Frist Addresses Tennessee's Birther Problem

Frist Addresses Tennessee's Birther Problem: "Get Breaking News Alerts

Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist attempted to skirt a question on Thursday as to why nearly half the Republicans in his home state of Tennessee believed that President Barack Obama was born in another country. But in an admission that the birthers are becoming problematic for the GOP, the senator stressed that there was a need to reach out and educate those individuals, so as to rebuild the party's brand on modern ideas as opposed to conspiracy theories."

Isn't interesting how the party is trying to reighn in the fanatics to give us back the credability we deserve. How are we ever going to regain the trust of the American voter if we continue to run around like individuals who do not even understand the constitution or know where America is!

moon strike creates cloud of dust.......

NASA spent millions of dollars shooting a rocket into the moon to create a cloud of dust to see if there was water on the moon. This hopefully will give them data to establish whether there is enough water to sustain life. My question.......why could we have not spent that money digging wells in areas where farmers no longer have water....or dig wells in 3rd world countries where people are dieing for the lack of water.....it seems that we have our priorities all messed up here......if they are just trying to give a lot of intellegent people a job then let me suggest some more constructive ways....such as developing green technologies....feeding the hungry......securing the internet.....i do not know.......things which really affect the majority of Americans lives!

Christian Momma: "It's the Blood"

Christian Momma: "It's the Blood"

Getting To Feel Angry & Letting It Go

"Anger occurs when you feel that you are not being seen, heard, valued or respected. You need this negative emotion to stimulate the actions that will initiate change." Why do I need negativity in my life? I give myself value, what others think of me does not determine my value in life, what i think of myself determines my value. I respect myself for what I have accomplished in my life, where I have come from, what I have overcame, I do not need the respect of others to give me self respect. And as far as being seen and heard....unless I am standing in line at Starbucks.........i have learnt in life that being ignored is a matter of fact..........and that when I live my life to its fullest to my standards, whether the world stops and takes notice is not my concern. I agree, we should release all our negative energy, yoga, visualization, imagery are all good ways of ridding ourselves of this energy.....but I do not need it to initiate change in my life. What I need is self awareness to bring about change........and if something is bothering me so bad that it creates all these negative feelings.........then i need to find another Starbucks........

soldiers can't get loans........

For years soldiers were able to get loans to buy homes and start business. The loans were backed by the veterans association. Now it is becoming harder and harder for the soldiers who provide for us the blanket of freedom we sleep under a place to hang their own hat. How dispicable has our society become that banks can be allowed to deny soldiers and honor solders when they defend our country. We have become a society of greed and now the greed is destroying our integrity and honor.........

Goldman Sachs......reward of the debacle

"Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is set to earn about $1 billion in the event CIT Group Inc. enters bankruptcy or otherwise ends a $3 billion financing agreement, according to a person familiar with the matter who declined to be identified because the payout has’t been disclosed."

G7 meetings will not even discuss the true weakness in American financial markets publicly nor will they discuss the failing American dollar publicly. So what will they discuss publicly.....its time that Americans keep the economy and the lack of jobs in the forefront for policy makers. Its time for complete overhaul of the financial regulations which has led to the nations increasing job losses. It is time for Americans to demand transparency of the Federal reserve and the expenditure of billions of tax dollars. Organizations such as GS are seeing a windfall on the backs of the American tax payers, FDIC, and federal reserve....a season for change has arrived.

Bring Gratitude Into Your Life

Gratitude, or feeling thankful or appreciating where you are. How can I appreciate my life, my present station anymore than to look around me. How many times have you passed by some poor soul on the side of the road with the jack out changing a tire, and said to yourself, been there done that or glad thats not me. You instantly have an appreciation for an inflated rolling tire! When I see the children, the mothers, the wives of battle worn countries, I thank God that no one is bombing my neighborhood. What does it take for us to have more gratitude? Awareness of the people of the world around us. How do we become aware, we slow down, we look, we acknowledge each other. By acknowledging you become real to me, when things get real, then we are aware. I go to work everyday, I thank God that I can, and when I walk in my patients rooms, I remember that it is them not me that is in the bed sick, and my gratitude for my health, my station, my life just went up. Want to get some appreciation for your own life, find someone worst off than you, and acknowledge them, by doing something for them. It will make you feel better about where you are at in life.

the grand canyon

the gap between the very rich in our society and the poor just continues to grow in our country. Reminds me of some of my trips to Mexico....while traveling their once with a friend of mine he remarked that in Mexico you are either rich or poor......their was no middle class............isn't it funny.......the middle class keep getting squeezed in our society, they are the ones who have their salary's cut, diminished and the rich.....well keep getting richer....will we one day see in America a time where the middle class are considered poor.....and their is only the poor and the rich........food for thought ......the average CEO in Japan only makes 40 times the salary of the lowest paid worker.....in America.......400 times!

the common enemies of man

Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, 'rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation', a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself."..­..........­..JFK

whole lot of talk about which came first the chicken or the egg.........i think its time we put down our titles and picked up the most important one.....Am­ericans...­.....and helped our country get back on her feet........lets agree to disagree.......and move forward

