Have You Ever Made An Investment In Yourself?

   I want each of you to think of something. What have you invested in? We start by thinking of investments as placing money into an account and hoping that the money will grow into a large amount that will help us retire or obtain some other goal. In reality we investment money and time into many different things and people in the hopes that our investment will accomplish some goal we have set.
   Have you ever changed the oil in your car? Did you spend money for your own, your spouse, your children's or your grand children's education? Did you spend money on owning a car? Did you ever spend money on buying a home? Once you were in that home did you spend money on, updating the electrical, plumbing, carpeting, tile floors, wood floors, update the kitchen, paint the interior or exterior, put in a pool, new windows, put in energy efficient appliances, air conditioner or water heater?  Have you spend money on a medical checkup or procedure to screen for a particular disease? Have you spent money on medical checkups for your children? Have you ever spent money to loose weight? Have you ever spent money on new exercise equipment or join a fitness center. Have you ever placed money in the collection plate at your place of worship? These are a few of the ways we spend money.
    Now you may be asking yourself, "Why is he asking me these questions." My point is that each time we spend money we are in essence investing in ourselves or our families. We spend sometimes to save larger expenses down the road, such as when we change the oil in our cars or have medical checkups. We invest our money in education, knowing that the chances of a better job, higher wages and a better life are accomplished if we do this investment. We buy a home or place money in investment accounts hoping that they increase in value and help to give us security in the future ( although this now is in jeopardy). When we spend money to loose weight or join a health club, we are investing in a healthier and happier person. Even when we place money in the collection plate we are investing in the idea of Christianity and the hope of a better afterlife.
    My last question to you is this. If investing in ourselves and our families can in the long run, cost us less money, make us more productive, make us happier, make us healthier and make us more prosperous, then why do we not invest money into our country? Think about it!

Day Ten and "Deadbeat Dad" still has a job!

Alright here we are, on day number ten since Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh was sued by his wife for $117,000 in child support. Still no responses from the Republicans or the Tea Party or Mr. Walsh. I can only come to the conclusion they do not support the idea that parents have, not just a moral responsibility but a financial responsibility to take care of their children. We are told that parents have to support children and meet their needs. We have laws that are in place, with the intended purpose of making parents meet that responsibility. Maybe it is the view of Republicans and the people on the right to only make average Americans pay. Since Mr. Walsh is white, wealthy and a member of Congress, then I am wondering if that precludes him from the law. I can then, once more, come to another conclusion. If you are a minority, poor or middle class and not a member of Congress then the laws pertain to you. I am glad that the class system is alive and well in America. So once again I will ask, Mr. Walsh when are you going to do the honorable thing and, number one pay to support your children and number two, resign?

Nine Days And The Deadbeat Dad is still in Congress

Day nine and nobody in Congress has brought up the fact that "Deadbeat Dad" Joe Walsh still has his seat in Congress. I am waiting for the outcry from his fellow lawmakers, or is that lawbreakers, to demand Walsh step down. No wonder our country has the problems we are facing. The very people who claim to make and uphold the laws of America are busy ignoring them. Congress sets itself above the very people it is supposed to serve. They are there to set examples and to obey laws, not break them. Everybody reading this should pass it on to their friends and relatives. Joe Walsh should become the poster child for deadbeat Dad's (parents) across the country. He owes over $117,000 and counting. One of the reasons we all pay more in taxes is people like Walsh, ignore their responsibilities to pay for and raise their children. Deadbeat parents all over the country have to be asking themselves, "Why do I have to pay if members of Congress are allowed to slide by?" Joe Walsh, from Illinois, you are a deadbeat Dad and the time has come to RESIGN.

Day Eight and Congressman Joe Walsh Is Still Here!

