Tax Reform
April 15th is fast approaching and it looks as though my wife and I are going to have to pay double the amount of taxes we did last year. It seems ridiculous that we work hard all year, sending in quarterly taxes then at the end of the year we have to send in double what we have already paid. Sure our businesses grew and I am happy about that but the taxes we must now pay are a dis-incentive. I am so fed up with paying these taxes that I am about ready to throw in the towel with this business and say to heck with it! Just when you have a little money in the bank and it looks like your going to be able to save a few thousand dollars for your retirement, healthcare, or perhaps buy a new home. BAM!
The IRS takes it all away.
I must say I am also embarrassed that 500,000 Latino or Hispanic people will come out and protest a proposed law that would finally try and stop the flow of ILLEGAL immigration to the USA and punish those who have come here illegally while trying to get a handle on the problem. These people are demanding that they have the RIGHT to be here. I am sorry but I do not see it that way.
However, I will commend them their peaceful protest and the fact that they stood up for their cause. My point is that they are willing to gather, march and protest while we, the American public, paying taxes out the wazoo, will just sit here and take it without getting out and letting our government know how upset we are.
I say it is time we organized a march and protest of our own concerning the current state of the convoluted tax code and demand that the government do something about it. It is time to enact a new tax code here in America! I am all for a Fair Tax or a consumption tax, anything that uses common sense and not this giant, voluminous, monstrosity of a tax code that no one understands. Nothing will get the attention of the Washington politicians better than millions of voters coming together as one voice.
The current state of affairs will be an incentive for me to shut down my small business if we do not change things. I am not going to keep working my but off to send my tax money to the Federal and State Gov. to be wasted and thrown away. They have proven that they have no idea what they are doing with the money. You might as well burn it.
However I will pray that they wise up. That is about all I can do until we can get together in force and show Washington that not only I, but millions like me are fed up!
Let's march!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
An open letter to the American Press
What if the media in the United States was really objective and balanced?
What if they really tried to gives us a balanced view or both sides to every story?
What if they did not have an agenda that was aligned with one of our two political parties?
The so called Main Stream Media here which some might say includes "ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, NYT, Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, I think you get the picture, (For the record the WSJ does have a decent editorial page) has an agenda which is not truly to just report the news but to report the news as they see it.
You know what? I agree! Surprise, surprise, surprise! Thanks Gomer!
If you remember the Vietnam War it was a war where the USA was trying to stop the spread of Communism from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. We wound up losing that war or pulling out due to pressure back home because the press was able to turn the opinion of Americans sour on this war with their reporting of body counts. This pullout by the way lead to the death of over 2 million Vietnamese. Thanks uncle Walter!
Now I'll admit that the body counts were unbelievable (58,000) and I can see how it would have been hard to support that war. Yet in this current conflict the American media is trying to pull the same stunt with the Iraq war but since they no longer have the ear of the public they way they did in years past they are struggling in their endeavor to change public opinion.
In fact it seems that they are willing to now make up stories and rig polls to make their POV jibe with what they want public opinion to be. Over the past few years the press in this country has been caught with it's hand in the proverbial cookie jar time after time. From Dan Rather and his memos to Jason Blair and the NYT to recently this ABC exec and his email stating how Bush makes him sick. For some reason the institutions of the free press in the USA only seem to employ a bunch of lefty's who hate Bush or are anti-military. This is not what our founding fathers wanted the press to be. They wanted it to be free and report on the goings on of the political crowd but not this one sided.
I challenge you folks in the press to be more objective. Hey even us conservatives are not always happy with Bush, Cheney and Rice but we say it when we think they are out of line. Yet we are willing to support them when they are right. Let's get a balanced view of Iraq. Give us some stories about how much progress has been made in all aspects of the country not just the latest death toll. Can you do that? If so I might actually watch one of your news stations for more than a millisecond as I am channel surfing.
So far, thanks for nothing!
JD Pearce
What if they really tried to gives us a balanced view or both sides to every story?
What if they did not have an agenda that was aligned with one of our two political parties?
The so called Main Stream Media here which some might say includes "ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, NYT, Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, I think you get the picture, (For the record the WSJ does have a decent editorial page) has an agenda which is not truly to just report the news but to report the news as they see it.
You know what? I agree! Surprise, surprise, surprise! Thanks Gomer!
If you remember the Vietnam War it was a war where the USA was trying to stop the spread of Communism from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. We wound up losing that war or pulling out due to pressure back home because the press was able to turn the opinion of Americans sour on this war with their reporting of body counts. This pullout by the way lead to the death of over 2 million Vietnamese. Thanks uncle Walter!
Now I'll admit that the body counts were unbelievable (58,000) and I can see how it would have been hard to support that war. Yet in this current conflict the American media is trying to pull the same stunt with the Iraq war but since they no longer have the ear of the public they way they did in years past they are struggling in their endeavor to change public opinion.
In fact it seems that they are willing to now make up stories and rig polls to make their POV jibe with what they want public opinion to be. Over the past few years the press in this country has been caught with it's hand in the proverbial cookie jar time after time. From Dan Rather and his memos to Jason Blair and the NYT to recently this ABC exec and his email stating how Bush makes him sick. For some reason the institutions of the free press in the USA only seem to employ a bunch of lefty's who hate Bush or are anti-military. This is not what our founding fathers wanted the press to be. They wanted it to be free and report on the goings on of the political crowd but not this one sided.
I challenge you folks in the press to be more objective. Hey even us conservatives are not always happy with Bush, Cheney and Rice but we say it when we think they are out of line. Yet we are willing to support them when they are right. Let's get a balanced view of Iraq. Give us some stories about how much progress has been made in all aspects of the country not just the latest death toll. Can you do that? If so I might actually watch one of your news stations for more than a millisecond as I am channel surfing.
So far, thanks for nothing!
JD Pearce
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Government and Taxes
Greetings Folks
I have heard enough about the Feds and how they spend money like it was so much confetti that can be tossed about as if it were a party. The latest news is that the Congress just passed a bill that would allow the debt ceiling to be raised to 9 Trillion dollars. Yes that is right 9 TRILLION dollars. You and I can not even fathom how much money that is, not even Bill Gates can count that high with his fastest computer.
All the news that has come out of the Katrina debacle about how the Federal bureaucracy wasted BILLIONS of our tax dollars is just plain pathetic. We, the American people can no longer trust out government to collect and spend our money. Something must be done here to stop this idiocy. I don't care who is in the White House or in control of Congress this blatant lunacy must stop!
Here is a list of money thrown away or paid to contractors, that was not used or needed by FEMA.
3 million for beds that were never used.
10 million to renovate and furnish rooms that were used by 6 tenants then closed.
Semi's full of Ice (tons) that were driven round and round then disposed of due to lack of co-ordination.
Nearly 2 billion spent on trailers that were bought and paid for where nearly 11,000 homes are left unused by evacuees due to the governments own rules about placing mobile homes in a flood plain.
Millions of dollars in debit cards given out to thousands of evacuees that were not checked and had not restrictions on what they could be used for. Over 900,000 of the applications were found to be fraudulent after the fact. Some items bought by these cards include; jewelry, hand-guns, adult entertainment and gambling. Over 5,000 applicants received duplicate payments.
Hotel rooms for evacuees, paid for by the taxpayer for between $350 and $425 per night some beachfront and some in New York City.
FEMA is bad enough but what about this?
An 80 BILLION dollar Medicare prescription drug plan that has been described as confusing and difficult to figure out by seniors. In fact many polls showed that seniors did not really want this plan to begin with.
Add to the FEMA debacle and the Medicare waste the earmarks or pork projects that pass year after year. Earmarks being little pet projects thrown into a budget at the last moment. Mostly pet projects by greedy senators trying to buy votes in their districts. From bridges and roads in Alaska that go to nowhere to bike-paths in New York or bridges and roads in West Virginia named after Senator Byrd, BILLIONS have been spent on these pork barrel projects over the years that is nothing more than wasted money.
In my opinion you could get a class of sixth graders with a week of economics training to run the federal budget better than the US Congress. The reason? They would not be corrupted and greedy like these lifelong politicians are who cater to the special interests and the lobbyists on capital hill.
What can we do? Well we have to push our legislators to stop this insanity and if they don't we throw them out of office. If that does not work we take this government back anyway we can. Of course I am speaking of a peaceful way of doing things. We must use diplomacy and intelligence if that fails then we have to re-group and see what our options are.
Finally we are told to pray for our leaders so that they may have divine guidance to complete their tasks of stewardship. In the days of old the leaders of the church were greedy and corrupt, they failed to recognize the arrival of the messiah and had him crucified all while trying to protect their wealth and power. The people we have running our government seem to be much like those in Jerusalem when Jesus was killed. Please pray every day that the Lord will see fit to enlighten those who lead us and to send wise men and women who love the Lord, to use that will be elected to office so that we can get our country back on track working to glorify GOD not themselves.
May Christ be with us all...
I have heard enough about the Feds and how they spend money like it was so much confetti that can be tossed about as if it were a party. The latest news is that the Congress just passed a bill that would allow the debt ceiling to be raised to 9 Trillion dollars. Yes that is right 9 TRILLION dollars. You and I can not even fathom how much money that is, not even Bill Gates can count that high with his fastest computer.
All the news that has come out of the Katrina debacle about how the Federal bureaucracy wasted BILLIONS of our tax dollars is just plain pathetic. We, the American people can no longer trust out government to collect and spend our money. Something must be done here to stop this idiocy. I don't care who is in the White House or in control of Congress this blatant lunacy must stop!
