Where were you when you heard John Lennon had been shot? What were you doing when you became aware of the 9-11 attacks? There are big events that happen and we lock them in our memories along with what we were doing and who we were with. Today is one such day. Today is the day we all started working for the "Company". We are no longer citizens of America, but are servants to serve the whim and will of........the Company.
Early mining towns were run by the Company. The wages you earned were spent in the Company store or paid for Company-provided lodging and meals. Funny thing about the Company store was ~ their prices. It was in the Company's best interests to keep workers broke. In effect, they were able to achieve a sort of slavery because darn few people were able to buy their "freedom". Who could save up enough after paying for clothes, food, and shelter with prices set high for just that reason?
George Carlin, Ron Paul, and Frank Zappa have had a little to say about the merger of big business and government. Who would ever listen to them ~ a comedian, an elderly politician, and a musician? Except they haven't been the only ones trying to awaken America. Unfortunately, not many listen and even fewer hear.
As a child, I was raised to not see getting money from the government as a good thing. The system we paid into was only to be used in times of extreme need and should be gotten off of as quickly as possibly. My parents never really put into words why being on the dole was bad. I vaguely recall something about, "then They own you" being said and maybe I later added my own twist about self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and basic decency to the mix. I knew I never wanted to become a bon-bon nibbling, afternoon soap watching parasite of society. I wasn't smart enough to discover the cure for cancer, but I could produce and contribute in meaningful ways. Or so I hoped.
These days, I find myself wondering exactly what it is that I produce, whom do I produce it for, and where exactly do my contributions go? When I plant a garden, I know it will produce vegetables to feed my family and we are the sole beneficiaries of the effort expended. I joyously share the bounty with friends and neighbors.......even going so far as to plant some things I would never eat, but do because there is someone I know who will gobble it right up. And it comes down to: doing something like that is my choice. No one tells me this is what I have to do. I might become downright crabby and resentful if others could dictate what I had to plant in my little garden!
But I can easily become crabby and resentful about where my tax contributions go. I am given no say in the matter. "Haven't you voted? Isn't that your 'say' in the matter?" Casting a vote shouldn't be akin to handing someone a blank check and telling them to fill in whatever amount they deem is necessary and I'll just work till it's paid off. Would you really hand over a blank check to someone you don't know and think they have your best interests at heart? If you truly would do so, there are a couple of bridges I'd like to sell to you ~ just trust me on this.
As future Queen of America, I feel it is my duty to solemnly present information for you to digest and act upon as you will. Here goes..........
We are in a depression.
And I'm not talking about the kind that can be handled by taking any of a number of pills. The BLS provides numbers that politicians and talking heads love to ramble on about. Hundreds of thousands were losing their jobs every month. Jobs sent overseas to maximize profits while minimizing costs. Don't you find it perhaps a bit of a stretch of the truth that unemployment numbers are reported as going up? Surely you have witnessed in your own community the closing of businesses/plants that used to employ tens, hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Have there been new businesses coming into these closed factories? Are new plants being built? Trust what you can see with your own eyes and verify by asking within the community. "Payroll numbers are up for the month of _________." Don't take that at face value. Adding a twice a week, 3 hour per shift employee now isn't the same as the 40 hour a week worker that was laid off.
It's not a depression if we don't see soup lines!
It IS a depression. Just because food stamps and 99 weeks of unemployment hide the fact doesn't make it less so. Isn't it clever how those safety nets put into place after the last Depression help cover up what the truth is now?
It's not a depression! I still have a job!
It IS a depression. And you have a job. Today. Maybe even next week. Possibly into next year. Can YOU guarantee how long this job will be there? Do you feel the same sense of job security your grandparents and parents felt? Unless you are Grand Poohbah of the Universe, a deep belief in YOUR job security probably means your head is buried too far in the sand.
It's not a depression! Politicians and talking heads all say the recession is over and the recovery is working!
It IS a depression and you ARE being lied to. Repeatedly. After all, who wants to be known as the one who let the dead cat out of the bag? That would be like declaring the Emperor has no clothes! TARP, Quantitative Easing (uno and dos), and the Too Big to Fail classification are cancerous tumors of accepted speech. They shouldn't come out of the common person's mouth without them feeling a bit like they just threw up a little. Market manipulation by HFT's is NOT a sign of growth. It is a sign of market manipulation and further highlights that regulations and regulators are doing ZIP! Except helping a few get exceeding, excessively wealthy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So I leave you with a few thoughts. A few months ago a co-worker asked me what I thought the straw would be that breaks the camel's back. To paraphrase my response, "I don't think the straw will be the same for everyone. Will it be when a worker decides he/she's tired of their efforts supporting 30 others? Will it be when someone wakes up and realizes America has been turned into a 3rd world country? Who knows? YOU will know it for yourself."
I've suggested reading/watching material before and will do so again. Read. Watch. Learn. Pray. Plan.
This really laid out what was in my mind in a way I couldn't put into words. The short video within the article is worth 10 minutes of your life that you will never get back. I promise.
A bit of history that shows how little things have changed. A bit longer read than the first suggestion and no following video.
A relatively simple explanation of inflation. One thing to keep in mind is that the costs of food and energy are NOT figured into any percentage of inflation. I believe I read those were dropped during Nixon's presidency.
A 20 minute commencement speech given by Dr. Michael Burry. He's calling it like he sees it.
I can't help it ~ this makes me chuckle.
A government who, with the Supreme Court's blessing, can tax everyone into healthcare, is a government who can tax you into buying a home if you aren't already doing so..........or perhaps a GM car..........or Facebook stock for your IRA. There's really no end to what the Company can force on you. They own you. The Supreme Court told them so.
16 Tons
I do so wish it were easier for people to leave comments without having to sign in!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
With a huff and a puff
Many years ago, I happened to see a remarkable sight ~ an amazing collection of wind turbines in northern California. What I never expected to see was an amazing collection of turbines in Iroquois County. (and I'm using the word amazing very loosely)
Last year I was gently encouraged by a co-worker to educate myself about wind farms in general. How could I refuse? One of the first things I did was type wind farm scams into Google. And what followed was an education! In a blur of clicking, reading, clicking, and reading, one thing became clear ~ wind farms benefit the companies subsidized by our elected government. Period.