Eight days ago on July 28th Illinois, Congressman Joe Walsh was sued for $117,000, nonpayment of child support. I am still waiting for the outrage from the right. I am still wondering why, when a federal law has been violated, a Congressman still gets to sit in his seat. Each day I will make everyone aware of his refusal to take responsibility for his own children. I do not want to hear that he has not had any hearings on the matter.  Anthony Weiner was guilty of taking pictures of himself in his underwear and lying about it. Where was his hearing? There was only the relentless, right pounding on him to resign. Pictures of a man in his underwear is funny, sad, stupid, immoral, ridiculous, sophomoric, childish, repulsive and any other term you want to assign to it, but it is NOT ILLEGAL. Failure to pay child support is both immoral and illegal. Joe Walsh you must resign, now.

The New Republican Solution. Tax The Poor!

    Just when I think I have heard the stupidest solutions to our economy, some fool steps up and reminds me that we can sink even lower. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, actually stood on the Senate floor yesterday and advocated the idea that we should look to the poor and working poor in order to solve our problems. He talked about the top 1% pays 38% of the taxes. What he fails to mention is that top elite group may pay a large amount of our total taxes, but they make so much money and yet their proportionate share is very small. In other words they still have huge amounts of money left over after paying taxes. So "snake oil" salesman, Mr. Hatch decided that the poor need to make up the difference and pay more in taxes.
    The working poor in this country are people that go out to work every day. They may even work two jobs to make ends meet, but because of low wages they are never able to get ahead. Think about this for a moment. People work full time jobs, but live below the poverty level. How is this possible? To find the answer, just look at the profit sheet of the large corporations in America. How do they keep profits so high? They pay Americans 8 to 12 dollars an hour. They ship jobs overseas, where the rate is even lower. They keep profits high by breaking the backs of average people and paying them less then a living wage. Then they pay off the politicians that give them a special tax break and behold enormous profits. Big bonuses for the upper management. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
    Now this would not be such a large problem except that they are selling the idea that we need to reduce the tax burden on the wealthiest and then they will create jobs. They tell us these jobs are well paying. They tell us that we are over regulating and over taxing the. "job creators" and this is the problem we face. To this I say, "BS".  For fifty plus years we have been drinking that Koolaid. For fifty plus years they have cut taxes, deregulate and reduced regulations, that were supposed to then trickle down to the average American and we would all have prosperity. How has this worked out for us? The disparity between the rich and the poor has widened to the greatest level in history. They have convinced middle class Americans that our neighbors are the problem. They have convinced middle class Americans that unions are the problem. They have convinced middle class Americans that higher taxes on wealthy and corporations are the problem. They have convinced middle class Americans that they should lower their expectations, so the richest can enjoy a better life and that soon this money will flow back to us. This is nothing more then the fleecing of middle class Americans.
    What can we do? For openers we can start educating ourselves. We can start looking beyond the one liners and see the facts. We have to get America back to work and by back to work, I mean with good paying jobs. Jobs that pay 15 to 20 dollars an hour and more. Jobs that provide benefits. Jobs that allow the middle class to expand and grow. Jobs that will allow the poor to move up in the economy of America and become part of the solution instead of, part of the problem. Jobs that rebuild America and modernize our country. It is time we start thinking about how to better ourselves. I guarantee that corporate America is more then happy if we continue with the direction we are going. They will continue to reap big profits and the middle class will continue to shrink. They laugh at the inability of Americans to work together for the improvement of all.
    We can start to turn the conversation from them to us. Start by sending this blog to everyone you know. Talk to your neighbors, fellow workers, church members, family and anyone else that you associate with. Move articles like this one to everyone. Take up the task to help educate those around you. Call out our political leaders and ask them, why they support special interests instead of working for you. Call out our corporate leaders and ask why are they sending American jobs to other countries and why are they finding ways to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Call out the people around you and ask, why are the settling for less then what they deserve. Once again I am asking you to send this to others you know and get them moving.
    Corporate America and the wealthy elite rely on one premise. The American people have to continue buying their propaganda. Once we realize that this is all smoke and mirrors, they are out of business. They have brainwashed us into believing that what is best for them is best for us. It is not! Anyone, who knows me, knows that I am an optimist. I believe the best days are still in front of America. I know that given the choice Americans will meet the challenge and do the right thing. At this point in our history we need leadership more then anything else. We need to have a direction and a vision for us to strive toward. Unfortunately at this point in our history it is the one thing we are lacking. We then have to provide it for ourselves. We have to have that vision and direction so we can move forward. We cannot wait for our so called leaders, Republican or Democrats, we have to lead. So my advise my fellow Americans, is simple and direct. Start leading. It begins with you. Remember one voice can change the world. Be that voice.      

