This week I found interesting relationships between seemingly unrelated events.
As Senator Bunning tried to make his case that now is the time to start cleaning up the debt crisis, he was pilloried by Republicans, Democrats, and the press for being heartless to the unemployed. It was during these discussions I came to the conclusion that [...]
Up until Senator Bunning’s actions our legislators seemed to be acting more like the parents of an addicted child. Parents initially hope they can buy their way out of their child’s problem. Eventually they realize the compassionate solution is tough love. I suspect that Senator Bunning’s actions reflect this thinking and that there is probably [...]
Posted in Politics on Feb 14th, 2010
In the NYPost.com editorial, What a real gov does, I think we are likely seeing a break through in the process of constructing a balanced budget. If the polling confirms his position of “no new taxes”, we will likely see major cuts in those school districts, cities, and states across the country “who kicked the [...]
Posted in Housing Issues, Politics on Feb 1st, 2010
I must give a hearty thanks to the Heritage Foundation for this article. I have been pursuing a better understanding of Fannie Mae subsidies ever since the Wall Street Journal published Katrina’s no-brainer idea that everyone should rally around the idea to tax the big banks to recoup the taxpayer-funded bailout. In an interesting twist [...]
Wow! I could almost vote Republican after this exchange between Congressman Burgess and Treasury Secretary Geithner before the Joint Economic Committee. Since I work for a small business I would say Congressman Burgess is just touching the surface of the fear running rampant through small business owners. Surviving the next six months is scary enough. [...]
Posted in Politics on Nov 3rd, 2009
Half of the 2009 stimulus spending is attributable to two programs: $32 billion for Medicaid, and $22 billion in payments for unemployment insurance. A one-time payment to Social Security beneficiaries added another $13 billion; spending for financial assistance to states (from the new State Stabilization Fund) added $12 billion; and other direct assistance to college [...]
Posted in Politics on Oct 17th, 2009
I work for a small business and we are reducing our inventory further in response to the continued drought in sales. Although we do not carry any debt, I doubt any small business would be willing to increase debt with such weak sales. Increased debt would increase the risk of bankruptcy if sales do not [...]
The best jokes about the IOC selection of Rio for the 2016 Olympic games over Chicago, Tokyo, and Madrid came from Rush Limbaugh. Frankly I think the IOC made the right decision. Brazil is a rising economic star and will likely be a great representative for South America. Rio is definitely a more exciting travel [...]
Posted in Healthcare, Politics on Sep 13th, 2009
Here’s what I think one of our “dis-respectful” elderly might say to Stevie about his post, An open letter to America, in which he says,
Dear Everyone,
Stop debating health care reform. You have no idea what you are talking about. …
Stephen, you need to calm down a bit. The sound you hear from these town hall meetings is just our legislators going through a California legislative moment. Our elderly are taking their Congressman and Congresswoman back to the wood shed for a little Bible study. Stephen, we are old but we are not senile. The TARP bill was supposed to stem the tide of foreclosures. It didn’t. The stimulus bill was supposed to stimulate the economy and stem the rate of unemployment. It didn’t. Now you are trying to ram a Health Care Reform bill through Congress and the bulk of the “savings” is going to come out of Medicare benefits for the elderly and you want us to believe that we won’t notice it! Which part of “Thou shall not lie” do you not understand?
Posted in Politics on Sep 6th, 2009
In this piece, The Death of the Middle Class?, Chris Larsen tries to make the argument that the middle class is over with this statement.
Unfortunately this middle class will not recover; the patient died.
For a person who got his first real job during the Carter administration I reject Chris’s reasoning on both a personal [...]
On this day, the Virginia Tech community reflects on the vibrant lives of the 32 students and faculty who were tragically taken from us a year ago. Through light, art, and music we pay tribute to each and every person we lost. We gather to honor our friends, colleagues, and family members. We will never forget.