I am distressed with the budgetary hearings that have been reported in the news. The Bush tax cuts are one of the only good things in the economy right now. I say that because our citizens were in a similar position in the 1970's with extreme interest rates, staggering inflation and high taxes. Our economy and employment failures and troubles were legendary. With the Democratic budget proposal we face all of that and more.
$683 billion dollars in tax hikes – including the .50/gallon proposed fuel tax to fight the fictional man-made global warming, plus the ridiculous run up in fuel prices caused by the oil futures speculation market will bury citizens and the country. Aiming tax rate increases on those who are making $30k for individual and $60k for couples is ludicrous. Most people who have a degree and are 2 worker families are making those amounts of money. They are also struggling under record fuel prices – which are driving record food prices.
You have to eat – and feed your kids and you have to drive to get to work. Short of those 2 activities, people will not be doing much this year. The price of milk has risen from $1.99/gallon last summer to over $5.00/gallon now. That is a 280% increase in under a year. Ground beef has risen 167% in that same time frame. Boneless chicken has risen 220%. Gasoline has gone up 132% over the same time last year. ($2.53/gallon to $3.35/gallon - I am so happy I keep track of these prices in a spreadsheet)
If you average those numbers together, you get an average increase of 139% over last year on necessary items – that is an inflation rate on those items that is much higher than the government reported rate of 3.4%. 3.4% - WHERE do they get that number?
I do not know about you, but my salary has not risen at the same rate as consumer goods. In fact, my salary stayed the same this year – due to cost cutting measures. So, I lost purchasing power and we have tightened our budget. That is true of most Americans.
My suggestion to all of our officials is to cut the baloney and act in a way that will help – not drown the people they represent. Otherwise, many political leaders may find themselves looking for a job in November. I suggest Nancy Pelosi and her counterpart in the Senate get a real clue on how Americans feel.
NOW how good do Obama and Hilary look to you?
Reference to the Tax Hike information: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,337588,00.html#
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The Ripple Effect from Oil Speculation
I would like to know WHAT our elected leaders are doing to help Americans with fuel prices. Please do not talk to me about supply and demand. Our supplies are at a high – we have put gasoline into the reserves for the past 18 weeks. Do not talk to me about crude oil inventories. Our crude inventories have gone up – and a drop was reported last week – which sent prices higher – because the crude was off the shore in Houston due to heavy fog.
No, what I want to hear our “leaders” talking about is the oil speculation market. The oil futures/speculation market has driven the price of oil to extremes over the past 3 – 4 years. It became a noticeable evil in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. Let me give you a few facts that are on the internet – easily able to be verified through some Google searches. About 8 years ago, there was ~9 billion dollars invested in the oil futures market. It drove prices, but it was not bad. Today, there is over $250 billion dollars in that market. I would not be surprised to hear that most of our elected officials are heavily invested in that market.
It needs to end. Caps need to be set on that market. The Government (God help me for saying this) needs to step in and shut those swindling thieves down. Why do I say that? After all, this is a capitalist society, right? Wrong. This is a closed market. There is no entrepreneurship in this club. I cannot go out and start my own oil company or refinery. It is a closed market. That makes it a monopoly and since the Administration was all interested in Bill Gates monopoly in software, why are they doing nothing about the oil market?
I do not want to hear any more about OPEC or any other influences. OPEC is right. The US has botched this market SO BADLY that it has been one of two driving factors in this recession. Yes, we are in a recession.
When the cost of milk goes from $1.99 to $5.00+ a gallon in less than a year, which is a lot more than the Administration's 18% price increase reported in the news – that indicates stagflation – after all, my salary did not go up to meet that increase. Those price hikes are across the board – ground beef - $1.79 a pound last summer is now $2.99 a pound less than a year later. What is the Administration waiting for? People are giving up out here, for God’s sake – the Administration thinks a stupid $600 check is going to solve this? I cannot believe the House and the Senate would be that stupid.
