Begun back sometime in 2001, this book was originally a fluke of an idea… [...]
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August 24, 2010
Posted by Carla René in: Accountability, Advice, African-American, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Book Marketing Online, Book Review, Books, Business, Business Management, Cancer, Cap and Trade, Children, China, Climate Change, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communications, Communism, Community, Computers, Congress, Contributor's Audio/Video, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Diet, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Energy, Entertainment, Environment, Environmental Issues, Faith, Family, Fiction, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Freelance Author, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Global Warming, Governance, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Heroes, History, Homeland Security, Humor, Inspiration & Motivation, Internet, Internet Advice, Interview, Islam, Journalism, Latino & Hispanic, Legal, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Marriage, Medical, Men's Issues, Mental Health, Mexico, Military, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Music, Native American, Nature/Wildlife, Non-Fiction, Nutrition, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Philosophical Genres, Poetry, Politics, Publishing, Question of the Day, Recovery, Relationships, Religion, Republican, Rhyme, Satire, Self-Help, Sex, Short Stories, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, Sociology, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Television, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, Travel, Uncategorized, Website Instructions, Weight loss, Wellness, Women's Perspective, Women's Rights, Working Women, Workplace, World Issues, Writing Essentials
 Leave a comment August 6, 2010
Please, stop telling us everything is okay; it’s insulting. [...] August 4, 2010
Our economic engine and best export. [...] July 31, 2010
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Business, Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Governance, Opinion
Leave a comment To Hell with Free Trade By Alan Caruba It’s funny how bits of knowledge stick in your head. Literally a half century ago, while taking a history class at the University of Miami, a professor said, “Nothing happens in the world until someone sells something to someone else.” The study of history can help one understand the present and frequently help predict the future. The world has experienced astonishing change in the last century thanks to trains, planes, automobiles, radio and television, and, of course, computers and the Internet. It is natural for each new generation to accept such technological innovations as having always existed, but even automobiles are a relatively new mass produced invention. A hundred years ago in 1910, there were only 8,000 cars in the entire nation and only 144 miles of paved road. Americans tend to think that we have always been the dominant economic power, but that did not begin to occur until after World War II destroyed much of Europe, Japan and other competitors. They have rebuilt and, along with the rise of China and India, they are major competitors. Continue reading To Hell with Free Trade July 20, 2010
Posted by Ben Cerruti in: Accountability, Business, Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Opinion, Politics, The Writer's Corner
Leave a comment Redistribution of Income We have been witnesses to a continuing use of class warfare by those in government, abetted by the media and an assortment of special interest groups and individuals. In this essay we will consider the methods they use to establish the terms relating to redistribution of income. Utilizing effective divisive tactics they initially obfuscate their intentions by using the term “wealth” in place of “income” when proposing material changes in the income tax code. Taxing income derived from accumulated wealth does not alter that wealth. They next establish three main category of classes; rich, middle class and poor. If one were to pay close attention, he or she would find that they rather conveniently alter the dividing lines to suit the subject for which they are advocates. Continue reading Redistribution of Income July 6, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: African-American, Attitude, Business, Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Habit Change, Lifestyle, Marketing, Women's Perspective
7 comments My hair is not my shining glory. Saying that as a black woman conjures up a lot of feelings, jokes and anger. But not for me. Once a young friend chastised me for cutting my hair. She told me everyone was trying to grow some and here I destroying mine. My response was “It’s only hair and it will grow back”. It was something she didn’t understand because for ages black women have wanted the hair they claim God didn’t give them. I know why, I understand why but I think now is the time to get over it. It is time for a major hair change in this country. Continue reading The (Black) Hair Thing June 30, 2010
The New York Transit System, better known as the MTA, cut 36 bus lines and services over the weekend because of the usual money problems. I understand in a week or two they will propose a fare hike. Many will protest but few will do anything about it. These service cuts affect the working and non-working poor the most. It is just another kick for those who can’t get a break. Continue reading Who Suffers When Services are Cut 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
Leave a comment 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 14, 2010
Posted by seamus in: Accountability, Advice, African-American, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communications, Congress, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Economics, Entertainment, Freedom, Governance, Homeland Security, Inspiration & Motivation, Islam, Journalism, Life Experiences, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Politics, Republican, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, World Issues
2 comments Amazing how many high government officals (including the Attorney General), political pundits, politicians, school officials and religious leaders comment so harshly on the immigration law in Arizona and publicly admit they haven’t read the ten page document. The document basically states that when being stopped for a traffic violation or questioned concerning a crime that [...] May 14, 2010
Posted by seamus in: Accountability, Advice, Attitude, Business, Cap and Trade, Commentary, Communications, Congress, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democrat, Economics, Entertainment, Finance, Freedom, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Governance, Homeland Security, Humor, Journalism, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Literature, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Politics, Recovery, Republican, Satire, Self-Help, Social Aspects, Social Issues, Sociology, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, Women's Rights, Working Women, World Issues
