Monday, September 29, 2008

Oversight for the Bail Out

I'm really confused about this mess. First the Democrats don't want to do it because it's a White House idea, then the Republicans don't want to do it, because the Democrats have added some stipulations. Then it was supposed to be a bipartisan agreement and a go ahead with Oversight! I checked the meaning of oversight, as I thought it used to mean an omission resulting in error or a mistake from not paying attention. Turns out, that is only one of the meanings. The other meaning is management of a situation. Wow! Who knew? But with our government, I'm guessing we can get both meanings out of the same circumstances. I'm sure there are many bureaucratic departments in which the oversight is caused by oversight, or the oversight is implemented as a result of oversight. At this point, I'm guessing there are actual meetings and tax dollars spent to come to some sort of "agreement on the wording" of just such circumstances.
Now to get back to our legislature. I read a headline that said, the Bail Out Bill Failed. I don't really think I'm unhappy about that, but I don't understand what I read about it. It would seem, 60% of the democrats did vote for the bail out, but the republicans were offended by Nancy Pelosi's comments just prior to the vote, so they changed their vote . . . Please! Excuse me, representatives, this isn't about you, remember! It wasn't about any one's partisan feelings when the other side was dragging their feet. It was about helping America! So what gives? Just how long does anyone in Washington think we are buying this? We on Main Street have to be careful about what we buy and invest in or try to be, we don't have anyone to legislate our bail out. As a matter of fact, we are expected to finance this one, so quit trying to sell us your nonsense. I, for one, am not buying it. Although, considering the value of the dollar, I don't know why I'm still being so careful with my money. I think it's time that Washington got back within reach of the people. This plan of not listening to the people and implementing huge expenditures is exactly why we became a country of our own, to begin with. Remember? This plan this week-end amounted to nothing more than sending the tea tax to England and being told the next move from the throne.
Now, if anyone is really willing to sink America over partisan pandering or being offended, I'm guessing those are the ones that are not up for re-election next month.
If the bill was bad, take credit for voting against it. If the bill was good or well it can't be good, but if you were honestly going to vote for it, before Nancy said anything, Grow up and be a representative! This sounds like bickering on the playground in elementary school. Representatives, you are there to represent the best interest of the people that elected you. I really don't care who likes you and who you don't like, just do your job for which you are overpaid and overcompensated. When I first read the headline about the bill failing, I though some of your consciences finally got the best of you and you decided to work for the people that sent you, rather than be bought. But then I read the rest of the story and realized it was just petty politics, as usual.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Show Must Go On

Senator Obama,
I realize you feel the debate takes precedence to actually tending to the task of your present position, which is Senator. I know you have your sites set on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., but right now, your employment address is Capitol Hill and frankly, if you are going to call in "busy" and not even "present," I really don't think you should be drawing your Senator salary. Do you? You're not sick, and clearly you are absent more than you are "present." And oh, by the way, if you do end up with the Oval Office, when the red phone rings, "Present" will not be enough of an answer from our Commander in Chief. Which reminds me, I'd really like to know just a little more about what you really believe and where you really stand. I'm thinking that just might give me a clue as to where you intend to lead us. I'm not trying to get real personal, here, but you do seem to have a difficult time really saying what you mean and standing for specifics, and your wife. Let's just say, she seems aggressive, maybe frustrated. 'Nuff said there. Back to politics. I read briefly about your state Senate service. It seems, as soon as you were re-elected, you began running for another office, but that didn't work out, so you ran again for the state position, then you no sooner had it, you were setting your sites on national. I have to tell you. It really seems like a put on deal. I mean you were not much more famous than I was before the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Let's face facts, everybody can stir up scandal and most everybody has beaten Alan Keyes, who came in very late in the campaign to replace the guy ridden with scandal that was running against you. So your confident victory looks all but choreographed to me and I made that comment in '04 as you were introduced. Granted, G~D has given me the gift of discernment, so maybe everyone hasn't noticed this, but it is clear. You are where you are right now, and it is not simply from being in the right place at the right time with the right answer. I haven't heard any of your answers, but your wife says we all have to work, you are going to make us. Not to nag, but maybe you ought to see what you can do to calm her aggression or ease her frustration.
I am a Libertarian and to be honest I didn't intend to vote for either of you, but your comments regarding the debate and the urgent situation in Washington has certainly elevated John McCain, in my eyes. You should go to Washington for this major economic discussion and at least say "Present."
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Coming Attractions . . . but now Our Main Feature

