn't get vetted and didn't have a plan for day one, getting lined up on his 9-9-9 plan may cost him in the long run. Why? because the average voter won't understand how it works, and it will be skewed by pundits as a tax that hits below the belt on the seniors who don't pay federal tax will be paying it on the cost of NEW goods. If that works as simple as the wording, if a used auto is purchased this tax won't apply nor will hidden taxes apply anymore, so the federal excise tax and others that drive the bottom line up are going to be done away with. The federal excise tax of $1.01 on a pack of cigarettes should disappear along with other federal punishment taxes.
It looks good to me as I work the numbers BUT I have payed the tax due on all of my money that I have set into a trust fund that pays me monthly so I have a even distribution for income, under this plan I'll be paying federal taxes again, so there needs to be more information turned loose on the specifics that reimburse double taxation on funds already taxed at the federal level. If it is a true flat tax at point of spending a lottery winner who lives in a "no state income tax" state then opting for lump sum vs monthly payments the winner of say ten million dollars should get paid the full amount. Then move to the place of choice and spend it outside the US tax free.
I'm going to need further information to back this plan because the way I'm seeing it I'm better off not boosting US spending adding to the economic cash flow that we need. I would fare much better spending in the Mexican economy boosting their growth, while I enjoy tax free good times.
Right there are topics that need clarification. If you look at a pack of smokes at 5 dollars, you take away the excise tax of $1.01 and they go down to $3.99 then figure 9 percent and the price is now $4.53. That is taxing the total, including taxing the state tax on them as well, NYC has a $1.50 state and then a sales tax as well, so if you dig below all the taxes then figure 9% on the base product the federal slice should be much less than my example.
I'm just messing around here and showing how difficult this can get when playing with the numbers you can still get beat down. You have to figure that a state like Missouri only charges 17 cents a pack at the state level, they may say, "hey they were paying 5 bucks a pack and now they are paying $4.20, and were willing to pay 5 lets raise our state tax to 80 cents. Bam! square one again. It would take a federal law against state laws to put a moratorium on the level they have the right to regulate. By the time they work this out it will be a 5,000, page earmarked to hell and back, rodeo in congress.
Barry slid in with "Hope and Change" a simple set of words that couldn't be picked apart and used against him. I think Herman needs a simpler plan that the left won't be able to pull apart with a calculator.
He needs to convince me that my already taxed money wont fall to me paying another 9% on top of the 30% I've paid supposedly in full.
dust
AnkushKoli: I agree.
Dusty: I understand your concerns. I'm personally convinced that the net drop in retail prices made possible by the elimination of the myriad embedded taxes will be more than enough to offset the 18% (9% income, 9% sales) taxes. Proving/demonstrating that clearly for ALL voters to see and understand, however, is obviously another matter and constitutes Herman's greatest challenge.
Fred, I'm backing him 100% just like I did Huckabee in 2008. He has a double edged sword, 1. He can't afford to buy the Election. 2. If he wins the election it will be because America bought it for him.
Those two edges are what will see him through, not to mention who wants to look at romney's fugly face or perry's for that matter for at least 4 years, I sure don't.
I just watched a video on msnbc and the reporter said, "just a few years ago, America embraced Lybia and Qadaffi" and pulled a 5 second shot of a guy, obama doing the buddy shake and hug. It was quick but obama embraced a terrorist who had pulled multiple attacks against the US killing a Marine and blowing the Lockerbie jet out of the sky, I don't get anybody wanting to re-elect a terrorist, it don't make sense.
It doesn't make any sense to me, either, Dusty. The only thing I've ever been able to figure...no, I haven't BEEN able to figure anything on that one.
Rickmasters07: I denied/deleted your comment due to its vitriolic intensity. Nothing wrong with being passionate; that's a good thing. It's simply that the anger in your post was so strong that I needed an Alka-Seltzer after reading it through a couple of times, and I don't care to expose my readers to that kind of gut-punching.
Also, my Hubs are written as opinion pieces, not open debate forums.
