I have been commenting on a post on Swampbubbles.com concerning COSI. I have been trying to come up with a feel for the numbers. This might be my last word on the subject:
Looking at the figures for 2003, 2004, and 2005, and trying to determine the numbers of visitors needed to break even I came up with this method: 1. Take the Total Expenses from Line 12,Form 990 for the years 2003, 2004, and 2005; 2. Subtract the Membership Fees received (Form 990, Part IV-A, Support Schedule) for 2003, and 2004. For 2005 use Form 990, Part I, Line 3; 3. Subtract the Gross Sales of Inventory, less returns and allowances (Form 990, Part I, Line 10a. The resulting figure is divided by 33 (2 adults at $9.00 plus 2 children @ $7.50, or $33). The resulting figure is the families that paid full price. Add to this the memberships for each year divided by $60 (annual fee). This gives the number of hypothetical families with memberships (two children and two adults). Add this number to the number of families who paid full price. Multiply this number by 4 for each year to give the number of "visitors" (if members only went once) who would be needed to meet the total expenses for COSI each year. The number who actually visit fall far short each year. Gift givers with "deep pockets" are needed each year to keep COSI afloat. The public just isn't attracted enough to go more than a few times.
Here goes: 2003, $4,051,027-$331,887(memberships)-$434,002 (gross sales of inventory, less returns and allowances) divided by 33 x 4 + 5531 member's families = 105,081 families x 4=420,324 visits needed to break even.
2004, $4,142,184-$308,252(memberships)-$395,025(10a, gross sales of inventory, less returns and allowances) divided by 33 x 4 +5138 members' families=109,342 families x 4=437,368 visits needed to break even.
2005, $3,791,662-$293,786(memberships)-$327,964 (10a, gross sales of inventory, less returns and allowances) divided 33 x 4 + 4896 members' families=100,956 familes x 4=403,824 visits needed to break even.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Musings On COSI
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
I went to bed about 01:10 after reading some more of The Face of Battle. I had a hard-time sleeping. I awoke about every hour or so, and finally fell into a sound sleep about 04:00. Mom woke me at 07:30, and I returned to try to sleep until about 08:10 when I arose. I ate a breakfast of a banana, a tomato, o.j., and some yogurt with strawberries. I then read The Blade, and went upstairs about 09:30. I checked out "Swampbubbles", and then made a label for a CD I copied for a friend. It was "Cutting Their Own Groove" by the group "Big Daddy".
I took a shower about 13:00, and decided to eat out. I arrived at Bob Evans on Glendale about 14:30. I ordered the Senior Grilled Chicken with mashed potatoes, and green beans. I had a couple of bisquits with honey (I left one for dessert). It was a good meal that I ate in quiet while reading. I left about 15:20, and got to Sam's Club about 15:40. I bought some instant coffee, and jewel cases. I lookedat at some stuff and left about 16:08. I drove at Swan Creek metro-park, and got there at 16:19. I had warmed up, and I left the Airport side for a walk. I finished my walk at 16:59 (it go almost too warm in the sun), and went to Wal-Mart on Glendale. I got there at 17:10, and didn't find what I wanted. I did get a mop, and left at 17:35. I drove to the Kroger's at Southland because I had seen the "Lestoil" mom had wanted there. I got a pint of it, and left about 17:50. I had to stop to get gas, and left the BP station at Detroit and Glendale at 18:00. I got home about 18:10, helped mom in the yard, and went upstairs about 18:20. I printed a label for a CD for a friend, and then put some requests to the library for certain CDs that I might copy for a friend. I got a call from mom to lock up the shed, and gates, and after I did that I ate some green beans, milk, and tomatoes for dinner. I wasn't really hungry, but as a diabetic I am supposed to eat smaller meals more often.
I watched some tv, and then came up to my apartment upstairs to write this entry (I decided since there was nothing "sensitive" I could put it in my blog). It is now 22:15, and pretty soon I will be winding the day down.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Sea Gulls at the Southland Parking Lot
Rice King -A Good Take-out Lunch
Rating Toledo's Amenities
This site, http://www.yelp.com/, was recommended on http://www.toledotalk.com/ by TheTalentedMrC. A thread, http://swampbubbles.com/promotion_or_denegration, on http://www.swampbubbles.com/ was taking Mayor Carty Finkbeiner , Toledo, OH to task for paying a company for "secret shopper" reports about our downtown hotels. One, http://www.hotelseagate.com/, came through rather badly on a report which was published on the city administration's website, http://www.ci.toledo.oh.us/, so that prompted a question in my mind: how do we as citizens of Toledo make our services better? I too believe that the "secret shopper" is a cost that should be avoided. But are there practical alternatives?
How do you get information about a place before you commit to stay there. Sometimes it is not always practical to "see the room" before you commit to it. For example, if you show up late on a popular night you might have to accept this place (especially if you have reservations), and maybe try for a different room, or a refund of, at least, part of the cost.
An idea is forming in my mind that may or may not be practical. There are various sites such as http://www.yelp.com/ that allow people to rate places they live near, or have visited. Now what would be the mechanics of using such a system?
You'd want to make it convenient to people to use the system. Perhaps a workstation (or multiple workstations) in the lobby of the hotel to be used during the persons stay, or as they check out, to register complaints, or rate the services being provided.
Now, how do we get people to use these workstations? Perhaps a coupon could be made available to the person at the end of their stay good toward so much of a discount at participating restaurants. Maybe the coupon could be good nationwide for those who can't use local services, or even an added value if they use the coupon in Toledo or northwest Ohio. If we make it valuable enough then Toledo's administration would have a constant flow of information that people could log onto to find out how the services are before they take a trip. And if the flow is constant then the information would be "fresh". Toledo's administration might even to "partner" with various services so that costs to the city would be minimal.
Now how do you get services to participate (since a company with consistently poor service might not want to participate). Perhaps we could get the website where this information is accessed to list those companies by category that refuse to participate, perhaps with the title "Caveat Emptor ('Let the Buyer Beware')". Of course, there might be better ideas out there. I am hoping for comments.
Problems with this idea: 1. People may not be honest in their answers. This is the one that would have proprietors leery of this proposal. How do we keep a bunch of cranks from not drowning the system? I like to think that most people are honest in their dealings, but then you have people (who for whatever reason) want to twist the noses of others. How could people rely on such a system? Would the city, or owner of the website, have the "right" to preview, or edit, responses or comments about bad service? Or would we just rely on the "wisdom of crowds" to winnow out the "good advice" from the chaff?