It is so difficult to address just one issue, because so many are being thrown at us on a daily basis. Here I was planning to share my perspective on the latest news from Big Brother, a.k.a. Department of Homeland Security, and I will give just a portion. Here is the link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html
and here are just a few of the highlights.
It would seem that our DHS has now managed a way to read our thoughts and they are just darned proud of that fact.
Coming soon to an airport near you . . .
I quote from various paragraphs in the article.
MALINTENT, the brainchild of the cutting-edge Human Factors division in Homeland Security's directorate for Science and Technology, searches your body for non-verbal cues that predict whether you mean harm to your fellow passengers. . .
This whole security array — the scanners and screeners who make up the mobile lab — is called "Future Attribute Screening Technology" — or FAST — because it is designed to get passengers through security in two to four minutes, and often faster. . .
If you're rushed or stressed, you may send out signals of anxiety, but FAST isn't fooled. It's already good enough to tell the difference between a harried traveler and a terrorist. Even if you sweat heavily by nature, FAST won't mistake you for a baddie. . .
"If you focus on looking at the person, you don't have to worry about detecting the device itself," said Bob Burns, MALINTENT's project leader.
FAST may also incorporate biological, radiological and explosive detection, but for now the primary focus is on identifying and isolating potential human threats.
And because FAST is a mobile screening laboratory, it could be set up at entrances to stadiums, malls and in airports, making it ever more difficult for terrorists to live and work among us.
Burns noted his team's goal is to "restore a sense of freedom."

Now, that we have this to look forward to, let's address the topic at hand.

The BIG Bail-out!
I don't like to be negative and just say everyone is wrong, without a solution, so here is my idea for handling this huge mess on Wall Street.
First, we are not just going to throw money at it. I started to type "good money after bad" but no standard for our currency isn't "good money" to begin with. Clearly the taxpayers will have to rescue this mess, we always do, but this time, we need to explain. Our money, our rules.
First, everyone will sit down and offer one logical, reasonable change they are willing to make in representing and governing, then . . .
We will bail Wall Street out, but the CEOs are under investigation and either they leave with hat in hand and tail between their legs and NO severance pay for failed leadership or they face criminal fraud charges! That seems pretty simple.
Now, on to Washington. There will be no more blank checks. We taxpayers know we are paying for all this, now we want some evidence of getting what we're paying for.
For every politician that wants to be re-elected or cares at all about their constituents, here's what needs to happen. You know all the gifts and fringe benefits of being representatives and all the lovely gifts from the lobby. Here's the plan. Do their favors, do their bidding, but all the pay-offs come to "we the people." And you know, it just wouldn't hurt for all of Congress to spend one year living like local City Council members, on a modicum of expense vouchers and a complete account of expenditures, if you want reimbursement . . . no automatic salary or expense account. Just for a year, the year of the citizen. Remember, constituents are also called voters and November is just a little over a month away.
That's it! I'm declaring 2009, The Year of the Citizen. Michelle or Sarah, just hold on til 2010, it's our turn first. The Year of the Citizen will involve this. We are no longer leaving our future in the hands of elected officials. All citizens must make one change toward independence and remove themselves from one area of dependence upon their government. Everyone that has a window, needs a window box with something growing in it. Everyone with a yard needs some project in the works. Everyone with a garage needs some project in the making. We have to get back to being a people that are not afraid of a new frontier, or even better get back to a people that made the frontier a wonderful place to live. The handwriting is clearly on the wall. It's time to do something about it.
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver. . . In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote upon the wall of the king's palace . . . And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; G~d hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. a Prophet of Holy Scripture

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

What Lack of Experience for Washington?

