Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, March 14, 2005.

As a parent, I often find myself dispensing advice to my children. And for the most part, I feel pretty good about that. A parent should give advice -- we need to help direct our children toward making good decisions.

It's just that sometimes, it's a good idea to step back and listen to the wise words flowing from your mouth because sometimes the words may not be so wise. Those words, you may find out, have very little to do with the edification of your kids and a whole lot to do with advancing your own agenda. (I have advised my girls to carry a stick with which they should smack any boy who gets near them from now until they are 26 years-old, at which point they may start talking with a few nice ones.)

In West Michigan, we have this sort of parent/child relationship with our rich guy patrons. We have this handful of successful business folks who have been the force behind many generous public and private efforts that have made Grand Rapids an exceptionally bright Midwestern city. One of these chaps is Peter Secchia.

Peter Secchia is a very colorful and quotable guy. He is Chairman of the Board of Universal Forest Products, a Grand Rapids company. He owns all sorts of business and land in town, and is a mover and shaker in the Republican Party -- he was ambassador to Italy during the first Bush administration.

Recently, no doubt because of his loyal work, Mr. Secchia was awarded an audience with the grand deity of the Republican Party, Karl Rove. And apparently Mr. Secchia made a point of reassuring his holy Roveness that the people of West Michigan were all true supporters of the Bush Administration despite a Democrat governor, two Democrat senators, and Kerry/Edwards winning the electoral votes. Clearly Mr. Secchia was speaking for his own benefit and was more than a little patronizing to those of us who have yet to sign the Bush loyalty oath.

So this week's comic cuts both ways. It acknowledges that Mr. Secchia is a person of significance who warrants attention. But the sarcasm indicates my displeasure with his chutzpah in assuming he can speak for us all.

Not that I will have a problem in speaking for my daughters when I will tell potential suitors, "We don't want you here; come back when you're 26 and have a steady job."