Nov 30, 2008 | 11:33 PM
Category:
Faith
As the year draws to a close, we seek understanding of the past months. The joys of family parties, love ones gained and lost, and meaning of our lives.
It is natural to ponder the future, for in it, only dreams can truly be seen. The reality of life is just that, reality. It hits you in the face and there it is. Sorrow, joy, and hope of a brighter tomorrow.
This year has had many ups and downs. But, still there are those who always seem down no matter how good the future looks.
2009, is a year of epic history and trying times of endurance. For we will face many new challenges along the way. How we react to them is up to us. The key to enjoying life, is live it as if it were your last day on earth. Enjoy the moment... enjoy the beauty of your day. For only you can make yourself feel good.
May God grant you peace and Love in your heart.
Marry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody...!
Nov 20, 2008 | 1:17 PM
Category:
News
As we watched over the past several days in Washington D.C. the show of utter shameless begging by the big 3 Auto company executives. I've been given pause to wonder several questions that were asked by our representatives.
1. How many came to Washington by a commercial air carrier?
Answer: None of them. They all came by their private corporate jets...
2. Since most of the auto manufacturing and assembling jobs are being moved to other countries, what do you need the money for?
Answer: To secure a shrinking auto market and stabilize auto industry losses.
Or in laymen's term, to fill our pockets with your free money.
This sham by the Auto executives to bolster there own pockets is a joke...
They are not asking to save jobs in America, but just wanting to get in on the free money train leaving Washington. The 700 billion dollar Bailout train....
I say No... to the auto companies.... The executives have not taken a cut in their wages or life style. They have cut wages and made a significant cut in their workers life styles by shipping jobs to Mexico, Canada and China. While getting huge tax breaks in the process.
That's just my opinion... what do you think...
Nov 14, 2008 | 12:25 AM
Category:
News
Before I really post my thoughts here let us recap this whole mess.
About a year ago several investment firms on Wall Street said they needed help from the government. So, the government responded by giving them about 62 Billion dollars.
Then just a few months ago, more investment firms claimed we need help too from the government. And the government responded again to the tune of 700 Billion dollars.
Now we come to today, Nov. 13, 2008. We now learn that the Federal Reserve gave Wall Street Banks another 2 Trillion dollars to help in this bail out deal.
We also learned that in a Senate Hearing today 11/13/08. The the banking industry is not lending any of the 260 billion dollars out, of the 700 billion we lent them. They are keeping it to increase their lending stability. Or, in simple words, keeping it for themselves.
So, lets add this up; 62 Billion + 700 Billion + 2 Trillion = 2.762 Trillion....
Not a bad pay day for Wall Street.
Let us also look at some other numbers coming out on Nov.13, 2008.
3 million unemployed in this country. A 25 year high.
25% home foreclosures in the past month. On track to reach 1/3 of the homes in the U.S. being own by the banks with no one living in them, by the end of the year.
Government fiscal year starting in October 2008 for 2009, is 268 billion in the hole. A 4% rise over last year, 2007.
We have just as many people working today as we did in 1942 when we were coming out of the great depression.
Cost of living rates, still going up, as wages stay stagnant.
A 10 Trillion dollar U.S. deficit and growing.
10 to 12 billion dollar Iraq budget every month.
Big 3 Auto makers ready to close their doors. Laying off millions. Unless they get in on the bail out money tree too.
Now my opinion. We hear many in this country say they are for a Free Market System. I agree with that... But, when I was in school, if a company made bad investments, they did not get rewarded for do so by the government. They just went Broke...
This reward for bad investing, money laundering of funds, lying on accounting sheets, and committing investment fraud. By our Banking industry, and major investment firms is just plain stealing....
Folks, I'm not quite sure how to address this issue. Other than, ask this question: "when is our government going to wake-up and put these guys in Jail....!"
We should not blame the Republicans or Democrats for this mess. It is the crooks of Wall Street and the Banking Industry who lied, cheated, and are now stealing from us Americans.
Fault for bad home loans is not the guy or gal, who could not afford the loan. The fault is the banking or investment firm who gave him/her the loan in the first place. Knowing they were bad credit risks.