I think the critics have underestimated Sarah Palin's readiness for Washington. She says she is prepared and ready to serve and I think her resume speaks for itself. Let's talk about her real experience in politics and ability to stand in leadership.
She already knows John McCain is counting on her and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her happy to keep the party rallied with those contributions and votes coming in. That seems like a simple example of "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine." Clearly preparedness for Capitol Hill.
The town in which she served as mayor, became deeply in debt through her leadership, but they got a great ice hockey rink. I don't even have to draw any parallels to Washington on this example. The girl is a shoo-in. She already thinks like someone with a great deal of power and somebody else's money. Say WASHINGTON!
Next is this famous or now infamous "Troopergate." Although she welcomed the investigation in July, she is now free to not cooperate, as it is now deemed "partisan politics," and her staff and First Dude are free to disregard subpoenas regarding this Troopergate situation. Sounds like she knows when to holler "partisan" and she truly is exhibiting her right as a politician to be above the rules the rest of us have to live under. Sounds like Washington material, to me!
Then there's the "Open Record" rule in Alaska, for official state business to be available to the public. So she runs some state business through a personal yahoo account. I don't know any of the facts, except, her personal account has been hacked and posted. According to investigators, the account contains official State business, so the hacker is now wanted by the FBI. She is SO ready for Washington.
Sarah Palin seems to be the kind of person that receives pity where others are judged, praised where others would be criticized, and applauded where others would be tarred and feathered. If that doesn't scream Washington republican, I don't know what does!
With all the politicians getting caught and resigning in shame the last couple of years. She sounds to me like just the gal to bring reform to Washington. She can go there and teach them how to get away with it, even when they get caught!
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. Ecclesiastes of Holy Scripture

Monday, September 22, 2008

My Two Cents Worth . . .

I realize I seem to be stuck on this banking, financial ruin this country is going through, but this morning the news is just "priceless." It hasn't been a month ago that our leader told us we are merely experiencing an economic slowdown, that didn't quite rally as they had hoped with the tax rebate plan. Now, I'm hearing the same old tired mantra from the White House, "if Congress doesn't hurry and act . . ." And oh, the whole world is watching. Well the whole world's been watching this complete farce for the last 7 1/2 years, and six of those years we had a republican Congress that was apparently just twiddling their thumbs or enjoying the wining and dining by corporate lobbyists. I really think our government saw this coming. I saw the real estate bubble ready to burst in 2005 and I'm just a small time minister/writer, hardly Wall Street or Washington material. In seven years, we've nearly doubled the national deficit and those of us that call attention to that fact are being labeled, unpatriotic. I think our government has done two things. I think they have weakened this entire nation and lost our credibility throughout the world. I can't blame all of this on the government. Even American religion has managed to self-sanctify greed.
This time, however; it would be nice if Congress stuck by their guns and didn't just bluster before handing the President another blank check! There is a fundamental flaw with this continual rhetoric of "not allowing these businesses to fail." The fact that the books don't balance and they've lost billions is failure. Even if they receive the billions upon billions over the 1/3 of the tax rebate they've already received, insolvency in banking is failure. Insurance companies that need a loan to keep operating, much less cover claims, is failure. And so our government has rewritten the rules for the last two investment banks. That's right, down to two. Now these two banks can receive deposits . . . Since banking is now a not for profit business, and receiving federal funding, will the deposits be tax deductible?
Our own government is taking us down and they want us to finance the conquest!
Even if the money gets printed and pumped into Wall Street, it's strength and power will not be restored and the government will have the assets held by the companies on Wall Street. If this present insane plan does pass Congress, it's lose/lose/lose for we the people. But hey, they're going to give us 4 shiny new pennies in '09!
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: New Testament

