Venture Capital

                      

There is plenty of venture capital around. However, the problem is that venture capitalists worry when they feel they have little escape opportunities with which to make their eventual profits.

                       

Venture capitalists make their big profits only when they can sell their ownership in a major Wall Street underwriting. or via a private sale to a major corporation.

                       

But that can sometimes be difficult. Some skeptics may say the Bigger Fool Theory is often their means of success in iffy markets, and not venture capitalist acumen. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

The Euro Masks Poor Economic Habits

                   

The Euro has become more of a political device than an economic requirement. Dreamt up and managed by the French, with the Germans called on to foot the bills as they come due with each country-member’s fiscal mismanagement, or the European Community’s monetary debacles.

                       

The Euro makes it easy to travel about among member countries because it eliminates the need to convert local currencies. But each country goes its own economic way with ingrained cultural and spending habits. The Euro has not been able to change those habits and, therefore, extensive economic problems persist. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

Inaccurate Government Medical Data

                       

Government data are always far behind current information. It occurs with labor statistics; it’s certainly true in the case of medical practice.

                       

The medical profession has up to date, practical knowledge. Doctors are aware of the nuances of medications and techniques which government data lack. Yet laggard government data will be the basis upon which ObamaCare will be dictated by panels.

                       

This is not just an idle scare tactic by those who do not want government-administered decisions. This reflects the way medical decisions are made in the UK and elsewhere, under government health care. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

K-12 Students’ Tests

                  

Questions have been asked in recent years whether testing of K-to-- 12 students and even their often maligned teachers are bona fide.

                       

Parents, usually among immigrant groups, who are not fully familiar with English, are protesting that standardized collective tests of students and classes are not truly effective nor fair.

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True, America's test-based accountability systems have not increased student ability.

                       

One critical report’s author claimed "there is widespread teaching to the test and gaming of the systems that reflects a wasteful use of resources and leads to inaccurate or inflated measures of performance."

                       

The basic argument of these groups is that test-makers are not fully aware of the society the students are from. The perspective here is limited to the immigrants of today.

                       

But the same argument could have been used decades ago when other immigrants arrived. Their children also suffered from similar problems, but with better results.

                       

The solution seems to be in teaching English quickly instead of the current.mishmash of dual languages. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

Government Union’ Pension Shortages

                    

The problem of public unions’ pensions is hardly ever explained by the media. If it were, the taxpayers would be truly aroused.

                       

If the plan funded by taxpayers gives a 5% contribution toward pensions to a union member and does it as a 401 (k) as would most private employers today, that employee would invest it. That same contribution is given to the public employee, but with a major difference. He gets a defined benefit. He does not invest it. The state or locality must do it.

                       

And because of one-sided, pressured negotiated terms, the negotiator is in a position of getting favors from the union he is dealing with, that is, political contributions.

                       

But that is not the whole story. The taxpayers’ side must also assume the defined benefit; having to earn as much as 8% securely on those retirement funds, when that is impossible and will be, perhaps for the next 50 years. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

Are Recent MBA’s Ready For Advanced Tasks?

                   

The purpose for taking an M.B.A. course is to learn about business. I have doubts about what can be taught at an advanced level in graduate school about business; most of what you learn is on the job.

                       

But here, the student is generally being placed in a responsible position right from the start. Such, for example, in some companies, taking over the marketing of whole brands.

                       

It’s foolish to have them undertake such skills from the start. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)

Ideas to Aid Business Careers

                    

The ability to think clearly and patiently about a subject is a quality that a job applicant can offer a prospective employer. However, this isn't a quality that a majority of high school graduates, even college students, are able to offer nowadays.

                       

A suggestion: Think up ideas about what you want to do in your career if you're a job applicant or are interested in your potential career path. Then write the details of your thoughts down, for reconsideration at a future date. Repeat the process periodically, while acting as a Devil's Advocate.

                       

You may get your best ideas from work experience and while you're at leisure. (See the Earl J. Weinreb NewsHole® comments and @BusinessNewshole at Twitter.)