Family Spending, Government Style

I have a new found interest in and respect for the savings of cold-hard-cash for various reasons; it’s easier to sleep at night with a good cushion, you never know when emergency may strike and I have come to loathe micro-loans known as credit cards.

So this $100M Government initiative is right up my alley right? I mean, this is fiscal responsibility at its best, yes? We’ll use both sides of the paper for printing – technology that has never before been available. We’ll cancel a few phone lines, turn off our computer monitors when not in use, you’ve heard the news reports – hopefully.

Well, let’s take a look at this type of savings plan and what happens when the rubber meets the road for the average American.

The total outlay budget this year for our Federal Government is $3,107,000,000,000 (that is $3.107 Trillion), according to whitehouse.gov and the Office of Management and Budget’s page. Our aggressive $100M savings plan thus breaks out this way:

$100,000,000 savings/$3,107,000,000,000 outlay budget = .000032 or .0032% total savings

That’s right, our Federal Government is tightening the belt an astonishing .0032%.

Now, according to the Census Bureau, the median US Household Income (HHI) was $50,233 in 2007. Let’s say aggressively that income rose 5% in 2008 and 2009 bringing the median HHI to $55,382 at the end of this year. Assuming that the average American family also took it upon themselves to sacrificially save .0032% this year for the security of their future, each average American family would save annually:

$1.77

That’s planning for a solid future, being fiscally responsible with managing your household and truly, cutting back on your standard of living.

Now, in a similar manner the Federal Government, once again according to whitehouse.gov, is budgeting total receipts of $2,700,000,000,000 for a short fall of $407,000,000,000 to expenditures. The spending plan breaks out this way:

$407,000,000,000 deficit/$2,700,000,000,000 receipts = .1507 or 15.07% over spending

Now, when a country overspends, it has to borrow, either from another country (China) or has to mint more money (dilution of gold backed funds aka inflation and borrowing against money that has not yet been earned and taxes paid on those same earnings by my great-grandchildren). In other words, loans are needed to fill the gap.

Once again, let’s bring this down to real life and assume that the average American family is over spending their HHI by 15.07% or $8,307. The average American family now has choices, take out a loan(s), get more open credit or some type of combination of both. However, at some point in time that same family will run out of credit available to them, max out their monthly income to just paying loans and – - – shock, if they cannot up their income will most likely loose everything. We happen to be in this very case in this country. People and business have overspent, primarily with credit and we are no feeling those results nationwide.

To draw this all together, if the average American family were to spend like the Federal Government, we can quickly see the disastrous results. If that same American family, faced with liquidity issues were to decide to start saving like the Federal Government, the savings would only amount to $1.77 against their $8,307 yearly over-spending or .02%. Eventually the over expenditure would catch up and the family would be rendered insolvent.

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions on this. I just thought I’d share the truths of the Feds (all parties are at fault here) compared to the Average American Family.

A New Era

This month, just in case you’ve been under a rock, we inaugurated the first ever African American as President of this famed country.  What remains to be seen is what this means for the country in many respects.  I’ve held no punches in the past as to where my political bents lied, however I must now HOPE that President Obama and his era of CHANGE lead the country in the correct direction.

What I hope for most is the continued protection of our country against attack.  I do not think that there is any more integral job for the President then to ensure the safety of our land.

Secondly, I hope for the economic strength to return – however this cannot be falsified by issuing new currency and inflating the severely damaged tire.  The tire must first be repaired with correct oversight, a natural shaking out of the markets, and individual stimulus in the form of tax breaks/incentives among others.  I am a firm believer that the President often receives too much credit or scorn for the economy, however the plan we seeing now is history repeating itself – be it the American Great Depression of 1929 or the more recent Japanese Depression of the 1990’s (incidentally, if you want to see a mirrored program look at the Japanese v. Obama plans – Japan’s failed miserably with several expensive stimulus packages!).

Thirdly, is the issue of a more Pro-Life direction.  I hold no breath for this as we all know the extensive platform that Obama has laid out – however there is always hope!

