California, USA – Chaldeans in California grow worrisome as the state’s debt skyrockets.  “They will tax the people to death in this state,” says Abrahim Bajoka, owner of an Arco Gas Station.  “Tax! Tax! Tax!  The more money they take from us the less we can grow, hire new people, or buy new products to sell.  This is basic business.  What is wrong with this state?”

Bajoka’s aggravation is not rare.  Taxpayer groups in the “Fruit & Nut” state are also fuming and vowing to go to court to initiate a referendum to halt nearly $10 billion in recent tax increases Democrats passed in a secret special session last Thursday. 

Lawmakers across the nation are shocked at the extraordinary parliamentary maneuver.   California Democrats circumvented a constitutional provision requiring a two-thirds vote in the state legislature to raise taxes by using their simple majority. “What they are telling small business owners is that we don’t want you in our state,” says Bajoka.  “The hard workers get taxed and the lazy get fed.  This is all wrong.”

So which are the best low-tax states welcoming new business leaders and encouraging economic growth?  Just follow the trail of Chaldeans….

Michigan, USA - Chaldeans time and again show their prowess to succeed. "Hard work, exceptionally creative, and humble," says Ashley Polus, a guest at the prestigious Southfield Skyline business award ceremony.  "Ron Jona made us all proud. I was pleasantly surprised to learn he was the man being honored. As I said earlier, hard work, exceptionally creative, and humble.  He deserves it," she said.

Southfield is home to over 9,000 businesses including more than 80 "Fortune 500" companies. The City of Southfield is the premier business address in Michigan. With more than 27 million square feet of office space and over seven million square feet of retail and industrial space - Southfield is truly Michigan's undisputed business center. In fact, Southfield boasts more office space than the central business districts of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis or Kansas City.

New York, USA – Chaldeans and Assyrians in American are appalled at Christie’s Auction House of New York.  “They are war profiteers moving the spoils of war,” says Chaldean art collector Enas Namoo from his downtown Chicago office.  The Chaldean art collector, well known for his Mediterranean art collection, was furious for what he saw in the catalog of the ancient art and antiquities auction at Christie's next week.  Among the collection was a pair of neo-Assyrian earrings established as artifacts of Mesopotamia.  “This belongs in the museum, not on an auction block,” said a angered Namoo. 

Along with Namoo, Iraqi authorities have also appealed to have the pair of neo-Assyrian earrings returned.  The 9,000–10,000-year-old earrings are expected to bring in up to $65,000, but Iraqi officials say they are part of the treasures of Nimrud and thus rightfully the property of Iraq.

Chaldean archeologist, art curator, antiquity expert, and former director of the Iraq Museum Donny George says, “I am 100 percent sure they are from the same tombs from Nimrud. I witnessed the excavation."

Michigan, USA – While the automotive giants and industry big houses are off begging for bail-out funds, real business leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation are busy finding new ways to better serve customers.  Ask John Abbo, owner of Mobil station at Clyde Road and U.S. 23 in Hartland Township, who has transformed the gas station into a convenient one-stop-shop. 

"The general trend is consumption of petroleum has gone down; it has affected our industry a lot," Abbo said. "We're fortunate that we were able to do the different type of things that we did, like put in a new grill, and we've now converted the store into a market. Gas stations aren't what they used to be."

Abbo has expanded offerings at his 5,000-square-foot station, which he now refers to as the "Hartland General Store," including adding a full liquor collection, expanding Hartland Express Pizza into a grill and selling Michigan Department of Natural Resources hunting and fishing licenses on site. Frozen foods, a deli and other offerings are also included in the renovations, which are expected to wrap up within the next month or so.

In all, Abbo said, he's poured nearly a quarter of a million dollars in improvements.

Michigan, USA – Another remarkable business light shines through the darkness of Michigan’s economy.  Alpine Marketplace in Linden, Michigan, against all business odds refused to allow Michigan’s economy to get in the way of offering Linden residents the very best. 

“They have expanded and really offer the best of quality foods,” says Gina Shiller, customer of Alpine. “All other business are cutting corners trying to save cost, but not this place.  They spared no expense to take care of their customers.”

