You Sleep When You Die

Thanks to Jim Maxfield and @HarilaosMichael for providing two of last week’s top questions. Remember, get your questions about advertising, business, the economy and more answered every Wednesday by posting comments to blog posts or, better yet, on Twitter via #askjz.

“Jordon, give us your business perspective on the U.S. debt issue.”

“I’ve been following what people like Robert Prechter and Marc Faber have been saying about the world economy. What’s your take?”

How is it possible that President Obama can order $100 million in U.S. aid for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, but he can’t provide aid to the people in his own country that are suffering?

I have nothing against sending aid to Haiti and helping them during this devastating time, but to the tune of more than $100 million?! China – the richest country in the world – offered assistance and donated $1 million to relief efforts. Meanwhile, America – a country that is BANKRUPT – donated $100 million!

Is the financial system in this country in serious trouble? Without a doubt. But before we can try to fix it, we need to figure out how we got here. Banks today are all or nothing: they either lend money to everybody or they lend money to no one. Banks are screwed up because they issued mortgages to people who weren’t qualified, and they gave people credit they didn’t deserve. If everybody in this country could make his or her mortgage payments, we wouldn’t have a problem!

A recent NBC News/Wallstreet Journal poll looked at President Obama’s approval rating on a variety of subjects. One question asked respondents about 16 characteristics, half of which related to Obama “the man,” half of which related to Obama “the president.” According to the results, as a person, Obama is still very well liked: his scores averaged in the 60’s. As for what he’s accomplished so far on the job, his scores averaged in the low 40’s.

… you can’t worry about whether people like you – you have to worry about whether they respect you.

Within the past couple of weeks, GM announced that it will start hearing pitches for select Chevrolet assignments and for Cadillac’s national and regional dealer accounts. Not long before that, VW announced that it was parting ways with Crispin after four years. Should we chalk up this rampant changing of the guard to tough economic times?

Absolutely not.