My wife came home last night and told me that her hours were going to be cut . I thought to my self well, that's sure a great way to start the new year! I was glad however that at least we didn't over spend for Christmas. I guess my life is going to be like a country song I heard some time ago the title was Too Much Month And Not Enough Money. Yes, just like many Americana today, my family will have to learn to live on less. I suppose I could sell some things to make extra money or I could just cash advance the cash I need off of one of my handy dandy credit cards after all, isn't that the way the government does it? The thing is when I use my credit card I just increase my debt and as we the people know all too well with credit cards, payments must be made each month.The problem comes when one over extends one's self on credit cards. the debt can become so deep you may never get out! You know, kind of like our government which is now 16 trillion dollars in debt and the debt is still climbing. Unlike the government though I don't have my own money printer, and I don't have China's phone number and even if I did, they probably wouldn't lend me any money anyway. I'm sure, I wouldn't like China's terms or conditions for a loan and I'm sure I couldn't pay their interest rate.
So, I guess my family and I just like most of the American people, will just have to be financially responsible and tighten our belts and learn to live on less or maybe even learn to live without some things, Our grand parents and great grand parents did. I wonder when the government will learn how to do that? As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Need A New Car? Just Charge it!
What's that? You say your thinking about buying a new car? Something really new and different? Well have I got a deal for you! Why don't you go and buy your self the new electric powered car fresh off the assembly line. The new Chevy Volt. This new and exciting car is sure to give your heart a jolt, Before you bolt out the door to buy one there are a few things you should know. They don;t go real fast or real far so don't plan any cross country trips. The Chevy Volt, will cost around Forty thousand dollars but the government will give you a seven thousand five hundred dollar tax credit which you can use when you get your taxes done so this dream car can be all yours for thirty two thousand five hundred dollars.
Wait a minute, there is something I for got to tell you. Chevy, or GM, has only produced around 8,000 of these cars and now it seems they need to recall all of them though they don't call it a recall. They are just asking very nicely, for Chevy volt owners to bring their cars back because they need to be enhanced which is code for repaired or fixed. These dream cars of the future just have one little problem. I'm sure it's nothing too serious, the Chevy Volt has a tendency to catch on fire. Personally, that makes me want to throw cold water on the whole idea. Well the idea of an electric car hasn't caught fire with the public yet, but the car sure has!
Look, I don't want to sound too negative about the idea of an electric car. I'm positive the day of the electric car will come. I always try to keep up on current events both AC and DC in fact, a lot of folks may get quiet a charge out of this whole idea. I mean, I don't want to throw a wet blanket on the idea of an electric car especially this car. I mean, I don't want to short circuit this idea. Maybe it's just me, but I find the idea of an electric car bursting into flames just because I dared to drive it positively shocking! As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Wait a minute, there is something I for got to tell you. Chevy, or GM, has only produced around 8,000 of these cars and now it seems they need to recall all of them though they don't call it a recall. They are just asking very nicely, for Chevy volt owners to bring their cars back because they need to be enhanced which is code for repaired or fixed. These dream cars of the future just have one little problem. I'm sure it's nothing too serious, the Chevy Volt has a tendency to catch on fire. Personally, that makes me want to throw cold water on the whole idea. Well the idea of an electric car hasn't caught fire with the public yet, but the car sure has!
Look, I don't want to sound too negative about the idea of an electric car. I'm positive the day of the electric car will come. I always try to keep up on current events both AC and DC in fact, a lot of folks may get quiet a charge out of this whole idea. I mean, I don't want to throw a wet blanket on the idea of an electric car especially this car. I mean, I don't want to short circuit this idea. Maybe it's just me, but I find the idea of an electric car bursting into flames just because I dared to drive it positively shocking! As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Is America Still The Greatest Nation On Earth?
Not long ago, I overheard a father talking to his son. The son, asked the father this question.'Dad is America, still the greatest nation on Earth?' The father's reply made my blood almost run cold. The father thought a for a moment and then replied.'Son, I can not say, for sure anymore but, I know America used to be.' I thought for along time about what that father had said. I wondered why he answered his son's question with such doubt. Now, I think I may know the reason why the father had answered his question in that particular way.
