Thank You W

Mr. President, George W. Bush - Thank You!

Guaranteed Annual Increase - Get Yours?

Congress is getting it's guaranteed annual salary increase of about 2.8 percent. This will raise the average Congressional salary to about $174,000. Since several Senators and Congressmen have been insisting that we are in the "worst financial crisis since the Great Depression", it's my opinion that they really don't deserve an increase and to quote the Vice President elect,

"...it's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."

I believe that we should adopt a Congressional compensation model that is indexed to the constituents of the respective elected representative. Take the average income of the State or Congressional District and then add some "thank you for your service" percentage like 10 percent. That would be a fair model that would appropriately compensate the Senator or Congressman as their respective constituents prospered or suffered.

##That's my opinion##

Will We Let Big Auto Fail?

No, we will not let big Auto fail.

It is actually not possible for us to let big Auto fail, because big Auto has already failed. We are not talking about avoiding a potential car crash. The car has already left the road and gone over the edge of the cliff. We are now talking about how the emergency services will respond.

So give me a break about how much money each of the big 3 require to continue working. HELLO - you've had decades to adjust your business model to the changing customer requests, gasoline prices, and environmental mandates. You are the ones that killed the electric car and refused to make enough vehicles that get better 22 miles to the gallon. You, the big 3 Auto, have charted your own course and made your own problem - deal with it.

Our capitalistic economy and legal framework allows for businesses to file for protection from creditors (chapter 11) and reorganize their business. This is exactly what the automobile makers should do rather than look to the American people to bail them out. It's rather ironic that since we, the consumers, chose not to buy American made cars, that we are now being forced to give them our money anyway. What level of crazy do you have to be to think that this makes any sense?

I currently work in a small family owned business which recently had to ask it's employees to work reduced hours in order to get through a tough financial time. Thankfully, the accounts receivable picked up and we are now back to full speed. Should this condition happen again, when will our company get it's tax payer funded bailout?

It is economic Darwinism. Big Auto has already failed and it's time to see what's next. You know, it's not absolutely necessary that there be any cars made in America. Thanks United Auto Workers Union - marvel at the creation you have made.

##That's my opinion##

President Elect Obama -- A fix for the economy

Both Lucid and I have blogged on this extensively Mr. Obama, and it cannot be foreign to you at all. It's called 'The Fair Tax".

If you are serious, and I mean really serious about putting America back on the right economic road and get us back on track check it out: Fairtax.org.

2.5 Million jobs? Easy with the Fair Tax
Economic Stimulus? Easy with the Fair Tax
Save Social Security? Easy with the Fair Tax

What are you waiting for? You told us you were about Change.

-End of Ramble

So much for "Change" Mr. Obama

There goes Change right down the drain.

Barak Obama is filling his Cabinet and other posts with Clinton Cronies...

I thought he was going to "Change" Washington?

-End of Ramble

The Great Melting Pot

Last night I had a wonderful discussion with a neighbor of mine who is from Puerto Rico. He is a layer who still practices in Puerto Rico but is looking to retire in the US. During that conversation we spoke about the great melting pot that WAS this country but how it has become more of a country where people are now offended when someone disagrees with them. What I miss most is the ability to have an opposing viewpoint, get into a difficult debate, and then go have a beer with that person... no hard feelings... and perhaps a compromise at the end of the debate. Now if I were to go and say that I disagree with somebody but they are from a religion, color, background, race that they can use against me they may say that it is because of their religion, color, background, race that I am arguing with them, or disagreeing with them.

I find that in my travels everyone is just trying to do the best they can for themselves and for their families. They are trying to do what is right according to what they know is 'right'. Everyone has different life experiences... which is what makes (or made) this country great, powerful, a place everyone wanted to live. Now we are no longer celebrating our differences, but continuing to maintain protected classes and groups. Idiocy.

How about this: Now that we have elected an 'African American' President (I prefer to say we elected an American) can we finally put a nail in the coffin of Affirmative Action? If an 'African American' can be President why give special treatment to any class of people? Is that not the highest office in the free world? Does that not show everyone that the American Dream is real?

-End of Ramble

Tolerance? Brave 8th Grader...

This is an amazing experiment by young Catherine Vogt. I will not plagiarize the article but I recommend reading it.

I find it interesting that 1) a 14 year old girl came up with this... she gives me hope for the world and 2) that the supporters of the candidate of "HOPE" and "Change" would be so rabid and hateful because of a T-Shirt.

Amazing and interesting at the same time.

My daughter is 15 and is in the Young Republicans club. They had a sign at her high school that correctly stated that Dr. Martin Luther King was a Republican and received many slurs for having such a sign. There could be many books written about discrimination and how it is not unique to skin color as a result of this past election.

-End of Ramble.