Here is a list of money thrown away or paid to contractors, that was not used or needed by FEMA.
3 million for beds that were never used.
10 million to renovate and furnish rooms that were used by 6 tenants then closed.
Semi's full of Ice (tons) that were driven round and round then disposed of due to lack of co-ordination.
Nearly 2 billion spent on trailers that were bought and paid for where nearly 11,000 homes are left unused by evacuees due to the governments own rules about placing mobile homes in a flood plain.
Millions of dollars in debit cards given out to thousands of evacuees that were not checked and had not restrictions on what they could be used for. Over 900,000 of the applications were found to be fraudulent after the fact. Some items bought by these cards include; jewelry, hand-guns, adult entertainment and gambling. Over 5,000 applicants received duplicate payments.
Hotel rooms for evacuees, paid for by the taxpayer for between $350 and $425 per night some beachfront and some in New York City.
FEMA is bad enough but what about this?
An 80 BILLION dollar Medicare prescription drug plan that has been described as confusing and difficult to figure out by seniors. In fact many polls showed that seniors did not really want this plan to begin with.
Add to the FEMA debacle and the Medicare waste the earmarks or pork projects that pass year after year. Earmarks being little pet projects thrown into a budget at the last moment. Mostly pet projects by greedy senators trying to buy votes in their districts. From bridges and roads in Alaska that go to nowhere to bike-paths in New York or bridges and roads in West Virginia named after Senator Byrd, BILLIONS have been spent on these pork barrel projects over the years that is nothing more than wasted money.
In my opinion you could get a class of sixth graders with a week of economics training to run the federal budget better than the US Congress. The reason? They would not be corrupted and greedy like these lifelong politicians are who cater to the special interests and the lobbyists on capital hill.
What can we do? Well we have to push our legislators to stop this insanity and if they don't we throw them out of office. If that does not work we take this government back anyway we can. Of course I am speaking of a peaceful way of doing things. We must use diplomacy and intelligence if that fails then we have to re-group and see what our options are.
Finally we are told to pray for our leaders so that they may have divine guidance to complete their tasks of stewardship. In the days of old the leaders of the church were greedy and corrupt, they failed to recognize the arrival of the messiah and had him crucified all while trying to protect their wealth and power. The people we have running our government seem to be much like those in Jerusalem when Jesus was killed. Please pray every day that the Lord will see fit to enlighten those who lead us and to send wise men and women who love the Lord, to use that will be elected to office so that we can get our country back on track working to glorify GOD not themselves.
May Christ be with us all...
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Terrorism and the Media
There is a trial going on in California concerning terrorism that is not getting much attention from the Old media. Follow the link for the story.
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/joelmowbray/2006/03/07/188849.html
This is the first I have heard of this story in a while. I vaguely remember a mention of it when it first happened. Why would the so called main-stream media not pick up on this and follow it like they would a Scott Peterson or OJ Simpson? I guess you must be a celebrity to get media coverage in this country. Being a terrorists doesn't rank in their eyes.
There could be another angle. If you are on trial for terrorism links then that might make the current administration look good, like we are winning a small battle in the war against terrorism, we can't have that now can we.
Keep in mind we just had a terrorist attack at UNC Chapel Hill and already the liberal papers are refusing to use the word terrorism in their stories. Will they try and sweep this one under the rug?
What will it take in this country to get the liberal left media to wake up and see terrorism as the danger it is. Our country is infiltrated with Muslims who wish to kill Americans and all infidels who they say is anyone who does not believe in Islam.
Just like a virus, they will eventually cause great harm to us if we do not take steps to eradicate them or neutralize them somehow. The media seems to be on the wrong side of this issue time after time unless of course they can somehow use it to make the Bush administration look bad, like in this Dubai Ports deal. This is a perfect illustration of the bias they work under. Although I agree that this Port deal is a bad idea it still highlights how they will pick up on an issue only if it is at odds with the Bush team and prominent Democrats are against it.
Now ask yourself this question. If President Bush had come out against this from the beginning would the Democrats and the left wing media be calling him and his people racists for profiling the Arabs in Dubai and labeling them as terrorists???
Think about it, it would be consistent. That is why I think this whole deal is just politics and nothing more and that is on both sides of the aisle.
Finally we must pray for our leaders as Christ said we should and it wouldn't hurt to pray for the media as well. I think they need divine help just as much as anyone....
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/joelmowbray/2006/03/07/188849.html
This is the first I have heard of this story in a while. I vaguely remember a mention of it when it first happened. Why would the so called main-stream media not pick up on this and follow it like they would a Scott Peterson or OJ Simpson? I guess you must be a celebrity to get media coverage in this country. Being a terrorists doesn't rank in their eyes.
There could be another angle. If you are on trial for terrorism links then that might make the current administration look good, like we are winning a small battle in the war against terrorism, we can't have that now can we.
Keep in mind we just had a terrorist attack at UNC Chapel Hill and already the liberal papers are refusing to use the word terrorism in their stories. Will they try and sweep this one under the rug?
What will it take in this country to get the liberal left media to wake up and see terrorism as the danger it is. Our country is infiltrated with Muslims who wish to kill Americans and all infidels who they say is anyone who does not believe in Islam.
Just like a virus, they will eventually cause great harm to us if we do not take steps to eradicate them or neutralize them somehow. The media seems to be on the wrong side of this issue time after time unless of course they can somehow use it to make the Bush administration look bad, like in this Dubai Ports deal. This is a perfect illustration of the bias they work under. Although I agree that this Port deal is a bad idea it still highlights how they will pick up on an issue only if it is at odds with the Bush team and prominent Democrats are against it.
Now ask yourself this question. If President Bush had come out against this from the beginning would the Democrats and the left wing media be calling him and his people racists for profiling the Arabs in Dubai and labeling them as terrorists???
Think about it, it would be consistent. That is why I think this whole deal is just politics and nothing more and that is on both sides of the aisle.
Finally we must pray for our leaders as Christ said we should and it wouldn't hurt to pray for the media as well. I think they need divine help just as much as anyone....
Monday, February 27, 2006
Political Blunder
Greetings
I normally take time and space here talking about how Democrats have opened the door right into their own nose on one issue after another. Today however I am talking about President Bush and his latest blunder over this Port deal.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/2/26/192738.shtml?s=tn
Check out this link for a good article on said deal.
There are many angles to look at this situation from but let's explore two here. First from the Presidents POV and then the perception of the majority of the American people.
The President says it is all OK, don't worry about it his people have checked out the deal and there are no problems because the UAE is an ally in the War on Terror. Normally I trust this President to do the right thing but in the case of border security he has a very scketchy history and it seems the same here with ports. Why? I just can't explain it but when all else fails follow the money or the votes. I say if what the administration has said about top level cabinet officials not knowing about this deal is true then they are negligent in their duties. Some heads should roll.
Now let's look at it from the peoples POV. We see on the surface of this deal that an Arab company with ties to 9/11 purchasing ports into our country. It's that simple. Why give people (who have the potential to do us harm) access to our Port security? Even if they will not actually run the Ports but only sign the checks as some have said, they still could have access to sensitive security intelligence that could compromise our safety.
So you tell me. Do you want this deal pushed through without a complete and open investigation?
I must break ranks with the Administration here and join with both Democrats and Republicans who are calling for such and investigation.
I normally take time and space here talking about how Democrats have opened the door right into their own nose on one issue after another. Today however I am talking about President Bush and his latest blunder over this Port deal.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/2/26/192738.shtml?s=tn
Check out this link for a good article on said deal.
There are many angles to look at this situation from but let's explore two here. First from the Presidents POV and then the perception of the majority of the American people.
The President says it is all OK, don't worry about it his people have checked out the deal and there are no problems because the UAE is an ally in the War on Terror. Normally I trust this President to do the right thing but in the case of border security he has a very scketchy history and it seems the same here with ports. Why? I just can't explain it but when all else fails follow the money or the votes. I say if what the administration has said about top level cabinet officials not knowing about this deal is true then they are negligent in their duties. Some heads should roll.
Now let's look at it from the peoples POV. We see on the surface of this deal that an Arab company with ties to 9/11 purchasing ports into our country. It's that simple. Why give people (who have the potential to do us harm) access to our Port security? Even if they will not actually run the Ports but only sign the checks as some have said, they still could have access to sensitive security intelligence that could compromise our safety.
So you tell me. Do you want this deal pushed through without a complete and open investigation?
I must break ranks with the Administration here and join with both Democrats and Republicans who are calling for such and investigation.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Sunday Morning
I have been up since six. It is a beautiful day, Praise God! I am filled with the spirit today no doubt. I did my normal routine this morning and after reading the news and sending out my emails I went for a dip in the Hot-Tub. We have really been using it a lot since we had it repaired this past fall and I am in it nearly every day lately. In fact I have been working on the circuit board trying to determine what makes the pump work intermittently. I think I have it fixed now after disconnecting some contacts that seemed to be causing it to malfunction. It has been working properly for the past few days.
Anyway on to my original point.
As I was in the Hot-Tub this morning, submerged up to my neck and enjoying the sensation of 100 degree water surging all around me I thought about how this invention was just another copy of what God has already created for us in nature. Most everything man does is a copy of something God has already done in nature. His omnipotent intelligence dwarfs anything man has or ever will accomplish.
Since I have been saved and baptized I have been ascending higher and higher into the spiritual realm of God, learning from his scriptures and casting off my own sinful nature. I am at peace in my mind, heart and soul knowing that I truly am a disciple of Christ and that my name is sealed in the book of life for all eternity.