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/26/job-seekers-exceed-openin_n_301001.html?page=39&show_comment_id=31720586#comment_31720586

our greatest power

The greatest power we have within our society is to unite for greater good of our country. What has happened to that power? What has happened to the spirit which for so many years has united us? Me, myself and I. That is what has happened. The corporate philosophy has finally hit home. Banks, savings and loans, mortgage companies do not care about the individual, they care about the bottom line their stock holders, their investors. This group of people led us to a state of national financial collapse in their quest for riches. We have always expected this out of the rich, out of Wall stree, but the average American was better than that. We now know less and care less about our neighbor than we ever have. We have areas in our country that are worst than some 3rd world countrys, why, because we have lost our compassion and value for each other. Until we start taking care of each other again, looking out for one another again, put each other over our own needs like we use too.........we will never come out of this mess we are in.

who is really in control

who is really in control? Today all over some of my favorite blogs the discussion is about how elected officials are compromising with pharmaceutical companies and doing some back room deals. Well who is really running this country, the people, or big business. I have to agree with the pessimist that it looks like big business. They have the bucks, the influence and until we can unite again as voters and demand change then nothing is ever going to happen for the good of the average american

The great divide......

It was announced today that the top 20 banks who recieved TARP funds had CEO pay and bonus packages which were 400% greater than the average American salary. What does this mean, the average CEO of a bank which recieved billions in taxpayers money still made 400 times the peoples salary who bailed them out! Wake up America, from healthcare to financing we have a great divide. The rich are profiting of our misery taking our savings and living a life of luxory. Its time for an all out economic revolution, from share holders to consumers we need to march on Washington, we need to close our bank accounts, we need to take our money and start investing with ourselves! I know for one, my wife and I are dealing cash only now, i trust no bank, no savings and loan and certainly no credit card companies. Lets shut them down, lets demand reform, lets demand as stockholders a cieling on salarys above the national average. The president only makes $400,000 a year! These guys are knocking down millions a year!

Leaders are not leaders..............without followers

Our country is in turmoil now, bitterness, division, and disunity are at pre-vietnam levels. Why? Because of the divisiveness of those who would rather see our political system fail rather than Americans unify and come together for the good of the country. Why would these people be so possessed to do so you ask. A movement during the last election of independent, democratic and conservatives grew which the administration fostered. A movement which encouraged Americans to once again put country and unity first over division and difference. Those who fear this unity are now again attempting to bring her back to the seperation and division that we once had. Don't do it America, stay focused, stay unified, stay on track with our goals, to make this country the country it should be.

A sad day for America.........

Ted kennedy passed away this week. Character, integrity, loyalty, selflessness these are all atributes we use describe this wonderful public servant. For over 47 years he represented his state in congress. Always loyal, always acting in the best interest of this country. We will miss you, we are stronger because of you, we are better because of the example you gave us.

The test of progress........

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."
— Franklin D. Roosevelt

Wages have become stagnant for most Americans, the cost of living, health-care, groceries, gas all of these have gone up at astronomical rates but the income of most blue collar workers is stationary. Now that millions of jobs have been lost then millions of workers will have to start out all over again in climbing the workforce ladder, it is expected to take an entire generation for average Americans to get back the financial status we had prior to the present melt down. While this is happening we are seeing the rich become not just wealthier but we have seen liquidity than any other time in our country....are we truely progressing in our society? I think not....until the average American takes back control of our goverment, our economy and accepts responsability to rebuild this country to its once great status we will again be sliding down the hill instead of up the hill.....

Missing the point...

After watching weeks of the health care debate on television and on the internet I have come to the conclusion that those arguing for or against have missed the point. Their are so many discussions about what the bill is or is not that everyone has forgotten what the intent of the bill is. To save money! for everyone, the hospitals, the doctors, the patients, the insurance companies etc. How, by creating competition, by leveling cost, by eliminating waste and by insuring those which flood our emergency rooms because they do not have health insurance. We are so got up in these tangents that we are failing to see the goal, to stop the growth of this beast which is eating up all our money and destroying our future, lets get our eye back on the ball!

Yes we can.......

The people of this country are pretty beaten down right now. Pessamism is at an all time hight when it comes to jobs, homes and our goverment. But although we are small we are great when we bind together, although we are poor we are rich in ideas and creativity to recreate this country and though goverment may not listen to our deafening voice we have the power not in sinularity but as a nation to change the face of our capital. Yes we can change this country........and yes we will.

crossing the line........

it breaks my heart to see people disgracing our country by comparing our president to Hitler. people have gone to far in this public debate over healthcare reform. Their has to be a line which we do not cross. So many of our veterans have fought and died to defend this country, so many of our citizens have been touched by the terror of a dictator. In this public debate we have to remember that the freedom which we enjoy comes with responsability too. We are free to express our opinions and contribute to the debate to make our country a better place to live, and it is this debate which makes us stronger, but we are to respect one anothers ethnicity, social status and individuality. The anti-senatism in our society has gotten out of control as the disrespect for one another. Its time that we come together as a society and had civil debates about how we can make this country a better place to be.

