Before diving into our main topic today, two quick topics.  The first is a reminder that the rapidly approaching 2016 Tunica Show’s professional education day is March 22nd. There’s a hunger for practical, professional Education in manufactured housing, and our panel of Retailers, Community Pros – our Lenders Panel with their hottest plans – and our popular SuperCharge Marketing and Sales are all the afternoon before the main show opens, March 23-25th.  For updates and details on the 2016 Tunica Manufactured Housing Show as they happen, click here. 

Next is a reminder of how we got to this relative low point as a nation, which harms us all personally and professionally.  The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were the greatest safeguards for individual liberty ever conceived prior to that time in human history. Those 18th century documents provided for limited government, separation of powers and local authority. Those limits on government kept individual liberty high, and allowed people to keep the fruits of their labors and thus encouraged innovation, jobs creation, etc. That Constitution was the answer to the tyranny of the kings and lords of the past, or the 20th and 21st century dictators and oligarchs. 

The nation slowly, over time, slipped those moorings of limited government. Those who want to rule over others, under whatever pretense or disguises one can imagine, tried and increasingly succeeded in creating the scenarios we see and live under today.  

Bloated, wasteful and corrupt bureaucracies, quasi-legal powers that stand outside of the normal law enforcement and judicial system, a tax code written for the powerful and the spending/appropriations that long ago violated the principles of Article 2, Section 8 of the Constitution. The Founders would be in shock.

But as Dr. Ben Carson reminds those willing to listen, the founders imagined such a time could come, and they believed that we the people would wake up in time to save our freedom, free enterprise and our Republic.

That Liberty is what is at stake in 2016. Sorry to say that no one on the Democratic party side that is still in the race raises such issues. They are addressing the symptoms of the problems they claim to want to cure, by giving Americans more of the cause of the problems. Bigger government is not the solution. Socialism economically ruined Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and other lands. Much of Europe is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, thanks to socialism.  

Among the Republicans, the real reason for their street brawl is that the powers-that-be – the so-called Establishment, lobbyists, political influence peddlers, et al – they are seeing their system/power being threatened. Thus they are willing to do any and every nasty thing one can imagine, because if you throw enough mud, their professional string-pullers and manipulators know some mud will stick. 

Those establishment geniuses in both major parties (FYI – once more, I’m an independent, not registered in either party – and speak for myself, not for others) have for decades through policies like those mentioned, given us the problems we face today. Examples:

• the large and growing mess in the Middle East;
• gave us porous borders and a much abused immigration/visa system for decades – look at how “rapefugees” are terrorizing Europe, do we want those kinds of problem here?
• Created the $500 billion dollar plus annual trade imbalances with China and others, which in turn decimated our industrial base – costing Americans millions of good jobs:
• that in turn creates more unemployment, more welfare programs, more budget deficits…;
• a tax code that costs us billions of man hours a year to comply with;
• ObamaCare, that is a jobs killer that has driven up the costs of medical care rather than cut them;
• regulatory codes that choke off new businesses, and favor large business over smaller ones – thus choking off job creation;
• handed over tens of billions to Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism;
• gave us decades of energy dependence, while trillions of dollars flowed out of the U.S. that created those gleaming cities that rise from the deserts of the oil rich Arab nations, some of which in turn…;
• …are funding the Islamic terrorists that we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars defending against them, defending against China, Russia, Iran, North Korea...who created these gigantic messes and stratospheric debts and deficits?

Answer. Establishment politicos in both major parties. And it was made possible only because the U.S. Constitution is being routinely

ignored. Please read the brilliant article by Kurt Kelly and DJ Pendelton on the Supreme Court, linked below, because it sheds a telling light on why this is so crucial to you and all Americans today.

Having teed up future articles with the above outline – because our nation’s future is hanging in the balance – lets pray for wisdom and courage to deal with these issues, which harms our industry, so many others and the people of these great United States of America too.

Now let’s turn to the primary topic for this month of March for manufactured housing professionals.

Marching On for Manufactured Housing

Interviews

A Cup of Coffee with…Barry Shein, Commodore Homes – this is one of the multi-decades stalwarts of our industry.  Barry brings keen insights, and you’ll likely learn things you will see or read no where else in MH publishing.

The interview also provides a thoughful example that MHProNews is ok with perspectives other than our own.  We’ll publish well reasoned comments of those who disagree with me, and will publish it on our own pages. 

Triad Financial Services – Don Glisson Jr.. This is part two of our in-depth Inside MH Road Show Video with TFS’ Chairmen and CEO.  Part 1 was a hit, part two will be too!

Suits

This month, we might have called this legal scholars month. With no less than 5 articles by attorneys (“suits”) among our featured articles, all of which are listed and linked below. 

Financing 

We might also call this finance month. Part Two of our hit Inside MH Road Show video with Triad Financial Services, Don Glisson Jr. Team SACU introduces what you can expect from them at the 2016 Tunica Manufactured Housing Show. Michael A. Parham, JD talks Duty To Serve (DTS) manufactured housing, and yours truly breaks down a misunderstood part of the recent Buffett Letter on Clayton Homes and their related lenders. All that and more are linked below.

MH Retail 

Clayton Homes joins us this month with insights on their recent acquisition of G&I Homes. A must read for all who follow the industry’s dominant player.

Inside MH Video with MH Retail Pros. This video also features insights into how Sunshine Homes works hard between departments and sneak peaks into the plant operations to help insure a great product and experience for home buyers and retailers alike.  This is “must see, MH TV.”  

MH Communities 

Kurt Kelley, JD, raises an question many in the MHC world will find timely, because it is ripped right from the headlines.

Nadeen Green, JD, dives deeper into why Fair Housing issues have to be handled properly. Miss this read, and it could be costly.

Two new posts by MHRE’s Christopher Nortley.

JLT Associates latest market report on MI. 

Events

Dennis Hill gives you an in depth updates on the latest official news for the Tunica Show.

WHA’s Laurie Mercurio giving you a recap on the Hill visits and MHI’s annual meeting. Sunshine, CU Factory Built Lending, Triad Financial, MHWC and others are sharing articles that have tied to the rapidly approaching 2016 Tunica Show.

Inspirational – Motivational

Legendary Zig Ziglar, and living legend Tim Connor each provide food for thought that feeds the mind while inspiring the soul.

Marketing & General Industry

Tifanee McCall on the value of extended warranties in selling more factory built homes.

Wayne Coakley returns with another timely look at why online reviews  – and how you can make them pay – is so important.

Story Telling – L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach – brings you topics that every week are changing the way thousands upon thousands are understanding manufactured housing.  Millions of visits and rising sales for those using these tools MH storytelling  resources are proof that this approach makes sense for manufactured housing.

MHARR News and Commentary

While these aren’t technically featured articles this month, it’s because of timing and other issues, so we do want to draw your attention to recent items shared with us from the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) president, M. Mark Weiss. See this link here.

With no further adieu, here is the link to our featured articles for Marching On for Manufactured Housing.