PRAISE GOD for his grace and mercy, his forgiveness of my sin and his sacrifice for all mankind.
I was deep in thought this morning with nothing but the words of God and his goodness cascading through my mind. It was pure and clean and I felt as if I was so close to God that it was like the Holy Spirit was moving through my body and mind just as the water was surging all around me. Once my experience was over I was just left amazed at the power of the words I had thought and felt in my heart and soul and how God has changed me as a person.
Looking back at the man who lived a life of sinful thoughts and deeds for so many years I hardly seem like the same person in my own mind. Even though I was probably considered to be a nice or good person to most who have known me nearly all my life I was not. My mind has been so full of sinful thoughts and my actions were always tainted with the sinful nature I was born and raised with. Until I was sealed by the blood of Christ I was not worthy to carry this new mantle of a true believer, a Christian.
Praise God for his power to transform a sinner and his mercy for my soul. I hope and pray that God will use me as his instrument to help bring others to his fold, forgiving them and opening their hearts to the forgiveness they must afford others. Alleluia!
My journey has been a long one full of struggles to pale to mention here but I have come to a crossroads in my life now. I have begun to shed my shell, the old life, the old skin, no longer can contain the light and grace of God found within me. The new creature to emerge from within me is bigger, stronger and more pleasing to God than ever before. I will fly with the wings of grace and share my story with all who will listen. With Gods mercy all those who seek the truth may come to understand the freedom of Christ in your heart and the goodness that follows with it. With the hope of Jesus those who trust in him will learn to shed their true sinful nature and follow in the footsteps of he who is sinless.
Praise God for his words and his truth opened up before me and all Christians who follow in that truth. My cups surely do overfloweth with his love and the peace of knowing that I will eat from the tree of life in a kingdom eternal.
Praise God for his mercy on us all who have sinned and dropped to our knees begging for his forgiveness. Praise God for his love and his kindness towards the poor unfortunate souls who have been lost but now are found.
It is my hope that all who are lost and blind will be struck down in the middle of the road like Sol (Paul) on the road to Damascus and the lord will tell them to no longer deny him or persecute him so that they too will share in the glory of eternal life and peace.
It is my hope that all my brothers, my family and all Gods children will see his glory and accept his sacrifice as the way.
My hope springs eternal for all of my friends who I want to share these words with and share my eternal life with.
May the peace and love of Christ be with you and I for all time.
Anyway on to my original point.
As I was in the Hot-Tub this morning, submerged up to my neck and enjoying the sensation of 100 degree water surging all around me I thought about how this invention was just another copy of what God has already created for us in nature. Most everything man does is a copy of something God has already done in nature. His omnipotent intelligence dwarfs anything man has or ever will accomplish.
Since I have been saved and baptized I have been ascending higher and higher into the spiritual realm of God, learning from his scriptures and casting off my own sinful nature. I am at peace in my mind, heart and soul knowing that I truly am a disciple of Christ and that my name is sealed in the book of life for all eternity.
PRAISE GOD for his grace and mercy, his forgiveness of my sin and his sacrifice for all mankind.
I was deep in thought this morning with nothing but the words of God and his goodness cascading through my mind. It was pure and clean and I felt as if I was so close to God that it was like the Holy Spirit was moving through my body and mind just as the water was surging all around me. Once my experience was over I was just left amazed at the power of the words I had thought and felt in my heart and soul and how God has changed me as a person.
Looking back at the man who lived a life of sinful thoughts and deeds for so many years I hardly seem like the same person in my own mind. Even though I was probably considered to be a nice or good person to most who have known me nearly all my life I was not. My mind has been so full of sinful thoughts and my actions were always tainted with the sinful nature I was born and raised with. Until I was sealed by the blood of Christ I was not worthy to carry this new mantle of a true believer, a Christian.
Praise God for his power to transform a sinner and his mercy for my soul. I hope and pray that God will use me as his instrument to help bring others to his fold, forgiving them and opening their hearts to the forgiveness they must afford others. Alleluia!
My journey has been a long one full of struggles to pale to mention here but I have come to a crossroads in my life now. I have begun to shed my shell, the old life, the old skin, no longer can contain the light and grace of God found within me. The new creature to emerge from within me is bigger, stronger and more pleasing to God than ever before. I will fly with the wings of grace and share my story with all who will listen. With Gods mercy all those who seek the truth may come to understand the freedom of Christ in your heart and the goodness that follows with it. With the hope of Jesus those who trust in him will learn to shed their true sinful nature and follow in the footsteps of he who is sinless.
Praise God for his words and his truth opened up before me and all Christians who follow in that truth. My cups surely do overfloweth with his love and the peace of knowing that I will eat from the tree of life in a kingdom eternal.
Praise God for his mercy on us all who have sinned and dropped to our knees begging for his forgiveness. Praise God for his love and his kindness towards the poor unfortunate souls who have been lost but now are found.
It is my hope that all who are lost and blind will be struck down in the middle of the road like Sol (Paul) on the road to Damascus and the lord will tell them to no longer deny him or persecute him so that they too will share in the glory of eternal life and peace.
It is my hope that all my brothers, my family and all Gods children will see his glory and accept his sacrifice as the way.
My hope springs eternal for all of my friends who I want to share these words with and share my eternal life with.
May the peace and love of Christ be with you and I for all time.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Wealth Envy
I found this while browsing some of my morning news sites today and decided to share it. I would love your feedback on this subject.
From Neil Boortz at Boortz.com
SHOOT THE RICH
Lately I've been collecting examples of wealth envy from various sources; mainly newspapers. The topic interests me for a number of reasons:
Wealth envy is usually an excuse-making or defensive mechanism for those who have failed to become what they would consider to be "rich." These people can't understand why this is so. After all, they're good people aren't they? And they work just as hard as anyone else does! Yet they're not wealthy! It can't be them! It must be the other guy! So, they take comfort in believing that wealthy people must have acquired their wealth through dishonest means. By cheating people, exploiting people, and by using crooked lawyers. The real problem with this, other than the fact that it simply isn't true, is that the person who develops this wealth-hatred is really programming himself or herself to remain in their present economic situation. If you have convinced yourself that to become wealthy is a bad thing, then why in the world would your subconscious mind ever allow you to make the decisions or take the actions that would lead to wealth?
It's no secret that I'm a general aviation nut. I love to fly, and I celebrate the fact that I live in a country where people are free to get into an airplane and fly almost anywhere they want; just so long as they follow the rules set down by the FAA. As an advocate of general aviation I've been following anti-airport and anti-general aviation activities for literally 20 years. Two areas of specific interest to me are the two airports where I base my airplane; Atlanta's Dekalb-Peachtree airport and the Naples (Florida) Municipal Airport. Both airports have active anti-airport groups. In both groups there has been ample evidence of wealth envy. In Atlanta we have complaints from people who don't like "those rich people from Dunwoody flying their airplanes over our houses." In Naples they have a new city councilman who, in a previous campaign, supported closing the Naples airport, saying that moving the airport out of the city would give those people in their limousines a chance to sip more wine on the way to the airport. In the Sunday Naples newspaper another anti-airport resident referred to the people who use the Naples airport as "a few wealthy commuters."
Wealth envy is an emotion that is eagerly exploited by politicians for power. We can thank wealth envy for our present tax code. The 16th Amendment would never have been ratified if it had not been presented to the people of this country as a way to punish the rich. Like it or not, our economy is powered by people who take chances. If they couple their risk-taking with good choices they will likely become wealthy. In the process they create hundreds of thousands of jobs and produce tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue for government. You doubt this? The next time you need a job, ask a poor person; and why don't you tell us of all of the wonderful government programs like roads, libraries, health clinics and public safety departments that have been funded with taxes on the poor.
And then I found this posted on some Internet site yesterday relating to the vice-president's shooting accident:
"This may be an opportunity to open a new Global Free market: Shoot the Rich. They are vermin regardless which country they live in. Of course we should take advantage of the "trickle down economy" by issuing hunting licenses and stamps as we do for ducks. There are enough of them to have a year round open season - no bag limit bur must measure at least $1 million. .... For those of you who object that this suggestion may be illegal, just remember that the Rich do not follow rules or laws, so why should we?"
There we have a posting by someone who just can't understand why they are not wealthy. After all, they've followed the rules, right? So why aren't they rich? The only excuse this person can come up with is that rich people "do not follow rules or laws."
Wealth envy is irrational and damaging, both to the individual and to our society.
Good one Neil!
Back to JD. I read this and thought about it a bit. I must agree with Neil. I think wealth envy is a favorite tool of the politicians to play the haves against the have nots. I have been saying for a long time that in America you can achieve whatever you want to. All you have to do is be willing to work hard, sacrifice, and be semi-smart. Sometimes folks who do not make it have to blame it on someone else. Other times perhaps it is just bad luck but there are so many success stories in America of people who tried and failed then tried again over and over until they got it right then BAM! They struck gold! I would still be working for someone, making 30K or less had I not got off my butt and decided to do better. I have a long way to go but if I had gotten my act together in my 20's instead of waiting so late in life who knows what I might have accomplished by now.
I always go back to the Col. Sanders story from the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. He supposedly tried to sell his chicken recipe to 1,000 restaurants before he found a buyer but he never gave up until he struck gold. There are thousands of stories like that one, all true. The kicker is you do not have to be dirty or cheat anyone to make it in America. It can be done honestly and lawfully.
Carpe Diem!
