Common Sense Business # 17

By Stan Rosenzweig

How to save the American Economy

As a "Phone Guru" I am an expert on disconnects when it comes to telephone calls. But lately, I've noticed that we seem to be suffering from a wide variety of other types of disconnects, all of which impact our businesses, as well as our lives.

I'm talking about disconnects from reality, such as the one that enables us to recover from a 250 calorie, sweat-dripping gym workout with a 260 calorie Power Bar, 200 calories of Gatorade and a drive to Mickey D for a Big Mac and fries. Super size, anyone? Oh, it's me.

How about our disconnect between complaining about aliens from Mexico and Canada and not wanting to do the work those guys do? The Wall Street Journal reports that Maine will lose thousands of American jobs in paper mills because Canadian loggers without visas can no longer cut the down trees that feed those mills. And I don't think California has enough Americans to pick all those strawberries for my shortcake.

How about our disconnect between championing the free market system, on one hand, and whining when capitalist market forces make it lucrative for the Saudis to sell us $60 oil? Nobody told us to buy an assault vehicle to pick up the dry cleaning. Our 5 MPG habit helps Iranians fund their school budget, while it helps us make our air denser and easier to see.

For sneering Prius owners, you're disconnected, too. Your house is large enough for all of Larry King's families, using as much fuel for air conditioning and heating as the Las Vegas Convention Center.

I just got two email chain letters telling me that we can bring down the cost of oil if we boycott companies that import from the middle east and only buy from American producers, who, as we know, can only refine and deliver 40% of what we need. Sure. Watch the gas pumps run dry by around 6:30 tomorrow night.

Let's reconnect, end the balance of payments deficit, pull the plug on oil prices, clear the air on pollution and take inches off our waistline. 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney says to drive a little less and save one gallon of gas per week. That's two and a half barrels of oil saved per driver, per year, 350 million barrels of oil, $20 billion.

We'll never replace Canadian loggers, nor Mexican strawberry pickers. But let's get out of our cars to do chores. Join me, slim our waists and save our economy.