2. Some owners, or managers, might find it worthwhile to "bribe" customers. For example, if a customer writes a bad review can the owner give him/her enough to make it "go away". Is it worth the owners' resources to offer more of a "bribe" than the city offers an "incentive" to give "honest" reviews. Could this system be "gamed" on a practical basis so that it becomes worthless?
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Northwest Ohio Rib-Off
I decided to go to the rib-off sometime this morning but stayed on the computer until mid-afternoon. I took a shower, dressed in clean clothes (you'll read why that was a waste of time), and started out about 2:00 PM. I decided to use TARTA so that I wouldn't have to find a place to park my car (thuogh that looked like it was fairly easy once I saw people going to their cars).
I got to the bus stop in plenty of time (2:05 PM), and stood waiting (there was no bench). I was waiting at a bus stop west of the corner of South and Chapin Street until about 2:30 PM. I then went to the library to find a schedule to see what had gone wrong. I then decided to eat something after getting something to read, and not finding a schedule. I did check out the schedules on the Internet, and thought I could catch a bus about 3:20 PM. I ate a quarter pounder at McDonald's at Broadway and South, crossed the street, and began to wait again.
A young woman who came up said that the buses were late. She related how she had been shot in the knee and ankle in a drive-by shooting about a week ago, and they could not operate because the bullet might "explode". I wondered if I should move on, but she seemed as sane as people are from this part of town. I waited, chatted (when I couldn't avoid it; I notice one fellow who came up to hear this story immediately found other things to do about a block away), and helped her with one of her grocery bags when the bus finally came about 20 minutes later. We were off about 3:45 PM.
I am beginning to get some arthritis in my shoulder, and found it uncomfortable to hold onto the rail above my head. I used one of the vertical bars as I was jolted around on my way to this great event. We finally got close to where I thought I would be (it didn't matter because the driver said this was the last stop before the "lineup" anyways). I started toward the river, and then turned south on Summit Street. I crossed toward Portside, and went down various levels. I began to get the sense that I was headed toward a crowd. Then I saw the signs. I was there.
It was around 3:50 PM. I went through a barricade, had the back of my hand stamped, and went inside. Later, I found that I should have received a green ticket (to use to vote for my favorite ribs). I did a general sweep of the area, and finally went back to try "Fat Freddy's" "StickQ" ribs. I was not really hungry so I tried just a sampler ("three knuckles"). This seemed standard throughout the rib-off, and samplers all sold for $5.00 as far as I saw. I liked these (though I chickened out, and got just the mild sauce).
I then sat down at a table to eat (I didn't ask if they were "reserved"; I just sat and ate). I enjoyed them, and then headed out to look some more. I was trying to eat only ribs from Toledo, or, at least, northwest Ohio. My eyes closed on "Shorty's Ribs". The young woman manning the booth has just went out with a drink when she saw me. With a sigh she returned to her labors, and I ordered another "sampler". A young man was cooking (both himself and the ribs) over a grill. I tried these ribs with Shorty's original sauce. I again found a different table, and sat down unannounced, and uninvited. I ate in contentment.
As I ate the juicy mixture a piece dropped into the sauce, and splashed my clean shirt. So much for cleaning up before eating ribs. When I got home I washed my hands a second time, and put on a clean shirt. It had been a good day, and there was more to come.
The atmosphere of the rib-off was quiet. Maybe if I'd arrived at a different time things might have been different. I don't know how to estimate such things, but I guess there was about 1,000 people there during the time I was there (people may have come and gone, but the crowd did not swell or diminish). There was a band (probably well-known in the local clubs but not to me). People of different ages swayed and even danced to the music. They maintained a danceable beat during most of the time I was there, except for a brief break during which they talked but never really left the stage. There was no rowdy behavior. It was a "live" and "let live" atmosphere. Maybe people weren't supposed to smoke, but they did, and no one objected that I saw. Everyone let everyone else have their comforts.
I left about 4:50 PM, and didn't see anyone pushing the "Recall Carty" position, and I went to three of the entrances. I left by the one opposite the one I had come in at (near the river). I started to walk up the hill to Summit Street, and then turned south toward my end of town. I arrived at the bus stop on Broadway north of Williams Street. I sat down to wait, and read the copy of the "Toledo Free Press" that I had picked up at the South Branch of the Library. I tried to find out information about the rib-off, but there didn't seem to be any articles or announcements related directly to it in the edition that I held in my hands. I saw a familiar face coming toward me. It was a "casual" who worked at the Main Post Office before I retired. It was about 17:15 (old habits of keeping time die hard), and she was coming in to get ready for the start of her shift at 6:00 PM. We talked about changes in the place (some of which I had heard about), and I wished her well.
The bus for Route 34G (Glendale) came at 5:26 PM. I got on, paid my $1.00, and rode until 5:31:30 PM when I got off at Western and Chapin Streets. I passed two billboards listing Chris Myers for School Board (one on the fence that surrounded the parking lot of my former union hall in the old savings and loan at Broadway and Eastern). The second billboard was only a little further on in a parking lot beside a building that used to house a flowe shop.
Now this thought came to my mind, "Wouldn't you rather be doing this than marching stiff-legged down some street with your arm upraised in a stiff salute." Hell, yes, came my soulful reply.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Modern Day Strong Mayor Beginnings
I used clippings from the Toled Public Library Local History "Toledo Politics" clipping book to develope a brief history of Toledo's ongoing arugment between "strong mayor vs. city manager" factions.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Finkbeiner: Strong-mayor talks being 'steamrolled'
The Toledo Blade, July 23, 1992
by Larry P. Vellequette
"Toledo councilman Carty Finkbeiner says that community development corporations and at least one other council member are trying to stack the deck to alter a proposed charter amendment seeking to drastically switch the way Toledo is governed."
"Last night was the second in a series of five town hall meetings on a proposal to switch Toledo to a strong-mayor form of government and at least some district-elected city council members."
"During the 2 1/2-hour meeting, a number of speakers urged council to amend its charter change to include even more than the proposed five districts. But Mr. Finkbeiner says that most of the speakers are being put up to their positions by organizations trying to get a stronger voice on council."
" 'There's a group of neighborhood men and women, probably not at the moment more than about five or six groups where the community development corporations are in place,' Mr. Finkbeiner said. 'They're acting as neighborhood activists, as they should, and they have gotten organized early on this.' "
" 'I think some of the statements are being orchestrated. I think they're attempting to start a steamroller -- to switch the main argument away from strong mayor toward district council members.' "
"Mr. Finkbeiner said he believed councilman Mike Ferner and his supporters were making an attempt to significantly alter the charter amendment proposal. But Mr. Ferner said he had no such intention, and hadn't done any significant organizing on the issue."
