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May 28, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Biography & Memoir, Book Review, Books, Business, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Finance, Journalism, Morality, Non-Fiction, Publishing, The Pundit's Corner
 Harry Markopolos, who tried to stop Bernard Madoff’s multibillion dollar fraud, is a genuine hero. But he needed a ghostwriter to tell his story properly. [...]
May 6, 2010
Posted by Antonio de la Vega in: Democracy, Economic Crisis, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Geopolitical Events, Governance, History, Latino & Hispanic, Mexico, Morality, Native American, Opinion, Politics, Social Aspects, Social Issues, Sociology, Uncategorized, World Issues
La ley SB1070 además de polémica debe encerrar otras razones de fondo, para llevar a la reflexión sobre los temas relacionados con el movimiento de personas en el mundo. [...]
March 11, 2010
Posted by Kaye in: Accountability, Attitude, Children, Commentary, Economic Crisis, Education, Family, Governance, Habit Change, Homeland Security, Legal, Opinion, Politics, Social Issues, The Economy
Today, like every weekday, I got in my car, after work, and head for home listening to NPR. I’ve been thinking about this for some time now and today, after hearing a piece on NPR about Kansas City, Missouri’s school board approving a plan to close 26 schools in one district and Cleveland, Ohio’s school board approving a plan to close or move 16 schools, I had to give voice to my thought which is, Our country is broken and bleeding. We are loosing our safety, loosing our jobs, our homes, our way of life and even our schools. Not only can’t we house and feed our children we can’t educate them either. I’m at a loss. I’m lost because I can’t see a fix.
This week, here in South Carolina, a Columbia city council member who has held office representing the same district (The City of Columbia’s District 2) for 27 years, resigned after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion. According to reports, the man failed to pay more than $25,000 in federal income taxes in 2004. Before this revelation we learned that two convicted felons were trying to run for mayor of the city of Columbia and we have a governor that was hiking the Appalachian Trail in Argentina. Continue reading s it just me or, is there something wrong with this picture?
March 3, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Business, Business Management, Cancer, Congress, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Interview, Medical, Wellness, World Issues
While politicians fiddle and patients get burned, Americans’ best bet for affordable, quality medical care right now is in Bangkok. [...]
February 3, 2010
 WHEN YOU CAN’T SHOW THEM THE MONEY:
HOW TO MOTIVATE AND APPRECIATE EMPLOYEES IN A RECESSION
by Peggy Klaus
 It looks like 2010 is off to a cautiously optimistic start. We’re told the economy is rebounding. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is above 10,000 points and many Wall Street banks are expecting a blockbuster year. On the flip side, 85,000 jobs were lost in December, unemployment figures hover at 10 percent, and Main Street business owners remain frustrated, unable to secure loans that would in turn create jobs. So what gives?
As we kick off the new year against this discordant backdrop, employers feel like they’re stranded in uncharted territory. Many new workplace obstacles have emerged as a direct result of the recession, among them the question of how to show appreciation in the workplace when limited (or non-existent) funds are available. As one client put it, “I know how to incent my staff when the bonus dollars are there, but what do I do to motivate employees now that the bonus dollars have dried up?”
After hearing so many reiterations of this question, I created a survey on the topic called Gratitude in the Workplace. After being announced in the last Moosletter, more than 150 surveys were completed. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents came from the following five industries:
- Finance/Insurance
- Scientific/Technical
- Health Care/Social Assistance
- Advertising/Marketing/Communication
- Education/Not-for-Profit
- Manufacturing
Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey. I very much enjoyed hearing your input. We promised to share the results with you, so here goes. Continue reading WHEN YOU CAN’T SHOW THEM THE MONEY: HOW TO MOTIVATE AND APPRECIATE EMPLOYEES IN A RECESSION
January 24, 2010
By Alan Caruba
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” — Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister
It began as a beautiful cruise to a land of “hope and change”, but it has become a nightmare in which the ship of state is being deliberately steered toward a whirlpool of debt from which, if Obama is successful, the nation cannot escape.
One of the primary reasons the U.S. economy has grown over the years has been the confidence in its innovation and productivity. It has generated investment from around the world from those who wanted to profit from our success story. There was a time when U.S. securities were the safest in the world, but that is no longer the case.
On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Senate voted to raise the ceiling of the government debt to $12.4 trillion, described by an Associated Press reporter as “a massive increase over the current limit and a political problem that President Barack Obama has promised to address next year.”
On January 20, 2010, barely a month later, Senate Democrats “proposed allowing the federal government to borrow an additional $1.9 trillion to pay bills, a record increase that would permit the national debt to reach $14.3 trillion.” Continue reading The Bill Comes Due for Socialism in America
December 8, 2009
About six months ago we gave up plastic. Shock. Paralysis. Fear. No bottomless well of credit to cushion the stupid decision, the rash moment, the dinner that started out as a snack and ended up costing over a hundred dollars. We literally never had any cash in our pocket. We were debit card people who saw money as a number downloaded into Quicken or a text in a Blackberry from the bank telling us our balance. In short money had ceased to be money, currency had become a nebulous number that one kept as far away from zero as possible.
I just did a story for CNNmoney.com.. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/pf/0912/gallery.living_debt_free_cash_only/index.html describing our bold decision to get off our plastic addiction. We were hopelessly addicted. I had come from a father who loved plastic. Our family culture was one of new cars and dinners out and rented homes. My dad was a salesman described clearly in Rocketman…http://www.billhazelgrove.com who never gave a thought to the amount of debt we were carrying. His assumption was there would always be more. And really, when you think about it, that has been our assumption as a nation for the last twenty years…there would always be more. Continue reading Going from Plastic to Cash
November 8, 2009
I know a man whose job it is to call up doctors and hospitals and knock down their fees. He has a large home and shiny sports cars and acreage and stocks and bonds and his kids will go to Big Ten schools and he is very affable and is known as a man who knows how to negotiate. But what Frank does is call up a doctor after you go and get a stress test and say, listen, we aren’t going to pay a thousand dollars for that stress test, we will only pay seven hundred. And right there the doctor takes the hit.
Or you have just gone into surgery and emerged minus an appendix and after all is said and done there is a bill for fifty thousand dollars then Frank swings back into action and tells the hospital that they need to knock it down to thirty thousand. That’s what Frank does. He decides what an insurance company will pay and the average is thirty percent that he knocks off the bill.
