Money, Politics, and the American Way
I started reading a Clive Cussler book the other day. I would've sworn it was a brand new book because of how current the issues involved were such as global warming, financial scares, and oil price spikes and shortages. Turns out it was written in the seventies. So was this clip I found. I am just about to stick my head out the window- too bad I live in the middle of nowhere and only Polar, the chickens, and nearby squirrels would hear...
The bailout, from minute one, seemed to me to be a horrible plan. Like putting a bandaid to try to heal a severed wound. I compared it to my business because after all, it is only a bunch of zeroes that separate us from them. If my business is being poorly run and we overspend who has to pony up? I do. If times turn sour, and business is down who pays? We do. I've been at that point more times than I care to count with my little rinky dink biz. But, I assure you it is my bank account being drained, or my signature on the loan paperwork for a bridge loan. I can't even imagine asking the government to give me money because I screwed up, or didn't have a big enough egg stashed away for poor times. I wouldn't even know who to ask, but I am sure whoever got my call would die laughing! It's capitalism. That's how it works, and that is why it works. If you screw up that badly, you fail!
The election is looming and we will have a historic first regardless of who wins. Everyone throws (or lately spits) Republican and Democrat as if they are four letter words, and to admit one or the other is likening yourself to the Nazi party or Communistic regime. I don't play that. I vote for the person, not the party.
The first president I really loved was Reagan. I would say that he is my favorite- in my lifetime so far. I didn't mind Bush I, or Clinton. I abhor Bush Jr. Hate him. Hate that he lead us to war for oil while ignoring viable alternatives in this country. btw-I don't think we should pull out and abandon the people in those countries we devastated, either.
This time around it is Obama that scares the living crud out of me. We are a hair's breath away from socializing our system, and with him I am afraid that would only be the beginning. I like capitalism. I like getting compensated for a job well done. I understand that I won't get paid if I don't work, or if I screw it up. The whole tax the rich to give to the poor is horrifying. Maybe I am a little biased as I just finished Atlas Shrugged, but it is hard to see it playing out any other way. There are moments when I remind myself he hasn't actually done anything! He could turn out to be a puppet that gets pushed around by those in office.
Then there is the fact I think things could still be going South. Whoever gets elected may be branded with the failings through no fault of his own, so who should that be??
John McCain is nothing like Bush. To digress, I hate Bush. I really like John McCain- and I think Sarah Palin is just awesome. Living in NH I am among friends with this opinion, although the hardcore conservatives don't think he is Republican enough. Ms. Palin saved the day there. I like that he has been working to cut pork, even though is part of the senate. In our business (industry) we learned first hand how much money and time it takes to finally get a bill on the floor, Then to have to bend over and take it while they go back and forth getting their special earmarks and concessions put in. Then you have to do it again for funding. I think this is a huge problem in our governmental system. I also like his health care policies. Being a small business I like his incentives (or should I say lack of additional taxes) that will help (or at least not hurt) keep my business going in good times and bad. I like his practical approach to energy. He was one of the first to support a biomass initiative. See above for how it turned out, but the fact is he helped write it and get it passed. I find it absolutely embarassing that we exported more biomass than we used domestically last year. Export our cheap biomass to Europe,and import more oil from the Middle East. We have about 1.4 billion tons of biomass waste annually in this country yet we used 1.3 million tons and exported 1.6 million. Disgusting. Actually, I think either candidate may do o.k. on this front but McCain HAS been doing something, and I think has the experience and knowledge to make it happen NOW!
I know politics is often a touchy subject, and I am sure there are multiple people who will take offense somehow to what I have said. It was more written for me. I would like to look back at my frame of mind before the election.
Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadian friends!

The Mac is back!

Yesterday was Primary day in New Hampshire. We have long revelled in our First in the Nation status. It is actually a state law that we be the first to vote. Iowa threw a definitive curve ball by labeling their vote a Caucus, and therefore, being able to be first. Half of the news camps still carried the line First in the Nation, while others just dodged the issue. Other than that there was no acknowledgement... I'm pretty sure it's only a matter of time before someone sues someone else over it. ((Sigh))
NH voters turned out in record numbers! In our little state of ~1.3 million people, over one half million turned out to vote. We shattered the record made in 2000 of 396,000 voters with turnout estimated at 514,000. The freaky warm January thaw probably helped that. Hubby and I were walking around in T-shirts yesterday it was so nice! Sub-zero last week, fifty degrees this...
John McCain won the Republican nomination proclaiming "The Mac is back!" Hillary Clinton took the Democratic nomination. "Let's give America the kind of comeback New Hampshire has just given to me," Clinton said in her victory speech. Mitt Romney, shockingly, took a second place R position. I thought he would have been much lower. Ambulance Chaser Edwards was a distant third thank god! Hucka Who?
Voting in a small town is very interesting to say the least. I still remember when we were going to be out of town so we requested absentee ballots. We were surprised to see that we needed to put our names on the ballots and that it goes right to the town office to be counted. So much for anonymous voting. We both abstained from that vote as we were new in town and knew that political ties can make or break you up here. Even at the latest election everyone was all ears when they asked which party you were voting for.

Follow the Money

While Barack Obama proclaims to be a regular self-made guy without an outstanding balance sheet, at about two million dollars he is still a far cry from joe-average-american. Compared to his cohorts in the running however, he is a poor man indeed.
Very interesting look at the candidates and their monetary values, and a few hints as to how they got there and what they have done with it at http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0712/gallery.candidates.moneymag/index.html

Here's my two cents:

Hillary Clinton- She was an early breadwinner which is a good role model for women everywhere. Lawyer, though... Her secondary income hubby was just a Govenor and a President at the time. Now that she is a Senator, Bill seems to be the breadwinner with books and $150,000 a pop speeches. He spoke at my neices graduation last spring at UNH and from what I hear he was worth it...

John Ambulance Chaser Edwards- I knew I didn't like this guy. Made his money as a personal injury lawyer. I don't know about you but sadly I can tell you the phone number of our state's ambulance chaser from hearing his annoying commercials incessantly... Lowlife. Then he moved into Hedge funds. The ultimate boring, make lots of money because I have lots of money job... YUCK!

Rudy Giuliani- Made his money capitalizing off of 9/11 for the most part. Not sure if I would be boasting about it as much as he does, but overall I could live with him as pres. He beats the socks off of what's his ears Georgie. Divorces drained him a bit, but drugs and energy still provide a little nest egg for him.

My man John McCain. The most real candidate there is imho. Served in the military and serving the public in politics. Never made the big bucks. Has written a couple of books, but gave away the $$$. His wife is the money bags, not him. A friend once said if you marry for money you earn every penny. I hope that isn't true for him.

Barack Obama- Harvard Law. Wife's a lawyer. Sure they worked to get through school, but they make pretty good money as lawyers. Lawyers... Still, the second most real candidate imo.

Mitt Romney- Lucky sperm club. Born with a silver spoon. Hedge funder by geneaology. Have money-make more money. Pretty slick, out of touch with reality, ~~shiver~~ Don't spend the principal, Mitt!

Fred Thompson- Lawyer, Lobbyist, Actor. Hhhmmm... Lawyer(nose crinkle). Lobbyist-overpaid negotiator. Actor? Well, I bet he can give a speech better than Georgie does. Not that interested...

So, if money tells us anything about how in touch the candidates are with reality I would have to throw my votes toward McCain and Obama. Hilly has done her time, and so has Giuliani. Edwards and Romney can fall of the edge of the earth for all I care... Thompson who?