Joan Says If You Don't Agree With Me Shutup!

   I saw some statements on Face Book yesterday through a friend and of course I responded with my opinion. After a couple of back and forth statements, I invited the group to also come onto this blog and have more discussion. The lady that had started, with her own wrong statements, then blocked me from further responses. She stated that since I disagreed with her, I was blind and she did not want any left wing advertisements on her face book.
    Well Joan if you have the nerve, our if any of the other people involved want to hear a different opinion, here it is. You are the greatest threat to our Constitution. Ignorance and a closed mind. You feel that the only way to address a difference is to shut people up. I happen to feel that the only way we can solve our differences is to allow them to have a voice, even if we disagree. Oh wait isn't that a foundation to our Constitution. She not only accused me of being blind but also anyone that would dare to not follow her logic.  My friend and the publisher of SOG Oracle, Jon, wrote last week about the movement to fire Pat Buchanan from MSNBC. He stated very well the point that we all have a Constitutional right to speak and that even if we strongly disagree we should not silence them. I feel the same way about Rush, Glen, Sarah, Michelle, etc. They have a right and I should not try and silence them and neither should you. The first Amendment to the Constitution gives us this right. Too many times when people disagree with someone they try and shut them off. Why? Are they afraid they may find an area they can agree on? Are they afraid they may learn something, they didn't know before? Oh, perish the thought. We may learn something from someone and actually expand our knowledge. Well Joan you made it clear that Democrats are on the same level as street vermin, but you know what. I would rather live with that vermin then live in a country run by bigoted, small minded, uneducated people like you. Stay in your own little world, but while you remain ignorant, the rest of us will learn from each other. While you and your type regress, the rest of us will move forward. There is no doubt that in my mind the greatest threat to the American Constitution is people like you.

Congressman Joe Walsh Republican from Illinois should resign NOW!!!

    Tea Party favorite Joe Walsh from Illinois is violating a federal parental support law and needs to resign from Congress. A few months ago many people, including myself, stated that Rep Anthony Weiner from N.Y. should resign over the lies he stated when he was caught up in an online photo scandal. Weiner stepped down amid harsh rhetoric from all sides. He had lost the trust of the people.
    Joe Walsh has not only violated the trust of the people, he has broken the same federal laws he is supposed to uphold. Walsh is being sued for back child support in the amount of  $117,000. Of course right on schedule, his Tea Party supporters are claiming this is nothing more than a political attack. Let me see if I have this correct. A Congressman sends pictures of himself in his under ware to an adult. Does not break any laws and is hounded into resigning. Another Congressman fails to pay child support and violates federal law and yet it is nothing more then a political attack. Walsh is nothing more then a sleazy, deadbeat Dad. he cares more about himself then the children he fathered. He is a law breaker and we do not need people like him in the halls of Congress.  Where is the Republican outrage over this? Where is the Tea Party outrage over this?  I understand that we have an economic crisis at this time, however last week Congressman Wu, a Democrat, from Oregon resigned because he had made unwanted sexual advances. The difference in both cases are that the two that resigned were Democrats and Walsh is a Republican. When I stated, Weiner must resign, I noted that when Republicans were entangled in scandals, they were permitted to stay on for longer periods of time and this is unfair. I am stating emphatically, Joe Walsh is a criminal, both legally and morally and the time to resign is now.