Do you think Americans are idiots? They know that oil prices drive gas. Gas prices drive food, clothes, and etc prices. Using corn ethanol (another staggeringly stupid move to appease Iowa farmers and the farm lobby) is cutting into the food supply. That in turn raises food prices. It is also forcing ranchers to kill their beef sooner and not replace it. Beef is going to go sky high here in a few months. Then what are people going to eat? WHAT is the Administration waiting for?
Let me go further – at $4.00 a gallon for fuel now – and at least $4.50 or more likely $5.00 a gallon this summer, people will not be able to afford to go to work. I do not want to hear about “public transit”. That solution is not viable in North Texas – and many places across the country. Let me give you my example: with public transit, it would take me 4 hours to get to work – part of that involves a ~2 mile distance that is not spanned by any transit bus. Imagine walking that in the summer heat and then sitting down with clients. Yeah, nice. Then another 4 hours home – adding 8 hours to an 8 hour day. Not very realistic is it?
So, not only can people not afford to go to work, they will not go anywhere. No summer vacation. That tanks your tourism industry. Hotels are hit; the movie industry gets hit further (adding to the fact that no one wants to see their America bashing films); manufacturing is hit because people aren’t buying anything. Then, unemployment rises – and things just get worse.
If our elected leaders do not step in and do something smart –you know – shut down the speculator market on oil; tell the fed to stop cutting interest rates because it devalues the dollar when they cut rates and put more money into circulation – something like that; we are looking at a spiral that could very well result in a 1930’s style depression. Does the President really want that on his watch? I cannot stress this enough – DO SOMETHING before it is too late.
No, what I want to hear our “leaders” talking about is the oil speculation market. The oil futures/speculation market has driven the price of oil to extremes over the past 3 – 4 years. It became a noticeable evil in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. Let me give you a few facts that are on the internet – easily able to be verified through some Google searches. About 8 years ago, there was ~9 billion dollars invested in the oil futures market. It drove prices, but it was not bad. Today, there is over $250 billion dollars in that market. I would not be surprised to hear that most of our elected officials are heavily invested in that market.
It needs to end. Caps need to be set on that market. The Government (God help me for saying this) needs to step in and shut those swindling thieves down. Why do I say that? After all, this is a capitalist society, right? Wrong. This is a closed market. There is no entrepreneurship in this club. I cannot go out and start my own oil company or refinery. It is a closed market. That makes it a monopoly and since the Administration was all interested in Bill Gates monopoly in software, why are they doing nothing about the oil market?
I do not want to hear any more about OPEC or any other influences. OPEC is right. The US has botched this market SO BADLY that it has been one of two driving factors in this recession. Yes, we are in a recession.
When the cost of milk goes from $1.99 to $5.00+ a gallon in less than a year, which is a lot more than the Administration's 18% price increase reported in the news – that indicates stagflation – after all, my salary did not go up to meet that increase. Those price hikes are across the board – ground beef - $1.79 a pound last summer is now $2.99 a pound less than a year later. What is the Administration waiting for? People are giving up out here, for God’s sake – the Administration thinks a stupid $600 check is going to solve this? I cannot believe the House and the Senate would be that stupid.
Do you think Americans are idiots? They know that oil prices drive gas. Gas prices drive food, clothes, and etc prices. Using corn ethanol (another staggeringly stupid move to appease Iowa farmers and the farm lobby) is cutting into the food supply. That in turn raises food prices. It is also forcing ranchers to kill their beef sooner and not replace it. Beef is going to go sky high here in a few months. Then what are people going to eat? WHAT is the Administration waiting for?