Leave a comment Pick Your Reason 10. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies’ profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn’t. 9. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the [...] April 30, 2010
Posted by write2bfree in: Accountability, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communism, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Finance, Freedom, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Governance, History, Literature, Minorities, Morality, Opinion, Philosophical Genres, Politics, Social Aspects, Social Issues, Sociology, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, World Issues
Leave a comment Charles Dickens’ novels show the degradation and exploitation of the working poor, but his solution (as pointed out by Orwell) was that those in power would become better people and in their new-found compassion create a safer, healthier environment for the workers. This would extend even to educational opportunities and a chance to move up the ladder, but only so far, never far enough to threaten the existing order. To counter this “benign ruler” point of view, some people in the early 1900s began to organize the working poor. Those most effective and trustworthy came from that background and took action. The work of Camus and Orwell springs from a real knowledge of poverty (Camus) or being an outsider among the privileged (Orwell). It must be pointed out that Camus took a dim view of Marx, and Orwell was horrified by Stalin’s Communism. But these two writers have held the greatest influence in the minds of Western thinkers who call themselves liberal. Camus went so far as to coin the term “libertarian socialist.” Continue reading A Measured Voice April 29, 2010
Posted by Tim Roux in: Business, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Geopolitical Events, Governance, History, Homeland Security, Military, Morality, Politics, Terrorism, The Economy, World Issues
Leave a comment War and money have always been inter-related. After all, you need money to fight a war – it has been argued that all world empires have collapsed ultimately economically because they had to protect too much territory with too little money – and conquest often brings in money. In the past, wars have often been fought to seize resources and enrich the conqueror – ask any passing European colonialist – and a short war generally proves a great stimulus to the economy too. In feudal times, the king mostly fought wars to keep his otherwise revolting and over-mighty robber barons exhausted but happy. According to feudal law, the barons had to raise the army, but they then got to go on a glorified fox hunt in foreign lands and to return with goodies and rights to land far more valuable than both ears and the tail. When the feudal system collapsed in the face of the rise of mercantilism in the sixteenth century, the king had to go to Parliament to raise taxes to fund his army, but he still managed to keep his greatest adventurers adventuring on someone else’s doorstep and bringing back the loot. Not that the formula was infallible. Charles I of England seemingly got it wrong when he declared an unpopular war on Scotland and then tried to raise Ship Money to pay for it. He made the even bigger mistake of stockpiling all these expensively purchased armaments in Hull which subsequently declared for the rebel parliamentarians. However, as the Marxist historian Christopher Hill pointed out, the truth may have been a little different from the way it has been traditionally painted. Continue reading Haliburton – a touch of the medievals? March 28, 2010
Posted by Alan Caruba in: China, Commentary, Communism, Current Events, Economics, Foreign Affairs, History, Opinion, World Issues
4 comments Superpower China By Alan Caruba As the sun begins to set on an America whose dollar set the standard and whose capacity for manufacturing was unchallenged, a new superpower is emerging and it is China. Many of the economists and China-watchers have been quick to seize on any bad news coming out of the Asian giant, but for the most part they have marveled how, since the new century began, China has proven adept at maintaining a fast growing economy. Indeed, so fast, it is beginning to show signs of protectionism. In July 2007, an article in The Washington Times noted that “China, this year for the first time, has dislodged the United States from its long reign as the main engine of global economic growth, with its more than 11 percent growth eclipsing sputtering U.S. growth of about 2 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund’s 2007 projections…” Further down in the article, the IMF’s deputy director of research, Charles Collyns, was quoted saying, “if you add together Russia and India as well, you get over half of global growth coming from the emerging-market countries.” Continue reading Superpower China March 23, 2010
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Environment, Governance, History, Military, Opinion, World Issues
2 comments America in Decline By Alan Caruba There are tipping points in people’s lives and in the life of a nation. More and more I am inclined to believe that America has hit a tipping point and that its decline has been in progress now since the end of World War II. How can that be? We were and are a superpower. While it is true that we have the greatest military power in the world, it is equally true that many of the planes being flown were brought on line in the 1950s, despite the extraordinary aircraft such as the stealth bombers. When Russia can put in a $40 billion bid to build refueling tankers after a major U.S. aircraft firm dropped out of the process, you have to ask yourself whether something is terribly wrong. Militarily, we have worn out our forces, many of which are National Guard units, with six years of conflict in Iraq and renewed conflict in Afghanistan. All the hardware needed to maintain our troops in conflict zones need replacing. And the President of the United States wants to sign a treaty to reduce our nuclear arsenal. Continue reading America in Decline March 10, 2010
Posted by Genevieve in: Current Events, Economics, Education, Entertainment, Family, History, Life Experiences, Music, Personal Experiences
2 comments I was never a history buff. I was the kid in high school who got caught napping instead of listening. “So?” I would ask. “Why does this matter?” Now my tweenage daughters ask the same question and I struggle to explain why. “Because,” I say. And it’s not one of those “Because I said so’s”. It’s because now I “get it”. I experienced my first taste of Scottish history a few years ago, when I devoured the “Outlander” series by author extraordinaire Diana Gabaldon. After I finished the books, I became lonely for rolling r’s and sword-wielding Highlanders. I wanted more. So I wrote my own book. In order to do that, I had to delve into a different rolling r: rrrrrresearch. Not my strongest asset. But I started digging. I took out every book the library carried on the subject and then, after major physiotherapy on my back, decided to surf the net. I googled historic websites and got in touch with the people who really know their stuff, the re-enactors. These people are often obsessive about their craft, and were the absolute best sources for research. I was lectured ad nauseum about sword lengths and hilts. About garrons vs horses. I was laughed at for my pre-conceived notions. And from those often borderline abusive comments grew my understanding and love of history. I joined the Calgary Highland Games committee with the purpose of listening to Scottish brogues so I could incorporate them into my book. I listened to the pipes, learned about the dances and tried not to hyperventilate over the Heavy Events athletes. I watched Scottish actors (obsessively, some might say) and wore out my cd player listening to Celtic music. I gleaned information on my ancestral clans of Graham and Ferguson, imagining what life might have been like. Continue reading The Future of History February 8, 2010
