As most of you know, my wife passed away last May from a rare neurological disease called MSA. One of my goals in life is to offer support to those patients, caregivers, and families affected by this rare, fatal illness. The American Academy of Neurology has a film contest each year where they pick a short film made by individuals about support for brain disease research. Entries are submitted to You Tube and a winner is selected by popular vote. The film is then shown at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting. This would really be important to help with MSA as it is very rare and still unknown to a lot of doctors and other medical personnel. I know this from personal experience. There is a film featuring a MSA patient that is entered in the contest this year. I would ask that you register, watch, and vote for the film. Even if you do not want to vote, please go watch the film. It will show you what MSA patients like my wife, go through with this illness.
Please help make Multiple System Atrophy film #1 at the Neuro Film Festival
A film on Multiple System Atrophy has been entered in the Neuro Film Festival.
We need your help to get enough votes to make it the "Fan Favorite", this will
mean increased publicity for Multiple System Atrophy which is so desperately needed.
This is an achievable goal if we all work together.
As of February 11th the film is in first place in the voting but the second place film is
very close behind, every single vote counts.
Ask your friends to vote, post on your facebook wall and twitter accounts, get
your teenage relatives involved so all their friends will vote too. We can do
this!!!
PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW! GO TO THIS WEBSITE AND ENTER YOUR
VOTE BEFORE MARCH 8TH.
Please follow these instructions exactly to ensure your vote is counted
Step 1: Go to Neuro Film Festival Website
http://patients.aan.com/go/about/neurofilmfestival
Step 2: click on the VOTE NOW! tab.
Step 3: Click on Register Now and enter your details
Step 4: Check you email inbox for a verification email - click on the link to
verify your registration
Step 5: Go Vote -- Go back to Neuro Film Festival Website
http://patients.aan.com/go/about/neurofilmfestival and click VOTE NOW
Step 6: Find the “Multiple System Atrophy MSA” film in the list and click on the word VOTE
Note: If you have more than one email address you may register that email and vote again.
One vote per registered email address.
Please do this and pass it on to everyone you can.
Scott
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Reprise
One good thing about having done this now for over four years (!!) is that I have written about most everything common to our lives. With an election cycle in full swing I was going to write some election "stuff". However, I did a lot of it in 2007/8 and again in 2009/10 for the last two elections. So, to take advantage of that "work" I am just going to reference those posts. Some are attempts at humor and some are deadly serious. Here we go:
My first "election" post. An attempt at humor about elections and the parties:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2007/12/party-party-party.html
Then a follow up to the same blog:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-partying-and-such.html
This one gets into specifics, some about the 2008 races:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/10/this-one-gets-political-even-if-you-get.html
This is the next post after the one above. Clarification and details:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/10/follow-up.html
Here is a general comment on politics and the political system:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/01/birth-of-politicsgovernment.html
This in a post about one of the big political issues that will be discussed by the candidates: (and a follow up)
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/04/need-dictionary.html
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/05/dictionary-for-our-times.html
One on political "attack" ads:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/10/but-you-dont-want-to-vote-for-them.html
And lastly, a post of quotes from my favorite politician - Thomas Jefferson:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/02/where-are-all-wise-politicians.html
Please pay attention to what is going on, being said, and being done during this election period. VOTE! Get your friends to vote. Just vote from an informed point of view. Not party, not buzz words, not sound bite. Also, remember it is CONGRESS that makes laws, spends money, and othewise runs our lives - NOT THE PRESIDENT! It is important who is president, but it is congress that taxes and spends.
My first "election" post. An attempt at humor about elections and the parties:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2007/12/party-party-party.html
Then a follow up to the same blog:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-partying-and-such.html
This one gets into specifics, some about the 2008 races:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/10/this-one-gets-political-even-if-you-get.html
This is the next post after the one above. Clarification and details:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/10/follow-up.html
Here is a general comment on politics and the political system:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/01/birth-of-politicsgovernment.html
This in a post about one of the big political issues that will be discussed by the candidates: (and a follow up)
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/04/need-dictionary.html
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/05/dictionary-for-our-times.html
One on political "attack" ads:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/10/but-you-dont-want-to-vote-for-them.html
And lastly, a post of quotes from my favorite politician - Thomas Jefferson:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/02/where-are-all-wise-politicians.html
Please pay attention to what is going on, being said, and being done during this election period. VOTE! Get your friends to vote. Just vote from an informed point of view. Not party, not buzz words, not sound bite. Also, remember it is CONGRESS that makes laws, spends money, and othewise runs our lives - NOT THE PRESIDENT! It is important who is president, but it is congress that taxes and spends.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Someone turn out the lights, we're out of here! (never mind, they'll get turned off soon enough)
Well. we did it. An incompetent congress, directed by an incompetent president has taken our national debt to a whole new record! Sometime this week (as I write this on Dec 23, 2011) our national debt has exceeded our GDP.
Now some of you do not know what a GDP is. (some of you don't care, but then you shouldn't be reading this - move on to some of my light hearted ones - they get all the hits anyway). GDP, or Gross Domestic Product is the total of the value of all the goods and services produced/performed in the U.S. combined with the value of all the goods produced and exported, minus the value of the goods imported. Or, GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending, + (exports - imports). There are other ways of measuring GDP, but in theory at least they should all add to the same number.
What really bothers me is this travesty occurred while Congress was battling over extending a social security tax suspension for two months. TWO FREAKIN' MONTHS!! Whether you think the idea is a good one or not (a whole other subject) is there anyone that thinks congressional leaders, members, and staff should have devoted the better part of a month on extending a tax break for TWO MONTHS. They fought over it for half the time that the tax will be deferred! Then they have to do it all over again! This is why government does not work!!
The only solution I see is to end the cycle of re-election that has these anointed ones scrambling for sound bites every day instead of doing their job, is term limits. If you read the history of Constitution of the U.S. the designers were wondering about the clauses that cover terms and eligibility for office. They were worried about getting good people to run and serve. The House of Representatives is the "people's" chamber. The representatives were to come to Washington, serve their term, and GO HOME! The founders kept the term at two years to insure that people would serve, knowing they could go back to "real life" in just two years. If they served two terms, it would only be four. Now we have people that spend their entire careers there. John Dingell was sworn in under a flag with FORTY-EIGHT STARS!! That's right, he was sworn in to his first term in 1955!! That is ridiculous! I don't care how good a job he is doing, he should go home and let someone else serve.
We have a very important election coming up. We need to vote for people, not politicians. We need to vote for people that will help set up term limits for congress. This is the only way to remove the pressure that makes these people, when elected, go crazy and to be afraid to make the decisions that need to be made. The spending we are doing now at the federal and state levels CANNOT BE SUSTAINED! I don't care how many millionaires you tax, it cannot be sustained. We have to CUT SPENDING! We have to get people in Washington that will do so.
If you want an education into our national debt and spending read this post from earlier in the year:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/07/im-back-and-were-all-broke.html
Now some of you do not know what a GDP is. (some of you don't care, but then you shouldn't be reading this - move on to some of my light hearted ones - they get all the hits anyway). GDP, or Gross Domestic Product is the total of the value of all the goods and services produced/performed in the U.S. combined with the value of all the goods produced and exported, minus the value of the goods imported. Or, GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending, + (exports - imports). There are other ways of measuring GDP, but in theory at least they should all add to the same number.
What really bothers me is this travesty occurred while Congress was battling over extending a social security tax suspension for two months. TWO FREAKIN' MONTHS!! Whether you think the idea is a good one or not (a whole other subject) is there anyone that thinks congressional leaders, members, and staff should have devoted the better part of a month on extending a tax break for TWO MONTHS. They fought over it for half the time that the tax will be deferred! Then they have to do it all over again! This is why government does not work!!
The only solution I see is to end the cycle of re-election that has these anointed ones scrambling for sound bites every day instead of doing their job, is term limits. If you read the history of Constitution of the U.S. the designers were wondering about the clauses that cover terms and eligibility for office. They were worried about getting good people to run and serve. The House of Representatives is the "people's" chamber. The representatives were to come to Washington, serve their term, and GO HOME! The founders kept the term at two years to insure that people would serve, knowing they could go back to "real life" in just two years. If they served two terms, it would only be four. Now we have people that spend their entire careers there. John Dingell was sworn in under a flag with FORTY-EIGHT STARS!! That's right, he was sworn in to his first term in 1955!! That is ridiculous! I don't care how good a job he is doing, he should go home and let someone else serve.
We have a very important election coming up. We need to vote for people, not politicians. We need to vote for people that will help set up term limits for congress. This is the only way to remove the pressure that makes these people, when elected, go crazy and to be afraid to make the decisions that need to be made. The spending we are doing now at the federal and state levels CANNOT BE SUSTAINED! I don't care how many millionaires you tax, it cannot be sustained. We have to CUT SPENDING! We have to get people in Washington that will do so.
If you want an education into our national debt and spending read this post from earlier in the year:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/07/im-back-and-were-all-broke.html
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Did YOU make that?
I am sure all of you have heard someone in the last year comment about how America doesn't make anything anymore. You may have even said it yourself. I have come across some interesting figures (at least to me - I love numbers!) about that.
What if I told you that manufacturing output, measured in dollar value, was at its HIGHEST in 2010. OK, I am telling you that. It's true. The U.S. manufacturing output was a record 1.7+ trillion dollars last year. How is that possible? We don't make anything anymore! (FYI, I have found some other figures that show the manufacturing output for the U.S. much higher - over $2.3 Trillion last year. So, it may be even "better" than I have presented. I am going with my original research however. I did want you to know.)
First, obviously we do make "things". One of the reasons that people feel that we don't is the fact that there are a LOT less people employed in manufacturing jobs than there were even at the turn of the century a little over ten years ago. We all know of people who worked in manufacturing that have lost their jobs or factories that have closed (at least around here). In 2000 there were approximately 17 million manufacturing jobs in the U.S. In 2010 that number had dropped to under 12 million - roughly a 30% drop.
The peak of manufacturing jobs was just prior to the 1980s recession (yes there have been others!). There were around 19 million people working in manufacturing jobs. Their output in dollar value was a bit over 500 billion dollars (half a trillion would be a good number to remember), or a little over $26,000 per employee. In 2010 the number of jobs was 11.53 million. Their output per employee was an astonishing $149,000+! That is a total manufacturing output of 1.72 TRILLION (remember the half a trillion from above). FYI, that makes us the top manufacturing country when measured in dollar volume output. China is number two, and rapidly advancing. However, their productivity (output per worker) is not even in the same league. Also, they have their own labor problems arising. The average wage in China has risen from less than 1,000 yuan per year in 1980 to over 26,000 yuan annually in 2010. China will need to get much more efficient to continue their growth. But, that is another subject.
So, you can see by the numbers that the U.S. does still manufacture "things", and a lot of them. So, what are those "things"? The top "thing" is production and manufacturing equipment. We make things to make other things. We are exporting our efficiency in the form of machines to others so they can make goods cheaper. Industrial supplies are also big. These are the materials to run the machines along with spare parts and maintenance gear. Then a catch-all - consumer goods. I know we think we get all our consumer goods from China. But, the U.S. manufactures a lot of consumer goods. We export a lot of them as well. (in fact industrial exports are at an all time high as well - in dollar value) Then comes one most would think of - automobiles and auto parts. Then comes aircraft and parts. The U.S. still builds a lot of planes. Both for domestic use and to export to other countries. Aircraft is still a great U.S. product even with the AirBus people and the Brazilians and Canadians building all those regional jets.
Bottom line - the U.S. is still a great manufacturing nation. We do not employ nearly as many people, but that is what allows us to be competitive even with our wages. So, if you hear someone saying "America just doesn't make anything any more" - you can set them straight.
What if I told you that manufacturing output, measured in dollar value, was at its HIGHEST in 2010. OK, I am telling you that. It's true. The U.S. manufacturing output was a record 1.7+ trillion dollars last year. How is that possible? We don't make anything anymore! (FYI, I have found some other figures that show the manufacturing output for the U.S. much higher - over $2.3 Trillion last year. So, it may be even "better" than I have presented. I am going with my original research however. I did want you to know.)
First, obviously we do make "things". One of the reasons that people feel that we don't is the fact that there are a LOT less people employed in manufacturing jobs than there were even at the turn of the century a little over ten years ago. We all know of people who worked in manufacturing that have lost their jobs or factories that have closed (at least around here). In 2000 there were approximately 17 million manufacturing jobs in the U.S. In 2010 that number had dropped to under 12 million - roughly a 30% drop.
The peak of manufacturing jobs was just prior to the 1980s recession (yes there have been others!). There were around 19 million people working in manufacturing jobs. Their output in dollar value was a bit over 500 billion dollars (half a trillion would be a good number to remember), or a little over $26,000 per employee. In 2010 the number of jobs was 11.53 million. Their output per employee was an astonishing $149,000+! That is a total manufacturing output of 1.72 TRILLION (remember the half a trillion from above). FYI, that makes us the top manufacturing country when measured in dollar volume output. China is number two, and rapidly advancing. However, their productivity (output per worker) is not even in the same league. Also, they have their own labor problems arising. The average wage in China has risen from less than 1,000 yuan per year in 1980 to over 26,000 yuan annually in 2010. China will need to get much more efficient to continue their growth. But, that is another subject.
So, you can see by the numbers that the U.S. does still manufacture "things", and a lot of them. So, what are those "things"? The top "thing" is production and manufacturing equipment. We make things to make other things. We are exporting our efficiency in the form of machines to others so they can make goods cheaper. Industrial supplies are also big. These are the materials to run the machines along with spare parts and maintenance gear. Then a catch-all - consumer goods. I know we think we get all our consumer goods from China. But, the U.S. manufactures a lot of consumer goods. We export a lot of them as well. (in fact industrial exports are at an all time high as well - in dollar value) Then comes one most would think of - automobiles and auto parts. Then comes aircraft and parts. The U.S. still builds a lot of planes. Both for domestic use and to export to other countries. Aircraft is still a great U.S. product even with the AirBus people and the Brazilians and Canadians building all those regional jets.
Bottom line - the U.S. is still a great manufacturing nation. We do not employ nearly as many people, but that is what allows us to be competitive even with our wages. So, if you hear someone saying "America just doesn't make anything any more" - you can set them straight.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Reading lists
It still amazes me how many hits this blog gets. Especially since I have not been posting regularly since my wife died on May 30th. Another thing that amazes me is the post that gets the most hits.
"Now Boarding at Gate 999" is the most read post I have done. Here is a link to that post:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/03/now-boarding-at-gate-999.html
The second most read post is "Another Ramble". Here is a link to that one.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/04/another-ramble.html
It appears there are a fair number of people out there that can appreciate my idiotic sense of humor. If you like those types of posts, here are a few more to check out:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/03/will-cluck-for-food-second-post-today.html
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-shall-we-call-it.html
AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES IN THIS VEIN:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/11/infinite-monkeyschimps-aka-million.html
There are a group of posts scattered about this blog, all with "Memories" or a very stupid name for the title. These are attempts at humor as well, with retellings of "memories" of a childhood from a twisted point of view. Here is one of those without the word memories in the title:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/02/aardvarks-on-steroids.html
Now for a few of the other posts I have done.
On the absurdity of political ads.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/10/but-you-dont-want-to-vote-for-them.html
One on the inequalities of life. Especially relevant in light of the "Occupy _____" movement of today.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/11/want-some-cheese-with-that.html
On health care coverage and global warming hoax.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/11/tsk-tsk-tsk.html
I have MANY, MANY of these. I feel this is one of the biggest hoaxes every perpetrated upon mankind.
For my wife, here is one that I wrote after a trip we took to visit her mother.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/03/then-we-wept.html
You can see all these posts and learn about MSA at my other blog - http://www.livingwithasnowman.blogspot.com/
I greatly appreciate all the readers I do have. Do me a favor and read at least one other post after the Gate 999 post.
"Now Boarding at Gate 999" is the most read post I have done. Here is a link to that post:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/03/now-boarding-at-gate-999.html
The second most read post is "Another Ramble". Here is a link to that one.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/04/another-ramble.html
It appears there are a fair number of people out there that can appreciate my idiotic sense of humor. If you like those types of posts, here are a few more to check out:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/03/will-cluck-for-food-second-post-today.html
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-shall-we-call-it.html
AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES IN THIS VEIN:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/11/infinite-monkeyschimps-aka-million.html
There are a group of posts scattered about this blog, all with "Memories" or a very stupid name for the title. These are attempts at humor as well, with retellings of "memories" of a childhood from a twisted point of view. Here is one of those without the word memories in the title:
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/02/aardvarks-on-steroids.html
Now for a few of the other posts I have done.
On the absurdity of political ads.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2010/10/but-you-dont-want-to-vote-for-them.html
One on the inequalities of life. Especially relevant in light of the "Occupy _____" movement of today.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/11/want-some-cheese-with-that.html
On health care coverage and global warming hoax.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/11/tsk-tsk-tsk.html
I have MANY, MANY of these. I feel this is one of the biggest hoaxes every perpetrated upon mankind.
For my wife, here is one that I wrote after a trip we took to visit her mother.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2009/03/then-we-wept.html
You can see all these posts and learn about MSA at my other blog - http://www.livingwithasnowman.blogspot.com/
I greatly appreciate all the readers I do have. Do me a favor and read at least one other post after the Gate 999 post.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
On the soapbox again
I am worried about one other aspect of the economic crisis we are in currently. It seems to have diverted attention from the man made global warming nuts and their attempt to take over the world's economy in the name of "saving the planet".
It bothers me when I see people mentioning their "carbon footprint" or reducing their CO2 emissions. I am all for taking care of our planet. But, this idiotic notion of anthropogenic warming of our atmosphere is rapidly becoming accepted. It is said if you repeat a lie enough it will become accepted. That is what is happening here. I have done many posts on this blog about global warming. I have links and quotes from many sources that show how this "accepted, proven science" is neither accepted nor proven. Here is a link to a letter sent to the U.N. Secretary General from 100 scientists asking him to get the U.N. to back down -
http://www.middlebury.net/op-ed/un-signatories.html
The final signatory is the head of one of the most prestigious scientific organizations in the world.
This is NOT fact. It is NOT proven. CO2 is necessary for life on this planet. CO2 is less than 1% of the total gasses in our atmosphere. Mankind contributes about 4% of that. So, even if CO2 is causing global warming, it is NOT because of our "carbon footprint"!
Some facts - the Antarctic polar icecap is now larger and thicker than it has been since the late 70s or early 80s. The polar bear population is larger now than at any time since humans have been monitoring them. Both of these reported "disasters" are being reported because they are hard to confirm and there are always places in the icecaps that are melting and polar bear groups that are dying. The reports of diminishing icecaps and dying polar bears is being propagated to gain ecological control over the poles, both of which contain vast resources of minerals and hydrocarbons (oil). There are two main reasons for this desire for control - 1) to acquire those resources and use them to make money. 2) to acquire control over the area those resources are in to stop their use in the name of ecology. These groups are working together now (not conspiratorially, but coincidentally) but will come at odds when control is obtained.
I will not go on, but please STUDY this issue. And when I say study, I don't mean watching Al Gore's film. There are literally THOUSANDS of scientists that are saying the whole thing is a farce. The eco-nuts are going to destroy our way of life with the control of carbon.
Remember -
there is no government money
corporations do not and cannot pay taxes - people pay taxes
man made global warming (and maybe even the warming) is a myth designed to control our way of life.
It bothers me when I see people mentioning their "carbon footprint" or reducing their CO2 emissions. I am all for taking care of our planet. But, this idiotic notion of anthropogenic warming of our atmosphere is rapidly becoming accepted. It is said if you repeat a lie enough it will become accepted. That is what is happening here. I have done many posts on this blog about global warming. I have links and quotes from many sources that show how this "accepted, proven science" is neither accepted nor proven. Here is a link to a letter sent to the U.N. Secretary General from 100 scientists asking him to get the U.N. to back down -
http://www.middlebury.net/op-ed/un-signatories.html
The final signatory is the head of one of the most prestigious scientific organizations in the world.
This is NOT fact. It is NOT proven. CO2 is necessary for life on this planet. CO2 is less than 1% of the total gasses in our atmosphere. Mankind contributes about 4% of that. So, even if CO2 is causing global warming, it is NOT because of our "carbon footprint"!
Some facts - the Antarctic polar icecap is now larger and thicker than it has been since the late 70s or early 80s. The polar bear population is larger now than at any time since humans have been monitoring them. Both of these reported "disasters" are being reported because they are hard to confirm and there are always places in the icecaps that are melting and polar bear groups that are dying. The reports of diminishing icecaps and dying polar bears is being propagated to gain ecological control over the poles, both of which contain vast resources of minerals and hydrocarbons (oil). There are two main reasons for this desire for control - 1) to acquire those resources and use them to make money. 2) to acquire control over the area those resources are in to stop their use in the name of ecology. These groups are working together now (not conspiratorially, but coincidentally) but will come at odds when control is obtained.
I will not go on, but please STUDY this issue. And when I say study, I don't mean watching Al Gore's film. There are literally THOUSANDS of scientists that are saying the whole thing is a farce. The eco-nuts are going to destroy our way of life with the control of carbon.
Remember -
there is no government money
corporations do not and cannot pay taxes - people pay taxes
man made global warming (and maybe even the warming) is a myth designed to control our way of life.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
.81818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181818181......
I am writing this on the tenth anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001. I have been watching some of the news coverage of the memorial service and reading some of the articles and such in the news and around the internet.
First, I want to make sure that those reading this know I am very, very sorry for the families and friends of those that lost their lives that day and in the next few that followed. The horror of the towers being struck and then falling, combined with the uncertainty of any attacks still to come made that day a hell for anyone old enough to realize what was going on, especially anyone with loved ones in harms way that day. I sincerely hope that all of those affected that day have gotten or will acheive some peace in their lives.
Those of you that have read more than a post or two of this blog know that is not all I have to say. So, here is what motivated me to write this post, other than the sadness of the memorial ceremonies -
I am VERY suspect and doubtful of the motives and emotions shown by a lot of the writers, speakers, presenters, performers, and commentators that I have watched and read on this day. I wonder how many of them would have been there had there not been national coverage on multiple networks? Again, not any family or friends of those directly involved, but the actual politicians, pundents, and performers that were there. Maybe I am too cynical in my outlook, but why do they not ask God to "Bless America" on March 4th, or October 7th, or yesterday? Why do they not wave American flags on the other days of the year and in the decade since the attacks? Why today, is America the "Greatest Nation on Earth" when it was not mentioned by these same people yesterday, a week ago, or last year?
Don't get me wrong. I am glad for any show of patriotism -even manufactured or read from a speech - from the elite media/entertainer/politico group that attempts to tell us what to feel, wear, eat, and believe. However, I do greatly doubt most of their motives. Like the adage goes - honesty is what you do when no one is looking. True patriotism is best demostrated unscripted and possibly even unnoticed. Or at least without drawing undue attention to ones self.
Although I do have grave reservations about the future of this country. I do believe it is the greatest on earth! The freedoms it offers to us that live hear and transfers to the world's population outside of its borders are a blessing for all. We should all demonstrate that fact every day, cameras - audience, or not.
for any of you with a question about the title - do the math.
First, I want to make sure that those reading this know I am very, very sorry for the families and friends of those that lost their lives that day and in the next few that followed. The horror of the towers being struck and then falling, combined with the uncertainty of any attacks still to come made that day a hell for anyone old enough to realize what was going on, especially anyone with loved ones in harms way that day. I sincerely hope that all of those affected that day have gotten or will acheive some peace in their lives.
Those of you that have read more than a post or two of this blog know that is not all I have to say. So, here is what motivated me to write this post, other than the sadness of the memorial ceremonies -
I am VERY suspect and doubtful of the motives and emotions shown by a lot of the writers, speakers, presenters, performers, and commentators that I have watched and read on this day. I wonder how many of them would have been there had there not been national coverage on multiple networks? Again, not any family or friends of those directly involved, but the actual politicians, pundents, and performers that were there. Maybe I am too cynical in my outlook, but why do they not ask God to "Bless America" on March 4th, or October 7th, or yesterday? Why do they not wave American flags on the other days of the year and in the decade since the attacks? Why today, is America the "Greatest Nation on Earth" when it was not mentioned by these same people yesterday, a week ago, or last year?
Don't get me wrong. I am glad for any show of patriotism -even manufactured or read from a speech - from the elite media/entertainer/politico group that attempts to tell us what to feel, wear, eat, and believe. However, I do greatly doubt most of their motives. Like the adage goes - honesty is what you do when no one is looking. True patriotism is best demostrated unscripted and possibly even unnoticed. Or at least without drawing undue attention to ones self.
Although I do have grave reservations about the future of this country. I do believe it is the greatest on earth! The freedoms it offers to us that live hear and transfers to the world's population outside of its borders are a blessing for all. We should all demonstrate that fact every day, cameras - audience, or not.
for any of you with a question about the title - do the math.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
I'm back and we're all broke!
I finally have something to say. Like a lot of the news and the news reporters, I am going to comment on the national debt, debt ceiling, and related.
First - if you think the current problem is a Republican problem - you are WRONG!
Second - if you think this is a Democrat problem - you are also WRONG!
One thing I can say about today's politicians, for the most part they are all clueless. The only thing that appears to be motivating most of them is getting re-elected. There is enough blame to go WAY beyond party lines.
One aspect of the debt ceiling/national debt discussion that bothers me is that most average Americans seem only to be concerned about the problem in relation to any monies they get from the government being cut off. This is the problem people! Remember the base rule - THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT MONEY!! It still angers me beyond words when I hear a reporter, politician, or anyone else talking about "federal funds", or "state money". (but that is another subject - it is only relevant because people see their gravy train being shut down) There is going to have to be a LOT of government programs cut off or at least scaled WAY back!
The federal government is spending WAY over $1,500,000.000.000 (1.5 TRILLION) a YEAR more than it has! It does not take a financial genius to realize that is not sustainable!
How about some history relating to the national debt?
Pre-WWII (1939) the debt was around $40 billion dollars. During the FDR/Great Depression years, when HUGE federal spending got really started; the FDR administration took the federal debt from under $17 billion to over $33 billion in 1936. War build up and America assisting our allies in early WWII battles sent the debt to the $40 billion level.
At the end of WWII, in 1946 the debt had skyrocketed to almost $270 billion. FYI, the GDP for that year was around $1.7 trillion. So, the debt was under 16% of GDP - remember that - even after fighting a world war and funding the battle for a large portion of the world!
From 1950 to 1960, even with the funding of the rebuilding of Europe and Japan, the Korean War, the GI bill, the beginning of the Vietnam War, and getting NASA and our space program going; the national debt was in the $255 billion to $290 billion range. Still under the $300 billion level. FYI (for you real numbers freaks like myself) the GDP grew from over $1.9 trillion to over $2.8 trillion. So, under 14% growth for the debt with an over 45% growth in the economy. The national debt actually dropped as a percentage of GDP.
In the 60s with the Vietnam war, Johnson's addition of a LOT of social programs under his Great Society, and sending people to the moon, the national debt grew to around $370 billion. The GDP grew to well over $4 trillion! So, national debt stayed close to the same in percentages - even with all the spending.
The 70s brought the end of the Vietnam war, the beginning of OPEC and our first modern oil crisis. The debt climbed to over $900 billion. We were approaching our first TRILLION dollar debt. The GDP grew to $5.9 trillion. This shows what soaring oil prices and runaway social programs can do. Our national debt outpaced the growth of GDP by a wide margin.
The 80s brought the first Great Recession of my lifetime. It took us until 1983 to achieve sustained growth in GDP over the 1980 numbers.Unemployment was in the range it is now, to a bit higher. The advent of hair bands pulled us out ; ) (seeing if you are paying attention) We ended the 80s close to our first 3 trillion dollar debt ($2.85 trillion 1989). The 80s saw our first trillion dollar debt (1982), and our first 2 trillion dollar debt (1986). The GDP went to right at $8 trillion. Again, a decade where national debt outgrew GDP by a wide margin. The effect of oil prices, runaway social programs, and profligate spending were obvious.
Ah, the 90s! Desert warfare, global terrorism, Islamic jihadists, and so much more. The debt grew to over $5.5 trillion. The GDP grew to over $11 trillion. The first decade our debt was more than 50% of GDP.
Now for the REAL scary part. The 2000s. You can see from the previous (or your own research) no matter who was in the White House, the debt has risen ever since we instituted the social welfare programs of FDR. Republicans and Democrats alike cannot stop spending money they do not have!
Watch this:
In 2000 the national debt was $5.6 trillion.
In 2002 it was $6.2 trillion.
2004 - $7.3 trillion.
2006 - $8.5 trillion
Now we ramp it up a bit -
$9 trillion 2007
$10 trillion 2008
almost $12 (11.91) trillion in 2009
2010 - $12.6 trillion
today - $14.5 trillion.
AND GROWING AT OVER $1.5 TRILLION A YEAR!!
To finish the comparisons, the GDP grew from around $11 trillion in 2000 to around $13.2 now. So, with a 20% growth in GDP we have grown the debt by almost 250% AND GROWING!!
If any of you are left, here is the payoff. WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OVER SPENDING. Taxes are irrelevant to the problem. We MUST stop spending what we do not have. You can raise taxes all you want. If you are spending the entire GDP every year it JUST WON'T WORK!! Period. You cannot tax more than is made!
Now, this means a LOT of cuts. Cuts to EVERYTHING! Social programs, defense, foreign aid, research, EVERYTHING. It has to be. The value of EVERY goods and services (ALL the money) produced is already in the debt. There AIN'T NO MORE! The federal government has about $3 trillion dollars of revenue coming in this year. We did not spend $3 trillion dollars a year in any year until 2008. (FYI - we are projected to spend over $4 trillion in 2014 if nothing changes!) We need to CUT SPENDING! PERIOD! Should tax increases or elimination of loopholes be part of the discussion - OK, maybe. I am not a fan of taxes. I do not see where penalizing any group of people is good. However, maybe we eliminate some loopholes that allow certain people to pay little or no taxes. But, WE CANNOT TAX OUR WAY OUT OF THIS! One of the things that bothers me the most is the way no one is talking about what we are spending now - well over $3 TRILLION!! THAT IS ENOUGH MONEY!!
Call or write your senator and congressman. Tell them it is time to STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY LIKE IT IS ENDLESS!! Tell the to pass a budget that lives within OUR means - NOW. Stop playing games.
First - if you think the current problem is a Republican problem - you are WRONG!
Second - if you think this is a Democrat problem - you are also WRONG!
One thing I can say about today's politicians, for the most part they are all clueless. The only thing that appears to be motivating most of them is getting re-elected. There is enough blame to go WAY beyond party lines.
One aspect of the debt ceiling/national debt discussion that bothers me is that most average Americans seem only to be concerned about the problem in relation to any monies they get from the government being cut off. This is the problem people! Remember the base rule - THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT MONEY!! It still angers me beyond words when I hear a reporter, politician, or anyone else talking about "federal funds", or "state money". (but that is another subject - it is only relevant because people see their gravy train being shut down) There is going to have to be a LOT of government programs cut off or at least scaled WAY back!
The federal government is spending WAY over $1,500,000.000.000 (1.5 TRILLION) a YEAR more than it has! It does not take a financial genius to realize that is not sustainable!
How about some history relating to the national debt?
Pre-WWII (1939) the debt was around $40 billion dollars. During the FDR/Great Depression years, when HUGE federal spending got really started; the FDR administration took the federal debt from under $17 billion to over $33 billion in 1936. War build up and America assisting our allies in early WWII battles sent the debt to the $40 billion level.
At the end of WWII, in 1946 the debt had skyrocketed to almost $270 billion. FYI, the GDP for that year was around $1.7 trillion. So, the debt was under 16% of GDP - remember that - even after fighting a world war and funding the battle for a large portion of the world!
From 1950 to 1960, even with the funding of the rebuilding of Europe and Japan, the Korean War, the GI bill, the beginning of the Vietnam War, and getting NASA and our space program going; the national debt was in the $255 billion to $290 billion range. Still under the $300 billion level. FYI (for you real numbers freaks like myself) the GDP grew from over $1.9 trillion to over $2.8 trillion. So, under 14% growth for the debt with an over 45% growth in the economy. The national debt actually dropped as a percentage of GDP.
In the 60s with the Vietnam war, Johnson's addition of a LOT of social programs under his Great Society, and sending people to the moon, the national debt grew to around $370 billion. The GDP grew to well over $4 trillion! So, national debt stayed close to the same in percentages - even with all the spending.
The 70s brought the end of the Vietnam war, the beginning of OPEC and our first modern oil crisis. The debt climbed to over $900 billion. We were approaching our first TRILLION dollar debt. The GDP grew to $5.9 trillion. This shows what soaring oil prices and runaway social programs can do. Our national debt outpaced the growth of GDP by a wide margin.
The 80s brought the first Great Recession of my lifetime. It took us until 1983 to achieve sustained growth in GDP over the 1980 numbers.Unemployment was in the range it is now, to a bit higher. The advent of hair bands pulled us out ; ) (seeing if you are paying attention) We ended the 80s close to our first 3 trillion dollar debt ($2.85 trillion 1989). The 80s saw our first trillion dollar debt (1982), and our first 2 trillion dollar debt (1986). The GDP went to right at $8 trillion. Again, a decade where national debt outgrew GDP by a wide margin. The effect of oil prices, runaway social programs, and profligate spending were obvious.
Ah, the 90s! Desert warfare, global terrorism, Islamic jihadists, and so much more. The debt grew to over $5.5 trillion. The GDP grew to over $11 trillion. The first decade our debt was more than 50% of GDP.
Now for the REAL scary part. The 2000s. You can see from the previous (or your own research) no matter who was in the White House, the debt has risen ever since we instituted the social welfare programs of FDR. Republicans and Democrats alike cannot stop spending money they do not have!
Watch this:
In 2000 the national debt was $5.6 trillion.
In 2002 it was $6.2 trillion.
2004 - $7.3 trillion.
2006 - $8.5 trillion
Now we ramp it up a bit -
$9 trillion 2007
$10 trillion 2008
almost $12 (11.91) trillion in 2009
2010 - $12.6 trillion
today - $14.5 trillion.
AND GROWING AT OVER $1.5 TRILLION A YEAR!!
To finish the comparisons, the GDP grew from around $11 trillion in 2000 to around $13.2 now. So, with a 20% growth in GDP we have grown the debt by almost 250% AND GROWING!!
If any of you are left, here is the payoff. WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OVER SPENDING. Taxes are irrelevant to the problem. We MUST stop spending what we do not have. You can raise taxes all you want. If you are spending the entire GDP every year it JUST WON'T WORK!! Period. You cannot tax more than is made!
Now, this means a LOT of cuts. Cuts to EVERYTHING! Social programs, defense, foreign aid, research, EVERYTHING. It has to be. The value of EVERY goods and services (ALL the money) produced is already in the debt. There AIN'T NO MORE! The federal government has about $3 trillion dollars of revenue coming in this year. We did not spend $3 trillion dollars a year in any year until 2008. (FYI - we are projected to spend over $4 trillion in 2014 if nothing changes!) We need to CUT SPENDING! PERIOD! Should tax increases or elimination of loopholes be part of the discussion - OK, maybe. I am not a fan of taxes. I do not see where penalizing any group of people is good. However, maybe we eliminate some loopholes that allow certain people to pay little or no taxes. But, WE CANNOT TAX OUR WAY OUT OF THIS! One of the things that bothers me the most is the way no one is talking about what we are spending now - well over $3 TRILLION!! THAT IS ENOUGH MONEY!!
Call or write your senator and congressman. Tell them it is time to STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY LIKE IT IS ENDLESS!! Tell the to pass a budget that lives within OUR means - NOW. Stop playing games.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
I AM AN AMERICAN - another reprint
Considering my lack of enthusiasm and the fact that I like this post and think it still makes the point - I am going to reprint this post again. This is from 2009 and last year. In 2009 I had a technical error and this did not get posted until after the 4th. Last year it was up.
Happy 4th of July! U.S.A.! Become engaged with politics. Write or call your elected officials and make your feelings known. I do not know many people today that think the country is on the right track regardless of their political leanings. Remember, the government works for US!
Here is the post -
I am an American. Like the majority of those living in this country, I was born here as were my parents and their parents. Like the great majority of those living in this country, my ancestors were not born here. A direct descendant on my paternal side immigrated here in 1789 from England. However, I am not an English-American or even a European-American. It bothers me to see people described (by self or others) as Irish-American, African-American, Asian-American, or any other hyphenated American. Hyphens do nothing but separate us from what we truly are: Americans.
Like my father and his father before him; I speak English. In the not so distant past, every immigrant that came to this country learned to speak English. It was a point of pride for them to master one of the most difficult of languages. Since this was (and is marginally still) an English speaking country it was expected and usually accomplished relatively quickly. Expectation and hard work made it so. To immigrate to this country was, and is, a desire that burns brightly in the hearts of people worldwide. However, it seems now that it is expected by some that we should welcome their "diversity" in language and culture at the expense of our own. Merriam-Webster defines diversity as:
1: the condition of being diverse : variety ; especially : the inclusion of diverse people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization.
Inclusion does not mean domination or extinction. One could make the argument that diversity by its very definition requires the original to remain as a part of the whole.
As I said above, my ancestors immigrated here. They came by accepted means and according to the laws of the land. It makes me very angry when I see the illegal aliens in this country called an "immigration" problem. I have said before - calling the illegal alien issue an immigration problem is like calling bank robbery a withdrawal problem. We have a very serious and growing problem in this country of providing and maintaining social services for our citizens. When these services are offered to and overwhelmed by illegals, it makes the problem that much greater. We must address the problem of illegals in our country. It is one of the defined constitutional responsibilities of our government to secure our borders. The government has failed at that responsibility. Amnesty is not the answer when solving a bank theft spree. Nor is it the answer to our illegal alien problem. People must be required to follow the laws of the land when it comes to becoming a citizen. We also must stop now in providing social services and any medical care beyond that which is needed to save a life to illegals.
The United States of America has a great heritage in its two hundred and thirty plus year history of offering freedom, liberty, protection, defense, and support of all kinds to the people of the world. A large portion of the world owes any freedoms and liberties it has to the armed forces and the diplomatic minions of the U.S.A. Americans have helped to free and rebuild Europe twice. We have helped free those behind the Iron Curtain. Most recently we have brought the light of freedom to the Middle East. American might has not been used for building an empire. We freed these countries and turned them back over to the indigenous people, while providing the funds necessary for rebuilding. It sickens me to see and hear cries of "Imperialism" from detractors of the U.S. That claim is ridiculous when history is reviewed. The U.S. has won in battle or by diplomacy; Japan, Germany, Italy, France, the Philippines, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Grenada, Panama, and more. Did we add them to our country? No, they were all returned to their people who in some cases still decided the U.S.A. was the evil empire.
The United States of America is a beacon of freedom and light for all the world. We offer support, hope, and ideals of life that are envied by a large portion of the world.
Happy 4th of July! U.S.A.! Become engaged with politics. Write or call your elected officials and make your feelings known. I do not know many people today that think the country is on the right track regardless of their political leanings. Remember, the government works for US!
Here is the post -
I am an American. Like the majority of those living in this country, I was born here as were my parents and their parents. Like the great majority of those living in this country, my ancestors were not born here. A direct descendant on my paternal side immigrated here in 1789 from England. However, I am not an English-American or even a European-American. It bothers me to see people described (by self or others) as Irish-American, African-American, Asian-American, or any other hyphenated American. Hyphens do nothing but separate us from what we truly are: Americans.
Like my father and his father before him; I speak English. In the not so distant past, every immigrant that came to this country learned to speak English. It was a point of pride for them to master one of the most difficult of languages. Since this was (and is marginally still) an English speaking country it was expected and usually accomplished relatively quickly. Expectation and hard work made it so. To immigrate to this country was, and is, a desire that burns brightly in the hearts of people worldwide. However, it seems now that it is expected by some that we should welcome their "diversity" in language and culture at the expense of our own. Merriam-Webster defines diversity as:
1: the condition of being diverse : variety ; especially : the inclusion of diverse people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization.
Inclusion does not mean domination or extinction. One could make the argument that diversity by its very definition requires the original to remain as a part of the whole.
As I said above, my ancestors immigrated here. They came by accepted means and according to the laws of the land. It makes me very angry when I see the illegal aliens in this country called an "immigration" problem. I have said before - calling the illegal alien issue an immigration problem is like calling bank robbery a withdrawal problem. We have a very serious and growing problem in this country of providing and maintaining social services for our citizens. When these services are offered to and overwhelmed by illegals, it makes the problem that much greater. We must address the problem of illegals in our country. It is one of the defined constitutional responsibilities of our government to secure our borders. The government has failed at that responsibility. Amnesty is not the answer when solving a bank theft spree. Nor is it the answer to our illegal alien problem. People must be required to follow the laws of the land when it comes to becoming a citizen. We also must stop now in providing social services and any medical care beyond that which is needed to save a life to illegals.
The United States of America has a great heritage in its two hundred and thirty plus year history of offering freedom, liberty, protection, defense, and support of all kinds to the people of the world. A large portion of the world owes any freedoms and liberties it has to the armed forces and the diplomatic minions of the U.S.A. Americans have helped to free and rebuild Europe twice. We have helped free those behind the Iron Curtain. Most recently we have brought the light of freedom to the Middle East. American might has not been used for building an empire. We freed these countries and turned them back over to the indigenous people, while providing the funds necessary for rebuilding. It sickens me to see and hear cries of "Imperialism" from detractors of the U.S. That claim is ridiculous when history is reviewed. The U.S. has won in battle or by diplomacy; Japan, Germany, Italy, France, the Philippines, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Grenada, Panama, and more. Did we add them to our country? No, they were all returned to their people who in some cases still decided the U.S.A. was the evil empire.
The United States of America is a beacon of freedom and light for all the world. We offer support, hope, and ideals of life that are envied by a large portion of the world.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Note
For those of you that have not been to my other blog (www.livingwithasnowman.blogspot.com) you may wonder why there has been a lack of posts here. That blog is/was about the journey that my wife Carol and I were travelling with her disease - Multiple System Atrophy.
Carol passed away on May 30th. I have been dealing with the pain and loss and have not been too politically or socially motivated.
I plan to continue here, I am just not sure exactly when I will be motivated again.
Just remember - There is no government money.
Scott
Carol passed away on May 30th. I have been dealing with the pain and loss and have not been too politically or socially motivated.
I plan to continue here, I am just not sure exactly when I will be motivated again.
Just remember - There is no government money.
Scott
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Eternal
The essence of someone
is held in the memories
and bound by love
always to remain.
People are eternal
if they are remembered with love.
R.I.P. Carol
is held in the memories
and bound by love
always to remain.
People are eternal
if they are remembered with love.
R.I.P. Carol
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Again with the spending and the deficit...
I was going to write another post about our dire financial state. I then remembered that it was not too long ago that I did just that. So, in the interest of time and energy I am just going to ask you to read the posts from April 3rd and March 20th. Although not the best I have written, they get the point across.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/04/spending-and-spending.html
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/03/checks-in-mail-but-postal-service-cant.html
Please read and then think about it. Call or write your congressman and/or senator. We must do something.
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/04/spending-and-spending.html
http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2011/03/checks-in-mail-but-postal-service-cant.html
Please read and then think about it. Call or write your congressman and/or senator. We must do something.
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