Let me go further – at $4.00 a gallon for fuel now – and at least $4.50 or more likely $5.00 a gallon this summer, people will not be able to afford to go to work. I do not want to hear about “public transit”. That solution is not viable in North Texas – and many places across the country. Let me give you my example: with public transit, it would take me 4 hours to get to work – part of that involves a ~2 mile distance that is not spanned by any transit bus. Imagine walking that in the summer heat and then sitting down with clients. Yeah, nice. Then another 4 hours home – adding 8 hours to an 8 hour day. Not very realistic is it?
So, not only can people not afford to go to work, they will not go anywhere. No summer vacation. That tanks your tourism industry. Hotels are hit; the movie industry gets hit further (adding to the fact that no one wants to see their America bashing films); manufacturing is hit because people aren’t buying anything. Then, unemployment rises – and things just get worse.
If our elected leaders do not step in and do something smart –you know – shut down the speculator market on oil; tell the fed to stop cutting interest rates because it devalues the dollar when they cut rates and put more money into circulation – something like that; we are looking at a spiral that could very well result in a 1930’s style depression. Does the President really want that on his watch? I cannot stress this enough – DO SOMETHING before it is too late.
Monday, March 03, 2008
An American's Perspective on Immigration (reprinted)
ORANGE COUNTY, (CALIFORNIA) NEWSPAPER
New Immigrants -
(This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points.) For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions. This lady made the argument pretty simple. 'NOT' printed in the Orange County Paper
Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This Woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace ! ________________________________________________________
From: 'David LaBonte' My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to 'print' it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined. Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the "Orange County Register": ________________________________________________________
Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the "Statue of Liberty" because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer.
Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented . Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning 'English' a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade fora future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out.
My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy,France and Japan None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the "United States of America" as one people.
When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German-American or the Irish-American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.
And here we are in 2008 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country.
I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.
As for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the "United States" just yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Helloooo??? Customer Service anyone??
OK - before I really get into this, I have to be honest and tell you that I HATE grocery store "self-service". I hate it. Why do I hate the self-service lines? I'll tell you why. If I am going to a store every week and every week they are getting $100 or more of my money....I want someone with a smile to stand there and wait on me. I want to see my money in action.
Personally, I have enough jobs to do and hats to wear., I have a job - more than one actually. I do not need to be the cashier and bagging clerk at Wal-Mart or Albertson's. I am also not in the mood to play "cashier". If I wanted to do that, I would not have gone to college and worked all these years at a career....I would have gone to work at "Stop & Shop" or "Star Market".
So, on the night in question, I left my Mary Kay business meeting and stopped at Albertson's to pick up some lunch drinks for my son. I also found a couple of other items we needed. I then headed for the check-out. I walked right past the self-service lanes for reasons I have explained and will expound on later. I went to Aisle 5 where the light was on. No one was there - when I looked around, I saw a number of clerks standing around doing nothing - then the check-out supervisor told me to move to Aisle 7 - which I did. The clerk who was there, took a look at me, and walked away. So, I went picked up my things and moved to the Self-Check lane - understnadably irritated. I will not go to Albertson's again.
As far as I am concerned self-service has gone WAY too far. First, it was pump your own gas...save .10. Well, I still liked the option of paying more and having someone else - some nice gentleman - stand in the rain and snow to fill my gas tank. I paid for it.
Then, it was the ATM machine. Wait on yourself at the bank. "Oooh, try this Mrs. Jones...it is so much faster"...then, "Oh, and don't worry one little bit, you will pay a service charge for using the ATM, but it will save you so much time". Yeah right. You give your money to a machine and the bank gets more profit. Nice.
Now it is the grocery store where we are supposed to help ourselves. What we are doing is working for the store - for free. That way, they can keep hiring low - and executive profits high. I don't like doing any kind of "work" for free. That is why they call it work. Hmmmm...makes you think.
Another thought that occurs to me as we walk down this path of more and more self-service is that we are taking jobs out of our economy. Now, we all hear from "economic analysts" that the U.S. is becoming a "Service Centered Economy" - that means that we are all serving some customer. Well.....where is the "service" for the American citizen? Are we exporting it all? Are we sending all of our politeness and customer service skills overseas?
