Subject: Message from David Siegel
Date:Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:58:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: [David Siegel]
To: [All employees]
To All My Valued Employees,As most of you know our company, Westgate
Resorts, has continued to succeed in spite of a very dismal economy.
There is no question that the economy has changed for the worse and we
have not seen any improvement over the past four years. In spite of all
of the challenges we have faced, the good news is this: The economy
doesn't currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job
however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration. Of
course, as your employer, I can't tell you whom to vote for, and I
certainly wouldn't interfere with your right to vote for whomever you
choose. In fact, I encourage you to vote for whomever you think will
serve your interests the best.
I started this company over 42 years ago. At that time, I lived in a
very modest home. I converted my garage into an office so I could put
forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would
eventually employ you. We didn't eat in fancy restaurants or take
expensive vacations because every dollar I made went back into this
company. I drove an old used car, and often times, I stayed home on
weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I
was married to my business — hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, many of my friends got regular jobs. They worked 40 hours a
week and made a nice income, and they spent every dime they earned....
Now, the economy is falling apart and people like me who made all
the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail
out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks
suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and
sacrificed 42 years of my life for. Yes, business ownership has its
benefits, but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.
Unfortunately, the costs of running a business have gotten out of
control, and let me tell you why: We are being taxed to death and the
government thinks we don't pay enough. We pay state taxes, federal
taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, payroll taxes, workers
compensation taxes and unemployment taxes. I even have to hire an entire
department to manage all these taxes. The question I have is this: Who
is really stimulating the economy? Is it the Government that wants to
take money from those who have earned it and give it to those who have
not, or is it people like me who built a company out of his garage and
directly employs over 7000 people and hosts over 3 million people per
year with a great vacation?
Obviously, our present government believes that taking my money is
the right economic stimulus for this country. The fact is, if I deducted
50 percent of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I
mean, why should you? Who wants to get rewarded only 50 percent of their
hard work? Well, that's what happens to me....
You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the
productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to
provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities.
If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach,
under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about.
Signed, your boss,
David Siegel
Most liberals have no clue on how to run a business and with Clown in Chief running the country, it makes things even worse.
While this letter may seem extreme, I am willing there are hundreds of other small business owners who feel the same way.
Hopefully, Romney will win and so his employees will continue to work.
I'm very tired of the assumption by conservatives that anyone who receives federal assistance is a lazy layabout. Not every rich guy did so by the sweat of his brow, with no advantages, and no help. Not every poor person merely planned poorly and partied their cash away. It's such a false narrative.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Warren is right when she says that NOBODY makes it big in America without some of that success coming FROM America. It is our society that brings the customers, provides the environment for that success.
This guy says at the beginning of his rant that his company is doing well despite the economy. The employees are in no danger of losing their jobs. So what's the problem? This is all over a return to Clinton-era tax rates (when business was doing fine)?
Incidentally, I've worked for a small business for 15 years. The boss was a Republican when I started. Over the Bush years, she went Democrat. And she still is.