Forever seeking Archimedean levers for prying the world in directions they prefer, progressives say they embrace high-speed rail for many reasons—to improve the climate, increase competitiveness, enhance national security, reduce congestion, and rationalize land use. The length of the list of reasons, and the flimsiness of each, points to this conclusion: the real reason for progressives’ passion for trains is their goal of diminishing Americans’ individualism in order to make them more amenable to collectivism.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
More Union Thugocracy
Union supporters disrupt GOP state senators' restaurant meal
The volatility surrounding the collective-bargaining debate spilled into the night Wednesday when police were called to a German Village restaurant after a group verbally accosted a gathering of Senate Republicans.
After the vote on Senate Bill 5, seven Republican senators, including President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, grabbed dinner at the Easy Street Cafe. As the lawmakers neared the end of their meal, a group of five to 10 union supporters angry about the passage of the bill hours before burst into the restaurant and began shouting.
The commotion eventually led to pushing and shoving with the restaurant staff and owner, before police arrived to calm the situation as a police helicopter hovered overhead. No senators were involved in the physical altercations, and no charges have been filed.
CNBC EXCERPTS: DR. ALAN GREENSPAN, FORMER FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN, ON CNBC'S "SQUAWK BOX" TODAY - CNBC
CNBC EXCERPTS: DR. ALAN GREENSPAN, FORMER FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN, ON CNBC'S "SQUAWK BOX" TODAY - CNBC
WHERE: CNBC'S "SQUAWK BOX"
About CNBC:
CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news, providing real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 340 million homes worldwide, including more than 95 million households in the United States and Canada. The network's Business Day programming (weekdays from 5:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and also includes reports from CNBC news bureaus worldwide. Additionally, CNBC viewers can manage their individual investment portfolios and gain additional in-depth information from on-air reports by accessing http://www.cnbc.com.
WHERE: CNBC'S "SQUAWK BOX"
Following are excerpts from the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with Former Federal Reserve Chairman Dr. Alan Greenspan today on CNBC's "Squawk Box." All references must be sourced to CNBC.
GREENSPAN ON OIL:
"One thing that economists have been bedeviled by over the years is that the correlation between oil prices on a global basis, and global economic activity is far more precise than any evidence we have that it should be, in short, as a leading indicator, global oil prices are a very useful statistic, the only problem is we don't know fully where all the channels are."
GREENSPAN ON MOMENTUM:
"My view is that when oil prices get up to this area and start to move up even higher, you do have to start to worry, but there is no question at this stage that the momentum of this economy, leaving out the oil price issue, leaving out the Euro problems that have emerged, and very specifically leaving out the budget problems, this economy is really beginning to pick up momentum."
GREENSPAN ON MOMENTUM:
"There is no question at this stage that the momentum of this economy, leaving out the oil price issue, leaving out the Euro problems that have emerged, and very specifically leaving out the budget problems, this economy is really beginning to pick up momentum."
GREENSPAN ON FORECAST:
"The fascinating issue for forecasters is how do you factor in all of the negatives because there are not sort of modest rises here, modest costs here, these are big stuff on both the debit and the credit side, and how its going to work is not all together clear-- but for the moment this economy is moving."
GREENSPAN ON CURRENCY:
"When you have two faulty currencies, and the euro and dollar are both faulty, but probably almost equally faulty, so that the exchange rate between the dollar and Euro is not really moving all that much."
"What the price of gold is saying, is that there elements within the marketplace that feel very uncomfortable with respect to what is going on generally, and its not an accident that you're finding that central banks are going in to buy gold and one of the reasons is gold is historically one of the rare media of exchange that doesn't require any collateral or backing, counter signatures, gold is universally acceptable as a means of payment."
GREENSPAN ON THE GOLD STANDARD:
"I'm not saying we can or should go back on the gold standard, that would be extremely difficult, and it would require such cast changes that this society has made no indication that it wants to do that, but I do think to get a sense of the stability of the system, watching the price of gold is not too bad."
GREENSPAN ON OIL PRICE:
"When we talk about the price that will hit us, keep an eye on brent and not on WTI, that has got technical problems."
"I am assuming, and this is an assumption, that the foreclosures will begin to slow down, they are beginning to slow down, but the problem that we've had is such a large proportion of sales are distressed sales, and clearly if you have a significant proportion in that category, the overall price level is going down."
GREENSPAN ON HOME PRICES:
"Ultimately what is the determinate, as far as I'm concerned, is basically whether or not the price, excluding distressed sales, is falling, because the other is a statistical problem, I'm not saying its not real, it is real, but it gives you a false signal, so I'm watching the less distressed sales, now I must admit those prices have edged down recently somewhat to my surprise. But not enough to create where I think the problem is."
GREENSPAN ON MORTGAGES:
"When subprime went underwater, they were very rapidly going into foreclosure because they couldn't basically live with it, but the vast majority of conventional conforming mortgages, even those which were underwater, are none the less capable of being financed by the people who live in the homes the proportion of conventional conforming homes that will be defaulted, is really very small."
GREENSPAN ON THE FED:
"At this point the Fed is in the position where it can contract its balance sheet very significantly and the issue is will they be able to do it in proper timing? They think they can."
GREENSPAN ON BERNANKE:
"These are judgments that you have to make, I know Bernanke very well, we worked together, Ben and I went over a number of crisises together, I know how he functions, I have considerable trust in his judgment."
GREENSPAN ON THE FUTURE:
"You're dealing with very difficult problems. The one thing we all pretend we can do but we can't, is forecast, the future out there isn't very bright."
"I look at whole series of mandates in Dodd/Frank and I think some of them are internally contradictory, and we're going to find out if that is indeed the case when the regulators start to implement."
GREENSPAN ON CONSEQUENCES:
"What we're going to find is that the unexpected consequences of much of the new regulation that's going to come as a result of Dodd/Frank is going to have to reversed, and that's going to create very high degrees of uncertainty."
GREENSPAN ON TOO BIG TO FAIL:
"The purpose of a financial system is to move the scarce savings of a society into physically productive assets, we in the United States have been very affective in doing that, poor savings but very high rates of return. You start moving some of that scarce savings to propping up companies, it does not go into effective uses, and the result is output per hour slows down and standards of living slow down. So too big to fail is critically an issue with respect to standards of living, you have to have failures, JOE (HAVE WE SOLVED IT?) no we have not."
GREENSPAN ON SAUDI OIL:
"Saudi Arabia is, look- its got three and a half million barrels of standby crude capacity, nobody else has standby capacity, so Saudi is a whole game."About CNBC:
CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news, providing real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 340 million homes worldwide, including more than 95 million households in the United States and Canada. The network's Business Day programming (weekdays from 5:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and also includes reports from CNBC news bureaus worldwide. Additionally, CNBC viewers can manage their individual investment portfolios and gain additional in-depth information from on-air reports by accessing http://www.cnbc.com.
Union Thug Get's Mean
Shouldn't there be a law against this? Wait, there is, it's called extortion.
The back of the T-shirt says, “He’s got nads.”
This Is What Thugocracy Looks Like–
Wisconsin school Two Rivers High School President Wes Glenna, who is also chairman of the technical education department at the high school, sent out a threatening email to a local business from his school’s email account. The business has been under attack by local leftists since the incident.
B&D Embroidery & Screen Printing in Two Rivers made the shirt for the student on request, said Bridget VanGinkel, owner of the business with her husband, David. The shirt says “Scott Walker My Hero!” on the front and “He’s Got Nads!” on the back.
On Feb. 24, VanGinkel said the business received what they perceived as a veiled threat of a boycott in an e-mail from Wes Glenna, president of the TREA and chairman of the technical education department at the high school.
Bridget VanGinkel forwarded to the Herald Times Reporter Glenna’s e-mail, sent from his school e-mail address after 10 p.m. It said:
“I was recently informed that you have plans to print pro-Walker shirts for some of the students in the Two Rivers School system. After checking out your website, I noticed that a great deal of your business comes from providing apparel to the Two Rivers, Manitowoc, and Mishicot school systems. I, really, don’t know what you’re thinking of.
“We, all, greatly appreciate the fact that you established your business in our community. However, have you taken the time to figure out how your recent decision could result in the loss of profits to your business?”
It was signed Wes Glenna, President, Two Rivers Education Association.