The “Alpine” name is the only thing that remains the same.  Marvin and Norm Yono say it is in their blood to give their customers their best, a standard of excellence they deserve.  “That means fresh, local, seasonal and gourmet products — priced affordably at regular ‘grocery store’ prices.” 

Michigan, USA – Obama’s ties to Chaldean business leaders is not limited to Chaldean British billionaire Nadhmi Auchi and Chicago millionaire Antoin “Tony” Rezko.  Auchi’s connection to Saddam Huseein and his loan to Obama of 3.5 million dollars through the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA for his home on 5050 South Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, caught little media attention in the political campaign.  

Despite the fact that Obama’s appeal to Chaldean business owners isn’t in the small businesses policies he campaigned about, Chaldean business leaders are going to make the best of popularity. 

Take for example, gas station owner Sam Bazzi in Detroit.  Bazzi is capitalizing on the President Obama frenzy hoping to cover the eventual tax hikes his station and small business like his will face once Obama takes office.  The owners of the independent gas station re-branded a few months ago, including the roof, the sign, the pumps and even the awnings. The new Obama Oil on the corner of Wyoming Street and Plymouth Road in Detroit is a brilliant marketing move that has been “pumping” up customers and ringing in profits.

Michigan, USA – Chaldean businesses will soon feel another round of pinches as Michigan continues its economic free fall.  Chrysler LLC, whose owner has been in talks to sell the automaker to General Motors Corp., said Friday it will cut 25 percent of its salaried work force starting next month and warned that it will make more restructuring announcements soon.

Chrysler, which has about 18,500 white-collar workers, said Friday it also will cut a quarter of its contract employees — those who work for other companies under contract with the automaker.  About 5,000 people are likely to lose their jobs, although the company would not say how many contract workers it has.

“This will impact many Chaldean families,” says Joey Markos, owner of a dry cleaner with standing accounts for many Chrysler professionals.  “Many Michigan small businesses will feel the loss.  For every professional job that is lost, three times the impact is felt on small business.  I lose the revenue. I can’t spend, expand, or hire anyone.  I have to layoff two great workers; single mothers who have been with me for over five years.” 

Michigan, USA – Chaldean entrepreneurs have always fought to compete against the cold giant retailers.  “We do this on a personal level.  We reach out to our customers and make sure they are happy.  We support the community and give back,” says Eddie Katoola, manager of Grail of Gorcers in Highland Park.  Grail of Grocers fresh produce and meats remind customers of the days long gone, when butchers knew your name and shared community recipes.  

The success of Chaldean business owners is there ability to offer customers wonderful products and services and great prices.  It’s the reason why so many Chaldean businesses have been able to outperform major competitors.  The long standing tradition of offering valued goods is remarkable. 

Across town, Johnny Karmo, owner and manager of Market Fresh is offering his customers a most unique product.  Karmo wants his customers to have the most unique pumpkins on their block. 

Michigan, USA – Chaldean business owners are disappointed over continued efforts to stain independent grocers.  “This is bad.  These people don’t speak for us.  Our produce and foods are fresh.  This is just another way to take money from stores owners and give them nothing in return,” says Kamal Dally, owner of Riverside Liquor in Detroit. 

Dally is upset over an initiative announced at a private business meeting among Chaldeans, under the approving eye of Detroit’s new Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. that Chaldean store owners be asked to join a “Guaranteed Fresh” campaign for their stores.

Dally, and many other business owners feel the business group sold-out the Chaldean business community to gain political points with the new mayor and raise money for their own pet projects.  “They don’t care about Chaldean businesses.  All they care about is using the community name to take money from those who work so they can play golf,” says Dally’s son Thomas.  “Why didn’t they propose the city start a ‘Guarantee Response’ from the police every time a Chaldean store calls for help during an armed robbery or theft? 

Chaldeans are known for their congeniality and good-nature.  What would seem on the surface to be a wonderful trait, can become a huge risk in a corporate setting.  Chaldean professionals making their way through the corporate maze are forewarned that it’s easy to let imprudent information slip out. 

There are at least nine things Chaldeans or any professional minded go-getter should always keep to themselves at work. While some of these points are obvious, anyone who’s spent any time at all in an office can vouch for the fact that this advice bears repeating, and that heeding it could avoid a whole lot of unproductive drama.