Friday, September 19, 2008

Dear Mr. President,

Why aren't you listening to the people? I'm not talking about the upper echelon corporates and suits around you, I'm talking about those people that are working every day or trying to, that you are supposed to be governing and more importantly protecting.
I answer questions regarding savings and budgeting. I even answer questions pertaining to self reliance and various rights afforded us here in the US of A. Let me share a basic foundational thought in dealing with budgeting and it applies to monetary sums ranging from 1st grade allowance to the national budget of a world superpower.
YOU CANNOT BORROW YOUR WAY OUT OF DEBT!
It's a simple, yet time honored fact. We are tired of hearing what is made to sound like the facts changing, depending upon the presentation. Some of us know better than that.
I'm sorry some of your friends mismanaged their businesses, but I don't want to bail them out. I don't understand why Wall Street, who is supposed to be handling the money for Main Street, needs to be funded and subsidized by many that can't afford housing on Main Street, much less to play the numbers on Wall Street.
This just isn't right and it doesn't set will. And it really looks bad that even more mess is happening on your watch. I realize your faithful few are still grasping at straws to blame the previous administration. Come on, you know you walked into much less mess in the Oval Office, than your successor will in '09.
You're not a grandpa yet, so you probably can't relate to what I'm about to say, but I'm going to share it anyway. I feel very strongly about leaving a heritage, not a debt. Our generation will not live long enough to even make a dent in the interest that is gathering on the debt you have led our nation into. It's bad enough my grandchildren will be paying for a war that was unprovoked and unnecessary, I hope my grandson is not called upon to fight in it. He's 6 right now, but he wasn't even a year old when you started this war. It's been over 5 years since you said Mission Accomplished, so we just don't know how long this mess will continue, do we? And no offense to all the seniors, but most of them have plenty of money and plenty of health care provided by your revision of MediCare, to live long enough to spend my generation's inheritance. That's fine, but I really do hate the fact that my hard working children are paying into a social security plan that is charted to be bankrupt the year I turn 60, much less for them to ever see any hope of return. Not only do you have family money to enjoy and inherit, you have a Presidential pension for life. Again, Mr. President, I implore of you to think about what you are doing. The more unbacked money you throw at a situation, the less America's assets are worth. And if the money you're throwing around is backed, it's borrowed. Please refer to the capitalized statement above.
I've been to Washington DC and New York City. I have to tell you, much of the rest of the country doesn't choose to live that way, therefore we don't care to finance it and subsidize it. And for those that would like to live extravagantly, they deserve the right to spend their money; I repeat, their money, no one else's.
This country is made up of strong hard working individuals. We've had some of the greatest inventors and entrepreneurs the world has seen in the last couple of centuries, and many of them didn't succeed the first time. We've had Presidents with failed business ventures, I'm sure you are aware, but many of them had nothing to fall back on and no one to bail them. They simply picked themsevles up, dusted themselves off and started again. It's what America plans to do in January of '09.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children . . . a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Up in Smoke?

I awoke to more financial woes and unfortunately the promise that our President was looking into this matter. This isn't going to be a lengthy blog going over all the particulars and political elitist's concerns. This is simple and straight to the point. We, average citizens, can't afford our own lives, much less to bail out multi-million and billion dollar corporations in which the CEOs and Board of Directors will maintain their current standard of living. There is no reason to try to keep Wall Street"business as usual" while the rest of us finance their rescue. I keep hearing the term bail out because we can't afford for a particular company to fail. If it needs bailing out or bankruptcy protection, it already has failed. Our President is promising money he doesn't have and his generation, which is also mine, will not live long enough to earn or repay the loan.
If the Federal Reserve truly has the money and they are the financier for the government, why don't they pay down some of the deficit, instead of covering poor decisions made by the greedy and the wealthy?
The "much needed" bail out yesterday was at the top of the news this morning. The government had to bail AIG because the entire world was affected. The entire world was watching what our government would do with AIG and now all eyes are on WA-MU, which I think sounds like something the GOP VP should be hunting next month.
This American administration has already pumped $50 billion into corporate America, with the tax rebate incentive earlier this year and financed Chase to consume Bear-Stearns. Now owns Freddie, Fannie, and the Federal Housing Administration. They've taken just as much real estate from home owners as the original settlers took from the Indians. I never allowed my children to use the "F" word, but I'm thinking Federal is the new "F" word of the 21st Century.
So, as the world watches for the sake of the global economy, I just can't help but think of the apocalyptic passage regarding the demise of the Harlot of Babylon in the Revelation. I think the whole world is watching as we go up in smoke!
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought . . . And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning . . . the Revelation

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

For a Mere 85 Billion . . .