At some point over the past several years I must have read that parts of Europe were investing heavily in wind farms, so that's where I headed first. Came across a blog with a decidedly different name, The Devil's Kitchen. Read that blog and headed on to a short story in the The Telegraph. Watts Up With That? and the accompanying comments consumed a few minutes worth of time. (the comments section of most anything I read online is usually the best)
Throughout Illinois, hundreds (if not thousands) of land owners have signed leases with various wind energy companies. The leases are kept on record at the court house and may be viewed by one and all. The contracts signed once a turbine(s) will actually go up on a site have these pesky confidentiality clauses in them. And those are definitely NOT kept at the court house for anyone to peruse. Because something so good for all of America must be cloaked in secrecy.
I spent some time this summer at the court house. Looking at leases. While I wasn't able to go through all of them, one thing soon became clear: many of the signed leases were owned by people not living in the county........some didn't even live in the state. "Well, they own it. They can do what they want with it." I'll go along with that ~ to an extent.
Power produced by turbines can't be stored for use at a later time. Use it right away or lose it. Wind conditions have to be favorable for the turbines to produce power. According to the US Department of Energy, Iroquois County is in a marginal wind zone. That puts it one step above poor. So, it's imperative that these turbines be erected to make use of our marginal wind? And what happens when the wind is less than marginal for a day, week, or month? Here comes the really funny part: coal-powered plants still have to run all the time because they can't rely on turbines to provide power when needed. Kind of kooky how that works, huh?
Another thing the wind companies don't like to bring up too soon is the fact that there is no infrastructure to get the power from point A to point B. As you drive in the rural Sheldon area, notice how many farms have turbines on them and how many don't. The ones that refused the wind company largess by signing a lease may still end up losing valued land. For the lines needed to get power from point A to point B. And they won't be given a choice ~ that's where eminent domain enters the picture.
Farm owners are paid for use of their land. They receive the money from wind energy companies. Who, in turn, receive their money from the US government. That's YOU. These aren't companies who so strongly believe in their product that they actually went out and found venture capitalists to fund them. Well, they tried. Turns out there isn't a good return on this particular investment. Luckily for them, our government doesn't ask before spending the money they take from us. Just ask Solyndra.
In my fairy-tale world as Queen for a Year, I would mandate that everyone shower with heated unicorn tears and dry off with the air generated by millions of fluttering butterfly wings. In my real world vision, my name wouldn't be on this wind farm IOU and neither would yours. It's just one more thing to put on the To Be Paid By Future Generations list. Landowners have sold their souls for a few government trinkets and we all get to pay for it, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, "to infinity and beyond!" One of these days, the turbines might actually produce enough wind to blow down the house of cards that our country has become.
Last year I was gently encouraged by a co-worker to educate myself about wind farms in general. How could I refuse? One of the first things I did was type wind farm scams into Google. And what followed was an education! In a blur of clicking, reading, clicking, and reading, one thing became clear ~ wind farms benefit the companies subsidized by our elected government. Period.
At some point over the past several years I must have read that parts of Europe were investing heavily in wind farms, so that's where I headed first. Came across a blog with a decidedly different name, The Devil's Kitchen. Read that blog and headed on to a short story in the The Telegraph. Watts Up With That? and the accompanying comments consumed a few minutes worth of time. (the comments section of most anything I read online is usually the best)
Throughout Illinois, hundreds (if not thousands) of land owners have signed leases with various wind energy companies. The leases are kept on record at the court house and may be viewed by one and all. The contracts signed once a turbine(s) will actually go up on a site have these pesky confidentiality clauses in them. And those are definitely NOT kept at the court house for anyone to peruse. Because something so good for all of America must be cloaked in secrecy.
I spent some time this summer at the court house. Looking at leases. While I wasn't able to go through all of them, one thing soon became clear: many of the signed leases were owned by people not living in the county........some didn't even live in the state. "Well, they own it. They can do what they want with it." I'll go along with that ~ to an extent.
Power produced by turbines can't be stored for use at a later time. Use it right away or lose it. Wind conditions have to be favorable for the turbines to produce power. According to the US Department of Energy, Iroquois County is in a marginal wind zone. That puts it one step above poor. So, it's imperative that these turbines be erected to make use of our marginal wind? And what happens when the wind is less than marginal for a day, week, or month? Here comes the really funny part: coal-powered plants still have to run all the time because they can't rely on turbines to provide power when needed. Kind of kooky how that works, huh?
Another thing the wind companies don't like to bring up too soon is the fact that there is no infrastructure to get the power from point A to point B. As you drive in the rural Sheldon area, notice how many farms have turbines on them and how many don't. The ones that refused the wind company largess by signing a lease may still end up losing valued land. For the lines needed to get power from point A to point B. And they won't be given a choice ~ that's where eminent domain enters the picture.
Farm owners are paid for use of their land. They receive the money from wind energy companies. Who, in turn, receive their money from the US government. That's YOU. These aren't companies who so strongly believe in their product that they actually went out and found venture capitalists to fund them. Well, they tried. Turns out there isn't a good return on this particular investment. Luckily for them, our government doesn't ask before spending the money they take from us. Just ask Solyndra.
In my fairy-tale world as Queen for a Year, I would mandate that everyone shower with heated unicorn tears and dry off with the air generated by millions of fluttering butterfly wings. In my real world vision, my name wouldn't be on this wind farm IOU and neither would yours. It's just one more thing to put on the To Be Paid By Future Generations list. Landowners have sold their souls for a few government trinkets and we all get to pay for it, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, "to infinity and beyond!" One of these days, the turbines might actually produce enough wind to blow down the house of cards that our country has become.
Friday, February 10, 2012
By the light of the silvery moon.....
How many times over the course of your adult life have you found yourself signing your name to a multi-page document, then leaning over towards your spouse/significant other whisper, "Sweetie, let's just read all this stuff at home. There's plenty of time to find out what all that gobbledygook says later."? I'm going to take a guess: 5. Was I close?
That is exactly what your elected congress does each and every time they vote. "Oh no they don't!! They care about me and take the time to review each bill carefully. Because they only want the best for me." When was the last time somebody you voted for called up just to see how life is treating you? Let me take another guess: 0. Did I get it right this time?
Sometimes, you can believe what a politician says. Barack Obama And sometimes, you can't. Bill Clinton But what happens if a person tells a lie long enough? Do they convince themself it is true? Or is it what's behind curtain #2?