We have a historic person in office right now, which is a testament to how far this country has come in basically a generation.  However, what remains to be seen is if this is truly a new era, a correct change of direction or simply just another modern-day “say-anything-to-be-elected” politician of another color.

Dear Mr. Obama – Round Two

I cannot take credit for finding this, my cousin actually posted it on Facebook, I simply copied and pasted.  However, cheers to Cory Miller, I think this sums up the feelings of most people in this country who pay taxes to support those who don’t.  Warning – it’s long.

Mr. Obama,

Given the uproar about the simple question asked you by Joe the plumber, and the persecution that has been heaped on him because he dared to question you, I find myself motivated to say a few things to you myself.

While Joe aspires to start a business someday, I already have started not one, but 4 businesses. But first, let me introduce myself. You can call me ‘Cory the well driller’. I am a 54 year old high school graduate. I didn’t go to college like you, I was too ready to go ‘conquer the world’ when I finished high school. 25 years ago at age 29, I started my own water well drilling business at a time when the economy here in East Texas was in a tailspin from the crash of the early 80’s oil boom.

I didn’t get any help from the government, nor did I look for any. I borrowed what I could from my sister, my uncle, and even the pawn shop and managed to scrape together a homemade drill rig and a few tools to do my first job. My businesses did not start not a result of privilege. It is the result of my personal drive, personal ambition, self discipline, self reliance, and a determination to treat my customers fairly.

Obama and Citizenship

Too good not to see.  The hits keep coming and the public keeps covering their eyes and plugging their ears.

It’s the Economy Stupid

Still need more proof… read THIS article.

Ten Reasons to Vote for McCain

10.  His service to America has proven him to be a leader, a man of integrity and a person we can trust to keep America safe and make decisions in the people’s best interest rather than his own.

9.  His view of life beginning at conception is proof that the Constitutional Rights the American people are guaranteed to all people within our country.

8.  McCain’s judgement of breaking party rank and working on what’s best for the country will help break the useless Congressional gridlock we currently have to produce results.

7.  His view of current needs in energy coupled with the need to strategically grow into renewable, domestic sources will create jobs and help curb our support of terrorist nations.

6.  John McCain cares more about keeping our country safe than pandering to and soft-gloving terrorist or those who seek to harm us.

5.  McCain can make a definitive decision without pondering for a week when necessary.

4.  McCain’s economic policy in general will help Americas corporations, small business, entrepreneurs, middle class, working class and those in need by lowering taxes, reining in government spending and keeping jobs in the USA for those in the USA.

3.  His overall support of the troops, regardless of which war.  He recognizes that when the United States starts something, no matter who the president is at the time, the United State should finish it with victory and honor.

2.  McCain actually stands on concrete ideas and strategy, not lofty candor that is meant to tickle the ears of Americans who may be disenfranchised with their current situation.

1.  McCain values the Constitution, our individual rights, and chose an amazing leader to partner with him in taking on Washington to reform this country and pass it to the next generation.  Go McCain – Go Palin – Go America! 

McCAIN/PALIN FOR THE CHANGE AMERICAN NEEDS.

Don’t ever call me a single issue voter!!!

Among Others

Tonight was the first real night of the RNC, and what an awesome night it was.  From Mrs. Laura Bush to my favorite Fred Thompson – the speeches were filled with facts, with tangible, concrete information and were in direct opposition to any speech made during the DNC as far as being filled with content rather than empty rhetoric.  

However, the evening ended with Sen. Lieberman (who let’s not forget actually won the popular vote in 2000 as the VP running mate to Gore) whole heartedly endorsing McCain (again).  There is not enough time to run through all the quotes of the evening, however this one should speak to every American tonight: 

Eloquence is no substitute for a record.

Lest we forget that we are voting for the leader of the free world and not for the winner of an Oscar, take a real honest look at who the true bipartisan leader is, who has the record of helping all Americans, and who’s character is truly tested and proved.  

McCain and Palin in 2008 is my vote without any reservation, any hesitation and in a spirit of exuberance that this is the best candidate to lead our country.

