Steve Hoffacker's Sales Quips

Let's admit it, we're stupid - we must be by the way we let Congress run all over us.

They are rushing through massive, game-changing legislation that we don't want, don't need, and can't pay for before we get a chance to examine it because they say we are too stupid to know what's good for us.

A provision to post the health care bill on the internet for 72 hours (scaled back from 7 days) was removed.We might discover something we don't want. Can't have that.

However, many Congresspeople are stupid, too. They do what they are told. They are told not to read the bills and just to vote for them.

We'll see how stupid Members of Congress think we are a year from now at election time.

We must be stupid for putting up with this, but we can redeem ourselves.

Beginning now, let's insist that nothing gets passed until after the new Congress is elected next November. That means no health care, no cap and trade, no budget, no appropriations (except possibly military soending), no anything. Tell them to go home and chill.

If we re-elect any of these people who openly challenge our ability to think for ourselves by belittling our interests and voting for larger government, more spending, more controls, more bailouts, more takeovers, and less personal choices and freedoms, we really are stupid and we deserve to have our country taken away from us.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

This past spring, Congress just had to pass health care. It was so important that they couldn't even take time to read the bill or discuss it - they just had to pass it.

That debate about what Congress wanted to see in a health care package persisted all summer.

Nancy Pelosi promised it would be a done deal before Thanksgiving.

So, today Congress suddenly changes gears and tackles the monumental task of censuring Joe Wilson just because he exercised his first amendment right. Sure, he chose to do it on live TV in front of a national audience - not real good timing, Joe. Still, he was entitled to say what he did - until today.

The normal legislative business of the House came to a screeching halt. Everything stopped while they tackled this issue of national importance. They had to debate and then vote to tell one its members "shame on you."

So nice to know that Congress has its priorities in order.

Actually, I'm tickled. Congress should not pass anything meaningful the rest of its term. Then, the next Congress will have less to undue.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Today in Washington and in other cities across the land, the 9-12 Project is manifesting itself in Tea Parties. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have taken peacefully to the streets and the the steps of the Capitol to protest an arrogant, out-of-touch government that belittles the very people who gave them their power and put them in office.

One of the best lines of the day was a shout I heard in Washington that said "This is our dome" about the Capitol - and it is. Congresspeople and Senators had better realize that we have issued them a 2-year or 6-year visa and that it is subject to non-renewal. This is not a lifetime appointment, though they often act like it.

Congress should not authorize one more penny than they can already account for. Don't pass the budget, don't pass health care, don't pass Cap and Trade, rescind the Stimulus, rescind TARP I and II, and cancel their pay raise indefinitely.

Shame on any overworked Member of Congress that cannot read a bill but can vote on it the way they are told, that has time to travel the world on our dime, that has the best health care money can buy, and can only work 4 days a week when they're in town - but needs to be paid more money for this privilege.

Don't raise taxes, roll them back, no more bailouts, no tariffs - just quit on the whole money thing. You've proven that you can't handle it responsibly.

Congress, those footsteps you hear are your replacements. Enjoy the rest of your term.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Notice recently how it doesn't much matter who we vote for to send to Washington every two years - that they all are about the same after they've been there for a little while? The Republicans may start out a little more conservative, and the Democrats may start out a little more liberal, but after they become Congressionalized, they all vote about the same - and that's against small business.

The two party system that we have now is us and them. That's why they all need to go. Oh, there are some that could stay - they can try their hand again in 2012. For 2010, it got to be a clean sweep. Everyone off the bus. Let some new riders on.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever heard that you can't get blood out of a turnip? Apparently Congress hasn't.

Yesterday, the City of Chicago closed down for the day to save money. No government workers or city services. They already have planned 2 more "free" days this year.

Denver and Dallas have already done this as well, and other cities are contemplating such actions.

Of course, we know that California is broke, and other States are having financial issues also.

Unemployment is way up, along with foreclosures and late pays.

Home sales are down, incomes are off. Consumer confidence is weak. This impacts purchases and retail sales.

So, just where does the government think it's going to get all the money they need to fund their giant giveaway programs?

How can you raise income taxes and enact health care and energy taxes? The money just ins't there.

Let's send a message to Congress. Maybe we should all send them turnips - perhaps wrapped in a pink slip.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

As schools start up or get ready to go back into session across the country, we have an opportunity to take an active role in our educational system.

Many of us have an hour or two a week that we could volunteer to help someone learn to read - or to do it better - who is having difficulty doing so.

Because the people I'm talking about usually are Washington - or at least they should be - much of the tutoring I propose will have to be done over the phone and intenet.

That's right, I'm talking about helping to save our country by teaching a Member of Congress to read.