One of the beauties of writing at HubPages, of course, is that you're free to rant in your own Hubs all you want--which I see you are doing. That's also a good thing.
Finally, though, you did bring up the idea of dedicated servers allowing us to vote on bills and laws via the Internet. I actually agree with you: That could be a pretty effective system.
However, it's not the system set up by our nation's founders. That system involves representative government in which we vote for folks who are sent to Washington to represent our interests. Which, as you point out, they mostly are not doing.
Going a step farther, "straight Democracy"--unlimited majority rule--is a sure prescription for disaster. Every true Democracy (which the U.S. is not; it's a Constitutional Republic) self destructs over time.
Lastly, I disagree: Not everyone running for office (or in office, for that matter) is on the take.
That's an opinion, obviously--and yours is different. Good for you; at least you HAVE an opinion. Far too many don't.
Ghost.....
I will be following from now on, if you don't mind...I respect your opinion AND your service...especially that...in Vietnam...THANK YOU for that, sincerely.....I absolutely DID get carried away and for that, I apologize to you AND your readers...The "Alka Seltzer" comment made me giggle like a school girl (???).....Thanks for THAT, also...But....I agree that internet voting is not what our Forefathers had envisioned, but I believe that's only because they COULN'T envision it, since what we have would be akin to MAGIC for them....However, the term you used..."Representative Government"....would still apply, since what BETTER representative for us, than OURSELVES...internet voting would achieve that...AND more QUICKLY (in my opinion)....your article has inspired me to jot down some things in prep for another rant...thanks.....Lastly.....I'd LIKE to believe that ALL our reps,senators and Congressmen are NOT "bent"...but, sadly, I DO think they are...I don't believe that ALL go IN that way...but our type of "government", as it exist today, requires "compromise" and as SOON as you "compromise" your core principles, to get YOUR agenda done....you're BENT. And all the Lobbyists do not HELP, much......In closing...I thank you for your comments (RE comments??)and appreciate the back and forth...I invite you to follow ME andhope you WILL, and feel free to make comments on MY hubs...Enjoy!
Welcome aboard, Rick. Asolutely, I'll take a looksee at your work and likely follow you--why not? Got to appreciate a guy who says it like he sees it.
About my service: Thanks for the respect, but I need to underscore the fact that I'm a Vietnam ERA vet, NOT a Vietnam vet. I was stationed in Germany and was never sent in-country. Which is still service, no question about it; I just don't have much use for those who exaggerate theirs.
I do agree that the intense pressures inside the Washington Beltway to "go along to get along" definitely warp a lot of our elected Congress-critters, but--for now--I'll mention just one who still looks "clean to me": Senator Jim DeMint. I don't detect even a whiff of taint on that gentleman.
Not that I have the nose of a bloodhound, but still....:)
I have a homepage called Speed Dial...I took out Tagged to put YOUR link in....I look forward to reading some of your other articles.....My sister also writes for Hubpages under Terri Meredith...you might want to check her out...she's a MUCH better writer than I...If you're interested (I never was until Bush N Cheney FORCED me to be)in the leanings of political folks...go to Google and put in "On the issues" and do a search...that's the name of the site...or you could type (for example) "Rick Perry on the issues"....it gives a pretty good overview of a particular person's agenda, including statements he or she might've made...Enjoy and once again, good to "meet" ya!
I'm honored.
Thought I was already following Terri, but no-o-o! Thanks for giving me the nudge to get that oversight rectified.
"On the issues" is one of the websites I've been using for research--but not just lately. Had (my bad!) forgotten about it for a while. So again, thanks.
Back atcha on the good to "meet" ya!
I like Cain's 999 system, but I would far rather see an amendment repealing the 16th Amendment, and establishing a locked in sales tax percentage to replace all payroll, income, and corporate taxes.
Granting Congress the power to increase the sales tax rate is suicidal, because we all know that if they can, they always will.
They always have.
Agreed. Except that Herman is just as aware of that as you and I are. He's said this is not the end-all and be-all but the first step to get the Fair Tax Plan instituted--which does mean getting the 16th repealed.
