JUST THINKING

More Musings for June 2006

1. A few days ago I wrote that the number of cigarettes smoked was down and I hoped that cigarette manufacturers would not provide any incentives. Today in the New York Times, there was an item about cigarette coupons. Apparently, if a smoker buys 5 packs of cigarettes at the regular price they can collect coupons that come with the purchase and trade 5 coupons with a dollar for a pack of cigarettes.
While this may not be much of an incentive to attract new smokers, it will appeal to those already smoking. The number of cigarettes smoked per person will go up so they can collect coupons faster. Looks like more money for the manufacturers with potentially more health problems for the individual. Ugghh!
2. In a related item, stores still do not ask to see ID when a person is making a tobacco product purchase. Recent studies indicate that 71 percent of middle school students are not “carded” and 64 percent of high school students can buy unabated.
You would think that the numbers would be reversed. Surely a store owner can tell the difference, most of the time, between a 13-year old and a 17-year old? If a store owner, (not exclusively a tobacco store) needs tobacco sales to stay in business, they may want to get out of that business and try something else. In other words, stop selling to minors!
3. For the past 4 years the US has been talking about marriage as a union between a man and a woman. As much as political people want you to believe that this is a moral issue, it’s more about ownership rights to estates and other financial risk/benefits enjoyed by married people. But, that’s not the reason why I am writing today.
According to the 2004 US Census, America, the land of married men and women, now has 28 percent of its population as single parents! One of out three school children only has one parent at home. In an era when students need help from parents, there’s a good chance that the adult is not home and instead working a second or third job in order to pay bills.
For your information, that liberal country known as Canada has 19 percent tallied as single parents. Again we can all shout, Go USA!
4. Innovation is being sacrificed for company profits. Over the past 5 years, R&D spending by US companies has been declining steadily and is now 2.5 percent lower than 2001. Companies are defending their lack of research spending by saying it has no influence on customer satisfaction or profitability. In other words, companies will improve what they already have developed but not invest in the exploration of new products. Apparently, customers are satisfied and why waste money inventing since new product packaging is more profitable?
This kind of information again begs the question why so much emphasis is being placed on math and science education in grades K to 16? If companies prefer to spend money fine-tuning existing products, they only need their own skilled technicians. Most likely, computers are doing the updates.
For your information, that “nasty” country known as China, the one that is creating such a huge trade imbalance, is investing in R&D at an average of 14 percent a year over the past two years. They have a large piece o f the consumer market and they want more.
Scorecard: America at a minus 2.5 percent; China at a positive 28 percent. Once again shout, Go USA!
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