Nov 17
At the heart of the capitalistic system is personal integrity. Webster defines integrity as, adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. Moral and ethical principles deal with right and wrong in an absolute sense. Lying is always wrong, stealing is always wrong, cheating is always wrong. Truth is always right, keeping what [...] [...more]
Posted: under Business, Economy.
At the heart of the capitalistic system is personal integrity. Webster defines integrity as, adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. Moral and ethical principles deal with right and wrong in an absolute sense. Lying is always wrong, stealing is always wrong, cheating is always wrong. Truth is always right, keeping what is yours is always right and honesty is always right. We know this is correct because if we are on the receiving end of a lie, theft or cheating we demand justice or a righting of the wrong. Companies don’t lie, steal or cheat, individuals do. When we speak of companies, we are not talking about impersonal entities, rather of people just like us, with hopes, dreams and goals. They want to have enough to provide for their aspirations and the well being of society. As long as these persons (the company) are meeting the customer’s expectations by profitably providing a quality service or product at a price that the market will bear, everyone benefits. The customer is happy because his requirements are met, the producer is happy because he made a profit and can meet his obligations, the government should be happy because by taxation they can continue to serve the people by securing our safety and enforcing the contracts so essential to a free market.
When a person working for a company lacks integrity, whether an executive or machine operator, everyone suffers because profits suffer. If the executive is calloused to the interests of his investors, customers, employees and community, because of hubris (selfishness), the self regulating aspect of capitalism will begin. Customers will complain and look for competing products or services, competitors will gain market share, profits will decline, investors divest, employees find more fulfilling employment and ultimately the company will either find a new executive with personal integrity to change the corporate culture or close. If the machine operator lacks personal integrity and works as little as possible, he reduces the productivity of the plant, increasing the cost of goods sold and reducing profitability. When this cycle is repeated many times in a plant, the company loses its competitive edge and ultimately closes.
The problem comes when government (also made up of individuals) uses its power to regulate a self regulating economic system (capitalism). These regulations cause innumerable unintended consequences. Regulations that dictate product specifications such as CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards on automobiles has brought the industry to it knees. Instead of the market regulating what models are produced, bureaucrats set standards based upon some fictitious depletion of oil supply, make believe environmental concerns or liberal ideology. In order to meet the standards, car makers resort to smaller, less powerful, less profitable cars. This leads to loss of market share and ultimately fewer car companies.
Profits are the fuel of our lives and economy. Without profits there are no paychecks issued, no groceries purchased, no retirement savings, no funds for government to do anything, etc. As long as there are honest individuals, the capitalistic free enterprise system will flourish and meet the demands of the market.
Dave Coke
Nov 07
Our great nation was founded upon the principles of liberty, personal integrity and trust in God which are necessary foundations for capitalism. Capitalism is the economic engine which drives the abundance that we enjoy. Capitalism provides the incentive for men and women to get up, go to work and do a good job without force [...] [...more]
Posted: under Economy.
Our great nation was founded upon the principles of liberty, personal integrity and trust in God which are necessary foundations for capitalism. Capitalism is the economic engine which drives the abundance that we enjoy. Capitalism provides the incentive for men and women to get up, go to work and do a good job without force or coercion. One of the most important aspects of capitalism is free markets and dynamic or intelligent purchasing. We have seen a great example of this in the last year in the price of fuel. The market brought about a swift and large price increase due to world wide demand for fuel. Two things occurred 1) suppliers increased production to take advantage of the higher price paid to them. and 2) the habits of individuals in our country changed in regard to day to day and discretionary travel. This trend was repeated in every country of the world. The resulting change in the supply/demand equation brought the price down as swiftly as it went up. What a wonderful self regulating system.
The world market for CRTs has been diminishing for the last 15 years. That change resulted in the closing of monochrome CRT manufacturers around the world. These closings are the necessary result of progress in technology and markets. No one came to the officers of these companies and demanded they close. The incentive for continuing operation - making a profit became smaller and smaller. Responsible management found more profitable products to produce with the same facilities and resources. Clinton displays hopes to benefit from these closings by continuing the manufacturing of high quality monochrome CRTs for its customers. As long as there is a demand for CRT based monitors, and we can obtain reasonably priced raw materials and keep our manufacturing costs low, there will be reason for us to manufacture.