Our present administration is now bailing out yet another over-extended, short-sighted, greed driven company. I'm still sorting out the facts as to why Fannie and Freddie were bailed when Bear Stearns was allowed to sink, and why AIG is being bailed right after the Lehman Brothers filed bankruptcy. . . and I am trying very hard to not use the term, anti-Semitic. So, I'll move right along here. For a mere 85billion dollars, our government has managed to obtain 79.9% of the assets of a company worth more than a trillion dollars. Wow! You talk about an investment, I'd almost call it a gamble! That got me thinking, however; as to why our government is so far in debt when it's raking in markers like this. The part I just don't understand is this next move to hold an auction for bonds.
So, our government, being what it is, is spending 85 billion dollars of taxpayer's hard earned money to own almost 80% of a trillion dollar company, and I still haven't seen where the taxpayers benefit, but . . . then the federal reserve prints bonds to sell, to restore the reserve, because our government has been bailing ailing corporations out in an "attempt" to save our economy . . . and the taxpayers are supposed to be supportive of this measure, even feel good about the economy. I think not!
If our government can spend 85 billion to hold the assets of a company that is worth over a trillion, why are we in debt? Why is there a deficit, at all? This seems like some pretty savvy business investments. Or does our government only invest in sinking ships that belong to old cronies?
Since our government has shut down loansharking and racketeering, our administration seems to have the exclusive to high interest rates and placing a rock on the assets.
This particular business maneuver seems a lot like walking into Wal-Mart and buying stock with Monopoly money and then telling the greeters and the cashiers, as well as the bakery crew that 80 cents on every dollar will need to be given to ME! What a plan!
YHVH shall open unto thee HIS good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in His season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. Torah of Holy Scripture

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

It's Only Money . . .

I remember hearing that saying as a child, but never at home. I awoke this morning to the announcer proclaiming more economic woes for some truly big money American entities. Monday, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection. This company is 158 years old and was one of Wall Street's giants. This company clearly survived the Civil War and the Great Depression, but was unable to hang on through what the present administration lightly refers to as an "economic slow down!" I don't care what euphemisms someone uses, the facts speak for themselves in this. Merrill Lynch, didn't quite make the century mark, but the 94 year old company sold itself to Bank of America. As a religious fanatic, I've been wondering what financial institution would represent America in the global economy that Bush 41 called the New World Order. I'm not going to prophesy here, as to the potential finality at this time, but Bank of America does seem fairly clear and concise. This morning it's AIG. AIG is hitting all sorts of issues with me for a variety of reasons. Insurance companies that collect premiums for years and then make bad investment decisions don't have enough accountability, but who will hold them accountable? Our government doesn't have enough accountability and our government can't handle money either. And it's one of those acronym names that just screams transparent elusiveness! A company that promises to take care of me from cradle to grave with insurance needs, investments and retirement, but needs a loan to the tune of billions, should be facing some sort of false advertising claims on top of facing some true accountability. I'm tired of these big companies either getting government assistance or hiding behind bankruptcy while the CEO retires with a portfolio worth millions. Why is that all right? Martha went to jail for a questionable stock sale when she owned the stock! What's wrong with this bigger picture?
The feds are going to provide stability by not changing the interest rate, but they may later. If it gets much lower, we're going to have to pay the banks to keep our money!
Of course, this is becoming great fodder for the presidential campaign. None of these candidates have any idea what the American public is going through. And I realize that is a quirk of American politics that's simply a fact of life. No average ordinary person is going to be on a national ticket, so the candidates simply convince those they can, that they are in touch with their concerns. Obama says the economy is a mess. Really? And we all know his solution will be more taxes, mandatory health care, and required volunteerism. Yeah! McCain on the other hand says the economy is fundamentally stable because it is based upon the American worker. The American worker is a dying breed, and dying faster than the social security collectors!
The economy is not stable because it's based on the perpetual motion of paper and that's all. The stocks on Wall Street aren't real businesses any more, they are simply paper changing hands. Mutual funds are an absolute joke by now, and were nothing more than living large before the Great Depression. It was the best way to "invest" without actually owning anything except a piece of paper from a company that kept the investments rotating to never lose money. Mutual funds hit an all time high just a few years before this mess began to spiral down.
Once again what we learn from history is that we don't learn from history.
My recommendation at this point for the economy is to become more ecological and agricultural. If we're going to have an economy based upon the perpetual motion of paper, then let's save some trees and keep the motion seasonal. That way, rather than years of disaster in the making and years more in the attempt to repair, we simply replant every spring!
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; Holy Scripture