I choose to believe a politician is lying if his/her lips are moving and anything resembling, "to help the American people" comes forth. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It's my responsibility to adjust the bs-meter after the first time. "But everyone deserves a second chance!" Sure they do. However, once they've lied to me, I get to set the terms of the second chance. See how simple that is? An important factor to consider in defining parameters for a second chance is: the scope of the first lie. Sort of a "who" and "what" was affected by the lie. A lie that perhaps takes 5 minutes out of my life to resolve may result in a week's grounding for the unlucky off-spring. And after those 7 painfully long days are finished, said off-spring is free to embark on her second chance ~ with full knowledge of what the next consequence will be for future infractions of truth. A lie that requires you and I to pay and pay and pay for the rest of our lives, well.........you begin to see how the scope matters. And sometimes, the scope of a lie is so huge, the one uttering it should under no circumstances ever be given a second chance to do it again on such a grand scale. Every politician who voted for Obamacare should be impeached. Or given a spin on the Exile/Head in a Basket wheel. There is much to be gained (not for you) by its passage and there is much to be lost (that's where you come in). They could have a second chance at being elected again, but until I saw how they handle a catch pole, I'm not too sure I'd even vote for them if they were running for Dog Catcher.
I don't claim to have the answers for your life. Some days I wonder if I have them for my own. But the one thing I know with every fiber of my being is that we have a better understanding of what impacts our lives than any knucklehead in congress does. If you want to provide healthcare for many, please do. And find as many like-minded people as you can. Just don't ask the rest of us to pick up the perpetual tab.
Of course, this is just my opinion. And as Mom used to say, "Opinions are like assholes........everybody's got one." (yes, she was a laugh a minute) Consider yourself mooned.
That is exactly what your elected congress does each and every time they vote. "Oh no they don't!! They care about me and take the time to review each bill carefully. Because they only want the best for me." When was the last time somebody you voted for called up just to see how life is treating you? Let me take another guess: 0. Did I get it right this time?
Sometimes, you can believe what a politician says. Barack Obama And sometimes, you can't. Bill Clinton But what happens if a person tells a lie long enough? Do they convince themself it is true? Or is it what's behind curtain #2?
I choose to believe a politician is lying if his/her lips are moving and anything resembling, "to help the American people" comes forth. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It's my responsibility to adjust the bs-meter after the first time. "But everyone deserves a second chance!" Sure they do. However, once they've lied to me, I get to set the terms of the second chance. See how simple that is? An important factor to consider in defining parameters for a second chance is: the scope of the first lie. Sort of a "who" and "what" was affected by the lie. A lie that perhaps takes 5 minutes out of my life to resolve may result in a week's grounding for the unlucky off-spring. And after those 7 painfully long days are finished, said off-spring is free to embark on her second chance ~ with full knowledge of what the next consequence will be for future infractions of truth. A lie that requires you and I to pay and pay and pay for the rest of our lives, well.........you begin to see how the scope matters. And sometimes, the scope of a lie is so huge, the one uttering it should under no circumstances ever be given a second chance to do it again on such a grand scale. Every politician who voted for Obamacare should be impeached. Or given a spin on the Exile/Head in a Basket wheel. There is much to be gained (not for you) by its passage and there is much to be lost (that's where you come in). They could have a second chance at being elected again, but until I saw how they handle a catch pole, I'm not too sure I'd even vote for them if they were running for Dog Catcher.
I don't claim to have the answers for your life. Some days I wonder if I have them for my own. But the one thing I know with every fiber of my being is that we have a better understanding of what impacts our lives than any knucklehead in congress does. If you want to provide healthcare for many, please do. And find as many like-minded people as you can. Just don't ask the rest of us to pick up the perpetual tab.
Of course, this is just my opinion. And as Mom used to say, "Opinions are like assholes........everybody's got one." (yes, she was a laugh a minute) Consider yourself mooned.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Where do rainbows come from?
Originally, I had planned on doing a much different blog tonight. However, inspired by Megan*, I've decided to dive into a topic near and dear to me: personal responsibility.
There are far too many instances when we are subjected to people droning on and on about how life has mistreated them and how it isn't fair. By about the third story, we are seeing the pattern. Midway through the tenth story, we have visions of how to surreptitiously puncture our eardrums so as not to have to listen to one more minute of this drivel. The common denominator in the stories is the person telling them. They, however, don't seem to grasp that a little self-reflection could go a long way towards resolving ever being in such a situation ever again.
I was raised by the most sympathetic mother in the world. Well........that's not exactly true. Or even close to being true. Whining to her about some issue that seemed to be in the end of the world category would usually produce this response. "You want sympathy? Look in the dictionary between sh*t and syphilis." While seemingly harsh, her remark served as a guide. In her own way, she was teaching us to cut through the bs, prioritize, and most importantly...........not clutter up her time listening to the angst of too many daughters. She had been young once. It was we who had no idea what she was going through as an adult.
Perhaps by design, more than likely by accident, she was teaching us that Life wasn't fair and it could often be downright difficult. By not becoming enmeshed in the minutiae of our daily lives, she provided us with many opportunities to become self-reliant. And I thank her for that.
As Queen, I'd like to proclaim that all able-bodied and sound minded adults are required to fully accept the consequences of their choices. Federal safety nets will be a thing of the past. Levels of help can then be established (in order): (1) immediate family (2) extended family and friends (3) community/church (4) state of residence. And at NO time is any person in 1, 2, 3, or 4 required to help. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but "a mistake made more than once becomes a choice." A Queen could never propose that one group of people pay for the lifestyle choices of another group of people. Especially one who only plans for the royal monarchy to last one year or less. Preferably less. The Nanny state should be embraced only after we have irrefutable evidence that unicorns f*rt rainbows. Till then, we need to gird our loins each day in big boy/big girl undies.
*name changed to protect the innocent
There are far too many instances when we are subjected to people droning on and on about how life has mistreated them and how it isn't fair. By about the third story, we are seeing the pattern. Midway through the tenth story, we have visions of how to surreptitiously puncture our eardrums so as not to have to listen to one more minute of this drivel. The common denominator in the stories is the person telling them. They, however, don't seem to grasp that a little self-reflection could go a long way towards resolving ever being in such a situation ever again.
I was raised by the most sympathetic mother in the world. Well........that's not exactly true. Or even close to being true. Whining to her about some issue that seemed to be in the end of the world category would usually produce this response. "You want sympathy? Look in the dictionary between sh*t and syphilis." While seemingly harsh, her remark served as a guide. In her own way, she was teaching us to cut through the bs, prioritize, and most importantly...........not clutter up her time listening to the angst of too many daughters. She had been young once. It was we who had no idea what she was going through as an adult.
Perhaps by design, more than likely by accident, she was teaching us that Life wasn't fair and it could often be downright difficult. By not becoming enmeshed in the minutiae of our daily lives, she provided us with many opportunities to become self-reliant. And I thank her for that.
