Obama & McCain -- An Allegorical Tale

[brooklynite]

This is a story I wrote earlier today for another blog, which I think nicely captures the choice the remaining undecided voters need to make:

Once upon a time, there were two men who opened competing businesses, even though neither had run one before. One was an old-timer to Main Street, whom everybody knew, and who was vary popular. The other was a newcomer, much younger and with a shorter resume of experience.

The newcomer thought carefully about the products he wanted to bring to the market. He hired highly qualified senior executives, who turn built a large and motivated work force. The company designed and built an impressive communications system to keep track of all aspects of the business. They raised huge amounts of Capital, spent it wisely, opened sales offices nationwide, and developed engaging marketing messages. The newcomer built successful business relationship with other companies, even whose that competed with him. He also personally picked an experienced and well-respected Lieutenant whom everyone agreed would be able to run the company if the newcomer retired.

On the other hand the old-timer exhibited unimpressive business management abilities, perhaps because he had previously worked for a Business Manager who claimed to have great credentials but had ruined every company he had run. The old-timer picked senior staff members who showed questionable skill in hiring and decision making, and as a result the company's business plans changed abruptly on a frequent basis. Many of the senior staff had to be abruptly fired and replaced, and this happened more than once. Unhappy staff members regularly leaked business secrets and attempted to undercut each other when their strategy was rejected. Poor financial management skills resulted in the company nearly going bankrupt at one point. When a company VP needed to be hired, the choice was someone who gave great speeches at meetings but showed little understanding of how the business worked or what market it was working in.

Most important however, the old-timer's company never decided what products they would offer the market. Instead, they focused entirely on a marketing strategy built around the old-timer's name recognition, assuming that whatever product they sold, people would buy it.

Next week, both companies plan to issue IPOs. You have enough money to invest in one of them. Which one is the sensible investment?