Monday, September 15, 2008

I'm Thankful

I'm thankful that there were few fatalities when Ike roared in. I am sorry for the ones that did occur, but I'm truly thankful that there were few. That makes me thankful for answered prayer, as I know I prayed and I'm sure several others did, as well. I'm also thankful for people that are brave enough to tell their government they will "ride it out." After so many years of being told we are supposed to be afraid of everything seen and unseen, I was thankful to read about people that simply said, "If it's my time to go, I'm going and if it isn't, nothing will happen." I'm also very thankful that the weather that was falsely prophesied our direction didn't happen! I'm thankful that September is cool, and I'm thankful for the warnings that there may be an early winter. I'm thankful to still be able to write blogs with my opinion, openly. And I'm thankful for our new webpage for kids. I got in such a dither over Wild Blue, but they are only part of AT&T, so no point in dithering, just throw them some more money and realize two things. The Reagan years caused so much of this, but they are over, and I must be reaching more readers to require more bandwidth, so I'm thankful.
I'm thankful that Sarah Palin is running for VP, not that she has my vote, but I'm thankful for her little baby boy. When Sarah was first "tapped" to be VP, she said something about her husband and a leave of absence from his job to be Mr. Mom. Well, with all the photo ops for the campaign, little Trig is getting to have some quality bonding time with Mom.
And last but certainly not least, I'm thankful that our national elections are finally winding down and either Obama will actually be present for Senate votes or be replaced by someone that will attend. I'm also very thankful that our Presidential elections don't run like the gubernatorial races. In our state, we elect a Governor and a Lt. Governor, separately. I'd say the polls are pretty clear about what would be happening right now, if that were the case. We'd be looking at two clear landslides and bracing ourselves for President Obama and VP Palin. I'm thankful we won't have the two of them at the same time. I think those two on the same side could truly change America and bring reform, but I'm not sure we'd recognize anything when they were done. I'm not happy with a number of decisions being made in America, but I'm truly thankful to know, either way, by November, we'll only have one reformer that's going to run our lives.
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving . . . a Psalm of Holy Scripture

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Out of the Wild Blue . . .

If you are reading this blog, you are probably aware that I write nearly every day. I also host a webpage and I'm working on a couple of books. Imagine my dismay to discover that in trying to upload my webpage and download the latest virus protection, I exceeded my "bandwidth" and due to the Fair Share Policy or whatever it is, I found myself in cyber-exile. That's right, I'm 50, paying $50.00 a month in the middle of nowhere to be connected with the world wide web and Wild Blue grounded me from full privilege access. So, in the time I was grounded from full privilege, I of course ran my bandwidth up worse, ignorantly attempting to upload and download, until I had no choice except . . . Wild Blue has this interesting plan. The days overages roll over every day, so the overage today, automatically sets tomorrow up to be over, and if I stayed off the internet, within 30 days I'd be back down into my "acceptable usage" range, maybe sooner. Well, that didn't even set with me. I thought, well, I might as well just accept the fact I'm going to pay $50.00 for dial up speed and live with it. That's when I discovered, upon my umpteenth call to Wild Blue, that my overages were getting even higher, so here's what I could do. I could upgrade and in paying more, of course, I'd be allotted a greater amount of bandwidth, because we share and to be fair . . . So, then we began to discuss the various plans. My present one, of course, has gone up in price and my contract has ended, so that's good and bad. The good thing is, I'm not stuck paying if I change companies, the bad thing is, I can't go back to that price after I change plans. When I first called and heard that they were part of AT&T, I knew what I was probably in for, and I wasn't wrong. Now, with the first level of upgrade, I'd still be over my 70%, because even though I am supposed to pay 100% of my monthly bill and they advertise so much download and upload speed and space, I'm supposed to keep it under 80% . . . or else. So, in order to get out of cyber-exile, I would need to go to the most expensive plan. I'm sure we are all surprised about that offer, eh? I'm feeling like a big corporate executive or politician tonight though. Here I am back at it, living large and all I had to do was pay my way out of trouble!
The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Monday, September 08, 2008

