I (really) approve this message

October 1, 2012
By Art HenSchen | WRN columnist

When I built my company … (whoops, I guess I'm not being politically correct). I didn't build my company? Who did? As I recall, I spent countless hours with little or no sleep, working 16- to 20-hour days gambling every cent I had.

No one paid for me to go to college. I went to school at night. I worked two full-time jobs for a while and managed to get to school three evenings a week and a few Saturdays. Maybe I'm mistaken though. According to the president, someone else must have done that for me.

Garbage men are an opinionated lot, hard-working, salt-of-the-Earth family men who are known for being service-oriented, good citizens, good neighbors, veterans, supportive of church and community. Typically, if they are expressing an opinion, it is well thought out.

The economy affects our business and families. We take it in stride bearing the full brunt of escalating fuel costs, insurance and taxes. Many of us absorb the giant share before we relent and are forced to pass it along to our customers. We make an honest buck for an honest day's work.

We don't ask for anything but a fair shake. We work for what we get and we deserve to make a profit. Part of the lure and attraction to being in this business is independence. From the driver to the owner/manager/CEO, we all enjoy a great deal of autonomy and work with little or no oversight.

Garbage men think in terms of fuel, labor, disposal, tires and maintenance when it comes to expenses. Unlike the government, we can't print money when we need it nor do we have the capacity to borrow from the Chinese.

We don't hire thousands of IRS (invoice for refuse services) agents to do our collecting. We can't seize our customers' homes and assets for non-payment. We manage our businesses and live within our means.

Don't you just love the oil companies and their record profits? How is it that immediately as a hurricane approaches 2,000 miles away gas prices rise? Wouldn't it just be swell if our industry could raise the rates every time the weather gets bad?

How about the cable companies? Whoever dreamed we'd be paying to watch TV? To cap it off these geniuses have figured out not only to charge for the service but also charge for maintaining their freaking equipment. Wouldn't it be nice if we set out containers and charged the customer a maintenance fee? Oh, your container burned up … no problem, for a mere $650 we'll rush right over with another one!

Government regulation has seriously eroded profitability in our industry and increased operating costs at such a pace that a lot of small haulers see way too much month left at the end of the money.

We need to take back our country from the corrupt thieves who loot our economy to support theirs. Remember the phrase, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"? If Congress had to live with Social Security and Medicare, how would those programs look today?

Why are we dependent on foreign oil? Why are Americans dependent on anything from anywhere? This country was founded on independence. We give literally millions of dollars to people who want to kill us. Please tell me how that makes any sense at all.

We make every attempt to police the world. Now I get that … for unto whom much is given much will be required. But from where I sit I see a lot of people in need right here in the United States.

Our elderly need the Social Security they paid for. They need quality medical care. We have thousands of folks in need of food, shelter, clothing and education. They say the working man is the backbone of our great country. Hard work is the key to success no matter where you are. We as a country need to get back to the basics. I would encourage you all to give a read of our Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. If you really care, pick up the Bible and digest why it is "In God We Trust."

Then make sure to vote your conscience, or as Clint Eastwood says, "Go ahead, make my day!"

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