As Queen, I'd like to proclaim that all able-bodied and sound minded adults are required to fully accept the consequences of their choices. Federal safety nets will be a thing of the past. Levels of help can then be established (in order): (1) immediate family (2) extended family and friends (3) community/church (4) state of residence. And at NO time is any person in 1, 2, 3, or 4 required to help. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but "a mistake made more than once becomes a choice." A Queen could never propose that one group of people pay for the lifestyle choices of another group of people. Especially one who only plans for the royal monarchy to last one year or less. Preferably less. The Nanny state should be embraced only after we have irrefutable evidence that unicorns f*rt rainbows. Till then, we need to gird our loins each day in big boy/big girl undies.
*name changed to protect the innocent
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Hope and chains
usury - (n) the act or practice of extracting a rate of interest beyond what is allowed by law.
The law of unintended consequences as applied to congress simply means they have to pass a minimum of 2 laws: one just because it gives them something to do and the other(s) to "fix" problems caused by the passage of the first.
Exorbitant interest rates used to be illegal. One could bring suit against a company for such practices. Then our elected officials took themselves out of the equation (probably about the time they accepted campaignbribes contributions from banks and credit card companies) and decided interest rates could best be set by those in the business of loaning money. After all, everyone knows the best one to guard the henhouse IS the fox.
So you deposit your money in a bank. At one time, they may have even paid 3% back to you. But they charged the borrower 10%. What else could they do but pocket the difference? A bank's business is to make money, isn't it? Now, they could have made money by charging simple interest, but they can make lots more if they compound the interest. Good for them, bad for you. Because wages aren't compounded. Oh sure, you've been told that if you work hard you will succeed. Go to college, get a degree, start your career climb ~ and you, too, will be at the top of the heap........some day.
But the hope is that you will be a lifetimeconsumer debtor. Always working ever harder to pay off the things you are constantly bombarded with needing. Millions combined in the same pursuit are called an asset. When an asset is on your balance sheet, it's a good thing. If loaning entities were honest about the columns in their ledgers, borrowers would be listed under Indentured Servants. And your term of servitude is however long you use credit.
Thankfully, our representatives are always looking out for the little people. Outlawing such things as borrowing money from an unregulated entity (ie parents, grandparents, friends) Everyone knows the wealthy (1%) would take such advantage of such a thing and go completely nuts buying houses for all family members and then only charging them a paltry amount of interest! Those we send to Washington decided this is not fair to those of us who weren't born into a wealthy family (99%). So they constructed laws whereby we (99%) borrow the necessary funds from them (1%). Neat how that works, isn't it?
I'm calling bullsh*t on all of it. As Queen, I would like to bestow on the Land the ability to decide who you want to help or be beholden to. Giving to others is so rewarding ~ when it's my choice of what to give and who to give it to. This is a feeling I'd like many to experience! Oh sure, I may not be able to give on the scale of Mitt, but I'm pretty sure I give Joe a run for his money. And the feeling I get from knowing I truly have done something for an individual is priceless. Until CONgress figures out a way to tax it, that is.
The law of unintended consequences as applied to congress simply means they have to pass a minimum of 2 laws: one just because it gives them something to do and the other(s) to "fix" problems caused by the passage of the first.
Exorbitant interest rates used to be illegal. One could bring suit against a company for such practices. Then our elected officials took themselves out of the equation (probably about the time they accepted campaign
So you deposit your money in a bank. At one time, they may have even paid 3% back to you. But they charged the borrower 10%. What else could they do but pocket the difference? A bank's business is to make money, isn't it? Now, they could have made money by charging simple interest, but they can make lots more if they compound the interest. Good for them, bad for you. Because wages aren't compounded. Oh sure, you've been told that if you work hard you will succeed. Go to college, get a degree, start your career climb ~ and you, too, will be at the top of the heap........some day.
But the hope is that you will be a lifetime
Thankfully, our representatives are always looking out for the little people. Outlawing such things as borrowing money from an unregulated entity (ie parents, grandparents, friends) Everyone knows the wealthy (1%) would take such advantage of such a thing and go completely nuts buying houses for all family members and then only charging them a paltry amount of interest! Those we send to Washington decided this is not fair to those of us who weren't born into a wealthy family (99%). So they constructed laws whereby we (99%) borrow the necessary funds from them (1%). Neat how that works, isn't it?
I'm calling bullsh*t on all of it. As Queen, I would like to bestow on the Land the ability to decide who you want to help or be beholden to. Giving to others is so rewarding ~ when it's my choice of what to give and who to give it to. This is a feeling I'd like many to experience! Oh sure, I may not be able to give on the scale of Mitt, but I'm pretty sure I give Joe a run for his money. And the feeling I get from knowing I truly have done something for an individual is priceless. Until CONgress figures out a way to tax it, that is.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Not sure what to do with down pillows?
If one can accept that the business model for the last 50+ years has been planned obsolescence, then one can begin to make sense of the world he or she lives in. We need "stuff". They need to build a customer base and expand sales. That's called growth. Like The Blob, a business must grow, consume competitors, and feed its insatiable need to pay dividends and insanely huge bonuses. That wouldn't be possible if a product outlived its purchaser. Enter the design flaw. You know, the one that guarantees it's going to stop working 7-10 years after you've brought it home. Which means you are going to have to run out and ........get another one. "Well, I bet this one will last longer. The technology is so much better." Except having it last longer doesn't fit their business model. After all, who in their right mind would agree to pay a large sum of money for a product designed to fail? Take a look in the mirror because that's who agreed.
Thanks to a suggestion by Kirby a few years ago, I was able to watch a video titled Who Killed The Electric Car?. There it was: a product that worked, customers loved, and required little maintenance. So you know it just had to go! Until a better design came along (or a government pushing all things green) and the GM Volt was unveiled. It is going to save this country millions of barrels of oil a year, I tell you! Oh, there's just one pesky little quirk that needs to be fixed first: batteries that catch fire. But other than that, it's all good! We, the taxpayer, were given the privilege of bailing them out and, in return, received a faulty product.
As future queen (and I mean in the very near future), one official proclamation would be: no more bail-outs. I don't want to keep paying for someone else's failure. And I sure don't want YOU paying for it, either. If corporations are given the same rights as people (thanks for that, Supreme Court), then it only stands to reason they get ALL the rights ~ including the right to fail. A free market is most assuredly NOT one where taxpayers assume all the risks and companies reap all profits. What it should be called is a con game and anyone promoting it should be run out of town after the proper tarring and feathering.