Consider this, America is fifteen trillion dollars in debt and even now President Obama, is preparing to ask Congress to raise the nation's debt ceiling another one point six trillion dollars as soon as Congress returns from their holiday break and it's a pretty sure bet the debt ceiling is going to be raised. America, will then be sixteen point six trillion dollars in debt. America now has a debt to GDP ratio over 100 percent. America now borrows forty one cents of every dollar to finance the country's budget. The President, responds, to this budget crisis by cutting present military spending by 450 billion dollars over the next ten years. The President, makes this decision in spite of the all too real threat from Iran who at this moment may be only months or weeks from completely developing a nuclear weapon. Korea, may also restart their nuclear development program. Syria, is in total cooperation with Iran, who knows what that country may do. America's oil supply has recently been threatened by Iran. Greece Italy, Spain England and Ireland are on the brink of total economic collapse. The United States, credit rating has been downgraded and there are threats from the Moody's credit rating agency, to down grade the United States again. Manufacturing is way down and the US is forced to import more and more manufactured goods from other countries like China, Japan, and Germany. The nation's unemployment rate still stands at eight point five percent thirteen million people are still unemployed and another 170 thousand just stopped looking for work last month. The nation's Social Security and Medicare programs are bankrupt and are probably being financed by borrowing from China. Obama care, threatens to further strain the nation's economy beginning in 2014 unless it is struck down by the Supreme Court.Occupy protesters crowd the nations streets demanding America give them even more.I am totally convinced that President Obama is more concerned with his own reelection and looks to the needs of this country only when he thinks it will benefit his chances for reelection. This is the primary reason he pulled most of the American troops out of Iraq even as the violence in that county is beginning to escalate. Students in Japan and China have continually academically out preformed students in the United States particularly in the areas of reading math and Science for a large number of years now. America's public schools are controlled by secular teachers who belong to the all too powerful Teacher's union, as a result many of the nations public schools are an academic mess! Perhaps the worst of America's problems is the all too evident decline in the moral standards which once were the very foundation of this country. Each day it seems America, is becoming less and less of a nation under God, and more and more of a secular nation with no need for God.
Look, I love America, and she is still a good country, but I wonder if she can ever truly be great again. I pray that America will return to the God that once guided her and made her great. When America decides to return to the moral principals she was founded upon then, and only then will America, be on the path that will once again make America, the greatest nation on Earth. as always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Consider this, America is fifteen trillion dollars in debt and even now President Obama, is preparing to ask Congress to raise the nation's debt ceiling another one point six trillion dollars as soon as Congress returns from their holiday break and it's a pretty sure bet the debt ceiling is going to be raised. America, will then be sixteen point six trillion dollars in debt. America now has a debt to GDP ratio over 100 percent. America now borrows forty one cents of every dollar to finance the country's budget. The President, responds, to this budget crisis by cutting present military spending by 450 billion dollars over the next ten years. The President, makes this decision in spite of the all too real threat from Iran who at this moment may be only months or weeks from completely developing a nuclear weapon. Korea, may also restart their nuclear development program. Syria, is in total cooperation with Iran, who knows what that country may do. America's oil supply has recently been threatened by Iran. Greece Italy, Spain England and Ireland are on the brink of total economic collapse. The United States, credit rating has been downgraded and there are threats from the Moody's credit rating agency, to down grade the United States again. Manufacturing is way down and the US is forced to import more and more manufactured goods from other countries like China, Japan, and Germany. The nation's unemployment rate still stands at eight point five percent thirteen million people are still unemployed and another 170 thousand just stopped looking for work last month. The nation's Social Security and Medicare programs are bankrupt and are probably being financed by borrowing from China. Obama care, threatens to further strain the nation's economy beginning in 2014 unless it is struck down by the Supreme Court.Occupy protesters crowd the nations streets demanding America give them even more.I am totally convinced that President Obama is more concerned with his own reelection and looks to the needs of this country only when he thinks it will benefit his chances for reelection. This is the primary reason he pulled most of the American troops out of Iraq even as the violence in that county is beginning to escalate. Students in Japan and China have continually academically out preformed students in the United States particularly in the areas of reading math and Science for a large number of years now. America's public schools are controlled by secular teachers who belong to the all too powerful Teacher's union, as a result many of the nations public schools are an academic mess! Perhaps the worst of America's problems is the all too evident decline in the moral standards which once were the very foundation of this country. Each day it seems America, is becoming less and less of a nation under God, and more and more of a secular nation with no need for God.