The United States citizens who were arrested for kidnapping the 33 children in Haiti will go on trial today without their original Haitian lawyer. The story goes that he asked for $30,000 U.S. as a retainer and an additional $30,000 at a later date. The families of the people on trial called this robbery and extortion. How could a lawyer from a country so poor ask for a salary of $60,000 to defend foreigners? I say, why not? Continue reading A Lawyer Gets Greedy in Haiti- What Would You Do? January 29, 2010
Posted by Muhammad Cohen in: Accountability, Business, Business Management, Commentary, Democracy, Economic Crisis, Economics, Finance, Governance, Legal, The Economy
Leave a comment Corporations behave irresponsibly because rigged elections prevent shareholders from supervising their investment. Until corporations fix their own elections, they shouldn’t meddle in others. [...] January 19, 2010
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Environment, Governance, Opinion
2 comments Deadly Earth, Deadly Humans By Alan Caruba The earthquake in Haiti is a perfect example of the arrogance of environmentalists who are always running around crying “Save the Earth” or making claims that any or all forms of life are going extinct. For three decades we have listened to these charlatans claim that the Earth was heating up to a point where, if we didn’t cut back or replace all forms of energy, oil, natural gas and coal, it would become a vast desert devoid of life. Then, in 1998, the Sun began yet another of its eleven year cycles of low sunspot activity, a diminution of magnetic storms on its surface, and the completely predictable result was a new, perfectly natural cooling cycle, a prelude perhaps to a predictable new ice age. When I do radio, I like to remind listeners that Mother Nature has a message for humankind. It’s “Get out of the way. Here comes an earthquake, a volcano, a flood, a forest fire, a mudslide, a blizzard, a hurricane, et cetera.” In an excellent book, “Devastation! The World’s Worst Natural Disasters” by Lesley Newson, she starts by noting that “The Earth is a rocky sphere nearly 8,000 miles in diameter. It is surrounded by a shroud of gases more than 60 miles deep. Sandwiched in between is a fragile layer, only a few miles thick, where humans are able to survive. It is perhaps not surprising that in this tiny zone of life there are occasional upheavals that make survival impossible.” Continue reading Deadly Earth, Deadly Humans 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 December 2, 2009
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Advice, Attitude, Economics, Family, Finance, Freedom, Lifestyle
Leave a comment This time last year I was swimming in Christmas presents that I had purchased for my family and a few friends. I hadn’t spent that much since I am a careful shopper but I had more funds to do as I pleased. This year there is less money to spend all around and I am not halfway through my list. I am not disturbed by this change, I accept it as a challenge. You see I am eagerly awaiting the new because life moves on even when we don’t want it to. Continue reading Moving Forward with the Fantasy of Life November 17, 2009
How I Saved Or Created 4,730,400,003 Jobs
By Ron Marr
I woke up this morning and stretched my aching limbs. You see, I’ve been running the chain saw quite a lot recently, bringing in the wood that will keep me from freezing during what promises to be a cold and wet Ozark winter. I engage in this task not just for myself, and not just for the benefit of Boris, my blind and ancient Alaskan malamute. Hardly . . . I am imbued with a much greater purpose, an overwhelming sense of global obligation. Despite the pain of stiff muscles, I was filled with a sense of joy. You see, as I do every morning, I quickly punched in a few numbers on my official, wind-powered, Obama-brand, stimulus calculator. I realized that by the act of slicing up trees I had saved or created countless jobs. What’s more, my trusty Husqvarna chain saw – named Dexter – had furthered this process due to his razor-sharp chain and 46cc engine. Such largesse, the boon to humanity that has come with embracing the mathematical equation for survival bestowed upon us by the anointed Obama (may his feet be clad in slippers of armadillo fur) made me smile. And yet, such was but the beginning of the warm glow of universal joy that permeated my loins. In the words of John Paul Jones, we had not yet begun to save or create jobs. Continue reading How I Saved Or Created 4,730,400,003 Jobs November 17, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Business, China, Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Energy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Governance, Opinion
One comment China Will Surprise Obama By Alan Caruba President Obama loves to travel. He cannot wait to descend the steps from Airforce One to the sounds of welcoming bands, honor guards, and awaiting dignitaries. On his whirlwind November 13-19 trip to Asia, however, he is likely to be sternly lectured behind closed doors from Tokyo to Beijing and Seoul. It will come as a surprise to him. That’s because he will be around grownups who don’t much like the way the United States’ economy is being overseen and directed these days. All that splash and dash that keeps Americans thinking that everything will get better doesn’t work in Asia. Worse yet, Obama will arrive with very little to offer. Already we have seen him in his usual holier-than-thou mode lecture the Chinese on their need to extend more freedom and be more tolerant; themes that must sound naïve to his hosts who must meet the challenge of providing a better life for more than a billion Chinese. The most amazing aspect of the story of modern China is the way, following the demise of Chairman Mao, they threw communism overboard, except politically, in favor of capitalism. In early 2009, observers wondered if the recession that hit the United States and rippled out around the world would also set back China. By October, however, they were marveling that its aggressive stimulus had led to a growth of its GDP by 9% by its third quarter. Meanwhile, other economies, including the U.S., saw their GDP fall. Continue reading China Will Surprise Obama November 8, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Commentary, Congress, Current Events, Democrat, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Energy, Environment, Global Warming, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment Wrecking America By Alan Caruba I am always wary of conspiracy theories. Most can be explained away as shared ideologies which, in the case of the