Thanks to a suggestion by Kirby a few years ago, I was able to watch a video titled Who Killed The Electric Car?. There it was: a product that worked, customers loved, and required little maintenance. So you know it just had to go! Until a better design came along (or a government pushing all things green) and the GM Volt was unveiled. It is going to save this country millions of barrels of oil a year, I tell you! Oh, there's just one pesky little quirk that needs to be fixed first: batteries that catch fire. But other than that, it's all good! We, the taxpayer, were given the privilege of bailing them out and, in return, received a faulty product.
As future queen (and I mean in the very near future), one official proclamation would be: no more bail-outs. I don't want to keep paying for someone else's failure. And I sure don't want YOU paying for it, either. If corporations are given the same rights as people (thanks for that, Supreme Court), then it only stands to reason they get ALL the rights ~ including the right to fail. A free market is most assuredly NOT one where taxpayers assume all the risks and companies reap all profits. What it should be called is a con game and anyone promoting it should be run out of town after the proper tarring and feathering.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Point/Counterpoint
Point
Once upon a time, travelers boarded planes with a minimum of fuss, personal discomfort, or embarrassment. Then 9-11 happened and the government quickly rushed in to save us. The creation of the TSA and its relatively new "enhanced screening" is apparently all that is standing between us and certain death. One could say that its priceless if they look past the 2011 fiscal year operating budget of approximately $8.1 billion. Our government is serious about keeping us safe. The Department of Transportation statistics show 637 million enplaned passengers in 2011. What a bargain.
"But, it's not about the money." True........it also has to do with seeing how easily people are willing to give up rights and personal responsibility. "But there are bad guys out there and they want to get us." True.............and if they are really determined, taking off their shoes at an airport is NOT going to deter them. Because they will have figured out a way to accomplish their goals and it will not be discovered via the screening process. Thanks to the restrictions on what passengers are allowed to take on board, the most they will be able to do is put together an awesome facial mask or body scrub..........unless MacGyver is in the next row over and can make use of those 3 oz travel size bottles.
So I propose we begin to accept there is an amount of risk we take every day we are alive. Nothing wrong with trying to minimize risks to the degree we have personal control over. But it is time we stop being a nation of pansies and engage common sense. Israel has offered to teach US their method(s) of airport profiling. Perhaps they have a leg up in this particular area since the raid on Entebbe. It's particularly interesting that a USA Today.com article dated 9-13-2001 states in part, "Israeli experts said Wednesday that, had they been used in the United States, they might have prevented Tuesday's horrific airborne attacks in New York and Washington. But some would have proved difficult to implement in the United States, and others — like profiling — would not meet the test of the U.S. Constitution." But feeling up every person passing through O'Hare must be okay with the Founders intentions. After all, it is their duty to protect us, isn't it? (B.M.)
Counterpoint
Once upon a time, travelers boarded planes with a minimum of fuss, personal discomfort, or embarrassment. Then 9-11 happened and the government quickly rushed in to save us. The creation of the TSA and its relatively new "enhanced screening" is apparently all that is standing between us and certain death. One could say that its priceless if they look past the 2011 fiscal year operating budget of approximately $8.1 billion. Our government is serious about keeping us safe. The Department of Transportation statistics show 637 million enplaned passengers in 2011. What a bargain.
"But, it's not about the money." True........it also has to do with seeing how easily people are willing to give up rights and personal responsibility. "But there are bad guys out there and they want to get us." True.............and if they are really determined, taking off their shoes at an airport is NOT going to deter them. Because they will have figured out a way to accomplish their goals and it will not be discovered via the screening process. Thanks to the restrictions on what passengers are allowed to take on board, the most they will be able to do is put together an awesome facial mask or body scrub..........unless MacGyver is in the next row over and can make use of those 3 oz travel size bottles.
So I propose we begin to accept there is an amount of risk we take every day we are alive. Nothing wrong with trying to minimize risks to the degree we have personal control over. But it is time we stop being a nation of pansies and engage common sense. Israel has offered to teach US their method(s) of airport profiling. Perhaps they have a leg up in this particular area since the raid on Entebbe. It's particularly interesting that a USA Today.com article dated 9-13-2001 states in part, "Israeli experts said Wednesday that, had they been used in the United States, they might have prevented Tuesday's horrific airborne attacks in New York and Washington. But some would have proved difficult to implement in the United States, and others — like profiling — would not meet the test of the U.S. Constitution." But feeling up every person passing through O'Hare must be okay with the Founders intentions. After all, it is their duty to protect us, isn't it? (B.M.)
Counterpoint
What is under discussion here is whether intrusive surveillance, including pat-downs and full-body scans, should be necessary for boarding a commercial flight. We are not discussing whether such surveillance is, in principle, a good thing. If that were the question, I would be arguing the other position. Except for the ultra-libs, who want you pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, and ultra-conservatives, who want police to have the right to accost “suspected” illegal immigrants without probable cause-- except for these fringe groups, I hope we can all agree that the government should not have the right to detain and inspect a citizen in the course of his law-abiding day.
But who would deny that the government has the right to search me if I am, say, having a private lunch with the President?
So the real question is whether boarding a plane rises to the level of urgency that would allow the government to search American citizens. I argue yes, for the following reasons.
1) Personal reasons: I love my in-laws. They live in Washington State, so I typically fly at least once a year. The only thing that enables me to sit comfortably on the airplane, a.k.a the-flaming-ball-of-death-waiting-to-happen, is the knowledge that every man, woman and, yes, child has been scanned, searched, wanded and, if necessary, cavity searched. If this were not the case I would refuse to fly, as, I’m sure, would a majority of Americans.
2) Economic reasons: As you might guess from number one above, the airlines themselves want strict inspection of passengers. Without such inspections the airlines would go bankrupt from loss of revenue and loss of airplanes due to the sudden rise in terrorist activity. And since we have had a total of zero destroyed planes since 9/11, a single incident would constitute a sudden rise in such activity.
3) Legal reasons: Flying on an airplane is not, strictly speaking, a right. I know this is hard to swallow for a nation of people who are used to looking on everything as a right. But the rights our creator endowed us with are limited. For example, getting into my car is a right. It is my private property. I shouldn’t need to be searched to get in my car, or be pulled over for not wearing my seat-belt in my car. But unless I own a plane, I am subject to whatever restrictions the owners of that plane wish to place on me. Most importantly, it always remains my right to refuse to board the plane, thereby solving the problem under discussion.