From Neil Boortz at Boortz.com
SHOOT THE RICH
Lately I've been collecting examples of wealth envy from various sources; mainly newspapers. The topic interests me for a number of reasons:
Wealth envy is usually an excuse-making or defensive mechanism for those who have failed to become what they would consider to be "rich." These people can't understand why this is so. After all, they're good people aren't they? And they work just as hard as anyone else does! Yet they're not wealthy! It can't be them! It must be the other guy! So, they take comfort in believing that wealthy people must have acquired their wealth through dishonest means. By cheating people, exploiting people, and by using crooked lawyers. The real problem with this, other than the fact that it simply isn't true, is that the person who develops this wealth-hatred is really programming himself or herself to remain in their present economic situation. If you have convinced yourself that to become wealthy is a bad thing, then why in the world would your subconscious mind ever allow you to make the decisions or take the actions that would lead to wealth?
It's no secret that I'm a general aviation nut. I love to fly, and I celebrate the fact that I live in a country where people are free to get into an airplane and fly almost anywhere they want; just so long as they follow the rules set down by the FAA. As an advocate of general aviation I've been following anti-airport and anti-general aviation activities for literally 20 years. Two areas of specific interest to me are the two airports where I base my airplane; Atlanta's Dekalb-Peachtree airport and the Naples (Florida) Municipal Airport. Both airports have active anti-airport groups. In both groups there has been ample evidence of wealth envy. In Atlanta we have complaints from people who don't like "those rich people from Dunwoody flying their airplanes over our houses." In Naples they have a new city councilman who, in a previous campaign, supported closing the Naples airport, saying that moving the airport out of the city would give those people in their limousines a chance to sip more wine on the way to the airport. In the Sunday Naples newspaper another anti-airport resident referred to the people who use the Naples airport as "a few wealthy commuters."
Wealth envy is an emotion that is eagerly exploited by politicians for power. We can thank wealth envy for our present tax code. The 16th Amendment would never have been ratified if it had not been presented to the people of this country as a way to punish the rich. Like it or not, our economy is powered by people who take chances. If they couple their risk-taking with good choices they will likely become wealthy. In the process they create hundreds of thousands of jobs and produce tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue for government. You doubt this? The next time you need a job, ask a poor person; and why don't you tell us of all of the wonderful government programs like roads, libraries, health clinics and public safety departments that have been funded with taxes on the poor.
And then I found this posted on some Internet site yesterday relating to the vice-president's shooting accident:
"This may be an opportunity to open a new Global Free market: Shoot the Rich. They are vermin regardless which country they live in. Of course we should take advantage of the "trickle down economy" by issuing hunting licenses and stamps as we do for ducks. There are enough of them to have a year round open season - no bag limit bur must measure at least $1 million. .... For those of you who object that this suggestion may be illegal, just remember that the Rich do not follow rules or laws, so why should we?"
There we have a posting by someone who just can't understand why they are not wealthy. After all, they've followed the rules, right? So why aren't they rich? The only excuse this person can come up with is that rich people "do not follow rules or laws."
Wealth envy is irrational and damaging, both to the individual and to our society.
Good one Neil!
Back to JD. I read this and thought about it a bit. I must agree with Neil. I think wealth envy is a favorite tool of the politicians to play the haves against the have nots. I have been saying for a long time that in America you can achieve whatever you want to. All you have to do is be willing to work hard, sacrifice, and be semi-smart. Sometimes folks who do not make it have to blame it on someone else. Other times perhaps it is just bad luck but there are so many success stories in America of people who tried and failed then tried again over and over until they got it right then BAM! They struck gold! I would still be working for someone, making 30K or less had I not got off my butt and decided to do better. I have a long way to go but if I had gotten my act together in my 20's instead of waiting so late in life who knows what I might have accomplished by now.
I always go back to the Col. Sanders story from the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. He supposedly tried to sell his chicken recipe to 1,000 restaurants before he found a buyer but he never gave up until he struck gold. There are thousands of stories like that one, all true. The kicker is you do not have to be dirty or cheat anyone to make it in America. It can be done honestly and lawfully.
Carpe Diem!
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Email and friends
As I peruse the news each day I find interesting little stories I like to share with my friends. Since we all have busy lives and do not get to spend real face time together very often it gives me great comfort to know that they are checking emails and reading some of my comments on the news of the day. That connection is important to me and I hope that they find it equally important in some small way.
Although many of us do think alike on some issues sometimes we differ on others and that is what makes us all unique. I enjoy the debate when we disagree on a given topic as it stimulates the thought process and opens up other views to be considered. Some folks have a hard time dealing with another point of view on a subject they feel strongly about but I have learned that through taking each view and giving it an honest chance to be considered, it is a good way to expand my own personal horizons in the way I approach each subject.
Believe it or not I know I am not always right about everything. GOSH! I have and will more than likely have my view changed slightly from time to time on a subject after and exhaustive debate in which all the facts are poured over and I have seen other perspectives and given them merit.
Not often, but it does happen. (smile)
The internet, email, blogs, etc., have really opened up a whole new world out there for many folks to express their POV and expand their knowledge about world affairs, politics, and news of all kinds. I am certainly one of those who has benefited from it and I admit it, my name is JD and I am an emailaholic.
I love to correspond this way even though I know folks who have computers and valid email addresses but they just do not check their email but once a month or so if that often. Although this baffles me to some degree I accept the fact that in their lives they have their own set of priorities and computers and email is just not one of them.
In closing today I will say this. The way I see it, if you do not return the email someone sends you in a timely manner it is like not returning a phone call left on an answering machine. If your computer works and you do check your email on a timely basis then it is very rude to not reply to an email if someone is sending an email in which they ask for a reply.
I think that is the key. So many emails go out each day you can’t and even shouldn’t reply to most but if the individual asks for a reply then you should by all means return that correspondence within a reasonable amount of time. That's just one man's opinion, take it for what it is worth.
Have a fabulous day and may God be with you this day and all the days ahead.
Although many of us do think alike on some issues sometimes we differ on others and that is what makes us all unique. I enjoy the debate when we disagree on a given topic as it stimulates the thought process and opens up other views to be considered. Some folks have a hard time dealing with another point of view on a subject they feel strongly about but I have learned that through taking each view and giving it an honest chance to be considered, it is a good way to expand my own personal horizons in the way I approach each subject.
Believe it or not I know I am not always right about everything. GOSH! I have and will more than likely have my view changed slightly from time to time on a subject after and exhaustive debate in which all the facts are poured over and I have seen other perspectives and given them merit.
Not often, but it does happen. (smile)
The internet, email, blogs, etc., have really opened up a whole new world out there for many folks to express their POV and expand their knowledge about world affairs, politics, and news of all kinds. I am certainly one of those who has benefited from it and I admit it, my name is JD and I am an emailaholic.
I love to correspond this way even though I know folks who have computers and valid email addresses but they just do not check their email but once a month or so if that often. Although this baffles me to some degree I accept the fact that in their lives they have their own set of priorities and computers and email is just not one of them.
In closing today I will say this. The way I see it, if you do not return the email someone sends you in a timely manner it is like not returning a phone call left on an answering machine. If your computer works and you do check your email on a timely basis then it is very rude to not reply to an email if someone is sending an email in which they ask for a reply.
I think that is the key. So many emails go out each day you can’t and even shouldn’t reply to most but if the individual asks for a reply then you should by all means return that correspondence within a reasonable amount of time. That's just one man's opinion, take it for what it is worth.
Have a fabulous day and may God be with you this day and all the days ahead.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Suggestions for change
We need to fix the problems in the broken, corrupt political system in Washington.
Here are a few ideas on how to accomplish the needed change.
1. Term Limits
2. Lobbyist reform
3. Internal affairs unit in Washington (watch dogs)
4. More citizen involvement. (citizen leadership lottery) more on this later
5. New campaign finance reform.
6. Federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
7. Strong Third Party (The reform Party)
9. Elimination of Earmarks or pork (this is currently being looked at)
10. Prosecution of lawbreakers in the system!
What are some of your suggestions???
Here are a few ideas on how to accomplish the needed change.
1. Term Limits
2. Lobbyist reform
3. Internal affairs unit in Washington (watch dogs)
4. More citizen involvement. (citizen leadership lottery) more on this later
5. New campaign finance reform.
6. Federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
7. Strong Third Party (The reform Party)
9. Elimination of Earmarks or pork (this is currently being looked at)
10. Prosecution of lawbreakers in the system!
What are some of your suggestions???
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Time for a change!
We need a third party in American politics.
There is no other way to break the hold that the two party system has over America. We can not expect the current system to reform itself. Yes they may try to make some changes here and there but the system has evolved into something that protects itself over all costs.
I am a firm believer that the Democrats are by far much worse than the Republicans when it comes to this but they both need to be reformed so my call is for the people who indeed want to see a change in politics as usual let's start a movement to reform the system. We can call it the Reform Party for now.
We must recruit from those current politicians who are sick of the way things work in Washington and will join us to make a better America. We will also ask the Libertarian party to join with us as we can use their strength in numbers to help us kick start this new party. I want to draft someone like Newt Gingrich to lead this revolution to change Washington and Change America for the better.
If you are with me then give me some feedback. Who's ready to make America the leading example of clarity and honor in its government. Who wants to work for the better of the people instead of the party. Let's elect a government that is there to represent us and work for us, rather than talk down to us and try and tax us into oblivion.
If you are ready to reform American politics and take America back to the days when morals and ethics were important then start here by sending me your feedback with ideas and suggestions.
