Corporate Financial Snapshot

Updated 7/10/2010: Corrected Industry Summary cell referencing due to company sort issue. (There has to be an easier way to coordinate these documents and blog!!!)

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During my introductory level business and economic courses, I can recall the professor referring to economic activity as “stocks” (holdings or inventory) and flows of money. I put together a group of spreadsheet slides to give some perspective of the cash flowing through the U.S. economy. The US corporate snapshot looks at about 60 of the largest corporations by revenue, taxes paid over the past three years and the cash levels reported on their respective balance sheets. Another group of analysis slides looks at the potential contributions of citizens to the church assuming a given participation rate of tithing. The third estimates the impact on the average American household using the previous 2008 mean income information for comparisons.

The reason for the comparative look was to check the political position statements relative to those in the best position to grow economic activity from post-recession levels. The Corporate Tax expensed percentage reflects the relative percentage of taxes paid to other operating expenses. If the tax expensed in the income statement was accounted as a line item of operating expenses relative to revenue. Given this adjustment, United Technologies is the company that really stands out as paying taxes at a higher level relative to other operating expenses (30% of revenues). (10/19/2010 Update: See related blog post of this date.)

These top companies were holding $3.6 Trillion in cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of FY2010 which is about 25% of US GDP. Below is a snapshot listing of the included companies and industry summary. Just for comparison based upon participation levels and because of the corporate confirmation role played in the US South, the American churches receive anywhere from $300 Billion to almost $1 Trillion in contributions from the American people.

Updated Document 10/19/2010 : (See post on politics and data manipulations from system intrusions)

To Be Continued

I am working on a couple of new posts. But, it appears that my Internet access is being jammed/blocked.

Stay tuned!

Historical Connections? Part 1

Updated 9-7-2010:More specific on free choice, mutually agree human ethnic combinations so not to be taken out of context:

Earthly, human racial & ethnic relationship combinations should not require alteration for any specific ethnic definition. Multi-ethnic class should not be re-engineered for change to create "pure" ethnic race(s). Humanity / humankind is diverse.

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Interpretation of the Adam and Eve biblical story, in my opinion, establishes the equal creation of the human race from the same origins. Biting the apple was symbolic of man and woman’s sexual desire (human nature). Once the “sin” has been committed and forgiven is there no more forbidden “fruit?” What humans must do is manage the desire which is done through laws, rights, and respect for humanity in addition to religion. Mutually agreed relations is how humanity procreates and also maintains the relationship connection which should not be abused or advantaged one over another. As with most religious discussions and issues, not all biblical references are supported by literal interpretations. Those wanting all literal interpretations appear to have an alternative agenda and should incorporate relevant context. Extreme measures can make your answers appear to support a literal interpretation affecting perception by the manner in which questions are posed. Even Jesus used parables to make his point requiring interpretation relevant to human understanding and experience. Historical information identified in some History Channel programs put forth several ideas on assistance to human development and society. From that information, it is easy to see that similar developments were taking place in multiple locations around the globe. Even the identification of an early map revealing information that would be impossible to ascertain even with today’s technology.

Civilizations in Egypt, Central and South America, and Europe were provided with and learned similar information regarding natural resources, the stars and solar system, and the universe [re: Pyramids, Stonehenge, Greece’s governance structure and ancient Rome’s religious developments]. This information led to human technical development, commerce, sharing of knowledge, and growth of civilizations. Social interchange became common place and reflects the very compatible evolution of human DNA. The original discovery of the cocoa plant bean (chocolate) and coffee was in South America and is consumed worldwide in many delicious fashions. The benefit of trade and commerce allows one region of the world to share products and “know-how” with the rest of the world. A literal interpretation of separation would have never allowed social human development. God has allowed humans such growth abilities and knowledge to evolve and what God has allowed should not be separated. Humans were created in God’s image. We are taught that Jesus was sent for “man’s” sins in the eyes of GOD. This teaching is a result of the evolutionary understanding of GOD from certain Christian theology. At various times in human history, many gods were worshipped throughout the civilizations as noted in many History Channel programs and DVDs. The relevant change should stem from the recognition of God’s words “whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.”

I recognize God as the universally Supreme, all-knowing existence. God of the Earth, the Stars, and the Universe regulated by the order of science and math constantly growing in the quest for balance (molecular and chemical). This recognition along with our current knowledge reveals the possibility of other existences in the universe. Extending further the thought of other existences (life beyond Earth - Heaven, etc.) allows the understanding of a vast, diverse universe with the ability to visit Earth and share advanced knowledge.

Societal economic development and prosperity tends to increase competition for resources and man-made systems are derived for allocation. This competitive process, unfortunately, can lead to the placement of value one over another based upon non-relevant factors. This historical competitive hierarchy creation extended ideologies to human relationships above the American ideals of equality, education, and ability.

Creative Design Thinking

Update June 6, 2010:

Humble - Having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.

Humility - Modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.

Although related derivations, humble as used below is distinguished as support for an individual's creative ideas and designs in debate.

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From Einstein: His Life and Universe, p432 (America)

“What makes the new arrival devoted to this country is the democratic trait among the people…No one humbles himself before another person or class.”

This was a function of the right of the individuals to say and think what they pleased, a trait that had always been important to Einstein. In addition, the lack of stifling traditions encouraged more creativity of the sort he had relished as a student.

“American youth has the good fortune not to have its outlook troubled by outworn traditions.”

Free Choice, Commitment, and Due Process

In a free democratic society, individuals have rights guaranteed by law along with their preferred religious practices governing how people live their lives. Much is made in America regarding race and relationships and it gets a great deal of attention. So much that fraternal agreements and understandings regulate initiation rituals to reinforce separation. During the creation of American society, recognition of some humans as property was allowed and through enlightenment and years of legal evolution the framework was amended to grant freedoms to all. Given this development, how could any ethnic group claim ownership or violation of property rights with an interracial relationship? Even further to the point within a given racial or ethnic group? Not even the heavily referred Bible recognizes adultery without a prior marriage commitment. Neither the constitution nor the Bible identifies these relations as violating the law. Any attempts to carry out punishment or restriction are themselves liable improper judgments. Trying to keep separate 300 million people is just not practical nor socially & economically desirable. Neither is the idea of genetically re-engineering an American Black race.

My experience has revealed that the admittance of liability or wrongdoing is very hard to achieve from some groups or people. Primarily, the accused or guilty party tries to mitigate the financial punishment for such actions without establishing a legal precedent. Regarding relationships, I look for compatible personalities, matching of values and goals, and partnership more than I do race or ethnicity. I do not regard matching within your own ethnicity nor pre-arranged relationships as a personal responsibility which contradicts the values I embrace as American. History is important but not determinant. There are many groups in society that make “racial solidarity” their cause and path toward success. However, separation solidarity is neither the American history lesson nor the direction of a progressing democratic society. Choices are made when people are comfortable understanding the agreement with some future predictability of the outcome. There are common interests within ethnic groups and they do not limit choices and freedoms. Community commitment and free choice are not mutually exclusive ideals.

The use of fraternal, religious organizations to create career liabilities and family hardships for anyone that does not conform to someone’s ethnic definition is a liability increasing social costs burdening the state. It limits earning potential (tax revenues to government), committed family development, and reinforces ethnic stereotypes. An even greater threat to the democracy is the delay of due process to protect the organized, fraternal violations of law in an attempt to replace with a subjugated group belonging. So, does the American democratic experiment continue to grow or do we fall victim to the separate, (prophetic) group commitments creating its own rules difficult to globally enforce and adjudicate within the legal system of equal justice?

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update: December 2013