The scariest thought about the spread of the "do it yourself" service industry is....what's next? Are the Insurance Companies going to get on the bandwagon? "Oh, go ahead Mrs. Smith...you can do that Pap Smear yourself...just follow the directions and stick the swab..." or will it be more like "take the scalpel...now are you sure your husband is under the anesthesia...?"
Personally, I have enough jobs to do and hats to wear., I have a job - more than one actually. I do not need to be the cashier and bagging clerk at Wal-Mart or Albertson's. I am also not in the mood to play "cashier". If I wanted to do that, I would not have gone to college and worked all these years at a career....I would have gone to work at "Stop & Shop" or "Star Market".
So, on the night in question, I left my Mary Kay business meeting and stopped at Albertson's to pick up some lunch drinks for my son. I also found a couple of other items we needed. I then headed for the check-out. I walked right past the self-service lanes for reasons I have explained and will expound on later. I went to Aisle 5 where the light was on. No one was there - when I looked around, I saw a number of clerks standing around doing nothing - then the check-out supervisor told me to move to Aisle 7 - which I did. The clerk who was there, took a look at me, and walked away. So, I went picked up my things and moved to the Self-Check lane - understnadably irritated. I will not go to Albertson's again.
As far as I am concerned self-service has gone WAY too far. First, it was pump your own gas...save .10. Well, I still liked the option of paying more and having someone else - some nice gentleman - stand in the rain and snow to fill my gas tank. I paid for it.
Then, it was the ATM machine. Wait on yourself at the bank. "Oooh, try this Mrs. Jones...it is so much faster"...then, "Oh, and don't worry one little bit, you will pay a service charge for using the ATM, but it will save you so much time". Yeah right. You give your money to a machine and the bank gets more profit. Nice.
Now it is the grocery store where we are supposed to help ourselves. What we are doing is working for the store - for free. That way, they can keep hiring low - and executive profits high. I don't like doing any kind of "work" for free. That is why they call it work. Hmmmm...makes you think.
Another thought that occurs to me as we walk down this path of more and more self-service is that we are taking jobs out of our economy. Now, we all hear from "economic analysts" that the U.S. is becoming a "Service Centered Economy" - that means that we are all serving some customer. Well.....where is the "service" for the American citizen? Are we exporting it all? Are we sending all of our politeness and customer service skills overseas?
The scariest thought about the spread of the "do it yourself" service industry is....what's next? Are the Insurance Companies going to get on the bandwagon? "Oh, go ahead Mrs. Smith...you can do that Pap Smear yourself...just follow the directions and stick the swab..." or will it be more like "take the scalpel...now are you sure your husband is under the anesthesia...?"
So, when I get on my soap box here and rant a little about my experience last week at the Albertson's in Lewisville, you need to understand where I am coming from.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Catholic and Proud of it!
I have to tell you that I do not generally keep up with "The View". I work and do not have time usually to watch a morning TV show. I happened to see it January 9th.
On that day I was affronted, offended, angry and incredulous that Joy Behar had the audacity to malign Catholicism on that show. Why is it that the media, the liberals, the left always have this feeling that they can attack Christianity whenever they want - and to top that off – when the “progressive atheists” feel Christianity needs to be really skewered the attackers focus on Catholics and the Catholic faith.
Let me explain something to you - slowly so all you bigots against the Catholic faith can understand it. The Catholic Church was the FIRST Christian religion. It was founded by the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those first Catholic Christians were chased, hounded, persecuted, and killed in vile ways. Why? So they could keep their word and follow their teacher, Jesus. After all that believers have been subjected to in the past, it is infuriating to listen to attacks from television "want to be's" that have absolutely no understanding of the faith.
