The Politics of Highway Robbery

On the evening news, a soundbyte said that farmer's are going to grow less corn this year.

Many would say, "Big deal." Wise people will see that it is, indeed, a very, very big deal indeed.

Almost everything relies on corn, from ethanol, beef, cereals, pizza,. ice cream - even disposable diapers and batteries. Raising less corn means higher prices for almost everything - and huge profits for the farmers, as demand raises the price they get paid per bushel.

And that is what this is all about. Now that corn is already in short supply due to much of it be8ing used for ethanol (which is a waste, as proven earlier), farmers see an opportunity to hold all Americans hostage, just like OPEC does with oil. When OPEC wants more money, they pump less oil, thereby raising the price per barrel.

As a person obsessed with success, I find this tactic to be more than just deplorable - it should be a felony. It is nothing short of grand larceny. This is the sort of thing that harms everyone, and damages an already weakened economy. As far as I am concerned, if a person or group willfully and with intent choose to act in a way that damages America, that person (or group) are nothing less than domestic terrorists. Whether it is the corn farmers trying to milk us, or Exxon/Mobil, the effect is the same.

We, the people, need to stand up and be counted. It is time to regain control of a country that is out of control. And that is why I suggest that everyone visit American Solutions, read their platform, and if you agree with much of it, sign their petition. It is one way that we, the people, can make our voices heard. Your political party does not matter - this is not a "party" thing. It is an AMERICAN thing!

You Heard It Here First

Well, the proverbial cat may be out of the proverbial bag - and Al Gore and his followers may well be left holding the bag.

I have several blogs, and over the last two years I have written many posts that debunk the junk science behind "global warming" (see earlier posts here as an example). And now it appears that science, itself, is backing up my assumptions.

In the latest news (which you may not hear on the mainstream news for awhile), scientists have discovered a few important things:

1) Although CO2 levels are, indeed, rising, world temperatures are actually lowering - and have been for several years

2) The mass of ice in Antarctica is actually getting thicker, even as the thin "shelves" in certain fringe areas are melting.

3) And the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations) has come on board and agreed that these things are, indeed, factual, and shows a worldwide cooling trend. However, the IPCC still refuses to abandon their stance on global warming - perhaps because it would be to embarrassing.

Gee! Do you suppose that warming and cooling are actually natural cycles?

I often referred to Al Gore and his followers as "Chicken Littles". Well, it appears that the chickens have come home to roost, and the Colonel may be looking for them.

Trojan Horse PT II

I do not intend to continue using this blog as a political format - I had only intended to point out something I found disturbing. In doing so, I have received a few comments from readers that I think need to be addressed.

COMMENT: "How can you criticise Obama for his association with Rev. Wright when John McCain spoke before Rev. Hagee's congregation?"

REPLY: First, McCain is not a professed follower of Hagee - he only appeared in a speaking engagement. Second, McCain never claimed to agree with Hagee. Third, McCain did not JOIN Hagee's church, and REMAIN there for 20 years. In short, there is no comparison. Obama supports Rev. Wright and his church and has done so for 20 years. McCain is not a supporter of Hagee or his Church.

COMMENT: "Why pick on Obama? What about all of Hillary's baggage?"

REPLY: The post was not about Hillary - it was about Obama. Nor was it about the election - it was about a disturbing series of events. And I was not making comparisons. Everyone is aware of Hillary's faults, but Obama is a new unknown. We are in the process of learning who he is.

COMMENT: "Why do you suggest Obama is a racist?"

REPLY: His own words and actions. As an example, he made statements such as "My Grandmother, a typical white person..." If McCain had used the phrase "a typical black person" he would have been branded a racist. Throughout Obama's speech he spoke of the past actions of white against black - a "gentler" version of the same stuff being spewed by Rev. Wright. If he were not a racist, he would have said, "OK, so maybe blacks were poorly treated in the past, and maybe even today a few malcontents still treat us poorly. But that is not America today. It's time to leave the past where it belongs - in the past - and move ahead as ONE people. A nation where skin color has no meaning." Instead, he harped on the problems of the past rather than solutions for the future. He made it a point to make race an issue. Only a racist will make race an issue. To an open-minded person, race simply is not an issue at all.