current and recently past Congresses and White Houses, can be described as socialism. It did not and does not matter which Party was or is in power. The other explanation for the national car wreck we’re in is just plain “stupidity.” Another way of describing this is “willful ignorance.” Both apply when the President, Senators or Representatives say things that have no basis in fact either historically or empirically. We all know, for example, that it is getting colder no matter where we live, but the President has been lying about “global warming” and “greenhouse gas emissions” for some time now. Similarly, Congress, going back to 1979 or so, has been doing everything in its capacity to thwart access to the tremendous reserves of energy in America, thus forcing Americans to pay more for imported oil and to subsidize the worst possible way to generate electricity, wind and solar power. It has banned the manufacture or import of incandescent light bulbs starting in 2010. Continue reading Wrecking America November 8, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Economic Crisis, Economics, Healthcare, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment 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 20, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Business, Cap and Trade, Commentary, Current Events, Economics, Energy, Environment, Environmental Issues, Global Warming, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment The “Rent Seekers” – Green Corporations By Alan Caruba
In economics, “rent seeking” is a term that describes the process by which corporations, unions, trade groups, and individuals try to gain unfair advantages through politics and lobbying rather than via competitive trade in the free marketplace. Going “Green” has proven to be one of the favorite ways by which corporations position themselves to benefit. “Global warming” and the reduction of “greenhouse gas emissions”, primarily carbon dioxide from various forms of energy use, is the reason given for the hideous “Cap-and-Trade” legislation making its way through Congress. It will enrich some corporations that have rolled the dice on “renewable” energy (solar and wind) and, in particular, the utilities supporting its mandatory system of “carbon credits” to be traded among energy producers and users. Business Week recently took note of the way global warming positions are rather dramatically dividing the business community. Apple became the fifth large member company to resign or reduce its role in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of the Chamber’s “aggressive opposition to climate change legislation.” Nike also resigned. The Wall Street Journal reported that Al Gore is a member of the board of Apple and that Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, “happens to sit on the board of Nike.” The Journal further noted that “Both companies may figure they can afford a U.S. carbon tax because most of their manufacturing is done outside the U.S.” This is a classic example of rent seeking, giving them an advantage over competitors whose manufacturing is U.S.-based in the event they (and the rest of us) have a carbon tax imposed on them. Continue reading The “Rent Seekers” – Green Corporations 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
Leave a comment 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 9, 2009
A view of what has happened to the purchasing power of the dollar in our lifetime I ran across this graph at http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=17796 which I think every American should view. A picture is worth a thousand words and this one illustrates what the Federal Reserve System, aided and abetted by the Federal Government’s deficit spending policies, have caused. There is good reason why this country has undergone another economic tsunami which will lead to eventual economic suicide. The only one way to prevent this from happening is to recognize the event that caused it and then attempt to reverse it. Continue reading A view of what has happened to the purchasing power of the dollar in our lifetime 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
One comment 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:
September 27, 2009
Your trip to the grocery store once a week, two weeks, or whenever all you have left is moldy bread and a container of mustard, can end up being one of two experiences: quick and painless, or a time and money suck. It’s as simple as that. This post won’t be about clipping coupons or going to five separate grocery stores just to get the sales on every single item for which you’re looking. Sure, coupons are great. If you happen to come across them, I suggest you look and see if there are any you can use. A couple of places online you can look for coupons that are printable are SmartSource.com and RedPlum.com. If you also feel compelled to visit multiple supermarkets, by all means go ahead. I don’t have a car, so I just go to my local ShopRite and get all of my food from there. Luckily, it is not overpriced and I can get everything I need. If you do have a car, weigh the time spent and extra gas used versus the actual savings you’ll get from visiting multiple stores. It wouldn’t be worth it for me, but the choice is ultimately yours. Stop dreading going to the grocery store today — follow these five easy steps, and you’ll have a constantly stocked kitchen, more money in your wallet, and time on your hands. Common sense? Sure, but if it wasn’t a problem, you wouldn’t be staring at a cupboard with old Cheerios and no milk, would you? Continue reading Smarter Grocery Shopping on Aisle 5 September 26, 2009
Posted by Tantra in: Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economic Crisis, Economics, Heroes, Medical, Uncategorized
2 comments 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 24, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Attitude, Economic Crisis, Economics, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment 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 20, 2009
Everyone is getting all up in arms about credit card use nowadays, how they can entrap you with high interest rates and a never-ending cycle of paying off bits and pieces — to no avail. Honestly, if you use credit cards to finance a life that is way beyond your means, then yes, that will happen to you. However, like anything else, credit cards can be a great tool. You just have to be smart about how you use them. My mother made me apply for a credit card as soon as I turned 18 (well, OK, she didn’t make me — I always wanted one of my own). It had a very low credit limit — $500 — but the point was to begin to build my credit history. That way, when I got older and would have to apply for those pesky things called student loans and have credit checks run for apartments, I would have a good credit score and avoid rejection. Due to the fact that the limit was so low, it really behooved me to pay off my balance each month. All I really paid for at the age of 18 was gas for my car, CD, and some clothes, anyway. When I headed off to college, I found that more and more credit card companies would send me pre-approved applications. It was then that I learned the value of the credit card. I already knew I had the discipline to not spend more than I knew I