Imagine if someone came in and lopped off thirty percent from your paycheck just because. Or you have just charged a client to do their taxes or prepare their will or remodel their basement and you have figured your costs and then a middleman comes in and goes, nope, we get thirty percent of that and you are just out. Continue reading Insurance Companies Take Thirty Percent off the Top
November 8, 2009
THE RECESSION IS OVER! So says President Barack Obama and government officials. Prosperity is right around the corner. REALLY? Now what corner is that prosperity lurking on? Herbert Hoover’s corner? The bankers corner? The auto manufacturers corner? AIG’s corner? The bail out execs with bonuses corner? Barack Obama’s corner? Geitner’s corner? I mean I must be looking around the wrong corner because I cant’ find that prosperity.
Now the recession is over for the BANKS. Phew! That’s a relief. I was really worried about those billion dollar bonuses not being paid. I thought for a while there some of those executives might not get their retention bonuses and that really had me up at night. But no, our financial system is sound! SO WHAT? They aren’t giving anyone any of that SOUND money. They are so busy being SOUND that they keeping it for themselves and making billions more in their own investments. Continue reading The Recession Is Over! Really!
October 13, 2009
Posted by seamus in: Attitude, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Economic Crisis, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, General Topics, Republican, Social Issues, Uncategorized
Back from Italy and bummin’-caught a massive cold….funny, in March I was in the UK and they were really slurping Obama. Same in June in Germany although in July it changed when Merkel said he wasn’t going to ruin the German economy.
Obama is not a happening thing now. Saw Obama voodoo dolls in [...]
October 3, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Economic Crisis, Economics, Faith, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Humor, Inspiration & Motivation, Journalism, Life Experiences, Motivation, Nutrition, Personal Experiences, Recovery, Relationships, Weight loss
This month marks a rather large milestone in my life — it’s the official one-year anniversary of my real-world independence. This time last year, I moved into my apartment in Jersey City. Sure, I stayed in the dorms at Seton Hall University, but I always went home for the summer. This was different, though. This time I was moving out for good.
In that time, we’ve seen a lot go on in the world around us. Our economy collapsed, the Mets collapsed (again), the Phillies actually won the World Series, the Steelers won another Super Bowl, we had our first black president, and about 3,000 celebrities passed away.
Personally, I’ve seen a lot happen as well. I’ve lost about 20 pounds, seen my job transform in good and bad ways, and learned a whole lot about how strong and resilient I can be when necessary. I’m a big believer that a lot of the events that happen in our lives do influence how we act with regard to our finances. Here are eight of the most important lessons that I’ve learned in the past year — and lived to tell you all:
- Family is important and will always be there for you. I could go on forever about how this is true, but the moment that really brought it home — quasi-literally — for me was when I thought everything was falling apart. My rent went up, I was forced to take more unpaid days off at work, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue to live the life that I wanted. I really thought my money would run out. This was way off-base, but it took a phone call home one snowy night this past February to my mother to set me straight. She made me realize that all the money I was pooling should be used as tools for my goals, not just to sit idle. This epiphany moment helped me take a fresh look at my finances — and life. Continue reading A Look Back: One Year of Independence
September 29, 2009
INCREASING YOUR STRETCH WHEN YOU’RE STRESSED
by Peggy Klaus
 While recent economic reports suggest that the Great Recession might be coming to an end, few of us have time to celebrate this hopeful news. To quote a recent Newsweek article, “The Recession Is Over! But Not For You—Yet!”
As employers continue to downsize the work force, remaining employees find themselves shouldering more responsibilities without a corresponding fatter paycheck or even adequate training—a formula for anxiety and stress. I’ve been hearing complaints from many employees who are feeling stretched too thin with no relief in sight. Meanwhile, their bosses are asking me for advice on how to keep productivity and morale up during these unprecedented times.
While I’m a firm proponent of using meditation, a healthy diet, and exercise to manage ordinary stress, the burden of our current economic mess calls for taking the following six additional steps to reduce anxiety and increase productivity at work:
1) DON’T LAMENT THE PAST—INSTEAD, FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
Employees: Don’t waste your time lamenting the loss of what your job previously entailed. Instead, try to face the new challenges and assignments head on. Remember, this downturn won’t last forever. The additional roles taken on and skills acquired now can lead to new career opportunities post-recession. Focus on this silver lining when you’re feeling strained. Remaining constructive and positive during layoffs, cutbacks, or talk of downsizing speaks volumes about your leadership ability. Continue reading INCREASING YOUR STRETCH WHEN YOU’RE STRESSED
September 26, 2009
The facts about the Bird Flu, 911 and beyond reprinted in this article, which was in ConspiraZine magazine, and read on their radio show. are very relevant to the Swine Flu Vaccine scheme of today. The official plans currently are for vaccines to be ready Oct. 15th or sometime in December, depending on what they are going to do about adjuvant ingredients in the vaccines. Who knows what the future holds. Baxter’s Bird Flu vaccines contaminated with the Live Virus were discovered before they set off a pandemic with their vaccines. Now, they’re about to do it again, without needing to test normally, be transparent, or be liable. States are taking up the forced vaccine laws Read some of the history leading up to this here related to 911 and martial law and more.
from ConspiraZine Magazine–posted below:
911 and Avian Flu Legislation Were For the Sake of Martial Law: Just Say No to Mandatory Vaccines
In America, we may be on the verge of martial law, the current excuse being the threat of Avian Flu. While remaining calm, we do need to address this potential while we still have the freedom to do so. Perhaps we can stave it off if we look squarely at what is happening, and why. We have to look more deeply into the reality of vaccines, and why they are really being imposed upon us. We can look at 911 to realize that the government will use any deception to control us more. 911 didn’t work to bring total martial law, which is what it was intended to do, so bird flu is now being used to accomplish that state. Martial law is not being used as a last resort because of disaster out of our control. Martial law is the goal, and the disasters are hoisted on the public for the express purpose of making them give up their freedoms. Let’s not. Continue reading 911 and Avian Flu Legislation Were For the Sake of Martial Law: Just Say No to Mandatory Vaccines
September 25, 2009
Was it a true recession or was it a “correction”?…Hmm… [...]
September 24, 2009
We haven’t heard much about it lately in the media, but the idea of a golden parachute came from the tremendous severance packages chief executive officers of large companies would get upon leaving their respective companies. We’re talking about millions of dollars in cash, stock options, and anything else of any real value that they could throw at them.
When we had our major financial collapse last year, there was intense scrutiny on these CEOs who were being removed from their posts for, well, failing to do their jobs. But, they still got crazy packages, golden parachutes if you will.
Today, we’re not going to be talking about millions of dollars worth of stock options or an eight-digit lump sum of cash. We’re going to talk about how to utilize any substantial monetary gift you receive from family, friends, or circumstance for the betterment of your financial health.