Lets stop blaming our government. And blame the folks who really did all the messing up of our investment system. The Big lying investment firms on Wall Street. Along with the major Banking Firms of this nation.
That's what I think.. How about you...?
Nov 10, 2008 | 9:57 AM
Category:
News
We face big problems in this country due to mismanagement by our government over the past 8 years.
Deregulation of the Banking industry has caused a total collapse in consumer confidence. The Trust... is gone. Honesty has given way to dishonest practices in the Banking industry. Predatory lending practices, dishonest accounting practices, and lying about profits. All caused many people to take a second look at their investments. Thus, the run on the Banks began and our government had to respond. To the tune of 1.5 Trillion over the past year.
Added to that, our government continued to spend huge amounts of our tax dollars on no bid military contracts, congressional pork projects, and a continuing Iraq mess. Costing us Americans 10 to 12 Billion a month. We also began to seek and get loans from other countries to continue our misguided spending spree.
Thus, running up our National Deficit to 10 Trillion and climbing.
That type of mismanagement has caused a devaluation of our American dollar world wide.
Our spend now pay later plan is now coming to bite us in the butt.
That is the bad news... Now for the good news...
We can, if we try real hard, fix this mess.
We need to cut back on using credit cards. Pay them off.
Cut back on going out to eat. Make dinner at home.
Cut back on unnecessary expenses, such as belonging to health clubs. Work in your yard more, its great exercise and cheap too.
Cut back on unnecessary diving. Plan out your trips and that way you will cut down on fuel cost.
As I said it would be hard. But, we can do it...
Nov 6, 2008 | 2:56 PM
Category:
Political
This election for 2008 is over and the Republican Party by there own driven attitudes of negative ethics, have proved there demise.
The divide and conquer plan of the Republicans, by promoting fear, misguided moral indignation and religious self serving false hoods, has given way to a backlash by the public.
So, where do the Republicans go from here. No longer does the " I'm a Conservative, so I'm a good person and better than you" game plan work. Neither does the negative " Your a Liberal dumb idiot with no morals at all" work either.
I believe it is best that the Republicans learn to work on being honest with their attitudes toward the rest of the American people. Stop being so self righteous, intolerant, and closed minded on the concerns of the people of this nation.
They have to work within the structure of our government to insure balance. Be open to change, and willing to work in a bipartisan way with Democrats on bills that will help the people of this nation. Making sure not to push bills that are meant to hurt or take away programs that are working to promote the common good for our nation.
That is how I see it.. what do you think?
Nov 4, 2008 | 11:47 PM
Category:
Political
I don't know about you folks, but I'm sure glad this election is Over...!
History has been made by all of us in this nation. Time will tell if our Newly Elected President Elect, Barack Obama can prove his self worth in these trouble times.
Now is the time for healing and a coming together as a nation. A time to put away our differences about our political views. A time to start rebuilding our nation, that has suffered some much up-evil and social division.
Our nation is stronger due to this election, for it has proven to the rest of the world that our form of government (A Government of the People, By the People and For the People) works.
This is a time for us as a nation to show the rest of the world that our Constitution, along with our Bill of Right, can be a blue print for other nations to follow.
A time to let the people of the world know how a Free people live and can work together to bring about Change in our government.
Change to free the world from the threat of terrorism, communism, and socialism.
My God Bless all of us Americans who now stand at the dawn of a New Age, where Freedom and Liberty will ring around world again.
Nov 2, 2008 | 3:16 AM
Category:
News
As the election on November 4 draws near, let us reflect on the past 8 years of a Republican President.
In 2001, the Republicans all over America were joyful and happy that they finally got what they wanted. Total control of our U.S. Government. Bush in the White House, control of both houses in Congress and a majority on the Supreme Court.
The Republicans promised, smaller government, less government in our every day lives, and a major reduction in our national debt.
