Faith and Political Candidates

This morning, I was watching Morning Joe, and caught Franklin Graham (the son of Billy Graham) being interviewed regarding the statement from Rick Santorum that appeared to question President Obama's Christian faith (Santorum has denied that intention).   Click HERE to watch a video of the exchange.

Now, I don't really care if Barack Obama is a Christian or not.  I understand it's important to many people, and that's their business.  What I can't get around is the idea that we'll believe EVERY other politician when they talk about their faith, but we can't really believe the current president is telling the truth when he talks about his religion.

When pressed, Graham said that he was sure Santorum was Christian.  Romney was Mormon, and "....most Christians wouldn't recognize a Mormon as being Christian...." (although he did say Mitt was a good man, and would be a good president), and that Newt was a Christian.  He was basing this on their morals, and they way they'd lived their lives.  Really - Newt makes the cut as a Christian. Based on the way he's lived his life.  Newt Gingrich, who had a long-term affair while married to his first wife, dumped her (and married the mistress) when she got sick, then did EXACTLY the same thing with his second wife.  The third wife (and former mistress) is still healthy, so we may assume he's faithful to her.  So, due to the way Newt has lived his life, we know he's a Christian.  Really.  Newt.

Lets be clear on this - all this talk about Obama's Christianity (or lack thereof) has little or nothing to do with any concern about his true faith.  Franklin Graham - and Rick Santorum - know full well that Obama is not a Muslim.  At the very least, he's a nominal Christian - he goes to church on occasion and invokes Jesus and God regularly in his language.  He's at least as Christian as most of the population.  No, this talk it all about politics, abortion, and racism.

More than anything, this whole thing is about politics.  Graham is trying to smear Barack Obama in the eyes of the electorate.  It doesn't matter if any of it it true or not - just talking about Obama and Islam in the same sentence will connect the two things in the public's mind.  And make no mistake - the references to Islam and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright are not accidental - it's a calculated strategy designed to paint the president as a radical.

When fundamentalist Christians talk about religion, much of it is about abortion, birth control, and women's rights.  That's why Newt's transgressions are forgiven - he "just" cheated on his wives.  Abortion and birth control are much graver sins, and anyone who is pro-choice is viewed as being insufficiently Christian.  There's certainly room for reasonable people to disagree about abortion - it's certainly not an easy subject for anyone.  I have a harder time understanding the anti-contraception folks, but they certainly have the right to feel that way.  For some of these people,you can't be pro-choice and still be a Christian.

There's no doubt that racism plays a part in the over-the-top criticism of President Obama.  Try as they may, many Americans just can't accept an African-American as their president.  That's where much of the "Birther" controversy comes from, and the continuing questions about his religion are another side of the same coin.  He just can't be American, can he?  How can we feel that this black man with the funny name is one of us?  He's foreign.  He's radical.  He's Muslim.  He's Different!

As I said at the top of this post, I don't care whether Obama is Christian or not - just as I don't care that Mitt Romney is a Mormon, or that Santorum and Gingrich are Catholic.  I am concerned when I see candidates indicate they'll be guided by their religion in their job as President of the United States.  More of a concern to me is the slimy attempt to demonize a political opponent, even causing harm to the country in the effort to make the other party look bad. 

We've not always been obsessed with our candidate's religious beliefs - Dwight Eisenhower wasn't a member of any church until he decided to run for president.  JFK overcame concerns about his Catholic faith.  Richard Nixon was a Quaker (but apparently not a fanatic about it).  I don't see the correlation between religion and the effectiveness of a president.  I do know I don't want elections decided based on rumors and innuendo.

I have zero respect for Franklin Graham, and his ilk.  If he doesn't like Barack Obama, let him say so, and say why.  What is it - religion, pro-choice policies, economic policies, or something else?  Whatever it is, just say it.  Man up - have the guts to say what you mean.  Don't sit there like a weasel and talk about "I take him at his word, I guess".  Throw it out there and make your argument.  Or, if you won't do that, you could do just one other thing.

Shut Up.

10 Full Fingers!

My brother had an interesting post on his blog the other day about a revolutionary safety device for table saws, called SawStop.  It's kind of amazing - this gizmo stops the saw blade almost immediately when it contacts your body.  I suspect you'd get a nasty cut and need some stitches, but that's a far cry from an amputation.  As I said on my comment on his post, it doesn't surprise me at all that it's not been widely adopted - many guys seem to feel that being inordinately concerned with their health or safety is a sign of weakness.

In the past, I've worked with a lot of equipment that could cause a lot of damage to your body - press brakes, shears, lathes, drill presses, forklifts, saws, and more.  Fortunately, I've still got all my assigned body parts - I've really never had a close call.  I have, however, had to make a few decisions.

When I was 17, my buddy and I went to a local factory, told them we were 18, and got hired to work in the plant.  We started on the paint line, then got moved to more demanding jobs as the summer went on.  One night, I was sent to the fabrication department.  They first had me help the set-up guy install a die (this mainly consisted of me standing around and handing him tools when he asked for it).

After the die was installed, they had me run  the machine.  My job was to put the metal blank in the die, hit the foot pedal, and remove the stamped part.  The die area was approximately 24" square, and it required both hands to remove the part, since it tended to stick in the machine.  This press had been originally designed to trip only when the foot pedal and palm button were depressed at the same time.  Someone had wired around the palm button, so the machine cycled whenever you hit the (unguarded) foot pedal.  The cycle time for each trip was about 2 seconds - fast enough to make me think I'd never get my hands out of there if I tripped it at the wrong time.

I ran this machine for one whole shift, and part of the next.  At that time, I was convinced it was only a matter of time before I tripped and hit the foot pedal, causing me to lose both hands.  At lunch time, I went to my boss and told him I wouldn't run that thing any more - if he wanted to fire me, that would be OK.  I was kind of surprised when he sent me over to a different job.  I noticed another guy running the equipment for the rest of that night (and they never sent me to fabrication again).

Think about this - they had an underage employee running a machine that had been modified to bypass its already marginal safety circuit.  Had I been seriously hurt, they'd have been in big trouble.  Of course, I lied about my age - I wasn't innocent in this whole deal - but I'd put most of the responsibility on the company management.  They knew, or should have known, that the equipment had been modified - certainly my supervisor knew.  I'm certain if my father would have known about it, he'd have gone ballistic.

Years later, I was in charge of the sheet metal shop in a manufacturing plant.  An employee who worked for me on the punch presses had lost parts of several fingers in a horrible punch press accident a few years before I started working there.  This same guy would point out things to me by sticking his hand in a RUNNING PUNCH PRESS!  When I'd yell at him for that, he'd say, "It can't trip unless the palm buttons are both pushed."  This is technically true, but any mechanical device is subject to the possibility of failure.  I was never willing to trust my safety to the ability of a safety device to work perfectly.  I once ran a press brake - a big metal press with "V" dies used to bend long pieces of metal.  One brake I ran developed 150 TONS of force, and it was completely unguarded (it cycled when the operator hit a foot pedal).  One day, I was about ready to hit the pedal, when it just started cycling!  Something had broken in the linkage, and it was just running wild - no safety device would have helped in this circumstance.

Old equipment didn't tend to have safety guards.  The first table saw I ever ran was simply a table with a saw blade sticking up through a slot.  Modern saws - even cheap ones like I own - have a spring loaded guard that rotates out of the way when the material hits it, as well as an anti-kickback guard designed to grab the wood if it gets caught in the blade.  The next generation of saws will have SawStop, or something we haven't even thought of yet.  If I ran a table saw with SawStop, what would I do differently?  NOTHING!  I'd still have the other guards in place, adjust the blade so it barely clears the work piece, and use a push stick to push narrow pieces by the blade.  If I do all that, I should never have to depend on the hotshot safety device to protect me.  The device is there to save you if you have a momentary lapse of concentration - not to allow you to be careless.  If all that is stopping you from being hurt is the safety device, sooner or later you'll be hurt.

 In about 30 years of working in industry, my experience has convinced me that I have the primary responsibility for protecting myself.  With that in mind, here are a few general guidelines I try to follow that have helped me avoid serious injury at work and at home:

• Never operate equipment without safety guards in place.  This seems obvious, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen people run power saws or other equipment with safety equipment missing, modified, or disabled.
• Even when safety devices are installed, operate the equipment as though they weren't there.  Don't reach into the mower to clear a clog with it running.  Don't put your hands by the saw blade - no matter what, don't do it!
• Always assume the machine will cycle unexpectedly.  If your saw is unplugged, and you've got control of the cord, it won't start.  If it's plugged in, it may turn on, even if you don't intend it.
• Always assume the car will fall off the jack.  Use blocks to make sure it won't fall on you, and stay out from under it, if possible.
• Unplug it before you work on it!  Lock out circuit breakers, if necessary - don't depend on someone knowing you're doing some work - make sure they can't turn the power back on.
• Use the right ladder, and don't stand on the top rung.  Buy or rent a taller ladder, if necessary - it's cheaper than rehab.
• Don't reach when you're on a ladder.
• Test to see if the power is still on before messing with the wiring.  Invest in a circuit tester.  Did you know you can get shocked on some equipment even with the power off?  If you don't know how, don't mess with it!
• Use the right saw for the job.  Use the proper blade, and adjust the blade so it cuts just barely deep enough.  No, Kari, your new circular saw is not the right choice to cut tree branches!
• Wear eye protection.
• Keep your hands,body parts, or clothing away from rotating equipment.  Gloves can be a real danger around drill presses and lathes - short sleeves and bare hands are better.
• Jewelry doesn't belong in the shop.  Don't want to take your ring off?  You'll need to put it on a different finger after your finger is ripped off!
• If your boss tells you to do something unsafe, say no.  It wasn't easy for me to do that at 17, when I didn't need the job to support my family, and it will be harder for your to do it as an adult.  Do it anyway - if you get fired for not risking your safety, you don't want to work for that company.
• Lift with your legs, not your back.  Most back injuries are self-inflicted.
• If you don't have the necessary skills, tools, and know-how to do a job safely and correctly, hire a professional.  My son and daughter-in-law had a serious roof problem brought to their attention on a rainy, snowy weekend.  Their roof is steep and high - I don't even own a ladder tall enough to get up on top.  They called a pro who crawled up there at night in the rain and controlled the issue - money well-spent, in my opinion.   Sometimes the cheapest solution is to pay someone to do it right.

Do I always follow all of these rules?  No, of course not, but I'm pretty good about most of them.  It's amazing how often you can get by with doing something stupid.  I once watched my neighbor stand on the top rung of a ladder sitting on top of a scaffold in his back yard.  He was reaching out with a chain saw at the end of a long pole, trimming a tree in his back yard - he must have been 30 feet above ground.  When the saw cut through the branch, he almost fell when the branch hit the ladder.  The fact that he was able to get by with this one time doesn't mean he won't be seriously injured if he keeps it up - in fact, it's very nearly a guarantee that he'll hurt himself at some point.

I've been fortunate - I've never been seriously hurt at work.  I've been careful AND lucky - I've seen careful guys get hurt on occasion.  If you're careless, you're almost dead certain to get hurt.  One second of carelessness could result in a lifetime of disability or worse.  Don't depend on luck - take responsibility for your own safety.

Misconceptions about the American Worker

I called to talk to my brother after he posted about Saw Stop - an impressive safety device for table saws - on his blog.  During the discussion, we each remarked on the fact that we had, on numerous occasions, witnessed workers putting themselves at risk by ignoring or bypassing safety devices or procedures.  That got me thinking about the perceived laziness of the American worker.

I have a different perspective on this than many - I've worked in all kinds of production jobs, from the lowest-ranking guy on the line all the way to being the boss of the whole plant.  From what I've seen, workers in this country are anything but lazy!

If you want to make someone mad on the job, put up a stupid barrier that makes it hard for them to do a good job.  I've seen line workers scream at stock pullers because they ran out of material.  Why do they do this?  If they run out of parts, they have to stop working!  You'd think all those "lazy" workers would just be hoping for a chance to goof off, wouldn't you? 

I've seen the same thing with safety devices - employees who risk personal injury as well as disciplinary action because they don't follow proper safety procedure.  When you ask them why they do that, the answer is almost always, "that takes too much time".

At one time, I was Quality Assurance Manager at a manufacturing company.  We set up inspection requirements for operators to get the first part of each production run checked out before continuing the run.  Once again, the objection was based in the idea that stopping to look at the part would slow then down.

I've noticed that most of the talk about "lazy, good-for-nothing" workers comes from managers and staff members who have NEVER had to work on the floor (or, if they have, they were insulated from the real world by virtue of being related to the big boss).  Some of these folks will stand around bad-mouthing the help, without realizing that most of those folks want nothing more than to do a bang-up job.  Most of being a supervisor involves eliminating all the little things that keep people from doing their job.

Of course, I'd say the general good intentions of people go beyond the production floor.  In my current job as a Realtor, I've been impressed by how honest most sellers are - they genuinely want to let buyers know if there are defects in their home.  Believe it or not, they actually want the new owners of their home to be happy!

To be fair, all the misconceptions in the factory don't belong to the bosses.  Many rank-and-file workers believe their boss LOVES to fire people.  In reality, many managers are reluctant to enforce rules, and the LEAST favorite part of almost any manager's job is firing or writing up their employees.  Indeed, as a production manager, the most common problem I saw in managers who reported to me was their reluctance to demand high performance from their people.

So, I've painted a pretty rosy picture of life on the manufacturing floor, right?  All the workers are motivated and honest.  The managers - their only fault is that they're too nice - gently encourage all these blue-collar supermen to be careful, and have fun out there!  With all that going for us, U.S. manufacturing will be back on top in no time, right?  Well, not exactly!  There are still workers who don't want to work, or don't have the requisite skills to get the job done.  There are stupid, dishonest people out there - and some of them are the bosses!  Too many companies have poor procedures, weak designs, and flawed business plans.  Nothing in this life is perfect, and manufacturing  is not even close.  Other businesses share these issues, and the problem rarely lies in the willingness or motivation of workers.  Stereotypes are the product of a lazy mind - turn your brain on, and form opinions based on observable behaviors, not your own prejudices.  Come to think of it, that's pretty good advice in almost every situation!

I'm Number One! (well, kind of, not really)

A few days ago, I received the award for Most Listings taken in December of last year for my office.  I've done well in Real Estate (I've received a "Gold" level sales award every year since I've been in the business), but it's unusual for me to end up #1 in a sales category.  Sometimes, everything comes together at the same time.  It's pleasing to me, but not the biggest thing in my life.

My goal in real estate has never been to be the biggest, even in my own office.  Don't get me wrong - I like being successful, and I'm competitive enough to want to win almost everything I do.   I definitely want to be the BEST real estate agent in town - but best isn't necessarily the same as the biggest!  I'd certainly LIKE to sell five times as much as I do (and feel free to call me if you want to buy or sell!), but I don't think I can do that kind of volume, provide great service to my clients, AND have the kind of life I want. 

When I got into real estate, I assumed it would be pretty easy - show a few homes, write contracts, and rake in the big bucks.  What I didn't realize was that most of the work STARTS after the contract is written - inspections, negotiations (both before and after the contract is in place), contractual deadlines, and just general firefighting!  I'm always the most busy when I have several deals in the works - showing homes to buyers is the easy (and fun) part.  Since many of my transactions tend to be for less expensive properties, I may have more deals in the works than other agents who sell as much or more than I - I suspect I spend more time on my average transaction than some other agents.  That's OK - it's just the way I do business.

I'm not in Real Estate as a hobby - this is my career - so I do want to be successful.  I feel that by providing the best service I can, I'll serve the interests of my clients and grow my business through referrals from people I've helped in the past.  When people recommend me to their family and friends who are thinking of making a move it helps me to grow my business, and they'll know they've helped them get effective representation for their real estate needs.

When I get an award, I'll let you know about it, but it's not what I'm really all about.  I'll keep doing what I do, and when I end up with a plaque, there will be plenty of room for it on the wall in my office!

Why Should I Build a New Home?

As you're probably aware, now is a great time to buy an existing home.  The housing slump has pushed home prices down, so there are some great buys out there.  In addition, interest rates continue to be at or near historic lows, so your total cost is, in real terms, as low as it is likely to be for the foreseeable future.

New home costs are also down -  mainly because builders are cutting their margins to try to compete - but, since material and labor costs haven't gone down (and many have gone up), there's a limit to how low the prices can go.  So, if the best buys are in existing homes, why in the world would anyone decide to build a new home?  Actually, there are a number of really good reasons why you'd pick now to build your new home:

• Prices are attractive.  I know, I just said the best bargains are existing homes, but that doesn't change the fact that builders are working hard to make their products more affordable.  Lot prices may be better, and new technologies are allowing builders to save during construction. 
• They don't build them like they used to.  In this case, that's a good thing.  The builder I represent, Goings Homes, is a builder of Green Homes - featuring design and construction features to enhance the Energy Efficiency, Environmental, Health, and Safety features of the home.  A home built with these features will save energy today, and, when you factor in resale value, is very likely to cost less in the long run. 
• You can have exactly what you want.  A few years ago, our neighbors asked me to help them sell their home and purchase a town home.  They had purchased their home from the builder, and had maintained it impeccably for 49 years, so clearly they would plan on staying in the new home for some time - in fact, it will probably be the last home they buy.  They would need a quality home, and didn't need to settle for something "just OK".  After searching, we quickly determined they wouldn't be happy with someone else's home - they all needed work.  We did find a very nice town home, built by a reputable local builder, that was complete.  Since it had been complete for some time, the price was very attractive, but it wasn't quite what they dreamed of - they really wanted some upgrades, and preferred different woodwork and cabinets.  In addition, the location, while nice, didn't sit exactly like they wanted.  In the end, they ended up building a home, and having everything just the way they wanted it.  Did it cost a little more?  Of course - in fact, they spent about 10% more for the home than they would have for the existing (but still new) one, even allowing for the upgrades.  They got what they wanted, and they'll live there for years - the extra cost was more than made up for by the satisfaction of living in their dream home.
• Reduced Maintenance Costs.  When you buy a new home, you're getting new everything - wiring, plumbing, roofing, carpet, heating and air conditioning, appliances - the whole ball of wax.  Yes, you've paid a little more, but you won't have to put a roof on in a few years.  With an existing home, something is going to need attention eventually, sometimes pretty quickly.  Most builders will offer a warranty covering their construction methods and materials, and appliances will be covered by a manufacturers warranty.

OK, you're convinced, right?  Well, hold on a little - not everyone should buy a new home.  What are some legitimate reasons NOT to buy new construction?  Here are a few:

• You never stay in one home for long.  My neighbors lived in their home for 49 years - that's one extreme.   I had a client who was moving for the 5th time in 8 years -  that's the other extreme.  Figure out where you are on that scale - if you're likely to move in just a few years, think hard before you buy new.  An exception would be if you are transferred for work and have a relocation package that guarantees you won't lose money on the sale of your home (the case with my client mentioned above).  The point is, you'll lose money if you have a home built and immediately try to sell it.  Think about it - why would you buy a used home for the same amount you could have a brand new one built?
• You absolutely want to live in a particular established neighborhood.  In Lincoln, as in most cities, there are some lovely older neighborhoods that have a character and charm that appeals to certain buyers.  In those cases, it's unlikely you'll find an available lot, and, if you do, your new home will be out of place surrounded by stately older houses.
• You love old homes.  In my experience, there are two types of people - Old Home People, and everybody else.  People who love old homes see the beauty in them - they like the creaking floors, plaster walls, drafty windows, and cave-like basements.  There's nothing wrong with that - just like there's nothing wrong with the buyer who wants nothing to do with any of that.  Look around a little, and see what  you really like before you make a decision.
• You really like to fix up a home yourself.  Some people will remodel a house, no matter what its condition.  If that's you, go ahead and buy a home that needs some work.  I have a good friend who is extremely handy.  He has the time, ability, and money to fix up a home so it's just how he wants it.  A few years ago, he and his wife bought a new home.  They got a great deal on it, but it was very plain - white walls, cheap, white countertops, carpeting in the kitchen, etc.  I didn't really like it very much when I first saw it.  After they bought it, he did just a few things to it:  Removed living room windows and replaced with much larger, better windows, Painted the entire home, Added enclosed, heated sun room on the back of the home, Replaced kitchen countertops, Finished almost the entire basement, Added underground sprinklers, Removed kitchen carpeting and replaced with ceramic tile, Replaced virtually every light fixture in the house, Removed the stained baseboard trim, painted, and re-installed, Added crown molding, and probably a bunch of other things I can't recall.  The house is beautiful - you wouldn't recognize it.  It probably made sense to him, but for almost anybody else, this would be nuts!  If you want a house like that, it's more cost effective and less frustrating to just have it built that way.
• You need something right NOW.  Building a home from scratch takes around 6 months, so if you've sold your home, and have very little time to get out (and you're not willing to rent while your home is being finished), you'll need to buy something that's already complete.  That could be a spec home - new construction built without a commitment from a buyer - but it will most likely be an existing home that someone is leaving.
• Cost is your primary consideration.  Face it, if you are looking at the very low end of the price scale, new construction just isn't in the cards.  In Lincoln, many home buyers are looking at or below $100,000.  There are few, if any, new homes available in that price range, and those that are may or may not have the size or features you require.  There are plenty of great deals out there for existing homes - you'll find something great in your price range.

New construction isn't for everybody, but, when it makes sense, it can be a great plan.  If you're thinking of moving, consider new construction, along with your other options.  If you think it might make sense for you, ask your realtor to set up a meeting with a builder or two - you'll want to have confidence in whoever you choose to build your new home.  Take a look at some of their other homes, and see what you think.  With the right builder, getting into a new home can be an exciting and low-stress experience!

Walking Multiple Dogs

In a previous post (here), I talked about the importance of regular walks for your dogs.  As I said then, few things will do more to make both your life and your dog's more enjoyable than a nice walk every morning.  But what do you do if you have more than one dog?

I walk - or run - with both my dogs almost every day.  They're both large dogs, but they are fairly well-behaved most of the time.  I've had people ask me how I manage with two big dogs on lead at the same time.  I hadn't given it much thought before, but it occurs to me there are a few tips that help to make a success of walking two dogs at the same time:

• Every problem you have with your dog isn't doubled with two dogs - it's squared, so your dogs have to have at least a little bit of leash training.  My dogs, Kodak and Cassie, are very good on a leash individually, but do have a couple of  issues.  Cassie has a bad reaction to strange dogs on a leash - she'll bark and growl like crazy at times, but she stays pretty reliably on my left side, and will sit or "place" really well on commnad.  Kodak whines when Cassie gets wound up, but doesn't pull at the other dog too badly.  His big problem on a leash is, when he gets nervous, he'll want to get right behind me - often running into the back of my leg and tripping me up.  It's not a big problem, but you have to be aware of it.  Cassie doesn't pull badly, except when she gets excited.  When she does pull, she's incredibly strong.  Kodak doesn't pull at all, but he can be hard to move when he decides it is time to pee!  Combine all these minor issues when walking two dogs at once, and you've got a handful - so it's really important to work hard at overcoming your dog's issues before you start combining them.
• Don't use a retractable leash with multiple dogs.  I'm not a big fan of these leashes anyway, for normal walks - especially with large dogs.  I don't feel you have enough control of your dog, and a large, strong dog can get up too much momentum if they get a running start.  Save the long retractable leashes for the beach or park, and use a standard, 6' leather or nylon leash for walks.  Once your dog gets used to it, they'll be fine.
• When you teach your dog to walk on a leash, teach him to walk on one side of you.   It doesn't really matter WHICH side you prefer, as long as you're consistent.  I prefer the dog on my left, so I have my right free to carry something, open doors, or - in a pinch - grab a dog to make her behave.  Teach all your dogs to walk on the same side - it will be much easier when you get them together.
• When you walk two dogs, hold the leash with the same hand.  They may tangle themselves a bit, but usually they won't be too bad.  I don't walk with a leash in each hand - I think it's dangerous,since you don't have a free hand to catch yourself if you fall, and if the dogs cross over and tangle themselves, you can be literally tied in knots!
• I don't make the dogs walk in "heel" position, but they shouldn't pull, and you should be the one who decides where you are going.  If they start to pull, just stop - they'll jerk at the end of the leash, then most likely turn around to see what you're doing. 
• Be prepared for at least a little hassle.  Unless your dogs are exceptionally well trained, there will be times when they pull, get tangled, or misbehave in some way.  Relax!  Get it straightened out, and continue your walk.  Remember, problems with multiple dogs grow exponentially - 4 times the trouble with 2 dogs, 9 times the trouble with 3!  Walking your dog isn't about perfection - it's about all of you getting some fresh air, excercise, and stress relief.
• Consider having a person per dog.  If you have a spouse or exercise partner, you should at least think about having that person walk one of the dogs.  It'll be easier for you and might be more fun for the dogs.  Who knows, it might even be great fun for  your dog-less partner! 
• At some point, you may have to just muscle your dogs into compliance.  I know, we shouldn't have to do it - all of our dogs should be so well trained that they behave properly in every situation.  Welcome to reality - our dogs, kids, computers, and cars sometimes let us down.  So what?  Set your heels in the ground, hold the dogs back, and get control of the situation.  If your dogs are too much for you to handle physically, you need to be absolutely positive they won't break free, or you shouldn't walk them together.  In some cases, you may have to use a prong collar, or a similar training aid, to get the results you need.

Most of the above applies if you're handling more than two dogs.  Be aware, however, than 3 or 4 dogs, unless they're very small, are usually going to be more than one person can handle.  At one time, I would occasionally walk my two dogs along with my daughter's dog.  It was OK, but one of the dogs was Charlie, who was almost perfect on a leash.  I would be much more cautious about trying it with 3 normal dogs, except under fairly controlled circumstances.

Walking two dogs at the same time isn't impossible, and it's a lot better than keeping them separate.  While it's a bit more hassle than a single dog, it can be very rewarding, once you've prepared yourself.