Common Ground: Business and Labor

By Bruce Ventimiglia, Chairman Saratoga Capital Management, Co-Chair BALCONY

Transcript of New York City BALCONY meeting

It’s an honor to be with you today.

E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many One.

What a great country and state we have.

What a wonderful opportunity we have to make them even greater.

We believe that it’s time for business and labor, and citizens of all political stripes to join at the hip to move our country forward by solving the critical issues that we are confronted with, such as healthcare and tax reform.

I am going to read portions of speeches from two prominent Americans, and I’d like you to guess who they are:

“…United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder…”

“…So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us…”

These remarks were from John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Inaugural Address.

“…All of us together — in and out of government — must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable with no one group singled out to pay a higher price. We hear much of special interest groups. Well our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries, or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we’re sick — professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, “We the People.” This breed called Americans…”

These remarks were from Ronald Reagan’s 1981 First Inaugural Address.

E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many One.

Think about America in its moments of greatness. We all come together and drop our self-serving interests for the betterment of our country. We have a great opportunity to bring opposing views together to improve our collective lot. Business and labor must work together to bring our great country to new heights.

The strength of a business is in direct proportion to the productivity and happiness of its people. A business is not a name on a building; it’s the creativity and work ethic of its people that derives its inspiration from the hope of a better future.

Many of the dreams that all of us share as citizens of the United States are supported by the businesses that we work for. Our dreams of providing a top-notch education for our children, retiring in dignity and providing comprehensive healthcare benefits for our family members can be greatly supported by a healthy business.

Each business is a “citizen” of its community. Healthy businesses paying their fair share of taxes equate to healthy communities with flourishing school systems and services to their residents.

BALCONY is dedicated to changing public policy and spurring economic development through the adoption of business friendly, socially responsible, common sense laws that maintain and improve the quality of life for working New Yorkers.

You can make a difference. Together we will make New York and our country a footprint for humanity to proudly step into!