Monday, January 25, 2010
Move your money
I posted at few weeks ago about moving your money. Just wanted to update and say that my move is complete. We closed all of our accounts at Chase and opened new accounts at a local bank that did not accept any TARP money. Feels good, I must say.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
40,697 laws take effect in 2010
CNN reports that 40,697 new laws will take effect in the United States this year. I guess the question is, with the addition of all of these laws, do we feel any safer, more protected or more free?
(CNN) -- Legislatures in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico met in 2009, leading to the enactment of 40,697 laws, many of which take effect January 1.
The new laws cover a variety of areas, from texting and tanning beds to human trafficking and seat-belt safety.
New Hampshire, Oregon and Illinois join 16 other states that prohibit motorists from sending text messages while driving.
Gloria Wilhelm fought for the Illinois law after her son, Matt, was struck and killed while he was riding his bike by a driver who was downloading cell phone ring tones.
"These are incredibly selfish and dangerous behaviors," she said.
A new law in Oregon requires children under the age of 16 to wear a seat belt on an all-terrain vehicle or in a car while on public property.
Same-sex couples will be able to marry in New Hampshire beginning January 1 under New Hampshire General Court HB 436, and the state joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa in legalizing same-sex marriages. In California, SB 54 requires the state to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states while such marriages were legal in California.
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The legislation covers same-sex marriages performed between June 16, 2008, and November 5, 2008, when a ballot initiative, Proposition 8, banned same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
A California measure that limits trans fat in restaurant food also takes effect January 1. Enacted in 2008, it requires restaurants to use oils, margarines and shortenings that have less than half a gram of trans fat per serving. A similar provision will apply to baked goods in 2011.
A statewide smoking ban in bars and restaurants that will take effect in North Carolina, the nation's biggest producer of tobacco, has drawn mixed reactions.
"I find it rather annoying that they're going to turn me into the police," tavern owner Van Allston said.
Not all laws become effective January 1. State constitutions or statutes typically establish when laws go into effect, and the date is written into the specific piece of legislation.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Stick it to the big banks - Move your money!
I've been feeling for a while that I need to get my money in one of our smaller local banks. I know of several that didn't take any TARP funds and don't pay out massive bonuses to executives but run a tight ship because they have to to stay in the game. Now its official. I'm going to start to close my accounts at Chase and move them to a local bank.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Evanston Town Meeting
On December 16th my friend Spencer and I organized a town meeting at which our Mayor, Will Davis spoke as well as candidate for governor, Ron Micheli. I also shared a few abbreviated thoughts and declared the purpose of the meeting, which was to provide an open forum to discuss matters that pertain to us on a local, state and federal level. We had about 50 people in attendance which I was pleased with considering most of the town meetings involving our senators or our congresswoman tend to have crowds of similar or even smaller sizes. Overall we accomplished our goals to learn more about our issues and candidates and hopefully to persuade others to get more heavily involved in these things.
For some reason I am not able to upload the video of Mayor Davis' speech. His was mostly a speech regarding our city's fiscal shortfalls due to the economy and how we are dealing with that as a city. He had one really great line which he quoted from earlier in his political career which was: "things are run by those who show up." I thought that was absolutely true and was hopefully a thought for those in attendance who do not frequently make it out to events regarding civic matters.
The video of me is included as well as the six, 10 minute parts of gubernatorial candidate Ron Micheli's speech.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Franken's Behavior Apalling to McCain
I hope that as a result of the 2010 elections McCain can expect a lot more of this type of apalling behavior from more freshmen senators. I think Franken is a tool, but we need to get some of these guys that have "been in this body for 27 years" and send them home.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Got a letter the other day
My wife received a document in the mail the other day from the Social Security Administration. The document enclosed says:
"In 2016 we will begin paying more in benefits than we collect in taxes. Without changes, by 2037 the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted and there will be enough money to pay only about 76 cents for each dollar of schedule benefits. We need to resolve these issues soon to make sure Social Security continues to provide a foundation of protection for future generations."
I have heard elsewhere (I think from Charles Murray) that the average 70 year old can expect to receive about $75,000 more in benefits than they have payed in to the Social Security system. The average 25 year old can expect to pay in $320,000 more than they will receive in benefits.
The document mentioned above also advises "young workers" to begin saving and investing in other ways to hedge against the money the can expect to not receive via the Social Security Fund.
