Recently I wrote about my fears about China. Today I want to talk about our neighbors in South America. Prime Minister (read this DICTATOR) Putin of Russia granted Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's mad as a hatter president, one billion dollars in credit to purchase Russian weapons.
Evo Morales, president of Bolivia went off the wall last week when the American ambassador met with the prime opposition leader in La Paz. My sister, who was in Bolivia on a project for Virginia Tech, had to find new air transportation home because American Airlines was banned from Bolivia's air space.
These two stunning symbols of South American socialism (communism?) met today in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil with two other South American socialists, Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador and Luiz Inacio Lula de Sila (know simply as Lula to the people) president of Brazil. The meeting was in part to finalize the plans to build a highway from Quito, Ecuador to Manaus, Brazil. A few days ago, Chavez and Lula agreed to authorize loans to Bolivia to improve their Amazonian highway system.
Another reason for the meeting is that Chavez wants Lula to join him in building a continental gas and oil pipeline that would run from Venezuela to Argentina. With the recent discovery of two large oil fields in Brazilian territory, Chavez wants the Brazil as an ally.
Lula, however, is taking his time with a decision. No doubt he is concerned with the idea of any major project with the Venezuelan president, who is not noted for an easy going disposition. How all of this will play out is any one's guess and we will need to keep an eye on things.
Most Americans have the attitude that anyone south of the USA border is lazy, stupid, uninspired and no threat. Unfortunately, our history shows many instances of our butting into the national affairs of various countries in Central and South America (remember Allende in Chile. The CIA thought he was a communist, assisted with a military coop and Chile suffered for almost thirty years under the brutal dictatorship of General Pinochet. Way to go CIA.) The people of South America, just like anywhere else, have long memories. (The Bolivians remember that it was American Green Berets who "advised" the Bolivian Army during the hunt for Ernesto "Che" Guevara.)
Anyway the folks south of the border have no reason to love us. Now it appears their time is coming. Thanks to oil revenues the standard of living is on the rise, especially in Brazil. The middle class is coming into its own and business is booming. Trade is important and Lula has decided to trade with his neighbors. Although a capitalist in some ways, Lula is a socialist at heart and I feel that he is going all he can to bring Morales and Correa into his orbit. For the time being he is keeping Chavez at an arm's length, which I think is a good idea.
Bottom line, what we used to consider the Third World of Latin American, is slowly but surely coming into its own. Brazil and Venezuela have the potential to become super powers with in the next twenty years if they manager the profits from their oil revenues carefully.
We need to reevaluate our national strategy with South America. Brazil is an ally we need to keep. We need to help Lula keep Morales and Correa away from Chavez.
Complaining about the destruction of the rain forest doesn't cut it. If we do not want the countries of the Amazon basin to open up the forests for farming and mining, then we have to provide alternative forms of employment for those currently at work with the deforestation. It is hard for the Brazilians, Peruvians, Bolivians, and the rest listen to our cries, when they can see the destruction we caused to our forests.
We need to become allies and trading partners with as many nations in South America as possible. We need to start treating them as equals, not inferiors.
Allies are always valuable. Enemies, well we have enough already.
Its common Sense
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Senator Cardin on appropriations and earmarks
No bailout yet. The stock market bounced back, so maybe they know something the rest of us don't.
Senator Ben Cardin - Democrat, Maryland - responded to my questions on appropriations and earmarks. Let me share his response. As always I am leaving his misspellings alone.
I would like to read your comments after you read the note.
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for contacting me about earmark reform. In 2007, the 110 th Congress passed comprehensive legislation regarding earmark transparency procedures , which I strongly supported .
On September 14, 2007, S.1, the "New Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007," was signed into law by President Bush. The New Honest Leadership and Government Act provides for public disclosure of approved earmarks and the identification of their congressional sponsors. All of my congressionally directed spending projects are listed on my website, www.cardin.senate.gov . I am proud of my support of projects ranging from Chesapeake Bay restoration to advanced medical technology development. All citizens deserve a clear understanding of how federal resources are spent.
Please be assured that I am aware of your concerns and I believe that the federal government should do more to provide taxpayers with greater transparency and accountability for earmarks . I appreciate your letting me know of your interest in this issue. If I may be of additional assistance with this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Senator Ben Cardin - Democrat, Maryland - responded to my questions on appropriations and earmarks. Let me share his response. As always I am leaving his misspellings alone.
I would like to read your comments after you read the note.
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for contacting me about earmark reform. In 2007, the 110 th Congress passed comprehensive legislation regarding earmark transparency procedures , which I strongly supported .
On September 14, 2007, S.1, the "New Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007," was signed into law by President Bush. The New Honest Leadership and Government Act provides for public disclosure of approved earmarks and the identification of their congressional sponsors. All of my congressionally directed spending projects are listed on my website, www.cardin.senate.gov . I am proud of my support of projects ranging from Chesapeake Bay restoration to advanced medical technology development. All citizens deserve a clear understanding of how federal resources are spent.
Please be assured that I am aware of your concerns and I believe that the federal government should do more to provide taxpayers with greater transparency and accountability for earmarks . I appreciate your letting me know of your interest in this issue. If I may be of additional assistance with this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Monday, September 29, 2008
What now?
Evidently John McCain did not sell the Republican Congress on the need for the bailout. Apparently the Democrats did not do all that go a job with their own side.
I am amazed that anyone thought this would be easy. All of these men and women are up for reelection in five weeks. The majority have not had any time for campaigning. The are afraid, and rightly so, that many of their constituents are not going to understand why tax dollars are needed to save greedy banks. Maybe if we publicly executed a couple of these CEO's who's leadership caused the problem, and gave their "golden umbrellas" to the people, the populace might be more sympathetic.
A product is only going to sell if it is promoted properly. This bailout has been promoted like a joke. All we have heard is panic - it has to be done - markets will crash - loans will dry up- trust us, we know what we are doing. Give me a break, if the folks in Congress knew what they were doing we would have never been placed in this mess.
Bush, or better yet Paulson and a Democrat and Republican leader, need to come out and spell out for the people exactly what this bailout is all about, who gets the money, who over sees the money, and when will we get it back and at what interest. After all, this is suppose to be a loan, not a give away.
Producing a 100 page + document that the average American can not read does not help to alleviate fears. Congress needs to talk with us - not tell us - what is going on. It is our money, we need to have a voice.
This is another example of Congress treating us like children and expecting us to accept whatever they say. At least the leadership thought that. The reality is with an election looming the majority got scared. Now, rather than point fingers, they need to talk to us, explain the plan and show that they are doing this for the good of the whole country, not the fat cats on Wall Street.
Treat us as equals. Make us part of the process.
It's Common Sense.
I am amazed that anyone thought this would be easy. All of these men and women are up for reelection in five weeks. The majority have not had any time for campaigning. The are afraid, and rightly so, that many of their constituents are not going to understand why tax dollars are needed to save greedy banks. Maybe if we publicly executed a couple of these CEO's who's leadership caused the problem, and gave their "golden umbrellas" to the people, the populace might be more sympathetic.
A product is only going to sell if it is promoted properly. This bailout has been promoted like a joke. All we have heard is panic - it has to be done - markets will crash - loans will dry up- trust us, we know what we are doing. Give me a break, if the folks in Congress knew what they were doing we would have never been placed in this mess.
Bush, or better yet Paulson and a Democrat and Republican leader, need to come out and spell out for the people exactly what this bailout is all about, who gets the money, who over sees the money, and when will we get it back and at what interest. After all, this is suppose to be a loan, not a give away.
Producing a 100 page + document that the average American can not read does not help to alleviate fears. Congress needs to talk with us - not tell us - what is going on. It is our money, we need to have a voice.
This is another example of Congress treating us like children and expecting us to accept whatever they say. At least the leadership thought that. The reality is with an election looming the majority got scared. Now, rather than point fingers, they need to talk to us, explain the plan and show that they are doing this for the good of the whole country, not the fat cats on Wall Street.
Treat us as equals. Make us part of the process.
It's Common Sense.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Chinese Space Walk
This morning I saw an article about the Chinese completing their first successful space walk and return to earth by a manned space vehicle. Between bailouts, debates, and Sara Palin at the United Nations, the Chinese space expedition somehow did not grab a lot of attention.
That is a mistake on our part. No doubt the Chinese stole the technology to build their space program from us. Now that we are in an economic crisis, funding to NASA is not going to be high on any one's list. The Chinese, who do not appear to be in a financial crisis, are going to be able to move forward with their space program, and due to the world economic situation, they are probably going to find it easy to legitimately buy the materials and technology they need to make leaps forward.
I find the idea of a Chinese space station orbiting the earth frightening. I know that the perceived enemy of the western world is international Islamic extremism, but I fear the not so sleeping giant of China a lot more. The Islamic terrorists can cause short range harm and destruction, but China has the power to go for actual world domination.
Look at our current situation. We owe the Chinese at least $500 billion dollars. We have allowed ourselves to be dependent on their products. (Go to Wal Mart. What's not made in China there?)
In recent time our officials have complained about the condition of products imported from China, but I have not seen a ban placed on all Chinese imports until they meet our standards.
China's growth and strength should be of concern to all of us. Their ever growing expansion in the world markets should be a wake up call to American business that it is time to bring factories home and accept less profit and keep the country strong.
Unfortunately, as we have seen with all of the recent activity on Wall street, greed is the key word. Bankers, businessmen, realtors, homeowners, its all about trying to grab as much for themselves as possible and the hell with the consequences.
Well, we are feeling those consequences and they are only going to get worse. And while our country heads downward, the Chinese are on the rise and I fear it will not be long before the Pacific Rim is considered their territory.
We are no longer the power we were. The sad truth is we can not supply a significant military force to conduct offensive operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Imagine what would happen if a third front opened up somewhere.
Countries in the Pacific Rim, especially the top manufactures like Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, are making their own trade and diplomatic treaties with China, because they can no longer depend on a strong American military presence if trouble erupts in Asia.
Once again we are paying the price for our superiority attitude to the rest of the world and the 19Th century view - as depicted in Rudyard Kipling's poems and stories - that no one can match the white European in any way. Our country has unfortunately believed in that credo in our march to imperialism - read how we treated the Hawaiians, Cubans, Central Americans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and currently the Afghans and Iraqis. We - the collective American mentality - is that we are know more than all of them and that only our way is the right way.
The Chinese have always held that they were smarter than the rest of the world - read their history - and now they are finally in a position to try and prove it.
We need to open our eyes to the world around us, we need to force our politicians and business leaders to forget about greed and profit and stand up to keep our country strong and independent.
Some people may laugh about my fear of the Chinese having a missile base on the Moon, but there could be more reality to that scenario than any of us want to admit.
Read your history, see what the Chinese are doing and stay on your politicians to do the right thing.
If we do not start fighting back against the Chinese in the economic arena, it will not be that long before we are fighting against them in the military arena. They want to control the world, and they are on the way if we do not block them.
A strong America is a free America. A greedy America is the world's whore.
Its Common Sense.
That is a mistake on our part. No doubt the Chinese stole the technology to build their space program from us. Now that we are in an economic crisis, funding to NASA is not going to be high on any one's list. The Chinese, who do not appear to be in a financial crisis, are going to be able to move forward with their space program, and due to the world economic situation, they are probably going to find it easy to legitimately buy the materials and technology they need to make leaps forward.
I find the idea of a Chinese space station orbiting the earth frightening. I know that the perceived enemy of the western world is international Islamic extremism, but I fear the not so sleeping giant of China a lot more. The Islamic terrorists can cause short range harm and destruction, but China has the power to go for actual world domination.
Look at our current situation. We owe the Chinese at least $500 billion dollars. We have allowed ourselves to be dependent on their products. (Go to Wal Mart. What's not made in China there?)
In recent time our officials have complained about the condition of products imported from China, but I have not seen a ban placed on all Chinese imports until they meet our standards.
China's growth and strength should be of concern to all of us. Their ever growing expansion in the world markets should be a wake up call to American business that it is time to bring factories home and accept less profit and keep the country strong.
Unfortunately, as we have seen with all of the recent activity on Wall street, greed is the key word. Bankers, businessmen, realtors, homeowners, its all about trying to grab as much for themselves as possible and the hell with the consequences.
Well, we are feeling those consequences and they are only going to get worse. And while our country heads downward, the Chinese are on the rise and I fear it will not be long before the Pacific Rim is considered their territory.
We are no longer the power we were. The sad truth is we can not supply a significant military force to conduct offensive operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Imagine what would happen if a third front opened up somewhere.
Countries in the Pacific Rim, especially the top manufactures like Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, are making their own trade and diplomatic treaties with China, because they can no longer depend on a strong American military presence if trouble erupts in Asia.
Once again we are paying the price for our superiority attitude to the rest of the world and the 19Th century view - as depicted in Rudyard Kipling's poems and stories - that no one can match the white European in any way. Our country has unfortunately believed in that credo in our march to imperialism - read how we treated the Hawaiians, Cubans, Central Americans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and currently the Afghans and Iraqis. We - the collective American mentality - is that we are know more than all of them and that only our way is the right way.
The Chinese have always held that they were smarter than the rest of the world - read their history - and now they are finally in a position to try and prove it.
We need to open our eyes to the world around us, we need to force our politicians and business leaders to forget about greed and profit and stand up to keep our country strong and independent.
Some people may laugh about my fear of the Chinese having a missile base on the Moon, but there could be more reality to that scenario than any of us want to admit.
Read your history, see what the Chinese are doing and stay on your politicians to do the right thing.
If we do not start fighting back against the Chinese in the economic arena, it will not be that long before we are fighting against them in the military arena. They want to control the world, and they are on the way if we do not block them.
A strong America is a free America. A greedy America is the world's whore.
Its Common Sense.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Presidential Debate #1
Last night was the first of the three presidential debates. Along with my wife, we watched the entire thing, as well as the commentaries afterwards on CNN and MSNBC.
I give kudos to Jim Lehrer for trying to get the candidates to actually face off one against the other and let some passion flow. Unfortunately the only passion I saw was when McCain spoke about the surge in Iraq.
I think at the next debate the candidates should be seated at a table, facing one another, so that they will be forced to have eye contact and get into a serious discussion, hopefully where they will be forced to get down to specifics. They need to make this personal, this is about the two of them, who they are, not some lofty goals.
Contrary to many of the commentators I did not see either one as the victor. Of course, the fact that I saw them as pretty even I guess means that Obama did better on foreign affairs than expected.
Over all I was disappointed in that both avoid specifics.
After asking their views on the bailout and if they would support what Congress proposes, Jim Lehrer asked which of their programs would be affected due to lack of funding.
McCain talked of freezing most programs, with the exceptions of defense and veteran spending.
Obama admitted some of his programs would be delayed but that he planned to pushed through health care and education - the two high ticket items on his agenda.
Is it possible that neither man gets the fact that Americans are tired of bailing everybody in world out of trouble and leaving ourselves with a hopeless deficit? McCain mention at one point the $500 billion we owe China. He didn't mention the other countries holding our securities.
We can not continue to do crazy spending until we get control of our debt.
My view of their positives and negatives.
Barack Obama
Economy
Positive - Wants to work out tax breaks for 95% of Americans. Plans to veto entitlements, restrict loopholes for big business and look into cutting government wasteful spending practices.
Make Iraq start paying for the war out of their oil surplus.
Negative - Does not explain where the money is going to come from to pay for his programs if the majority of taxes are going to be cut. Also makes no mention of how he plans to start paying off the deficit.
Foreign Affairs
Positive - Concentrate on stabilising Afghanistan and eliminating the bin Laden, Al Quada, Taliban threat in that part of the world. Wants to meet with allies and improve the world image of the USA.
Negative - Lack of experience about foreign relations. Although in a debate with Hilary Clinton he stated that he would meet with no pre-conditions with the leaders of countries hostile to the USA, last night he tried to give a different spin. Admit that you were wrong and move on.
John McCain
Economy
Positive - Veto entitlements and clean up up wasteful government spending by revamping Federal Agencies and holding them accountable.
Negative - Still wants to give breaks to big business without holding them accountable.
Foreign Affairs
Positive - He's been everywhere and knows everyone. Even though I was against the war in Iraq since day one, he was right about the surge and just maybe the USA will be able to withdraw with a victory.
Negative - Still seems to be a victim of the Evil Empire mentality.
Overall I was disappointed. Obama came across as an aloof college professor.
As much as I hate to admit this, McCain came across as a tired old man, repeating himself and at times losing his train of thought.
Oh well, two more debates to go. Hopefully things will get better.
This coming Thursday night debate between Palin and Biden should be really entertaining, if nothing else. (Maybe she will wear her bathing suit and bring her rifle.)
In all the furor over the presidential election, let's not forget that there are also races for the Senate and Congress. We should take a careful look at these candidates as well. Maybe its time to do some "House" cleaning.
Keep informed, ask questions, and don't rush into any decisions.
It's Common sense.
I give kudos to Jim Lehrer for trying to get the candidates to actually face off one against the other and let some passion flow. Unfortunately the only passion I saw was when McCain spoke about the surge in Iraq.
I think at the next debate the candidates should be seated at a table, facing one another, so that they will be forced to have eye contact and get into a serious discussion, hopefully where they will be forced to get down to specifics. They need to make this personal, this is about the two of them, who they are, not some lofty goals.
Contrary to many of the commentators I did not see either one as the victor. Of course, the fact that I saw them as pretty even I guess means that Obama did better on foreign affairs than expected.
Over all I was disappointed in that both avoid specifics.
After asking their views on the bailout and if they would support what Congress proposes, Jim Lehrer asked which of their programs would be affected due to lack of funding.
McCain talked of freezing most programs, with the exceptions of defense and veteran spending.
Obama admitted some of his programs would be delayed but that he planned to pushed through health care and education - the two high ticket items on his agenda.
Is it possible that neither man gets the fact that Americans are tired of bailing everybody in world out of trouble and leaving ourselves with a hopeless deficit? McCain mention at one point the $500 billion we owe China. He didn't mention the other countries holding our securities.
We can not continue to do crazy spending until we get control of our debt.
My view of their positives and negatives.
Barack Obama
Economy
Positive - Wants to work out tax breaks for 95% of Americans. Plans to veto entitlements, restrict loopholes for big business and look into cutting government wasteful spending practices.
Make Iraq start paying for the war out of their oil surplus.
Negative - Does not explain where the money is going to come from to pay for his programs if the majority of taxes are going to be cut. Also makes no mention of how he plans to start paying off the deficit.
Foreign Affairs
Positive - Concentrate on stabilising Afghanistan and eliminating the bin Laden, Al Quada, Taliban threat in that part of the world. Wants to meet with allies and improve the world image of the USA.
Negative - Lack of experience about foreign relations. Although in a debate with Hilary Clinton he stated that he would meet with no pre-conditions with the leaders of countries hostile to the USA, last night he tried to give a different spin. Admit that you were wrong and move on.
John McCain
Economy
Positive - Veto entitlements and clean up up wasteful government spending by revamping Federal Agencies and holding them accountable.
Negative - Still wants to give breaks to big business without holding them accountable.
Foreign Affairs
Positive - He's been everywhere and knows everyone. Even though I was against the war in Iraq since day one, he was right about the surge and just maybe the USA will be able to withdraw with a victory.
Negative - Still seems to be a victim of the Evil Empire mentality.
Overall I was disappointed. Obama came across as an aloof college professor.
As much as I hate to admit this, McCain came across as a tired old man, repeating himself and at times losing his train of thought.
Oh well, two more debates to go. Hopefully things will get better.
This coming Thursday night debate between Palin and Biden should be really entertaining, if nothing else. (Maybe she will wear her bathing suit and bring her rifle.)
In all the furor over the presidential election, let's not forget that there are also races for the Senate and Congress. We should take a careful look at these candidates as well. Maybe its time to do some "House" cleaning.
Keep informed, ask questions, and don't rush into any decisions.
It's Common sense.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Debate & Senator Mikulski's response
Tonight, if all goes well, will be the first presidential debate of the season. Please watch and listen. Do not go in with your mind made up. Give both candidates a fair chance to state their case.
Then tomorrow we can all watch Saturday Night Live and get their insight into the debate.
Laughter is good, but we all need to take the election seriously. My hope is that the debates will give us an opportunity to see the candidates for who they are, their strengths and weaknesses. Frankly, neither one has really impressed me yet, but I am hoping that during the debates one of them will say something that will enable me to say "He's the one."
Of course, there's always a write in vote.
Anyway, my insight of the debate tomorrow.
Senator Mikulski responded to my letter regarding the restructuring of Social Security. I have left her misspelling alone.
Thanks for keeping in touch with me. It's nice to hear from you.
I believe that the United States government made a promise to Americans when the Social Security program was created. Promises made should be promises kept. Millions of Americans have contributed a portion of their salaries over their lives to Social Security, and they depend on these benefits when they retire. Jeopardizing the system now would break our promise to these Americans.
As you know, there are several proposals to reform Social Security. When comprehensive Social Security reform comes before the Senate, I want you to know that I will fight for a proposal that will ensure a guaranteed, lifetime, inflation‑protected benefit for seniors. I will also work hard to ensure that reform enhances the long‑term solvency of the Social Security program. Thank you for your seperating disability benefits from Social Security. I will keep your comments in mind as I continue to work to ensure that all Americans have a secure and reliable retirement income.
Again, thanks for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the future.Sincerely, Barbara A. MikulskiUnited States Senator
Then tomorrow we can all watch Saturday Night Live and get their insight into the debate.
Laughter is good, but we all need to take the election seriously. My hope is that the debates will give us an opportunity to see the candidates for who they are, their strengths and weaknesses. Frankly, neither one has really impressed me yet, but I am hoping that during the debates one of them will say something that will enable me to say "He's the one."
Of course, there's always a write in vote.
Anyway, my insight of the debate tomorrow.
Senator Mikulski responded to my letter regarding the restructuring of Social Security. I have left her misspelling alone.
Thanks for keeping in touch with me. It's nice to hear from you.
I believe that the United States government made a promise to Americans when the Social Security program was created. Promises made should be promises kept. Millions of Americans have contributed a portion of their salaries over their lives to Social Security, and they depend on these benefits when they retire. Jeopardizing the system now would break our promise to these Americans.
As you know, there are several proposals to reform Social Security. When comprehensive Social Security reform comes before the Senate, I want you to know that I will fight for a proposal that will ensure a guaranteed, lifetime, inflation‑protected benefit for seniors. I will also work hard to ensure that reform enhances the long‑term solvency of the Social Security program. Thank you for your seperating disability benefits from Social Security. I will keep your comments in mind as I continue to work to ensure that all Americans have a secure and reliable retirement income.
Again, thanks for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the future.Sincerely, Barbara A. MikulskiUnited States Senator
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Debate
McCain says he may not debate tomorrow night. What is he afraid of? We all know that the government needs to make decisions on the bailouts. In truth, I thought that Obama and McCain should have been invited over the weekend to meet with Bush and Paulson to see what the options are. After all, one of them is going to be stuck with the results of the bailout, not Bush.
I agree that coming to a practical plan is important. I feel that Obama and McCain should make their contributions. But the truth of the matter is that neither one of them heads a senate committee that ties in directly to the bailout, so they can advise from a distance, they do not have to be in D.C.
Its forty days until the election. The the voters have the right to see our candidates in action. We need to hear them respond to real questions about the current world and home situations. To be a President you have to multi-task. You should be able to participate in a 90 minute debate and have aides to keep you informed of any crisis in the world.
Our economy is vital to everything our country does. You can not have much of a foreign policy if you do not have the cash to back it up. How our economy stands will determine what we can do outside our borders. After all, if there is no cash, we can not supply aide to Georgia, Afghanistan and other hard pressed allies.
I feel that a debate about foreign policy will have no problem incorporating a check on the status of the current economic situation. After all, nothing stands alone anymore, everything goes hand in hand.
McCain and Obama need to debate to allow the voters the opportunity to see how they act under pressure, what they know and do not know, and to see just how honest (or at least how honest they appear to be) they are in what they have to say.
I feel we would be better served if we could witness two debates a week until the election. Political commercials are junk, I don't believe any of them, or pay any attention to them. What I do pay attention to is how the candidate reacts responding to questions, especially if the commentators press for specifics.
Whoever wins this election is inheriting a mess and four hard years. We have to make sure the winner is the one we feel can do the job.
Let them talk, but ask specifics and let's make sure they are held accountable for the promises they make.
The President works for us - let's hire the best man for the job!!
Its Common Sense.
I agree that coming to a practical plan is important. I feel that Obama and McCain should make their contributions. But the truth of the matter is that neither one of them heads a senate committee that ties in directly to the bailout, so they can advise from a distance, they do not have to be in D.C.
Its forty days until the election. The the voters have the right to see our candidates in action. We need to hear them respond to real questions about the current world and home situations. To be a President you have to multi-task. You should be able to participate in a 90 minute debate and have aides to keep you informed of any crisis in the world.
Our economy is vital to everything our country does. You can not have much of a foreign policy if you do not have the cash to back it up. How our economy stands will determine what we can do outside our borders. After all, if there is no cash, we can not supply aide to Georgia, Afghanistan and other hard pressed allies.
I feel that a debate about foreign policy will have no problem incorporating a check on the status of the current economic situation. After all, nothing stands alone anymore, everything goes hand in hand.
McCain and Obama need to debate to allow the voters the opportunity to see how they act under pressure, what they know and do not know, and to see just how honest (or at least how honest they appear to be) they are in what they have to say.
I feel we would be better served if we could witness two debates a week until the election. Political commercials are junk, I don't believe any of them, or pay any attention to them. What I do pay attention to is how the candidate reacts responding to questions, especially if the commentators press for specifics.
Whoever wins this election is inheriting a mess and four hard years. We have to make sure the winner is the one we feel can do the job.
Let them talk, but ask specifics and let's make sure they are held accountable for the promises they make.
The President works for us - let's hire the best man for the job!!
Its Common Sense.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Senator Mikulski respons eto 9/21/08 letter
Here is senator Mikulski's response to my question of 09/21/08 about the bailouts. Note that she does not answer where any money will be coming from but sticks to party politics.
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for writing to me about the Bush Administration's proposal to bail out the financial industry. It's good to hear from you.
There's no question that we are in a credit crisis. People who have saved for their retirement, been faithful in paying their mortgage, and worked hard to pay for college are wondering, 'What is going on?'
They've watched Wall Street executives pay themselves lavish salaries. They've watched irresponsible lending practices. They've watched casino economics, gambling on risky investment mechanisms. Now those very same Americans who've worked hard and played by the rules are being asked to pay the bill for those who didn't.
Congress must act promptly to restore confidence and stability in the economy. But I will not be stampeded into voting for the Bush Administration bill. During the last seven years, every time there's a crisis, they generate fear and they generate bad ideas. This three-page bill gives the Secretary of the Treasury unlimited power to intervene in our financial markets without any review by Congress, agencies, or courts. It cannot be rubber stamped by the Congress.
At the minimum, the plan must be limited and temporary - not open-ended. There can't be any golden parachutes that reward executives for their excesses and their recklessness. No blank checks. There also must be a plan for those who have been hit hardest by the mortgage crisis.
Knowing of your views is very helpful to me. I will keep them in mind as the Senate continues to debate the President's economic plan.
Thanks again for getting in touch. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you in the future.Sincerely, Barbara A. MikulskiUnited States Senator P.S. If I can be of further assistance in the future,please visit my website at http://mikulski.senate.govor call my Washington D.C. office at 202-224-4654
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
Thank you for writing to me about the Bush Administration's proposal to bail out the financial industry. It's good to hear from you.
There's no question that we are in a credit crisis. People who have saved for their retirement, been faithful in paying their mortgage, and worked hard to pay for college are wondering, 'What is going on?'
They've watched Wall Street executives pay themselves lavish salaries. They've watched irresponsible lending practices. They've watched casino economics, gambling on risky investment mechanisms. Now those very same Americans who've worked hard and played by the rules are being asked to pay the bill for those who didn't.
Congress must act promptly to restore confidence and stability in the economy. But I will not be stampeded into voting for the Bush Administration bill. During the last seven years, every time there's a crisis, they generate fear and they generate bad ideas. This three-page bill gives the Secretary of the Treasury unlimited power to intervene in our financial markets without any review by Congress, agencies, or courts. It cannot be rubber stamped by the Congress.
At the minimum, the plan must be limited and temporary - not open-ended. There can't be any golden parachutes that reward executives for their excesses and their recklessness. No blank checks. There also must be a plan for those who have been hit hardest by the mortgage crisis.
Knowing of your views is very helpful to me. I will keep them in mind as the Senate continues to debate the President's economic plan.
Thanks again for getting in touch. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you in the future.Sincerely, Barbara A. MikulskiUnited States Senator P.S. If I can be of further assistance in the future,please visit my website at http://mikulski.senate.govor call my Washington D.C. office at 202-224-4654
Social Security Reform
Another letter to my representartives.
Dear Senator,
This is a busy month. Buy outs and appropriations. How will money be spent in the future?
One area that needs to be analyzed is Social Security. There is always talk of Social Security reform, but nothing is ever done.
I have a suggestion.
Social Security was established to assist retirees with the "golden" years. It was to be a little something to help augment whatever funds they had saved for retirement. If it had been left alone to function in its pure form, we would not be having the crisis we are currently facing.
For the past forty years Congress has been changing the ways Social Security funds are to be used. In addition to borrowing from the fund at their leisure, Congress also decided that the Social Security fund would be used to pay workers disabled for more than a year, their spouses and children. In addition Social security pays survivor benefits for children until age 18 and for spouses until the youngest child is 16. Of course, if the spouse is 60 or over they will get their benefit.
The majority of the benefits paid by Social Security are disability related, not retirement related.
What Congress needs to do is allow Social Security to function as it was planned - as an aid to retirement.
The first thing Congress needs to do is get Social Security out of the disability business. Logic dictates that the Department of Labor should be responsible for workers who can not work. I propose that each working, tax payer pay a 1% tax for disability. Their employer would also pay 1%. If a person meets the disability requirements, as they do now for Social Security benefits, the Labor Department will pay the individual.
With the disability burden removed from Social Security, the trust fund should be able to support the retirees it was created to assist.
I ask that you introduce legislation to allow Social Security to perform its original and true function - to assist retirees.
Thank You
Michael Wolfe
Dear Senator,
This is a busy month. Buy outs and appropriations. How will money be spent in the future?
One area that needs to be analyzed is Social Security. There is always talk of Social Security reform, but nothing is ever done.
I have a suggestion.
Social Security was established to assist retirees with the "golden" years. It was to be a little something to help augment whatever funds they had saved for retirement. If it had been left alone to function in its pure form, we would not be having the crisis we are currently facing.
For the past forty years Congress has been changing the ways Social Security funds are to be used. In addition to borrowing from the fund at their leisure, Congress also decided that the Social Security fund would be used to pay workers disabled for more than a year, their spouses and children. In addition Social security pays survivor benefits for children until age 18 and for spouses until the youngest child is 16. Of course, if the spouse is 60 or over they will get their benefit.
The majority of the benefits paid by Social Security are disability related, not retirement related.
What Congress needs to do is allow Social Security to function as it was planned - as an aid to retirement.
The first thing Congress needs to do is get Social Security out of the disability business. Logic dictates that the Department of Labor should be responsible for workers who can not work. I propose that each working, tax payer pay a 1% tax for disability. Their employer would also pay 1%. If a person meets the disability requirements, as they do now for Social Security benefits, the Labor Department will pay the individual.
With the disability burden removed from Social Security, the trust fund should be able to support the retirees it was created to assist.
I ask that you introduce legislation to allow Social Security to perform its original and true function - to assist retirees.
Thank You
Michael Wolfe
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Illegal Aliens vs Undocumented Workers
During the presidential primary debates when some of the candidates used the term "undocumented worker" opposed to illegal alien I was really annoyed. These individuals were undocumented workers because they had crossed our borders without the proper authorization - work visa, student visa, permanent visa - went to work for some dubious employer who ripped the government off of tax money, Social Security and Medicare taxes and then got caught.
They were and are here without legal documentation and are therefore illegal. They broke the law, plan and simple.
This really irritates me. My wife is a Brazilian. Twenty-four years ago we decided we wanted to raise our daughter in the United States. We went to the United States Consulate in Rio De Janeiro and applied for a permanent resident visa for my wife. At that time we had to provide proof that I had employment waiting for me, and that we had a place to live. We also had to sign documents swearing that during our first five years in the United States neither one of us would apply for any kind of welfare benefits from the State or Federal government. No welfare, no food stamps, no Medicaid. For five years we were entitled to nothing. Imagine that, and I was a US citizen.
Now, things have evidently changed. Instead of enforcing the law, the government is making plans to allow the illegal aliens in the country to stay and buy themselves citizenship, or at least residency.
Fine, I can accept that if the government insures that they pay all of the back taxes, Social Security and Medicare Care premiums they owe for all of the years they have worked in this country. In addition, they need to pay all legal and government fees that will be needed for the program to succeed.
The other group that needs to pay up are the employers who have used the illegal aliens as cheap labor for years. How many landscaping and construction companies are making big profits because their non-union work force accepts what they are paid? In addition, these employers are not paying the taxes, Social Security and Medicare they should for their employees.
All of these companies should be fined heavily, and their owners should do jail time.
The sad reality is that our politicians are afraid to lose their contributions and do nothing.
Remember two years when Swift and Company Meat packing had six of their plants raided and 1282 illegal aliens (9% of Swift & Company's national work force) were detained and deported?
What penalty did Swift and Company suffer?
I came across their testimony before a Congressional Committee and you can read for yourselves.
http://www.hreonline.com/pdfs/07012007Extra_SwiftTestimony.pdf
I have nothing against anyone coming to this country to better themselves. I just believe that they need to follow the rules. They need to get the proper visa (s), pay their taxes and follow the laws.
After all. that's what all the rest of us have to do. If it is good enough for those of us who were born here, its good enough for those who want to join us.
It's Common Sense.
They were and are here without legal documentation and are therefore illegal. They broke the law, plan and simple.
This really irritates me. My wife is a Brazilian. Twenty-four years ago we decided we wanted to raise our daughter in the United States. We went to the United States Consulate in Rio De Janeiro and applied for a permanent resident visa for my wife. At that time we had to provide proof that I had employment waiting for me, and that we had a place to live. We also had to sign documents swearing that during our first five years in the United States neither one of us would apply for any kind of welfare benefits from the State or Federal government. No welfare, no food stamps, no Medicaid. For five years we were entitled to nothing. Imagine that, and I was a US citizen.
Now, things have evidently changed. Instead of enforcing the law, the government is making plans to allow the illegal aliens in the country to stay and buy themselves citizenship, or at least residency.
Fine, I can accept that if the government insures that they pay all of the back taxes, Social Security and Medicare Care premiums they owe for all of the years they have worked in this country. In addition, they need to pay all legal and government fees that will be needed for the program to succeed.
The other group that needs to pay up are the employers who have used the illegal aliens as cheap labor for years. How many landscaping and construction companies are making big profits because their non-union work force accepts what they are paid? In addition, these employers are not paying the taxes, Social Security and Medicare they should for their employees.
All of these companies should be fined heavily, and their owners should do jail time.
The sad reality is that our politicians are afraid to lose their contributions and do nothing.
Remember two years when Swift and Company Meat packing had six of their plants raided and 1282 illegal aliens (9% of Swift & Company's national work force) were detained and deported?
What penalty did Swift and Company suffer?
I came across their testimony before a Congressional Committee and you can read for yourselves.
http://www.hreonline.com/pdfs/07012007Extra_SwiftTestimony.pdf
I have nothing against anyone coming to this country to better themselves. I just believe that they need to follow the rules. They need to get the proper visa (s), pay their taxes and follow the laws.
After all. that's what all the rest of us have to do. If it is good enough for those of us who were born here, its good enough for those who want to join us.
It's Common Sense.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Appropriations, Earmarks, Pork
This is the second in a series of letters I will be sending to my senators and congressman. Please feel free to use it or any part of it to make requests or ask questions of your representatives. Hopefully I will have some answers to share with you in the near future.
Dear Senator,
The close of the fiscal year will soon be upon us and once again the Congress has failed to pass the appropriation bills needed for the government to continue to function. Once again we will go through a series of "continuing motions" until all of the backroom deals have been made and everybody on the "Hill" is satisfied with their "Earmarks."
Senator, I am writing to you to ask you to fight the "earmarks". The past two months have brought almost a trillion dollar debt upon this country. We do not need to go further in debt to borrow money so some one can study the effects of cows passing gas, or how many trout are in the streams of West Virginia.
The time of irresponsible spending has to end. You the members of Congress are suppose to be the leaders of this country, not children with their hands in the cookie jar trying to grab all they can.
Please stand up and tell your fellow senators "No more!"
Think of the people, not the lobbyist and special interest.
In this election year we need to see through these appropriations which party really is the party of change, and which party is business as usual.
I would really appreciate if you could send to me a list of the senators requesting earmarks and just what those earmarks are.
Michael Wolfe
Dear Senator,
The close of the fiscal year will soon be upon us and once again the Congress has failed to pass the appropriation bills needed for the government to continue to function. Once again we will go through a series of "continuing motions" until all of the backroom deals have been made and everybody on the "Hill" is satisfied with their "Earmarks."
Senator, I am writing to you to ask you to fight the "earmarks". The past two months have brought almost a trillion dollar debt upon this country. We do not need to go further in debt to borrow money so some one can study the effects of cows passing gas, or how many trout are in the streams of West Virginia.
The time of irresponsible spending has to end. You the members of Congress are suppose to be the leaders of this country, not children with their hands in the cookie jar trying to grab all they can.
Please stand up and tell your fellow senators "No more!"
Think of the people, not the lobbyist and special interest.
In this election year we need to see through these appropriations which party really is the party of change, and which party is business as usual.
I would really appreciate if you could send to me a list of the senators requesting earmarks and just what those earmarks are.
Michael Wolfe
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Request to Senators for bailout information
Earlier today I sent the following email to my two senators - Barbara Mikulsi and Benjamin Cardin, as well as my congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. If and when I get a response I will share those as well.
Please feel free to use any or all of this email and send it to your representatives. (Just go to US Senate.gov to get the email address of your senators, and US Congress.gov for the email address of your representative.)
Hopefully, if enough of us raise the questions, some answers will be given.
Here is the email.
Dear Senator,
The current figures available on all of the bailouts is $200 billion for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, $85 billion for AIG, and $700 billion for "toxic" mortgages. That's just short of a trillion dollars.
How much is the current deficit? How much deeper in debt does this country need to go?
I know we are borrowing the money from foreign governments. Who are the principal lenders, what is the interest rate, and what is the payback schedule? What are the terms if we default on our loan?
Several years ago Senator Mikulski sent me several books to explain how the Federal government could have a surplus and deficit at the same time. The math was confusing then, now it is even worse.
What is the plan for paying back our creditors? What kind of tax burden is this going to put on the American people? Let's be honest, Senator, someone is going to have to pay, and it never seems to be Congress, but rather the American people.
I read where Congresswoman Pelosi is considering putting together another stimulus package. Forget it!! You do not need to borrow anymore money.
Iraq supposedly has a $78 billion surplus. Make them pay for the war (after all we aren‘t getting any help at the gas pump and I thought that was the real reason we invaded), and we can at least stop those ridiculous monthly payments we are currently sending over there.
Nobody wants to be responsible, no one wants to hold anyone accountable and punish them, its "oh well, we'll try better next time."
Forget about the popularity contest, make some tough decisions and get this deficit off our backs.
Michael Wolfe
Please feel free to use any or all of this email and send it to your representatives. (Just go to US Senate.gov to get the email address of your senators, and US Congress.gov for the email address of your representative.)
Hopefully, if enough of us raise the questions, some answers will be given.
Here is the email.
Dear Senator,
The current figures available on all of the bailouts is $200 billion for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, $85 billion for AIG, and $700 billion for "toxic" mortgages. That's just short of a trillion dollars.
How much is the current deficit? How much deeper in debt does this country need to go?
I know we are borrowing the money from foreign governments. Who are the principal lenders, what is the interest rate, and what is the payback schedule? What are the terms if we default on our loan?
Several years ago Senator Mikulski sent me several books to explain how the Federal government could have a surplus and deficit at the same time. The math was confusing then, now it is even worse.
What is the plan for paying back our creditors? What kind of tax burden is this going to put on the American people? Let's be honest, Senator, someone is going to have to pay, and it never seems to be Congress, but rather the American people.
I read where Congresswoman Pelosi is considering putting together another stimulus package. Forget it!! You do not need to borrow anymore money.
Iraq supposedly has a $78 billion surplus. Make them pay for the war (after all we aren‘t getting any help at the gas pump and I thought that was the real reason we invaded), and we can at least stop those ridiculous monthly payments we are currently sending over there.
Nobody wants to be responsible, no one wants to hold anyone accountable and punish them, its "oh well, we'll try better next time."
Forget about the popularity contest, make some tough decisions and get this deficit off our backs.
Michael Wolfe
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Obama and racism
When I came on the internet this morning I saw the following article
Poll: Racial views steer some white Dems away from ObamaBy RON FOURNIER and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles.
I am saddened to see that in the 22nd century we in the United States are still hung up over the color of a person's skin and what their race is. I have never been in favor of applications for anything - be it a job, entrance to a school, a credit card application - that want you to state your race. Recently I have been checking the box Other because frankly its nobody's damn business.
I think Barack Obama is a perfect example of why we need to get away from labeling people by race. First of all, he is bi-racial, African father and Euro-American mother. Why should he be forced to decide what race he is, when in truth he is a combination of the two.
The important thing is that he is an American (I do not know if he is a Kenyan dual citizen), of the required age to be a candiate for the President of the United States. Since he is bi-racial, going by the bigotted method of looking for the worse, then it is true that he would have the worst characteristics of both races. On the other hand, he would also have the best characteristics of both races.
Of course the simple truth of the matter is that he is a man who feels he has the necessary qualifications to lead the United States. John McCain feels he has those same qualifications.
So what we the voters need to do is not worry about their race, nor their age, nor their wives, nor who their vice presidential candiate happens to be.
What we need to do is research their stances on the issues. Currently we know the government is going through a wave of buy out madness. Last figures I saw was 200 billion for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 85 billion for AIG, and a proposed 700 billion to buy out poor home owner loans. What do Obama and McCain offer to insure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again? (My parents lived through the Great Depression, I don't want my grandchildren remembering that grandpa lived through the Second Great Depression.)
Next Friday is the first of the presidential debates. Take the time to watch and listen. My father said that a person who did not vote had no right to complain because they didn't even try to make things better.
We have to try and we have to get others to try. Listen, learn, think, decide and vote.
Its Common Sense.
Poll: Racial views steer some white Dems away from ObamaBy RON FOURNIER and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles.
I am saddened to see that in the 22nd century we in the United States are still hung up over the color of a person's skin and what their race is. I have never been in favor of applications for anything - be it a job, entrance to a school, a credit card application - that want you to state your race. Recently I have been checking the box Other because frankly its nobody's damn business.
I think Barack Obama is a perfect example of why we need to get away from labeling people by race. First of all, he is bi-racial, African father and Euro-American mother. Why should he be forced to decide what race he is, when in truth he is a combination of the two.
The important thing is that he is an American (I do not know if he is a Kenyan dual citizen), of the required age to be a candiate for the President of the United States. Since he is bi-racial, going by the bigotted method of looking for the worse, then it is true that he would have the worst characteristics of both races. On the other hand, he would also have the best characteristics of both races.
Of course the simple truth of the matter is that he is a man who feels he has the necessary qualifications to lead the United States. John McCain feels he has those same qualifications.
So what we the voters need to do is not worry about their race, nor their age, nor their wives, nor who their vice presidential candiate happens to be.
What we need to do is research their stances on the issues. Currently we know the government is going through a wave of buy out madness. Last figures I saw was 200 billion for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 85 billion for AIG, and a proposed 700 billion to buy out poor home owner loans. What do Obama and McCain offer to insure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again? (My parents lived through the Great Depression, I don't want my grandchildren remembering that grandpa lived through the Second Great Depression.)
Next Friday is the first of the presidential debates. Take the time to watch and listen. My father said that a person who did not vote had no right to complain because they didn't even try to make things better.
We have to try and we have to get others to try. Listen, learn, think, decide and vote.
Its Common Sense.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Cars, Cell Phones, Road Rage
Like the majority of you, I am a commuter. For the past six years I have been making a daily commute of about thirty-five miles round trip. Most of it on highway and interstate. Prior to this I was only five minutes from my job, so it has been an adjustment.
I can remember reading stories for years about the incidents of road rage, especially in California, where people would jump out of cars with guns because of their total frustration. I did not understand it then, but I do now.
I would like to list, in no particular order, the drivers on the road who could lead me to an act of road rage one of these days.
1. Tailgaters - I like tailgaters on parking lots at ball stadiums, especially those who can put out a good barbecue. However, I lose patience quickly with the idiot, with the high beams, who knows I cannot move because of the cars in front of me and those at my sides. When I took my driver's test, the rule was a car length for every ten miles of velocity. Has that rule change? Nowhere does it say to get as close as possible to the rear bumper in front of you.
2. Turn signals - Have you wondered how so many drivers have broken their turn signals? I find it find it amazing that there are so many drivers who are confident that I can read their minds and know when they plan to cut me off, and even better, that I know when in a two hundred yard span they will be crossing four lanes of traffic to reach their exit.
3. Combs and Brushes - How can people actually think they are going to stay in their lane of traffic when they are focus on making their hair look good in the rear-view mirror? (Now some will say that because I'm bald that I'm prejudice, but I assure you this not the case.)
4. Cell phones - What did people do before cell phones? I do not care if you want to talk in your car just make sure you are in control and have a hand available to signal lane changes. My car is a Saturn and it came with the On Star button. Push a button and talk, hands on the wheel at all times. One of biggest fears is that I will end up near someone doing a text message on their cell phone, they'll forget that they're driving and that will be the end for a lot of us.
5. Changing cassettes and Cd's - Okay, I do this too. But I try and do it when I am in a low traffic area I can always wait to hear something different.
6. Loud music - I cannot stand drivers who have their windows down, the music blaring and it is never anything I would listen to. Maybe I need to move where they play classical and country.
7. No lights in bad weather - In Maryland, the law is, wipers on lights on. Yet a majority do not follow the law. I rarely see anyone pulled over because the cops probably do not want to get wet. I wish these jerks would wake up to the fact that the headlights are not for them, it so the rest of us can see them.
8. Drag racing - A crowded interstate is not the place to see if you can beat your buddy's car, find a drag strip as away from me as possible.
9. Passing lane under the speed limit - My exit off the interstate is from the left hand lane. Almost always there will be someone in the lane, ten to fifteen mile below the speed, who does not take the exit.
10. The talker with hand gestures - These drivers are another group who inevitably end up below the speed limit because they are acting out their day for someone else in the car. Pull over on the shoulder, tell your story, then drive home with your hands on the wheel.
I am certain I have missed some. Let me know what irks you the most about your commute.
Driving should be common sense, but it rarely makes any sense.
I can remember reading stories for years about the incidents of road rage, especially in California, where people would jump out of cars with guns because of their total frustration. I did not understand it then, but I do now.
I would like to list, in no particular order, the drivers on the road who could lead me to an act of road rage one of these days.
1. Tailgaters - I like tailgaters on parking lots at ball stadiums, especially those who can put out a good barbecue. However, I lose patience quickly with the idiot, with the high beams, who knows I cannot move because of the cars in front of me and those at my sides. When I took my driver's test, the rule was a car length for every ten miles of velocity. Has that rule change? Nowhere does it say to get as close as possible to the rear bumper in front of you.
2. Turn signals - Have you wondered how so many drivers have broken their turn signals? I find it find it amazing that there are so many drivers who are confident that I can read their minds and know when they plan to cut me off, and even better, that I know when in a two hundred yard span they will be crossing four lanes of traffic to reach their exit.
3. Combs and Brushes - How can people actually think they are going to stay in their lane of traffic when they are focus on making their hair look good in the rear-view mirror? (Now some will say that because I'm bald that I'm prejudice, but I assure you this not the case.)
4. Cell phones - What did people do before cell phones? I do not care if you want to talk in your car just make sure you are in control and have a hand available to signal lane changes. My car is a Saturn and it came with the On Star button. Push a button and talk, hands on the wheel at all times. One of biggest fears is that I will end up near someone doing a text message on their cell phone, they'll forget that they're driving and that will be the end for a lot of us.
5. Changing cassettes and Cd's - Okay, I do this too. But I try and do it when I am in a low traffic area I can always wait to hear something different.
6. Loud music - I cannot stand drivers who have their windows down, the music blaring and it is never anything I would listen to. Maybe I need to move where they play classical and country.
7. No lights in bad weather - In Maryland, the law is, wipers on lights on. Yet a majority do not follow the law. I rarely see anyone pulled over because the cops probably do not want to get wet. I wish these jerks would wake up to the fact that the headlights are not for them, it so the rest of us can see them.
8. Drag racing - A crowded interstate is not the place to see if you can beat your buddy's car, find a drag strip as away from me as possible.
9. Passing lane under the speed limit - My exit off the interstate is from the left hand lane. Almost always there will be someone in the lane, ten to fifteen mile below the speed, who does not take the exit.
10. The talker with hand gestures - These drivers are another group who inevitably end up below the speed limit because they are acting out their day for someone else in the car. Pull over on the shoulder, tell your story, then drive home with your hands on the wheel.
I am certain I have missed some. Let me know what irks you the most about your commute.
Driving should be common sense, but it rarely makes any sense.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
What is the value of a dollar?
I heard on the news last night that the Federal Reserve has requested the Treasury Department to print more money. With all of the recent bailouts it stands to reason that the country has to insure that there is enough money floating in circulation.
Unfortunately, the more money in circulation, the less the value of the dollar on the world market, which means if we are not already in a recession we are certainly on the way and if we are in a recession, then how far off is a depression? The stock market keeps heading down, there does not appear to be any hope of the horizon.
Which leads me to wonder just what our two prominent candidates for president feel about the current economic situation? Do they have a clue as to what is going on?
Mr. Cain seems to feel that things are not all that bad. After all, he is promising employees with lower paying jobs due to the fact that their original employers left the country that the government will somehow make up the difference between their current paycheck and what they used to make. How is that suppose to work? Where is the money coming from?
Mr. Obama wants universal health care and says that his plan will pay for itself. How? People who can afford health care are already covered by some kind of plan. It is low income individuals and those unable to join some kind of group plan that have no coverage. So how are they going to pay for coverage?
I urge you to write to the candidates' websites and ask questions.
I know that can be frustrating. (I have written several times to both candidates requesting specifics on their various plans and have thus far received no response. Perhaps the silence is the answer.)
We the people need to tell the politicians that enough is enough. There is only so much to go around and we have to put the money where it will best serve the country - education, defense, infrastructure, paying off the debt.
No more pork. The next member of congress who tries to add a special request on a bill should be run out of town on a rail.
We need common sense, not nonsense.
Unfortunately, the more money in circulation, the less the value of the dollar on the world market, which means if we are not already in a recession we are certainly on the way and if we are in a recession, then how far off is a depression? The stock market keeps heading down, there does not appear to be any hope of the horizon.
Which leads me to wonder just what our two prominent candidates for president feel about the current economic situation? Do they have a clue as to what is going on?
Mr. Cain seems to feel that things are not all that bad. After all, he is promising employees with lower paying jobs due to the fact that their original employers left the country that the government will somehow make up the difference between their current paycheck and what they used to make. How is that suppose to work? Where is the money coming from?
Mr. Obama wants universal health care and says that his plan will pay for itself. How? People who can afford health care are already covered by some kind of plan. It is low income individuals and those unable to join some kind of group plan that have no coverage. So how are they going to pay for coverage?
I urge you to write to the candidates' websites and ask questions.
I know that can be frustrating. (I have written several times to both candidates requesting specifics on their various plans and have thus far received no response. Perhaps the silence is the answer.)
We the people need to tell the politicians that enough is enough. There is only so much to go around and we have to put the money where it will best serve the country - education, defense, infrastructure, paying off the debt.
No more pork. The next member of congress who tries to add a special request on a bill should be run out of town on a rail.
We need common sense, not nonsense.
The selling of America
This has been the month of bailouts. First Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Yesterday it was AIG.
Are you like me and wonder where the billions are coming from to pay for these buyouts?
Have we actually paid so much in taxes that our President and Congress can not only pay the monthly billion + to run the war in Iraq, but have billions left over to handle buyouts for financial institutions?
Out of curiosity I went hunting to find out where the money is coming from. I believed for a long time that the USA has been borrowing money from China and that was the reason President Bush went to the Olympics, rather than stay in the White House and protest China's record on human rights violations.
I found the following on a web site of the Treasury Department.
www.ustreas.gov/tic/mfh.txt
If you access the web site you will be able to see the billions of dollars foreign governments are holding in US Treasury bonds. I will be the first to admit that I do not know all the laws and regulations that are in place when someone buys a Treasury Bond. But I would certainly like to know what happens if one of these countries decides to cash in.
Many Americans worry about the problem of illegal aliens within our borders, and we will talk about that at a later time, but maybe an even bigger concern is how our "leaders" are selling out our country to foreign investors.
I thought we had to fear the foreign investors who were buying up companies and real estate in the USA. This morning when I heard that Barclay Bank in England had bought at least part of Lehman Brothers I thought "here we go again." But until I found the report above I never realized just how much of our country's finances are actually held by by foreign countries.
Regrettably I have no solution, maybe its too late and I should just let fate play out its hand.
But, I am hopeful that maybe all we Americans need is a wake up call to the plight we are headed and we will get off our apathetic butts and tell the boys and girls in DC that enough is enough.
We have to run our households with a balanced budget or lose everything to creditors, its time the President and Congress got the budget balanced so we do not lose the country to our foreign creditors and have to accept all the changes that would come from that.
Let's force the Washington gang to be responsible. Write your senators and congress person. Tell them they better start acting responsibly or come next election they'll be in the unemployment line.
We the people need to be heard, and we better do it before its too late.
Are you like me and wonder where the billions are coming from to pay for these buyouts?
Have we actually paid so much in taxes that our President and Congress can not only pay the monthly billion + to run the war in Iraq, but have billions left over to handle buyouts for financial institutions?
Out of curiosity I went hunting to find out where the money is coming from. I believed for a long time that the USA has been borrowing money from China and that was the reason President Bush went to the Olympics, rather than stay in the White House and protest China's record on human rights violations.
I found the following on a web site of the Treasury Department.
www.ustreas.gov/tic/mfh.txt
If you access the web site you will be able to see the billions of dollars foreign governments are holding in US Treasury bonds. I will be the first to admit that I do not know all the laws and regulations that are in place when someone buys a Treasury Bond. But I would certainly like to know what happens if one of these countries decides to cash in.
Many Americans worry about the problem of illegal aliens within our borders, and we will talk about that at a later time, but maybe an even bigger concern is how our "leaders" are selling out our country to foreign investors.
I thought we had to fear the foreign investors who were buying up companies and real estate in the USA. This morning when I heard that Barclay Bank in England had bought at least part of Lehman Brothers I thought "here we go again." But until I found the report above I never realized just how much of our country's finances are actually held by by foreign countries.
Regrettably I have no solution, maybe its too late and I should just let fate play out its hand.
But, I am hopeful that maybe all we Americans need is a wake up call to the plight we are headed and we will get off our apathetic butts and tell the boys and girls in DC that enough is enough.
We have to run our households with a balanced budget or lose everything to creditors, its time the President and Congress got the budget balanced so we do not lose the country to our foreign creditors and have to accept all the changes that would come from that.
Let's force the Washington gang to be responsible. Write your senators and congress person. Tell them they better start acting responsibly or come next election they'll be in the unemployment line.
We the people need to be heard, and we better do it before its too late.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Who are the faithful?
Today my wife and I celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
It is a milestone. During those years, we raised a daughter (who appears to be on her way to bigger and better things), buried our parents, worked our way up to a nice neighborhood and are currently making plans on how to spend our golden years.
We had good times, bad times, fun times and hard times. During all of it, no matter our feeling of the moment – love, anger, and frustration – we stayed together and worked things out.
The one thing that got us through everything is that we stayed faithful to our marriage, and equally important, to ourselves.
I looked up faithful in the dictionary.
As an adjective, it means unwavering in belief, consistently loyal, not adulterous or promiscuous, conscientious, and correct.
As a noun, it means somebody or something reliable, religious believers, loyal supporters.
In most aspects of our lives we are challenged to be faithful. Somethings it is easy, sometimes it is extremely difficult.
Often we find that we have to make compromises and in some instances we find that we have to choose between our desire to be faithful to more than one cause or people.
Common examples: Church vs State, Work vs Family, Spouse vs Family.
I think we all need to reflect on just what we are faithful to, and how important maintaining that relationship is in our life.
Can we be all that faithful means and live the life we want?
Its a question each of us can only answer for ourselves.
But, in this election year, I think it is a question the candidates need to answer for us. In the recent past we have seen unfaithful presidents, unfaithful candidates for president, unfaithful governors, and others who assured us that just because they had problems being faithful in their private lives, that it would have no effect on their public lives. They would remain faithful to us the voting public.
Can you trust a person who has been unfaithful and lies and attempts to justify it to be open and honest with you?
How faithful are the candidates running for office?
We need to research as much as we can about their past records, the promises and commitments they made, against the promises and commitments they have failed to keep.
How have they compromised themselves over the years - legitimate compromises with other parties to get things accomplished, or simply compromises to make themselves more appealing to a particular segment of society?
The first person you need to be faithful to is yourself.
Go do the research, ask all the questions and only then will you able to vote for the candidate who will be faithful to those who have placed him/her in office.
It is a milestone. During those years, we raised a daughter (who appears to be on her way to bigger and better things), buried our parents, worked our way up to a nice neighborhood and are currently making plans on how to spend our golden years.
We had good times, bad times, fun times and hard times. During all of it, no matter our feeling of the moment – love, anger, and frustration – we stayed together and worked things out.
The one thing that got us through everything is that we stayed faithful to our marriage, and equally important, to ourselves.
I looked up faithful in the dictionary.
As an adjective, it means unwavering in belief, consistently loyal, not adulterous or promiscuous, conscientious, and correct.
As a noun, it means somebody or something reliable, religious believers, loyal supporters.
In most aspects of our lives we are challenged to be faithful. Somethings it is easy, sometimes it is extremely difficult.
Often we find that we have to make compromises and in some instances we find that we have to choose between our desire to be faithful to more than one cause or people.
Common examples: Church vs State, Work vs Family, Spouse vs Family.
I think we all need to reflect on just what we are faithful to, and how important maintaining that relationship is in our life.
Can we be all that faithful means and live the life we want?
Its a question each of us can only answer for ourselves.
But, in this election year, I think it is a question the candidates need to answer for us. In the recent past we have seen unfaithful presidents, unfaithful candidates for president, unfaithful governors, and others who assured us that just because they had problems being faithful in their private lives, that it would have no effect on their public lives. They would remain faithful to us the voting public.
Can you trust a person who has been unfaithful and lies and attempts to justify it to be open and honest with you?
How faithful are the candidates running for office?
We need to research as much as we can about their past records, the promises and commitments they made, against the promises and commitments they have failed to keep.
How have they compromised themselves over the years - legitimate compromises with other parties to get things accomplished, or simply compromises to make themselves more appealing to a particular segment of society?
The first person you need to be faithful to is yourself.
Go do the research, ask all the questions and only then will you able to vote for the candidate who will be faithful to those who have placed him/her in office.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Change in Washington D.C.
Unless you do not have a television set or radio, you know that the two principal candidates for the presidency of the United States, the Democrat and the Republican, are both stating they are the candidate to bring change to Washington D.C. They both list items they plan to reform - health care, earmarks, taxes, education, ., etc and the list goes on.
However, what neither of them have been able to do to my satisfaction is explain how these changes are going to come about. Let's face it, the president does not act alone, he or she needs to work with Congress to make any change viable. Is that likely to happen? I hate to be a pessimist, but I doubt it.
Remember back in the 90's and the Republicans charged into Congress with all kind of lofty ideals and goals? One of them was the idea of term limits. Now that is an idea I think we the people should really press for.
Let's limit congressmen/women to two four year terms (two years is ridiculous, they spend half their time campaigning for the next term), senators to two six year terms, and leave the president with two four year terms they currently are allowed.
This is the kind of change that could make a huge difference in how people voted. Maybe finally we could get our elected officials to vote with a conscience instead of worrying what donator they might offend prior to their next campaign. A steady turn over in Washington D.C. could just lead to truly fresh ideas and make public service a true option for the majority, rather than the few who dominate the Capital today.
One other change I would like to see is a viable third and even fourth political party. Multiple parties would liven things up, make the politicians more accountable and hopefully force the legislators to actually be concerned with the true needs of their constituents, not the "needs" they feel will best serve their electorate.
Of course, for the moment, all we can do is wait until next January and see if after the inauguration, whoever is elected lives up to the word.
If they don't, then let's talk term limits, multiple parties and real CHANGE.
However, what neither of them have been able to do to my satisfaction is explain how these changes are going to come about. Let's face it, the president does not act alone, he or she needs to work with Congress to make any change viable. Is that likely to happen? I hate to be a pessimist, but I doubt it.
Remember back in the 90's and the Republicans charged into Congress with all kind of lofty ideals and goals? One of them was the idea of term limits. Now that is an idea I think we the people should really press for.
Let's limit congressmen/women to two four year terms (two years is ridiculous, they spend half their time campaigning for the next term), senators to two six year terms, and leave the president with two four year terms they currently are allowed.
This is the kind of change that could make a huge difference in how people voted. Maybe finally we could get our elected officials to vote with a conscience instead of worrying what donator they might offend prior to their next campaign. A steady turn over in Washington D.C. could just lead to truly fresh ideas and make public service a true option for the majority, rather than the few who dominate the Capital today.
One other change I would like to see is a viable third and even fourth political party. Multiple parties would liven things up, make the politicians more accountable and hopefully force the legislators to actually be concerned with the true needs of their constituents, not the "needs" they feel will best serve their electorate.
Of course, for the moment, all we can do is wait until next January and see if after the inauguration, whoever is elected lives up to the word.
If they don't, then let's talk term limits, multiple parties and real CHANGE.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Homeowner bailout
Within the past week the federal government took into receivership the lending leaders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I wrote to the senators of Maryland, my state, and asked them why my tax dollars were being used in this manner.
After all, even though I feel sorry for the homeowners who are defaulting on their loans, the truth of the matter is they have no one to blame but themselves. They should have done their homework, read the documents, done the math regarding interest rates and looked at their income to see what their budget could realistically allow them to pay as a mortage. It's their fault, not mine and I do not think I should have to pay for it.
Also, the banks the government is bailing out. Why do my tax dollars have to be used to bail greedy banks that got in over their heads? Why aren't the shady realtors, fly by night loan companies, and the CEO's of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being prosecuted for criminal actions?
Instead, it is my understanding that the CEO's of Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac will received combined severence packages in the amount of $30 million.
As I stated earlier, I wrote my senators. Senator Mikulski responded letting me know that the home buyers were innocent and that she had appropriate $30 million in federal funding to assist in their legal fees. Legal fees - our tax dollars going to more lawyers for what?
Needless to say I let her know I did not agree and thought she took take the CEO's severence packages if she needed $30 million for lawyers.
After all, even though I feel sorry for the homeowners who are defaulting on their loans, the truth of the matter is they have no one to blame but themselves. They should have done their homework, read the documents, done the math regarding interest rates and looked at their income to see what their budget could realistically allow them to pay as a mortage. It's their fault, not mine and I do not think I should have to pay for it.
Also, the banks the government is bailing out. Why do my tax dollars have to be used to bail greedy banks that got in over their heads? Why aren't the shady realtors, fly by night loan companies, and the CEO's of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being prosecuted for criminal actions?
Instead, it is my understanding that the CEO's of Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac will received combined severence packages in the amount of $30 million.
As I stated earlier, I wrote my senators. Senator Mikulski responded letting me know that the home buyers were innocent and that she had appropriate $30 million in federal funding to assist in their legal fees. Legal fees - our tax dollars going to more lawyers for what?
Needless to say I let her know I did not agree and thought she took take the CEO's severence packages if she needed $30 million for lawyers.
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