Almost 2 years ago

I would never make a living blogging. Looking at my minuscule volume of posts is very indicative of that statement.

I looked back at my January 10, 2010 post and it ended as follows:

The Republicans or the conservatives need to find a dynamic spokesman and formulate a message. There is currently no person in the public eye willing to take the current Government to task with a message that is going to bring hope and unify the conservatives into taking control during the mid-term elections and eventually the Presidency. What is the message? We the people have had to tighten our belts and become a nation of savers rather then credit whores. The message needs to focus on the this:

1. The economy is still the biggest issue.
2. The out of control debt.
3. Affordable health care for the entire population.
4. Strengthening social security and medicare with tax reform.
5. Tax reform that involves fiscal responsibility.
6. Revise the amount and recipients of foreign aid.

Change starts with each and everyone of us.

As we can see things have not changed much. In fact it has gotten worse. There are a few items not listed that have really impacted our wallets and disposable income. First is the cost of fuel and energy since that post, and the second is the cost of food as a whole.

One thing that changed was the control of the House of Representatives shifted to the Republicans. What have they done? Honestly, nothing but really disappoint. They have failed to maintain their message, not use their power to bring about change, and unfortunately improve the image of Obama.

As we roll into the election of 2012 which is called the most important of our life time as conservatives we have seen each front runner of a Republican candidate fall to the way side while Romney slowly builds his momentum. I fear that we pushing Obama into a win. Is our only salvation Hillary Clinton making a run as a 3rd party candidate? Is our only salvation the religious conservative voter finding a candidate to back and push him home, and will the Tea Party fall in line?

The Tea Party has been very quiet, it seems that they have just become a footnote in history. On that note...time for a cup roobios tea and think what about what should have been instead of the ugly reality we are to face.

Change starts with each of us, and do we have the determination our forefathers had to bring change? Just do it.

Economic Recovery, History and the 4th of July.

It is sad when we hear the phrase, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce." Karl Marx said this. The more famous saying we hear is, "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat," Edmund Burke said this in the late 1700's.

I start this blog with these phrases to contemplate the issues that I am facing. This is one of the first times that I have started to think about my future for my family's sake. What will I being doing in 5 years and will it be good enough to provide for my family? Will I be able to put my son through college? Will I have enough to retire on.

Some of us have 401K accounts, and the majority of those are in mutual funds. We have suffered some huge losses and we have seen them come back some what during the past two years. Let us look at a number from the Wall Street:

Dow Avg. Unemployment

Jan. 2, 1930 244.2 8.7

Jan. 2, 1931 169.84

Jan. 2, 1932 74.62 23.6

Jan. 3, 1933 59.29

Jan. 2, 1934 100.34 21.7

Jan. 2, 1935 104.51

Jan. 2, 1940 151.43 14.6

Jan. 2, 1945 152.58 3.9

Jan. 3, 1950 198.89 5.3

Jan. 11, 1951 244.72

We have seen spikes in the stock market since the recession and most of us would like to recoup our 401K as quickly as possible. But if history is an indicator we have a long way to go. It took the economy of the 1930's and 19640's 21 years to recoup it's losses.

Let us look at some recent history that some of us grew up with, the Jimmy Carter era of 18% interest rates and a gas shortage that saw gas go from 25 cents a gallon to 50 cents, etc. What did the market look like in those years:

Jan. 3, 1972 889.3

Jan. 3, 1973 1043.8

Jan. 3, 1974 885.32

Jan. 3, 1975 635.54

Jan. 5, 1976 877.83

Jan. 5, 1977 978.06

Jan. 5, 1978 804.92

Jan. 5, 1979 830.73

Jan. 1980 891.41

Jan. 1981 932.92

Jan. 1982 884.36

Jan. 1983 1190.34

As we can see there are peaks and valleys in the 1970's through the early 1980's, but we need to know that we are going to need a good decade to recover from the economic turmoil. Unemployment was high as well. But one disadvantage we have is our national debt.

You may have seen headlines from a few days ago that we are approaching WWII debt levels. What does this mean for us? We have to tighten our belts and be prepared to sacrifice in order to get out of this mess.

I have begun the same approach. Tighten the belt and be prepared for the ups and downs of the coming decade.

1982 was the last time we saw unemployment at 9.7% and prior to that it was in the early 1940's. The only thing I recall from the early 70's was the high interest rates for mortgages and loans. Doubling your savings during those years was easy, rates went as high as 21%. It is a little harder to do today with savings accounts only earning 3% or less. We all tend to risk our money in the stock market in hopes of earning more. The stock market is a gamble, and when you gamble you take the risks associated.