" 'I did send a mailing to some people who had expressed an interest in developing a system of citizen participation for the city, and I sent along a copy of a news release I had prepared on the city needing more than five districts,'Mr.Ferner said last night. 'But I didn't see any of those people [who got the release] speak at all last night.' "
"Mr. Ferner did take the opportunity last night to urge his fellow council members to severely limit the amount an individual or corporation can contribute to a mayoral race. He wanted caps of $250 for individuals and $1,000 for organizations so contributors could not 'buy' the mayor."
"Mr. Finkbeiner said that the charter amendment proposal -- which presently includes provisions for an 11-member council comprised of six at-large members and five others elected from districts -- was suggested by business and community leaders in four other cities he visited in the last several months. He said the balance allows for council to 'look at the big picture' rather than looking for pork barrel projects for their own neighborhoods."
" 'Most of the cities we visited, though they had district election representation, most of the private section leaders felt that at-large leaders were able to see the picture of the whole community,' Mr. Finkbeiner said. 'They cautioned us not to abandon our present system, to strike a balance.' "
"A number of speakers urged the five city council members present during the meeting in the Central-Lagrange Senior Center in Polish Village to increase the number of districts, and therefore make their representatives 'more accountable' ".
" 'The district council plan will return political power to the people of the districts,' said Art Wilkowski, a supporter of the amendment brought by Mr. Finkbeiner and councilman Jack Ford and Larry Kaczala. 'But without one, or two, or three at-large councilmen, this thing won't pass. It's a compromise,' he said."
"Community activist Jess Mitchell, who was also asked by Mr. Finkbeiner to speak last night as a supporter of the proposal, said he also advocated the addition of several districts to the proposed five. But, he said, if anything was going to help the city, it was the switch to the strong mayor."
" 'We need accountability. We need the type of mayor who does more than just going around handing out glass goblets and keys to the city,'Mr. Mitchell said. 'We need someone with a vision and then we have to give that person a chance to make it work.' "
Toledoans will evaluate 2 strong-mayor versions
I went to the Main Library to research why we went from the city manager form of government to a strong mayor. I got a notebook full of clippings. Here are some:
The Toledo Blade, June 30, 1992
by James Drew
"Tom Palmer opposed the move to a strong-mayor form of government in 1988."
"But he supports the issue this year."
"Cities attract jobs and save them when businesses and government work together, Mr. Palmer said."
"When business leaders speak with a united voice, they need city hall to speak with a united voice, too."
" 'In 1988, a number of people in the business community felt the case had not been made [for a strong mayor], ' he explained. 'I have recognized [that] for us to really have effective leadership, we need to make a structural change and create an opportunity for people to provide strong leadership.' "
"Mr. Palmer, a partner with Marshall & Melhorn who is active in several civic groups, was among 75 community leaders who delivered that message at a rally yesterday at One Maritime Plaza."
"The topic: replacing Toledo's present council-manager form of government with a strong-mayor system and electing city council members both from geographic districts and at large."
"In the next few months, citizens will have two versions of a proposed charter amendment to evaluate. Only one, however, is expected to be on the Nov. 3 ballot."
"Leaders of the Lucas County Democratic and Republican parties have developed a plan and are circulating it to business, labor, and neighborhood groups for review and comments."
"The proposal calls for:
>A mayor elected to a four-year term with adminstrative powers. The mayor would be restricted to two consecutive four-year terms.
>An 11-member city council, with 6 members elected at-large and 5 from districts. They would serve four-year, staggered terms and be limited to two consecutive four-year terms.
>A mayor with veto power over ordinances adopted by council. Council could override with eight votes.
>Department heads appointed by the mayor would be subject to confirmation by a majority of council.
>Voters would elect a city auditor with a four-year term (the mayor currently appoints the auditor).
"Council members Carty Finkbeiner, Jack Ford, and Larry Kaczala also have proposed a strong-mayor-district election plan."
"Their version, unlike the one developed by the two major political parties, calls for increasing the mayor's salary from $36,900 to $58,500 and council salaries from $7,500 to $19,500. It calls for electing council members in the same year."
"Party leaders say they expect to combine their proposed charter amendment with the one prepared by the three council members."
"Yesterday's rally attracted a wide spectrum of community leaders, including Ron Skeddle, chief executive officer of Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.; Roy Ocheske, president of the Aluminum, Brick, and Glass Workers Local 9;Frederick A. 'Rick' Deal, chairman and chief executive of Society Bank & Trust Co.; Dennis Harmon, director of Neighbors in Action; Bob Maxwell, president of the Lathrop Co., and Lorraine Kwiatkowski, an elementary school teacher and North Toledo activist."
"The city charter says the mayor is the official head of the city for ceremonial purposes and the city manager is the administrative head. But in practice, sometimes both and sometimes neither is in charge."
" 'I want a mayor to get down and produce, and if the mayor doesn't produce we'll look for someone else to produce,' said Jesse Mitchell, a civil-rights activist."
" 'For the city of Toledo to have any type of influence in northwest Ohio, it needs to change its form of government from city manager to strong mayor,' said George Ray Medlin, Jr., secretary-treasurer and business manager of the Northwest Ohio District Council of Carpenters."
" 'I have observed that communities with a strong-mayor are better able to adapt to changes in economics and demographics of its region,' Mr. Medlin said."
"Council could place a charter amendment on the ballot by passing a resolution with at least six of the nine members in favor."
"The deadline is Sept.4, which is 60 days before the Nov. 3 election, said Larry Brewer, clerk of council. Council's last regular meeting before the deadline is Sept. 1."
"For a charter amendment to be placed on the ballot through a petition drive this year, signature of at least 9,280 registered voters would have to be collected, checked by the clerk of council, and submitted to the council board of elections by Sept. 4."
Toledo's Population Decline
"Toledo's population increased from 318,003 in 1960 to 383,818 in 1970, or more than 20 percent. However, if the annexations had not taken place, the population would have been more than 22 percent less in 1970 than it actually was. In the area that had been part of the city in 1960 the population declined by 1970, from 318,003 to 298,514, for a 6 percent loss." (Toledo Profile; A Sesquicentennial History)
This passage seems to indicate that Toledo's population decline is not a phenomenum of this generation, but rather something that is deeply rooted in recent history.
The Population of Toledo
1840 1,222
1850 3,829 (300%+)
1860 13,768 (350%+)
1870 31,584 (240%+)
1880 50,137 (60%+)
1890 81,434 (60%+)
1900 131,822 (60%+)
1910 168,497 (25%+)
1920 243,164 (40%+)
1930 290,718 (30%+)
1940 282,349 (-3%)
1950 303,616 (5%)
1960 318,003 (4%)
1970 383,105 (22%) Annexations???
