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We need more risk takers...

Ian Gilyeat — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 01:02:00 GMT

Independence Day is the perfect day for celebrating the birth of our nation - and the American habit of risk taking...

You see, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock , Robert Morris and other signers of the Declaration of Independence were all risk takers. Everyone of them, all 56 men, took a huge risk and put themselves in harms way by signing this great document. They also opened the doors to opportunity for a nation of immigrants...

This is an American habit. We take risks in order to open doors of opportunity. Consider a few of the more famous: Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, Carlos Santana, Albert Einstein, I.M. Pei, Hakeem Olajuwon, Frederick Pulitzer, Martina Navratilova and many, many more.

These people took risks by coming to America and created opportunities for themselves and others in education, sports, architecture, music, technology and more.

My own ancestors came in the early 1600's (my mother's line) and in the mid-1800's) my dad's line. None of them, at least to my knowledge, were famous, rich or educated in the best schools. They didn't come here because they were recruited by Universities or by corporate headhunters. They were carpenters, laborers and farmers. They just wanted an opportunity to start a new life in a new country. They wanted freedom.. to pursue life according to their own abilities and ambitions.

They took the risk... and created a life time of opportunity for generations to come - and I for one am grateful that they did.

This year and every year, we need to remember that we are a nation of risk takers - a nation of immigrants. Our country is a great country because of every individual who has taken the risk to come here - and open the door of opportunity for future generations.

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Copyright 2010-2011 All rights reserved. Elect Ian Gilyeat

This is not an endorsement...

Ian Gilyeat — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 04:30:00 GMT

The headline says it, but let me say it again - this is not an endorsement...

However, perhaps it will be helpful in making your decision about who to vote for in the Presidential election.

Read this story on Bain Capital from the Wall Street Journal - and yes, it tells us something about Mitt Romney.

Mr. Romney understands the nature of risk and reward in finances.... and this is important. He plays the game to win. Oh, and by the way, he's pretty good at it. In fact, really good by the the standards of "ordinary Americans."

Take a look and ask yourself if you want someone in the White House who has demonstrated he's really good at business...

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Copyright 2010-2011 All rights reserved. Elect Ian Gilyeat

A heartfelt thanks...

Ian Gilyeat — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:05:00 GMT

If you've been following the race for the U.S. Senate, you know that the deadline for submitting petitions to qualify for the ballot was May 30th. In spite of the hard work of many volunteers, all across the state, we did not obtain the required number of signatures. The amount necessary was 31,210. As a result, after much conversation and consideration, I am withdrawing my name as a candidate.

Although the outcome is disappointing, I want to give my deepest thanks to those that have supported me. This is a great country and it will continue to shine forth, as a standard of liberty across the globe, because of individual people like you. It is widely known that America is one of the most generous nations on earth. This has been my experience as well... while running for public office; loyal and hard working Americans have been generous with their time, their talents, enthusiasm and resources. It is humbling and remarkable how many have been willing to stand with me, even against the popular pressure of parties and friends.

I hope each of us will carry this spirit of sacrifice and service forward through the remainder of this election cycle - and into many more in the future. I hope we will each study out the candidates and choose one that is deeply grounded in the Constitution - someone who comes from the private sector and understands and loves the principles of limited government - even those principles that defend our property, our lives and our individual freedoms.

We need to send the career politicians home. along with their attitude that government can solve our problems. We need to find individuals who will protect our ability to succeed or fail on our own merits. We need individual liberty to fulfill our destiny as a nation. We need to fire the people that have been in Washington, making a career of meddling in people's lives. I hope we will all work to elect honest men and women who care most deeply about these self-evident truths.