Payroll taxes go out immediately under 9-9-9, so that part would already be done.
Risky getting from A to C? Possible glitch at B? Yes. But quite possibly worth it.
"He's said this is not the end-all and be-all but the first step to get the Fair Tax Plan instituted..."
I heard him say that. In any case, his 999 plan beat the heck out of what we have now!
To be fair...Cain has written in a change to 9-9-9, today (10/21/2011) to KEEP any exemption for the poorer class....THAT was MY biggest problem....MY other problem isn't as PRESSING but comes from a sense of OUTRAGE that anyone would give the WEALTHY (who DON'T pay their "fair share" and never HAVE) ANOTHER way to CUT their taxes...and THIS plan cuts them by almost HALF.....That means that these CEOs can STILL get those ridiculous bonuses (in ADDITION to their sky high SALARIES) and pay even LESS tax on money that is (usually) taken from the shareholders illegally (Enron, MCI; etc)...and 9-9-9 just FEEDS into that. I make a decent living in music (when the economy is stable, but I pay, between 16 and 17 percent....the average person with income over 3 hundred thousand a year, pays around 18 percent.....only ONE percent higher than an upper middle class person....and NOW...Cain wants to bring that 18 percent to NINE percent...I'm just wondering when the wealthy will start PAYING this country BACK for all the opportunities they've been afforded here....
Will: You got that right--it wouldn't take much to beat the heck out of what we have now.
Rick: Sounds like you believe somebody with a few million (or billion) should pay a higher percentage than somebody with a few hundred or a few thousand. I don't see it that way--don't expect you to shift your viewpoint, which is as good as anybody else's, but I will tell you why I favor a flat tax over a progressive tax.
For most of my earlier working years, except the salaried white collar times (I've worked a lot of both blue collar and white collar jobs), my coworkers and I tended to be nervous every time we got a raise or a bit of overtime. Why? Because making too much money could (and sometimes did) bump us into a higher tax bracket that resulted in less rather than more take home pay.
From those experiences, the understanding became ingrained in me: If you know you're going to get hit for more taxes if you make more money, you have less incentive to work hard. And I realized that principle holds true at all levels, not just for the blue collar guy running a buzzy in an underground mine.
That is, let's say Richie McRich is thinking about opening up a new manufacturing plant. He has a hot product available which he knows will make him double the money he's raking in now. But he also knows that the Barack Obamas and Rickmasters of the world have finally changed the tax code so that instead of doubling his income, now opening that new plant will only give him a ten percent bump.
Know what? He may decide it's not worth it. I know if I were in his place, I'd certainly take a long hard look before I leaped.
Result: He doesn't open the plant. The magic product, which is a widget that would have made a lot of lives better, never enters our culture. The two thousand workers who would have been busy making widgets at a wage which would have allowed them to finish paying off their mortgages instead of abandoning their homes to foreclosure...never get hired. Because there are no new jobs.
Your concern, and the concern of most Democrats, involves the concept of "fairness". That sounds noble, but there's one problem with it: "Fairness" has very little to do with the way the world works. Never has, never will.
Instead, my concern is with the concept of "cause and effect", which also includes the important little demon known as "unintended consequences".
Summary: Taxing the whooptedo out of the rich man may or may not be "fair", but the entire concept is meaningless. Taxing the whoptedo out the rich man will without question depress the job market instead of encouraging it to grow.