Look, I love America, and she is still a good country, but I wonder if she can ever truly be great again. I pray that America will return to the God that once guided her and made her great. When America decides to return to the moral principals she was founded upon then, and only then will America, be on the path that will once again make America, the greatest nation on Earth. as always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Can You Ever Really Trust A Politician?
You know sometimes I am so tempted to say what's the use! As a citizen who really worries about America's future, I want to find a person who is truly conservative among the Republicans who has a real chance to beat President Obama, because I don't like the economic path the country is following right now. As important as this concern may be I have a greater concern that troubles me even more. What good is it to vote a politician into office when you discover all too often, they are just as underhanded as the person you just voted out of office?
Consider this Newt Gingrich says, he wants to run a totally positive campaign. I think it is certainly underhanded to have your voting record distorted just to gain political advantage. At the same time however, just to have any chance to win the Republican nomination, Speaker Gingrich, has almost no choice but to go negative against Mitt Romney. Keep in mind, whoever the Republican Presidential nominee turns out to be, he is going to need the political support of the very fellow candidates he is running against right now. thus when the race for the the Republican nomination is over then they will all act like the are all the best of friends.
Has winning in politics become so important that the method or tactics you use doesn't matter? Then, if you decide that this is the case it is no longer a mater of who is a better person among the Republicans or the Democrats just who is most effective politician. One is left to wonder can any one be a good and basically decent and moral person and a politician at the same time considering the nature of politics in America today? Sometimes, I think, it's not a matter of who is the best candidate between the two major parties, but rather, who is the lessor of two evils. Thus, I find I am still left to ask the question, can you ever really trust a politician? as always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just some words, to think on.
Consider this Newt Gingrich says, he wants to run a totally positive campaign. I think it is certainly underhanded to have your voting record distorted just to gain political advantage. At the same time however, just to have any chance to win the Republican nomination, Speaker Gingrich, has almost no choice but to go negative against Mitt Romney. Keep in mind, whoever the Republican Presidential nominee turns out to be, he is going to need the political support of the very fellow candidates he is running against right now. thus when the race for the the Republican nomination is over then they will all act like the are all the best of friends.
Has winning in politics become so important that the method or tactics you use doesn't matter? Then, if you decide that this is the case it is no longer a mater of who is a better person among the Republicans or the Democrats just who is most effective politician. One is left to wonder can any one be a good and basically decent and moral person and a politician at the same time considering the nature of politics in America today? Sometimes, I think, it's not a matter of who is the best candidate between the two major parties, but rather, who is the lessor of two evils. Thus, I find I am still left to ask the question, can you ever really trust a politician? as always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just some words, to think on.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
All In The Name Of Higher Learning?
I first went to college over thirty years ago. During my college days I took many interesting classes I excelled in most of my classes my major was History Education. I enjoy studying and researching all types of history.I have to admit to you however, I am deeply concerned with what passes as an acceptable college class these days. I was watching the news recently when I heard that Dr Hannah Appel, a professor at Columbia University, will now teach a class and upper class men and graduate students will obtain college credit for attending and taking an active roll in the Occupy Wall Street Movement. The class, is offered by the Anthropology Department of Columbia University.The course is called, Occupy the Field Global Finance Inequality Social Movement. Dr, Hannah Says, the purpose of the class is to have students take an active role in the Occupy Wall Street movement by attending protest events and work on out of class projects developed in close conversation with the instructor. Dr Hannah, has instructed the students not to break any laws while taking part in the protest.