I think the economic turn of 2010 to 2019 will hinge on real estate. Why real estate? More people have mortgages then in the our history. The amount of secured debt hinges on our country's economic growth, the fiscal responsibility that our government has to us the people, and the responsibility of the people to pay their debts.

Finally, I decided to really read the Declaration of Independence for the first time since high school. It is amazing how much of what is said is totally applicable to our times. Here are a few phrases that stand out and draw your own conclusions:

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, (he being King George)

God Bless America and each and everyone of us.

Conservatives Need to Act

It is time for the conservative movement to ACT instead of reacting. Our country's government has spun out of control because of the Democratic and Republican parties. Each party is more concerned about it's position and role within the government rather then with “We the people“.

President Obama was looked at as change during his campaign and eventual election. I believe President Obama would have had a difficult time being elected if the Republicans had really mounted a serious effort to win the election. The McCain/Palin ballot was in all essence a rollover move by the Republicans, but with this "conservative" ballot the Republicans lost more power within the Congress due to a poor image and message.

But once again the Republican Party and the conservatives are not making themselves heard in a constructive and forward thinking position. The lack of leadership within the conservative movement in the USA is a large hindrance towards dictating the direction the country and forthcoming campaign must move in. The message is still reacting to the issues rather then resolving the issues with a message and and proposed solutions.

The Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. Rather then take the penny pinching formula the Republican Congress put forth under President Clinton, they became an irresponsible government that emulated the Democratic Party in spending. This resulted in the negative image of President GW Bush along with the nebulous concept of a war on terrorism. These two issues led to the eventual downfall of the Republicans.

The Democrats have always controlled the entitlement portion of the population, and it is the swing in mood of the tax-paying base that has determined which party rules and when they rule. Should we be surprised by the waffling of President Obama? Absolutely not! His campaign was one that only reacted to the current issues of the country, i.e. the war on terrorism, spending and eventually the financial collapse of the banking sector. He only promised change and an openness that would embrace the suffering voters of the USA. He touch the voters who wanted a change. But as in every election, the winning candidate makes promise after promise and reneges on promise after promise. President Obama never proposed detailed plans, but he touch on the desires of the masses in such a generalized manner that he garnered more and more support. His greatest skill is his ability to read a teleprompter, and it makes him seem charismatic.

Today we are dictated to by a government controlled by the Democrats: Obama, Reid and Pelosi. This was never the intent of the founders of our country and constitution, it was to be a government that listened to the population. The frustration felt by the citizens of the USA is being heard, but it is a backlash against the incumbents and the jam it down our throats process. This backlash is not enough.

The Republicans or the conservatives need to find a dynamic spokesman and formulate a message. There is currently no person in the public eye willing to take the current Government to task with a message that is going to bring hope and unify the conservatives into taking control during the mid-term elections and eventually the Presidency. What is the message? We the people have had to tighten our belts and become a nation of savers rather then credit whores. The message needs to focus on the this and the following:

1. The economy is still the biggest issue.
2. The out of control debt.
3. Affordable health care for the entire population.
4. Strengthening social security and medicare with tax reform.
5. Tax reform that involves fiscal responsibility.
6. Revise the amount and recipients of foreign aid.

Change starts with each and everyone of us.

Fathers Day

It is interesting to think about Fathers Day and the impact our Fathers have had on us. My Father passed away many years ago, and I am not adept at telling stories like my wife. You can read her posts about her Father at Chisamba.

My Father was a very quiet man, he lead a dynamic and violent life prior to joining the US Army. My dad suffered greatly in the last few years of his life. He was one of the first men to be officially diagnosed with breast cancer, and eventually the cancer had spread through out his body. It was not pleasant, but he persevered through out the ordeal, he wanted to live and do what he did day in and day out.

I knew little of his life in Bulgaria and what his family were like. The past few years I have had contact with the family, and still very little was said about the history of the family, etc. I did get a chance to see some photographs that I had never seen of my Father, including some of my sister and I.

As the years continue to the pass, I realize that society and people are changing. It will be a much different world when we pass then what we were born into. Changes were drastic from the 1800's to the 1900's and the same with 1900 to 2000. But just look at the last 30 years of change, it is a totally different world. You can compare it to the changes from the handwritten letters and the pony express compared to the telephone compared to the Internet, or the horse and buggy compared to the car compared to the airplane. Our world has changed and so have we as a people, neighbors, communities, towns, cities, states and a country.

when your son grows up...and you learn from him

Mikhail, my son, is taking his junior black belt test this weekend. I think this is a very honest assessment of the life of a child growing up into an adult. Just a few sentences and what we should all strive to do in our own lives, at home, at work, and even in our relationships.