Ghost....I think the "brackets" are there for a REASON you make more money....you go into a higher bracket and, unfortunately, that means more money paid in taxes....Now ,IF, as in your example, a person was using there OWN money....out of their OWN pocket, to start this plant, then I would say yes, you're RIGHT....NOT the case....they get the money from loans that are USUALLY deferred to years (most times....ex girlfriend is an investment banker...Info came from her)later...AFTER they've had a chance to make MILLIONS...and I GUARANTEE that they aren't putting all back into the biz....Now, I'm not saying that this is a IMPLE issue....but if a wealthy guy gets taxed more...what does that mean, to his PERSONAL situation?....Let's say he gets taxed 500 HUNDRED dollars more per week.......does his electric get turned off?...NO.....does he have to sell his car to feed his family?...NO....BUT...say a guy is making 1200 a month in this factory of his and they take AWAY the exemptions (which Cain's plan would have done, in it's original form) that he is now entitled to, below a certain amount of earned income...and he CAN'T feed his family and the lights WILL be turned off....I think that, YES....the rich SHOULD pay a higher tax on PERSONAL income...Business is DIFFERENT.....LEAVE the tax credits and whatnot so people can run their business at a profit...I'm saying that the wealthy pay 18% and make 5 TIMES what I make and I'M paying 17%....does THAT seem FAIR......MAKE a flat rate...above a certain amount 18%.....below that 12% and keep the exemption for the "poorer" classes...This has NOTHING to do (not for ME anyway) with "getting" the rich man.....and I'm not talking about BUSINESS earnings or even the bottom line....I'm talking about the PERSONAL payroll check he gets which has nothing to do with what the corporation pays....I'm done, now...and I WILL be using "whooptedo"....it made me giggle.....
When a politician takes from Peter to support Paul, guess who Paul is going to vote for?
Perhaps we should at least require those on the government dole to forfeit their right to vote, for obvious reasons.
Well SAID Will...I think you just CRYSTALLIZED my objections....The people who can AFFORD a small (I really DON'T think anyone should be PENALIZED for being successful) increase...frantically COMPLAIN about it the MOST and their Washington pawns make it easy to CHEAT on their obligations to this country....I'm just SAYIN'!!...But, NO ONE should have the WHOOPTEEDOO taxed out of 'em...we just need to come to a system where everyone gives their fair share...I don't think 9-9-9 is going to accomplish that (in my humble opinion)
Rickmasters07,
I have a much better idea...why don't we stop spending so much money on government, and then cut everybody's taxes?
That would put all that money back in the private sector and the economy would boom!
Rick: 9-9-9 may not completely accomplish that; you could be correct. What I'd truly like to see--and what I sincerely believe is Herman Cain's actual, ultimate goal--is the Fair Tax Plan which eliminates income tax entirely. But I also believe Herman realized it's going to take a while and the advantage of the bully pulpit (the Presidency) to fully explain that (Fair Tax) so that the "average" voter clearly understands it. It's not difficult to grasp, but it does take some education on the subject.
Will: You know I'm on that same page with you; there are plenty of cuts in government spending I could and would vote for.
Will....boy, do I agree with THAT!!....I'd LOVE to see everyone pay LESS for government...and to DO that...let's cut back on the HOURS our "representatives" (in quotes because the DON'T rep US...they rep THEMSELVES and their OWN interests) QUIBBLE and are out on "breaks" (sometimes for MONTHS)..WHY are they taking BREAKS on OUR dime?!!?...I also think we NEED to BAN any Lobbyist activity....THEY muddy the "waters" and slow the prcess of government (in MY opinion) mor than anything or anyone ELSE!...And Ghost.....you are absolutely CORRECT about cutting government spending.....things are DEFINITELY out of hand and HAVE been since 2001....
Rick: Well put, though things have been "out of hand" (or at least headed that way) from as far back as one cares to trace the beast.
Before 2001, there was Clinton selling us down the river with NAFTA.
Moving on back to FDR, there was the huge government expansion called the New Deal.
And don't even get me started on Woodrow Wilson.
Etc., etc.
The "individual liberty is bad, government control is good" forces have been always been with us. Researching for my western short story series, I was startled to discover an early attempt at gun control written into the Constituion for the State of Colorado in 1876!