I have to ask myself just what are the students expected to learn from this course? How to sleep in a public Park? How to disrupt various banks and other various business institutions? How to be an over all nuisance and a public menace to the already over worked and under payed city police department? Can you imagine what the homework would be like? Maybe the students could go interrupt a state election primary. Columbia University has always been a little out there and by the way President Obama, obtained a degree in Political Science from Columbia University in 1983. I'm sure the President will be all for this great learning experience. I suspect that the students who take this course, will learn just how unfair and how unequal our system of Capitalism is supposed to be, even though that system helped to make America, the most successful nation on earth. When I think about what is being taught in many of our colleges and universities, all I can say is I'm glad I was able to attend a private Christian University. as always my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
I have to ask myself just what are the students expected to learn from this course? How to sleep in a public Park? How to disrupt various banks and other various business institutions? How to be an over all nuisance and a public menace to the already over worked and under payed city police department? Can you imagine what the homework would be like? Maybe the students could go interrupt a state election primary. Columbia University has always been a little out there and by the way President Obama, obtained a degree in Political Science from Columbia University in 1983. I'm sure the President will be all for this great learning experience. I suspect that the students who take this course, will learn just how unfair and how unequal our system of Capitalism is supposed to be, even though that system helped to make America, the most successful nation on earth. When I think about what is being taught in many of our colleges and universities, all I can say is I'm glad I was able to attend a private Christian University. as always my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A Few Votes Can Make A Huge Difference.
Just like many of you, I see the news each day. Lately, all you hear about is the big vote coming up in the state of Iowa at the Iowa caucus. I realize, you can quickly get tired of hearing about this vote especially considering we have a lot of state primaries still to go through. Recently, I heard some one say,' So what's the big deal about voting? What difference does it really make? Well, let's see if we can take a look at some voting history in America and see if a few votes, or in one case just one vote made any real difference.
In the1960 Presidential election John F Kennedy, received 34,220,911 popular votes former Vice President Nixon, received 34,108,157 popular votes the popular vote was 49.7 for Kennedy, to 49.6 for former Vice President Nixon, . John F Kennedy, became President in 1960 by a mere 112,827 votes that is less than one half of one percentage point.While it is true that Kennedy, won the Electoral College vote 303 to 219, some have suggested that Nixon would have won the popular vote if just one person in each voting prescient would have changed their vote The 1960 Presidential election, was one of the closest elections in American history in fact, to find the next closest Presidential election, you would have to go back to the Presidential election of 1916. The Presidential election of 1960 clearly shows just what a major difference a few votes can make.
On February 24, 1868 President Andrew Johnson, was formerly impeached by the House of Representatives. but, on March 16, 1868 a straw poll was held in the Senate, and thanks to a radical Republican named Edmund G Ross, who vocally said, President Johnson, was not guilty of the crime of high crimes and misdemeanors President Andrew Johnson's impeachment trail came to an end, by one vote on May 26, 1868 the Senate vote for President Johnson's removal from office was 35 to 19 thus by one vote the Senate fell short of the two thirds vote needed for President Johnson's formal impeachment and removal from office.the Senate tried on two occasions to get Senator Edmund G Ross to change his vote but he would not so, President Andrew Johnson, avoided impeachment by a single vote sometimes even one vote can make a huge difference!
As you can clearly see, a few votes, and sometimes just a single vote, can really make a difference. Remember, many good men and women have fought and in many cases died to give you both the freedom and the right to vote, so when you get the chance go and vote you may be surprised at the difference just a few votes or even your one vote may make in American history. The only question then is, Will you vote? I hope you will vote, and thus, dare to make a difference. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
In the1960 Presidential election John F Kennedy, received 34,220,911 popular votes former Vice President Nixon, received 34,108,157 popular votes the popular vote was 49.7 for Kennedy, to 49.6 for former Vice President Nixon, . John F Kennedy, became President in 1960 by a mere 112,827 votes that is less than one half of one percentage point.While it is true that Kennedy, won the Electoral College vote 303 to 219, some have suggested that Nixon would have won the popular vote if just one person in each voting prescient would have changed their vote The 1960 Presidential election, was one of the closest elections in American history in fact, to find the next closest Presidential election, you would have to go back to the Presidential election of 1916. The Presidential election of 1960 clearly shows just what a major difference a few votes can make.
On February 24, 1868 President Andrew Johnson, was formerly impeached by the House of Representatives. but, on March 16, 1868 a straw poll was held in the Senate, and thanks to a radical Republican named Edmund G Ross, who vocally said, President Johnson, was not guilty of the crime of high crimes and misdemeanors President Andrew Johnson's impeachment trail came to an end, by one vote on May 26, 1868 the Senate vote for President Johnson's removal from office was 35 to 19 thus by one vote the Senate fell short of the two thirds vote needed for President Johnson's formal impeachment and removal from office.the Senate tried on two occasions to get Senator Edmund G Ross to change his vote but he would not so, President Andrew Johnson, avoided impeachment by a single vote sometimes even one vote can make a huge difference!
