The Enlightened Capitalism Manifesto - Tapa blanda

Everywhere one looks, there is criticism surrounding political corruption, the millions of jobs that have been lost to offshore countries, the arrogance of the bankers who almost brought our country to its knees and the dichotomy between the very rich and the very poor. America is on the verge of instituting a healthcare system that I believe is totally unworkable. Our education system is outdated and inefficient. The most important subject- the basics of proper financial awareness and planning- is not taught in schools. Contentious issues such as gun control, abortion, and gay rights continue to be debated without resolution and our dysfunctional political situation reflects the irreconcilable polarization between Democrats and Republicans. So far, no one has compiled an unbiased and cohesive set of recommendations designed to resolve all these problems while also allowing the public at large to voice their opinions by voting online in support of or against these recommendations. This is what I have done. My entire “platform” is based on the concept of Enlightened Capitalism, which equates with the need for social responsibility. My goal is to curtail the Unbridled Capitalism that is the norm today. I certainly do NOT advocate Communism. All I seek to do is to create a level playing field for all Americans. At the end of each chapter, there are survey questions for readers to consider. After they have finished reading the book, they will be able to access my website www.enlightenedcapitalism.us and take the entire poll (which consists of 114 questions) by voting online. Readers will also be able to view the cumulative survey results at any time thereafter on demand. Using the “comments” feature, they will be able to record their own opinions and dialogue with other readers. I invite you to visit my website since it is integral to the success of this project. You will find some of my recommendations extremely controversial, but I believe everything I propose is doable. Some Constitutional changes may be required, but there are many precedents for amendments. My premise is that Unbridled Capitalism (as we know it in the U.S.) is obsolete and that our political system is broken as a result of corruption and the polarization of our major political parties. I believe that embracing the Doctrine of Enlightened Capitalism will solve most of our problems and restore the United States to its former greatness. In just a few words, the adoption of a framework of Enlightened Capitalism requires adherence to the concept of social responsibility because a system that embraces social responsibility does not just favor the very wealthy or the nation’s political leaders. An effective capitalistic system requires the participation of every American who believes he or she is a stakeholder in setting the future course of our country.

I am a semi-retired CPA living in Palm Desert California. Although I am a U.S. citizen, I’ve lived most of my life in Canada where I hold a Chartered Accountant (CA) designation. My undergraduate degree was in English. My business career has spanned the last half-century during which I wrote 15 books on Canadian taxation and financial planning, several of which were best sellers. I keep myself occupied by training Canadian Chartered Accountants who would like to obtain a U.S. CPA designation. I was reasonably well connected in “the day”. I was listed in Canadian Who’s Who and was on a first-name basis with two Canadian Prime Ministers. Back in 1984, I joined forces with a 17-year-old computer genius and we developed what became Canada’s foremost income tax software. Intuit, which operates Turbo Tax and Quicken, owns my former business today. In 1991, my partner and I sold our company and I was able to retire. My last book on financial planning was written in 1993. Until recently, I never thought that I would have anything more to say. As you will see, if you read my book, things have changed. I have discovered that I have a great deal to say.