1980 354,635 (-7%+)
A Mayor or a City Manager?
"Toledoans blamed the city's mayors for much of the difficulty with relief during the first years of the Depression. Voters rejected four versions of city manager government in 1928 and 1931, but in 1931 they also rejected the incumbent mayor, William T. Jackson, in favor of Addison Q. Thatcher. Both men were Republicans, but neither obeyed the dictates of the party organization. During Thatcher's two years in office the banks failed, unemployment soared, and the city bankrupted itself trying to feed the hungry. Citizens blamed corruption in the city government for the inadequacy of relief for the unemployed."
"In 1933 Socialist (editor's note: things must have been really bad) Solon T. Klotz challenged Thatcher for the office of mayor, and won by fewer than three thousand votes. The city soon complained that Klotz was not capable of leadership (editor's note: sounds like present day). The conflict within the city government, the worsening financial crisis, and the continuing maneuvering of the Republican party 'machine' convinced some of the former Independents that the City Charter should be changed to ensure nonpartisan government."
"The Citizens' Charter Commission drafted an amendment providing for a city manager and a nine-member city council (editor's note: population in 1930 was 290,718 and in 1940 it was 282,349) elected at large by proportional representation. On November 6, 1934, the amendment passed with 54.5 percent of the vote. The Citizens' Charter Commission became the City Manager League, a permanent organization, in January 1935. In May 1935, and again in September 1937, the League helped defeat attempts to repeal the city manager charter amendment. On Christmas Day 1935 local newspapers announced that John N. Edy would be Toledo's first city manager." (A Toledo Profile; A Susquicentennial History, p.87,89)
So maybe we've come full-circle. I would like to research old copies of the Toledo Blade to see if I can find out why there is this perpetual dissatisfaction (or perhaps this is just the "fringe" that is always dissatisfied with the way things "are") with whatever form of city government we have. And I have to wonder if those business men who had the foresight to get new "industries" to come to Toledo also spent their time worrying about whether the mayor planted flowers in the byways.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Quotes From "Toledo Profile; A Sesquicentennial History" by Taba Mosier Porter (1987)
A series of comments in this "story", http://swampbubbles.com/does_northwest_ohio_need_toledo_as_it_now_exists,
on Swamp Bubbles got me thinking about Toledo (and Lucas County) history. I went to the library, looked for references, and got several books, including the one referenced in the above title. So here are some quotes, and my questions, or comments, concerning them.
"To Toledo the discovery of natural gas in Findlay 1n 1884 seemed exactly what the city needed to attract new industry. In 1887 the Toledo Business Men's Committee, later the Citizens Committee of Toledo, placed advertisements in newspapers throughout the country seeking new industries to take advantage of Toledo's location and the 'perfect fuel.' Besides the natural gas, the area, located at the center of a network of railroads and steamship lines, could promise cheaper oil and coal than in the East, and had quantities of sandstone with a higher silica content, which made good glass. Several glass companies responded to the advertisements, but only three came to Toledo: the New England Glass Company, the Glassboro Novelty Glass Company, and the Toledo Window Glass Company."
"The New England Glass Company, founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1818, passed into the hands of William L. Libbey in 1870. At his death in 1883 his son, Edward Drummond Libbey, became the owner of the firm, which made fine cut-glassware. Glass blowers blew the blanks, and skilled artisans etched designs on the bowls and vases, then cut them in with emery wheels. Labor problems and marketing expenses, in addition to the high cost of fuel and raw materials in the East, led Libbey to answer the Toledo Business Men's advertisement in 1887. After considerable negotiation, on February 6, 1888, Libbey signed a contract to bring his glass works to Toledo. Toledoans raised the money to purchase a four-acre site on Buckeye Street for the factory and fifty building lots for Libbey's workmen. On August 17, 1888, the workers arrived on a train from Boston. The Grand Army of the Republic (editor's note: a civilian organization of Union Civil War veterans rather like the VFW) band and a crowd of citizens met them at the station and paraded the four miles through the city to the new factory. At a banquet on the factory grounds that evening, Libbey presented to the Mayor of Toledo the first piece of glass made in the new plant."
"The first three years were difficult, and Libbey had to borrow heavily to meet his expenses. Thirty-five of the glass workers became homesick and went back to Boston. It was not until 1891, when a strike at the Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York, provided an opportunity for Libbey Glass to produce light bulbs that Libbey was able to get out of debt. Prosperity came only after the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Thousands visited the company's glass factory at the fair and brought Libbey's products, creating a new demand for cut-glass, and for Libbey cut-glass in particular. The Libbey Glass Company established the glass industry in Toledo."
I guess what drew me to this story was the efforts put forth by the Toledo Business Men's Committee to secure new industries in Toledo. Maybe we have such committed business men in Toledo today, or maybe this kind of "solicitation" is left up to Carty Finkbeiner, and the Lucas County politicos. Also, the response of the citizenry (even coming up with the proverbial "brass band") to this new business makes me wonder if I have become jaded (I certainly didn't go out to cheer when we got Chrysler to "keep" Jeep here). And another thing to consider is that Toledo's p0pulation grew from 50,137 in 1880 to 81,434 in 1890. How much of that was through the natural increase because of the larger families prevalent then, and how through immigration (either from the East and South, and from overseas)? Maybe old copies of the Toledo Blade will be able to answer these questions.
So this brings the question: How do we emulate this "Toledo Businessmen's Committee" to get what Toledo needs to succeed in the next 40-50 years?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Does The Lucas County Auditor Do It's Job?
Maybe I expect too much from government. I saw a few yards that needed mowing. I decided to go on the AREIS to see if I could find out who owned them since they seemed to be vacant. The property at 438 Langdon Street turned out to be owned by a person with only a P.O. Box for a mailing address.
I sent a letter saying that I would mow his lawn. I then checked AREIS today, and found that the government was already charging him a "specials" taxes of $300.36 a half year (of which $165.71 a half year is for "weed control"). I believe that the enclosed pictures shows this is a "rip-off".
I am thoroughly disgusted with the government that it has the gall to "rip-off" citizens in this manner. This man now owes over $1470 for a piece of bare ground . I should say this ground is "bare" except for the "weeds" that this government is taxing this man to "control". To me, part of the "control" of "weeds" would be mowing. This lot has mowed down both sides, and the middle 30 feet of width left to grown.