Let me give you a quick run down on the top stupid comments non-Catholics make about Catholics; No, we don't pray to the Saints; No we don't ask the Priest for forgiveness in the Confessional; Yes, we do believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our personal Savior and that our sins are forgiven by His death on the Cross; No we do not believe the Virgin Mary is a "god"; No we do not believe that Purgatory means that you are not "forgiven" and not let into Heaven; Yes, we are the basis for the Baptist faith - and every other Christian denomination; No they didn't leave the Church because Catholics did something wrong, it was a political struggle they ran away from; and finally - Yes, the Catholic Church is the largest religious community on earth.
There are very strict guidelines in the Catholic faith. These have been passed down for 2,000 years directly from those first Apostles of Christ. In order to become a Saint, you must meet all of those requirements, and it takes time for this process to be completed. In addition to Mother Theresa, there is also Pope John Paul II who is in the process of beatification and will eventually (with grace) be counted among the Communion of Saints.
Why, you ask are there not a lot of Saints in today's world? I think that is clear. We have an overwhelming lack of morals, ethics, values; we entertain ourselves with perverse, vapid personalities on TV - not unlike Joy Behar - who have nothing to add to the world but their empty senseless remarks. Who among these people is up to the consideration for Sainthood?
Tell me, would you have the courage to stand on your soap box and attack in a similar manner the Islamic religion by calling Mohammed a terrorist? Would you sit there and call out Martin Luther King and say he stepped above his place in society? Would you tell Hillary Clinton that she is not qualified for the White House on the merits of being married to the 42nd President? No, I didn't think so.
Then don't insult the Roman Catholic Church with your ignorant comments.
On that day I was affronted, offended, angry and incredulous that Joy Behar had the audacity to malign Catholicism on that show. Why is it that the media, the liberals, the left always have this feeling that they can attack Christianity whenever they want - and to top that off – when the “progressive atheists” feel Christianity needs to be really skewered the attackers focus on Catholics and the Catholic faith.
Let me explain something to you - slowly so all you bigots against the Catholic faith can understand it. The Catholic Church was the FIRST Christian religion. It was founded by the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those first Catholic Christians were chased, hounded, persecuted, and killed in vile ways. Why? So they could keep their word and follow their teacher, Jesus. After all that believers have been subjected to in the past, it is infuriating to listen to attacks from television "want to be's" that have absolutely no understanding of the faith.
Let me give you a quick run down on the top stupid comments non-Catholics make about Catholics; No, we don't pray to the Saints; No we don't ask the Priest for forgiveness in the Confessional; Yes, we do believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our personal Savior and that our sins are forgiven by His death on the Cross; No we do not believe the Virgin Mary is a "god"; No we do not believe that Purgatory means that you are not "forgiven" and not let into Heaven; Yes, we are the basis for the Baptist faith - and every other Christian denomination; No they didn't leave the Church because Catholics did something wrong, it was a political struggle they ran away from; and finally - Yes, the Catholic Church is the largest religious community on earth.
There are very strict guidelines in the Catholic faith. These have been passed down for 2,000 years directly from those first Apostles of Christ. In order to become a Saint, you must meet all of those requirements, and it takes time for this process to be completed. In addition to Mother Theresa, there is also Pope John Paul II who is in the process of beatification and will eventually (with grace) be counted among the Communion of Saints.
Why, you ask are there not a lot of Saints in today's world? I think that is clear. We have an overwhelming lack of morals, ethics, values; we entertain ourselves with perverse, vapid personalities on TV - not unlike Joy Behar - who have nothing to add to the world but their empty senseless remarks. Who among these people is up to the consideration for Sainthood?
Tell me, would you have the courage to stand on your soap box and attack in a similar manner the Islamic religion by calling Mohammed a terrorist? Would you sit there and call out Martin Luther King and say he stepped above his place in society? Would you tell Hillary Clinton that she is not qualified for the White House on the merits of being married to the 42nd President? No, I didn't think so.
Then don't insult the Roman Catholic Church with your ignorant comments.
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