Mr Moncelsi should give me my black belt because…..

I started karate because I thought Power Rangers on TV was really cool. My mom asked me if I wanted to do karate, and I said yes. We found Mr Moncelsi’s school, and I started as a white belt. I thought karate would make me tough, and I would be able to beat up the bad guys.

While I was at karate I learned other stuff.

Respect: Karate reminded me to be myself. It make me strong inside, and help me choose right from wrong. If you respect others, like my Mom and Dad, my sensei, my teachers, grandma’s and my cousins, they will love and respect me back. When people at school make fun of me, I have to remember to have self respect. I go to child study team, and they told me that they want to have power over me, by making me upset. If I truly respect myself, I can ignore them.

Self Control: Sometimes I think that I don’t deserve to be a black belt, because my buttons are easily pushed. I can get very angry. Especially when people tease me. They say shhhhh to me all the time, even when I am not talking, just because I don’t like very loud noise, like in the cafeteria. Karate reminds me to control my actions. To be a black belt, I do not have to be perfect; I have to always be my best at self control.

Courage: Courage is one of the reasons I came back to Karate. That and because my Mom kept bugging me about it. I was afraid that I lose my self control, and hurt someone some day. Then mom helped me understand that Karate helps me work on my self discipline, my temper, my focus and my physical health. I faced my fears and came back.

Temper: When I punch the bag in karate, and kick, it helps me get the anger out that I have toward those people that bully me. Punching and kicking also help me focus and calm down. It also make me fitter, and improves my physical health.

Integrity: Before I started karate I did not know what integrity was. Integrity is when you stand up for someone, or something. I hate it when people lie to me, so I try to be honest even if it’s hard. I apologize when I am wrong, and try to forgive people when they have hurt me. Always doing my best and never giving up is what karate taught me about integrity.

Learning: I love karate. I love it when I get a new technique right, even though sometimes learning new stuff is hard and confusing. Sometimes I want to cry, but I do not have to be perfect, so I just try. I like getting stronger. I run and walk at night, I learn my form, and practice, and I try to live up to the advice my sensei gives me.

I deserve my junior black belt because I have learned these things and want to keep on learning. I want to keep on doing karate even after I get my junior black belt.

By Mikhail Georgiev

my tribute to the Obama spending spree

Please sing along to the tune by the Barenaked Ladies, "If I had a Million Dollars." The lyrics are entirely mine.

If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd buy your house ( I would buy your house for you)
If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd buy your furniture for your house (pay your utilities and property tax)
If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd buy you Chrysler ( already bought you GM automobiles)
If I had your trillion dollars, I'd buy your vote

If I had your trillion dollars
I'd build a plenty of new roads
If I had your trillion dollars
You could help cause we’ll pay 75 grand
If I had your trillion dollars
Maybe we could raises taxes on the rich
Wouldn't that be fabulous!

If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I buy you health insurance ( but not real medical that would be to expensive)
If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd get China more US bonds (interest like 3 or 4 percent)
If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd promise you no new taxes (All them crazy election promises)
If I had your trillion dollars I'd buy your vote

If I had your trillion dollars
We wouldn't have to pay at the store
If I had your trillion dollars
We'd take a limousine cause I have plenty more
If I had your trillion dollars I wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner

If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd give your bank some green ( but not help you that's cruel)
If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd give more international loans ( N. Korea or Cuba)
If I had your trillion dollars (If I had your trillion dollars)
I'd buy our way out of this recession (haven't you always wanted higher interest rates?)
If I had your trillion dollars If I had your trillion dollars If I had your trillion dollars
If I had your trillion dollars The FED be RICH!

The US Auto Manufacturers

Do we cry for GM and Chrysler?  I think not.  During the recent sales boom of cars these manufacturers never learned their lesson.  They didn't invest in the automobile, they ignored the people so they could make trucks.  This allowed Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and BMW to make significant headway into the US market, more so it allowed these car makers to build factories and build a work force.

What did GM, Chrysler and Ford do wrong- they avoided making cars that we wanted to drive.  The Taurus was the only success and that was due to the leasing market.  It wasn't a reliable, well built and enduring vehicle.  We failed to continue to support the consumer that supported the Mustang which had millions in sales.  Design and quality eluded the US car makers in the mid 70-s to the present.

The other problem is money management.  None of these companies should have had a cash flow problem like they have presently.  It is a lack of budgeting the coincided with poor manufacturing.

Shame on them and shame on us.  Neither party has done what is right.