4) The “that’s never happened before” argument: One argument I often hear in opposition to pat-downs of six-year-olds is, “Like a six year old is going to have a bomb.” Let me make a few points to demonstrate how annoying I find this argument. a) No one expects a 6 year-old to simply “have” a bomb. As even the most strident libertarian knows, the concern is over whether an adult would put a bomb on a six-year-old. b) At this point the argument becomes, “Who would do such a thing,” and the answer, of course, is “Someone evil and stupid enough to blow up a plane full of people.” c) We live in a world where people randomly gun down strangers for no reason, children lynch each other at school, adults blow themselves up to serve Allah, and other insane perverts perform other similar actions on a daily basis. Waiting until evil people figure out a new way to kill us before we explore the possible ways they could kill us is an attitude that ought to have died with our 3,000 plus fellow citizens on 9/11.
5) To head-off any arguments the opposition might make, one that would allow for “some” searches but not “intrusive” searches like pat-downs, let me remind them of this: distinctions between intrusive and non-intrusive searches is one that will ultimately be decided by lawyers. And once the lawyers get involved, who knows where the line will be drawn. So the question should be between no searches and intrusive searches, not a mythical middle ground.
6) God has entrusted this world to us, and He expects us to govern it justly and lovingly. Although it doesn’t make sense, in a sinful world it is more loving to search a six-year-old than to allow the child to be blown up. And it is more than just to allow potential passengers the freedom not to fly.
I will close with a quote from Ben Franklin, who said “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” It should be remembered that Franklin was referring to quartering soldiers and not to flying in airplanes, which to him would have seemed like sorcery. And it must also be mentioned that there is nothing temporary about not dying in a plane crash. (D.W.)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I like it shaken, not stirred.
Thinking is hard. Reading is fun. Thinking about things I've read is sometimes downright exhausting.
A couple of years ago, I struggled through The Snowball. It was a somewhat easy read as far as books go, but I kept putting it down to ponder why I was bothered about something I'd read: Warren Buffet admired Andrew Carnegie. At the end of a life spent accumulating great wealth, Mr. Carnegie did the unthinkable and gave it all away. Warren hopes to do the same. My question is: why wait until then? If one's passion is to be charitable, wouldn't they choose to engage in it as frequently as they could?
In a discussion about this, I commented that perhaps if Mr. Carnegie had paid his employees more, their lives would have been better, thus enabling them to turn around and help others. The response given back of, "they agreed to work for what he paid them, didn't they?" was less than I was looking for. So I tried to come at it from another angle. "Just take those house-flipping shows on TLC. Someone buys a house, puts $50,000 and 5 weeks into it. Turns around and sells it for $300,000 more than they paid for it. That's just not right." It was then pointed out that "if someone is stupid enough to buy it for that, a person would be stupid not to sell it."
As you might imagine, it still wasn't sitting right with me.
And FINALLY.........after having this issue work its way through my brain for a couple of years without being able to define exactly why it bothered me, I was clobbered with an epiphany: I have to look at myself in the mirror and like what is looking back. My moral compass will not allow me to engage in cutthroat business practices (or admire those who do), nor justify taking advantage of someones "stupidity" as the means to acquire funds that can then be given away on a huge scale close to the time of my demise. True, many people benefit to this day from the funds Mr. Carnegie gave so that libraries might be built. His vision of free libraries was noble. And placed the continued funding of them right on the shoulders of tax-payers. Forever.
If I understand things correctly (and there's always a chance I don't), our government has obligated us to pay for a multitude of programs designed to help one misfortunate creature after another. And by "creature" I mean things that are too big to fail. Without your consent, they have signed your name to an IOU they exchanged for credit from another country. They even agreed that you'll pay interest on the IOU at whatever rate the loaning country desires. In fact, our government wants to help others so badly, they've signed your yet-to-be-born great-grandchildren's name on the IOU.
As your Queen, that crap is going to stop. (I sometimes suffer from situational Tourettes. Consider this my blanket apology for every occurrence.)
How about if we fund wars through lottery tickets? The motto could be: War - you can't play if you don't pay.
Could we have a National Bake Sale Day to raise money for WIC?
Who wants to have the largest Pampered Chef party with proceeds going for the ethanol subsidy?
And the list goes on and on. Because once a government program starts, it never stops. Much like the Carnegie libraries.
So ask your Magic 8 Ball if you should pay interest on money borrowed for Citigroup bonuses and give it a good shake. Let me know what it says. Mine keeps saying Outlook not so good.
Sites that may have value http://www.zerohedge.com/
http://urbansurvival.com/
(or a few laughs)
A couple of years ago, I struggled through The Snowball. It was a somewhat easy read as far as books go, but I kept putting it down to ponder why I was bothered about something I'd read: Warren Buffet admired Andrew Carnegie. At the end of a life spent accumulating great wealth, Mr. Carnegie did the unthinkable and gave it all away. Warren hopes to do the same. My question is: why wait until then? If one's passion is to be charitable, wouldn't they choose to engage in it as frequently as they could?
In a discussion about this, I commented that perhaps if Mr. Carnegie had paid his employees more, their lives would have been better, thus enabling them to turn around and help others. The response given back of, "they agreed to work for what he paid them, didn't they?" was less than I was looking for. So I tried to come at it from another angle. "Just take those house-flipping shows on TLC. Someone buys a house, puts $50,000 and 5 weeks into it. Turns around and sells it for $300,000 more than they paid for it. That's just not right." It was then pointed out that "if someone is stupid enough to buy it for that, a person would be stupid not to sell it."
As you might imagine, it still wasn't sitting right with me.
And FINALLY.........after having this issue work its way through my brain for a couple of years without being able to define exactly why it bothered me, I was clobbered with an epiphany: I have to look at myself in the mirror and like what is looking back. My moral compass will not allow me to engage in cutthroat business practices (or admire those who do), nor justify taking advantage of someones "stupidity" as the means to acquire funds that can then be given away on a huge scale close to the time of my demise. True, many people benefit to this day from the funds Mr. Carnegie gave so that libraries might be built. His vision of free libraries was noble. And placed the continued funding of them right on the shoulders of tax-payers. Forever.
If I understand things correctly (and there's always a chance I don't), our government has obligated us to pay for a multitude of programs designed to help one misfortunate creature after another. And by "creature" I mean things that are too big to fail. Without your consent, they have signed your name to an IOU they exchanged for credit from another country. They even agreed that you'll pay interest on the IOU at whatever rate the loaning country desires. In fact, our government wants to help others so badly, they've signed your yet-to-be-born great-grandchildren's name on the IOU.
As your Queen, that crap is going to stop. (I sometimes suffer from situational Tourettes. Consider this my blanket apology for every occurrence.)
How about if we fund wars through lottery tickets? The motto could be: War - you can't play if you don't pay.
Could we have a National Bake Sale Day to raise money for WIC?