As you can clearly see, a few votes, and sometimes just a single vote, can really make a difference. Remember, many good men and women have fought and in many cases died to give you both the freedom and the right to vote, so when you get the chance go and vote you may be surprised at the difference just a few votes or even your one vote may make in American history. The only question then is, Will you vote? I hope you will vote, and thus, dare to make a difference. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just, some words, to think on.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Freedom Comes With A Certain Amount Of Responsibility.
Well, here we are with a new year. Many of you, made resolutions. I too have made a resolution. I resolve to appreciate as well as realize, the responsibility that comes with our freedom here in America. I would submit to you however, that freedom has certain limitations. I am disabled, I am free to stay up as late as I want, I have no work schedule to keep. I don't have the right however to stay up late and make so much noise that my wife can't sleep. I must remember to limit some of my personal freedom so that my wife can sleep. She needs her rest because she has to go to work therefore, if I choose to stay up late, I must also realize the responsibility I have to my wife to be as quiet as possible.
I have resolved to appreciate the freedom that comes from living in a free country even if I think our freedom here in America is often, abused. I will never understand why four teenagers in Charlotte North Carolina, can burn the American flag in the name of freedom of expression, while at the same time others who would fly the American flag to honor our troops who are fighting for us to preserve the freedom our flag stands for are not permitted to do so. Right now there is a bill purposed by Indiana Senator, Vaneta Becker that would fine some one 25.00 if they sing our national anthem in a mocking or disrespectful way. I think it has some merit we should respect our nations national anthem. I have to ask myself however, what's wrong with this picture on one hand, you are told to sing our national anthem with respect yet, you are free to burn our American flag as long as you burn it away from anything that might be flammable like a tent for example.
I have to tell you, the thought that a person has the right to burn the American flag, and that they are free to do so, as long as they are careful while they are doing it literally, makes my blood boil! When I think of the thousands of brave men and women who have fought and died for the freedom our flag represents and then some thoughtless careless person burns the American flag to make some kind of worthless social statement it is all I can do to contain my anger and disgust! Something else I find particularity disturbing, Did you know that even in America, you can be an active member of the Communist Party if you so choose you can also, join the Nazi Party if you want to all in the name of freedom, I would consider this an abuse of freedom, and an act of treason but that's just me. How can we as Americans say we value our freedom, if we forget the price so many have paid to provide the freedom we enjoy here in America. This is why I resolve to to never forget the price of freedom as well as the responsibility I have as an American, to use it wisely. As always my friends, these words remain, just, some words, to think on.
I have resolved to appreciate the freedom that comes from living in a free country even if I think our freedom here in America is often, abused. I will never understand why four teenagers in Charlotte North Carolina, can burn the American flag in the name of freedom of expression, while at the same time others who would fly the American flag to honor our troops who are fighting for us to preserve the freedom our flag stands for are not permitted to do so. Right now there is a bill purposed by Indiana Senator, Vaneta Becker that would fine some one 25.00 if they sing our national anthem in a mocking or disrespectful way. I think it has some merit we should respect our nations national anthem. I have to ask myself however, what's wrong with this picture on one hand, you are told to sing our national anthem with respect yet, you are free to burn our American flag as long as you burn it away from anything that might be flammable like a tent for example.
I have to tell you, the thought that a person has the right to burn the American flag, and that they are free to do so, as long as they are careful while they are doing it literally, makes my blood boil! When I think of the thousands of brave men and women who have fought and died for the freedom our flag represents and then some thoughtless careless person burns the American flag to make some kind of worthless social statement it is all I can do to contain my anger and disgust! Something else I find particularity disturbing, Did you know that even in America, you can be an active member of the Communist Party if you so choose you can also, join the Nazi Party if you want to all in the name of freedom, I would consider this an abuse of freedom, and an act of treason but that's just me. How can we as Americans say we value our freedom, if we forget the price so many have paid to provide the freedom we enjoy here in America. This is why I resolve to to never forget the price of freedom as well as the responsibility I have as an American, to use it wisely. As always my friends, these words remain, just, some words, to think on.
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