Every month around this time, I have my federal student loan payment deducted automatically from my money market account. Usually, my private student loan bill comes to my apartment at this time as well. (I don’t automatically have that deducted because the lender doesn’t have the same level of online access the federal loan provider gives.) Continue reading My Golden Parachute
September 18, 2009
 By Alan Caruba
Let me begin by saying I am not an economist, but I have had a rather unique “education” in the way American’s make a living, thanks to a long career as a public relations counselor working with corporations, trade associations, and others across a broad band of manufacturing and other activities, including agricultural.
My working philosophy was that, if I could understand what they were doing, anyone else could as well. Along the way I learned that farming has got to be one of the hardest ways to make a living. It is just dawn to dusk work. Next to that is manufacturing anything.
So, naturally, when Business Week magazine asked on its cover, “Can the future be built in America? Inside the U.S. Manufacturing Crisis”, it caught my eye. As Pete Engardio, the reporter, put it “The good news is that the U.S. is at or near the cutting edge in most of the emerging product areas,” particularly high tech, the bad news is that “Unless the U.S. can magically resurrect its manufacturing base, the good-paying jobs from these breakthroughs will be offshore.”
The irony is that the high tech breakthroughs were paid for with billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars that funded research at federal and university science labs, going back to the 1960s when the new products were just in the idea stage. Continue reading Signs of U.S. Decline
September 18, 2009
It is not about healthcare
by Bill Hazelgrove
It is not about healthcare. It is the fear of the other. Rural whites and glenn beck runnaways have coalesced with a broad populace that has lost their credit their jobs and their homes. Swindled at the pump they believe ala cable heads there must be [...]
September 17, 2009
Wednesday’s are generally good days. You’re halfway through the week, “hump day” if you will. (I know, I know. Today’s Thursday. This is a postmortem.) We’re almost to the weekend. Furthermore, when I used to live at home, it was the day of the “Good Breakfast” — a sausage and egg sandwich on a bagel, with a few extra sausage patties on the side.
But every other Wednesday it’s even better. Why? Pay day! My job pays us every other week, which gives me an opportunity to add to my checking and savings accounts — which is always a good thing.
Because my paycheck varies a bit each pay period due to furlough days at least once per month, every time I sit down to allocate my money I do as follows: Continue reading Paycheck Palooza
September 16, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, African-American, Business, Cap and Trade, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economic Crisis, Energy, Environmental Issues, Global Warming, Governance, Healthcare, Opinion, The Economy
 By Alan Caruba
I cannot tell you how relieved I was to hear Ben Bernake, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, announce that the United States is “technically” out of the recession. I spent much of the day waiting for my phone to ring with offers of work.
Chairman Bernake did add that jobs would lag, but all the experts say that jobs always lag and, if that’s the case, I am thinking this time around jobs are not only going to lag, they are going to disappear, run away, and leave much of the work force unable to live the “American dream.”
There was a time when the American dream included the opportunity for everyone to own their own home. That dream was based on having a steady job and a decent wage. It was dependent on people saving some of their income for a down payment. It was not dependent on federal government programs that put pressure on banks and mortgage lenders to make loans to people that ACORN had dragged in off the street.
I would feel a lot better about Bernake’s announcement if Congress wasn’t right now getting ready to pass a piece of legislation that every single poll says the MAJORITY of Americans do not like and do not want.
I speak of course of Obamacare. The same polls also suggest that the more Obama shows up on television giving speeches, being interviewed, and otherwise sucking all the air out of the room, the more a MAJORITY of Americans distrust and dislike him. Continue reading “Technically” We’re Out of a Recession
September 15, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Current Events, Diet, Economic Crisis, Economics, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Motivation, Nutrition, Recovery, The Economy
I have a confession to make: I really do enjoy watching television. So imagine my happiness that NBC’s The Biggest Loser is premiering another season tonight at 8 p.m. EDT. Say what you will about the show — that it exploits overweight people, etc. — but I choose to look at it more optimistically. Essentially, people who have fallen off the health-and-fitness track in life are getting another shot with some of the best resources available to take steps toward a life-altering change.
I sincerely believe there are similarities — six to be exact — between The Biggest Loser and your personal finance journey.
1. To progress toward an end goal, you must determine your starting point.
In the first episode of every Biggest Loser season, the contestants are given a physical so they know how much they weigh, their biological age, and all of the associated health risks that come with those statistics. Only then can a health-and-fitness plan be forged. This is a lot like personal finance, because I believe you must know your net worth before you can formulate any goals to work toward. If you are 400 pounds, you can’t realistically set a goal to weigh 250 pounds in a month. In finance, if your net worth is in the red due to excessive debt — college and otherwise — your first goal probably shouldn’t be to buy a BMW. Knowing that information will prevent you from making unrealistic goals you can’t possibly achieve. Continue reading The Biggest Loser, Personal Finance, and You
September 15, 2009
Posted by psuedowriter in: Accountability, Current Events, Democracy, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Environmental Issues, Family, Finance, Geopolitical Events, Latino & Hispanic, Opinion, Recovery, Social Aspects, The Economy
In the greater scheme of global brotherhood and advancement, all of the aims of these “special schools” are wonderful things. In the meanwhile, the taxpayers of today are suffering, and I don’t think most of us like it. [...]
September 14, 2009
I’ve taken the lessons my mother has taught me about planning and budgeting and broken it down into six steps. Follow these to establish your personal finance plan, and you will have the foundation in place for success — no matter what small obstacles or larger life events may come your way.
Here are the six (in order):
1. Figure out your net worth.
2. Set goals for yourself.
3. Determine how much money you spend per month.
4. Take your paycheck and start allocating for your expenses.
5. Set aside your savings.
6. Adjust accordingly.
Common cents? Sure, but sometimes we all need to get back to basics. Read on for more information on each step. Continue reading Six Steps to Budgeting Bliss
September 14, 2009
- Save at least 10 percent of your yearly income.
- Have goals for yourself — and write them down.
- Do not spend money on items you cannot afford to pay immediately.
- Treat credit cards like a privilege, not a right.
- Have a cushion for yourself.
- Stay on top of all purchases, bills, and other financial information.
- Keep it simple when it comes to personal finance.
- Have a disciplined plan, but be flexible when necessary.
- Do not go it alone — ask for help.
- Reward yourself within reason.
For more detailed information on each one, read on. Continue reading Christopher’s Commandments
September 13, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economic Crisis, Energy, Freedom, Global Warming, Governance, Heroes, Opinion, Politics
 By Alan Caruba
There have been many mass marches on Washington, D.C., so the locals know how to make plans to anticipate the congestion and the police are polite and skillful in the science of crowd control. They can afford to be polite because the crowds, no matter how large, are too.
Oh, sure, they shout a lot, but that’s what a protest march is all about. Back in April 1894 unemployed workers known as “Coxey’s Army” showed up to demand that Congress do something. It was the second year of an economic depression that would last another two years, but it was the worst that had hit the nation barely three decades since the end of the Civil War.
Americans know where to head when they are at odds with their government and most know or suspect that the source of their problems can be found in Washington, D.C. and they are always right.
Bloodshed has been extremely rare at such events. On June 17, 1932 a “Bonus Army”, some 20,000 World War One veterans and their families massed in the Capitol seeking advance payment of bonuses from the Hoover administration. The year is significant. It was four years passed the beginning of the Great Depression that began in 1929. Continue reading The Fine Art of American Protest
September 12, 2009
Posted by AngelaPoseyArnold in: Advice, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Family, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Relationships, Religion, Self-Help, Short Stories, Social Issues, Spirituality
Fear, Fret and Faint
By Angela Posey-Arnold
Frank Parker is under attack, literally. Nothing in his twenty five years as a news reporter has prepared him for this. An all out fear assault explodes every morning as he arrives to the local radio station to report the news. He cannot find an escape as bad news pours in.
Financial crisis, government run-away spending, shootings, bombs, nuclear threats, violent protest, war with terrorist and a war on God all make the headlines. Frank remembers the day he gave up hope. The day the President proclaimed America to no longer be a Christian nation, Frank gave up. People everywhere calling bad good and good bad left Frank’s head twirling.
The pangs of fear started last Monday and by Thursday he overslept with his head covered up just so he didn’t have to hear anymore. Actually afraid of what he would going to hear next, he couldn’t think, he couldn’t talk, or eat, paralyzed by fear and hopelessness. Continue reading Fainting Over Fret and Fear
September 7, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Economic Crisis, Governance, Healthcare, Opinion, Politics, Republican
 By Alan Caruba
Barack Obama has crashed headlong into a wall of distrust. If he had any understanding of American history he would know why, but his sole interest is himself and he proved that by writing not one, but two memoirs.
The men who waged the American Revolution and then met in secret to write the U.S. Constitution all shared a distrust of government. They understood government was necessary, but they wanted to keep a federal government small and ensure that most powers resided in the individual states and in “the people.”
For most of American history, the federal government was small. Its main function was to maintain armies and navies to protect its sovereignty and its commercial interests. Early presidents encouraged the exploration of the continent and its populating by the many discontents who arrived seeking a better life than the Old World could or would provide.
America promised the intoxicating opportunity to be free to make a life for oneself that had few restraints so long as one did not break the law, honored one’s contracts, and took part in the process of debating issues and electing representatives. This necessity to rise above family bonds and other allegiances to participate in the affairs of one’s community, one’s state, and one’s nation has been the glue that has kept generations of old and new Americans connected. Continue reading A Very American Distrust
September 2, 2009
 Necessity is the mother of invention–the unemployment generation
by Bill Hazelgrove
.jpg) Here is the dirty secret of unemployment compensation–it kills your incentive to get a job. Sure there are people that bust it out and keep looking and never slow down. But for the rest of us we know that check is coming every two weeks and it does affect you. You do a quick little math equation in your head–I make more on unemployment if I don’t take that menial job. I make more on unemployment tax free than that entry level position. So you ride along until it finally runs out and that could be a very long time with all the extensions
The argument for unemployment compensation is sound. People need time to get back on their feet. They need transition income so they don’t fall through the cracks. But the point is a lot of people don’t look for a job when they know that they are covered. Human nature. If we can eat and have shelter then we pull back. Wait. Wait until things really get bad. It is the hunter gather nomad in us. Once we are satiated we sit back until we get hungry again.
And now we have ten percent unemployment. We have over thirty million people out of work. We have an unemployment generation. A whole swath of people who are on the dole and will not get off of it until it ends. The economy will come back but it will be in a different form and a lot of those jobs will not come back. So then we have the permanently unemployed. In Britain they call it being made “redundant.” Or on the “dole.” In the United States we have unemployment compensation, but it does end. Continue reading Necessity is the mother of invention–the unemployment generation
August 28, 2009
THE FED AND DEFICIT SPENDING ARE TO BLAME
By Ben Cerruti
Unfortunately that which has actually caused our present economic crisis is not even being given lip service by anyone. How in the world can proper action be taken to address our country’s economic problem when the cause is being ignored? Unfortunately, the cause has existed over many years and addressing it would take power to manipulate our monetary system away from politicians who now use it towards their own ends. That which is the cause is not difficult to understand..
As every family knows, when it spends more than it earns it can only make up the difference by borrowing or increasing income. It is the same for the government except they also have the power to essentially print money. Let’s look at how government appears to get away with running continuing deficits while any of us who did the same thing would eventually be forced into bankruptcy. When the government spends more money than it receives, the Treasury Department has the power to borrow the difference by offering bonds for sale at market interest rates. Ready buyers of these bonds are those foreign countries who sell more of their products and services to U.S. entities then is purchased from them. The dollar difference (trade deficit) must eventually return to the U.S. and is predominantly used to buy this debt.
When the amount of funds required to satisfy the deficit exceed the amount of trade deficit dollars available to buy our bonds, the Federal Reserve Bank (FED) buys the bonds. The FED presently owns around 40% of the national debt and this means the government essentially owns this portion of its own debt. They buy these bonds by crediting the attendant purchase amount to the bank accounts of the dealers that sell them. Since banks are required to only maintain 10% of their deposits in reserve they can lend 10 times that amount. This 10 to 1 leverage is then further increased when money is moved by transactions to other banks. Continue reading THE FED AND DEFICIT SPENDING ARE TO BLAME
August 27, 2009
 By Alan Caruba
I am rather tired of having to panic every other day courtesy of the U.S. government. It started with seeing the former Secretary of the Treasury sweating profusely while demanding the Congress give him a blank check for $700 billion to bail out some financial institutions that probably should have been allowed to fail.
Many were given gobs of taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy. Others were merged with those that hadn’t been as profligate.
In October 1929, Variety, the show business newspaper, had a headline that said “Wall Street Lays an Egg.” What followed was some ten years of a Depression that would not go away because the government did everything possible to prolong it in the name of ending it.
The so-called “brain trust” around Franklin D. Roosevelt made every wrong decision available. The Supreme Court had to step in to limit some of the damage at one point. Constitution? What Constitution?
About the only thing we are being told is not a cause for panic is the “war on terror”, a phrase that is no longer allowed to be used in official Washington where, apparently, if you don’t call a duck a duck it is no longer a duck. Nonetheless, we are also told that Afghanistan is the “front line” of the war on you-know-what even though there are no “front lines” in insurgencies or guerrilla wars. Continue reading Don’t Just Stand There. Panic!
August 25, 2009
By Alan Caruba
If you had purchased a stock in January of this year that had lost as much of its value as Barack Obama, you would be desperate to sell it by now. The problem is, the only buyers would be the mainstream media and their stock has been falling too.
I cannot think of a single President in our 233 year history that was so disliked by so many Americans in so short a time. His polling numbers drop daily and he is poised to make history by losing the confidence and support vital to the ability to lead, let alone to administer the federal government.
It is his judgment that is the issue and, concurrent with that, his actions. If anyone would have predicted that he would impose so much debt on the nation in so short a time they would have been called mad. Barely seven months into his administration the estimated national deficit will be reset at nine trillion dollars between now and 2019. Continue reading Time to Resign, Mr. President
August 21, 2009
Posted by James BlueWolf in: Accountability, Attitude, Children, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, General Topics, Habit Change, Native American, Opinion, Social Classes, Social Issues, Television, The Economy, Uncategorized
It’s soccer season and suddenly the circle has come round and my wife and I are re-creating our lives from the early 1980′s. Instead of five children, it’s three children and five grandchildren. But times have changed and where we originally had to scrape and scurry to come up with money to sign them up and buy shin-guards, this year we faced higher signup costs, uniform and cleat costs, shin-guards as well as being asked to buy four balls—one for each child—and all mandatory for participation. The total cost approached $400.00 and we haven’t paid for pictures yet (or the balls). None of our grandchildren could have participated without our support.
It got me thinking. Last year I was amazed at how many times during the year our granchildren came home from school saying they had to have two, three or five dollars for this or that. Field trips required a contribution. Class photos and participation in book-buying or candy sales, fund-raisers and pledge drives all required that we pitch in financially. After all, no one wants their child to be the only one in class with no signatures on the pledge form and who doesn’t purchase a class picture or individual photo? Of course, I don’t want to forget the holidays and events throughout the year–the County Fair, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, other kid’s birthdays, school plays, costs to attend High School sporting events, etc. etc. For parents living way below the poverty line, who can’t rely on grandparents support, these costs can be overwhelming. We can provide anecdotal evidence that some families use monies originally earmarked for rent, utilities, clothing or food to cover these costs to protect themselves and their children from embarassment, ridicule or denial of particpation. I know what many of you are thinking–sticks and stones and all that. Rent comes before food, food before entertainment, and to all these superfluous expenditures one should “just-say-no”. After all, aren’t home budgets about deciding on priorities and shouldn’t those who are unable to stick to solid economics be deserving of ruin? That’s representative of the traditionally conservative economic line most of my generation grew up with– “if you can’t afford it, don’t spend it!” Continue reading The Power Of Social Pressure
August 20, 2009
 By Alan Caruba I have this theory that nations go crazy from time to time. Collectively they lose their wits or, as is often the case, the people either elect or have imposed on them a complete lunatic, discovering it in slow stages as reports of various horrors make their way to the countryside.
These days, those stages are greatly speeded up by the mass media that swiftly spread the word. Unlike the United States, in many nations the news is what the government says is news, but it must also be said that the mainstream media has utterly disgraced itself over the course of the recent campaign and the first months of the Obama administration. There are signs, however, some have rediscovered their role in our society.
The most vigorous signs of sanity among the general populace of America have been the recent town hall meetings. The tea parties, too. And just wait for the big march in Washington, D.C. on September 12!
That will surely put the fear of the people into the hearts of Congress men and women. It is far better that they fear us than the other way around. Continue reading Signs of Sanity
August 19, 2009
 By Alan Caruba
“Mouthpiece” is one of those wonderful words that just says it all. As slang, it refers to a lawyer for a mobster, but its more respectable definition is “a person, newspaper, etc., that conveys the opinions or sentiments of others; a spokesperson.”
There are many thankless jobs, but surely being the White House spokesperson, the individual who must face the reporters every day to explain policy, make announcements, and respond to criticism of the President, must surely rank high on the list.
Bush began with Ari Fleischer, a very skilled and apparently well-liked White House spokesman, but when Fleischer left, he was replaced by Scott McClellen, a man so out of his depth that the occasional missteps of Bush were magnified by his inability to put any kind of spin on them. After he left the office, he wrote a bitter book about the experience, further confirming that he was a weasel.
Some, however, were very good at it. I think immediately of Tony Snow who joined the Bush administration at a time when it was under fire for its Iraq policies. Tony dealt with all questions with amazing grace and good spirits. Only cancer could and did get the best of him.
Dana Perino stepped in after Snow’s passing and turned out to be a poised and perfect replacement. As they say in the world of sports, a natural. It didn’t hurt that, in a male dominated news corps, she was very easy on the eyes. Continue reading Mouthpiece
August 17, 2009
Are You Up To Snuff When It Comes To Soft Skills?
Avoid Dead Giveaways On A Cover Letter Or Resume
That Suggest You Aren’t
by Peggy Klaus
Finally, soft skills get some respect!
A flurry of studies tell us it’s the soft skills—such as self-awareness, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, communication, likeability, risk taking, and time management—that determine the bottom line and will make or break your career. And now that these behaviors and traits are a significant consideration for many firms during the recruitment process, they are being linked to positive  performance appraisals and salary increases. With the economy in a recession, now is the time to take a hard look at how you demonstrate your soft skill competency (or lack thereof). The bottom line is this: If you have all the technical skills and fancy pedigrees in the world but can’t get along with people, sell your ideas, get your work in on time, and demonstrate competency in countless other soft skills arenas, you’ll go nowhere fast.
First impressions count more than ever in today’s virtual world. Your cover letter and resume are often the first opportunity you’ll have to present yourself. When these documents convey that you are up to snuff in the soft skills arena, you’ll have a much better chance of nabbing an interview or other opportunity for making that second impression.
So how do executive job seekers credibly portray themselves and project their soft skills savvy during the initial stages of contact with a potential employer? The following tips will show you how to avoid making a soft skills snafu the next time you showcase yourself in a cover letter or resume. Continue reading Are You Up To Snuff When It Comes To Soft Skills?
August 14, 2009
Hunting For A Job? Two Words That Could Change The Outcome
by Peggy Klaus
With so many pink-slipped people looking for work-not to mention the hoards of college seniors and graduate students who are flooding the job market-networking is on the tip of everyone’s tongue and on the top of many to-do lists.
Yet an effective networking campaign hinges on two words that, surprisingly, even seasoned professionals can fail miserably at:
FOLLOW-UP!
I call follow-up the “dirty little secret” of networking. It turns out that most people make feeble attempts, if any at all, when it comes to following up on contacts they are given and people they meet. If you’re not committed to following up with new connections or referrals, it  really doesn’t matter how much you network.
So what’s holding people back from following up? Some excuses I hear from clients are they were never taught how to follow-up, they fear rejection, or they get lazy. Other commonly cited reasons include worrying about being seen as a pest, discomfort in asking for help, and concerns about appearing disingenuous. One of my clients justified her reluctance to following-up with an important contact she met at her son’s soccer tournament by saying, “He’ll think I faked listening to his long-winded story about his kid’s athletic talent just so I could call and bug him later.” Continue reading Hunting For A Job? Two Words That Could Change The Outcome
August 13, 2009
Act like an Entrepreneur, Even If You Aren’t One:
Bragging and Branding Your Way Through the Recession
by Peggy Klaus
 Anxiety is running rampant. Everyone is feeling it—anxiety about job security (or lack thereof), anxiety about the current economic climate, anxiety about the future of the country and even the world. You probably don’t need a career coach to point out the obvious and tell you that when it comes to surviving this slowdown, the old rules no longer apply. The reality is that our economy is undergoing a major sea change and we must change with it if we don’t want to drown. That’s why resting on your pre-economic crisis laurels won’t keep you afloat.
So how do you make yourself stand out in today’s unprecedented environment? Start off by reframing the way you view your position. Prior to the recession, you may have given little thought to the company’s bottom line, unless doing so was part of your job description. Nowadays, keeping the company’s bottom line on the top of your mind is vital to job security. Make certain you are seen as someone who brings in clients or sales, who finds solutions to problems, and who constantly looks for ways to make the company more efficient. Act as if it’s your own business, even if it’s not. In other words, think of yourself as an entrepreneur!
I think most business owners would agree that one of the hardest aspects of being out on their own is having to promote their company and themselves on a moment’s notice. But the successful ones know that pitching a prospective client or venture capitalist, talking to a journalist, and spreading the word about the company to family, friends or even the guy mowing his lawn down the street are the surest ways to maximize exposure without spending a dime. So whether you are looking for a job or trying to keep the one you already have, think like an entrepreneur and learn to promote your most valuable product—you! Continue reading Act like an Entrepreneur, Even If You Aren’t One: Bragging and Branding Your Way Through the Recession
July 26, 2009
B.O. is an economic ignoramus or a devious Marxist
By Ben Cerruti
Recently B.O. said “Wall Street took unnecessary excessive risks and almost our entire economy into depression”. It is unfortunate that he knows so little about economics and the fact that what happened on Wall Street was the EFFECT rather than the CAUSE of the economic tsunami. In fact, if not ignorant he certainly is disingenuous since the Wall Street to which he is referring happens to be the entity that markets the debt issued by the Treasury. Firms like Goldman-Sachs are in essence an arm of the Treasury. The fox in the chicken coop.
In regard to the economic crisis that occurred on Wall Street, its CAUSE was initiated when the Fed placed an excessive amount of money into the economy to address the recession that started just prior to the GWB presidency and extended to ease the economic blow of 9/11. This inordinate amount of money deposited into our banking system had to be loaned out since that is how banks make money. The ability to easily sell the loans removed the liability of foreclosure and the result was the accelerated development of creative loans to meet the demand.
The increased demand caused home prices to increase markedly attracting speculators. The increased need for buyers of these loans was met by Wall Street’s investment bankers. They created bonds that were backed by a bundled package of a variety of mortgage types and initially priced by a complicated mathematical formula. Called Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) they became considered as highly desirable investment vehicles and were sold worldwide. Continue reading B.O. is an economic ignoramus or a devious Marxist
July 17, 2009
Ya gotta love the banks. Chase just make a killing. Brilliant! They took TARP money and bought treasuries and rode them up and made billions off of billions. Imagine if someone gave you a millions dollars and then told you what games to play at the casino because they knew the effect of [...]
July 14, 2009
 We need amnesty for the middle class. We are going through the closest thing we have to the Great Depression and it has torched middle class credit. Forget the millions who have lost their homes or the people who have declared bankruptcy. They will be effectively shut out of the credit market for years. But you now have millions of people whose FICO scores have fallen below the magic number of 620 which is the minimum for a government loan–or FHA. These people have now been shut of the credit market as well. What does this mean? It means that the recovery will not come. People have to be able to secure credit to buy homes again and if they can’t then supply will outstrip demand and the values will continue to fall. Credit is the lifeblood of the economy. Because someone is late on a credit card payment or cannot pay a medical bill does not mean they should be denied credit for buying a home. If we go with the assumption that these are extraordinary times then there must be an extraordinary remedy–middle class amnesty.
We did it for the banks and the car companies and the insurance companies. The rational there was yes they made bonehead decisions but these are extraordinary times and for the common good they must be bailed out. So we did. We basically forgave their very bad creditworthy decisions and gave them billions to get their house in order. Isn’t that what we should do now for the middle class? Forgive their bad decisions under the umbrella of extraordinary times? Continue reading Middleclass Amnesty–what is good for the goose…
July 12, 2009
 By Alan Caruba
If you can have a pride of lions and a gaggle of geese, then I suggest that the forthcoming July 17-20 meeting of the National Governors Association can be described as a “crisis” of Governors.
This once-esteemed office, a platform from which some launched campaigns to become President, has become a sinkhole of sexual misconduct and corruption; witness New York’s unlamented Eliot Spitzer, New Jersey’s James McGreevey, and now South Carolina’s pathetic, moon-struck Mark Sanford and Illinois’ Rod Blogovitch whose alleged sins involved money.
Because states are sovereign republics and because being governor is primarily a “local” responsibility, the job requires significant administrative and political skills to ensure the state meets those obligations closest to voters. Infrastructure must be maintained. Issues of public safety, health, and education are paramount concerns.
With a few exceptions, today’s Governors are struggling with bloated budgets and huge deficits despite the fact that most states require a balanced budget or at least the semblance of one. Watching Arnold Schwarzenegger announce that California will be paying its bills with IOUs would be comic if it were not so serious. Continue reading A “Crisis” of Governors
July 10, 2009
Posted by Author 101 in: Advice, Business, Business Management, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Finance, General Topics, Inspiration & Motivation, Internet Advice, Interview, Literature, Marketing, Motivation, Non-Fiction, Opinion, Publishing, Self-Help, Social Issues, Technology, The Economy, Uncategorized, Women's Perspective, Working Women
Do you plan to give up your job and start a new business of your own? What would that take? What would be your new responsibilities? Probably more than you planned. In new business, your security is the biggest thing you give up. The idea of having a paycheck in the same amount you can count on every week is gone. The benefits you get now, your insurance, or whatever it is that you count on is gone. When you work for someone else you have set responsibilities, when you work for yourself, you are responsible for everything. Scary huh?
Failure? The myth that nine out of ten businesses close in their first year may or may not be completely true. According to more recent Dun and Bradstreet data, 76 percent of new companies were still in business after two years, 47 percent after four years, and 38 percent after six years. These estimates are substantially different than what is still commonly believed.
These business survival statistics are based on the number of new business licenses applied for each year, which are not renewed on following years. The licenses could be for a person selling crafts at the swap meet on Saturdays, or someone in a temporary business, or just as a tax shelter. Some of these “failed” businesses could have been sold or transferred to another individual. These estimates are hard to prove either way, but realistically, most new business does fail. Continue reading Start a Business? Are You Ready?
July 7, 2009
 By Alan Caruba
An estimated 2,000 “Tea Party” nationwide protests against excessive taxation did not get much coverage in the nation’s mainstream media.
You had to visit World Net Daily to get the story. According to WND, between 3,000 and 4,000 gathered in San Antonio while more than 2,000 gathered in Marietta, Georgia. There were a reported 1,500 in Louisville, Kentucky, and 1,500 in Olympia, Washington. In Reno, 3,000 showed up.
If you Googled for “Tea Party” on July 5th, the day after the many events scheduled for Independence Day, you would come up empty except for a brief story in the Newark, NJ Star-Ledger, “Thousands take part in ‘tea party’ protest against high taxes in Morristown.”
While the Star-Ledger deserves credit for its coverage it was a tad short on its tally of those held in New Jersey, calling it “more of more than a dozen.” According to the Tea Party website, there were 37 such events in New Jersey planned for the day. Many states had comparable numbers.
With the exception of a few local Associated Press stories there was, in effect, a news blackout of coverage turning the tea parties into the equivalent of secret events. Watching television news throughout the Fourth, one would scarcely have been aware of them. Continue reading The “Secret” Tea Party Protests
July 6, 2009
Maybe you heard that another seven million homes will go into foreclosure in the next two years. Maybe you heard  that the average salary at Goldman Sachs is now seven hundred thousand dollars. That is the average. Maybe you have heard that loans don’t go though and the promised loan modifications have taken place for only a handful of people (something like twenty thousand loans were modified.)
Maybe you heard that appraisals are routinely cut to the point where the loans are rejected or that credit card rates are skyrocketing and the banks are loading up fees on checking accounts. Maybe you heard that the new Johnny Depp movie is very popular because people are identifying with John Dillinger against the banks. There is a reason for all this: the banks have decided the middle class is a bad bet. And they really don’t want to lend money anymore.
I have taught, sold real estate, waitered, worked construction, worked in a bakery and brokered a few loans during my long tenure as a writer. During the boom you put the loan in and generally they went through. I stepped out of the part time brokering when my book came out. Times being what they are, I put my license with another firm this year and put in a few loans. Every one came back denied. Continue reading The Dirty Little Secret of the Banks–John Dillinger rides again
July 5, 2009
Posted by Author 101 in: Advice, Attitude, Business, Business Management, Cap and Trade, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Finance, General Topics, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Internet Advice, Interview, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Men's Issues, Motivation, Self-Help, Social Aspects, Social Issues, The Economy, Uncategorized, Website Instructions, Women's Perspective, Working Women
No, we won’t begin with “Do you have a master’s degree?” Although education does matter, higher education is not a requirement for starting or succeeding in a new business. In fact, according to a 1992 United States Census Bureau report, only 5.3 percent of business owners have a Master’s degree or higher education. 9.4 percent had less than a high school education—some only up to the eighth grade. Oddly enough, only 17 percent had any business education. The founder of Dell Computers was a college dropout. Starting out of his garage, he managed to excel above all of the world’s top computer manufacturers. One in three computers sold today is a Dell.
What you will need is more commonly known as “street smarts” or common sense. In addition, you will need to have certain individual qualities, or personality traits. Most individuals who are successful in business and in “life” possess these traits. Take the quiz and see how many of the following questions you can answer with a confident “yes.” Continue reading Am I Ready to Start a Business? 10 personal questions to ask yourself before you commit
July 5, 2009
 By Alan Caruba As a lifelong resident of New Jersey, one of the most fiscally imprudent states, it may be deemed unfair for me to say bad things about California, but having lived in a state that has “been there, done that” it also endows me with an understanding of what happens when a state is taken over by its public service unions and indulges in stupid environmental policies that have nothing to do with a sound economy.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared an economic crisis last week in order to demand some fiscal sanity that has not been forthcoming from its legislature. By the end of the month, California will be forced to pay bills with IOUs and we all know that won’t work. The U.S. Constitution reserves to the federal government the right “to coin money, regulate the value thereof…” As a form of currency, IOUs are forbidden to California.
A recent issue of The Heartland Institute’s “Budget & Tax News” monthly newspaper had a disturbing article by Jason Sorens and William Ruger, two members of the University of Buffalo faculty who studied the issue of personal and financial freedom in the nation’s 50 States. Their study ranked states on government spending, taxes, and regulations on market transactions and private behavior. Continue reading As California Goes….
July 3, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Cap and Trade, Current Events, Democrat, Economic Crisis, Energy, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Geopolitical Events, Governance, Opinion, Politics
By Alan Caruba
It’s taken barely half a year to make George W. Bush look good to a lot of Americans who experienced “Bush Derangement Syndrome” or, like myself, were critical of several of his policies while President.
I imagine Bush watching the evening news these days and just laughing as he watches Obama just “step in it” every time he encounters the same or some new problem with which Bush dealt.
On the issue of taxes, Bush was a dedicated tax-cutter. On the issue of spending, Bush never saw a spending bill he couldn’t sign until deep into his second term. He even advocated a prescription add-on to Medicare, raising its costs and hastening its bankruptcy.
And, of course, there’s the Iraq War which followed his payback for 9/11 during which he chased al Qaeda and the Taliban out of Afghanistan. The Iraq War began in 2003 and lasted six years to the point where we are drawing down forces or at least moving them out of the major cities to see if the Iraqis themselves can provide security.