Who wants to have the largest Pampered Chef party with proceeds going for the ethanol subsidy?
And the list goes on and on. Because once a government program starts, it never stops. Much like the Carnegie libraries.
So ask your Magic 8 Ball if you should pay interest on money borrowed for Citigroup bonuses and give it a good shake. Let me know what it says. Mine keeps saying Outlook not so good.
Sites that may have value http://www.zerohedge.com/
http://urbansurvival.com/
(or a few laughs)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Holding out for a hero
By every standard set by the federal government, I would be considered beyond poor. Yet I go through most of my days feeling as if I am the wealthiest woman in the world! Is this a simple case of delusion? Perhaps. Or maybe it's that I place a high value on the people I am blessed to call friend.
My parents saw fit to gift me with sisters who are intelligent, wickedly funny, and some of the hardest workers I know. I treasure them more than they know. Life has gifted me with a wide variety of people who are intelligent, wickedly funny, and..........some of the hardest workers I know. What all these people have in common is a good heart. And this makes me smile and fills my heart with love, admiration, and respect for each and every one of them.
What does this have to do with being Queen of America? (a) nothing
(b) everything
(c) who cares
Apparently, one must do something called "full-disclosure" if they want to be Leader of the Free World. This is also known as watch your life get dragged through the mud. I propose we reprise the old show, "This Is Your Life". Would ex-spouses walk across a stage made to look like a living room, sit cozily on the settee next to said ex, and then proceed to talk about invitations to engage in extra-marital activities? Would we hear a disembodied voice talk about how they helped set up multiple off-shore accounts and watch the candidate smile as he guessed which foreign banker the voice belonged to? Could we get American Idol and America's Got Talent to team up and hold auditions across the country in a search for people to be placed in office? Then once the contestants are whisked off to Washington, DC, the fun will really begin. Because they will be tasked like those in The Amazing Race. "Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to cut 5 trillion from the budget and repeal Obamacare. Your 48 hours begins..........NOW." We, the people, will get to enjoy the frantic activity AND....in Chicago-style voting, we'll get to call in our votes: only 10 calls allowed per phone number.
I had to get you thinking about something else because I really don't have skeletons in my closet. Dust bunnies in the corners? Sure. Who doesn't. I haven't made millions; run a company that settled harassment charges; voted for TARP I, II, or III; declared permanent war on everything; or sold YOUR grandchildren's future out for my personal gain now. Doesn't that make you feel better about putting a scepter in my hand? But wait. There's more.
Remember that spinning game I hope is hosted by Ricky Gervais? How about we put one of those wheels in each house of CONgress? The wheel could be divided into pie slices labelled: Put Bill Forward, Exile, Head in a Basket. That should pretty much bring the "we need to pass it so we know what's in it" mentality to a screeching halt. Give Watson credit for THAT stroke of genius. I had missed it completely.
While writing this out, I'm also listening to the State of the Union address. Am I the only one who is hearing Charlie Brown's teacher? When running "our union is getting stronger" through my internal translator, why does it come out "we are finding more ways to strip citizens of their rights"? And if you add the word "overseas" to some of the statements, they begin to make more sense. Have you tried paying your electric bill with hope and change? How'd that go?
It's time to realize there isn't a hero waiting in the wings to save us. WE are the hero. And Illinois does have term limits: when you see the word Incumbent next to a candidate's name, check the other box. Lifetime politician are two words that should NEVER be used to describe anyone in this country.
Books of interest? The Wind Farm Scam
Freakonomics
My parents saw fit to gift me with sisters who are intelligent, wickedly funny, and some of the hardest workers I know. I treasure them more than they know. Life has gifted me with a wide variety of people who are intelligent, wickedly funny, and..........some of the hardest workers I know. What all these people have in common is a good heart. And this makes me smile and fills my heart with love, admiration, and respect for each and every one of them.
What does this have to do with being Queen of America? (a) nothing
(b) everything
(c) who cares
Apparently, one must do something called "full-disclosure" if they want to be Leader of the Free World. This is also known as watch your life get dragged through the mud. I propose we reprise the old show, "This Is Your Life". Would ex-spouses walk across a stage made to look like a living room, sit cozily on the settee next to said ex, and then proceed to talk about invitations to engage in extra-marital activities? Would we hear a disembodied voice talk about how they helped set up multiple off-shore accounts and watch the candidate smile as he guessed which foreign banker the voice belonged to? Could we get American Idol and America's Got Talent to team up and hold auditions across the country in a search for people to be placed in office? Then once the contestants are whisked off to Washington, DC, the fun will really begin. Because they will be tasked like those in The Amazing Race. "Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to cut 5 trillion from the budget and repeal Obamacare. Your 48 hours begins..........NOW." We, the people, will get to enjoy the frantic activity AND....in Chicago-style voting, we'll get to call in our votes: only 10 calls allowed per phone number.
I had to get you thinking about something else because I really don't have skeletons in my closet. Dust bunnies in the corners? Sure. Who doesn't. I haven't made millions; run a company that settled harassment charges; voted for TARP I, II, or III; declared permanent war on everything; or sold YOUR grandchildren's future out for my personal gain now. Doesn't that make you feel better about putting a scepter in my hand? But wait. There's more.
Remember that spinning game I hope is hosted by Ricky Gervais? How about we put one of those wheels in each house of CONgress? The wheel could be divided into pie slices labelled: Put Bill Forward, Exile, Head in a Basket. That should pretty much bring the "we need to pass it so we know what's in it" mentality to a screeching halt. Give Watson credit for THAT stroke of genius. I had missed it completely.
While writing this out, I'm also listening to the State of the Union address. Am I the only one who is hearing Charlie Brown's teacher? When running "our union is getting stronger" through my internal translator, why does it come out "we are finding more ways to strip citizens of their rights"? And if you add the word "overseas" to some of the statements, they begin to make more sense. Have you tried paying your electric bill with hope and change? How'd that go?
It's time to realize there isn't a hero waiting in the wings to save us. WE are the hero. And Illinois does have term limits: when you see the word Incumbent next to a candidate's name, check the other box. Lifetime politician are two words that should NEVER be used to describe anyone in this country.
Books of interest? The Wind Farm Scam
Freakonomics
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It's all so simple, really.
One shouldn't have to ponder long on the need for a Queen of America. Less than a week of news surfing via television, Internet, or newspapers should be sufficient for one to shake their head whilst muttering, "aye carumba". The general busyness of Life, self-proclaimed apathy, rushing to be a millionaire by 30 or 40, or hours spent plugged into the Matrix have contributed to the state we, as a country, find ourselves in. Add in years of subtle brain-washing through advertising, education, and entertainment.........and pretty soon you've got a country that's in a world of hurt. That's us. Now.