The Government Has Our Fannie . . .

I was shocked and dismayed and altogether; resigned to the fact that our government has orchestrated the most unusual of rescues. Why, when the American dollar is nothing more than monopoly money, do we need to formalize the nonsense? I can answer that. Because the formalization of such nonsense changes the status of the Deeds. That's right, while the American dollar declines and the American currency is worthless, American real estate, although inflated still has value, and that is the issue. Money is worthless, but; once again, the land is desired. Freddie and Fannie, Mac and Mae . . . are being baled out, not the homeowners, but the fact is, the corporate bail out will reap a benefit. The benefit is the fact that the money being used for the bail out is virtually worthless and losing ground around the world, while the tangible asset being bailed, corporate stock and real estate, has a value on the global economic market! Ultimately in constituent language, that means, the government, once again at the expense of the taxpayers has bailed out the corporation, and in the process become the feudal lord! Does anyone see a double dealing, double speak, problem here? The federal reserve bank is saving us from the mortgage bank! While we are all concerned about our tax dollars used to bail Fannie and Freddie, or being told of the great rescue, the Warranty Deeds of American homes have fallen into the hands of the government!
. . . so the land became Pharaoh's. Torah of Holy Scripture

Thursday, September 04, 2008

On a Positive Note

I've been pretty negative as of late, because I'm just disappointed in what we've become. I'm cranky, because I, like so many Americans, have become aggressive about my views and blinded to any others. I think our political system is only as good as the people involved and if this is the best America can do, well then . . . I'm not happy about that. Now I have to sit back, after months of thinking the republicans were trying to throw this election and watching the democrats go from Hillary being a sure thing to Obama, and admit that I just don't have any idea what's coming next.
So I decided I would find something good in each of our national candidates and blog about that.
I think Joe Biden comes across very well. He's the same age as my brother-in-law and he just seems like everybody's favorite uncle. I know he's a career politician that really went through a horrible trauma losing a wife and a daughter in an accident and I'm glad he's not vying for the martyr vote. I think Obama needs his wisdom and experience. Joe Biden seems like the kind of man that would sit down to a horrible meal as a guest and then when asked behind the cook's back would graciously use euphemisms. He wouldn't lie, he'd just say crispy instead of burnt, or unusual instead of awful. He seems like a politician that uses words his listener would prefer, but he doesn't appear to flip-flop.
Barack Obama has been quite a deal! He has campaigned on the promise of running a positive campaign. That in itself is change; not the promise, but a positive campaign. I don't have TV, so I don't know how positive his ads have been, but I've read more about everyone else's negative stuff, than his, so if he's being negative it isn't even headlining at Fox. Absolute KUDOS when he said candidate's kids were off limits. I think, considering the fact the other party is parading all of her family's dirty laundry, shows remarkable self control on his part.
Sarah has totally reformed the connotation of barracuda. She makes that old slang term, indicating treacherous, sound like it should mean something good. She has thrilled the aggressive anti-choice base and is actually causing a few Obamaites to question his promised change. She's doing exactly what she's supposed to be doing as VP, but there was never any doubt that she wouldn't excel! She's smart, she's pretty, and she is the one republican woman that I've heard be so pro-war that is actually glad her son is going to Iraq. Most of the republican women are all about this Iraqi war, but when I ask them if they believe in it enough to want their sons or grandsons in it, they back up quickly. Not Sarah!
John McCain - Brilliant! Who is going to look at this ticket, now, and think of G.W.? Here I thought the republicans were trying to throw this election. And if they are, he's every bit the maverick they say he is, because this VP choice was the most brilliant strategy I've seen in American politics in my lifetime!
Seek good, and not evil . . . a Prophet of Holy Scripture

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Pro-Life or Anti-Choice?