Shouldn't they know how to read by now? One would think so, but let's not be too harsh on them. Let's just help them get to a reading level where they can read the legislation that they are considering.

It's a real shame to have our Members of Congress consistently refrain that they didn't read the bills put before them. It's probably difficult for them to admit they need help.

Remember, reading is fundamental. It's our patriotic duty to help if we can.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Congress plays by different rules. Usually that's OK because they are so important and so busy that they need perks that aren't available to the rest of us.

But here's something interesting.

Remember when the auto executives came to Washington to seek money for their failing companies and they arrived by corporate jet? Remember the outrage and public scoffing at such a notion? It lead to some of those planes being put up for sale.

When your company is failing and you're looking to cut costs and save jobs, eliminating corporate aircraft seems like a good place to start.

Did you know that another failing public corporation has private aircraft and wants to buy more to supplement its aging fleet? Oh, did I mention that this is the US Government - and Congress in particular?

It seems that Members of Congress can't just get on a plane with any of us - they need to have ctaxpayer-owned and funded corporate jets - with all of the perks.

It also turns out that they don't have enough money to expand their fleet, so they are letting the Pentagon provide the planes out of the Pentagon's budget - at a net loss to the Pentagon because those funds will have been redirected to Congress. We don't know what potential impact this will have on military efforts.

The President had requested $220 million (that we don't have) in his budget to buy 4 planes, but Congress, in its typical largess doubled that request to 8 planes and $550 million (that we still don't have).

If anyone other than Congress had tried this, we'd probably be pretty upset with the idea.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

I have previously proposed that Members of Congress be made to read the bills they are voting on, initial each page, and attest to a reasonable understanding of each page - before being allowed to debate or voye on it.

Furthermore, I have suggested that sponsors of bills must read, edit, and approve in writing that the bills they are proposing accurately represents their ideas and that they attest to their ability to answer questions and verbally defend them.

This was done in response to the "hurry-and-pass" legislation like the TARP, stimulus, and Cap and Trade bills.

It seems I'm not alone in wanting this type of reform. A group out of Delaware, Let Freedom Ring, has posted on their website a pledge that they want Members of Congress to sign saying they have read the proposed Health Care bill before they vote on it.

Great idea, but (1) it needs to be made into an enforceable law or House rule - not just a private suggestion, (2) it needs to apply to all legislation - not just the upcoming Health Care bill, and (3) House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer apparently ridiculed the idea saying that if they had to read it first that hardly anyone would vote for it.

And there we have it. A Leader in Congress scoffing at the idea that they actually do what they are paid to do. Time we prepare pink slips for a whole bunch of them. Unfortunately they would still get a great parachute.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday I posted about an idea I'd like to see adopted whereby legislators would have to iniital each page in a bill to affirm that they had read it and understood what was being proposed on each page. This is just like we do with sales contracts - no difference - except the stakes.

Taking that idea a step farther, I have another suggestion.

When someone proposes a bill - Waxman, Kennedy, Smith, Jones, or whomever - before they are allowed to have their name associated with the bill as a sponsor, the bill must be typed up in draft form, they must read every word of it - making corrections as necessary, they must attest to its accuracy in writing as to being what they intend to propose and support - after the edits have been made and typos fixed, and they must be able to answer questions, explain, and defend what they have proposed to rest of the body. Then and only then will their name appear as a sponsor.

They same would hold true for all co-sponsors of a bill.

By the way, a bill would need to have a sponsor, so an anoymous bill couldn't skate through by circumventing these provisions.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Those of us who sell real estate - of even those who have ever purchased real estate - know that a sales contract of some form (that is often called by various names) is used to spell out the terms and conditions and become a binding, legally enforceable document between the parties.

The recent "Cap and Trade" voting fiasco in the House - the bill is disastrous and needs to be defeated, but I'm only talking about the voting process here - brought to light just how broken the system is.

Take our sales contracts. What happens on every single page? They are initialed by the buyers (and sometimes all parties), signifying that they have been read or that the language has been explained and understood. What happens to line-throughs and changes? They also are initialed and often dated.

So here's the plan. For each piece of legislation proposed, every Member of Congress who intends to vote on the bill or engage in any form of debate on the bill must initial every single page of the bill to attest - under oath - that they have read every word on that page and understand what it means.

What this means is that the bill must be published far enough in advance of debate for every Member to have a copy and read it. It means that not reading it is gone as an excuse or objection. It means that there can be no 11th hour additions of amendments to the bill. Any amendments become part of the same reading and initialing provisions.

This should restore a little responsibilty to the Congress and put the brakes on these rush-to-pass bills. We also can see what they're voting on.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.