could pay back in full (barring any emergencies). Continue reading Credit Cards are Tools — Not Crutches September 19, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Creative Writing, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Opinion, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment There is a plethora of information about how bad the job market is — now more than ever. Workplace suicides have hit an all-time record in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2008, workplace suicides rose 28 percent to 251 from 196. U.S. hiring outlook also took a dive, as employers plan to hire fewer workers in the last three months of this year according to a study from Manpower Inc. Furthermore, the study says two-thirds of U.S. Employers are not planning a change to staffing, which reportedly is a higher proportion than normal. California’s unemployment rate just reached 12 percent. The job market is so bad right now in the U.S. that older workers are too scared to retire. New reports say that they are putting off retirement in order to rebuild savings they lost when the market crashed last year. Sixty-three percent of those between the ages of 50 and 61 say they will put off their departure from the workforce. Continue reading Recession Got You Down? Get Creative. September 17, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Economic Crisis, Economics, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Journalism, Opinion, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment 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 15, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Current Events, Diet, Economic Crisis, Economics, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Motivation, Nutrition, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment 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. 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
2 comments 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
Posted by cmusico in: Computers, Economic Crisis, Economics, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment 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): 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 11, 2009
During the 19th century and (in some cases) for a few centuries before, the Great Powers (as they were known then) raped Africa – seized the land, seized the mineral wealth, seized the people, and had a fair go with any women left standing as well. Can we agree on that? No? It was all subject to the Law of Contract? Well, my history book tells me that the Law of Contract came with gunboats, administrators and hangings attached. What does yours say? I think we can call that ‘force majeure’. Let bygones by bygones? Yeah, well I tried that with Amex last week. “Mr. Hewtson le Roux, you have borrowed £6,000 from us and we want it back with 23% APR interest now!” “That’s all history,” I declared. “You cannot delve into the past forever.” Continue reading Reparations – let’s buy shares in Africa September 8, 2009
Posted by Prentiss Gray in: Accountability, Attitude, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Economics, Geopolitical Events, Politics, Republican, Women's Rights
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We lost the election. Aren’t we supposed to be at our noblest in loss? Aren’t we supposed to be good losers? I liked John McCain, I really did. In fact, I still do. But even I ended up voting for Barach Obama. Sorry, my fellow Republicans, just too many nuts came to the party. I just can’t count myself with Jerry Falwell, Russ Limbaugh and Ann Coulter (even her name gives me the creeps). I don’t think marriage is about “a man and a woman”, it’s about love and commitment. I just don’t think a woman’s right to choose has anything to do with church doctrine, further, I can’t think of anything that does. Religeon can be a nice, and a possibly uplifting practice/belief, but when it starts telling other people how to live their lives, count me out. It definitely doesn’t go with politics. It used to be such a nice party, Republicans won elections because they knew how to work together; be a team. The Democrats were always the “all-other” party, and spent so much time fighting over 10,000 individual agendas, I was always amazed to see them win any office. We had some great Presidents, great Congressmen and great Governors. It was not an embarrassing thing to be a Republican. Continue reading The Embarrassed Republican. September 6, 2009
Basic Economics We All Need To Understand By Ben Cerruti – 2/22/2009
Reading what follows may be of help if you are one who would like to have a better understanding of what the recent and future actions of our government may have on our economic future.
Those who took Economics 101 in school may recall the following basic formula:
M x V = P x T = gross income M = invested money V = velocity (the number of times this money is turned over per unit time) P = price T = number of transactions per unit time
Business people apply this formula regularly whether they know it or not. The more times they can rollover their investment, the more gross income they derive. However, the gross income is also dependent on having an optimum price on a product that will cause an optimum number of transactions to occur. Businesses like a super-market can operate with a small margin of profit because there are a large number of transactions that occur every day. Conversely, a clothing merchant would have to set prices with a higher profit margin because they would not have as many number of transactions to optimize their gross income. This same analogies applies to our government’s business. Continue reading Basic Economics We All Need To Understand August 31, 2009
Posted by Bob Grant - Editor in: Accountability, Business, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Governance, Marriage, Medical, Opinion, Politics, Relationships, Religion, Social Issues
12 comments Whether it is in personal, or business matters, I have always tried to conduct myself where “My Word” matters. If I say something – promise something – commit to something – I give “My Word” and try to follow through with my commitments. I bothers me tremendously, when for one reason or another, I [...] August 28, 2009
Posted by Ben Cerruti in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Opinion, Recovery
Leave a comment THE FED AND DEFICIT SPENDING ARE TO BLAME
By Ben Cerruti 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
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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. August 17, 2009
Posted by seamus in: Accountability, Attitude, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Homeland Security, Military, Morality, Opinion, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, The Writer's Corner
3 comments With double navy crosses, a distinguished flying cross, a bronze star and three purple hearts, I was singled out by a long haired professor my first week back in college as a baby killer. Welcome home, right? [...] August 6, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Congress, Current Events, Democrat, Economics, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment Lots of Taxes, Lots of Spending By Alan Caruba
