Introducing Ferdinand E. Peterson

Meet my Grandpa. His name was/is Ferdinand Euray Peterson. I am dedicating this blog to his good name and to my best memories of him. I can sum him up in one word: Optimistic! He always had good ideas, good things to say, knew the dark underbelly of failure a time or two, yet, due to his hard working, persistent nature, and his eye toward optimism, he always saw GOOD NEWS everywhere he looked, in everything he did. He was the most amazing man, easily in my top ten of men I have known and admired. He was born on October 15, 1902. His parents were Jacob Peterson, who was a son of Canute Peterson, and Caroline Dorius Peterson. His blood coursed thick with his Mormon pioneer stock. A genetic background that met hardship, understood sacrifice, saw the vista of opportunity, but knew the cost of hard work that would get him to his goals and dreams. He married a Isabelle Meikle, a beautiful co-ed who was a student at the University of Utah. They married on June 12, 1929. Together they raised 3 beautiful, accomplished, smart, witty, happy, delightful daughters; Raquel (Dyer) Gloria (Bushnell) and Sheila (Lederer). I will weave more family history into this blog as time goes on. I named this blog "What would Ferd Say" for a reason. Given the economic climate, the moral decay in the world around us (and specifically in our American society/culture) and other things of daily challenge, I often hear in my mind, advice, that my Grandpa would render, which was always GOOD NEWS and OPTIMISTIC! I want to add a disclaimer here. It is this: My offering of "What Ferd would say..." is my perspective and memory of him. Others who may have known him; family members, or his friends who are still alive (which I doubt) may have their own variation of what my Grandpa might say about something. So I take a very liberal license in how "I" wish to both remember him, and what "I" think he would say about certain things. So, I begin this blog today, February 11, 2009 with the following: We are being blown away, all of us, in the worst economic crisis in the history of America, I think. Why do I think this is worse than the depression of the late 1920's early 1930's? Because back then, we saw soup lines, shuttered businesses, hobos lining the streets/hopping the rails, broken down cars trying to make it to California/out West to see if they could find work, etc., yet today, we have no clue where we stand. McDonald sales are up 7%! The cinemas are full! I joked last week that the definition of a recession is where you get socks for Christmas, but the definition of a depression is where you eat socks for Christmas! Yes, for me, I think its worse today, because many think this will pass soon, that the Government will take care of this crisis, the stimulus will right all the economic wrongs. So here's what Ferd would say: "You can't spend what you don't have. Profit is the only thing that matters, not credit, not dreams. When you sell something for more than it cost you, and more than you had to pay to get it sold, then you have profit, and you better pay yourself first, at least 10%, by saving it, stashing it away, and not spending it." Get the point? A stimulus package should only stimulate profits! Jobs don't come by creating "make work" they come from incenting the business community to grow, hire, cut taxes, take risk, buy equipment, etc. I like Obama. He's a great speaker. He's anxious to help alot of people. I think he is sincere. But he's never run a company. He's the product of a guy who reached (what in America heretofore) the impossible dream. GREAT! But he did it with a constiuency of those who have the biggest needs in America, not the ones who are the backbone of the Gross National Product builders. Ferd would say, "If you aren't putting in, you are taking out." This economy will only correct itself with people who are putting in! Ferd would say, "We have the stuff! People are good! Work hard!" He was right.