If you want a country that is safe, has smaller government, spends less on wasteful pet projects and truly looks out for the greater good of our country – there is no other vote than John McCain.  

Just a Fred Thompson put it, “Our allies trust him and our enemies fear him.”

Happenstance of Dates?

I read an article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26448597/) that makes me wonder how stupid the media thinks we are.  In this article, it is pointed out that Obama issued his acceptance speech of the Democratic Presidential Nominee on the 45th anniversary to the day of the I Have a Dream speech… “by happenstance”.

Call me a skeptic, call me a conspiracy whisperer or call me paranoid… but does the Obama campaign, the Democratic party and the press (especially MSNBC who should just release an all out endorsement of Obama and officially deny air-time to McCain) really expect that the American people will not add the “happenstance” to a growing list of contrived actions by this party?  This has been planned since Obama gave the keynote address at the DNC in 2004.  This was carefully orchestrated.  Don’t get me wrong, being in advertising and marketing, I get that a promotion has to make sense… but this is what I call an overtly pressed message!

Line the date up with the forced speech by Ms. Clinton, her quite obviously mandated part in the roll call process for delegate counts, and President Clinton’s speech and you have an epoch script that the Democrats have written to try and band-aid their party.  It’s obvious to me that any genuine or “authentic” aura around the Obama campaign should be gone, at least to any discerning spectator.  

Don’t get me wrong, I know politics are politics no matter what side of the fence you’re on, but this was laughable.  These guys are as good at acting as Burt Reynolds.  

Let’s see how the Maverick and Reformer fare in the RNC, the Gallup pole and in head to head with their respective opponents in debates – without tele-prompters!

You Must See This

You must see this website (Audacity of Deception and Hypocrisy) before you vote in this years election for our next President.  For anyone who thinks that Barak Obama has an ounce of decency, morality, integrity or pro-life bent… look at the records, the videos and hear the testimonials. 

 

How tragic if our country chooses a leader that so obviously supports infanticide.

The Foundation of Holistically Pro-Life

Politics is one of my interests.  The debates, the strategies and in past years Tim Russert, his white board and Super Bowl excitement have always been fun for me to watch.

This year is very different for me.  You see late time we voted for a president I was (of course) four years younger (21 that is) and had just had my first child.  It was ever present in my mind that a my choice for candidate had to be pro-life.  

This year is much different for me.  I’ve added two additions to my clan and have come to increasingly value the unborn, the mothers considering abortion and the fathers that desperately wish for their children to live and not be cast out.  While I’ve always been against abortion in theory, I’ve never been as enraged about this battle as I am this year.

For this post, I want to focus on the flaw in thinking that a vote for the candidate who is pro social justice, environmental protection, against any war, etc… but supports abortion and a women’s right to choose is a responsible, educated, rational or somehow ubber philosophical decision that only the most learned of scholars could truly understand as being somehow pro-life.  

The premise is this, Obama (let’s get this clear right off the bat) has very pro-life stance because of his position on universal health care (which by the way, if you think things are bad now, wait and see what happens if UHC would actually come to pass), his stance on environmental issues and overall tone of ending war and protection of the poor.  However, he very clearly is a liberal as they come on issues related to a women’s right to choose – aka the murder of millions of babies through doctor assisted homicide.

The argument is Utilitarian.  The greatest good of this candidate will be offset their flaws. 

The rebuttal is this, the foundation of all sanctity of life discussions has to first be brought back to why the discussion of social justice, ending war, environmental protection, etc… is even important in the first place.  The reason is this, because human lives and their quality of life matter (I will never disagree with that statement).  So then, we now need to define human life.  Human life is separated from the rest of the animal kingdom by two things; the ability to reason and an created (thus having a beginning), everlasting soul.  The often quoted verse of the Bible, Jeremiah 1:5 states “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed yo a prophet to the nations.”  If a baby or fetus were to not have a soul or meaning until it was a certain age of gestation, what is that line and how can we define it.  If it is the magical push through the birth canal that finally gives a baby purpose, what is so magical about that ride that creates the meaning.  If it is the second trimester, why?  Because all of the