Where Is The Government's Bailout?

Do We Need Recovery Or Reform?
One of the strangest developments I can remember is the concept that in this time of economic hardship providing discounts is a bad thing.
Companies are failing right and left for lack of financing to meet obligations to creditors and employees. So does it make sense to label
normal discounts and incentives illegal? Since this has gone on for decades why rewrite the laws now? Is it possible someone is fishing for
a kickback? Or could this be just a simple shakedown?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Did Too Much Freedom Lead To This Mess?

Even while we are still reeling from the events of the last few months, we are now becoming prey to Urban Legends!
To be blunt the chances of the American people being rescued on the same level as the banks are none and zero.
Yet something within us want to believe that Justice is more than just a slogin.
So for those of you who still think that nothing bad could happen to you because you do the right things,
the right way, I invite you to have a long conversation with someone just released from Prison by DNA.
Or if that isn't to your taste, consider the words of International Star and timeless philosopher, Jackie Chan,
who said " if we weren't controlled, we would do what we want". How could anyone argue with that flawless logic?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Not Stepping Up To The Plate Is Like Striking Out

We are finding things to be going along better than can be expected under the circumstances.
The world is hanging by a thread but it is still hanging. If only more of our Congress members were
forth coming in answers to this mess we've made over decades. Of cource they as well as the Obama
administration will have to "get it" first. The founders of America had greater vision then those now seated in Washington.
Paying taxes is not "dumb", it is what makes this thing work at all. When people aquire wealth they create a vaccum in the economy.
Taxes must be paid, and more taxes paid by those with the most money, in order for the services we have become used to. What if you need a cop, or your house is burning. What if there is another earthquake, or flood, or tornado, or any other emergency.
This is basic ebb and flow. If everything goes out, to the wealthy, yet not enough comes in, taxes, it is only a question of time before the system comes apart.
By definition the poor don't have the money to pay taxes. Because the wealthy took control of it. If greedy fools continue to run America's economy into the ground
siphoning off too much wealth, the only choices are to dissolve the government, or give government ALL POWER.
And that means giving up ALL FREEDOMS, and ALL LIBERTIES! Once the American System is broken it will be
too late to try and "VOTE" on what happens next. Game Over. We Lose! Stop being stupid and excercise self control!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Are We Overlooking The Obvious?

Is it possible we have overlooked a aspect of this economic situation? How many years would it take to add 2 and 2?
America has declared war against terror. The prospect of losing income is terror enough for some parents to kill their own family!
Getting into the United States is a world wide joke! Ben Laden could have a apartment in
New York!  Are we really so stupid and greedy it will take another attack or two on our soil to secure every point of entry? What the hell is the delay? Why are we being kept at risk? Who is profiting?

Is This Real Oversight or Just Another Shakedown?

The members of Congress look impressive on TV but are they to be believed?
How can anyone sit in a position of monitoring an industry while taking money from them under the table? Isn't that the definition of corruption? If they are paid enough will they lay off their contributors? And didn't we see this setup in one of the Godfather movies?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Deregulation or Ship of Fools?

When you deregulate, by definition you have less eyes watching what is going on.
This is a perfect situation if you are Bernie Madoff or P. T. Barnum. But common sense should tell you
that when you turn your back Johnny is going to go for the cookie jar! Was this a case of the
"Emperor's New Clothes", or just another episode of "Saturday Night Live"?
And if you think you can walk on water then Barnum was right. There IS one born every minute!

AIG Continues The Saga

Some have said that AIG is too big to fail. But maybe the truth is it's too big to survive! The latest flap about bonuses required by contract is a clue.
This also indicates that President Obama is on the right track. Solving only one problem at a time is useless if the system itself is not sustainable.
It's like trying to put out a wild fire with a garden hose. You will get burned!
Then again maybe AIG is just not getting the right help. Since they are citing contractual obligations, maybe Congress should take a different approach.
Instead of throwing money into this fire, let's cut it off.  Not only does Congress have the power of license over AIG,
they also write the laws. So why not subtract the bonuses paid from the bailout given? And if the other parties object to this ruling then they can be barred from the industry.
They can also be fined and imprisoned. Under these terms I am sure a reasonable agreement can be reached.
Union workers had to make a compromise with GM so it has been done before!