I called the Social Security office and asked the kind woman there why I would want to continue to pay in to a fund that I can expect a projected loss of 24% on. She said "I don't know, well, because it's law."
I'm not sure that's good enough anymore.
"In 2016 we will begin paying more in benefits than we collect in taxes. Without changes, by 2037 the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted and there will be enough money to pay only about 76 cents for each dollar of schedule benefits. We need to resolve these issues soon to make sure Social Security continues to provide a foundation of protection for future generations."
I have heard elsewhere (I think from Charles Murray) that the average 70 year old can expect to receive about $75,000 more in benefits than they have payed in to the Social Security system. The average 25 year old can expect to pay in $320,000 more than they will receive in benefits.
The document mentioned above also advises "young workers" to begin saving and investing in other ways to hedge against the money the can expect to not receive via the Social Security Fund.
I called the Social Security office and asked the kind woman there why I would want to continue to pay in to a fund that I can expect a projected loss of 24% on. She said "I don't know, well, because it's law."
I'm not sure that's good enough anymore.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Bonus Army All Over Again?
I have a friend named Jessie who served a tour in Afghanistan about a year and a half ago with the Army. He has since been busy working and going to school. One of the reasons he enlisted (which is common among many soldiers) is to take advantage of the educational reimbursements available through the armed services.
From what I understand you schedule your courses and pay the bill and afterwards submit your schedule and the costs of courses and books to the appropriate office and after review the will reimburse you for your costs. My friend Jessie did all of this recently only to get an answer back from the Army office stating simply: "Sorry, we're out of money."
I'm sure it took a few seconds for that to register, but after going back and forth for a few minutes with the person on the other end of the phone, Jessie realized the discussion was futile and he was not going to be paid back.
So he wrote his senator, Orrin Hatch. Mr. Hatch replied that he will do everything in his power to make sure he receives the benefits he was promised. No word yet.
Of course this is nothing new at all. Just ask Smedley Butler. War truly is a racket.
Apparently the shortfall in funding for this program is about 2 million. Mind you this is mere months after we were able to come up with trillions to bail out various industries, but we can't find 2 million to pay the men and women who have risked their lives for the country and who were promised these precise benefits?
From what I understand you schedule your courses and pay the bill and afterwards submit your schedule and the costs of courses and books to the appropriate office and after review the will reimburse you for your costs. My friend Jessie did all of this recently only to get an answer back from the Army office stating simply: "Sorry, we're out of money."
I'm sure it took a few seconds for that to register, but after going back and forth for a few minutes with the person on the other end of the phone, Jessie realized the discussion was futile and he was not going to be paid back.
So he wrote his senator, Orrin Hatch. Mr. Hatch replied that he will do everything in his power to make sure he receives the benefits he was promised. No word yet.
Of course this is nothing new at all. Just ask Smedley Butler. War truly is a racket.
Apparently the shortfall in funding for this program is about 2 million. Mind you this is mere months after we were able to come up with trillions to bail out various industries, but we can't find 2 million to pay the men and women who have risked their lives for the country and who were promised these precise benefits?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Rand Paul 2010
There is a man by the name of Dr. Rand Paul who is running for the vacant Senate seat in Kentucky to be left open by Jim Bunning. He is the son of Dr. Ron Paul and has mounted one of the most serious campaigns against an establishment candidate in the country. Currently he leads in the polls against Trey Grayson by a slim margin but has gained significant support since the start of the campaign. Grayson has gained massive financial support from various special interest groups but up to the present has been unable the match the funds raised by Rand Paul by the everyday Americans across the country hoping to get a true Constitutional conservative in office somewhere. If you have not yet heard of Rand Paul, please research him and find out his stances on various topics to determine for yourself if he is the type of candidate you can support. Then, if you do, please donate to his campaign. Then in a month or two, donate again.
For everyone one of us who wants to reclaim the republic, there is another who would give it away to the state. We have to be willing to fight against them as hard as they have been trying to take away our liberties.
Below is a video for a "moneybomb" Rand's campaign is holding on December 16th and they will encourage you to donate on that day. I would say it doesn't matter when you donate as long as you do. Even $5 is helping.
Think of donating this way: you can donate now and hope to reclaim your liberties through an honest candidate such as Rand or you can expect that the state will collect your money from you anyway through taxes and other wasteful spending programs.
For everyone one of us who wants to reclaim the republic, there is another who would give it away to the state. We have to be willing to fight against them as hard as they have been trying to take away our liberties.
