Interestingly, the day after I blogged about Trump I get an email from my Canadian cousin regarding the plight of America. Obviously, CNN news is part of TV in Canada and like FOX news, CNN always has it's slant on the state of America an it's politics. I thought I'd share part of my cousins email.
A recent survey had 80 percent of Americanos thinking gas would hit $5 a gallon this year.
I see it is $3.73 in McKinney today.
$5.00 a US gallon sound crazy?
It is what we are already paying in Canada. My last stop at the gas station it was $1.33 a litre. There are 3.78 litres in a US gallon which works out to $5.02 a gallon.
That is just north of the US border in a country that has the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world (with the Alberta oil sands)behind Saudi Arabia. Your Canadian cousins are already biting the bullet at that price.
They call Canadians "the blue eyed shieks". Keep your Canadian dollars - they were trading for $1.05 US at noon today.
I watch the US news with fascination at the spin doctors in Washington. Read yesterday that the US government spends $1.60 for every $1.00 they bring in in revenue. Standard and Poors Credit rating arent buying the bs coming out of Washington from the politicians Democrats or Republicans re: reducing the deficit and are saying that unless they get their shit together before the next election there is a 1 in 3 chance that they will reduce the USA credit rating for the first time in history making it even more expensive to borrow $.
There are some hairy times ahead.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Trump for President
I'm sure for most of the American public the thought of Trump as President seems a bit on the surreal side. I just get visions of Trump having a press conference as the standing president and getting a lame media question and responding, "D head, you're fired!" However, he has said some things that got my head thinking, especially when he says, "America has lost it's shine!"
90% of our children's toys are imported from China. It's said China has surpassed the good old US of A in education, production and technology. So, I have to ask myself, why are we providing growth to China instead of reinvesting in our own country, workers? It's hard to find furniture, appliances made in the USA! Why? It appears because we've over priced our production based on greed, and not on a fair return on investment.
Tonight I hear BP oil has earned more than 13 BILLION in PROFITS this year! This is after the complete disaster in the gulf ruining the health and productivity of a regions workers. Who's actually paying for that... good old USA workers! Gas is at $4 and it's driven not by need but by speculators. We have owners and players in pro sports fighting over billions in profit. The owners aren't earning that money, they have squeezed the life out of American families! Honestly, how does an average family enjoy sport outings today?! Some how we're still out there going to games, watching on TV, listening on radios because if we weren't there would be no billions to fight over. Imagine if they just made a reasonable profit, and paid reasonable salaries... Imagine if Joe USA said the hell with this and stopped going, or, watching for a year! How many mansions owned by athletes pampered their whole lives would go up on foreclosure instead of the average Joe who loses his home and job.
It doesn't stop there does it? Profit margins are not about a fair return on your dollar anymore... it's about making billions upon billions and making shareholders rich and executives rich beyond all needs. Million dollar salaries, millions upon millions bonus!
Did Rome fall on it's over indulgence of pleasure and greed and lust? Is the great US of A on that same path?
90% of our children's toys are imported from China. It's said China has surpassed the good old US of A in education, production and technology. So, I have to ask myself, why are we providing growth to China instead of reinvesting in our own country, workers? It's hard to find furniture, appliances made in the USA! Why? It appears because we've over priced our production based on greed, and not on a fair return on investment.
Tonight I hear BP oil has earned more than 13 BILLION in PROFITS this year! This is after the complete disaster in the gulf ruining the health and productivity of a regions workers. Who's actually paying for that... good old USA workers! Gas is at $4 and it's driven not by need but by speculators. We have owners and players in pro sports fighting over billions in profit. The owners aren't earning that money, they have squeezed the life out of American families! Honestly, how does an average family enjoy sport outings today?! Some how we're still out there going to games, watching on TV, listening on radios because if we weren't there would be no billions to fight over. Imagine if they just made a reasonable profit, and paid reasonable salaries... Imagine if Joe USA said the hell with this and stopped going, or, watching for a year! How many mansions owned by athletes pampered their whole lives would go up on foreclosure instead of the average Joe who loses his home and job.
It doesn't stop there does it? Profit margins are not about a fair return on your dollar anymore... it's about making billions upon billions and making shareholders rich and executives rich beyond all needs. Million dollar salaries, millions upon millions bonus!
Did Rome fall on it's over indulgence of pleasure and greed and lust? Is the great US of A on that same path?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Take a moment
I received an email today from a friend who just travelled to San Diego to watch his son graduate from Marine Boot Camp. I come from the America that had a draft. Yep, that's right! Turn 18 and wham bam thank you maam you are now a soldier. I'm not sure anyone under the age of 45 even remembers that America had a draft?
The email started, "my son left a boy, and came home a man!" I agree with this statement but the irony of it is... they are still boys. I don't mean that in a derogatory way because by all means they are men, and women in courage and in what they now do as professionals! However, still 18. But now - responsible for multi million dollar equipment, responsible for the safety of people they don't even know, responsible for lives of those around them. Imagine, holding someones life in your hands at 18! Make the wrong decision and how many die? 18 and being responsible for multi million dollar jets, ships, tanks and put in situations that most people never face in life. 18! what did you do at 18?