We sometimes forget that the primary reason we live in the United States of America and not some British Commonwealth nation is that the people who fought our Revolution got fed up with all the taxes that King George and Parliament kept imposing on them. No taxation without representation was the rallying cry. Now all we seem to have, whether at the federal, state or local level is endless taxation on virtually everything we purchase, use or own. In many cases those taxes have risen obscenely in recent days. The new tax on tobacco products is, we’re told, intended for our own good, making them so expensive we will give up smoking. Other proposed taxes on “fast food” and even soda are passed off as being an incentive to eat in a more healthy fashion. Our personal health is our business, not the government’s and surely not an excuse to tax us! There have always been “sin” taxes on things like tobacco and alcoholic beverages, but thanks to the profligate spending of all legislatures everywhere, these taxes are rising to obscene levels, unrelated to anything than a desperate effort to fill gaps in the budget. Neither the states, nor the federal government seem to understand the need to STOP SPENDING. Every new “entitlement” program, like the proposed healthcare “reform” just imposes more and more taxation, and creates larger debt. Here’s a list of just some of the taxes we pay: Continue reading Lots of Taxes, Lots of Spending August 4, 2009
Posted by Congressman Billybob in: Books, Business, Economics, Opinion, Politics, Recovery
One comment Cash for Clunkers, Gatesgate, Plus A Special Treat by John Armor Let’s begin with the easiest subject to understand – economics. Last week two important events happened. The Cash for Clunkers program shut down when it burned through money planned for four months, in four days. And based on a previously passed federal law, the minimum wage went up again. Now, the two programs are different in size. The minimum wage only increased by 70 cents an hour; whereas, the Clunker program is/was giving away up to $4,500 per transaction. So, the change was both larger and faster in the latter instance. I was on the road on family business and saw a hand-lettered sign in a Tennessee Tasty-Freeze that said, “Prices have increased due to wage increases.” The bottom line is simple, and every student who was awake during the first day of Economics 101 knows it. When the price of anything goes up, people buy less of it. For sure, assorted studies by economists hired by labor unions have produced “academic” studies showing that raising the minimum wage does not cost anyone their jobs. But no honest studies support that conclusion. A big jump, rather than a gradual change, is easier to see and impossible to paper over. The experts in D.C. expected that $1 billion for Clunkers would last four months. How ignorant do professors, Congressmen, Presidents have to be to think when you give away anything for free (try health care for example) that you won’t have lines around the block. Then total costs will go through the roof until rationing is imposed. Continue reading Cash for Clunkers, Gatesgate, Plus A Special Treat July 17, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Governance, Social Classes, Sociology, The Economy, The Pundit's Corner
Leave a comment 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 15, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Congress, Current Events, Economics, Finance, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment Borrowing, Spending and Regulating, Oh my! By Alan Caruba
It sometimes seems to me that the Congress and the White House are determined to put an end to the nation through a combination of exorbitant borrowing and insane spending. At the end of May, an article in USA Today reported that “The government took on $6.8 trillion in new obligations in 2008, pushing the total owed to a record $63.8 trillion.” These trillions reflect various retirement benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the new prescription medicine benefits. Then there are programs to aid Americans who have lost jobs, are behind on their mortgage payments, or just want to buy a new car by declaring their old one a “clunker.” When you add in the so-called “stimulus” bill, the bailout of General Motors, and the TARP bailout to financial and insurance firms, it adds up. Robert Samuelson, a syndicated columnist, asked in May “Just how much government debt does a president have to endorse before he’s labeled ‘irresponsible’?” While facing $63.8 trillion in obligations, Samuelson noted that “From 2010 to 2019, Obama projects annual deficits totaling $7.1 trillion; that’s atop the $1.8 trillion deficit for 2009.” It doesn’t stop there, however, “Obama’s health plan might cost $1.2 trillion over a decade; he has budgeted only $635 billion.” Continue reading Borrowing, Spending and Regulating, Oh my! July 14, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Democracy, Economic Crisis, Economics, Governance, Recovery, Sociology, The Economy, The Pundit's Corner
Leave a comment  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
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse in: China, Congress, Current Events, Democracy, Economics, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Geopolitical Events, Military, Morality, Motivation, Politics, Republican, Social Issues, Uncategorized
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Is China a danger to the world? This is a topic I have wanted to write about for some time. I suspect my motivation for writing this comes from being sent to Vietnam [...] 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
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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? 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 9, 2009
Posted by maryepopkin in: Business, Business Management, Economics, Finance, Internet Advice, Marketing, Uncategorized
2 comments So you want to start a home based business now what? You have made the decision to become an entreprenuer and start a home based business but with so many different comensation plans, products, established companies and start up businesses the choice can become a daunting task. If you have been searching you will hear over and over again about all the money you can make in MLM, or network marketing. Yes, it is true you can achieve financial freedom in this industry however; why is it that only about 3% actually achieve the financial freedom when the other 97% either burn out or move on to the next latest greatest business opportunity. So how do you become the MLM success story instead of the people who scream MLM is a scam. First MLM isn’t a scam to paraphrase J. Paul Getty give me 100 people giving 1% effort instead of me doing 100% effort. In essense you create leverage and when done properly it is a successful business realtionship for you and the people you attract to your home based business. Continue reading Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki endorse networking as a business. Do you have what it takes for this industry? July 6, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Governance, Opinion, Social Issues, Sociology, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