Why is it? The people that are pro-life seem to refuse anyone any choices. It's like you cannot disagree with them about anything! I've not had positive commentary on Barack Obama, but I must take this opportunity to mention the fact that he said "Families of candidates are off limits. Children especially, are off limits!" Now, he's not saying anything and Sarah Palin just keeps using her kids for props and calling attention to Bristol's situation. So, the opponent isn't addressing the topic of her kids, but she's going to use them. Oh, well, they're her kids! I'm sure the conservative base will rally around what a great supportive mother she is. Wow! I remember when I was a teenager and my republican parents found out they were going to be grandparents! The republican party has come a long way, one might use the term; progressive! I had watched some women use babies and pregnancy to trap and control a man and I had no intentions of using a baby to trap some guy, so I was by definition, not doing the right thing. I've still not figured out, all these years later, how a shotgun wedding makes atonement for fornication. But then, in reading all the bio and seeing all the pictures, I can now see that some people can use a baby to influence and control, more than just a trapped man, and more than just her own baby! This pro-life candidate now seems to have two babies to work with to garner control, and still come across as a stoic, martyr. She is quite a woman. I see her kids in the pictures and I think of that little handicapped baby. If we saw a little baby being dragged around Wal-Mart at 10:00 at night, we'd comment about what's wrong with the mother's judgment, but this little guy can get dragged through the noisy crowd til almost midnight and that just makes her more beloved.
More in the life of Sarah, and we know just how pro she is on that topic. I read something today that the media is smearing her. You know, TV isn't doing any more against her than talk radio has done against Hillary and Obama. TV wasn't even nice to Hillary. As far as magazines . . . Sarah do your homework before you smile for the camera and give an interview. If the editor is a staunch democrat, what do you expect? Tell your loyal fans to quit sniveling. Do you think Obama would expect a great write up in an NRA magazine? The conservative religious right needs to remember G~D didn't separate life and choice, he put them together! My personal opinion is that Sarah Palin is very pro-life for Sarah Palin, and all those around her, have no choice.
therefore choose life, that both you and your children may live: Torah of Holy Scripture

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Balanced Insanity!

Well, the politics are getting interesting, or really I guess, entertaining; is a much better word. Unfortunately, it is real people involved and they are living real lives with no commercial breaks from their sponsors. I'm going to leave the children out of this because I just think the Palin kids have enough to deal with from their Pro-Life mom, who seems to sacrifice them when convenient and uses them as props for photo-ops. I'm going to address the things I've noticed on both tickets. First, let's consider the fact that when given a choice in the party, the country doesn't want either Biden or McCain. So we have two old political warhorses that nobody wants in the White House, if we have our "druthers." Next we have two relatively obscure newcomers, each bringing their own special tokenness to this political hoopti-la. If we look to the left, we will see that we have a freshman Senator that just happens to be a black man, that comes across as some sort of rockstar messiah, married to a very outspoken strong wife who happens to be quite connected in the corporate world, on leave of absence to campaign for her man. And now, if you'll move your view to the right, we find that we have a woman governor in the Yukon, that's been in local politics for nearly 20 years, with a son on his way to Iraq, a brand new baby, and a grandbaby on the way. And if that weren't enough, you talk about a strong woman, she hunts caribou. Her husband is supposed to be a union man, who is also on an extended leave of absence, to be Mr. Mom, so she can campaign for VP and maintain the highest executive office in the largest state in the union.
One of the great points in this balance of insanity seems to be the fact that most people who are discussing their choice of candidates have primarily based their decision, not on the best candidate, but against who they perceive to be the worst. So, the choice appears to be truly balanced. Rockstar-siah with Old guy or Old guy with Wonder woman . . .
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: a Proverb of Holy Scripture

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