Is healthcare a right ........

What is the biggest argument in the debate for healthcare for all Americans? Some say the quality healthcare is not a right, and that just because someone is an American they should not have access to the best healthcare possable if they cannot afford it. What individual who needs a heart for their child, or specialized surgery for a spouse, would not sell everything they have to provide the money necessary for this care. If you are rich, or have insurance, then this is not a concern. Yes, your insurance may have life time limits, but you at least can get the access. Many Americans do not have access, are treated inferior, are sent from doctors offices and hospitals without the medications, and care they need to survive. It is time that the greatest country on earth supplies equal care for all its citizens......liberty and healtcare for all.

Bitter August.....

August is turning out to be a battle ground month for the country. We are torn apart by the healthcare reform bill, market tort, and tax reform. The sad thing in this battle that we have lost our ability to reason together what is best for the country and the American people. We must come together in this effort to make these issues better for all Americans rather than just a few.

Finally some hope for student loans.....

There is a petition being signed and sent to the white house to encourage legislation which would forgive student loans for anyone making less than 150 thousand dollars a year. Proponents state that it would boost the American economy and help out the blue collar worker burdened under all these student loans......great idea..........hope it passes

Conservative blow up.........

Conservatives are making a big mistake not controlling their constituients but rather feeding the fire on healthcare reform. So much erroneous information is being disseminated by the GOP to defeat healthcare reform. Their mistake, Americans are internet savy now, the truth will come out, and they may even lose more seats in congress in 2010.

When does a debate become.......a fight

The healthcare reform debate has been just that for decades within our country. We have been able as citizens to disagree with the nature of the reforms, who pays, who gets coverage, and how it is provided. we have been able to keep our personal attacks, our children, our faith out of the debate in respect one for another. Something has changed in our country now, people are carrying guns to town hall meetings, people are slandering our president, they are even bringing the presidents children into the argument. It is time that we clean our act up America, and started acting like the civilized society that we are.

More Banks closing.......AIG turns profit

Three more small banks were shut down this week two in Florida and one in Oregon bringing this years talley to 72 for 2009. When I got out of the military I worked as a milkman for a while, I worked the rural route with a lot of country stores, family owned mom and pop type places where locals could go get a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, etc. As time passed I never will forget what my route manager said to me one day, "these guys can't compete with the class C's, enjoy them while they last". What is a class C store, Wal-Mart. And he was right, as time passed by all those stores that I worked for years shut down, got put out of business or got bought out, stores which had been open for decades. Why because their prices could not keep up with the competition, the power of the conglomerate. It impacted those small communities, jobs were lost, convience was lost, a part of the communities was lost. I see it now in our banks, all these small town local banks are failing, because they cannot compete with the big dogs. If the playing field is equal then no problem, but if the big banks are getting all the bail out money, the federal assistance, then who is looking out for the little guys. It will change our communitys, our lives for a long time. Is the decline of the small town bank the death of the small town, only the future will tell.

what happened to respect........

Glenn Beck was on TV today with a little sketch of how he would like to poison Representativ Pelosi. This woman is an elected official who resides over the house of representatives! Has he lost his mine, do we no longer have any morals or values in our country which respect the offices of our elected officials! Beck has day after day provoked Conservatives to protest and town hall meetings and disrupt health care reform information sessions held by state representatives. What gives him the right to use his air time to destroy everyone elses opportunity to constructively discuss the future of our country. This guy does not want a debate, he does not want to work things out he is just tee'd off that his side did not win in the last election so he is going to cry, stomp and mess everything up for everyone else in this country! I got one thing to say about that........grow up

We the people.........

"We the people".........wasn't it a novel idea........"in order to form a more perfect union"..........there is even comments about "justice" and "tranquility"................what has happened to the oath that our goverment officials take.........to protect the constitution.........to do what is right for the people........people has been replace by corporations..........perfect union has turned into perfect balance sheet.......and justice is no longer blind...............and the only tranquility you are going to get if you are a blue collar like me is with a miller light.........and monday night football...............

Fear........the new weapon against the poor

Reading an article today about how the elderly are afraid that the goverment is going to encourage their doctors to push euthansia on them. How that the goverment is so desperate that it wants the elderly to die younger so they can save money. Special interest groups are stating that the goverment wants to tax the already burdened middle class. Global warming is destroying our world but our kids do not get enough sunshine! Fear.....a powerful tool which whether informed or not causes people to think and react irrationally. A wise man once said "we have nothing to fear......but fear itself"...........what happened to that school of thought.

Supply is up.....demand is down.......shouldn't prices be too!