God Bless America and may the good Lord bless us all as we try to make a difference!
Here is a link to a really good article that may inspire you like it did me.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060129/news_mz1e29gingri.html
There is no other way to break the hold that the two party system has over America. We can not expect the current system to reform itself. Yes they may try to make some changes here and there but the system has evolved into something that protects itself over all costs.
I am a firm believer that the Democrats are by far much worse than the Republicans when it comes to this but they both need to be reformed so my call is for the people who indeed want to see a change in politics as usual let's start a movement to reform the system. We can call it the Reform Party for now.
We must recruit from those current politicians who are sick of the way things work in Washington and will join us to make a better America. We will also ask the Libertarian party to join with us as we can use their strength in numbers to help us kick start this new party. I want to draft someone like Newt Gingrich to lead this revolution to change Washington and Change America for the better.
If you are with me then give me some feedback. Who's ready to make America the leading example of clarity and honor in its government. Who wants to work for the better of the people instead of the party. Let's elect a government that is there to represent us and work for us, rather than talk down to us and try and tax us into oblivion.
If you are ready to reform American politics and take America back to the days when morals and ethics were important then start here by sending me your feedback with ideas and suggestions.
God Bless America and may the good Lord bless us all as we try to make a difference!
Here is a link to a really good article that may inspire you like it did me.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060129/news_mz1e29gingri.html
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
America, it's time for a change!
After reading an essay by Newt Gingrich this morning I have been prompted to write my own message to the American people and to all those politicians in Washington who truly care about the future of America. I for one and sick and tired of politicians acting on their own behalf or walking lock step with their own party to try and keep power or win back power. I would love to see a politician that loves his/her country so much that they are willing to break from the partisan politics and go out on a limb for America. We need a change and we want it now!
Let's face it America our government is corrupt! Perhaps not every individual but the way they do business and how they hold onto their power is not in the best interest of America but in the best interest of the party. The two party system has evolved into something that is not good for America. Government will not clean itself up because it is too busy covering it's own butt. The greed and lust for power is so strong within the individual party that their seems to be no way to have it take out it's own garbage. Sure there is a sacrificial lamb every so often to make it look as though someone cares but we need to clean house and change the way we do things in Washington.
My solution?
I know this may sound lame but bear with me a moment. We need a new committee or panel not to be made up of politicians. This one needs to be made up mostly of regular citizens who are willing to take an oath to not be corrupted by the system and to work hard to change the system. This new wing would be like the Internal Affairs Dept. Within the law enforcement community. It would require a couple of liaisons to each branch of government but other than that it would be made up of regular everyday people from all walks of life. Good law abiding citizens who have credibility and common sense. They would have a location outside of Washington to meet and brainstorm to come up with ideas and would have the power to bring in politicians and question them about their duties and how Washington operates in order to get the information they need to make the changes necessary. They could also bring in former politicians who know how the system works but hold no particular allegiance to the parties as they stand now.
This committee would work in 6 month intervals making recommendations to government on how to improve the system. These ideas then would be put into bill form an introduced into legislation where applicable. After each six month period new people could be added, others that needs to leave and go back to their own businesses could be let go. No one should stay on the committee more than 2 years. These people should also be compensated for their work just like freshman Congressmen.
Now this is all off the cuff so as I think this through I will have better more lucid ideas for this new government cleanup crew such a a good name or title for it. Perhaps you can help me come up with one. Send your ideas to me at jdddd@hotmail.com or any of my other emails that you may have.
The bottom line is government in Washington needs to change and we want to be able to trust them to do what is right. The apathy in America is pathetic and this may be one way to solve that problem. If the people in America can learn to trust their representatives then more folks will get involved. We all must work hard to make this happen so join with me and write your local and national leaders suggesting this method or your own ideas on how to make government better.
Now go out and have a joyful and prosperous year and may the blessings of our Lord be upon you and your family as well as the USA.
Let's face it America our government is corrupt! Perhaps not every individual but the way they do business and how they hold onto their power is not in the best interest of America but in the best interest of the party. The two party system has evolved into something that is not good for America. Government will not clean itself up because it is too busy covering it's own butt. The greed and lust for power is so strong within the individual party that their seems to be no way to have it take out it's own garbage. Sure there is a sacrificial lamb every so often to make it look as though someone cares but we need to clean house and change the way we do things in Washington.
My solution?
I know this may sound lame but bear with me a moment. We need a new committee or panel not to be made up of politicians. This one needs to be made up mostly of regular citizens who are willing to take an oath to not be corrupted by the system and to work hard to change the system. This new wing would be like the Internal Affairs Dept. Within the law enforcement community. It would require a couple of liaisons to each branch of government but other than that it would be made up of regular everyday people from all walks of life. Good law abiding citizens who have credibility and common sense. They would have a location outside of Washington to meet and brainstorm to come up with ideas and would have the power to bring in politicians and question them about their duties and how Washington operates in order to get the information they need to make the changes necessary. They could also bring in former politicians who know how the system works but hold no particular allegiance to the parties as they stand now.
This committee would work in 6 month intervals making recommendations to government on how to improve the system. These ideas then would be put into bill form an introduced into legislation where applicable. After each six month period new people could be added, others that needs to leave and go back to their own businesses could be let go. No one should stay on the committee more than 2 years. These people should also be compensated for their work just like freshman Congressmen.
Now this is all off the cuff so as I think this through I will have better more lucid ideas for this new government cleanup crew such a a good name or title for it. Perhaps you can help me come up with one. Send your ideas to me at jdddd@hotmail.com or any of my other emails that you may have.
The bottom line is government in Washington needs to change and we want to be able to trust them to do what is right. The apathy in America is pathetic and this may be one way to solve that problem. If the people in America can learn to trust their representatives then more folks will get involved. We all must work hard to make this happen so join with me and write your local and national leaders suggesting this method or your own ideas on how to make government better.
Now go out and have a joyful and prosperous year and may the blessings of our Lord be upon you and your family as well as the USA.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
The truth about Liberalism
I have long been an advocate for conservatism and much of the political ideology that goes with it. That in itself tells you that I am not a supporter of liberalism and the policies that follow along with that mindset here in the United States and abroad.
It seems to me that if you look at liberal policies in America objectively and track the progress we have made over the last 40 years or so it is impossible to NOT see where liberal social programs and policies such as the welfare system and the public school system have been the catalysts for crime and poverty in the America we live in today. The failure to invest more money into the judicial branches of government, such as hiring enough prosecutors, cops and building enough prison cells for violent offenders can be directly tied to the constant pouring of money into other areas of local budgets such as perpetual social programs like welfare and the failing public education monopoly. The results have been disastrous for the inner city families.
While it sounds good and feels good to spend more money on education than incarceration, it is bad policy when the education that kids get is poor and the dollars spent per child continue to rise as test scores drop. The conservatives in this country have long been supporters of a voucher system where lower income parents who care about the education their kids receive, can take the government money (our tax money) normally reserved for their child in the form of a voucher or tax credit and spend it at any school they wish. This kind of program is working in different areas across the nation and study after study has proven it to be true that the graduation rates and test scores for the kids who have choice in education is far superior to those who are stuck in the Public School monopoly the government controls across the nation.
If you look at crime and gang activity in any given city it can be directly tied to the worst public schools and inner city neighborhoods where many of these kids are trapped. The horrific welfare system in our country has been the catalyst for these inner city slums and the gangs thrive in these areas, recruiting kids from the schools themselves. If a caring parent has the ability to take their kids from these schools and is motivated to get out of the inner city slums by being weaned of welfare and taught to work for a living the chances are that their kids could be saved from a life of criminal behavior and gang membership and the violence that goes along with it.
If we as a society tackle these three problems, public school reform, welfare reform and judicial reform we could make life better for those lower income families that so many liberal politicians claim to care about so deeply. Yet politics in this area seems to be more about dollars, promises and votes, not effective problem solving to elevate people and eliminating inner city slums and the multitude of problems that eminate from these neighborhoods.
If we as Americans truly want to solve the problems in the inner cities of our great country we must break the cycle of poverty created by the welfare system and offer better education opportunities to our kids by destroying the current monopoly the government holds with the public school system. Introducing competition into that arena is the only way and voucher or tax credits will do it. Common sense tells you that if you do not have competition you have no reason or motivation to improve services in a non-profit organization. Yet when you do introduce competition for the massive amount of education dollars (Billions) that government spends, schools will be forced to perform better or else lose those dollars!
Think for a moment about some of the government agencies that we deal with on a regular basis and tell me if you believe they could be run better if they had competition to spur improvement. The DMV comes to mind and most government service agencies are just as bad. Look at how the Post Office changed (for the better) when UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL and other businesses were allowed to compete for the overnite package business. If all government, non-profits knew another business down the street was competing for their customers and they had to provide better service to keep their jobs, you can bet we would not have the problems we do with most of these places.
It is the same with the public school system. Without condemning all schools and teachers in it, since some do perform well, it is honest to say the system as a whole, across the country is a staggering failure when it comes to providing the best education for our kids. We should be turning out the best and the brightest in this, the richest country in the world but sadly we are way down on the list even though we spend more money per child than any other system in the world.
If we continue down this road allowing these ineffective, liberal policies to further erode our ability to educate our kids and perpetuate our inner city slums, America will not reach it's fullest potential as being the great beacon of hope it once was in the world. Crime, poverty and education are tied together my friends and liberal policies are the glue that binds them and that's the truth about liberalism.