His real estate taxes are over $600 a year for land that is valued at $2500. That is almost 25% a year for land that returns nothing to its owner. It's a neat scam.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The City Does Its Job
Around 11:45 I began to hear the noise of heavy equipment passing my house. I went downstairs, and saw that the "Forestry" division of city services had arrived. They blocked off the southern half of the block with a traffic cone, and arrayed their vehicles to being work. I left about 11:55 to get a Subway foot-long to share with my brother who comes for lunch almost every day. When I returned a few minutes early I put away the sandwich, and went outside to see what progress they were making. They had begun to cut off the larger limbs at the top of the tree, and work their way down.
My brother and I ate lunch, and then I got my camera to record for posterity this (hopefully) once in a lifetime event. The workers went about their business without hurry, but without "breaks" either. They worked as a "crew" with each man doing a task, and little need for shouting.
A tv crew from Channel 11 came out, and took some videos of what was occurring. Since I was on the street, and obviously interested (I had my still camera taking pictures) they asked if I would mind being interviewed. They let me ramble for quite a bit with a little prodding from the attractive blond reporter. Her camera man then asked if he could get some shots of me just doing what I was doing. I took my pictures, and tried to ignore them while they shot what I thought was toward my back, side (I hope the "good" one), and from the front at a slight angle.
From the three minutes (it seemed longer) that I probably talked they may take 10 seconds, or nothing. Oh, well, as Warhol said, maybe that was my "30 seconds of fame" (in Toledo, since we're less populated, reduced to 5-10 seconds).
Cleaning Up
I went to the end of the block where the tree was resting on the house. A large limb of the tree had split off, and was resting in the alley. I asked the home owner if I could begin to cut it up to clear the alley. He said okay, but he didn't want me touching the tree that was resting on his house. I told him that that was too dangerous to do by hand, and that I didn't intend to. I started cutting out lengths between 3' and 6' in length (on the Solid Waste page of the Toledo City website it states that the city will take brush that is up to six feet in length as long as it is bundled, and the bundle weighs no more than 40 lbs.). I got one bundle done (much less than 40lbs.) and tied it up. I did some more when his wife came out, and told me not to bother. The insurance adjuster said that they wanted to see all the tree, and that even if the alley were cleared it would be too dangerous to use because of the tree resting on the roof of the house only 6' from the corner of the alley.
I had started about 09:45, and stopped about 10:20. At least I got a little exercise today so far. I tried to get pictures put on this site about the tree, but so far no luck.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Storm Passes Through
A storm passed over our block, and blew down a tree. I have been trying to get pictures uploaded, but I am having trouble with the connection. I can get on other sites, but I can't upload images I have on a SD Card. I went upstairs to look at "Swamp Bubbles" before taking my shower. I saw the tree outside my window shaking violently so I hurried downstairs (with thoughts of the basement). I checked the tv, and saw that the storm seemed to be more of a problem for the eastern side of Lucas County. My mom then called me to the front door, and asked if that was a neighbor outside in the street. My mother's eyesight is affected by macular degeneration. I saw the neighbor was trying to remove a large limb from the street so I hurried out (about 7:00 PM) to give her a hand, and saw my neighbor across the way also rushing to help. Between the three of us we cleared the street, and as I turned around I noticed a large tree that had come uprooted from the ground, and was resting its upper limbs on a house toward the South Avenue end of the street. I went down to investigate, and found that a large limb had cracked from the fallen tree, and was blocking a side alley. I took out some of the smaller branches, and put them into a yard (temporarily) of a house whose occupants had moved out of state. I thank the powers that be for abandoned houses. They can act as temporary storage places until we have time to cut up the branches, and make them small enough for the city crews to remove.
I'll try to have pictures soon.
An Empty Lot at 438 Langdon Avenue
I wrote this note:
I am writing in regard to your property at 438 Langdon Avenue. The yard isn’t being maintained. The grass has grown to mid-thigh.
I would like the job of mowing the lawn. It is within walking distance of my house, and I could use the extra money. I figure my time is worth $10.00/hr. I figure the first mowing might be about one-and-a-half (1.5) hours worth of work, and maybe 45-60 minutes each week thereafter. If you are interested in hiring me call..
I have contacted the Division of Code Enforcement, City of Toledo, to let them know my concerns. If you don’t find my terms reasonable they will mow your lawn, and send you a bill.
I am also willing to consider buying the property for taxes due plus around $225. From the latest information posted on the the AREIS website I see the taxes owed are approximately $1471. Since you aren’t paying the taxes on the property (approximately $600 per year) the arrears will continue to grow. I would pay you at this time $1700. Also, the last purchase of this property was on 5/9/2003 for $500.00. I doubt the value of an empty lot has gone up since then. The back taxes adds to the lack of attractiveness of the property. If you pay the back taxes I might consider paying you $700.00 for the property.
We would need to run this by a lawyer, and do a title search to see if there are problems, but I would want the land primarily as speculation, and to keep the property looking half-way decent since I live in the neighborhood. The people living on either side might want to buy the property to add to theirs.
Enclosed is a photo showing the state of your vacant lot.
Trying To Keep The Lawn Mowed
I have started an annual campaign to keep a few lawns mowed on my block, and near it. I sent the following letter:
Dear Sir or Madam (they have moved to Illinois)
I am writing in regard to your property at 834 South Avenue. I just learned that you moved out a few months ago, and the yard isn’t being maintained. The grass has grown to mid-thigh, and the property will soon become the target of vandals since it is apparent that no one cares enough to maintain it. In the past we’ve had at least three or four fires within a quarter mile of my house that were started by vagrants who decided to take up residence in vacant houses, and used open sources of flame for heat and light.
I would like the job of mowing the lawn. It is within walking distance of my house, and I could use the extra money. I figure my time is worth $10.00/hr. I figure the first mowing might be about two (2) hours worth of work, and maybe 45-60 minutes each week thereafter.. If you are interested in hiring me call.
I have contacted the Division of Code Enforcement, City of Toledo, to let them know my concerns. If you don’t find my terms reasonable they will mow your lawn, and send you a bill.
Enclosed is a photo showing the state of your lawn.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Let us suppose that wealth continues to accrete to the wealthiest 1-2% of Americans at the present rate (there is no guarantee that it will). Much of this wealth is in land, but not all. Each individual (and family)l makes choices on how to accumulate, and distribute his/their wealth, and what works today might not have much value in the future.
Land that sells for a considerable sum today (because a group of people put a higher value on it than in the past) may not have much value in a future world in which arable land might have more value than land that provides a “good view” of the arable valley. In other words, what we value today might not be as valuable at some time in the future.
Today many people have wealth based on stock in companies. The value of an individual piece of stock goes up or down depending on how much one person is willing to pay another person for that stock. This might even be called the “principle of the last fool”.