We take these men and women for granted - please, if you meet any of our brave serviceman or women... take a moment and walk up and say thank you. I know their parents would appreciate it!
The email started, "my son left a boy, and came home a man!" I agree with this statement but the irony of it is... they are still boys. I don't mean that in a derogatory way because by all means they are men, and women in courage and in what they now do as professionals! However, still 18. But now - responsible for multi million dollar equipment, responsible for the safety of people they don't even know, responsible for lives of those around them. Imagine, holding someones life in your hands at 18! Make the wrong decision and how many die? 18 and being responsible for multi million dollar jets, ships, tanks and put in situations that most people never face in life. 18! what did you do at 18?
We take these men and women for granted - please, if you meet any of our brave serviceman or women... take a moment and walk up and say thank you. I know their parents would appreciate it!
Duh, Winning
You know, it's only been a week or so but the media has so over covered Charlie Sheen's antics and over indulgence to an extreme. Basiclly, it seems as though the media venues are already running the Charlie Sheen reality show with all their coverage.
Seeing all this silly coverage just got me to thinking and I know how bad that is - but it really brings America and it's obsessions with so called celebrities/athletes to the front of my thoughts. Here's some things I thought about.
1. Charlie Sheen - 'nough said! 2 million an episode, 22 episodes per season = 44 million! Hey, I'm just using him as an example but geeze look at friends. Weren't they paid $1,000,000 per episode. Man, tough work!
2. Multi-million dollar football players and team owners fighting over who gets the cut in the billions, yes billions of dollars we the poor and scrapping public pay to watch their silly antics. And they are so obsessed with greed we all possibly lose football for the season over their greed. How much does it cost to take your spouse and one child to a game today? I think here the Cowboys are like $200 per ticket and $50 to park and a beer is like $12. Sounds like an affordable day out for a family of 3 - if you are one of the players making a couple of mil! Football ticket price for the Bears vs St. Louis in '69 was $6.00
Here's an interesting perspective. Mickey Mantle, one of the best known players in MLB in his era made $100,000 per year. Now, that's thousands, not millions. Albert Pujol's salary is over $14,000,000. Yes millions. The average baseball player made $24,000 in 1969. Today the avg is well over $1,900,000 Gee, who pays for this??? Yes, us suckers!
Hey - I'm not great at math but those salaries based on average household income are off the charts in comparison. But, I guess we are the ones to blame. We the fan seem willing to finance all these greedy athletes, owners, agents. It must be an addiction like drugs. We lack the will power to turn off the tv, or stop attending games. What do you think would happen if fans, in force, just stopped watching for a year. Maybe the rich, greedy people associated with our entertainment would actually feel the pinch because instead of over indulging and feeling their sense of entitlement might actually start to suffer a little too?
I wish I had the energy to compare the comparison of tv advertising in the 60's to present and even the comparison cost of purchasing a product. Anyway, I wish as a population we could walk away from it all for a year to see what happens. Plus Gas! :-)
Seeing all this silly coverage just got me to thinking and I know how bad that is - but it really brings America and it's obsessions with so called celebrities/athletes to the front of my thoughts. Here's some things I thought about.
1. Charlie Sheen - 'nough said! 2 million an episode, 22 episodes per season = 44 million! Hey, I'm just using him as an example but geeze look at friends. Weren't they paid $1,000,000 per episode. Man, tough work!
2. Multi-million dollar football players and team owners fighting over who gets the cut in the billions, yes billions of dollars we the poor and scrapping public pay to watch their silly antics. And they are so obsessed with greed we all possibly lose football for the season over their greed. How much does it cost to take your spouse and one child to a game today? I think here the Cowboys are like $200 per ticket and $50 to park and a beer is like $12. Sounds like an affordable day out for a family of 3 - if you are one of the players making a couple of mil! Football ticket price for the Bears vs St. Louis in '69 was $6.00
Here's an interesting perspective. Mickey Mantle, one of the best known players in MLB in his era made $100,000 per year. Now, that's thousands, not millions. Albert Pujol's salary is over $14,000,000. Yes millions. The average baseball player made $24,000 in 1969. Today the avg is well over $1,900,000 Gee, who pays for this??? Yes, us suckers!
Hey - I'm not great at math but those salaries based on average household income are off the charts in comparison. But, I guess we are the ones to blame. We the fan seem willing to finance all these greedy athletes, owners, agents. It must be an addiction like drugs. We lack the will power to turn off the tv, or stop attending games. What do you think would happen if fans, in force, just stopped watching for a year. Maybe the rich, greedy people associated with our entertainment would actually feel the pinch because instead of over indulging and feeling their sense of entitlement might actually start to suffer a little too?
I wish I had the energy to compare the comparison of tv advertising in the 60's to present and even the comparison cost of purchasing a product. Anyway, I wish as a population we could walk away from it all for a year to see what happens. Plus Gas! :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)