Here are some links to a couple of articles about education in America.
http://www.reason.com/hod/js011306.shtml
http://www.reason.com/hod/ls110405.shtml
It seems to me that if you look at liberal policies in America objectively and track the progress we have made over the last 40 years or so it is impossible to NOT see where liberal social programs and policies such as the welfare system and the public school system have been the catalysts for crime and poverty in the America we live in today. The failure to invest more money into the judicial branches of government, such as hiring enough prosecutors, cops and building enough prison cells for violent offenders can be directly tied to the constant pouring of money into other areas of local budgets such as perpetual social programs like welfare and the failing public education monopoly. The results have been disastrous for the inner city families.
While it sounds good and feels good to spend more money on education than incarceration, it is bad policy when the education that kids get is poor and the dollars spent per child continue to rise as test scores drop. The conservatives in this country have long been supporters of a voucher system where lower income parents who care about the education their kids receive, can take the government money (our tax money) normally reserved for their child in the form of a voucher or tax credit and spend it at any school they wish. This kind of program is working in different areas across the nation and study after study has proven it to be true that the graduation rates and test scores for the kids who have choice in education is far superior to those who are stuck in the Public School monopoly the government controls across the nation.
If you look at crime and gang activity in any given city it can be directly tied to the worst public schools and inner city neighborhoods where many of these kids are trapped. The horrific welfare system in our country has been the catalyst for these inner city slums and the gangs thrive in these areas, recruiting kids from the schools themselves. If a caring parent has the ability to take their kids from these schools and is motivated to get out of the inner city slums by being weaned of welfare and taught to work for a living the chances are that their kids could be saved from a life of criminal behavior and gang membership and the violence that goes along with it.
If we as a society tackle these three problems, public school reform, welfare reform and judicial reform we could make life better for those lower income families that so many liberal politicians claim to care about so deeply. Yet politics in this area seems to be more about dollars, promises and votes, not effective problem solving to elevate people and eliminating inner city slums and the multitude of problems that eminate from these neighborhoods.
If we as Americans truly want to solve the problems in the inner cities of our great country we must break the cycle of poverty created by the welfare system and offer better education opportunities to our kids by destroying the current monopoly the government holds with the public school system. Introducing competition into that arena is the only way and voucher or tax credits will do it. Common sense tells you that if you do not have competition you have no reason or motivation to improve services in a non-profit organization. Yet when you do introduce competition for the massive amount of education dollars (Billions) that government spends, schools will be forced to perform better or else lose those dollars!
Think for a moment about some of the government agencies that we deal with on a regular basis and tell me if you believe they could be run better if they had competition to spur improvement. The DMV comes to mind and most government service agencies are just as bad. Look at how the Post Office changed (for the better) when UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL and other businesses were allowed to compete for the overnite package business. If all government, non-profits knew another business down the street was competing for their customers and they had to provide better service to keep their jobs, you can bet we would not have the problems we do with most of these places.
It is the same with the public school system. Without condemning all schools and teachers in it, since some do perform well, it is honest to say the system as a whole, across the country is a staggering failure when it comes to providing the best education for our kids. We should be turning out the best and the brightest in this, the richest country in the world but sadly we are way down on the list even though we spend more money per child than any other system in the world.
If we continue down this road allowing these ineffective, liberal policies to further erode our ability to educate our kids and perpetuate our inner city slums, America will not reach it's fullest potential as being the great beacon of hope it once was in the world. Crime, poverty and education are tied together my friends and liberal policies are the glue that binds them and that's the truth about liberalism.
Here are some links to a couple of articles about education in America.
http://www.reason.com/hod/js011306.shtml
http://www.reason.com/hod/ls110405.shtml
Sunday, December 18, 2005
King Kong 2005 - Review
I have seen allot of movies in my days and I must admit this one is definitely one of the most amazing fantasy adventure films of all time. The computerized visual effects (especially Kong) are simply breathtaking at times in this film. However someone lost their perspective and went a bit overboard with certain scenes, I’ll get to that in a minute.
I personally loved the character of Kong although he was a totally computerized version of the giant gorilla he had great personality and he looked awesome. He was so huge and such a gigantic, even heroic figure I just could not get enough of him. I already want a sequel or prequel in this case and have figured out a storyline that will work perfectly.
Well Done, is all I can say to the folks who created Kong in their minds eyes and transferred that to the screen. Mr. Jackson I suppose gets the credit here and his team of software folks and art directors. Now with all that said here is the downside. There is some rough language which was offensive to me as a Christian however I realize that many people do talk this way so it will be no big deal to most adults but Not for Children.
People, you must learn to leave the young kids at home! There was a baby crying throughout the entire movie and the so called parents would not remove themselves and the baby from this theatre. There was nearly a fight in the place afterwards.
The special effects although marvelous at times were way over used. There are two or three sequences that I would have cut from the film had I been the editor which would have shortened the total time maybe by 30 minutes or so. I could have cut some regular footage as well from the first hour and made this move much closer to two hours instead of three. There is a sequence that ran for nearly 10 minutes it seemed where the crew is running from a stampede of dinosaurs that is just plain stupid and looks so horribly unrealistic that I was shocked that it was left in the movie. I can only think that Mr. Jackson lost his perspective while making this film and no one had the guts to sit him down and tell him how bad this looked. It really does take away from a movie that could otherwise be called a masterpiece. There are other scenes that are nearly just a bad and unrealistic but I will let you judge them for yourself.
The acting was good enough for any special effects driven film. Jack Black was really convincing as a shrewd film director with no-morals, basically a con man willing to do whatever it takes to get his picture. Naomi Watts was really great as Ann Darrow the woman who Kong falls in love with and her with him as well. I also thought the natives of skull Island were very well done. They were very evil and scary looking.
The rest of the cast including the writer Jack Driscoll played by Adrian Brody was well played considering the unusual circumstances they had to deal with. Amazingly enough, I have to say it was the directing and perhaps the writing that needs improvement here. Although Jackson shows brilliance as he did with the Rings trilogy, he dropped the ball and lost his perspective along the way. He tried to make us laugh at times in scenes that would have been so frighteneing for a normal person I felt it was just way out there.
Finally, what could have been the greatest special effects movie of all time was a miss-fire in my book. King Kong was a really good movie that could have been much, much better. Don't get me wrong it was worth seeing on the BIG screen as only King Kong should be seen but many will walk away with a feeling of what could have been.
I give it 3 out of 5 banana’s .....
I personally loved the character of Kong although he was a totally computerized version of the giant gorilla he had great personality and he looked awesome. He was so huge and such a gigantic, even heroic figure I just could not get enough of him. I already want a sequel or prequel in this case and have figured out a storyline that will work perfectly.
Well Done, is all I can say to the folks who created Kong in their minds eyes and transferred that to the screen. Mr. Jackson I suppose gets the credit here and his team of software folks and art directors. Now with all that said here is the downside. There is some rough language which was offensive to me as a Christian however I realize that many people do talk this way so it will be no big deal to most adults but Not for Children.
People, you must learn to leave the young kids at home! There was a baby crying throughout the entire movie and the so called parents would not remove themselves and the baby from this theatre. There was nearly a fight in the place afterwards.
The special effects although marvelous at times were way over used. There are two or three sequences that I would have cut from the film had I been the editor which would have shortened the total time maybe by 30 minutes or so. I could have cut some regular footage as well from the first hour and made this move much closer to two hours instead of three. There is a sequence that ran for nearly 10 minutes it seemed where the crew is running from a stampede of dinosaurs that is just plain stupid and looks so horribly unrealistic that I was shocked that it was left in the movie. I can only think that Mr. Jackson lost his perspective while making this film and no one had the guts to sit him down and tell him how bad this looked. It really does take away from a movie that could otherwise be called a masterpiece. There are other scenes that are nearly just a bad and unrealistic but I will let you judge them for yourself.
The acting was good enough for any special effects driven film. Jack Black was really convincing as a shrewd film director with no-morals, basically a con man willing to do whatever it takes to get his picture. Naomi Watts was really great as Ann Darrow the woman who Kong falls in love with and her with him as well. I also thought the natives of skull Island were very well done. They were very evil and scary looking.
The rest of the cast including the writer Jack Driscoll played by Adrian Brody was well played considering the unusual circumstances they had to deal with. Amazingly enough, I have to say it was the directing and perhaps the writing that needs improvement here. Although Jackson shows brilliance as he did with the Rings trilogy, he dropped the ball and lost his perspective along the way. He tried to make us laugh at times in scenes that would have been so frighteneing for a normal person I felt it was just way out there.
Finally, what could have been the greatest special effects movie of all time was a miss-fire in my book. King Kong was a really good movie that could have been much, much better. Don't get me wrong it was worth seeing on the BIG screen as only King Kong should be seen but many will walk away with a feeling of what could have been.
I give it 3 out of 5 banana’s .....
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
John Kerry compares US troops to terrorists!
I did a search on this today after I heard on the radio that John F. Kerry (who was in Vietnam) had said this on one of the Sunday news shows. Of course no one in the so called mainstream media is commenting on this story at all that I can find. I thought it was worth mentioning. I finally found a mention of it in a blog called Captains Quarters.
John Kerry: American Soldiers Are Terrorists
John Kerry appeared yesterday on the CBS talking-head show, "Face The Nation", to discuss the war in Iraq with Bob Schieffer. Just as in his speeches on the Viet Nam War, Kerry has slipped into deep Left-speak in an attempt to gain national traction for his pose as a party leader. In fact, in language reminiscent of his infamous "Genghis Khan" speech before the Senate in April 1971, he yesterday referred to American soldiers as terrorists -- and then suggested that we leave terrorism to the new Iraqi army.