A stock gets the reputation of being a “good buy” (either because someone really places a value on it, or is trying to get some fool to purchase it by “word of mouth”), and it continues to go up in value until it reaches the “top”. The principle upon which the stock is sold may be a good one, but the people who own the stock aren’t interested in holding on to the stock, and accruing wealth in incremental amounts. They want a fast pay-off.
The top 1-2% of the population is supposedly accruing wealth at a much faster pace than everyone below them. They may own ranch land out west (which is marginal), or stock in various companies (which will rise and fall depending on factors besides the quality of the engineering or the loyalty of the labor-force). But are they headed for a fall?
Are those farmers who are selling their land as quickly as they can in exchange for money to invest in the stock market adding value to their legacy, or are they exchanging the uncertainty of the harvest for the uncertainty of professional managers who line their own pockets selling artificially pumped up stock bought with stock options?
Let’s assume that the trend continues of the accumulation of wealth to this 1-2% of the population. If they depend on stocks to accumulate their wealth then the stock must represent something. What will it represent?
Mr. X owns 1, 000, 000 shares of Ford Motor Company (he bought it at $50 a share, and it is worth $55 a share a year after he bought it). The new model is coming out, but people aren’t buying. Wealth has been accumulating to the class (percentage) of people of which he is a part since his grandfather’s day.
There have been changes in the economy since that time (the early $1950’s). The unions have been weakened. The employees have been required to pay a larger share of their income for supplements to life (insurance and pension, among others). They also pay a larger share of their income in taxes.
The political climate had shifted from the laboring individual having a large say in how the government was run to a society in which unions had little real power (this was as much the fault of the union members as any other “class” of citizens; as they went through their lives they saw the opportunity for their children not to labor as they had, but to be among the professionals; they strived for that, and were proud when their progeny succeeded).
Now these people (the ones that Ford depends on to buy the bulk of their new cars) have reached an impasse. They cannot afford to buy the new cars that they make. They are shying away from more debt (the tax reductions that were supposed to jump-start the economy in the early part of the 21st Century didn’t work as predicted).
Medicare payments to nursing homes had been eliminated in 2020. This saved billions of dollars for health-care, but bankrupted many families who tried to take care of their elderly (either by paying for nursing home care themselves at $35,000/month, or trying to work and care for a parent before getting sick themselves, or having one spouse quit work). It became apparent how fragile the top-heavy distribution of wealth had made the economy. Note: my father was in a nursing home (a reputable one that wasn’t outrageously expensive). The cost was $15,000 a month during late 2004-early 2005. Medicare paid 100% the first 30 days, and 80% the next 60 days. We came up with $6,000 out of my parents’ savings plus drugs and other “incidentals”, such as physical rehabilitation. I retired to take care of him; my mom, at 78 years of age, felt it was beyond her ability at that time. It would have $15,000 a month, otherwise, until he died, or we got Medic-Aid (which is being cut) from the state of Ohio.
It was decided to eliminate Medicare on January 1, 2023. This put the health and lives of millions of elderly in jeopardy, and affected child-care for working mothers in an unintended way. Note: my mother has spent hundreds of hours baby-sitting grand-children while the proud mothers joined the work-force, and were able to spend money on luxuries they otherwise couldn’t afford. My sister, who is younger at 57, has also done the same for her daughters who are also proud of their work records.
The government (and many mothers) had not realized how dependent they had become on the “hidden” resource of millions of aging women who took care of their own grandchildren as well as those of other peoples. Women who had been so proud of their ability to earn a pay-check learned what their female ancestors had known for centuries: someone has to take care of the kids.
Did she work (and make essentially a minimum wage paying for child care), or did she quit work, and lower the family’s standard of living? Those who quit work directly affected the economy. There was less money to spend on luxuries in millions of households, and companies had to scramble to meet the new reality of a smaller work-force. Companies had to pay more to compete for labor, and turned to illegal immigration to meet the labor shortage.
After the big die-off of the elderly from 2024 to 2040 (which resulted in a mini-boom for the funeral industry), things began to stabilize, but the mind-set had changed. No middle-aged person believed that anyone could care for them but perhaps their children and themselves. If they were to have the wealth that was needed to see them to the grave then they would have to save it themselves. To hell with consumption!
Personal wealth began to accumulate (and consumption to decline). New cars were no longer a priority, or even second on the list of wants. Houses in “declining” neighborhoods in the inner-city became valuable again (who could afford to travel 20 miles to a suburb even with cars that got 60 miles to the gallon but cost $60,000, and gas that cost $5.00 a gallon).
Those with investments began to worry because investments gained value with consumption, and lost value with conservation. People started to put their money in banks again (which still “invested” in mortgages, but began to shy away from stocks and, even, loans). The economy stagnated.
Former farmers (who now were investors) began to get the old feelings they used to have during bad years on the farm. Most of them had paid off their homes (they had been conservative with their wealth), but the government still needed taxes (especially now that the “bill” had come due, and there was no longer any talk about running government with a deficit until the economy “improved”).
The foreign owners of our governmental debt wanted their money. Conflict overseas had worn out billions of dollars of military equipment which had to be replaced, and we had nothing to show for it. We had only succeeded in providing valuable training to the people that opposed the way we conducted our business.
Our government had to change the way that it dealt with those who volunteered to serve in our armed forces. They were allowed to retire from the service after 30 years, but wouldn’t receive a pension until they turned 75. It was decided to use Medicare to provide health-care for these retirees starting in 2015,
All these changes affected the wealth of this 1-2% in a detrimental way. They lost wealth, both in book value and in real terms. Stock values plummeted, and people began to keep the wealth rather than spend it. The lower classes accumulated wealth while the 1-2% at the top lost value. Bill Gates (who had been valued at over $150 billion at one time, and spent most of the first decade of the 21st Century hovering around $50 billion dollars was soon worth $13 billion as Microsoft strived to sell their bloated operating system at $25 rather than $250 a pop).
Brilliant minds searched for a way out of the morass. How had we come to this? If an effort had been made to share the wealth by being more liberal to those who labored could this outcome been averted, or forestalled. No one knew but the future was not as bright as it had been to those who had been born at the middle of the 20th Century, and come of age during the “Sexual Revolution”.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Last Day of March
It is now 14:33 when I start my entries. I went to bed about 00:40, and awoke about 02:30 to pee. I then awoke about 06:30, and mom woke me at 07:50. I tried to go back to sleep, but arose at 08:20.
I took my Metformin pill before breakfast which I started at 08:40. I had a banana, two slices of bacon (cut in half), and a fried egg with the yolk broke, and a slice of onion minced into the egg. I also had two pieces of toast with margarine. I drank a cup of coffee with cream and Equal®. I chatted with mom, and did various chores. One question came to mind from the article that I read about the passage of the city budget (along with the extra fee to be charged for trash pickup).