What I propose as Queen could be viewed as bold by some...........or old-school by others. I guess it's all in the branding and I'll have to get some advertising whiz to work on the spin. But until that happens, my plan continues to unfold.
One need only be Queen for a year. I truly think it could be accomplished in less time, BUT did want to allow a few extra weeks to tidy up loose ends and such. I don't need to reside in a castle for that period of time, either. Sitting at the kitchen table with a pen and pad of paper (for the writing of proclamations, you know) should be sufficient. Yes, I even anticipate keeping my day job during this fabulous year of surprises.
Unlike Rick Perry, I DO know what top 3 government programs I would do away with on Day 1: energy, education, and commerce. As a country, we do need energy, education, and commerce. What we don't need is thousands upon thousands of regulations and regulators. As Queen, I don't want to have to tell you what to do ~ I want you to be able to figure that out for yourself. But if what you want is for myself and others to provide for you and generations of your progeny, well.........let's just say you might be in for a rude awakening and leave it at that. For now.
Day 2 as Queen wouldn't begin until getting home from work. I would be willing to give up 30 minutes to lay out a new tax form. Something along the lines of:
I made _________________
7% of that is (see accompanying chart) ___________
Presto! Taxes are figured out. You didn't have to keep boxes of receipts or handfuls of 1099's. I kind of pulled 7% out of the air. I don't plan on putting a lot of time into consulting with experts in economics or finance. Instead, it's time to think outside the box. I want to apply principles of household accounting to the country. If we, as a country, "make" $10, then we are only going to spend $8. The other $2 is put aside for that rainy day we know is going to come! And if we see some fancy gadget in the new Sears weapons catalog, we are going to have to save up to get it. No more get it now and pay for it later.
The thing I'm really excited about is the new national game we can play: Exile and Heads Shall Roll. As a current student of History, I'm not always sure of how things used to be (why let a little thing like facts stand in the way?), but I'm pretty sure snake-oil salesmen were run out of town. Robber barons were caricatured in print as porcine. These days they are appointed czars and given unlimited regulatory powers. What?! It's time to take away the golden pen of executive orders and presidential appointments and play Spin The Wheel where the only choices on the wheel are Exile or Head In A Basket. Perhaps Longaberger could come out with a new line? Not sure yet who would emcee the weekly show, but I'm leaning towards Ricky Gervais. It's doubtful this game would have a long run on TV. Chances are good those who feared being a contestant would flee the country just as soon as they knew the billions they stole were safe in off-shore accounts.
True, the railroads were laid by slave labor. Land was cleared and plantations maintained by slave labor. The rampant and legally ordained pillaging of the financial system will make indentured slaves of all of us. With one slight twist. Indentured servants knew their time under Master's rule would end in x amount of years ~ there will be no end of ours. Thus, we need the ability to wave the royal sceptor and change the direction we are headed. Jesus died so that we could be saved. Would He really put these political knuckleheads in charge?
Books that explain things way better than I ever could: The Creature From Jekyll Island
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
the Bible
I hope this first posting hasn't put you off reading blogs entirely. Writing does not come easily to all as is seen from that which is above. But I will strive to keep it coherent and concise!
I want to thank my mentor, Watson, for shepherding me through this process. Edit as needed, please.
What I propose as Queen could be viewed as bold by some...........or old-school by others. I guess it's all in the branding and I'll have to get some advertising whiz to work on the spin. But until that happens, my plan continues to unfold.
One need only be Queen for a year. I truly think it could be accomplished in less time, BUT did want to allow a few extra weeks to tidy up loose ends and such. I don't need to reside in a castle for that period of time, either. Sitting at the kitchen table with a pen and pad of paper (for the writing of proclamations, you know) should be sufficient. Yes, I even anticipate keeping my day job during this fabulous year of surprises.
Unlike Rick Perry, I DO know what top 3 government programs I would do away with on Day 1: energy, education, and commerce. As a country, we do need energy, education, and commerce. What we don't need is thousands upon thousands of regulations and regulators. As Queen, I don't want to have to tell you what to do ~ I want you to be able to figure that out for yourself. But if what you want is for myself and others to provide for you and generations of your progeny, well.........let's just say you might be in for a rude awakening and leave it at that. For now.
Day 2 as Queen wouldn't begin until getting home from work. I would be willing to give up 30 minutes to lay out a new tax form. Something along the lines of:
I made _________________
7% of that is (see accompanying chart) ___________
Presto! Taxes are figured out. You didn't have to keep boxes of receipts or handfuls of 1099's. I kind of pulled 7% out of the air. I don't plan on putting a lot of time into consulting with experts in economics or finance. Instead, it's time to think outside the box. I want to apply principles of household accounting to the country. If we, as a country, "make" $10, then we are only going to spend $8. The other $2 is put aside for that rainy day we know is going to come! And if we see some fancy gadget in the new Sears weapons catalog, we are going to have to save up to get it. No more get it now and pay for it later.
The thing I'm really excited about is the new national game we can play: Exile and Heads Shall Roll. As a current student of History, I'm not always sure of how things used to be (why let a little thing like facts stand in the way?), but I'm pretty sure snake-oil salesmen were run out of town. Robber barons were caricatured in print as porcine. These days they are appointed czars and given unlimited regulatory powers. What?! It's time to take away the golden pen of executive orders and presidential appointments and play Spin The Wheel where the only choices on the wheel are Exile or Head In A Basket. Perhaps Longaberger could come out with a new line? Not sure yet who would emcee the weekly show, but I'm leaning towards Ricky Gervais. It's doubtful this game would have a long run on TV. Chances are good those who feared being a contestant would flee the country just as soon as they knew the billions they stole were safe in off-shore accounts.
True, the railroads were laid by slave labor. Land was cleared and plantations maintained by slave labor. The rampant and legally ordained pillaging of the financial system will make indentured slaves of all of us. With one slight twist. Indentured servants knew their time under Master's rule would end in x amount of years ~ there will be no end of ours. Thus, we need the ability to wave the royal sceptor and change the direction we are headed. Jesus died so that we could be saved. Would He really put these political knuckleheads in charge?
Books that explain things way better than I ever could: The Creature From Jekyll Island
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
the Bible
I hope this first posting hasn't put you off reading blogs entirely. Writing does not come easily to all as is seen from that which is above. But I will strive to keep it coherent and concise!
I want to thank my mentor, Watson, for shepherding me through this process. Edit as needed, please.
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