The High Cost of a Free Fall

At this time I am seeing a pattern develop. It's not rational or pretty. But it is human.
For some the writing is on the wall and it's telling them to store up for the coming Depression.
Although there is still time to save ourselves if we do this thing right. For many with a perspective or
stake, the only course now is to squirrel away everything they can to come up on top of those with
nothing to protect. The key word here is redistribution of wealth. A interesting concept, but short sighted.
If you store away billions of dollars to use at a later time, without insuring there will be a later time,
you run the risk of  losing everything. Of course there is also the question of when if ever those members
of congress will wise up and stop throwing good money after bad. AIG should be a criminal matter!

Fool Me Twice Shame on Me!

Defining Moments

In times of great challenges we define ourselves by how we respond to what we face.
The more over whelming the moment the more important it is to rise to the occasion.
Even if we fall short we can still do more, be more if we extend ourselves to the level of possibility.

History In The Making

Stimulation

What is stimulation? One definition is: Any action or condition that creates a response. So a economic stimulus package is a set of
actions or conditions to cause our economy to react. That seems simple enough. But the fact is it's not that simple.
To begin with what reaction are you looking for? What will you do if you get it? And what will you do if you don't?
These are the basic questions. Can you handle the answers?

 

 

Looking Back

America faces the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression.
How did this happen? Were there any warning signs? And who was in charge of Oversight?
Many questions have been raised. But not many answers found.
The biggest question of all for the people now living a hell on earth is:
Could this have been avoided? Consider all possibilities!

 

Applied Wisdom

After winning the strangest Presidential campaign of recent times,
President Obama pledged his administration would be held accountable.
He said he would hold his people to a higher standard. At the time of this writing 5 of his nominees,
have been caught for not paying taxes. #1. His nominee for Secretary of Commerce.
He withdrew. #2. His nominee for Secretary of Labor. But in all fairness it was the fault of her husband.
He had issues dating back to 1993 so who knew? #3. His nominee for Secretary of Heath and Human Services.
He withdrew. #4. His nominee for chief performance officer to make sure the government runs better?
She withdrew. And #5 is his nominee for Secretary of Treasury.
But of course since he has been confirmed and is now in charge of the IRS everything is fine!
The first question that comes to mind is: just what cracker jack box did these people fall out of? If he were still teaching at Harvard maybe a good subject would be Applied Wisdom. So what is the President's explanation of these events? On NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams, he said " I screwed up." Again in all fairness he was a junior Senator who never served a full term. Only in his case he was not arrested, we made him President. Did we screw up? If this is a higher level of government, maybe we are all screwed!

Let's Get to Work

19:58 2/7/2009

The Key To Economic Recovery

In times of trouble we find ourselves taking the time to review our actions. But if we had looked at this earlier we could have avoided the problem.
It's funny how we repeat the same self destructive patterns and expect a different outcome. Both funny and sad.
It has been said you can't cheat a honest man. What does this really mean? Maybe it means we first have to be honest with ourselves.
If we put ourselves in a situation to cheat someone we have no one to blame if the tables are turned.
This is true if we engage in 3 card monte, or a investment ponzi scam. How many investors lost money to Madoff?
And how many of them saw the movie Wall Street? In the terminology of Con Games, don't be a mark!
It took years to run the system into the ground, don't expect it to recover overnight! Stop looking for a
quick fix like some kind of financial junkie! Return to common sense and good judgement.

Stimulus Package

03:39 2/1/2009

American Idol

America is starting a new year with a new President. He is not only the top American Idol, he is also the Man of the Year!

In fact the New York Times and other newspapers around the world devoted the front page to his victory.

Are all of these coin sets being promoted a sign that he is going to be nickeled and dimed?

With a setup like this you just know people are waiting for him to stumble or have a bad day so they can kick him.

Barak Obama is going to be sitting in the hotseat this time next week. Why would anyone put themselves through this much

stress. History has shown this is one of the worst jobs if you have any hopes of staying young.

Yet people will go to unjustified lengths just to be called "Mr. President".

Let's hope the problems he will be presented with are solvable. For the sake of the world!

15:38 1/13/2009