I agree that things have ALWAYS been "out of hand"...but I believe it runs in CYCLES...I LIKED Clinton ( and keep in mind that I think ALL politicians are crooks)...during Clinton's years...I had a good job...made good money from that....I sing...so disposable spending was UP and I had gigs all the time...never took more than two WEEKS (the last 10 years it's been more like two MONTHS) to find a job, when you needed one....AND...I didn't HAVE to keep an eye on POLITICS ( which I absolutely HATE!!)....My ONE complaint with Clinton is EXACTLY what you mentioned...The NAFTA bill....I knew THAT wasn't a good idea, when I heard it, simply because it was predicated on the idea that OTHER countries would send jobs HERE, while we sent jobs THERE.....WHO ...EVER...HELPS...US...(besides France and England) when WE have a crisis??...NOBODY!!...So the idea that we wouldn't get SCREWED in the NAFTA deal is LAUGHABLE....Clinton's own WIFE thought it was a bad idea and SAID so PUBLICLY (THAT hadda HURT)...But all other things were good then...I had money and woman and the Heavens SAND and DANCED!!....Nafta got it's PUSH with Cheney and Bush and their tax breaks (a familiar theme) for businesses who sent jobs OVERSEAS!! (of COURSE the companies are going to DO it and i don't BLAME them...bottom line n all)...THAT started our decline (in MY opinion).....and PERRY is STILL trying to keep that (failed) idea ALIVE!!...SOME people never LEARN!!....THAT'S why I say that WE...the PEOPLE...should be voting DIRECTLY on ALL things that affect this country....ESPECIALLY the FINANCIAL impacting bills and laws.....I better stop, now, before my head explodes...thanks for listening, guys...your points are well taken.
Rick: You've got a lot of points here; I'll respond to just one: Liking Clinton.
In a sense, I can understand that--he's not called "Slick Willie" for nothing. But he's just as much in favor of the government messing with your life and in your life as Obama ever thought of being.
When he signed the Omnibus Bill in 1994 supposedly designed to limit the ownership of so-called "assault" rifles and ammo magazines having a capacity of more than ten rounds, the Democrats threw in everything but the kitchen sink. It was sort of Obamacare's ancestor, i.e, everything you could imagine was thrown in there without much of anybody reading it.
Except me and a bunch of other folks who find it impossible to trust "stuff like that". In that case, the bill was available to read before getting passed--and I read every word of its 400-plus pages.
Guess what they passed under the banner of "gun control"?
Just one example: Child care.
That's right. "Hey, we're going to stop those big bag gun thingies," said the feds under Clinton, and they expanded their nosy grabby ways to take over child care in this country. They had no Constitutional jurisdiction whatsoever; they just took it--and we let them get away with that.
I detested Clinton's leftist policies almost exactly as much as I detest Obama's. The difference between them was that if the American people pushed hard enough at Slick Willie, he'd back off enough to survive in office, which he did--and got his second term. Obama places ideology over practicality where Clinton could read the writing on the wall and deal with it.
That's the only difference (politically) between them.
Again...I only liked Clinton because, economically, things were GREAT, for the most part...and just for those who haven't heard me say it...MY definition of a "good" politician is that he makes his deals (shady, illegal or otherwise) and steals all the money and takes all the bribes (which they're gonna do ANYWAY) he can....but STILL gets done what WE, the PEOPLE need him to get done for US....As far as the government controlling things....I'm not for THAT, at ALL....We start letting the government tell us how to live our lives and....oh wait....that's EXACTLY what the GOP candidates (if you look at their records) want to do...they think they have the DIVINE right to run our lives.....and one of the BIGGEST offenders were Bush and Cheney......just one example is how Bush (because he couldn't take CRITICISM)created "Free Speech Zones", MILES away from the route he had to travel to and from where he appeared, as well as the actual VENUE...a woman was ARRESTED at one of his appearances, for wearing a T-shirt that condemned HIS (Iraq) war!!...Free SPEECH Zones???...I thought the WHOLE country was a Free Speech Zone...I say these things to illustrate the abuses that I feel ruined this country...and you have your examples....the Democrats are just as bad....I think you, I and people LIKE us are all trying to get to the same PLACE...we're just taking different roads to GET there...The one thing I think we AGREE on is that we don't want some schmuck that WE hired, telling us how to LIVE....Let's take the power AWAY from 'em...BAN any Lobbying activities, for a start...see if THAT doesn't fix some of the problems...And, yes.....Willie WAS Slick!!....."what the meaning of the word "is"....IS"???....WHAAT???