Leave a comment Maybe you heard that another seven million homes will go into foreclosure in the next two years. Maybe you heard 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
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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. June 12, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Cap and Trade, Congress, Current Events, Democrat, Economics, Governance, Opinion, Politics
Leave a comment Obama has Lost his Mojo By Alan Caruba
The hours and the days speed by. It is almost five months since President Obama was sworn in. A million people gathered in Washington on a bitterly cold day to hear him and to leave behind a mountain of trash. Granted that in the weeks leading up to the inauguration, first the White House and then the Congress panicked in the face of what looked like a total Wall Street meltdown. A frantic effort was made to secure a blank check for billions to purchase the “toxic” paper, the bundled mortgages that turned out to have no identifiable assets. Major banks, investment houses, and a huge, international insurance company tottered on the brink of failure. Some did. Some were merged. Americans, even the most unsophisticated, understood that such an implosion threatened the financial bedrock of the nation, but first the Bush administration and then the Obama administration said that such steps must be taken. Congress went along because they had no choice. They did have a choice; indeed, a range of choices. Continue reading Obama has Lost his Mojo 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
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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 1, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Business, Business Management, Current Events, Democrat, Economics, Governance, Opinion, Politics, Recovery
One comment Are You Scared Yet? By Alan Caruba
Listening to President Obama explain why the United States is now the largest stakeholder in General Motors and, one assumes Chrysler-Fiat, I was intrigued by how he can say two opposite things in the same speech. Both auto companies could have been allowed to proceed toward bankruptcies months ago without any government intervention. A Rasmussen telephone survey reveals that 67% opposed this action. The U.S. Treasury has now been bled of $70 billion to allegedly keep GM from closing its doors, but a normal bankruptcy would have permitted it to restructure without an upper management and board of directors selected by the White House. The outcome would have assured that GM was not forced to manufacture sub-compact cars that few Americans want even though GM’s European operations already do turn them out. That being the case, why not just import them from Europe in response to whatever sales might exist here? In the meantime, however, most of its brands that appeal to Americans will be shuttered. Continue reading Are You Scared Yet? May 17, 2009
Posted by Alan Caruba in: China, Current Events, Economics, Environmental Issues, Foreign Affairs, Opinion, The Pundit's Corner
Leave a comment Our Nobel Prize Moron By Alan Caruba
I know you’re thinking the title refers to Al Gore, but no, it belongs to Paul Krugman, an economist best known as a New York Times columnist, and winner in 2008 of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science. He is widely regarded as an expert in international economics and has very impressive curriculum vitae. By all the standards of our times, the man is a genius. Anyone who has worked for an institution of higher learning as I once did soon loses his awe of PhDs. Their expertise is usually very narrow. The intellectual hot house which they share also includes immense pressure to demonstrate through research and publication that they are productive. There is a herd mentality and some vicious politics that goes on as well. Krugman may know about economics, otherwise known as the “dismal science” because I suspect the capacity to be very wrong is equal to or greater than the chance of getting things right. Most certainly, his May 15 column, based on a trip to China demonstrated he knows nothing about meteorology, climatology, the science of the Earth’s atmosphere. Continue reading Our Nobel Prize Moron April 28, 2009
A strange way of managing finances. [...] April 21, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Opinion, Social Classes, Social Issues, The Economy, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
One comment My very Southern father used to say to me, “you are not the sum of your liabilities and assets.” Or around Christmas when he spent more than we had, he would say “It’s” only money.” Of course the horrific story of the man who shot his wife and three children over four hundred and sixty thousand dollars in debt and a vacation home he couldn’t’ sell is beyond horrific. It is our Puritan work ethic gone bad. Let me say it loud and clear–IT IS ONLY MONEY. Middle class people take it very hard when they can’t pay their bills. In fact they become suicidal. We are now hearing of other people distraught over debt who have taken their lives. What a waste. Continue reading The Sum of our Liabilities and Assets–man kills family over debt April 20, 2009
Posted by Congressman Billybob in: Accountability, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Finance, Governance, Politics, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment “Getting Around Congress?” by John Armor The Treasury Department announced today that it would “convert its preferred stock in the nation’s largest banks into common stock.” The stated advantages were that this would allow Treasury to aid more banks without going back to Congress for more money than what was already approved. Some Administration officials even said that this would “get around Congress.” That alone would be bad enough. But the actual meaning of this action subverts the entire Constitution and is an assault on the American people. It is a take-over of American government, similar to the take-overs that occur every month or so, in tin-pot dictatorships around the world. Harsh charges. Here is the evidence: Continue reading “Getting Around Congress?” – It’s Much Worse than That April 14, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Economic Crisis, Economics, The Economy, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
Leave a comment I have one word…just one word, Ben…plastics. This line by the pool of a large suburban home summed up the April 13, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Creative Writing, Economics, Journalism, The Economy, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, Uncategorized
Leave a comment Most of us know what it is like to write for nothing. If you are a novelist then you probably wrote for years before A great benefactor would allow the newspapers to continue doing their good work. Interesting. This supposes that society will not be served by the new nation of writers of which I am one. This supposes that the trained journalist…rather the Paid Journalist will do the hard investigative journalism so necessary for a thriving free press or rather a thriving democracy. This may be true. Professionals certainly have a leg up over amateurs and people just cutting their teeth on the new media. Continue reading Writing for Nothing–The Brave New World of Media April 12, 2009