Warmest wishes,

Ian Gilyeat

P.S. With one million+ registered voters in Arizona that are outside of the traditional parties, this means that one in three registered voters are "Independent." This is what I call the "great unraveling" of the two-party system in America. Simply put - registered voters are abandoning the parties. Please join me and work on your elected officials to eliminate the barriers they have erected to prevent independent citizens from running for public office. Ask them to change the signature requirement for "independents" so they too only have to gather 1/2 of 1% instead of the 3% that is now required. Also, ask them eliminate the 1 cent per record fee that "independents" must pay to access voter registration rolls versus no cost for party candidates. If we expect the political process to engage all voters then we must knock down the barriers the "privileged class" have erected to protect their privileged life styles.

China, oil and the cost of gas...

Ian Gilyeat — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:29:00 GMT

Steve Forbes states that too much money drives up the price of hard assets - especially oil. There's also the opinion out there that adding the pipeline from Canada to the Gulf will bring a million new barrels of oil per day to the U.S. market. That's a nice sum.

IF these two statement are correct (they need to be fact checked) then the current high prices of gas are self inflicted by our own Federal government...

Our own U.S. Treasury is printing lots of cheap money and our own Federal government has blocked approval of the pipeline...

Speaking of too much currency... leading economists and business periodicals have noted that China is reducing their dependence on the U.S. dollar. Although their latest report showed an increase of 7% in total dollars held - the percentage of their total reserves is under 55%. That means China is holding 45% of their financial reserves in a currency other than the dollar...

This shouldn't surprise anyone. The U.S. Treasury announced they were intentionally devaluing the dollar by 20%. What investor (China) in their right mind would invest in an asset that is designed to drop in value by 20%?

If we want the price of gas to drop and China to strengthen the U.S. dollar as the defacto global standard - we should tighten the supply of money, approve the pipeline and stop printing so many cheap paper dollars.

www.iangilyeat.com

Copyright 2010-2011 All rights reserved. Elect Ian Gilyeat

Disclosures from Bernanke at the Federal Reserve?

Ian Gilyeat — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:45:00 GMT

Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, could face a subpoena from lawyers, representing shareholders of Bank of America; shareholders who want to hear what the chairman said to Ken Lewis, then CEO of Bank of America, prior to the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by BofA.

Although it's uncommon for a top regulator to be questioned in a civil lawsuit, this is an opportunity to add some visibility and accountability to the Federal Reserve. Given the very high profile nature of the conversation, the financial turmoil at the time and the subsequent $20 billion in aid given to Bank of America just before their $19.4 billion acquisition of Merrill Lynch, it seems appropriate and natural for shareholders to want clarity on the machinations of the deal.

Increased disclosures at the Federal Reserve would be a good thing overall - their portfolio is massive - and the bank holds enormous sway on global markets. This particular conversation or series of conversations between Mr. Bernanke and Mr. Lewis may become one more catalyst to holding the Federal Reserve accountable and bring about greater transparency. Let's hope so.

www.iangilyeat.com

Copyright 2010-2011 All rights reserved. Elect Ian Gilyeat

"I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze..."

Ian Gilyeat — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

For those of you familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King's last speech in Memphis, Tennessee, this may be a familiar quote. If you've only listened to the last 60 seconds, and this quote is unfamiliar, listen to the whole speech. It's worth seeing the calm, resolute determination of the man - and you'll discover why Dr. King said, "I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze."

Dr. King left an indelible impression on the American people. It is noteworthy, in this speech, frequently known as the "I've been to the mountain top," speech that Dr. King refers to one of the earliest documents of our nation, the Bill of Rights. He makes mention of the right to peaceably assemble, the freedom of the press, the freedom of speech and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, or as Dr. King puts it, "the right to protest for rights."

Dr. King was familiar with the Bill of Rights. He knew what it meant to participate in non-violent activism.

Today - as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, we should read the Bill of Rights and then remember the Preamble to the Constitution:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Dr. King had it right. We have a right to peaceably assemble. We have a right to petition the government for redress of grievances. We have a right to freedom of speech. May we do so in order to form a more perfect Union and to insure domestic Tranquility.

www.iangilyeat.com

Copyright 2010-2011 All rights reserved. Elect Ian Gilyeat