The store has been getting mostly negative phone calls and comments on Facebook since Glenna sent the e-mail, she said.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
The SLOW descent into economic oblivion
MANY people anticipated that 2011 would be such a wild year! Gerald Celente, Marc Faber, Alex Jones, Lindsey Williams, Mike Maloney, Robert Kiyosaki, Jim Sinclair, Peter Schiff, Tony Robbins, the team at Money and Markets, several of the guests at King World News and many more.
Most of them are being painted as “doom and gloomers” or “gold bugs”. They don’t care. They just keep going…warning everyone who will listen. These guys have been right for years, and their predictions on the future of the U.S. economy are not good.
People hear the message, but they don’t do anything proactive to change the course of their future. Why? Fear…fear of the unknown, fear of making the wrong choice, fear of being and appearing abnormal, fear of losing what little they have, and fear that it is too late to make a difference…just plain fear. They are frozen like a deer in the headlights.
The economy won’t come to a screeching halt overnight. This crash has been designed (yes, this has all been planned) to slowly implode one miserable step at a time. At least that gives some people time to PREPARE…those who are willing to heed the warnings. Unfortunately, few are listening.
Ten Minutes of this guy's word on this would be worth your while. Clowns running the show.
An Incompetent US government.
On a global scale, chaos is the result of commodity shortages and the cost of these commodities.
(1) The US government has increased the demand for commodities by giving most US middle class wealth to emerging nations such as China.
(2) The US government has increased the cost of commodities by irresponsible fiscal and monetary policy resulting in debt and money supply expansion.
(3) The Federal Reserve has increased the cost of commodities by giving free money to Wall Street for commodity speculation.
Washington is solving our energy problem by giving our energy reserves to foreign investors / nations. Here are a few examples:
(1) BHP Billiton makes $4.75 billion push into U.S. shale gas.
(2) Connoco Buys Chesapeake US Shale Oil, Gas Assets For $570 Million.
(3) India Plans to Sign U.S. Shale Gas Accord During Obama Visit.
The Middle East has erupted in chaos because the US government screwed up the balance of power between Shia and Sunni Muslims by invading Iraq.
All of this craziness that we are seeing in 2011 is not just a big coincidence. It is the result of an incompetent US government.
Gloomy Thursday
I don't know why, but it seems gloomier than usual. Nothing spiritual. Just cold, dank, dark and I'm feeling sort of useless today.
Not good.
Seems like the world is out of kilter somehow.
Maybe it is:
The earth's magnetic field is shifting and the axis has changed in the last year (a bit)
I felt the earth move under my feet and sky tumbling down...I didn't like it.
Not good.
Seems like the world is out of kilter somehow.
Maybe it is:
The earth's magnetic field is shifting and the axis has changed in the last year (a bit)
I felt the earth move under my feet and sky tumbling down...I didn't like it.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Could this be true?
Muslims are now calling for the removal of the Statue of Liberty
Tuesday, March 01, 2011 12:00Muslims are now calling for the removal
of the Statue of Liberty
In Islam, the public veneration of idols and statues is strictly prohibited. This has forced sincere Muslims to develop realistic plans that will aid in the removal of the Statue of Liberty.
Due to the scale of the task at hand, it is highly likely that rigorous safety checks will need to be employed before the demolition of the Statue of Liberty can commence
The Islamic Demolition of the Statue of Liberty
Muslims are now calling for the removal
of the Statue of Liberty stating it is offensive to them for what it stands for.
This, below is taking right off their webpage for you to read for yourself
We Here at Patriot Freedom are pissed off at the arrogance and mental mindset of these muslim "doctrines" and un-constitutional Sharia Law GO HERE FOR LINK TO THE SITE AND READ IT FOR YORSELVES
A parade of the ignorant and uninformed Union Supporters in Madison
They’re just blindly following their leaders. You don’t believe me? Watch this video taken on Feb. 26, 2011 at the Wisconsin capitol where union thugs and drones have been out in force for weeks (getting fake doctor’s excuses) against Gov. Scott Walkers efforts to bring fiscal responsibility to the state.
Many of these people don’t have the foggiest idea what’s going on, and if they do have a foggy idea, it’s usually incorrect–guided by Leftist propaganda bereft of facts. (Keep in mind that some of these people are teachers, too–teaching the next generation of Americans)
Many of these people don’t have the foggiest idea what’s going on, and if they do have a foggy idea, it’s usually incorrect–guided by Leftist propaganda bereft of facts. (Keep in mind that some of these people are teachers, too–teaching the next generation of Americans)
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a Boss From HELL...for sure
Capitol Hill is famous for its demanding, insensitive bosses. Yet even by the harsh standards of Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee stands out. She may be the worst boss in Washington. “It’s like being an Iraq War veteran,” says someone who worked for her. Strangers may say, “‘oh I know what you’ve been through.’ No, you really don’t. Because until you’ve experienced it…. People don’t tell the worst of the stories, because they’re really unbelievable.”
For some, a job in Jackson Lee’s office proved not just emotionally but physically perilous. One staffer recalls a frank conversation with his doctor, who told him he needed to quit. “It’s your life or your job,” the doctor told him, warning that the stress and long hours were wreaking havoc on his body.
Only a few on staff fought back. One of Jackson Lee’s drivers became so frustrated with her abuse the person pulled the car over and demand she stop: “She’s screaming and swearing. ‘M.F.’ everything. Finally I slammed on the brakes and told her to get the hell out of my car. I’m like ‘I can’t drive with you like this. Either get out, or you can calm down.’ And she’s like ‘you need to go or get fired.’ I’m like, ‘that’s fine. But I’m either leaving without you or you can calm down,’” the staffer said.
Jackson Lee then threatened to call the police and claim she was being held hostage in the car. But she finally did calm down when the staffer called her bluff, offering to flag down a Capitol Police officer to explain the situation.
Former aide Michael McQueery said his experience with other “difficult” bosses on the Hill prepared him for how to handle Jackson Lee. “I’ve worked for two other members. They did the same thing,” he said.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
This is ominous
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says state police must release the name of everyone in the state who is authorized to own a gun.
Atty. general: Illinois should release FOID card list - chicagotribune.com
State police determine who gets a Firearm Owners Identification card, which allows people to own guns. The police have always kept the list private.
But Madigan's public access counselor released a letter Monday night saying the information should be public.
The Associated Press had requested the list of FOID cardholders but state police said that would violate the privacy of gun owners. The attorney general's office ruled that argument invalid.
State police officials have not said whether they will comply with the ruling.
There are Republican-sponsored bills in the Illinois House and Senate that would prohibit disclosure of the information.
Atty. general: Illinois should release FOID card list - chicagotribune.com
Funny take on the fugitives from Wisconsin
From an Undisclosed Motel 6 in Illinois
The whole thing is hilarious.
The people, united, will never be defeated — especially with a little Skyline chili and sturgeon for breakfast.
You’re probably wondering why I’m writing this from an undisclosed location (full disclosure: I’m in South Beloit, Ill.). The answer is, I’m showing my solidarity with the heroic proletarian working-class stiffs and Joe Six-Packs who make up the Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio lamister-legislator delegations, now appearing on milk cartons across the nation as your various state Gestapo goon organizations try to hunt them down. And all for the simple “crime” of answering to a higher moral authority....................
How did we do this to ourselves?
A Proper Indictment of the Union Organizer in Chief...Barack Obama
During the last presidential election, we saw the most widespread adolescent display in American history. Throngs of wild-eyed fawners and fainters joined hands and chanted, “Yes we can march off this cliff,” as though there were no tomorrow. Formerly presumed intelligent media elites were reduced to a teenage-swoon mentality the minute Barack Obama entered their midst. A man with a postage-stamp sized resume held a majority of modern Americans enthralled with nothing more than teleprompted oratory, giddy-girl-crush syndrome, yellow-brick-road finance wizardry, and Jack-and-the-Beanstalk promises. And the whole Obama bag of fibs and tricks depended on that fantastical pot of gold over the rainbow actually being there.
Has ever such a nation of ninnies held such a public display of foolishness?
On the other hand, there is rarely a situation so dire that it doesn’t possess at least some semblance of a silver lining. For one thing, disastrous errors in presidential elections - thanks to that pesky old document, the U.S. Constitution - only last four years. It is very, very difficult for even the most ill-prepared, anti-American president to destroy the United States in such short order. (Remember Jimmy Carter.)
Secondly, the election of the “lightworker” has helped even the ninnies living for decades under union-held rocks in the rust belt understand our budget realities.
Now that Obama’s Clintonian triangulation has lasted for a nanosecond, the real adolescent Barack has once again emerged in full public view. Following a back-against-the-wall compromise on tax rates and a somewhat-presidential speech in Tucson, our out-of-control teen in the White House produced another dream-scheme budget and tried to pass it off as “investments” for “winning the future.”
Why does Islam Succeed?
If you ever wondered why Islam seems to prosper, this is a fair appraisal of it.
IF YOU WANTED to deliberately design a collection of ideas with the purpose of making one that might eventually out-compete every other religion or political system on earth, you would be hard-pressed to do better than Islam.
IF YOU WANTED to deliberately design a collection of ideas with the purpose of making one that might eventually out-compete every other religion or political system on earth, you would be hard-pressed to do better than Islam.
Signs of the End
Yesterday was the beginning of the end of an occasional conversation with a friend of mine. She's on again off again. I guess discourse is hard.
The final straw was signs.
In Madison.
It's a mess. I have seen the signs at Tea Party rallies. They are orderly and decent.
I'll let you decide if the ones from Madison are. They are here. Take a look.
The final straw was signs.
In Madison.
It's a mess. I have seen the signs at Tea Party rallies. They are orderly and decent.
I'll let you decide if the ones from Madison are. They are here. Take a look.
Monday, February 28, 2011
It's about time
Texas group launches scholarship for white men ONLY... because they 'need an equal shot'
A non-profit group has launched a college scholarship for a demographic it claims are under-represented in society - white men.
The Former Majority Association for Equality will give grants of $500 to any man from Texas who is at least ‘25 per cent Caucasian’, has good grades and can demonstrate they are in need.
Its founder Colby Bohannan claims whites feel ‘excluded’ when they apply to college and that they are ‘left out’ when it comes to funding.
Pat Moynihan foretold union crisis
Pat Moynihan foretold union crisis--Bob McManus - NYPOST.com
The absolutely guaranteed end of the world dates through history to today
2011 AD—On May 21st, the rapture will occur at the end of the 8400-day great tribulation. NO ONE will become saved from eternal damnation after Friday, May 21, 2011.
Read all about it HERE
Read all about it HERE
Liberals Love Trains
Why is America’s “win the future” administration so fixated on railroads, a technology that was the future two centuries ago? Because progressivism’s aim is the modification of (other people’s) behavior.
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/27/high-speed-to-insolvency.html
To progressives, the best thing about railroads is that people riding them are not in automobiles, which are subversive of the deference on which progressivism depends. Automobiles go hither and yon, wherever and whenever the driver desires, without timetables. Automobiles encourage people to think they—unsupervised, untutored, and unscripted—are masters of their fates. The automobile encourages people in delusions of adequacy, which make them resistant to government by experts who know what choices people should make.
Time was, the progressive cry was “Workers of the world unite!” or “Power to the people!” Now it is less resonant: “All aboard!”
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/27/high-speed-to-insolvency.html
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Outrage over Late Term Child Abuse
IF parents don't encourage children to leave the nest for any reason (other than mental illness or limitation, Physical or Mental) after the age of 20. it is a form of child abuse.
I see so many young men living at home off their parents into their 20's, 30's even 4o's. These boys are crippled for life at the hand of incompetent parents. When the parents die or become infirmed the man-child is lost and will die young. Abused.
IF you know of a parent with such a man child in their "Possession" do the boy and his parents a big favor and tell them. Insist. Become irritating. Raise a stink equal to what you would if this were sexual or physical abuse. It's pretty close to the same. This is a silent abuse epidemic. People don't want to hurt parents feelings so they say nothing. The boy thinks doing nothing and hanging out for free with mom and dad is harmless.
I am angry about this. It's personal. We have just such a mess in our own family. (no Steve, not you). The boy in question is crippled...not physically, not mentally, emotionally by an overprotective MOTHER who has never allowed this Man Child to make a decision on his own. He is ruined unless he gets out right now.
What's it to me? Why does it upset me? Because I have seen the net result of this. I have a single dad with two leeches in their 40s living at home doing nothing leaching off him, abusive playing video games all day long. I have said everything I can short of sending the police. If I find they are physically abusing him (I have my concerns) I will dial 9-11. When he dies these toads will be a drag on society or worse criminals.
The Bible says, Train up a Child in the Way he should GO>>>> GO is the operative word here. With kudos to Pastor Phil on this. He preached a great sermon today. A parents primary responsibility is to train up children who will be successful as adults. Many pagans do it better than many Christians. Then when your training up is over at about 18-20 yrs old, out the door.
Here's the truth of the matter, your child at 20 is about as ready as he or she will ever be to live on their own. They will be bad at it, make lots of mistakes, have some bad experiences, get ripped off. but they will find a way to live and survive and eventually prosper if you let them. They may make serious mistakes and you will get a phone call at 3AM from far away. Your answer Mom or Dad is to say, "wow, what are YOU GOING TO DO TO GET OUT OF THIS". Don't bail them out. Let them become successful at solving problems.
It's cruelty to keep these caged birds that should be flying free. IF you did it with a wild animal you would go to jail.
Let them go. At 20 years old a bus ticket and a suitcase should be your best gift.
Girls are a little different. 25 and sayonara.
What do you think will change after 20 (or 25) that hasn't already?
Some things are best learned on the anvil of experience. Give em a hammer and turn them loose.
You will be doing your child an eternal favor.
I see so many young men living at home off their parents into their 20's, 30's even 4o's. These boys are crippled for life at the hand of incompetent parents. When the parents die or become infirmed the man-child is lost and will die young. Abused.
IF you know of a parent with such a man child in their "Possession" do the boy and his parents a big favor and tell them. Insist. Become irritating. Raise a stink equal to what you would if this were sexual or physical abuse. It's pretty close to the same. This is a silent abuse epidemic. People don't want to hurt parents feelings so they say nothing. The boy thinks doing nothing and hanging out for free with mom and dad is harmless.
I am angry about this. It's personal. We have just such a mess in our own family. (no Steve, not you). The boy in question is crippled...not physically, not mentally, emotionally by an overprotective MOTHER who has never allowed this Man Child to make a decision on his own. He is ruined unless he gets out right now.
What's it to me? Why does it upset me? Because I have seen the net result of this. I have a single dad with two leeches in their 40s living at home doing nothing leaching off him, abusive playing video games all day long. I have said everything I can short of sending the police. If I find they are physically abusing him (I have my concerns) I will dial 9-11. When he dies these toads will be a drag on society or worse criminals.
The Bible says, Train up a Child in the Way he should GO>>>> GO is the operative word here. With kudos to Pastor Phil on this. He preached a great sermon today. A parents primary responsibility is to train up children who will be successful as adults. Many pagans do it better than many Christians. Then when your training up is over at about 18-20 yrs old, out the door.
Here's the truth of the matter, your child at 20 is about as ready as he or she will ever be to live on their own. They will be bad at it, make lots of mistakes, have some bad experiences, get ripped off. but they will find a way to live and survive and eventually prosper if you let them. They may make serious mistakes and you will get a phone call at 3AM from far away. Your answer Mom or Dad is to say, "wow, what are YOU GOING TO DO TO GET OUT OF THIS". Don't bail them out. Let them become successful at solving problems.
It's cruelty to keep these caged birds that should be flying free. IF you did it with a wild animal you would go to jail.
Let them go. At 20 years old a bus ticket and a suitcase should be your best gift.
Girls are a little different. 25 and sayonara.
What do you think will change after 20 (or 25) that hasn't already?
Some things are best learned on the anvil of experience. Give em a hammer and turn them loose.
You will be doing your child an eternal favor.
10 Ways Rising Oil Prices Will Endanger the U.S. Recovery
These 10 factors are mutually exclusive. Indeed, many are complementary. It's not likely we would see consumer sentiment fall without the residential real estate market taking a hit, for example. That's why prolonged high oil prices are so dangerous -- they could create a domino effect that would poison many different aspects of the U.S. economy.
BONO on FAITH
IF you ever wondered about the depth of Bono's faith, I think you will find this interesting and even inspiring. Worth the read.
http://www.thepoachedegg.net/the-poached-egg/2010/09/bono-interview-grace-over-karma.html
http://www.thepoachedegg.net/the-poached-egg/2010/09/bono-interview-grace-over-karma.html
Life without Our Wise Overlords - Thomas E. Woods, Jr. - Mises Daily
Here is the fiscal crisis Americans are facing. It will force us to make wrenching changes. The situation, though, is an opportune moment to go back and reexamine the myths by which we were sold the ongoing expansion of government in the first place. I announce at this point that I intend to describe the crisis as an opportunity to be seized, not a calamity to be deplored.
Life without Our Wise Overlords - Thomas E. Woods, Jr. - Mises Daily
What the book is saying, in short, is this: given the collapse that is staring us in the face, we can't afford to think about government like sixth graders anymore, even if we should want to. And what we were taught in sixth grade about our allegedly selfless and indispensable political class was a pack of lies anyway. It is not the case that without the political class (1) we'd have no art or science, (2) our limbs would be blown off by exploding consumer products, and (3) we'd all be working in a mine for a dollar a day.
The book then proceeds to one of its least controversial claims: the policies of Barack Obama have been a disaster. I probably don't need to elaborate on this here.
Life without Our Wise Overlords - Thomas E. Woods, Jr. - Mises Daily
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Dorm Room Speculations
I should be drunk to have this kind of conversation. Isn't that what we used to do in the dorm room years ago? Ponder our navel and ask "why is there air?". The question on the table is this, right next too the Budweiser. IS truth something we learn by observation and thru our own logic or is it what has been recorded as empirical absolute truth by the ages. Is there absolute truth and if there is, what does that mean for you or me?
Not all "Truth" gained by observation and logic is truth. It is fully dependent upon the observer and the quality of the logician. I won't insult anyone but there are a lot of things accepted as true and logical in the last many years that are simply not so. Flat earth. Sun revolves around the earth. Blacks are inferior to whites. Women are just like men only with vaginas (viva la difference). Men cause climate change. Keynes.
All logic and observation without truth.
Faith can have it's flaws and error as well. Jim Jones. Astrology. Islam.
The object of your faith must have truth as it's basis. That truth may NOT always allow for logic. Yet, anyone that doesn't believe in miracles isn't being logical.
We all carry in our supposed logic and observation a measure of faith. Even Lie to Me (which I enjoy as a TV show) requires that the participant and practitioner of the capacity for observation have faith in the truth of the facial reads. Many do NOT (if you watch the show). Those who are inside the institute and understand the "truth" of facial reads have great faith. They see it as logic borne of observation. Truth.
When our faith is based in our observation and logic we have faith in the faith in and of ourselves, in our ability, in our reason, in our capacity to see better than others can see. In that way faith in observation and logic must have at it's core a certain arrogance. The empiricism of that faith must be flawed because of that limitation.
I agree with Martin Luther that "Logic is the enemy of Faith". It's not that I doubt the value of Logic and Observation, it's that I must have a plumline of truth, and faith in those truths, to measure myself against or it leads to people into: ""one logical extension of denial of absolute truth is reduction to "might makes right" with it's corollary "the winner writes the history"".
It was logical for Pol Pot to murder millions. It's logical for Ghadaffi (however it's spelled today) to murder thousands in the streets of Libya.
The plum-line of empirical truth is most often clouded by human observation and logic.
Not all "Truth" gained by observation and logic is truth. It is fully dependent upon the observer and the quality of the logician. I won't insult anyone but there are a lot of things accepted as true and logical in the last many years that are simply not so. Flat earth. Sun revolves around the earth. Blacks are inferior to whites. Women are just like men only with vaginas (viva la difference). Men cause climate change. Keynes.
All logic and observation without truth.
Faith can have it's flaws and error as well. Jim Jones. Astrology. Islam.
The object of your faith must have truth as it's basis. That truth may NOT always allow for logic. Yet, anyone that doesn't believe in miracles isn't being logical.
We all carry in our supposed logic and observation a measure of faith. Even Lie to Me (which I enjoy as a TV show) requires that the participant and practitioner of the capacity for observation have faith in the truth of the facial reads. Many do NOT (if you watch the show). Those who are inside the institute and understand the "truth" of facial reads have great faith. They see it as logic borne of observation. Truth.
When our faith is based in our observation and logic we have faith in the faith in and of ourselves, in our ability, in our reason, in our capacity to see better than others can see. In that way faith in observation and logic must have at it's core a certain arrogance. The empiricism of that faith must be flawed because of that limitation.
I agree with Martin Luther that "Logic is the enemy of Faith". It's not that I doubt the value of Logic and Observation, it's that I must have a plumline of truth, and faith in those truths, to measure myself against or it leads to people into: ""one logical extension of denial of absolute truth is reduction to "might makes right" with it's corollary "the winner writes the history"".
It was logical for Pol Pot to murder millions. It's logical for Ghadaffi (however it's spelled today) to murder thousands in the streets of Libya.
The plum-line of empirical truth is most often clouded by human observation and logic.
I need a beer
“The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.” Churchill
“The search for truth is more precious than its possession.” Einstein
“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” Galileo
Seeking truth is the essence of all existence and in eternity is revealed at it's essence. Redlin
OUR Nation is in peril
The confrontation at the Wisconsin State Capital building MUST now end with the Demonstrators going home totally defeated. IF they prevail in any way, our nation is in peril. Petulant riots like this are the end of a republic if they succeed. This has nothing to do with oppression or evil intent like in Egypt or Libya. This has to do with mob rule and intimidation. Stand Strong Gov Walker.
Death or Deliverance...Charlie it's your choice
This is what Drug Addiction and Alcoholism looks like at the end. I hope Sheen makes it, but many do not. He is classic in his denial and arrogance.
Death or deliverance are the only two ways out of this.
Death or deliverance are the only two ways out of this.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Public Unions have been a Fifty Year Mistake
Public unions have been a 50-year mistake.
Government workers were making good salaries in 1962 when President Kennedy lifted, by executive order (so much for democracy), the federal ban on government unions. Civil service regulations and similar laws had guaranteed good working conditions for generations.
The argument for public unionization wasn't moral, economic or intellectual. It was rankly political.
Private sector unions fight with management over an equitable distribution of profits. Government unions negotiate with politicians over taxpayer money, putting the public interest at odds with union interests and, as we've seen in states such as California and Wisconsin, exploding the cost of government.
FDR believed that "the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service," and why even George Meany, the first head of the AFL-CIO, held that it was "impossible to bargain collectively with the government."
As it turns out, it's not impossible; it's just terribly unwise. It creates a dysfunctional system where for some, growing government becomes its own reward.
The unions and the protesters in Wisconsin see Walker's reforms as a potential death knell for government unions. My response? If only.
Government workers were making good salaries in 1962 when President Kennedy lifted, by executive order (so much for democracy), the federal ban on government unions. Civil service regulations and similar laws had guaranteed good working conditions for generations.
The argument for public unionization wasn't moral, economic or intellectual. It was rankly political.
Private sector unions fight with management over an equitable distribution of profits. Government unions negotiate with politicians over taxpayer money, putting the public interest at odds with union interests and, as we've seen in states such as California and Wisconsin, exploding the cost of government.
FDR believed that "the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service," and why even George Meany, the first head of the AFL-CIO, held that it was "impossible to bargain collectively with the government."
As it turns out, it's not impossible; it's just terribly unwise. It creates a dysfunctional system where for some, growing government becomes its own reward.
The unions and the protesters in Wisconsin see Walker's reforms as a potential death knell for government unions. My response? If only.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The News Hounds that didn’t bark
Gregory "Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
Holmes: "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
Gregory: "The dog did nothing in the night-time."
Holmes: "That was the curious incident."
Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Gregory in Silverblaze by Arthur Conan Doyle 1892
Last month after the shootings in Arizona where several people were murdered and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was severely injured there was a lot of talk about civility in politics. Members of congress, the president and news organization both print and visual bemoaned the lack of civil discourse and attempted (and still attempt despite established facts) to blame the Tea Parties and Sarah Palin for inciting violence.
Over the last few days several incidents have taken place nationwide that are contrary to the media's wish for a new spirit of civility in public discourse.
Massachusetts: At a Union Rally in support of the absent senators in Wisconsin and the teachers unions, union protesters decried tea party protesters as fascists and mass murders, gave them Nazi salutes at that same rally a former republican congressional candidate alleges he was knocked over by union protesters.
Washington DC: During a union protest against Freedom Works which has already received threats over their support of the tea party, A member of the Communications Workers of America physically assaulted Tabitha Hale, a young 5’ 1” woman who was recording him. During that same protest another union supporter angrily berated a Freedom Works member as a “Bad Jew”.
Colorado: A gay black man is called “uneducated” “son” and is asked if he has any children “that he claims” by a white crowd angry at his presence with a small Gadsden flag supporting the tea party.
All of these events have three things in common:
- Video of these events are all available on Youtube
- Blogs have reported and covered these events
- None of them have been deemed worthy of coverage by the mainstream media.
Reverse the political positions of the people in question. Would actions and slurs against blacks, jews or assaults against young ladies by tea party members caught on tape be ignored by media? How is it that these acts of incivility that outraged journalists just weeks ago are ignored now?
As Holmes would say: That is the curious incident.
Why Riots keep popping up everywhere in the USA...it's a plot
Obama is intentionally fomenting violence
Van Jones is pushing for it
And that's what you do when you have destroyed a nation
We are in big trouble and that's spelled Obama. I fear for our country.
Van Jones is pushing for it
And that's what you do when you have destroyed a nation
We are in big trouble and that's spelled Obama. I fear for our country.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A look at the economy to come - The Judgement of a HOLY GOD
Many do NOT understand the Judgments of God and how that relates to the coming economic collapse. It's not coming because HE hates us. It's not because HE wants to hurt us. It's because HE wants to bring people to himself. He wants to bring order to a world that has become out of order in every way. People are amazed by seeing all around the mess that the world has become. Yet this is the greatest time for the Kingdom. New places will open as people emerge on the scene to take the place where evil has reigned. Salvations will be ordinary. People desperate for any kind of Hope will clamor. The sons of God will be manifested. Those who are pretenders will be manifest as well.
There are economic trouble deniers. Those who continue to believe despite what they should see all around that God will somehow save the USA from strife and pain. He didn't even spare JERUSALEM. He will not spare the USA.
We have seen the beginning of sorrows in many ways what will result will be much greater than we can now imagine. Below I have posted several proof texts for those who wonder if GOD can ever cause pain, suffering or difficulty. They demonstrate where Judgment comes from.
I get people saying there is no inflation because of these statistics. I have seen big inflation. High wages and increasing. Property values escalating. Rents going up. Asset values running wild.
This judgment will be different from any we have seen before. This is a time of declining wages, declining property values, declining value of money, declining rents, empty buildings. IF you look at what that judgment will look like consider the truth in Revelation 6:6 “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”
That will happen not just because there will be HUGE inflation and prices will be way out of reach for most. It will be coupled with a time of huge economic contraction. People will pay for 2 cups of wheat with a day's wage not just because wheat will be expensive, but also because wages will be so low. Oil and Fruit will be almost beyond reach. Government won't be able to help. Passing laws about minimum wage only puts people on the unemployment line or off the books working for peanuts for cash. This will be a time of great struggle, geopolitical and that will happen as God pours out his love for us to bring us back to himself. HE WILL bind us up again. He will not leave us abandoned, but like the 2 Chronicles passage he will wait until we are willing to humble ourselves as a nation. This is a call to the church of Jesus to be ready to step into the gap to give people true hope, not of money, not of goods, but of the one thing that can fill them. We will find ways of supernatural provision, loaves and fishes, manna. They are already there. George Mueller proved this in our time.
This has happened again and again in human history. We can look to the Word of God for patterns. It's nothing new. It will happen again and again. It's the way that God restores his kingdom. We are in a restoration time. We must not be offended when it all comes down. We must be aware. We will be knocked down, but not destroyed by the storm and the waves if we keep our eyes on JESUS.
IF Father will judge those called by his name in the past, how much more will he judge those who are called by his name in this wicked day.
Because the SUN of Righteousness (Jesus) has been hidden from view in the USA, Darkness has increased...the SUN has been veiled, dimmed. WHEN the sun of Righteousness is revealed once more, we will see the darkness pushed back. That Son will rise in the midst of darkness.
Isaiah 60
The Glory of Zion
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 40
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Glory from Judgment is about to arise.
There are economic trouble deniers. Those who continue to believe despite what they should see all around that God will somehow save the USA from strife and pain. He didn't even spare JERUSALEM. He will not spare the USA.
We have seen the beginning of sorrows in many ways what will result will be much greater than we can now imagine. Below I have posted several proof texts for those who wonder if GOD can ever cause pain, suffering or difficulty. They demonstrate where Judgment comes from.
Hosea 6 1 “Come, let us return to the Lord.Many who deny the economic collapse to come point to success in the stock market, to reports of consumer confidence, low inflation, economic indicators that seem to point to brighter days ahead. Yet, there are offsetting truths that are difficult to deny. Real unemployment is well over 20%. Real Inflation is well over 10% and increasing. People's earning power is declining. Real wages are falling like a rock. Workers now make less adjusted for inflation than they did in 1972 Property values are falling even in big cities. 11% of all homes in the USA are vacant. 5% of occupied homes are in foreclosure right now. 1 in 7 people are now on food stamps and accelerating.
He has torn us to pieces;
now he will heal us.
He has injured us;
now he will bandage our wounds.
2 In just a short time he will restore us,
so that we may live in his presence.
3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”4 “O Israel and Judah,
what should I do with you?” asks the Lord.
“For your love vanishes like the morning mist
and disappears like dew in the sunlight.
5 I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—
to slaughter you with my words,
with judgments as inescapable as light.
6 I want you to show love,
not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me
more than I want burnt offerings.
7 But like Adam, you broke my covenant
and betrayed my trust.
I get people saying there is no inflation because of these statistics. I have seen big inflation. High wages and increasing. Property values escalating. Rents going up. Asset values running wild.
This judgment will be different from any we have seen before. This is a time of declining wages, declining property values, declining value of money, declining rents, empty buildings. IF you look at what that judgment will look like consider the truth in Revelation 6:6 “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”
That will happen not just because there will be HUGE inflation and prices will be way out of reach for most. It will be coupled with a time of huge economic contraction. People will pay for 2 cups of wheat with a day's wage not just because wheat will be expensive, but also because wages will be so low. Oil and Fruit will be almost beyond reach. Government won't be able to help. Passing laws about minimum wage only puts people on the unemployment line or off the books working for peanuts for cash. This will be a time of great struggle, geopolitical and that will happen as God pours out his love for us to bring us back to himself. HE WILL bind us up again. He will not leave us abandoned, but like the 2 Chronicles passage he will wait until we are willing to humble ourselves as a nation. This is a call to the church of Jesus to be ready to step into the gap to give people true hope, not of money, not of goods, but of the one thing that can fill them. We will find ways of supernatural provision, loaves and fishes, manna. They are already there. George Mueller proved this in our time.
This has happened again and again in human history. We can look to the Word of God for patterns. It's nothing new. It will happen again and again. It's the way that God restores his kingdom. We are in a restoration time. We must not be offended when it all comes down. We must be aware. We will be knocked down, but not destroyed by the storm and the waves if we keep our eyes on JESUS.
Revelation 6:3 When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.
5 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” 8 I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.
Ezekiel 14:21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
Hosea 2:8-9 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.
Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Malachi 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Proverbs 1:24-31 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: ...
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
IF Father will judge those called by his name in the past, how much more will he judge those who are called by his name in this wicked day.
Because the SUN of Righteousness (Jesus) has been hidden from view in the USA, Darkness has increased...the SUN has been veiled, dimmed. WHEN the sun of Righteousness is revealed once more, we will see the darkness pushed back. That Son will rise in the midst of darkness.
Isaiah 60
The Glory of Zion
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 40
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Glory from Judgment is about to arise.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Is this a manefistation of Romans 8?
It looks like the whole earth is groaning
People are evacuated from a damaged building after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Christchurch, New Zealand's second-biggest city. Still image is taken from a video.
Romans chapter 8:
Earthquake hits New Zealand’s Christchurch
Prime minister calls 6.3 quake the island nation’s ‘darkest hour’
reuters
People are evacuated from a damaged building after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Christchurch, New Zealand's second-biggest city. Still image is taken from a video.
Romans chapter 8:
18I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. 19In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. 20Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
23The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. [c] This means that our bodies will also be set free. 24And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. 25However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it. 26In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Green Promises Produce Only Red
Green Promises Produce Only Red
The National Center for Policy Analysis looks at an expose of the “green jobs” myth at the American Enterprise Institute.
The National Center for Policy Analysis looks at an expose of the “green jobs” myth at the American Enterprise Institute.
Among their findings:
- -The capital needed for one green job in Italy could create almost five jobs in the general economy.
- -Wind and solar power have raised household energy prices by 7.5 percent in Germany.
- -Since 2000, Spain spent 571,138 euro (about $774,000) on each green job, including subsidies of more than 1 million euro (about $1.4 million) per job in the wind industry.
- -The programs creating those jobs destroyed nearly 110,500 jobs elsewhere in the economy (2.2 jobs destroyed for every green job created).
- -Each “green” megawatt installed destroys 5.28 jobs elsewhere in the economy on average.
Many of the simple-minded socialists who always cheer “green jobs” are oblivious to the real reason for the existence of companies and jobs.
READ THE WHOLE THING
A story from the front lines of the depression
Jeff from Fredericksburg, VA
February 21st, 2011
First to give you a little background on me. I graduated college in May 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Broadcasting/Minored in History. I have worked for major corporations as an Enterprise Sales Consultant selling Servers. I was a Network Engineer for Qwest Communications. I even worked for the Federal Government and held a Security Clearance for 4 years. I also won Dell Small Business Sales Consultant of the quarter as well. But since I don’t have an active clearance anymore no one wants to hire me in D.C. I lost my job in 07/2010 and from 07/2010-Present I have been unemployed. My food stamps were also recently cut off last month since the State of Virginia decided that for a household of 1 you can’t make more than $1178 a month. I make $1250 a month in Unemployment compensation before taxes so according to the Government I am too rich to receive Food stamps now. My Rent, Gas and Car insurance is $1000 a month and I am holding on for dear life. I am currently in the process of declaring Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and using my tax return to pay the attorney $1500 to file. That leaves me with only #250 a month for food, water and cell phone.
I have a list compiled in my Google email with approximately 784 applications I have filled out for every government agency, defense contractor and job available in the Washington, DC area. I even applied to Carmax and my old job in college waiting tables at Red Lobster and the moving company I used to work at during the summers in college. If its bad for someone like me with over 10 years of Sales, Server/computer experience, Investigations and Network Engineering than I can’t imagine how bad it is for people that just have a high school diploma. I have been on one interview out of the almost 1000 jobs I have applied to(It takes about 2 hours to apply to one job). The one interview I went on offered me less than my unemployment gives me at $8 an hour. I can sit at home and make more money on unemployment than 80% of the jobs that I have applied too and even those jobs don’t call me. Is this what America has become? Is this what I sacrificed 5 years of my life in college from 17 years old to 21 years old and spent $40,000 to get a worthless degree that won’t even get you hired? Every email I get from a recruiter asks…
I also am afraid that because of my Credit and my financial situation that is causing employers to not hire me. Once I let the employer do a credit check on me I never hear from them again and I even send Personal Hand written Thank you cards! So I am going back to school to get my Network+Certificate. I hope this will make a difference in my job search. Its hard out here but I keep the faith. I mean what is it going to take? 24 masters degrees?….PHD’s? Do I need to go to law school too?
I even sent my resume to my state senators, My congressman and my senator asking to intern or do anything in their office! All I get are form letters back! The only good politician that actually writes me back is my Virginia Delegate Mark Cole. All the rest ignore me. If our government doesn’t do something soon then there will be riots in DC and in every major capitol.
I Also am going to add my two cents on the topic of Food stamps since I actually have been on food stamps from 07/2010-Present(Yes I know I know since I am a Libertarian I shouldn’t even accept government assistance is what you are all thinking). Well my answer to that is that I am not going to go hungry so I can prove a certain political philosophy or be a burden on my family or friends. I Thank god every day that I have food Stamps. If it wasn’t for Food stamps I would be in REALLY bad shape. Maybe that doesn’t make me Libertarian but when reality hits you in the face and you have to do what you have to do to survive politics go out the window and not starving to death is a MUCH higher priority. I get $200 a month on the Virginia EBT card. I usually run out of Food Stamps at about the 25th of every month but usually I have enough food to survive that last week until the 1st when the EBT card gets re-loaded.
From my 6 months of observations and shopping on food stamps here is my normal shopping list, what I eat, etc.
Pretty much you always eat at home and prepare all your meals at home. Going to Chick-Fil-A is a once a month treat for me and so is Starbucks. Other than that I haven’t been to a Restaurant like Outback. Red Lobster, Chili’s in about 4 months. Rent, Gas, and Car Insurance take up about $750 a month in expenses just to put a roof over my head and have transportation. I can only afford the ghetto $40 a month no credit check phone from Best Buy which I pay ahead every month. And believe me its definitely not a Smart phone and there is NO Internet on the phone…
I brew my own coffee every day and always buy the big canisters of Folgers since Maxwell House is Nasty. When you are on SNAP benefits(I love how the Government renamed Food stamps to the wonderful euphemism of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program……hilarious!). The only place that you can really afford to shop at and be able to afford protein is Wal-mart. I tried Wegmans one month and I was out of food stamps by the 15nth. I eat a lot of Tostino’s Pizza’s, Peanut butter sandwiches and eat a lot of cereal and spaghetti that I freeze in containers. You HAVE to go to Wal-mart at the beginning of the month because that's when the sales are for bulk items. You have get their early on the 1st because usually all the bulk rice, bulk sugar, bulk coffee, and $1 loaves of bread are hoarded off the shelves by the big families that come in with $1000 EBT cards.
FORGET about purchasing anything Organic! Let me stress that again if you start buying anything organic like Milk, eggs or organic vegetables or fruit you will starve by the 20th of the month. I know because I tried. You can survive off of Food stamps for one person but the only protein I get is from eggs, peanut butter or hamburger meat that is 70/30 thats in my spaghetti I make. Forget about buying any lean hamburger meat or ground turkey which is $4 a pound now at Wal-mart. I make sure I take daily vitamins and minerals. If you don’t take Vitamins or minerals on the food stamp diet I would be really worried about major vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The Folgers bulk coffee cans used to be $6.99 and now they are $9.99 which really sucks if you are a coffee drinker like me. The biggest expenses I have is for frozen chicken breasts and anything that is a protein item. I can only afford to eat fish once every two weeks(I wish I could eat fish, shrimp or crab more often) I have gone a week without any protein since the EBT card ran out and let me tell you that my body is not a happy camper eating just frozen pizza’s and noodles. It is much harder than I thought it was going to be as well. I really hate Wal-mart but I am forced to shop there since its all I can afford. I wish I could eat the Yogurt too but if I purchase a 14 day supply of Yogurt its almost $40 now. One of the best ways to survive I haver found is Instant Quaker oatmeal and cheerios and Milk. I eat that almost every day. I also lived a week off of cheese hot dogs and corn dogs as well.
I hope this helped explain to people that $200 a month isn’t shit. You will not starve or die but I have gained like 15 pounds from all the transfats, white flour products, corn sugar products and processed foods. I also have found that one main thing that is important is make sure you dress in shitty clothes when you whip out that EBT card. One day I made the mistake of buying food with my EBT card with my suit and tie on coming back from a job interview and I received many really shitty, condescending looks from people.
Finally let me add that I have a wonderful family that invite me over for dinner. My brothers take care of me and so does my Mom by making me feel like a normal person. They make me feel Human when I eat home cooked meals that are delicious and healthy. They are all I have in this world and without them I would really struggling right now.
I really hope someone from congress or the President reads this.
I keep the hope though that America will be stronger coming out of this. We need strong leaders. We need strong men and women of integrity. Without my faith in God I would not be where I am. Things will turn around for me. I know it. I want to give you all hope to not give up. But do some research on what is really causing all this. I buy silver, I buy MRE’s and storable food, water filter and a solar power flashlight AM/FM radio and a good military grade knife.
ANOTHER
February 21st, 2011
First to give you a little background on me. I graduated college in May 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Broadcasting/Minored in History. I have worked for major corporations as an Enterprise Sales Consultant selling Servers. I was a Network Engineer for Qwest Communications. I even worked for the Federal Government and held a Security Clearance for 4 years. I also won Dell Small Business Sales Consultant of the quarter as well. But since I don’t have an active clearance anymore no one wants to hire me in D.C. I lost my job in 07/2010 and from 07/2010-Present I have been unemployed. My food stamps were also recently cut off last month since the State of Virginia decided that for a household of 1 you can’t make more than $1178 a month. I make $1250 a month in Unemployment compensation before taxes so according to the Government I am too rich to receive Food stamps now. My Rent, Gas and Car insurance is $1000 a month and I am holding on for dear life. I am currently in the process of declaring Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and using my tax return to pay the attorney $1500 to file. That leaves me with only #250 a month for food, water and cell phone.
I have a list compiled in my Google email with approximately 784 applications I have filled out for every government agency, defense contractor and job available in the Washington, DC area. I even applied to Carmax and my old job in college waiting tables at Red Lobster and the moving company I used to work at during the summers in college. If its bad for someone like me with over 10 years of Sales, Server/computer experience, Investigations and Network Engineering than I can’t imagine how bad it is for people that just have a high school diploma. I have been on one interview out of the almost 1000 jobs I have applied to(It takes about 2 hours to apply to one job). The one interview I went on offered me less than my unemployment gives me at $8 an hour. I can sit at home and make more money on unemployment than 80% of the jobs that I have applied too and even those jobs don’t call me. Is this what America has become? Is this what I sacrificed 5 years of my life in college from 17 years old to 21 years old and spent $40,000 to get a worthless degree that won’t even get you hired? Every email I get from a recruiter asks…
- “Where are you working now?”
- “Are you unemployed?”…..”
- “Do you have an active Top secret clearance?”
I also am afraid that because of my Credit and my financial situation that is causing employers to not hire me. Once I let the employer do a credit check on me I never hear from them again and I even send Personal Hand written Thank you cards! So I am going back to school to get my Network+Certificate. I hope this will make a difference in my job search. Its hard out here but I keep the faith. I mean what is it going to take? 24 masters degrees?….PHD’s? Do I need to go to law school too?
I even sent my resume to my state senators, My congressman and my senator asking to intern or do anything in their office! All I get are form letters back! The only good politician that actually writes me back is my Virginia Delegate Mark Cole. All the rest ignore me. If our government doesn’t do something soon then there will be riots in DC and in every major capitol.
I Also am going to add my two cents on the topic of Food stamps since I actually have been on food stamps from 07/2010-Present(Yes I know I know since I am a Libertarian I shouldn’t even accept government assistance is what you are all thinking). Well my answer to that is that I am not going to go hungry so I can prove a certain political philosophy or be a burden on my family or friends. I Thank god every day that I have food Stamps. If it wasn’t for Food stamps I would be in REALLY bad shape. Maybe that doesn’t make me Libertarian but when reality hits you in the face and you have to do what you have to do to survive politics go out the window and not starving to death is a MUCH higher priority. I get $200 a month on the Virginia EBT card. I usually run out of Food Stamps at about the 25th of every month but usually I have enough food to survive that last week until the 1st when the EBT card gets re-loaded.
From my 6 months of observations and shopping on food stamps here is my normal shopping list, what I eat, etc.
Pretty much you always eat at home and prepare all your meals at home. Going to Chick-Fil-A is a once a month treat for me and so is Starbucks. Other than that I haven’t been to a Restaurant like Outback. Red Lobster, Chili’s in about 4 months. Rent, Gas, and Car Insurance take up about $750 a month in expenses just to put a roof over my head and have transportation. I can only afford the ghetto $40 a month no credit check phone from Best Buy which I pay ahead every month. And believe me its definitely not a Smart phone and there is NO Internet on the phone…
I brew my own coffee every day and always buy the big canisters of Folgers since Maxwell House is Nasty. When you are on SNAP benefits(I love how the Government renamed Food stamps to the wonderful euphemism of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program……hilarious!). The only place that you can really afford to shop at and be able to afford protein is Wal-mart. I tried Wegmans one month and I was out of food stamps by the 15nth. I eat a lot of Tostino’s Pizza’s, Peanut butter sandwiches and eat a lot of cereal and spaghetti that I freeze in containers. You HAVE to go to Wal-mart at the beginning of the month because that's when the sales are for bulk items. You have get their early on the 1st because usually all the bulk rice, bulk sugar, bulk coffee, and $1 loaves of bread are hoarded off the shelves by the big families that come in with $1000 EBT cards.
FORGET about purchasing anything Organic! Let me stress that again if you start buying anything organic like Milk, eggs or organic vegetables or fruit you will starve by the 20th of the month. I know because I tried. You can survive off of Food stamps for one person but the only protein I get is from eggs, peanut butter or hamburger meat that is 70/30 thats in my spaghetti I make. Forget about buying any lean hamburger meat or ground turkey which is $4 a pound now at Wal-mart. I make sure I take daily vitamins and minerals. If you don’t take Vitamins or minerals on the food stamp diet I would be really worried about major vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The Folgers bulk coffee cans used to be $6.99 and now they are $9.99 which really sucks if you are a coffee drinker like me. The biggest expenses I have is for frozen chicken breasts and anything that is a protein item. I can only afford to eat fish once every two weeks(I wish I could eat fish, shrimp or crab more often) I have gone a week without any protein since the EBT card ran out and let me tell you that my body is not a happy camper eating just frozen pizza’s and noodles. It is much harder than I thought it was going to be as well. I really hate Wal-mart but I am forced to shop there since its all I can afford. I wish I could eat the Yogurt too but if I purchase a 14 day supply of Yogurt its almost $40 now. One of the best ways to survive I haver found is Instant Quaker oatmeal and cheerios and Milk. I eat that almost every day. I also lived a week off of cheese hot dogs and corn dogs as well.
I hope this helped explain to people that $200 a month isn’t shit. You will not starve or die but I have gained like 15 pounds from all the transfats, white flour products, corn sugar products and processed foods. I also have found that one main thing that is important is make sure you dress in shitty clothes when you whip out that EBT card. One day I made the mistake of buying food with my EBT card with my suit and tie on coming back from a job interview and I received many really shitty, condescending looks from people.
Finally let me add that I have a wonderful family that invite me over for dinner. My brothers take care of me and so does my Mom by making me feel like a normal person. They make me feel Human when I eat home cooked meals that are delicious and healthy. They are all I have in this world and without them I would really struggling right now.
I really hope someone from congress or the President reads this.
I keep the hope though that America will be stronger coming out of this. We need strong leaders. We need strong men and women of integrity. Without my faith in God I would not be where I am. Things will turn around for me. I know it. I want to give you all hope to not give up. But do some research on what is really causing all this. I buy silver, I buy MRE’s and storable food, water filter and a solar power flashlight AM/FM radio and a good military grade knife.
ANOTHER
My mother is unemployed. She is 61 years old, has 25 years of experience working for a major telecommunications corporation, and has a four-year degree. I watch her send application after application to employers with no response. I watch her get contacted by recruiters who say she is a ‘perfect fit’ for a job and never deliver. I watch her slide into depression and staying in bed many hours of the day.
I am 38 years old, I have mental illness, and I recently lost my job as a delivery driver because the owner sold his business to a competitor.
I don’t believe that either my mother or I will ever be employed again. I am beginning to feel that I am permanently in the world of the unemployed. I feel as trapped as I did when I spent weeks in an in-patient clinic for the mentally ill where you could never leave and you know that there is a world out there just beyond the locked doors.
`They are Man’s,” said the Spirit, looking down upon them. “And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!” cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. “Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse! And bide the end!” “Have they no refuge or resource?” cried Scrooge. “Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. “Are there no workhouses?” Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, 1843
It's going to be a rough ride....
CNN Gal Reporter SHOCKED that OBAMA isn't LOVED around the world
I am saddened by the lack of common sense and any level of objectivity on the part of news media. Candy Crowley, a news reader for CNN is one such.
She insisted against all the facts to the opposite that Obama is universally loved around the world.
She insisted against all the facts to the opposite that Obama is universally loved around the world.
Survey says, what I say ,,,,, As a Born Again Christian and NOT as secular Jews seem to Believe
Those who self-identify as born-again Christians have a powerful affinity for Israel.
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To the question, "Agree or disagree: Israel is a flawed nation-state like others but remains, as the Bible says, the apple of God's eye," while 22.4 percent of those affiliating with the Jewish faith said they strongly agreed, 60 percent of those who identify as born-again Christian responded that they strongly agree. Another 21 percent said they somewhat agreed.
Other results:
- About 80 percent of born-again Christians disagreed with the statement that Israel "is an aggressor nation," nearly the same as the 85 percent of Jews who held that opinion.
- Fifty-eight percent of the Jews said they agreed with the statement that the U.S. does not provide enough moral support to Israel, but more than 62 percent of the born-again Christians held that view.
- Thirty-nine percent of the Jews believe the U.S. is undermining Israel by pushing a Palestinian state, while almost 56 percent of the born-again Christians believe that.
- Fifty-one percent of the Jews believe the U.S. should make support of Israel the primary plank in Middle East policy, but more than 72 percent of born-again Christians hold that perspective.
- Some 22.4 percent of the Jews believe the U.S. will be judged by God according to the way it treats Israel, but 2 of 3 born-again Christians agreed with that statement.
- While 55.2 percent of Jews believe Americans should be very concerned about Israel's national security, that figure was 71.1 percent for born-again Christians.
"The survey also shows most Americans believe Israel is under a continuing grave threat from Islamic radicals," the analysis said.
According to the survey, 75 percent of all respondents in the survey said they believe Israel is the top target of Islamic radicals. Eighty-six percent said they are at least somewhat concerned about Israel's national security – and 53 percent said they were "very concerned" about it.
Further, "71 percent said they believe the U.S. should support Israel if Israel engages in military action to counter a possible Iranian nuclear attack against Israel. And, while the U.S continues to wage two other heavy military actions in the region – Iraq and Afghanistan – 64 percent said they would favor using American military troops against Iran if Iran attempts a nuclear attack on Israel."
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Middle Class Economic Connundrum
Even during this time of relative economic stability, the U.S. middle class is still being ripped to shreds. If there are those among your family and friends that are somehow convinced that the U.S. economy is recovering nicely, you might want want to show them the following 18 very sobering facts....
#1 According to Gallup, the U.S. unemployment rate is currently 10.3 percent. When you add in part-time American workers that want full-time employment, that number rises to 20.2 percent.
#2 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of job openings in the United States declined for a second straight month during December.
#3 There are currently more than 4 million Americans that have been unemployed for more than a year.
#4 The number of Americans that have become so discouraged that they have given up searching for work completely now stands at an all-time high.
#5 Gasoline prices in the United States recently hit a 28-month high.
#6 During the 4th quarter of 2010, 4.63 percent of all U.S. home loans were in foreclosure. That matched the all-time high, and it was up significantly from 4.39 percent in the 3rd quarter.
#7 It is estimated that there are about 5 million homeowners in the United States that are at least two months behind on their mortgages, and it is being projected that over a million American families will be booted out of their homes this year alone.
#8 Almost 14 percent of all credit card accounts in the United States are currently 90 days or more delinquent.
#9 The average credit card rate in the United States had increased to a whopping 13.44 percent at the end of 2010.
#10 Americans now owe more than $890 billion on student loans, which is even more than they owe on credit cards.
#11 Average household debt in the United States has now reached a level of 136% of average household income. In China, average household debt is only 17% of average household income.
#12 U.S. life expectancy at birth is now three years less than Canada and four years less than Japan.
#13 New home sales in the state of California were at the lowest level ever recorded in the month of January.
#14 43 percent of all mortgages in south Florida are currently underwater.
#15 Prior to the most recent economic downturn, there were usually somewhere around four to five million job openings in America. Today there are about 3 million.
#16 When you adjust wages for inflation, middle class workers in the United States make less money today than they did back in 1971.
#17 One out of every seven Americans is now on food stamps.
#18 One out of every six elderly Americans now lives below the federal poverty line.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Inflation on the way
So is everyone printing money?
The U.S. is printing lots of money.....
The Bank of England is printing lots of money.....
The EU is printing lots of money....
Source: The ECB
Japan is printing lots of money.....
China is printing lots of money.....
Source: The People’s Bank of China
India is printing lots of money.....
Of course anyone with half a brain can see where all of this is ultimately headed. In the end, inflation is going to spiral out of control and we are going to witness financial implosion on a global scale.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Here's the resume of a man I know who's a good one. I can connect you
is there an open door, Lord? my resume (sorta)
by David L. Smith on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 9:54pm
I am strong believer in giving the Lord something to work with - if you want something; or, if you are looking for something - you gotta ask!
So, below is a brief resume of some of my skills, ability, experience to see if there is an open door for employment.
I have 10+ years of security experience - that includes 4 years of military experience as a Security Specialist in the U.S. Air Force. In addition, I have extensive security experience in the hospitality industry - including VIP security. I even escorted Naomi Judd during a meeting. In addition, I helped provide back-stage security at the Grand Ol' Opry in Nashville, TN.
I also have experience as a Security Dept supervisor - I managed 13 employees at two different sites.
My security experience also flows with my "spiritual giftings". Called to be a watchman, I am very strong in discerning of spirits (not by MY talenty, ability or strength - but by the grace, mercy, and wisdom of the Lord). I am also strong in the prophetic, called into the office of a prophet/seer. My giftings, by way of Holy Spirit within, are - in certain ways, as "powerful" as anyone I have currently met. The demonic realm literally cannot be in my vicinity without me being aware of it (again - its not me that detects that, it is the Lord). I have encountered all levels of the demonic up to and including pricipalities, powers, 'jezebel', and those possessed by the 'antichrist' spirit.
I don't really understand why I have such a strong gifting in this area, but the Lord, I believe, knows why. Sometimes, it gets a bit uncanny. I regulary "sweep through the compass" to see if there are any demons (devil spirits) near by. They tend to avoid me whenever possible - because they know that if I come close by, I will command them - in the name of Jesus Christ - to cease whatever activities that they are doing.
My point being - evil cannot exist within my vicinity without me being aware of it.
Apllying that "spiritual gifting' to my security experience - there is little that I am not aware of when I 'focus' - and when I "work" security (be it physical or spiritual), I always 'focus'. In addition, I have an innate, natural ability in the use of weapons. An expert marksman, when I practice regulary, I literally never miss. While in the Air Force, I used to regularly practice what I can "eye shots" - at 40 yeards. With a handgun. At 20 yards, I could pick a corner of the eye. For a time, I even shot archery, using a compoiund bow. I eventually had to stop shooting bulls-eyes - because I kept ruining too many arrows.
I also have some hand-to-hand self defence training. But, I hate to fight. I try to practice some of the principles from the "Art of War" by Sun Tzu - "The greatest battle ever won is the one that is never fought - because the battle is won before it is fought." Having said that - I can still take a handgun away from a trained person - if they are within 6 feet of me.
But, wisdom has come with "age". I don't need to prove anything anymore - and I have peace. Indeed, I had a 'Word' spoken over me that I am God's "Man of Peace".
In addition to my security experience, I have lots of hospitality experience - 5+ years. That is because I have a "servant's heart". I enjoy helping people. Too many people in the world don't really provide customer service - they simply do what needs to be done to keep getting a paycheck. That is not customer service. In several of my jobs, I have received awards for excellence in customer service.
I've also received rewards for sales - highest sales in jewelry, for example.
I have a wide variety of experience - I even sorta like cleaning bathrooms. Its a job that requires a servant's heart - if you do it properly. I don't mind. It is something that needs to be done. Of course, it makes it better if I get PAID to do it! But I have volunteered before to clean the sanctuary, bathrooms, etc at our church before. It also gave me an opportunity to pray for all those who went in there.
In addition, I have a "mind to work". When I go to a job, I work. Sometimes, people like to "milk the clock" or talk with their friends. I'm always friendly with everyone - but if you want a job done, I do it. Then, I look for something else to do. I enjoy staying busy.
I'm also a good driver. Accident free since I started driving when I was 18. That was more than 30 years ago. And, I haven't had a moving violation ticket in more than 10 years (and THAT was on a DOWNHILL slope of a highway... I still don't think that was "fair"). I have also been licensed, previously, with a Class 'B', passenger endoresment. Drove buses - up to "Greyhound" bus size. Currently, I have a class 'C'. I've driven across country numerous times - California to Virginia was the longest stretch.
What else? I guess you could call me an armor bearer. I enjoy praying at meetings. When I am at a meeting, generally speaking, the devil spirits tend to behave - or stay away. Again, not because of me - but because of the Spirit of God working within me. I also tend to "throw up" walls of Holy Spirit Light and Fire around wherever the service is going on. Does wonders for a good atmosphere.
God also shows me the heart of people. I can pretty much "see" anyone's "heart". There are very few people that can block "me". Of course, again, I can do nothing in the supernatural - its all God. Lots of times, I can 'see' old wounds and scars - it gives me an opportunity to pray for them. Generally speaking, if I can see a person's eyes - I can "see" their heart.
And, I've never been wrong about people. That can ONLY be God. It is not humanly possible to never be wrong about people, generally speaking. But, I haven't been wrong about anyone that I've met... well, at least not since about 1985 or so. That's about how long I've been "serios" with God. But, I was born again around age 8 or 10. And this is my 'jubilee' year.
Oh, I have an Associate's degree in management; GPA 3.90.
Different kind of resume, eh?
But, like I said, its mostly to see if there is an open door.
Lord, lead me, guide me, direct me - here am I, send me. In the Name of Jesus Christ, amen!
keywords: security, hotel, service, customer, employment, jobs, hospitality, janitorial, retail, sales, guard, God, Jesus, protection, driver, transportation, cleaning, care, safety, computer, office, outdoors, parks, labor, landscaping, lawncare, church, prophet, etc, etc, :-D
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