Michael1942's Blog

This current Presidential campaign has allegations of the President’s policies failing in the effort to kick-start the economy. Part of the issue is incomplete or totally erroneous information regarding the cause of the crisis.In 2003-2005 we had low-interest rates that led to a flow of funds into the U.S mortgage markets as Foreign central banks bought U.S. dollars which aggravated the housing boom and the subsequent bust. This investment in U.S. dollars was influenced by the Fed’s low rates. These low rates caused a housing boom in Spain, Ireland and Greece. These booms and subsequent busts started the European debt crisis which is now threatening the U.S. economy. What needs to happen now is for the Fed to pay close attention to the economic events in Europe especially the global capital flows and the reactions of the other central banks to the Feds decision to set interest rates very low for extended periods of time. This is a short version of an article written by Mr. John B. Taylor an economics professor at Stanford U. The Congress and Mr. Romney should be reading the same information I do to get a clear idea of why the economy is so slow in recovering. Keeping in mind that our current economic situation started before  Mr. Obama ran for the office but Congress (if they knew) ignored(?) the situation and now seeks to blame Mr. Obama for their failings. What comes to my mind is that our sitting Congress is composed of Neer do wells who have slacked in their jobs for so long that it seems Ok to do it but will readily throw some one else under the bus and continue their irresponsible ways. Our economy has been sliding own for some time with the advent of outsourcing by many companies long before the economy caught up and spiralled downward. Understanding that we (voters) expected our elected officials to look after us but we also failed to do our due diligence in paying attention to what they are doing. This upcoming election needs to be about Congress more than the 2 candidates since Congress has the power to make meaningful changes and approve or alter any proposed changes. We as voters can demand term limits that allow new thoughts to come about and we need to make that demand. My suggestion would be a One (1) term of 13 years, with no pension benefit, a cost living increase on par with the average worker and medical benefits that are the same as any other government worker. Certain privileges should be rescinded, such as Franking ( free postage), per diem for overtime,  free air flights except for  certain Congressional business and a bi monthly account of funds used for the performance of Congressional duties.

Freedom without accountability is irresponsible. We have given our Congress the freedom to advocate and act for us. This arrangement has been in place for years. We only raise an uproar when it affects us personally. This behavior  on our part has led to the current political crisis (yes crisis). Our Congress has acted with the tacit freedom of action we have given it. We were happy when they attacked certain segments that we felt endangered us but failed to see the pocket picking performed by the very body we allowed to do this work for us. The current group is composed of headline grabbers whose actual work is belied by the rampant issuance of truthful appearing sound bites. If it were possible for a deceased person to spin in their graves, then think about what the founders of America are doing now. Our Congress has become no more than soul sapping bandits without masks. We have not held them accountable and we are now seeing the results. We have been showered with misinformation while the Congress pledges  allegiance to special interests because they donate more money to their campaigns. The Congress has spent more time and money pointing the finger at one another, the opposite party and who ever the President is than actually doing their work. We have rewarded them by re electing them time after time. We are the public and it is our tit they are latched on to.

One of the erstwhile members of Congress has taken issue with the Olympic teams uniforms and their manufacturing origin. This may seem a humorous happenstance or maybe just poor judgement but look at the country of manufacture on a great quantity of goods used in America. This Country has  been crunched by the outsourced manufacture of hard goods, clothing, footwear and more with no squawks from the Congress who purport to look after the American people. Could it be that as long as no one important speaks up, its OK?  Did anyone consider the consequences of having the clothing made somewhere other than the USA? I would imagine Mr. Lauren (Ralph) gave it no thought as where the merchandise would be produced as he may have used this source before to produce his own goods. So I say What about before when clothing made outside the U.S. was beginning? I personally do not like the way Chinese made Levis or wranglers fit. I am not so thrilled with certain shoes either, my size is 8 in most shoes or 9 in Chinese or Bangladesh.

Pondering the current Presidential race with all of  the related blurbs, opinions and statistics, I think I understand the assorted opinions and  misconceptions that are everywhere. We as a country are reduced to the sum of our stereotypes. This is one of the few countries that aside from our native Americans have no true national origin. Contrary to popular opinion we are a heady mixture of the rest of the world. We are the product of  influences from every ethno-religious faction on the planet.  This Presidential campaign has brought out the worst in us more so than the last when Mr. Obama won the office. We expected bigger changes than we have received and the fence walkers feel vindicated even thought their understanding of how government works is flawed.  Why do we accept less than ideal results from  a White office holder but not a person of color? History will show that the fault in this failure  extends back to  our Congress no matter who is in the oval office but has grown bitterly worse due to the color of the office holders skin. The Congress has failed us more than any Oval Office holder. We have let our innate,perceived and learned biases influence our judgement as surely as if we had that behaviour  injected by a needle. To accept or tolerate this behaviour in any form should not be in our National DNA since that DNA is all of us. If we accept the tacit Racism employed by our Congress can we trust their judgement on issues that affect us all?

In thinking about the number of celebrities who have adopted orphans outside of the United States, I am moved to think what about the orphans in the United States? What is the attraction for importing orphans rather than reduce the number in our own country? Would it not serve this country’s interest by adopting some of the many orphans here? As a matter of practicality folks who are able should be in the forefront to adopt in this country and not outside of it. As I see it there is less fanfare in adopting here than in another country and certainly these adoptions would be of more benefit here. These celebrities generate large amounts of personal money through their work in their medium and other large amounts for causes they believe in yet they take the odd route of adopting outside the country that they reside in. Their help in adopting may not necessarily greatly reduce the orphanage head count but it certainly would assist in helping some of the neediest here at home.

A former law enforcement officer offered a recent comment on rivers who drive illegally close to the rear end of another moving vehicle. I was a school bus driver for a while and one of the items taught was the safe driving distance between vehicles. We were taught to allow enough space between your vehicle and the one in front of you so you can see the rear wheels on the pavement. This distance allows you to safely move around a vehicle that may have stopped due to an accident or a stall. I use this practice daily to insure there is enough distance to stop or go around if necessary. I completely understand Mr. belle’s annoyance with this practice of “bumper hugging” as it is dangerous and against the law. These “bumper huggers” appear to be involved in other activities other than driving ( I have personally observed some of these folks on cell phones or occupied with something in the backseat), which is a full time job when you are behind the wheel. I do understand that the police cannot deal with these types of potential traffic accidents but maybe the “huggers” can police themselves and give more space to the vehicle in front of them. This is common sense and common courtesy.