The article mentioned that fact that supervisors would check the trash collections to ensure that people are keeping their written promises to recycle. My question is: how many supervisors does the Solid Waste Division have to check on recycling?
My mom wants to know if the supervisors will check inside the recycling containers to ensure that people are actually recycling what they should. I checked my blood pressure about 10:30. It was 119/71 with a pulse of 73. When I ran regularly as a young man my pulse was often 55 a half hour after a 5-6 mile run. Mom’s blood pressure was 195/80 with a pulse of 56.
At 10:50 I went to the basement to feed the cats. “Grandma” came right to me when I put the contents on a plate. I took the labels off of some empty medicine bottles, and cleaned some dirty plates. I checked on the wild cats. The black-and-white one and I “meowed at each other. I came up with a couple of chores to do.
At 11:45 I put Frontline on “Lucky Charmed”, and put him in the bedroom that dad used to sleep in to let it dry.
At 11:55 I started on my walk. I left the front door, and turned north (right) onto Chapin St., and then then turned right (east) the alley that runs by my neighbor’s house. I then turned north (left) on the alley that runs parallel to Chapin Street, and turned (right) east onto Walbridge. I turned north (left) onto Langdon, and crossed the street, and turned right (east) onto Boalt.
I followed Boalt east until I came to Marion where I turned left (north). I crossed Western, and continued on Marion until I ended at Segur where I turned right (east). I came out on Broadway, and crossed Broadway, and turned north (left). I then turned right (east) onto Segur again, and followed Segur until I turned right (south) onto Sumner at 12:19.
A few minutes of walking brought me to an unfolding scene. A blue paneled truck with "Emergency" and "Water Division" printed on the driver's door pulled up in front of what used to be the “Great Lakes Book Store” on Sumner.
A white, middle-aged male got out, and went to the front door of a house on my side of the street as I approached the scene. He knocked on the door while a black guy who was with him went to a fire hydrant that was in front of the house.
The black guy took out a wrench and was going to do something while the white guy continued to knock on the door. The ground around the fire hydrant had recently been dug into. I continued on without ever being the wiser to what was going on.
I turned right (west) onto Walbridge at 12:24. About 12:40 I was passing the rear of the strip mall at the “Broadway South Shopping Center” when I saw some cardboard boxes in one of the dumpsters that appeared to be behind the “Family Dollar Store” rear entrance at the mall. I got information about the various dumpsters.
If you looked at the strip mall from the rear these dumpsters had the following ownership (left to right): Wes Stevens Disposal (ph: 856-8451; 1-800-779-0344), Allied Waste Services (800-589-9139; http://www.disposal.com/), BFI (1-800-234-3459), in back of the “Rice King” carryout was one for grease from G. A. Wintzer & Son of Wapakoneta, OH (1-800-331-1801) which was rather small, and, finally, one from Waste Management, www.wm.com, ph: 666-2640, which seemed to be in back of the Cash AdvantEase check cashing place, or the Small Smiles Dental Clinic. I wanted this information because I wanted to find out if these private solid waste contractors recycled or just paid to put it in Toledo's landfill or another (maybe in another state). After I got this information I continued on my walk.
The Broadway South Shopping Center has the following stores in the mall (left to right from the front entrances): a McDonald’s that is separated to the left and in front on the strip mall, a “Subway Restaurant” on the left, with “Rent-a –Center” to its immediate right, then Small Smiles Dental Clinic further right, a Family Dollar Store to the right of that, next a Rice King Restaurant to its right, and Laundromat at the extreme right with a Taco Bell separated from the strip mall to its right and toward the front.
I went south on Frank Street, and turned right (west) onto South Avenue, and crossed South, and continued south onto Langdon. I then crossed Langdon, and Colburn, and turned right (southwest) onto Broadway. I got the entrance to the South Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library at 12:53.
I read a couple of articles in the latest issue of “Time” magazine, picked out a couple of movies on DVD, chatted with the librarian about the weather, looked at the free literature, and left the library at 13:05. I called Irene, and asked her if she wanted me to pick up a copy of the new issue of the “Toledo Free Press”. She okay’d that, and I said I would have her copy for her tomorrow if we went shopping.
I got home about 13:08, puttered around, and started lunch at 13:30. A peanut butter sandwich with provolone cheese, a cup of tea with milk and Equal®, some green beans, and a 4 ounce slice of cherry pie. I finished about 14:00, and did a few other things. It is now 15:14.
Almost a disaster! My cat and one of my mom's got to wrestling. They knocked my DSL modem off the table, and must have put enough stress on stuff to drop my signal. I was getting that "Blogger" couldn't connect with its server. I then saved what I could, shut everything out, and had to use the "Yahoo" software to troubleshoot the problem. It turned out to be a software issue, and everything was back to normal.
After I couldn't get "Yahoo" to reconnect I turned off the computer, and let everything come back up. I'm no engineer, but I try to make frequent backups, and shutting down is time consuming but has done the trick many times so far. I had do another round of editing (it wouldn't or didn't save all the changes I did to the text). Now I can save this post, and boor other people with it.
Friday, March 30, 2007
An Evening Walk in Late March
I went downstairs about 16:00, and then did a few things (I think one of them was to put a drop of antibiotic fluid in mom’s eye). I then started along my alley toward South Avenue about 16:45.
I then remembered that I had videos to return that I had forgotten. I returned to my bedroom, got them, and left again at 16:55. I went to the South Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, returned the DVDs, and started on my walk at 17:03.
I decided to go west (left) on Colburn. As I pass the corner of Colburn, and the street were the “drug house” used to be (near the old St. James Catholic Church) I saw a fellow that used to be part of the movement there.
I went across the street to talk to him. I asked him if he knew about the “block watch” meeting at the Aurora Gonzalez administrative offices. He didn’t but he said they were going to start up the group like we had before (not a formal ‘block watch”), and he had plans to try to get the landlords behaving more responsibly.
We chatted about 20 minutes, and then went our separate ways (he had a little bull-dog that started tugging at his left pant’s leg from jealousy because its “master” was paying attention to me rather than it). I turned right (north) onto Stebbins, and followed South Avenue west (right) across the Anthony Wayne Trail, and then turned left (south) onto Griffin.
I then followed Daniels south (a shallow right turn). I arrived at Prouty, and a side street just before you cross Hawley at 17:36. I followed Prouty until I turned left (south) onto Woodsdale at 17:53. I then came to the corner of Woodsdale, and Nelson at 17:57.