Below is a video for a "moneybomb" Rand's campaign is holding on December 16th and they will encourage you to donate on that day. I would say it doesn't matter when you donate as long as you do. Even $5 is helping.
Think of donating this way: you can donate now and hope to reclaim your liberties through an honest candidate such as Rand or you can expect that the state will collect your money from you anyway through taxes and other wasteful spending programs.
The exploding salaries of federal workers
Slate reports
The exploding salaries of federal workers:
The percentage of federal workers who make more than $100,000 increased from 14 percent to 19 percent during the first 18 months of the recession, reports USA Today. At a time when millions of people have lost their jobs, many federal workers are living large. And the ones who were already earning more than the average have been doing particularly well. In December 2007, there were 1,868 civilian employees at the Defense Department who earned more than $150,000. Now there are more than 10,100. In the Transportation Department there was one person who earned more than $170,000; now there are 1,690.
The exploding salaries of federal workers:
The percentage of federal workers who make more than $100,000 increased from 14 percent to 19 percent during the first 18 months of the recession, reports USA Today. At a time when millions of people have lost their jobs, many federal workers are living large. And the ones who were already earning more than the average have been doing particularly well. In December 2007, there were 1,868 civilian employees at the Defense Department who earned more than $150,000. Now there are more than 10,100. In the Transportation Department there was one person who earned more than $170,000; now there are 1,690.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Why this blog?
I have been concerned for some time about the direction our country is heading and how little is being done to try and stop it much less reverse it. It actually seems as though we have thrown it in to a higher gear and are going faster than ever away from the US Constitution.
I do not support any single political party wholesale. I think that you have to measure things in terms of the Constitution and if you look at the whole mess through those glasses, both parties have done tremendous damage to our liberties and freedoms.
I will say upfront that I am an avid supporter of Ron Paul. In all the books of his I have read and all the research I have done on him, not to mention all of the ongoing media appearances he makes, I have never heard him say or do anything that is not authorized by the Constitution. Because of that I believe he is our greatest hope in restoring the Republic.
This blog is an effort to provide a rallying point for those who are also concerned but may not have any idea of where to start. Anytime anyone asks me the first step they should take I echo the ideas of Lew Rockwell, Thomas Woods and Ron Paul that we need to start by becoming more educated. That is not to say that you can't do more action oriented things in the meantime, but how can we possibly expect to fix the problem if we don't understand it or how to fix it. Education is ongoing, just like the issues. We should never stop learning and staying up to speed on all the issues. It is our duty to do so.
Beyond that I believe if you want to complain about the government you have a duty to do something about it. Doing something includes finding and supporting candidates that are champions of the Constitution either by donating to their campaigns or going to work for them. You could run for office yourself. But most of all I think talking about it with everyone you can have a reasonable conversation with is incredibly important.
I hope that over time this will become a stopping point on the way to more important sites like Mises.org for example. It is my dream that we all embrace free market economics and Constitutional principles again. For the sake of my children I hope we can take back America.
I do not support any single political party wholesale. I think that you have to measure things in terms of the Constitution and if you look at the whole mess through those glasses, both parties have done tremendous damage to our liberties and freedoms.
I will say upfront that I am an avid supporter of Ron Paul. In all the books of his I have read and all the research I have done on him, not to mention all of the ongoing media appearances he makes, I have never heard him say or do anything that is not authorized by the Constitution. Because of that I believe he is our greatest hope in restoring the Republic.
This blog is an effort to provide a rallying point for those who are also concerned but may not have any idea of where to start. Anytime anyone asks me the first step they should take I echo the ideas of Lew Rockwell, Thomas Woods and Ron Paul that we need to start by becoming more educated. That is not to say that you can't do more action oriented things in the meantime, but how can we possibly expect to fix the problem if we don't understand it or how to fix it. Education is ongoing, just like the issues. We should never stop learning and staying up to speed on all the issues. It is our duty to do so.
Beyond that I believe if you want to complain about the government you have a duty to do something about it. Doing something includes finding and supporting candidates that are champions of the Constitution either by donating to their campaigns or going to work for them. You could run for office yourself. But most of all I think talking about it with everyone you can have a reasonable conversation with is incredibly important.
I hope that over time this will become a stopping point on the way to more important sites like Mises.org for example. It is my dream that we all embrace free market economics and Constitutional principles again. For the sake of my children I hope we can take back America.
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