Dairy farmers are producing milk today at record levels but their profits are going down and for the first time in several years the USDA is having to support the prices for farmers. Gasoline stockpiles are up and crude oil storage farms are full but gas prices are not down. What has happened to the old addage of supply and demand? Shouldn't prices of milk be going down for the consumer if supply is up and demand is down, a gallon of milk is on average $4 a gallon but farmers are only recieving $1.50 of that. What is happening, is the American consumer being taken advantage of again? Crude oil storage facilities are at capacity, we are using less gas this summer and yet the rice is no going down? What is going on here? The same thing that happened to Wal-street, the middle man, the hedgers, these are the ones manipulating the market. Farmers may be making on $1.5 a gallon but don't think its the store owner, on average most stores only make .25 to .50 on a gallon of milk. It is the distributer, you know their brand names, they are the ones working both sides. Giving the farmer barely enough to survive and sticking it to the consumer but yet making a fortune in the middle. The rules of the game have changed for the American consumer, we could watch the markets, watch supply and demand and predict what will be impacting our lives, not anymore. these hedgers, market and comodity risk takers are manipulating the nations supply and demand of consumer goods and its time we done something about it before we can no longer afford to drive our cars or drink a glass of milk.

Hope for tomorrow..............

July is over now and the country has seemed to make a turn around. The health care reform bill has been watered down enough to not do us any good who really need the help. The stock market is up and the rich who lost all our 401k's are gaining their money back, wonder if they'll send us a check. Crude oil prices are up, unemployment is up, groceries are up and the goverment wants to raise the price of milk to help out the farmers. Its wonderful to see things turning around for everyone, but just in case you are interested their is a whole bunch of us who are still broke, hungry and needing hope. See, in a trickle down economy it takes a long time for it to trickle to the bottome and by the time it has helped everyone on the way down, well, crumbs from the table are better than starving to death. Thank you America!

The new Party..........Blue Dogs

For the last 15 years the blue dogs of the democratic party have mostly been what we like to call "conservative democrats". These elected officials have been coming from areas and districts of the country which have for years have been republican. These dogs have been able to take advantage of the descent in the republican party and the growth of the independents to win them positions in the house. The dogs have not had the power and clout which they have demonstrated this year though......and remaining in office and with the support of some very powerful lobbyist they now are making their mark on history. How? They are basically unraveling the democratic initiatives to move more liberal views into washington which would help the middle class. They are representing big business and that growing sector of people in the us who do not represent the middle class but are not elitest. What does this mean for you, either compromise or lose. They have the votes to derail any changes which the president wants to make for the next 4 years. He will either compromise or they will become sterile as democrats. This plays directly into the hands of the republicans who know that they cannot push anything through but be a pain in the side of liberal democrats. So set back and watch for the next 3 years, there is a new party in town, with a new agenda!

health care reform......not

The conservative democrats are holding up healthcare reform in Congress as we speak..and when I say hold up......i mean as in robbery! They are stripping the program of any initiative which were designed to help middle class Americans. The remaining bill is going to nothing but an insurance reform bill which will not really hurt the insurance industry at all or hinder them from doing business as usual. Several of the blue dawgs on crucial committees now dealing with the health care reform bill recived on average $700,000 in donations from insurance companies to their election campaigns. For example, Bart Gordon from TN recieved over $741,000 from insurance companies for his election campaign. Do these guys think that America doesn't realize that they are being influenced by these insurance companies? They are selling us out again......the sad thing is that they are again siding on the side of personal interest and politics rather than what is best for the American people. I hope that registered voters remember these people on election day.

falling oil prices.........no more space for speculators

December orders for crude were down this week.......speculators have no where else to put all this crude oil they are manipulating.....so with tankers full, storage tanks full they will be looking to dump this crude on the market for the last quarter of this year especially since their looking at a $4 a barrel profit.....and setting on 1,000,000 barrels guess what......they would like to buy a new car for christmas.......so looks like we will have decreased demand with falling gas prices for our winter........again.......where is the supply and demand......we need to reighn these guys in....or we will be looking at $5 a gallon gas again.....not because of shortage but because of price manipulation

Bank regulators resist giving up powers!

The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency all testified before congress this week against giving up some of their authority to a consumer protection agency established by the goverment. What are these guys afraid of, they have not been able to police themselves or establish regulations which would slow down the risk or deceptions of the banking and investment industry. Who is protecting the consumers, the FDIC was the only one that said they did not care, in fact said they could spend more time looking at banks. What ever happened to goverment for the people by the people!

What's the difference in fair.......and minimum wage?

Everyone is happy that the minimum wage is now going up to $7.25 an hour now and for millions of Americans we should be happy for them but at the same time we should be asking our selves a question qbout the difference between minimum and fair. Now at this new standard a person making minimuw wage might be abloe to afford a daily newspaper and a cup of coffee but we will come back to that! Someone making the minimum wage and working a 40 hour week job can look forward to making gross about $1160 a month, that is before taxes, social security and welfare gets taken out and lord help you if you have a state income tax. So lets say they take home $1000 a month. The average rent/mortgage in the US is $684 a month, that leaves $326 dollars a month for electricity, water, natural gas, groceries, toilet paper, you get the picture. Thats about $80 a week, oh and by the way they may need to get to work so they may have to pay for public transportation, and if they have a car then they will need gas for that car. But wait what about health insurance, and the rainy day fund that so many of these gooroos say that we are suppose to have. Yes, this is impossable. No one can live on the minimum wage except maybe a kid living at home, but if he has insurance, car payment, gas for the car etc he never has any money. Whats happened in our country is that we have become so preocupied with making sure these companies and these business are doing good that we have forgotten how they got where they are. On the backs of blue collar workers all over the US! By keeping the poor ......poor.....by keeping the poverty level low.......then it looks like they are doing everyone a big favor.......i say its time we started having a fair wage in this country............not a minimum wage............lets start requiring companies which recieve all these tax breaks, federal funds, etc to pay what is fair.........for what a man or woman does all day.....how can it be fair to pay an executive $1 million dollars a year.....when he is driving the company in the ground.....but yet pay the person that shows up everyday busting his tail giving a hard days work......not enough to feed his family and pay his bills.........