Ghost, you make so much sense. Thanks! Voted up up up and reposing your hub on my FB.
Ghost. Love this Hub.
According what I see president does not need to run country. Only socialists and communists are demanding for this nosese. President in this country has to defend our country and Constitution of USA. Demanding fix the country is absolutely unfair. Stop control, regulation, hate America, overspending, stop high taxes and mostly return to God is all what we need. Love to have Mr. Herman Cain as the president of USA.
Rick: LOL! (That's for the "definition of is...is....")
I didn't mean to exclude Republicans from criticism. There are many things about George W. that raised my hackles, dating from the time when as Governor of Texas he refused to stay the execution of a woman on Death Row. It wasn't his decision that I found reprehensible--I didn't know enough to make a call on that aspect of it--but the fact that he openly mocked her desire to live. Said something like, "Oo, she's afraid of dying!"
Nor was I overly pleased about the invasive aspects of the Patriot Act, meddling in education with programs like No Child Left Behind, desiring to embrace every illegal immigrant between here and the moon, or a host of other things.
RueVera: Appreciate the repost to FB. Thanks.
Vladimir: What you said. Do that, and the country will fix itself. Go, Herman!
Ghost, What Herman Cain has to do with Bush?
MLC: Your comment was denied/deleted due to its blatant promotion of your own website. See below the "Post Comment" button where it says,
"Comments are not for promoting your Hubs or other sites."
Also, your comment that your site's write-up of Herman Cain's Fed involvement was a "more accurate description" implied this page was inaccurate. I disagree, but it's possible you really meant your page contained more in-depth detail, which it definitely does.
That said, a note to our other readers: Before deleting MLCweb's comment, I did check out the two links he'd provided. His site's material on Herman is indeed very good and quite extensive. Let's hope he'll write his Hub(s) and point many folks to them.
Vladimir: No connection at all. I was merely responding to the portion of Rick's post referring to Bush/Cheney.
Cain is my man. I especially like his rendition of "imagine."
I think what a lit of people don't get about ?Mr Cain is his sense of humor.
?
I wasn't even aware of that till you clued me in just now. Can't listen to it at the moment, though--no sound on the speakers for some reason.
Definitely, a lot of folks don't get his sense of humor--especially those want him to fail.
"I especially like his rendition of "imagine."
Hilarious stuff. Here are the lyrics:
Imagine there’s no pizza
I couldn’t if I tried
Eating only tacos
Or Kentucky Fried
Imagine only burgers
It’s frightening and sad
You’re lucky you have pizza
To feed your kids for you
Only frosting or cookies
And no dishes you must do
Imagine eating pizza
Each and every day
You may say that it’s junk food
But to me it’s so much more
It gives my life its meaning
And it makes a lot of dough
Imagine mozzarella
Anchovies on the side
And maybe, pepperoni
Rounds out your pizza pie
Imagine getting pizza
Delivered to your door
You don’t have to give up now
On my skateboard I will go
I’ll be back in 30 minutes
I just bought Dominoes
All I am saying
Is give pizza a chance
All I am saying
Give pizza a chance!
All I am saying
Is give pizza a chance
All I am saying
You’ve got to, got to give pizza a chance!
Thanks, Will. I needed that! LOL!
Beats the heck out of Slick Willie and his sax any day!
Thanks for the link, Will. Should have done that myself.
I agree Herman Cain does have a very impressive resume!
He does indeed. Made me tired just reading it. :)
Ralph Deeds Level 6 Commenter 7 months ago
Nice job. But I'm not sold on Cain. He would make a good Dale Carnegie instructor. The fact that he ducked out on serving in Vietnam doesn't do much for his qualifications to be commander-in-chief. And the fact that he chose not to participate in the civil rights revolution when plenty of other blacks and whites did tells me that he's mainly interested in taking care of number one. That won't help him get minority votes.