The surest way to keep racism alive is to use terms like "black American", or "white American", or "native American." You see, if we ever do get to be a nation where racism is extinct, we will all be calling one another just one thing - "American". There would be no distinctions. But as long as we have divisive racists like Jackson, Sharpton, Obama, and Wright, who make it a point to distinguish between races, then racism will live on in America.

As for me, I could care less about racial differences except those that are used to create a divide among people. When I judge a person, I judge by the color of his heart, not his skin.

COMMENT: "So, who are YOU going to vote for?"

REPLY: Dunno. Early on, I liked Obama and I liked Duncan Hunter, because I am looking for someone who shoots straight - I don't care about their political affiliation so much. Duncan is out, and Obama has turned out to be a porcelain snake oil salesman - all glib tongue and no substance. I don't think McCain understands the conservative base, and Hillary - well, let's just say I have absolutely no use for anyone who is so self-serving and whose beliefs sway with every poll. She has done nothing as senator from New York. If I had my choice, I would vote for the guy behind AmericanSolutions.com. At least he has ideas, solutions and understands what most folks are looking for. Unfortunately, he is not running...

A Trojan Horse?

It is with great interest that I have been following the situation concerning the Rev. Wright and Barack Obama.

I do not believe that any sane person can watch the Reverend's videos without seeing a racist, bigoted, far-left militant. He is downright frightening - and to think he takes to the pulpit, in the name of God, to spew such hatred of whites, jews, America - just about anyone that is not his follower.

He is supposed to be a Christian. But when I ask myself if Jesus would work so fervently to spew so much hate, I would have to say "NO".

And that brings us to Mr. Obama. In his speech yesterday in which he "denounced" some of Rev. Wright's rants, Obama asked us to believe that Wright's beliefs are not Obama's beliefs. He asked us to believe that he has a problem with such rantings. Fine.

But then I must ask: why has it only become a "problem" now that he knows that voters see it as a problem? He sat in Reverend Wright's church for 20 years - that's 20 YEARS - without seeing it as a problem. Obama did not see such hatred as a problem until it started to get in the way of becoming President. Suddenly, he sees it as a problem!

And I find that to be even more frightening than Rev. Wright! Wright is quite open about who he hates, and why. He is forthright about his bigotry and racism (though he does not think that is what it is). But Obama is not so forthcoming or honest. For 20 years he absorbs this hate mongering diatribe, supports the preacher who spews it out, and calls that man his "trusted advisor". But now, suddenly, he is ready to toss Wright - and even his own white grandmother - under the train, in order to convince voters that he should be President.

Here is what common sense tells me:

If a person willingly joins any radical, bigoted, racist group that is led by a radical, bigoted, racist leader, and that person stays in that group for 20 years, supporting it and paying homage to its leader, then that man, but definition, is a radical, bigoted racist. If he marries a radical, bigoted racist, then he, himself, is likely a radical, bigoted racist. He would not subject himself and his family to that if it was not his true, inner belief.

But now he wants to be President. So he must tell whatever story he must in an attempt to minimize people's just fears that he is a radical, bigoted racist.

Some would say that Rev. Wright does not have that kind of effect on Obama and his family. That Obama and his family are "immune" to such diatribe.

But if that were really true, why does Michelle Obama state that she was never proud to be an American until her husband starting running for President? Why did she say that America is "mean". She has a lifetime history of saying, and writing, about her hatred and prejudice.

There is a pattern here, folks. And I must say that, in spite of all his charm and glib tongue, Obama is probably just like Reverend Wright, with the difference being that Obama is smart enough to use subterfuge and disguise. With it, he can carry Reverend Wright's crazy agenda right into the White House. A modern day "Trojan Horse".

Ask yourself: If, as he claims, Obama's most trusted advisors and confidants are Reverend Wright and his wife Michelle, both of whom have shown a hatred of, and disdain for America, then who will Obama choose as his advisors if he becomes president? Who will he choose for his cabinet? And who would he choose to be judges?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I would rather not find out.

Are You Geared For Success?

Success is much more than achieving wealth. True success is being in a position to live well, regardless of whatever may transpire.