Don't ask ........cause they won't tell

The house committee on oversight had meetings today where they held the Treasury Departments feet to the fire on transparency and knowing where the 700 billion dollars taxpayers gave banks is going. All the TARP funds designated to saving these so-called failing banks are being spent by banks to build new banks, purchase other banks, make investments and repay their debts! What happened to helping out the average American and increasing lending to Americans...well forget that.....instead they are strengthening their positions in the market place and taking advantage of the system by increaseing interest rates on credit cards, changing them to adjustables and basically shutting middle class America out of the bank. You and I cannot go to the bank and cash a check over $10,000 without having to answer to the federal goverment.....filling out forms and letting them know where all that money came from.........these guys took billions of taxpayers dollars and are like a kid in a candy store............and nobody knows where the money is going.........maybe its not don't ask..but rather turn your head.........one thing about it if someone robs you at least they hold a gun on you........these guys get away with robbery.......and expect you to give them the money.......

The new supply and demand..........

According to analyst the crude oil market is rising and falling with the stock market. Experts say that OPEC will have to stick to their guns in holding back supply or the price of a barrell of crude may go below $60 a barrell. What ever happen to supply and demand! This is market manipulation! There is no oil shortage other than the one that refineries and oil comapanies are generating let alone these investment companies holding on to tankers full of crude waiting to dump it onto the market when prices go up. Something as valuable to the recovery of this nation as crude oil should not be open for manipulation, but it is. Now lawmakers are wanting to raise the price of natural gas......why we have lots of it.....oh thats why we have too much of it........the prices may go down.....and the consumer may get a good deal........hogwash.......i think we should all retrofit our vehicles to run on methane because the bullshit is getting deep around this country............

Bankrupt on paper........

Banks which accepted Federal bail out money just months ago are now posting big earnings as in billions! How can they go from imminent failure to now making billions of dollars? It is long been know that a good accountant can manipulate the facts, and on paper it probably looked like these banks were in trouble but in reality......they were fine. Manipulation of the facts......yes! While the rest of the middle class and the poor are struggling to turn this economy around the rich are seeing windfalls........at our expense! The American taxpayers are the ones which have bailed these banks out but we still cannot get loans we are facing outrageous credit card rates and seemingly the banks are no closer to being reined in than they were in January. And what are we seeing on capital hill, finger pointing, a big show called the "blame game". Well, I am for one not buying in to this distraction. Congress and the American people got duped into loaning these banks all this money and now we should demand it back with interest. Take that money and put it where it belongs. Helping the small businesses of America, the middle class as we struggle to once again see this country thrive.

Banks are busted.........

Four more banks failed this week.....two in California and two in Georgia. The cost to the FDIC almost 2 billion! Why are the little banks, little as in comparison to some of the large national banks, in these states failing? Look at my post yesterday. The middle class is the driving force in this nation! If we do not have jobs, if we cannot pay our bills, if we do not borrow money, buy new cars, build new homes.......small town American suffers.........America suffers!! Had the government bought all those loans......paid the banks off........and refinanced with the home owners to 2% an outrageous number the country and the government would still be better off!! Why? Less banks failing, more money in America's pocket! These large securities and investment banks have no power to turn this economy around, we have all lost confidence in them already. They are just manipulating the system. But put that money into the middle class, put that money to work, instead of setting in someones bank who got a hefty bonus for nothing or severance package for failure! The stock market finished up last week because housing permits, and housing starts all went up more than expected. What does that have to do with someone like Citi group or AIG? Nothing! But crude prices went up, confidence in the market went up, people started investing again because middle class Americans are working again. Wake up Obama......we need jobs to turn this country around.........we the people that is....here in blue collar America

Rebuilding America...........from the bottom up

Housing starts for single family homes has exceeded expectations for the last two months. The largest gain since 2004 was seen last month. Analyst believe that this is a sign that the housing industry is beginning its rebound. Most of the construction of these homes is done by blue collar workers! These workers are now getting some money in their pockets and guess what .....spending that money. I have from the beginning said that the best action with the billions of stimulus money should have been to start massive funding of middle class housing development and construction. Now I know what you are saying, "but there is all these houses on the market".......then how did there become a need for over 500, 000 new homes in the last month! Had we have just paid off all those bad loans at Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac....and gave people their homes we would have been better off than we are now! The banks are paying back the money we loaned them now already!.......Had we paid off these bad mortgages then those people would not have foreclosed, then the banks would have gotten the money anyway....and we would not have the distress in the credit markets...because people could pay their bills because they do not have a mortgage anymore....novel idea I know....but what we did is bail out the fat cats and all those people that have money anyway.....who really.......do not stimulate the economy anyway.........you stimulate the economy from the bottom ....up.......housing is proving that now.