From page 3-4 of the CBS transcript, emphasis mine (h/t:CQ reader Dave Z):
SCHIEFFER: All right. Let me shift to another point of view, and it comes from another Democrat, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. He takes a very different view. He says basically we should stay the course because, he says, real progress is being made. He said this is a war between 27 million Iraqis who want freedom and 10,000 terrorists. He says we're in a watershed transformation. What about that?Sen. KERRY: Let me--I--first of all, there is so much more that unites Democrats than divides us. And Democrats have much more in common with each other than they do with George Bush's policy right now. Now Joe Lieberman, I believe, also voted for the resolution which said the president needs to make more clear what he's doing and set out benchmarks, and that the policy hasn't been working. We all believe him when you say, `Stay the course.' That's the president's policy, which hasn't been changing, which is a policy of failure. I don't agree with that. But I think what we need to do is recognize what we all agree on, which is you've got to begin to set benchmarks for accomplishment. You've got to begin to transfer authority to the Iraqis. And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs. Whether you like it or not...
SCHIEFFER: Yeah.
Sen. KERRY: ...Iraqis should be doing that. And after all of these two and a half years, with all of the talk of 210,000 people trained, there just is no excuse for not transferring more of that authority.
End of quotes.
Now I heard the tape on this and Kerry stumbled and bumbled through that part of his speech after he likened the US troops to terrorists. He is an eloquent speaker but at times he trips himself up when he gets carried away or perhaps when he lies. Again Kerry is comparing the US troops to terrorists just as he did when he returned from Vietnam in 1971 and again he has no evidence for this claim just a firm belief in his anti-military heart that all soldiers are terrorists. Is he concerned about Iraqi women and Children? Obviously not because he says in the very next sentence that it is the Iraqi troops that should be doing the terrorizing of Iraqi women and children.
Now my next question is to Mr. Kerry, how long will it be before you accuse American soldiers of raping, killing and mutilating the bodies of these same Iraqi women and children just as you did on Vietnam? You might say well it did happen in Vietnam, he was right. Yet he has since backtracked and said he never witnessed any of these events happening but he had been told by other soldiers that they had done it. This is after he testified before Congress saying that he personally witnessed and took part in said atrocities.
In Conclusion John Kerry is a documented liar who will say anything to further his political ambitions, including accusations that our troops are terrorists. I will bet that his words will be repeated by the press, yes-sir the press in the middle east where more Muslims will be enraged and take up arms against US troops when they hear this kind of talk coming from and American Senator.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Why be Thankful?
Thanksgiving is upon us once again and this year I want to just mention a few things I am thankful for.
1. Jesus Christ, first and foremost. Only Christians will understand this one of course.
2. My lovely wife Janet. She puts up with me, what a trooper!
3. Family and friends. I have some good people in my life who care about me. That's priceless! A special mention to my Grandma, she been ill lately, bless you granny!
4. A successful business. Been working my buns off this year! Thanks to my customers and my #1 driver!
5. Being born an American! What else can I say!
6. Our armed forces. Without them we'd be speaking German or Japanese.
7. Our President! W - Love him or hate him he's trying to save us from terrorists and has a great economy
working for us thanks to some wisely crafted tax cuts.
8. My new Mustang. Gotta love a man's first new sports car.
9. Finally, a good attitude. I thank God I was born an optimist!
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Price Gouging?
While talking about the price of gasoline and so called price gouging with my wife I came up with a good analogy of why the oil companies are and should make billions in profit.
Here's my explanation. Tell me where I am wrong.
If I had a large delivery business that covered the USA and abroad like say, UPS (let's check their profits by the way) and I made 50 million deliveries per day charging $20 per delivery that would equal 1 billion dollars per day or 365 billion per year. Now that would be gross profit. Once you back out operating costs of $15 per delivery it would leave me a net profit of roughly 90 billion dollars per year.
Now look at the Oil company Exxon. They sell a product that is used all over the world, including America. You can look on just about every other corner in Charlotte and any other major city and find an Exxon station. They sell gasoline and many other products and by-products of oil. Let's say that any given day around the world the sell 50 million gallons of gasoline at 10 cents net profit per gallon. That would be 100,000,000.00 or 100 million dollars per day profit which in turn would be over 3 billion dollars profit per year just on gasoline sold here in the USA. Again they sell oil, gas and the by products from each barrel.
My point is that when you have a large company that is spread out over the world and sells a product that is purchased by millions of consumers each day you will make huge profits!
So, the US Congress who in fact has blocked legislation for over 25 years to drill for more oil here at home and build refineries in order to process more fuel (increasing supplies in the USA which would in turn lower prices) all the while putting restrictions and regulations on the oil companies and how they can produce and refine their product is going to hit Exxon and others with a windfall profits tax. Why then should they not go after any other company that has made billions in profit?
(Don't forget that the federal tax for a gallon of gas is 18 cent. They pool billions per year in Washington from this single fund and spend it as they wish. It's supposed to be for roads but take a look in your city and tell me if that's where it is being spent.)
(Don't forget that the federal tax for a gallon of gas is 18 cent. They pool billions per year in Washington from this single fund and spend it as they wish. It's supposed to be for roads but take a look in your city and tell me if that's where it is being spent.)
I suppose they already have. Microsoft and Phillip Morris comes to mind. When will they get UPS or GE.? Who's next? When will they decide in their socialist wisdom that no company should be able to make too much profit and once you reach a certain point of profitability you have to turn over the rest to the government? Where do we live in America or North Korea????
Then go a step further and ask yourself what does the government do with the money they confiscate from You, me and Exxon? They spend it like a drunken sailor on every stupid little thing they can find in order to buy votes in their home district. They give it away to foreign countries like it was candy at Halloween. They enter into contracts with companies they have under the table deals with and buy millions of $300 hammers. They have a blank check book and can spend, spend, spend with no regard for a balanced budget.
No, no, no! I think we may have it backwards here! We have to fight against these so called public leaders and let them know we will not stand for their legal thievery. It is Congress who is stealing from you and I not Exxon. Exxon is creating millions of jobs and providing a very important product to us so we can get to our own jobs and make a living.
All the while Congress is constantly patting us on the back smiling and whispering in our ear how much they care for us and want to help us while they slip their hands in our back pockets lifting money from our wallets!
All the while Congress is constantly patting us on the back smiling and whispering in our ear how much they care for us and want to help us while they slip their hands in our back pockets lifting money from our wallets!
Whew!
That feels better...
That feels better...
Saturday, November 12, 2005
The Pendulum Swings
Greetings
If you have kept up with the news the past few months you will know that the old media has been in a feeding frenzy when it comes to President Bush and his Republican administration. The poll numbers reflect that his popularity has taken a dive and the press has taken to the water, feasting on Bush like a bunch of hungry Pirana. I must admit it was looking pretty bad for a while but if history is a guide it looks as though the President will survive this hit and rebound.
Lately there have been some good signs. The lack of an indictment of Carl Rove may have been the beginning of this turnaround but some important events have happened in the past few days that may really increase the momentum of this upswing. The recent bombings in Jordan have produced a backlash against the terrorists by Muslims who are sick of being the targets of these murderers. They have taken to the streets protesting. Only this time instead of Muslims protesting America, they are screaming for the death of the terrorists. There also has been a video released of the Kurds in Iraq thanking America for setting them free. President Bush stepped up to the plate and scolded the left just yesterday for making ridiculous false claims that he manipulated intelligence in order to go to war with Saddam all the while knowing everything that he knew and voting to approve the Presidents actions. Also the current riots in France are a good illustration to Americans and the world of what leftists policies can lead to and that bodes well for the American right. The way I see it there is a change coming and you will see the approval ratings of the Bush team climb back up from the current lows.
The President has some bold ideas and wants to change America and the world for the better. The American left stands in his way as they do not want to see Republicans get and credit for such bold and positive change in the world. Since they have no good ideas of their own their strategy seems to be to do everything they can to slow down and stop Republicans from making forward progress.
This is a bad policy and will lead to more of the same from the Democrats in years to come should they take control back from the Republicans. Just think about all we could accomplish if the left would work with us instead of against us. We could reform Social Security, the Tax Code and make America less dependent on foreign oil if only the left would help us. We could also continue to make America a more prosperous place economically but if the left gets control of the purse strings they will only tax us more and spend even more than the Bush administration has.
In the end we will wind up with a more socialist government should they prevail. However I have a theory that I think will allow Republicans to make strides in years to come. I will share that with you next time.
Agree or disagree?
Feel free to leave your comments here.
If you have kept up with the news the past few months you will know that the old media has been in a feeding frenzy when it comes to President Bush and his Republican administration. The poll numbers reflect that his popularity has taken a dive and the press has taken to the water, feasting on Bush like a bunch of hungry Pirana. I must admit it was looking pretty bad for a while but if history is a guide it looks as though the President will survive this hit and rebound.
Lately there have been some good signs. The lack of an indictment of Carl Rove may have been the beginning of this turnaround but some important events have happened in the past few days that may really increase the momentum of this upswing. The recent bombings in Jordan have produced a backlash against the terrorists by Muslims who are sick of being the targets of these murderers. They have taken to the streets protesting. Only this time instead of Muslims protesting America, they are screaming for the death of the terrorists. There also has been a video released of the Kurds in Iraq thanking America for setting them free. President Bush stepped up to the plate and scolded the left just yesterday for making ridiculous false claims that he manipulated intelligence in order to go to war with Saddam all the while knowing everything that he knew and voting to approve the Presidents actions. Also the current riots in France are a good illustration to Americans and the world of what leftists policies can lead to and that bodes well for the American right. The way I see it there is a change coming and you will see the approval ratings of the Bush team climb back up from the current lows.