It means having a strong, loving relationship with family. It means having trusted friends you can count on. It means having a sound, spiritual relationship with some power greater than yourself. It means being prepared for things that may change.

This post is dedicated to the latter - being prepared. Because, if you are not prepared for a situation, and that situation should occur, you could lose everything. So, please take a moment to reflect on the following questions - and your honest answers!

1) What if a pandemic occurs, infecting and killing tens of millions of people (as it did in 1918)? Do you have a plan of survival? Do you have the necessary supplies for survival? Do you know exactly what to do to avoid infection? Bear in mind, statistics indicate there is a 20% chance a pandemic will occur in the next 15 years - and a 100% chance it will occur at some time.

2) What if climate change and an expanding population or a drought results in a serious shortage of food. Are you prepared to feed your family when the store shelves are empty? Do you have shelf-stable foods available? Are you capable of growing crops, if necessary? Note that the seeds available in stores will NOT result in the production of new seeds that will grow a second crop - those seeds are all hybrid. Only heirloom seeds can reproduce themselves to grow new crops.

3) What if a natural disaster destroys your home? Do you keep important documents stored safely in a safety deposit box at your bank? Do you keep duplicate papers off-premises? Do you have a contingency plan as to where you could go?

4) What if your car breaks down on a deserted road, late at night, or in the winter? Do you carry flares? Blankets? Shelf-stable foods (a few MRE's)? A fresh bottle of water? A cell phone that is fully charged? A hand grenade in case Jason strolls by with his machete? :o)

5) What if your young child (or aged, senile adult) were to turn up missing? Do you have a recent photo? Do you have a document that lists all important info the authorities may need (and you may be too distraught to recall)? Height, weight, marks, names/addresses of friends, teachers, babysitter etc.? Medical info, such as allergies? The more info you can provide quickly, the better the chance of a happy ending.

These are just a few of the things that certainly can occur, and could certainly affect a person's success. The more you can prepare for possible contingencies, the greater your chances of true, long-lasting success.

Turn $1 Into $50

Imagine how wealthy you could be if there were a way to turn every $1 bill into a $50 bill. Well, you need not leave it to imagination - not only is it possible, it is relatively simple to do.

First, consider the power of compound interest. Generally speaking, if you invest money and earn a moderate 10% APR, you double your money in seven years. Think about that - if a person age 18 were to invest a dollar at an annual average return of 10%, that dollar would be more than $50 by the time he reaches age 65.

I can hear you groaning already. "Sure, it only takes 47 years!"

But that is not the point. The point is much more powerful than that. You see, the average 18 year old today wastes an average of $4200 each year on meaningless, unimportant "stuff". Now figure what that person would have at age 65 if he had invested that $4200. He would have a whopping $210,000.

Now let's further assume he invests another $4200 at age 19, at age 20, at age 21 and again at age 22. Even if he never saved another dime, he would have well over a million dollars at age 65.

And if that person continues to invest even half that much each year throughout his working life, at age 65 he would be worth many millions.

So, here is the point: a dollar saved is worth many dollars spent. The older you are, the less it will grow - but it will grow.

To illustrate - at age 24 you buy a snowmobile for $5000. In a few years, it is worn out, and had cost an additional $1500 in fees, registrations, insurance, fuel and maintenance. And now you need a new one. You are out $6500 now, and you are also out all the dollars that it would have been worth had you invested it until retirement - $208,000! So, that few years of owning that machine has really cost you nearly a quarter of a million dollars - a very expensive machine, indeed. Especially since it has limited use during snowy winters.

Of course, we cannot go without fun. So what if you invest that $5000 at age 24, until age 31. It would be worth $10,000. You could then buy the snowmobile and still have $5000 invested that will be worth about $100,000 at retirement. The best of both worlds. Or, buy a used machine and invest the difference.

What I am advocating is really quite simple: waste less, and invest more. Wait longer to buy the big ticket items. Sacrifice a little now, so you don't have to sacrifice anything later. If you give up eating pizzas for awhile, you can eventually afford to buy the pizzaria and have all the pizza you want.

And, of course, the earlier you begin, the wealthier you will become.