10 Percent unemployment........no jobs......ba hum bug!

Analyst at the fed say that the unemployment rate across the nation is going to go over 10% and stay that way for awhile. Times are going to be hard for American workers and predictions in the market are good for economic recovery? What are these guys thinking? Economic growth and jobs go hand in hand and in the last two recessions we have seen this tried and true relationship get broken. Why? No one is sure...but one thing is sure we have to fix it. Everyone is getting ready for Christmas ....now! And if we are trying to figure out how we are going to pay the fuel bills, and the heating bills, and the grocery bill on unemployment I do not know how things are going to turn around without some stimulus in the jobs market. the goverment has tried to do its part. You have got to put the American worker back in the picture....he is the one which is going to turn everything around, money in his pocket then he will spend it! Demands for goods and services go up and guess what... demand for materials go up......more people get jobs.......they spend more......get the picture guys! Every major business in this country needs to find some way......one way .....cut all those big bonuses and perks at the top.....trickle it down to the guys at the bottom ....hire some minimum wage workers........its time for business to do its part ...especially the big business who have made all the money for all these years.....if we could do this put people to work doing anything.........tighten our belts and create jobs.....then the domino affect...would take place and the economy would turn around. Here is some food for thought...the Fed is looking at greater clarity and oversight of hedge funds companies that serve as clearinghouses for trades of derivative instruments. These guys do not generate jobs! The market is not functioning like it did when mom and pop started investing. You had a good company....you went public...people invested in the success of your company and that gave you money to hire more workers to expand to grow. The comapny won and the stock holders won! Stock holders reinvested the money, purchased goods, etc and the economy grew, people had retirements and everything was good. Whats happening now! the group which is making money on the trends in the market the cycles of the econmy but yet do not generate any jobs due to their small numbers. These people manipulate the market, they destroy the concepts of supply and demand! They purchase tankers full of oil! they are not an oil company, a refinery, or a distributer, they are a group which based upon the risk holds on to the oil they bought and when the price is right dumps it on the market to make a bundle. this is not supply and demand but rather market manipulation! You have a hedge fund manager who is watching a company, who is doing good....their stocks drop based upon market cycles and he knows that.....but it will go back up.......he watches and buys low...........when it gets up their he drops it like a hot potatoe..........makes a fortune for his group and himself..........does he care about the success of the company.......does he care about millions of stock holders....NO!..........so the company loses...the stock holders lose........and the cycle is falsley skewed......now the stock holders start getting nervous......they jump ship and the company loses more......lays off workers and its the same vicious cycle over and over.................the rich get richer..........and the poor get poorer.

Where is your outrage GM stockholders!

General Motors announced today details of the severance package they have worked out with ex chairman Rick Wagoner. How about 8.2 million over the next 5 years and $75k for the rest of your life, a 2.6 million dollar life insurance policy and who knows what other perks! This is a guy who, during his tenure watched the company lose over 85 billion dollars!! Are you kidding me! They should kick his ass out the back door and anyone and everyone that bought into his philosophy of success along with him! Come on what type of logic are these guys using. If I was a stock holder for GM I would be appalled! So now that they have run the company into bankruptcy and thousands of employees have and are going to lose their jobs let alone their pensions, their livelihood their futures we are going to compensate this guy for the rest of his life!! I know that a lot of those employees that have lost their jobs would love it if they could have a little of that 8.2 million! We really need to start holding these guys with all these MBA's to a different level! I want they guy who negotiated this severance package for Wagoner working for me.........that way I can screw over my company, its employees and stockholders and retire in luxury for the rest of my life......

1 Trillion Dollars!

That's how much the deficit is now! The average person cannot comprehend how much money that is. What you can do or not do with that kind of money. The sad thing is that our country just 8 years ago had a surplus! When Bill Clinton left office we officially had a surplus and now we have went into the hole. Has a lot happened since then, of course, but has a lot of greed, mis management of the tax payers money happened, absolutely! Government requires states to balance their budgets, you and I cannot go without paying our bills, they will shut the lights out and throw you out on the street. But lawmakers in Washington have a blank check and its you and I who are having to pay their IOU's. I don't know about you........but I think its time government started taking their own medicine............

The Backbone of America...........

Matthew Vogel white house representative states that the present administration is toying with a plan to include the small businesses of America in the recovery or stimulus money that they have been handing out to only the banks and auto makers. Wow! Thanks for tuning in! Any American could have told these guys that if you wanted to stimulate the economy you would need to help the small busyness first. These big banks, holding companies, stock companies and yes the big auto makers have been manipulating the economy and the financial sector for too long and by the way making a fortune at it. And now that they have failed they want America to bail them out and give themselves bonuses for running their companies into the ground! No! Let’s help the people in America who really create the jobs and who are the backbone of America and that are the small business man. He is one with all the innovation and the drive to succeed, he is one living week to week right now, and he is the one that doesn’t have a safety net called stock holders and the federal government to bail him out. If his company loses money, he loses money! If his company goes belly up he loses his livelihood! Yes, thank you President Obama……for realizing who the backbone of America is…………

Supply and demand.......what a joke oil companies

The oil companies could learn a little from Wal-Mart executives! They know who the larges consumers of goods are…the middle class and right now the middle class do not have jobs, cannot afford health care, are paying out the nose for what they do have and have trimmed their budgets to buy what they only need, and are attracted to best quality product for the cheapest price. That is what Wal-Mart is demanding from its suppliers, the best possible product at the lowest cost, so they can pass it on to consumers! And that is why they are doing so well. June was supposed to be a big month for the oil companies but instead demand was down for gasoline. And I guarantee you with the economy not doing any better the job rate not increasing as wished that people are not traveling, not wasting money on $2.50 a gallon gas! What the oil companies need to do is bite the bullet, they have made billions off Americans the last couple of years, and drop oil gas prices! Drop gas prices to $1.50 a gallon and watch what happens the whole economy would get a boost! Small business owners would have decreased cost, employees less cost, they start traveling, they start flying, they start going out, staying in motels…..we all do better……and the rich get richer…when the blue collar worker has a few Nichols to rub together.

IOU!

Well the big news today is that Wells Fargo and two other major banks are no longer going to cash the state of California's IOU's! Now what do they know that all the credit unions in the state who are still cashing the IOU's don't know? SEC states that the IOU's are like securities and are treating them as such. Why? Because some smart people are trying to buy up these securities offering holders 70-95 cents on the dollar for exchange! And I bet they get some takers. I think alot about that every time I look at a dollar....know what it is.....Federal Reserve...Note......IOU! Backed by the US government.......bet alot of people in China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.........hope their IOU's......keep holding up in this troubled economy. Makes you think back to when in our society we used gold coin and silver certificates for trade. Wish I had some of that gold now........its worth more than these notes we are all caring around.

Natural Gas Mr.Boone!

Do you remember all the commercials last year by T.Boone Pickens about wind farms and natural gas cars. Well, natural gas has dropped in price so interest in the wind corridor has diminished and he is scraping his idea to build the wind farms...what about all those people employed making those 600 turbines Mr.Pickens? And now that natural gas prices have fell we are not hearing anything from him about the natural gas cars! Hey, if these guys would find some way of me filling up one of those cars i would jump on it. Are we serious about energy conservation in this country? Don't think so! Obama.....if we were would be pushing for support of the wind farms, the renewable energy, and the natural gas cars........There are tons of jobs to be generated in the green energy resources....here in Tennessee we are building plant to make solar panels, and people are getting jobs! Come on, big business and lobbyist win again!

Good bye Michael! Blue collars will miss you too..

Today was a sad day, we celebrated the life of an icon. I know that I have spent many long nights working and listening to his music. He put rhythm into our lives, somehow the time seemed to pass faster and the moment seemed more joyful and you felt more alive listening to his music. Michael Jackson will always be alive, he lives within our hearts, and his melody will always be on our lips. Thank you Michael............

Battling for the Giant!

According to the Wal Street Journal Germany, China and Russia are all battling for stock in General Motors. European stock in Opel and Vauxhall that is and the labor unions love it. GM America keeps major stock control but guess what the German government is backing the deal. Why am I talking about this, GM is building a SUV plant in Russia they have every interest in seeing the success of the giant, German labor unions see an opportunity for jobs to remain in their country so they are backing the deal, and finally China sees opportunity to get a piece of the Giant which will give them more control of the automotive industry. Why is this so important too us, as my dad use to say it isn't what you see that should worry you but what you do not see! GM comes out of bankruptcy with sweet deals, all this new influx of revenue from foreign investors, reduced labor cost abroad, but the beauty elimination of divisions in America, elimination of skyrocketing pension plans, debt, health care cost and a new beginning. What do we get out of the deal, paying for their bankruptcy, losing our jobs, our security and our trust. The American blue collar worker made GM the giant. Who loses in this deal, the little guy, the tax payers, the blue collars. Made in America, America bought out! Foreign countries own so much of our national debt, our major companies, no wonder our jobs are going oversees and our livelihoods down the drain, who will GM sale out later on to keep these major players comfortable with their market shares. Wake up America........

California IOU!

Well if the federal government can do it why can't California! What happened to the law requiring states to have a balanced budget? Other than a federal reserve note I wonder what California is issuing their citizens. Can they buy bread and milk with these IOU's, do they collect interest, will the electric company take them so they will not turn of their lights? We have started down a slippery slope here, who pays?! Where California goes so follows the nation!

Jobs! Justice! and July 4!