What did we get.. they grew government by adding on another Dept., Home Land Security, push a bill through Congress that limits our freedoms, The Patriot Act, and put us into maintaining a security force in Iraq. That now cost us 10 billion a month. Added to that, they gave billions to Wall Street to bolster sagging profit numbers. Even though, at the time, (2001-2003) many of those numbers were false due to lying on corporate accounting books. Leading to companies like World Com, Enron, and many more going out of business and skipping with all the money. Many were big time Republican contributors and friends to Republicans in Washington. Few went to jail due to their contacts in Washington.
Our nation deficit grew from 4 Trillion dollars to 10 Trillion dollars.
Our school systems are failing due to the Republican program, No Child Left Behind School Funding Bill, that was not funded at all. So, it left all the children behind...
The Republicans push more pork projects in congressional bills than any other party (2001-2006).
There were more signing statements by President Bush on congressional bills, than any President ever.
If that is not enough for you to rethink your views to change Washington, I don't know what is....
Remember, many on this blog site spout off how great John McCain is... But, you must remember McCain is part of the problem in Washington. He supported all these misguided programs that has now cost you Trillions of your tax dollars... Caused you to loose your homes, Jobs, and even some to loose their lives. Due to their greed, lying and stealing in Washington.
Many on this blog site, that support the Republican view, are the cause of many of your problems. Because they supported Bush twice to get into office, they pushed for you to loose you jobs overseas while they got rich on the stock market.
The Republicans believe that Greed is Good.... Lying is Good..., Cheating your friends & neighbors is Good....
While they laugh all the way to the banks.
We do not need another 4 more years of this attitude in Washington by the Republicans...
It is time for a CHANGE.....!
Oct 31, 2008 | 4:02 PM
Category:
News
The heritage of St Louis, as to being the Gate Way to the West, started from riverboats hauling fright, passengers, and fur pelts. Making St Louis a major city for being a stepping off point as our nation moved west.
Today we have the Gateway Arch to remind us of that vital roll our city played in taming the west. But, we lack an attraction that could even bring more people here to experience the joys and beauty of our natural river ways.
The Delta Queen riverboat is that attraction and vital link to our past.
Samuel Clemens, the great American author, wrote (Life on the Mississippi) a telling of fond memories as being a river boat captain and the adventures of river travel. Travel we have missed in a world spinning out of control.
The Delta Queen is part of our vital past, part of our history, part of real America. It is history that we can see, touch, and live.
I believe, it is up to all of us in America to save this piece of history.
What do you think?
Oct 28, 2008 | 10:19 AM
Category:
News
We all know about the 700 Billion dollar give-away by our government to the Stock Market investment firms. Who lied about accounting practices, made bad investments, and inflated earnings. Thereby, hurting peoples investments when declaring bankruptcy, while the CEO's, CFO's, COO's, and many on the Board of Directors of those company's got Golden Umbrellas, in the Millions of Dollars, of investors money.
We can not say we did not see this coming, because we did...
In August of last year our Government gave the Stock Market 62 Billion Dollars to offset loss's by the market due to mortgage problems. At that time, the major investment firms on Wall Street, assured the government this would fix the problem. They lied...
The problem with our Wall Street Investments, is that the companies that told us to Trust them, were a bunch of lying, cheating, crooks.
In total, we the taxpayer have given, Free of Charge...! 762 Billion Dollars to vary wealthy, lying, cheating, people. Rewarding them for being crooks, and giving them the ability to buy there way out of any problems that may arise.
In this election we have been told Obama is against the wealthy. Well, no wonder... look how they have treated the hard working folks... Lying, cheating, and stealing from them through their Wall Street Investment firms.
I can think up, 762 Billion Reasons Why, I will Not... Vote for Republicans along with their wealthy, Lying, Cheating friends.
And to those that bring up FannyMay or FreddyMac, I give you all the other investment firms on Wall Street run by big shot lying Republicans, who in total, were the biggest liars of all.
My guess is, the Republican Party has a school for teaching Lying, Cheating, and Stealing. To there die-hard faithful members. George Bush, is one of there Star students, along with many in the Republican Party now getting caught Lying... Republican Sen. from Alaska, is just the latest in a long line of liars.
What do you think?