The recent attack upon capitalism by the left in our country is astounding. History has proved that socialism (government control of the means of production by regulation and taxation) does not produce prosperity and wealth like capitalism.
Dave Coke
Oct 17
I attend the Linux User’s Group which meets once a month. Once the meeting got started this month we went around the room telling how the current economy is affecting our employment status. That is, “Do you still have a job?”; “If so, is your employer hiring?”; “Are you looking for a different job?”; etc. [...] [...more]
Posted: under Economy.
Tags: Economy, niche market
I attend the Linux User’s Group which meets once a month. Once the meeting got started this month we went around the room telling how the current economy is affecting our employment status. That is, “Do you still have a job?”; “If so, is your employer hiring?”; “Are you looking for a different job?”; etc. Although I could not offer any positions, I was glad to report that our company’s business health is currently on the upswing, while many of the others are being adversely affected by this current economy.
Even though it seems that every time I mention that our main product is monochrome CRTs someone at least implies that that has to be a dying niche, there is still a need. Clinton Displays is committed to fulfilling that need as long as we can maintain a profit margin that allows us to stay in business.
Of course, we have to stay alert to any possibility of new products or processes that can help us maintain a reasonable profit margin even long after the niche market for CRTs has ceased.
We welcome suggestions not only from within the company, but from our customers, from people that just stumble across our site looking for something that may or may not be related to what we do, or even from our competitors that might be struggling to justify continuing to manufacture similar product.
Tracy Henness
Oct 06
You may have noticed that we recently redesigned our logo. This was done for several reasons.
First, Clinton Displays CRT Division transitioned its ownership to Video Display Corporation. Although we retain the Clinton name, which has been synonymous with high quality monochrome CRTs for many years, it became necessary to disolve the identification with our former [...] [...more]
Posted: under Business.
Tags: ideas, logo
You may have noticed that we recently redesigned our logo. This was done for several reasons.
First, Clinton Displays CRT Division transitioned its ownership to Video Display Corporation. Although we retain the Clinton name, which has been synonymous with high quality monochrome CRTs for many years, it became necessary to disolve the identification with our former parent company.
Secondly, the concept of changing logos was a step toward encouraging our employees and management to look beyond our past successes toward our future potential. To achieve this we held a contest among our staff and their families and friends to submit ideas for the new design. We thank all those who submitted ideas and concepts even though no one submission became the final new logo. Rather, several of the submissions were combined into the finished design. Some of the original submissions are invisible in the new logo, but each had an influence in the outcome. So it is with our future. Not every idea that is suggested to us, whether by staff, management, family, friends, customers, or any other visionary, becomes a finished product. But those ideas, when pooled together, rearranged, looked at from different angles, can inspire new technologies, innovations, and products. They can open for us new niches, and make us the best at anything we set out to do.
Thirdly, we want our customers to look at us in a whole new way. Yes, we still make the best monochrome CRTs, and intend to do so for a long time. Allow us to help you make your products better.
Oct 01
Many businesses, whether manufacturing, retail, service oriented, or just about any other type, are facing a period of transition. Some may be trying to find ways to cut costs to defray the rising cost of fuel for delivery, utilities, heath care and other benefits, increases in minimum wages, etc. Some are struggling to stay ahead [...] [...more]
Posted: under Transitions.
Tags: Transition
Many businesses, whether manufacturing, retail, service oriented, or just about any other type, are facing a period of transition. Some may be trying to find ways to cut costs to defray the rising cost of fuel for delivery, utilities, heath care and other benefits, increases in minimum wages, etc. Some are struggling to stay ahead of (or get ahead of) competition. Some may be trying to balance new and exciting technologies with the need for continued support for older legacy technologies. Some are facing new challenges of picking up new business transferred from some other company closing its facilities.
Some of these transitions are good and exciting, some are scary, but it is always good to rethink what the company or business objectives, methods, strengths and weaknesses are. Is there a better, more efficient way to do this? Can we reduce the amount of waste? Can we utilize the scrap material in other ways? Can we do the same thing, only “greener”? If we work longer hours and shorter weeks, can we save utility costs? Can we hire more personnel without having to struggle through an extended training period? Can an experiences operator train a new hire without himself/herself becoming unproductive during the training period?
There are so many possibilities, hinderances, uncertainties, variables to consider. Yet we know that God gives wisdom to the prudent.