Here the day before celebrating another day of Independence in our society! Even with all the struggles that we face the hardships that people are going through this country is still the greatest place on earth to live. Where with a dream, some drive and determination you can become anything you want to be. Yes, even in these hard times people are making it, people are succeeding, they are climbing the ladder. Life is a struggle, if you are not pedaling then your bike is rolling backwards, sorry that is the way it is. But remember one thing as we celebrate our country's Independence, whether you choose to pedal or not whether your climbing or not, its your choice to fail or succeed! You can move and get a new job, you can start a new career, whatever you choose to do, its your choice because of this blessed land we live in!

Love that John Deere Green!

Thats what these 800 salaried employees are saying! That works out to about $125,000 per employee. But what a smoothe move, that is predicticted to save them $75 million first year. You know what sounds like a good deal does not always work out to be so. Yeah, that money sounds great for the empoyees up front but can they replace the job they lost, can they make as much somewhere else that they are making now. What about the benefits? Heath insurance alone can eat you up. Again, I believe the little guy is getting the short end of the stick, how come we think short term, companies think long term. We have got to change our focus.......whats the benefit in the long haul. Lets hope these 800 employees are close to retirement, or in positions which they can easily market themseleves so they too can continue to experience the .....green.

Poor Bernard!

Well, could not start my day without posting a comment about the anticipation we are all feeling regarding the sentencing of Bernard Madoff today. Even though he will probably get life sentence for what he has done to thousands of hard working Americans who actually earned their money that is still not going to ease the burden, the troubles that so many who trusted him are facing. The true irony of this all is that he is still without any remorse......he feels like he owes no one person an explanation! And he still won't cooperate! He did not rip off all these people by himself there are arrogant crooks out there that worked with him and he's protecting them. I believe what concerns me the most and erodes my trust in the financial system is his attitude. He felt as if he was above the law, above us all. That he was owed what he was getting. I know some arrogant bankers, stock brokers who act that same way. Will our system ever be safe?

Michigan ahead of the curve in retraining!

GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt announced at a news conference in Birmingham on Friday that his company would create 1,200 jobs this year and there would be more to come at its new $100-million center for advanced manufacturing technology and software in Van Buren Township.

Take notice America! The jobs are going where there is technology! If you can not use a computer, if you do not know what things like CAD is or Computer aided machine tooling is, computer aided welding........you are behind the ball and if your state or local municipality is not training your workforce with these special talents then industry is not looking. Technology needs to start in high school. Students need training to utilize computers and the new technologies that big business is going to need. Kudo's to Michigan for creating a workforce which won out in the end. The high paying jobs are going to those with the knowledge and ability to meet industrys needs for the 21 st century.

Blue Collars survive layoffs!

NEW YORK (AP) — A bankruptcy judge on Thursday ruled that a group representing General Motors Corp.'s salaried retirees cannot form a formal committee to negotiate with the automaker as it attempts to reorganize and emerge from Chapter 11 as a new company.

U.S. Judge Robert Gerber said that since GM had the right to modify or terminate the retirees' health care and life insurance benefits before they filed for bankruptcy protection, the retirees can't challenge the automaker's ability to do so now.

Now lets take a look at this guys, these guys make all the bucks for their entire career and now while in retirement they want the ability to renegotiate their contracts in retirement. Wonder how many blue collars whom have retired would like to do the same thing. Give me a break!!

Huggies and tissue-maker Kimberly-Clark Corp.said Thursday the company will cut 1,600 positions from its global work force. The reduction includes 600 employees who accepted voluntary severance packages earlier this year.

Irving, Texas-based Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) said the cuts will save $150 million annually. The company has yet to confirm if or how many cuts will occur in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

About 750 jobs will be cut in the United States. with the reductions occurring in Europe and other international locations. The layoffs will affect salaried and nonproduction jobs; manufacturing facilities are not part of the reductions, Kimberly-Clark said.

Give a Hand to Kimberly-Clark! Lets cut the fat guys......the people who make the products keep their jobs. More companys need to start looking at where their fat is at! The guys on the bottom are not costing the company, they are making the company money, and they know how!! lets cut the fat which due to the poor decision making ability of some of these yo yo's has run some good companies into the ground and profits down with it. I'm like Buffett I believe in the ability of the American worker, he or she can make a product like no other one in the world if given the freedom and opportunity to do so.

Monsanto saves the blue collar's!

Monsanto Co. said Wednesday that it’s creating a separate division for its Roundup and other herbicides business and also plans to cut 900 employees across the company as part of a restructuring to be completed in fiscal 2010. Hey do you not just love what these companies can do in the name of "restructuring".......900 employees are going to face the ax so that the bottom line looks better.......i wonder how many of that 900 are going to be white collar jobs?

New home sales were 32.8% below the same month a year ago, when the estimate stood at a 509,000 annual rate! No joke!........that's because the market is saturated with repo's........companys that built nothing but the houses no one can afford! Where I live homes from 90-100k are going like wild fire!......over 300 permits already this year locally......how come.......building homes the people can afford........and they are buying them........the big ones are setting!