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Accountability, Business, Economics, Family, Lifestyle
Leave a comment The papers in New York are full of ads for stores being open on Easter Sunday. There are specials and continuing sales though nothing is mentioned for that day. The ads are bordered in pastels, bunnies and dyed eggs. It seems as if they couldn’t find a title for sales on the holiest of Christian holidays but they had to open the stores. They have to make money because things aren’t going so well. So now Easter, like so many other holidays that have nothing to do with the economy, is for sale. Sometimes I think there should be a separation of church and marketplace, just as there is a separation of church and state. When did it come the norm that every holiday had to have a greeting card and a gift attached? What happened to learning the meaning of the day, secular or religious? Years back I remember people being incensed at certain stores for being open on Christmas day. They weren’t catering to the many non Christians in our populace. They were targeting anybody who wanted to shop no matter what the day. People started lining up for great sales right after Thanksgiving dinner, many spent the night in line at the mall just to get the best price on something that would be on sale in two weeks. Before the New Year appeared some stores had the Valentine’s Day cards and candy on the shelf. This year I had a hard time distinguishing between the milk chocolate reindeer and the dark chocolate bunnies because the mold used appeared to be the same and the candies often ended up on the shelves together because of early marketing in February for an April event. Continue reading Easter Sunday For Sale April 9, 2009
Posted by dromkeen in: Accountability, Business, Economic Crisis, Economics, Finance, Governance, Opinion, Politics, Social Issues, The Economy, Uncategorized
One comment Our economy is going through a lot of turmoil right now and there is a push to find the bastards to blame. But if we concentrate too much energy on those at fault and too little energy on correcting what went wrong then we will be equally culpable when we go through this again. So let’s get a handle on this by going back to the beginning. Economies grew out of society’s attempt to take advantage of human strengths: different special and valuable skills in different people. Some people were better at hunting and some were better at making hunting tools. If the hunter kept all of his kills then the toolmaker would have to hunt too instead of making it easier to catch prey and the hunter would be using sub-par equipment. If they share the kill then both can concentrate on what they do best with the net result of more to share for everyone. This led to the development of money so that all specialties could share in the wealth of the community. Take special note. Money is NOT wealth. Wealth is the accumulated value of an individual’s, or society’s, production. Money is merely the unit of measure for the production. A key part of what has gone wrong in today’s economy is that money is sought after for itself. Continue reading Toxic Money v. Toxic Assets April 8, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Economic Crisis, Economics, Governance, Politics, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
Leave a comment President Obama is my man. Let there be no doubt. I went to the election night party in Chicago, I have defended him I think the initial money was needed and things seem to be turning around, but let’s face it, enough is enough. They are already talking about another stimulus package and the great bank bailout is still just warming up. And the auto companies…the dirty little secret is that they can’t do anything until the unions take it on the chin. Continue reading A Smart Jerk–We Need One Now April 7, 2009
Posted by Jack B Rochester in: Business, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Governance, The Economy
Leave a comment By Mark Anderson, Editor-at-Large, The Business Insider – www.TimRosaBlog.com
“We have to take advantage of what’s being done in this legislation,” Sen. Leahy said of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “I want our president and our country and our state to succeed. We have to. There’s no other choice.”
The daylong event consisted primarily of breakout sessions on topics such as Continue reading Senator Leahy Hosts Economic Recovery Workshop in Vermont April 2, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Geopolitical Events, Social Issues, The Economy, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
One comment So we were sitting there at dinner when on comes a revolution. The young Englishmen were in the streets in London April 1, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Business, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Politics, Social Issues, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
One comment So he canned the CEO of GM. [...] March 30, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, General Topics, Lifestyle, Social Classes, Social Issues, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
6 comments
March 27, 2009
Posted by John Joss in: Accountability, Creative Writing, Current Events, Economics, General Topics, Journalism, Lifestyle, Non-Fiction, Social Aspects, The Writer's Corner, Writing Essentials
2 comments Have you ever wondered what the rich and feckless do with their money? Now it can (in part) be told. They buy Ferraris. They don’t drive them, you understand. They just buy them. In the Madoff era, the question is whether those ‘bonus babies’ can hold on to them. Do our collective hearts bleed for them? Yours? Mine? Not! Ferrari is probably the world’s only car manufacturer not suffering from the current economic downturn. The company has a two-year waiting list for its new cars. So we know that the superrich are not yet down to their last few hundred million or so, even if Bentley, in the UK (owned by VW), has a glut of unsold cars in dealers’ lots. A poll of mega-yacht builders is ongoing. Continue reading CAR 0R CODPIECE? March 26, 2009
Posted by rgeldard in: Business, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Politics, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner
One comment No Laffer Matter March 24, 2009
Posted by Bill Hazelgrove in: Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Geopolitical Events, Governance, Social Classes, Social Issues, The Pundit's Corner, Uncategorized
4 comments Enough populist rage. Let’s cut to the chase here. Middle class people are practical and sensible so lets look at it that |
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That’s it. I’m done. This once staunch Republican, is out of the party. Frankly, I’m just too embarrassed to stay associated with what has swiftly become a party of low life, low brow, say anything to get votes, jerks.
What Hurricane Katrina Taught Me
For the past few days I have been haunted by the memory of Hurricane Katrina. August 28th marks the fifth anniversary of the storm that destroyed most of New Orleams and displaced one of the poorest sections of this country- the 9th Ward. I have never been to New Orleans but what happened in 2005 changed my life. Continue reading What Hurricane Katrina Taught Me