The President has some bold ideas and wants to change America and the world for the better. The American left stands in his way as they do not want to see Republicans get and credit for such bold and positive change in the world. Since they have no good ideas of their own their strategy seems to be to do everything they can to slow down and stop Republicans from making forward progress.
This is a bad policy and will lead to more of the same from the Democrats in years to come should they take control back from the Republicans. Just think about all we could accomplish if the left would work with us instead of against us. We could reform Social Security, the Tax Code and make America less dependent on foreign oil if only the left would help us. We could also continue to make America a more prosperous place economically but if the left gets control of the purse strings they will only tax us more and spend even more than the Bush administration has.
In the end we will wind up with a more socialist government should they prevail. However I have a theory that I think will allow Republicans to make strides in years to come. I will share that with you next time.
Agree or disagree?
Feel free to leave your comments here.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Democrats gone wild!
The Impeachment of Sanity!
JD Pearce 11/3/2005
The Democrats in the Senate have decided to hold meetings to discuss issues related to the President's decision to go to war in Iraq, removing Saddam Hussein from power and establishing a front against terror. They say he manipulated intelligence and lied to the American people over reasons to go to war.
Funny but I seem to remember just about every single one of those pompous jackasses pontificating at the top of their lungs on the Senate floor about how bad Saddam was and how he was such a threat to the US and should be stopped! This kind of bloviating was in vogue in 1998 up until and after President Bush was inaugurated in 2001. Not only did the Senators now screaming Bush lied do this but their own President and Vice President in 1998 and 1999 both made speeches declaring Saddam had WMD as did the former Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor. Let us not forget every major newspaper and magazine in the country also proclaimed the danger and wickedness of Saddam. These Wackos seem to forget that they are caught on tape as it were and must be living in some drug induced dream world where they do not remember what they did or said past last week.
Let me assure you that the goal here my friends is to impeach President Bush! Yes that's right. Fortunately for the sane people in this country it ain't gonna happen. These dolts in Washington are all smoking crack if they think that they can win on this issue. (Fire it up Ted, don't bogart the pipe!)
My personal view is that this is nothing more than payback for the impeachment of their golden boy, their knight in shining armor, their chief cook and bottle washer, the first black President, William J. Clinton. They are so hell bent on paying the Republicans back for that embarrassing episode (hold on, I am lighting my cigar) that they will go to any and all ends to try and punish President Bush and his brilliant team of advisers. The fact that Bush defeated Gore (stole the election) in 2000 and their latest idiot, John (I have a plan) F. Kerry is also a bitter pill to swallow for this bumbling bunch of clowns on the left side of the isle in Washington.
Mark my words they want to impeach Bush but they do not have the votes and will not win enough seats in 2006 to
Funny but I seem to remember just about every single one of those pompous jackasses pontificating at the top of their lungs on the Senate floor about how bad Saddam was and how he was such a threat to the US and should be stopped! This kind of bloviating was in vogue in 1998 up until and after President Bush was inaugurated in 2001. Not only did the Senators now screaming Bush lied do this but their own President and Vice President in 1998 and 1999 both made speeches declaring Saddam had WMD as did the former Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor. Let us not forget every major newspaper and magazine in the country also proclaimed the danger and wickedness of Saddam. These Wackos seem to forget that they are caught on tape as it were and must be living in some drug induced dream world where they do not remember what they did or said past last week.
Let me assure you that the goal here my friends is to impeach President Bush! Yes that's right. Fortunately for the sane people in this country it ain't gonna happen. These dolts in Washington are all smoking crack if they think that they can win on this issue. (Fire it up Ted, don't bogart the pipe!)
My personal view is that this is nothing more than payback for the impeachment of their golden boy, their knight in shining armor, their chief cook and bottle washer, the first black President, William J. Clinton. They are so hell bent on paying the Republicans back for that embarrassing episode (hold on, I am lighting my cigar) that they will go to any and all ends to try and punish President Bush and his brilliant team of advisers. The fact that Bush defeated Gore (stole the election) in 2000 and their latest idiot, John (I have a plan) F. Kerry is also a bitter pill to swallow for this bumbling bunch of clowns on the left side of the isle in Washington.
Mark my words they want to impeach Bush but they do not have the votes and will not win enough seats in 2006 to
Git-R-Done.
What is so unforgivably sad about this is that we are at war with terrorism. This country is the lone super power in a struggle to stop the spread of terrorism in the free world and that world depends on us to win this battle. The leftist here in this country are undermining our ability to fight and win this war. It is treasonous in my opinion and the majority of people of this country want no part of their hypocrisy and foolishness!
What is so unforgivably sad about this is that we are at war with terrorism. This country is the lone super power in a struggle to stop the spread of terrorism in the free world and that world depends on us to win this battle. The leftist here in this country are undermining our ability to fight and win this war. It is treasonous in my opinion and the majority of people of this country want no part of their hypocrisy and foolishness!
Friday, October 28, 2005
Energy Prices and Big Oil
Many of us are suffering today due to high gasoline prices and home heating costs and it may get worse this winter, at least with the cost of home heating oil and natural gas. I have heard like most of you that the BIG OIL companies are reeking lavish profits during this time of severe energy problems for the average Joe. It is very easy to point fingers and jump up and down, crying foul. The Energy giants are gouging us, profiteering at it's worst is being spouted all over the news and at water coolers around the country. Blogs and webpages also mimics these ideas.
So, I am going to try and explain why this is not as bad as some would lead you to believe. First of all we do live in a capitalist society where companies are allowed to sell their products in a free market where prices fluctuate up and down. Any company has the right to charge what it can get for it's product as long as it does not break any laws in the process. BIG OIL does not have much competition so unlike the Walmart's of the world no one is going to slash prices to out sell the other guy. The oil market is a global market where prices are generally set by OPEC and by trading of oil on the world stock and futures markets. The BIG OIL companies from the USA use these prices as well to sell each barrel the pump out of the ground. The price of a barrel is way up now and that leads to profits that are way up.
In addition to this we are in the midst of a refinery crisis due to the latest batch of hurricane related weather disasters. Many refineries were damaged and pipelines were shut down so this proposes a large problem for those companies and for the end users of the products. Our refineries normally run at near full capacity so this kind of interruption creates supply and demand issues that drives up prices in a hurry.
Why do we not have enough refining capacity? You can thank congress and the environmental movement in the USA for that situation. There has not been a refinery built in the USA for nearly thirty years due to the pressure put on politicians to keep the BIG OIL companies from building these behemoth plants in any given city or town. Nobody wants one in their backyard yet everyone screams now that the price of gasoline as well as home heating energy is out of control.
What can we do about it? Well this is the question. Individuals can now buy smaller most fuel efficient vehicles if they choose to do so. You can also cut back on energy consumption around your home in a myriad of different ways. You might even carpool or ride a bike or bus to work. However if you are not so inclined to do these kinds of things you can invest in the markets and buy stocks or mutual funds with energy related holdings. This way you might pay more at the pump but you reap the rewards on the back end in dividends. Keep in mind too that the longer the price of gas stays high the more car companies will invest in alternative technologies to give you the consumer more viable alternatives to the gas guzzling SUV's you have grown accustomed too.
I will continue with this subject in the next blog!
Until then please feel free to give me some feedback on your ideas about BIG OIL and their windfall profits!
So, I am going to try and explain why this is not as bad as some would lead you to believe. First of all we do live in a capitalist society where companies are allowed to sell their products in a free market where prices fluctuate up and down. Any company has the right to charge what it can get for it's product as long as it does not break any laws in the process. BIG OIL does not have much competition so unlike the Walmart's of the world no one is going to slash prices to out sell the other guy. The oil market is a global market where prices are generally set by OPEC and by trading of oil on the world stock and futures markets. The BIG OIL companies from the USA use these prices as well to sell each barrel the pump out of the ground. The price of a barrel is way up now and that leads to profits that are way up.
In addition to this we are in the midst of a refinery crisis due to the latest batch of hurricane related weather disasters. Many refineries were damaged and pipelines were shut down so this proposes a large problem for those companies and for the end users of the products. Our refineries normally run at near full capacity so this kind of interruption creates supply and demand issues that drives up prices in a hurry.
Why do we not have enough refining capacity? You can thank congress and the environmental movement in the USA for that situation. There has not been a refinery built in the USA for nearly thirty years due to the pressure put on politicians to keep the BIG OIL companies from building these behemoth plants in any given city or town. Nobody wants one in their backyard yet everyone screams now that the price of gasoline as well as home heating energy is out of control.
What can we do about it? Well this is the question. Individuals can now buy smaller most fuel efficient vehicles if they choose to do so. You can also cut back on energy consumption around your home in a myriad of different ways. You might even carpool or ride a bike or bus to work. However if you are not so inclined to do these kinds of things you can invest in the markets and buy stocks or mutual funds with energy related holdings. This way you might pay more at the pump but you reap the rewards on the back end in dividends. Keep in mind too that the longer the price of gas stays high the more car companies will invest in alternative technologies to give you the consumer more viable alternatives to the gas guzzling SUV's you have grown accustomed too.
I will continue with this subject in the next blog!
Until then please feel free to give me some feedback on your ideas about BIG OIL and their windfall profits!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)