I turned east (left) on Nelson. I turned left (north) onto Lodge at 18:05. I turned right (east) onto Grafton, and at 18:10 turned left (north) onto Carlton. At 18:14 I turned east (right) onto Colburn, and at 18:26 I arrived at the Wendy’s on South Avenue, and the Anthony Wayne Trail. I started to get a grilled chicken combo, but the cashier said it would be 12 minutes before the chicken would be ready.
That decided me on a fish sandwich. That wasn't quite ready either, but they said it would be four minutes. While I waited they got together the chili that I wanted and a “Dr. Pibb”, which was pretty good. I ate my meal, and then ordered a fish sandwich for mom after I found that she would eat one in the second call I made to her. The sandwiches were very good, mom liked hers better than McDonald's fish sandwiches (which she usually gets).
I left the Wendy’s about 18:57. I then walked on South Avenue, crossed the Trail, and then saw kids (20-25 of them) playing on the playground equipment at the Aurora Gonzalez Commity Center playground. I think that is the most that I have ever seen on playground equipment at one time. Some older teens and adults kept watch over them (either walking around the area where all the kids play), or playing some games within eye– and ear-shot of that scramble.
At 19:05 as I was passing the Marathon station on South Avenue, near Broadway. A city bus came to the stop there, and let a guy off. I arrived home at 19:14. I then talked to mom, and watched some tv before I decided to try to finish this writing. I went upstairs at 19:46, but mom called and said we should put drops in her eyes. I confirmed that, and returned to do them. I went upstairs at 20:07 to try to make these entries. I finished the above at 20:40. Now it is time to save the above, put some of into my blog, and read a little while before I turn into bed early. I am really tired.
Walking Around the Neighborhood
I went on a walk about 11:55. I walked east on South, crossed at Langdon, and headed south. I crossed at Broadway, and mailed Mrs. Taylor two cards (one from mom and one from me). I then followed Colburn east, and turned south (right) onto Congress. I turned left (east) on Orchard, and at 12:00 I encountered two Division of Water trucks (Nos. 5101 and 5162) that had crews trying to stop what seemed to be leak. I continued east, and at 12:06 turned north (left) onto Maumee. I then turned left (west) onto Colburn, and then right (north) onto Congress. I crossed South Avenue, and went into the “Broadway Food Center” where I bought the bananas I buy there every other day for .39/lb. I then left the store, crossed Broadway, and went through the parking lot of South Heritage Shopping Center (a strip mall that was going to save our local economy), and out onto the sidewalk by Walbridge. I turned west (left), and walked until I came to the alley that runs behind my garage. I had encountered our mail carrier, “Tammy”, who my mom, Mrs. Taylor (our neighbor), and Irene all say they love. She works hard, but still has time to be friendly. We talked for a few minutes as we went the same direction on her route. I had worked at the Main Post Office, and found out that her mother had worked there on the LSMs (which I also did). I didn’t catch her name (she may have been on a different shift), but I reminisced about my days of “learning a scheme”. She brings credit to the Postal Service by being the hard-working, friendly person she is.
Thinking Like a Libertarian
Libertarianism and Environment
I was thinking how the “invisible hand” of the marketplace could lead environmentalists to realize their ideal but in a way they might not have realized. If “freedom” is the most important right in human society, especially economic freedom, then many goods, both economic and ethical, flow from it. Consider environmentalism.
In the past wealth accrued to the few from the enslavement of the many, and the harnessing of their labor. Those between the supreme ruler and the lowest unit of production were rewarded for their loyalty and efficiency with a larger share of the goods produced, and perhaps the pick of the females (in most instances wealth was “earned” by the male members of families). We’ve seen the development of various stages of economic thought with the end result of the flowering of capitalism.
Capitalism was brought under “control” by such men as Theodore Roosevelt. It was channeled, and “regulated”. Libertarianism says this is wrong. We are now following a different and “purer” path for the accumulation of wealth. Many professionals have regulated their “professions” so that certain “standards” are met, and the public has the short-hand of having professionals meeting a certain “standard”, and, therefore, securing a certain “customary” fee for their services.
The recent Republican administrations have tried to “free” the accumulation of capital, and this has resulted in an accumulation of wealth in the topmost 1-2% of our society. This could also lead to an environmental ideal.
Consider the following: in the past wealth arose from providing the means of mass consumption. That is one way to accumulate wealth. But that isn’t the only way. With the accumulation of wealth through mass consumption there is a whole panoply of mechanisms for securing that wealth. Among them are trying to secure “market share”, “monopoly”, and other –opolies. This doesn’t have to be so.
With the rise of robotization, and "just-in-time" production goods can be targeted almost to the individual. If one wishes to accumulate wealth he can provide goods to individuals with almost microscopic precision aimed at his “target” audience. No need to produce thousands of units of expensive items that may or may not be consumed. The mass-produced items such as razor blades can be produced in third world countries more cheaply than in high wage countries in the West. But now we may begin to see a shift in methods for higher priced items such as cars. If an individual (or group of individuals) wishes he can decide how much wealth he needs to accumulate, and act accordingly. This is how the good to the environment can come. I (as a wealthy manufacturer of cars, say) decide that I can comfortably live on $30,000,000 a year. I figure out the highest price point that I can get away with, and produce just that number of cars. Maybe I add some kind of cachet to my cars, making people believe it is the new heir to the Rolls Royce. Instead of trying to increase consumption, I try to decrease it while at the same time generating wealth for myself. I have lower costs in materials, labor, advertising, etc. And I help the environment. Maybe I pioneer a method of pre-ordering my product so that I know what I need in the way of materials and labor to produce the goods each year. In this case, I have pioneered a way to accumulate wealth that relies less on mass production (and consumption), and more on “targeting” the population that will “consume” my eventual output.
This is why the accumulation of wealth with the upper 1-2% may be a very good thing for the environment. This 1-2% of the population can only buy so many of the mass consumables that we need for everyday use. Most of us only use one razor blade a day (or, for myself, one a week). Most of us can only eat so many pounds of steak in a week, or tomatoes a week. So the wealthy won’t add to the consumption there. What will they consume? High-end items are likely. They will want bigger houses for their wives and girlfriends, more cars, bigger cars, and more land to have peace and quiet in. We are told they will want to invest so that we will have things to consume. But we may not have the wealth (that they have accumulated) to consume them. Some of them will decide to consume more high-ticket items (which will be few in number, and more artfully constructed). This will require more time per item to construct to exacting specifications, but less items. This should cut down on the drain to the environment. Those of us who provide the goods and services to this 1-2% of the population will have the pleasure of constructing almost industrial works of art, and will go home to our homes at night drained but content in a job well done.
So on the one hand the “freedom” to accumulate wealth is championed, and on the other the environment is less impacted in the future.