A lot of the problems with the conduct of the Iraq War can be traced to Donald Rumsfeld, the former Secretary of Defense who just flat-out got it wrong too many times. On paper Rumsfeld had terrific credentials, but either he was terribly advised by his generals or he didn’t pay them proper attention or both. Wars cannot be fought “on the cheap” or won with too few troops. Continue reading Making Bush Look Good
July 3, 2009
Recession blows over the Midwest
Treasure Map of Jobs – where you have the best chance of finding a job
Most states suffering an increase in unemployment
Four states remain a bulwark against a recession that has led to despair in other parts [...]
June 16, 2009
 By Alan Caruba
All those morons who are forever going on about the evil corporations never notice that it is corporations, great and small, that employ millions of Americans and the best of them do everything they can to ensure their workers are happy, if for no other reason than that it increases productivity. People don’t work just for money. They work for a sense of dignity and self-worth.
The Obama administration appears to be intent on destroying or driving out one corporation after another by any means possible. This amounts to punishing success and crushing it in the meat-grinder of government regulation. The latest victim is Fedex.
A June 9 Washington Times editorial noted that, “Led by Rep. James L. Oberstar, Minnesota Democrat, the House on May 21 passed legislation that contains an almost hidden provision—a mere 230 words—that would hobble FedEx Express. It would do so by completely changing the labor laws under which the company operates.”
“A mere dozen or so workers in just one city could hamstring much of the nation’s overnight delivery service.” The difference between FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) is that UPS is unionized. As such it is governed by the National Labor Relations Act, the terms of which “favor unions such as the Teamsters (and) both have an interest in kneecapping FedEx Express.”
Continue reading Killing Corporate America
June 13, 2009
Stayin’ Alive. Ah. Ha, Ha, Ha….
by John Armor
Saturday Night Fever begins with the classic scene of a very young John Travolta striding through the streets of Brooklyn. His shoes slap the pavement, his body sways to the rhythm of the Bee-Gees’ immortal song, played sotto voce, Stayin’ Alive. The story is about the attempt of the protagonist, his whole family, his friends and his community merely to survive.
Therein lies a lesson for our times.
The late, great Peter Drucker once wrote to the effect that, “Once an organization exceeds 1,000 people, its first purpose becomes self-preservation.” (Anyone who can find the precise quote in Professor Drucker’s monumental opera, please e-mail me.) The point, of course, is the tendency of any organization to become destructive of the ends for which it was created, when its staff goes to seed as bureaucrats.
For the first example, consider the American labor movement. The AFL and the CIO were separately founded to improve the wages and working conditions. They did exactly that, over their first century of effort. But today we have the spectacle of the AFL-CIO actually changing sides to support “immigration reform” which would accept as American citizens, about ten million Mexicans who have entered the US illegally. Continue reading Stayin’ Alive. Ah. Ha, Ha, Ha….
June 10, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Democrat, Economic Crisis, Economics, General Topics, Lifestyle, Politics, Social Classes, Social Issues, Sociology, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
 Don’t look for Barack to save you. He is just the President. We are talking about a man who ten years ago was driving around in an old Mustang and is now flying around in Air Force One. Populist rhetoric works when founded in some sort of reality. After eight million and change in book royalties that reality went out the window for Barack. I think his heart is in the right place, but the powers that be can smooth out the jagged edges of any populist with black tie affairs, limousines, money, and power. He is only human after all.
So where does that leave us? High taxes. The foreclosure moratorium is going to end. There will certainly be no bailout for the middle class. We are left with worthless cars and homes and pillaged 401Ks and gas prices blasting off for the heavens. The banks got theirs. The auto companies got theirs. The insurance companies got theirs. We live in an oligarchy which of course is rule by the wealthy. Ever since the banks started lining up behind Secretary Paulson it has been an orgy of back door bailouts, bonuses, payoffs and good old fashioned embezzlement. There is so much money being paid to so many people that they can not even track it. Continue reading Time for the Middleclass to Help Themselves
June 9, 2009
By Alan Caruba
Just how crazed is the Environmental Protection Agency? When I say “crazed”, I mean just how far out of touch with reality, with science, with the economy, with common sense, and with the American people is the EPA?
Ever since the Supreme Court made one of the greatest blunders since the Dred Scott case, declaring carbon dioxide (CO2) a “pollutant” that could be regulated by the EPA, that deranged agency has been pushing a tax on CO2 emissions from cows, pigs, and other farm animals on which we depend for milk and meat at the local supermarket.
According to Encarta, in 2005 there were an estimated 95,848,000 cows in the United States. Presumably, there are comparable numbers of pigs, goats, and other critters that emit belches and farts sufficient to destroy the Earth with the CO2 they emit. Nor should we overlook the six pounds of CO2 that the 307 million Americans exhale daily. Continue reading Taxing Cows
June 8, 2009
Close Shaves and Progress
by John Armor
I was shaving Friday morning in a small, unaccommodating, shared bathroom on when a stranger walked in. He said hello, I said hello, and I felt like Cary Grant, shaving in the bathroom of the train station in Chicago, in North by Northwest.
Well, he wasn’t a complete stranger. I knew he was a member of the Class of 1964 from Yale University, since we were up for our 45th Reunion (yes, we are older’n dirt). Anyway, he noticed my faceful of shaving cream and said, “Still doing it the old-fashioned way?” I replied, “It lets me see where I’m going.” He said, ‘It’s too early in the morning for philosophy.”
I thought about what he said and realized he was right. Not about it being too early in the morning, but about it being philosophy.
Shaving with a brush and a blade razor is a satisfying activity. At the beginning, you know clearly what you need to do. In the midst of the process, you always know where you stand. And at the end, you know when you are finished. Those three qualities make it the similar to assembling a piece of furniture that comes with instructions, putting a child through college and graduate school, and thermonuclear war. Continue reading Close Shaves and Progress
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Books by SWI Contributors
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Look Ahead With Stoicism—and Optimism
The Decline and Fall of Everybody
The Decline and Fall of Everybody
By Alan Caruba
I have a friend of over twenty-five years who I watched build a single idea for a business into one that, at one time, was taking in a million dollars a year. Then the Internet came along, followed by the 2008 financial crisis.
After a reasonable period of agonizing, my friend sat down and put the numbers on the page. They added up to firing all his employees and not renewing the lease on the office in which he’d been since the mid-1980s. Tech savvy, his business has gone “virtual.” As he put it, “I will make sales from my cell phone.”
Now take my friend, the classic entrepreneur and small business owner, and multiply him by thousands across the fruited plains and purple mountains majesty. Not only has the economy crashed, thanks to the latest “bubble” of bad housing mortgages, but it happened just in time to ensure that Barack Obama who never owned a business, met a payroll, or worried about selling anything other than himself was elected president. Continue reading The Decline and Fall of Everybody