We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • ::COVID-19 COVERAGE::
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC.
    • Podcast
    • Blogs
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Best Practices
      • Dispatches
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Logistics Problem Solving
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Public Sector Logistics
      • Two Sides of the Logistics Coin
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • MODEX 2020
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC.
    • Podcast
    • Blogs
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Best Practices
      • Dispatches
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Logistics Problem Solving
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Public Sector Logistics
      • Two Sides of the Logistics Coin
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • MODEX 2020
    • Upload Your Video
Home » an open letter to the 2008 presidential candidates
special handling

an open letter to the 2008 presidential candidates

March 1, 2008
George Weimer
No Comments

Dear presidential candidates:

We've been watching with interest over the last several months as you've all competed for the top job in the U.S. political arena. We hope the best of you wins. But as hard as you've lobbied for our votes, it's been difficult for us to settle on any one candidate, especially since many of us feel that we've been left out of the process.

We are the people who manage and work in the distribution, logistics, supply chain, and industrial sectors of the economy. We feel we play a key role in keeping the engines of commerce running. Without us, the economy comes to a halt. Yet we aren't hearing much from any of you about our problems and our interests.

As we listen to your speeches, we can't help but feel that you are ignoring some very important things. For starters, it sometimes seems that politicians believe that there's a gigantic pile of money sitting somewhere in Washington that they can draw on whenever necessary. Well, we have news for you. That big pile of money represents the flow of taxes from individuals and businesses. That "revenue stream" is created by business. In the end, business is the only real show in town, and our part in that show is to keep that revenue stream flowing—smoothly, efficiently, and dependably. Without us there isn't anything to give away or to promise people. We're proud of the role we play in the economy, and we wonder when you will acknowledge our role and talk about how we fit into your vision of America's future.

So here are some suggestions to all of you who are running for president of the United States:

  • Remember how the modern economy of any nation works today. It depends on infrastructure, logistics and free enterprise, and free markets.
  • Bear in mind that we're now players in a truly global economy. If our domestic companies are to compete successfully, they can't be weighed down by unnecessary and burdensome taxes. We are more than willing to pay our fair share. But our employees, stockholders, and customers cannot be expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of the load.
  • Please consider the merits of a comprehensive national transportation strategy, with a true vision for the expansion of our nation's transportation networks—a vision that focuses not only on our highways, but also on our rails, ports, and inland waterways.
  • Keep in mind that we live in a "regulatory fog" these days. It continues to get thicker and thicker. Much of it is counterproductive. Help us navigate through it, or better yet, clear it up.
  • Invite us to the table when matters of economic policy and global business are discussed—or at the very least, ask us to serve in an advisory capacity. We have both the expertise and the motivation to help whoever wins the presidential race this November.
  • Never forget that global business is bringing the good life to billions. We help a great deal in its development. We also bring a higher standard of living to our country's own citizens. We should be partners in the future, not opponents—or worse yet, bystanders.

I urge whoever wins the election in November to consider these suggestions. We are the backbone of the economy. Let us help you keep the United States a success story.

Yours truly,

The U.S. logistics community

Transportation Regulation/Government
  • Related Articles

    FIND And LLamasoft Partner To Increase Access To Diagnostics Via Development of an Open-Access Tool

    Panel Built Modular Wall Systems Offer An Easy and Flexible Way to Build-Out Open Offices

    Cliff Lynch's annual letter to Santa Claus

George Weimer has been covering business and industry for almost four decades, beginning with Penton Publishing's Steel Magazine in 1968 where his first "beat" was the material handling industry. He remained with Steel for two years and stayed for two more when it became Industry Week in 1970. He subsequently joined Iron Age, where he spent a dozen years as its regional and international machine tool editor. He then re-joined Penton Publishing as chief editor of Automation Magazine and in 1993 returned to Industry Week as executive editor. He has been a contributing editor for several publications, including Material Handling Management, where his columns and feature articles regularly generated lively discussion in the industry. He has won various awards from major journalism organizations. He has covered numerous trade shows here and abroad and has spoken to various industrial and trade groups on the current issues and events of the day as they impinge on business. He remains convinced that material handling technology and logistics are two of the major sources of productivity improvement today and in the future for all industries.

Recent Articles by George Weimer

Commentary: Necessity mothers invention at NA 2010

Deal or (more likely) no deal

business crime: who's really at fault?

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Walmart launches plan to build micro-DCs inside dozens of retail stores

  • Relaxed regulations for drone parcel delivery to take effect in March

  • Gartner survey signals increased investment in resilience over the next two years

  • Increasing Urgency for Vaccine Supplies Drives Launch of New Vaccine Manufacturing Resources on Thomasnet.com

  • What Level of Automation is Right for Your Warehouse?

Now Playing on DCV-TV

7d82a38f f300 4f37 aac7 93ec8a60c08a

Heads Up: Your CEO Could be Calling!

DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
The challenge on the table is how to make the best of a tumultuous transportation market. Watch this video to hear some tips to consider. Check out last week's 2MW: https://blog.tranzact.com/2-minute-warning/note-to-ceos-dont-blame-the-logistics-department OTR with Peter Tirschewell, from the Journal of Commerce...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Time to rethink your lift truck power

  • Warehouse Management System Project Toolkit

  • Solving Talent Management Challenges Now and In the Future

  • Shaping Up Last Mile Delivery to Surpass Customer Expectations

View More

Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2021. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing