The Big Reset

I could have titled this article as The Big Illusion, The Big Reality or The Big Joke. Any of these would have been appropriate, but The Big Reset best defines what you need to be prepared for, so that is why I titled it as such.

The past few weeks we have been watching our elected leaders’ quarrel over mere nickels while spending us into oblivion. All the while the posturing on both sides of the aisle has been sickening and disheartening at the same time. If you have read any of my other posts there is no argument on where I stand politically. I have never been a fan of President Obama (knowing he would be such a disaster) going as far as claiming upon his election that we all would long for the Carter days. So far that thought is right on track even though the media has made him out to be the second coming of Christ.

The Big Illusion: Living in Paul Ryan’s district I am fortunate to have one of the few Republicans (much less politicians) who actually understands the mess our country is facing. (There are no Democrats that come to mind that actually understand what we are up against). This past week the “House” voted on and passed Mr. Ryan’s $6.2T deficit spending reduction plan. This is the first plan by anyone that actually takes some steps is re-righting our fiscal mess. However, there are big problems with the plan itself and not ones that will be talked about by anyone else.

First problem: the Senate will not pass it and even if they did Mr. Obama would veto the bill before it could even get to his desk.

Second problem: $6.2T over 10 years is not enough to get us out of the mess we are in no matter what the CBO says. The calculations used by the CBO are always based on best guess projections and they are NEVER correct in the end.

Third problem: new Congress, new spending. Does anyone remember why the Republicans lost power in 2006? It was because they were spending too much. The hypocrite Democrats ran against the Republicans promising to bring in some fiscal sanity. What is their definition of fiscal sanity? Spend more, more, more… and now these same blowhards are calling the current Republican spending cuts irresponsible. As soon as a new Congress is elected, new spending bills will be introduced and Mr. Ryan’s plan is destroyed.

Fourth problem: even by Mr. Ryan’s and the CBO’s projections it will take 45 years to bring us back to even. Like that will ever happen. (Read problem #3).

The Big Reality: baby boomers are coming into retirement age. It is told to us over and over again that these people hold the majority of all the wealth. While this is true, let’s take a look at some actual numbers. There are approximately 77.3 million baby boomers. The estimated assets owned by these people are $7.6T (that’s a lot of money). Of these 77.3 million people, 10% own 2/3’s of the wealth. The average assets of the wealthiest of this group are only $1.2m. The bottom 90%, which equals over 69 million people split up about $2.6T. The median assets amongst these people are $45,900, with 1/3 of them having $0. (Yet, according to many published accounts, these people think they will be able to retire financially stable). This information alone should paint a bleak picture and put a knot in your stomach (especially if you are a boomer). On top of these disturbing numbers is what the boomers’ will be demanding from the government in the form of unfunded liabilities, also known as Social Security and Medicare. Depending on who you believe, these numbers are between $59T and $136T (I believe the number is closer to the latter). Now, where are we going to come up with this money?

This leads me to…

The Big Joke: also known as Mr. Obama. How does anyone take this guy seriously? Says one thing and does another. It’s all good to the media and our friends on the left. This past week Mr. Obama announced his $4T twelve year plan to cut spending and increase taxes. (Right, Mr. Obama will actually cut spending after giving us the largest deficits in the history of this nation by spending, spending, spending). Somehow, he will cut spending by increasing spending. The Big Joke. Oh wait, I forgot, he is going to raise taxes on the “rich” to help pay for all his spending, thus reduce spending (oh, to be in the mind of a liberal). I will not get into how raising taxes actually lowers revenues collected or how he thinks your money is actually his money to spend. I will use this information to explain why he is The Big Joke. According to the IRS, in 2008 the entire taxable income of anyone making over $100K was $1.582T. If he took every nickel from these taxpayers it would not cover his $1.65T deficit spending this year alone (not including the rest of the budget). YES, let’s tax those evil greedy rich people and all will be well! What a JOKE.

The Big Reset: is what is going to happen. This will not happen overnight, but over many years of pain and agony. As matter of fact it has already started. A few weeks ago the CEO of Wal-Mart announced that price increases are coming. Inflation has set in with commodities across the globe. If Mr. Bush were still president this would have been headline news in order to make him look bad. Since it is Mr. Obama sitting on the throne, barely a peep comes from our press. Gas prices are nearing $4 per gallon in most of the country and over $4 in other parts. The last time it was the greedy oil companies, today, not a word. QE2 is well on its way pouring capital into the markets and all indications QE3 will be next. The reason for this is to devalue our dollar in order to pay off the debt and cover current and future spending. Gold and silver are going up at a frantic pace and will continue to do so. Interest rates will drastically rise, making borrowing more expensive. This will not help the already shallow housing market. Food, clothing, and health care will cost much, much more. Heck, it will cost more to breathe (someday, there will be a tax to breathe).

Once we go through The Big Reset, someone who had a $100K income will have a $175K income. That may seem ok on the surface, but that new income will be the same as having a $75K income before The Big Rest (today). Our standard of living will drop and we will be living with the new “norm” and the process of life will start all over again.

We will have the new Illusion, Reality and Joke.

Read more at http://www.illusionsandrealities.com/

The Bush Tax Rate Debate….

I just have to put my two cents in regarding the tax issue that is being debated in Washington. It drives me nuts that my side can’t make a coherent argument and just explain the facts in very simple terms. They let the left control the discussion and what terminology is used during the debate. It does not make sense to argue a viewpoint that is wrong by its very definition.

If you listen to the media and the politicians the arguments are centered on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Do these blessed people in society deserve tax cuts? These cuts come at the expense of the rest of us working folk. Why the rich, those who earn over $250,000 per year have never worked for their money. It was just handed to them by the grace of the United States government. It would cost the government too much to give them a tax cut. (That is pretty much what you hear.)

If you are one of those people who believe the “rich” do not deserve a tax cut, I have a question for you. When you get a paycheck, whose money is it? Is it your money that you have earned or is it the governments’ money and they are kind enough to let you keep some of your wages? I thought so, it is your money. Now, since you feel that an individual who makes more than you should pay more in taxes, should we let someone who makes less than you decide how much you should pay? Seems only fair doesn’t it? Why not? You are pointing fingers at someone else, only seems right to have the finger pointed at you as well.

My point to this is how the left in our country views income and whose money it actually is when it is earned. How it is earned should not be the issue. (But, that is not really true because many of these rich people that you want taxed do not earn wages like you and me. This is a dirty little secret the liberals don’t want to tell you. Thus they pay different tax rates than high income people (there is a difference). Plus, we don’t tax wealth. We tax income.) I believe my income is mine. The Democrats and the media (because they are idiot lapdog leftists) believe my income (and your income) is their property. When you fall for the class warfare that the left always plays you become a part of the problem.

Next point to be made: they are not debating a tax cut, even though that is how they are making it sound. They are debating a tax increase. What we are hearing is how much these tax cuts will cost the government. Again, how can it cost the government any money if it were not theirs to begin with? (See my point from above – whose money is it? Ours or theirs?) The tax rates have been set since 2003. The rates in 2010 and 2003 were the same. That being the case; how can the tax rates staying the same cost the government revenue? Yet, this is what they say. Just listen to their words.

The left and the media control the definitions and thus the debate. My side has to get some kahonies (that’s right BALLS) and not discuss the issue on their terms. Don’t back down and just use the facts. We would win the argument hands down.

Here are the facts.

Since WWII there have been three major tax decreases. They were in 1964 Kennedy, 1981 Reagan and 2001/02/03 Bush (it was actually three tax bills that made up the Bush tax cuts). It has been argued that tax cuts cost the government money. (“How do we pay for these tax cuts?” – have you ever heard that? Of course you have, they control the definition and thus the debate.)

Well, let’s look at some numbers.

Kennedy 1964 tax receipts 112.6B — 1969 tax receipts 186.9B.

Reagan 1981 tax receipts 599.3B — 1986 tax receipts 769.2B. (And receipts took off from there.)

Bush 2003 tax receipts 1,782.3B — 2008 tax receipts 2,524B.

First off, notice there is not a revenue decrease in any of the cases. In fact, there are revenue increases. In all three examples the year after the tax decrease revenue increased to the treasury that following year. If this is the case, how come we hear questions on how the government will pay for the tax cuts?

Fact: tax decreases increase revenue. We don’t have a tax problem in this country, we have a spending problem.

I am going to add another 5 year example to make a point.

Clinton 1994 tax receipts 1,258.6B — 1999 tax receipts 1,827.5B.

Pelosi/Reid/and partial Obama (2009/2010) 2007 tax receipts 2,568B — 2010 tax receipts 2,165.1 (estimate).

In 1994 Clinton lost congress to the Republicans. All spending appropriations come through congress. From 1998 through 2001 there was a revenue surplus. Credit goes to the Republicans (and the American people for voting them in) for bringing Clinton over to our side on economics. The Republicans under Bush lost their way. They became no better than a typical Democrat. Bush became no better than a typical Democrat in signing the spending bills. Thus, they lost congress in the 2006 election.

Pelosi and Reid controlled the purse strings. They yielded great power and Bush did not control them. Spending increased greatly. Bush and the Republican got blamed for everything that had gone wrong. Because the Republican have no idea on how to battle the left and the media with the proper definitions of the debate, we are sitting here today in our own stool. Tax receipts have decreased drastically in this country because of the implementation of Keynesian economic policies that the Democrats hold so dear to their hearts.

We have a spending problem. The government spends too much of our money.

One more fact:

In 2001 the top 1% incomes paid 33.89% of all income tax revenues to the government and the top 5% paid 53.25%. After the “Bush tax cut for the rich,” in 2008 the top 1% paid 38.02% and the top 5% paid 58.72%. Sounds like the rich got screwed by Bush.

The bottom 50% in 2008 paid only 2.7% of all income tax revenue collected as opposed to 3.97% in 2001.

The left and the media make me sick. They are lying bastards when it comes to the tax issue.

My side, well they are either incapable of making an argument properly based on facts or they are simply cowards.

For more information, visit   www.illusionsandrealities.com

Explaining the Enthusiasm Gap

Before the election we kept hearing about the enthusiasm gap. If the real reason the Republican’s won 60 plus (there are many seats still too close to call) seats in the house and 6 seats in the senate was only turn out, (as many on the left want you to believe) we should really look at why their “supporters” didn’t turn out.

I drive a lot during the week in many different areas of town. I drive in the suburbs and in the central cities. Political yard signs are seen everywhere. Generally, the typical yard sign in the suburb is for the Republican candidate and the typical yard sign in the central city is for the Democrat. One thought always comes to mind when I pass a broken down house with the sign in the front reading for the Democratic candidate – whether it is a state or national office the candidate is running for election. That thought is the person who lives in that house who put the sign out is saying to anyone who will listen; “please vote for the Democrat so they can keep me poor.”

I know I am stereotyping, but stereotypes exist in our world because there is trueness behind them.  That house is run down and in a poor part of the city because the person who lives there does not have the money to keep the house up or the money to move out of that neighborhood. Yet, they vote for the people who make policies and pass the laws that make it difficult to change their situation.

Recently published was a list of the 10 poorest cities in the U.S. The list in order goes like this: Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Miami, Memphis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Newark.

What does each of these cities have in common? The answer is simple; they are run by Democratic Mayors and liberal councils. Their populations vote the Democrats in over and over with the same tired thoughts, solutions and rhetoric. I don’t expect this to change. This is where most of the redistribution of wealth has gone and these people will not give up their free rides if they can vote for politicians who can give them what they have come to depend on.

So where am I going with this? Why was there an enthusiasm gap? After all, they voted for Obama and his partners in crime since 2006. (The Dems took over Congress in 2006, a reality that has been ignored when the “blame Bush” on the economy revelers and media speak.) They really got what they wanted, didn’t they? Obama, Reid and Pelosi combined have passed bills that would make any blue canary sing to the heavens.

They took over the auto industry, banking industry, student loans (at a higher interest rate to help pay for …) and the health care takeover. They have eliminated American exceptionalism while, at the same time, eliminating the need to worry about terrorism because that is now simply a “man- caused disaster.” They have passed “Cap and Tax” in the house, moved card check a little closer to reality and put the dumbest, most unqualified leftist Supreme Court justice on the bench (Kagen). They also did not extend the Bush tax cuts, which affect each and every one of us (not just the “rich”, as the left likes to claim).

This has been a Democratic and liberal’s dream four  year (not two year) session which all started in 2006 with a sitting President (Bush) who acted more like a Democrat than a conservative Republican (which is why he lost Congress in 2006).

Maybe the enthusiasm gap was created by people who typically vote Democrat – they saw the result of what they thought they were voting for and did not like it.  But in Reality that is not the case. It is not like these people look at each issue discussed and disagreed with the bills passed or votes taken.  It’s just that they don’t have a job or are underemployed and that does not make them excited about voting. They have not figured out that Obama and the policies that they have voted for are what have caused this disharmony in their lives. No, that is not it; they will never figure out it is the policies of the left and their own lack of independent thought that keeps them down (as the poorest city’s issues and everlasting problems indicate).

They did not vote because they were feeling down with no hope for the future. They could not open their eyes or minds enough to go vote for the Republican because that candidate is mean, evil and only for the rich (actually it is the Democrats who fit that bill). These people simply sat home and did not vote because the “hope” they had only left “change” in their pockets.

Simply put, the Democrats Illusions were exposed.

To read more from Sean, visit:  www.illusionsandrealities.com

The Economy and Jobs

Just about any poll you read today will tell you that the number one concern for most Americans is the economy and jobs. Most Americans are not comfortable with the path the country is on.

President Obama has made it clear that jobs and the economy are not his number one concern. His number one concern was and still is Health Care. His number two concern is getting Cap and Tax through Congress after the election. (The big O realizes he needs to get it passed in the lame duck session because the Republicans will take back the House of Representatives and they will not pass Cap and Tax when they control the chamber.)

So, the question is: Why is the economy and jobs not Mr. Obama’s number one concern?

Well, the answer is very simple. Our President believes that through the passing of Health Care and with the passing of Cap and Tax, he is making the economy better and jobs will flourish. Mr. Obama is not against jobs. On the contrary he is pro-job. He is just against private sector jobs where people are free to do what they wish.

With the Health Care take over, every job connected to it will be taken over by the government. There will be very little private sector jobs – if any – available in that sector of our economy. Government will control services, treatments and wages. And yes, he believes that is how things should be. The government can do a better job paying people high wages compared to the greedy corporate executives who make all the money at the little guy’s expense.

Let’s look at Reality. Just recently published were the income disparities between the public sector and the private sector. According to the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average federal compensation including both pay and benefits was $119,982, whereas the private sector’s average was only $59,909. In Mr. Obama’s eyes, he is well on the right track and the numbers back him up. As a matter of fact, he can’t understand why all of the angst in the land. He (government) clearly pays the little people more than the greedy corporate executive. Thus, he can create better jobs than the private sector.

Cap and Tax will do the same to this country that Health Care is already running down the path to do. It will take money out of the American peoples’ pockets and put the money directly into the federal governments. Mr. Obama believes if he can get more of your money to spend you will get a better job; government issued of course (aka: green job).

You think this is crazy? Our President is not alone in his thinking. His queen, Mrs. Pelosi actually believes unemployment checks are the best way to create jobs. “It injects demand into the economy,” Pelosi said, arguing that when families have money to spend it keeps the economy churning. “It creates jobs faster than almost any other initiative you can name.”

Holy cow! Can you believe that? — Well I can. This is how these people think and what they actually believe. If this were true, why not send everyone an unemployment check, even if you have a job?

Mr. Obama, Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Reid all think the same way. Government can make your life better if they can control your wallet. This is why they did not extend the Bush tax cuts before adjourning before the election. It is not a political reason (as you will hear in the media) they did not extend them, rather they don’t want you to keep your money. They believe the money is theirs, so why pass an extension?

In President Obama’s heart he has done wonders for our country. He believes his policies will work in the end. He is well on his way to making his goals become real. Hiring of federal workers is at an all time high with approximately 2.15 million on the books right now. This does not count the other 19 million government employees we have to pay for with our local and state tax dollars. A significant percentage of his $787,000,000,000.00 went to covering the cost of these people on the state and local levels. This is why you used to hear “created or saved” in the past. Since the stimulus bill did not create any private sector jobs, they needed to pretend the money was spent on jobs and the economy.

With Health Care out of the way, he will be on to Cap and Tax and more jobs and a better economy (in his mind). Who said he doesn’t have the same concerns as the rest of us?

If Mr. Obama wins in the end; his Reality will be our Illusion.

See www.illusionsandrealities.com  for more!

True Story…

True story—I was driving down a country road the other day, a road that I have driven countless times over my lifetime. As I looked over the countryside the thought—“this is not my country” popped in my head. A few minutes later, one of my friends called me on the cell phone. I asked him how he was doing and his reply was—“Not that good. I am worried about where we are headed.” I of course told him I was just having those same thoughts.

I was nine years old when Jimmy Carter became our President. Too young to know anything about politics, but because my parents voted Democrat at that time, I thought Mr. Carter was the answer to our countries needs. Even though I was only nine, I could feel the disharmony over our land. Mr. Carter did nothing to help this feeling go away. In fact he made being an American something of which to be ashamed. The problem for those who thought like me was the thought that we did not go far enough to make everyone equal. If we could just make everyone equal, oh, what a great country this would be.

When Ronald Regan defeated Jimmy Carter, I thought he would make things worse because he would take this country on a different course. It was not until I entered the work force that I realized that Jimmy was wrong and Ronald was right. It is not possible to create an environment that makes everyone equal and bring prosperity to all at the same time. I wondered why I should work so hard, just to pass on my efforts to others who were lazy.

Here we are today, 2010 and my country has the same feel as it did in the late 70’s. Is the America as it was intended by our founders over? Is my country gone? I have a hard time answering those questions with a “yes” because that would show defeat. All great societies in history have perished and someday ours will as well. But, I will not give up without a fight. I will not let the America that I love disappear without my blood staining the ground that I walk.

I am ready to call those of you out that have taken the American dream away from those of us who work, pay taxes and abide by our laws.

I know that I am not alone in my quest as there are many like me who believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Who believe in the Declaration of Independence, not the current administration’s Declaration of Dependence. We believe in the Constitution as it is written, not as we wish it were. We believe that America stands alone in the world as a beacon of hope and strength.

We have had our two year experiment called Hope and Change and most of America does not like the direction it has taken us. Come November 2, 2010 the answer from those of us on the right side of history will speak. If the politicians we elect do not understand why they were elected and vote for laws based on the Constitution, they too will be voted out in the future.

We will not accept the Illusions from either party anymore. If they try to fool us again, unemployment will be their Reality.

For more, see my website:   http://www.illusionsandrealities.com

School and the Federal Government

What is the real difference between a school yard and our current government? Yes, that was a real question which has a very simple answer. The difference is the age of the children.

Beyond age there is no difference.

Think back to your years in school. Do you remember the kid who was the bully? I bet you could even name him.

What about the girl who thought her sh__ didn’t stink?

Then there were the cool kids and the followers, the ones who wanted to be a part of the popular clique so they would do anything just to be invited to the parties or be able to hang out on the playground.

Who was left? The hard working, regular good kids who were the glue that held the school together.

Let’s name the children today who run the government school yard.

The bully is Obama. He actually might only be the face of the bully, more of a puppet in reality. This man is said to be so smart, but I don’t see it that way. When you actually pay attention to his mannerisms and communication skills without a teleprompter, you notice how lacking in skill and knowledge the man-child really is. Baracks’ roll is to play the bully. The reason he is the perfect puppet bully is because you would be called a racist if you say ANYTHING negative about him or his policies (I mean the puppet masters’ policies).

The girl—well, that is obvious. Have you ever watched Mrs. Devil Pelosi? I mean really watched her. She is so smug, she makes Hillary look like your favorite Aunt bringing you gifts for your birthday. Why shouldn’t she be smug? The devil comes from the district of hell (San Francisco) and will never be voted out. (BTW—San Francisco is a beautiful part of the country; the people are nut jobs—with my apologies to those who live there that have brains.)

Who are the cool kids? This is a little tougher to explain because I don’t have the time to get too deep. Let’s just say they are the rank and file Democrats. They would be the ones who vote with the devil no matter what the issue. They think, “hell ya, let’s screw up the country for future generations as long as we can stay in power — it will be cool for us!”

The leader of the followers is Harry Reid. How did he become the lead follower (that somehow makes sense)? Simple, Harry is the epitome of “Can I play, too? Please, please let me play!” He helps his friends get special deals so they can get in the sandbox with all the other cool kids.

Now you are wondering who the regular kids are. Well, my friends that is you and me. We are the glue that holds the school and in this case the country together. The problem is, you became so busy taking care of your own business and raising your families that you did not pay attention for whom you voted (if you even did). You elected people that want to destroy everything that you worked for and all the values that you hold dear. I beg of you, please wake up and start paying attention. We don’t have many chances left to save our great nation.

read more at:  www.illusionsandrealities.com

Here I go again…..

Here I go again—-mixing religion and politics.

As many of you know—God works in mysterious ways.

Those of us with brains always knew that global warming was a hoax brought to the masses by the elitists on the left who made the subject their own religion. What just happened not too long ago? —Climate Gate and proof that the professed increase in temperatures and the “science” behind the religion was fabricated all along. (Not to mention the Northern Hemisphere has been in a deep freeze this winter.) That was just God putting the cherry on the top.

That is not what I wanted to write about, however.  I want to mix religion and politics with a little different twist.

One thing that the left is really good at (you must give them their props for this) is accusing the other side of doing what they themselves are actually doing, thus taking all eyes off of themselves and putting the other side on the defensive. The left is all about cheating when it comes to elections. (They are really good at it, yet always claim the other side does not want fair elections.) They always have and always will do whatever it takes to win an election when it is close enough to possibly steal one. This is done by finding some “uncounted” ballots in an area of town that typically votes heavily Democrat. What in particular I am speaking of is Al Franken winning the Senate seat in Minnesota. Al was just a bit short of having enough ballots until the amount of votes needed were found to put him over the top. (I’m sure they were “legally” cast votes—wink, wink.)

As it ultimately turns out, Al’s win could have been a blessing in disguise.

You are probably wondering how this could be the case?

If former Senator Norm Coleman would have won that election, the Democrats would not have had a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. In order for Mr. Reid to move the health care bill through the Senate, he would have had to cut a deal with at least one Republican Senator.  He (Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Obama) wanted the bill to pass so much, I have no doubt he would have been able to get one from our side to cave. My guess is that Mrs. Olympia Snowe from Maine would have taken the bait offered by Mr. Reid. Had she done so Mr. Reid, Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Obama would have claimed the bill had bipartisan support and from there they would have pushed the bill through both chambers of Congress. Mr. Reid would not have had to buy the votes of the Senators from Nebraska, Florida, and Louisiana because a Republican would have been all they needed to forward the bill. Not having any Republican support put a long delay on the bills’ passage and held off the advancement long enough to bring us to Massachusetts, where Scott Brown won as a Republican in a state that is bluer than blue. Scott Brown won the seat held by the former liberal icon Ted Kennedy, thus stopping the Democrats (take-over of our lives through health care) in their tracks.

God sure does work in mysterious ways.

To read more from Sean, visit:  www.illusionsandrealities.com

Can Obama Save Us?

What are the two subjects that we are told to avoid when talking to others?

The first is religion and the second is politics.

The reason we are told to avoid discussions on these two subjects is the answers or debates are thought to be opinion based. Each one of us has our own “beliefs” or “opinions” and it is not comfortable for anybody when there is disagreement.

I do not follow the normal societal rules when it comes to my thoughts and discussions. I will share my “opinions” with anyone and I am not worried when there is disagreement between myself and the other person. I find through differing ideas the person who is wrong will become enlightened and can learn something or look at a subject from a perspective they never thought of before.

I have been on both sides of a subject (right and wrong). I am not afraid to listen to the other person’s point of view and if they can bring a way of looking at a subject that I had not thought of previously, I will take what I learn and reformulate my “opinion.”

Here is where I’m going with this—-today, I am going to talk politics.

I believe that most people are very ill informed on the subject. Since they are so ill informed, they are uncomfortable with any discussion related to politics. Sure, everyone has their “feelings” and “opinions” about politics and they will state what they think if asked, but they would rather not “go there.”

Another reason that people avoid political discussions is they think that “all politicians are the same.”

While this may seem to be the case, it is truly false.

 It has always been my “opinion” (which is more of a fact than an opinion) that if a Democrat ran on a platform of what the Democrat truly believed and what laws and policies he/she would put in place if elected, well—they would never get elected. And if a Republican ever put in place the laws and structure of the platform of which they ran on—they would never lose an election.

Now, before you go all crazy on me and think that I am all wet, I am speaking in general terms. I know that the likes of Mrs. Pelosi and Barney Frank must run on “nut-ball platforms” in order to get elected because they live in “nut-ball” voting districts. And I know that some of you think that you are voting for the person, not the party. However, there is a problem with that thought process. Politics is a team sport these days, not an individual sport.

Last November was very difficult for those who come from my political point of view (I am very conservative). What made the election so difficult was deep down, many of us (on the right politically) were rooting for Obama to win, even though he was clearly a disaster-in-waiting. We knew that if the majority of people paid attention to detail like we did, Obama would not win. Why?—because if he would have ran on what he is doing today (which is what he knew he would do), he would never had gotten elected.

So, why would someone like me root for Obama when we knew what he would do (try to destroy the United States as we know it). The reason is—with Obama and the Democrats in charge of everything, they are showing who they really are. The Democrats are going all out with their Socialist agenda that they have always hidden (with the help of the main-stream media). With Obama being elected, the Democrats have been drawn out into the open about their true beliefs. They have become so smug, that they have and will continue to push legislation, which no “normal” person would agree with–once the details are released.

What if McCain had won the election? — His foreign policy would have been much better and he would not have apologized to the world for America being the last beckon on hope and justice. McCain’s domestic policy would have been better, but he would not have pushed an agenda to fix the problems long term. To put it bluntly, with Obama there will be a crash. The hope is—that with this crash we might be able to survive and prosper. With McCain we would have continued to slide to a point of no return (which is the path we were already on).

There will be a new civil war in America. Not like the last one where we took up arms against each other on the battle field. No, this war will be between the elitists (those politically on the far left) and the people (the rest of us). If McCain had won the election, he would have been the deathblow to the Republican Party, thus there would be no chance for America to be prosperous again. Because he lost, a new leader will emerge. This leader will come from “the people” and run with the Republicans. It will be up to the rest of the Republicans in congress to finally pass laws based on the principles for which they ran on while campaigning.

When these ideas and policies are finally put in place, they will allow America to take its rightful place in the world. Back as the beacon of hope, not the kind that Obama promised, but hope where there is opportunity for all people, not just the elitists.

In the end, it could be Obama is the one who saves our country. This is something McCain could have never done, which is why people like me secretly rooted for Obama to win.

I only “hope” we can stop the “change” that he wants to bring to our great nation. If we fail in doing so, the Obama crash will be fatal and we will join the list of great societies in history that destroyed themselves from within.

for more information about my book go to www.illusionsandrealities.com

“Jobitis”

Recently I took my 18-year-old son on a college campus visit. After our tour of the University I asked him if he was excited about attending college. Of course, he said yes. When I asked him why he was excited, he said that he was looking forward to new experiences and being on his own. I knew what his answers would be before I asked–partly from feeling the same way when I was his age (what college bound kid does not have those thoughts?) and also from past conversations with him.

That is not the point to this story. It is what he said next that made me think about writing this blog. His next statement was—“I have senioritis.”  He was only two months into his senior year in high school and he already had senioritis. I had thought that was a second semester condition. Maybe the problem for him stems from turning 18 years old in October, making him one of the older kids in his class. We all know that when kids turn 13 years old they feel that they are mature beyond their years and we adults have nothing on them in regards to experience or stresses that life always seems to bring. Now at 18 it is time for them to spread their wings without a parent’s rules and restrictions. Isn’t it funny how we adults are not needed or useless? — That is, until they need money. Only at this time these young adults aren’t so independent.

Anyway, back to the point of this writing. I told him that I understood his senioritis condition, as I had the same disease when I was his age. I also told him—“wait until you get jobitis.” This is a condition that strikes every adult at some point in his or her life. This condition sets in for most adults sometime in their 30’s. Jobitis can happen at any point or age, but one thing that is certain—it happens to everyone.

That being said—most adults will not admit to having this condition when asked. What the adult will tell anyone who will listen is—“I love my job.” I will be bold enough to say that (almost) anyone who says this and is over the age of 40 is lying. They are not lying because they are “liars” or a bad person. Quite honestly they are not lying to the individual to whom they made this claim—they are lying to themselves.

Why do people do this? The answer is very simple—they lie because they have to in order to keep going to the job they do not “love.” Why does everyone know what TGIF stands for? — Is it because they loved spending their week at work instead of pursuing their passions? I don’t think so.

Now, I understand how life works. Each one of you has responsibilities. Some have more than others, but at minimum your family is counting on you to provide food, shelter and clothing. Each one of you is a cog in the wheel that makes a society work. Where I differ from most people and thus my kids have been and will continue to be taught differently than most others is—you have a choice. The choice to live like most everyone else and to eventually contract the disease of jobitis or live your life with true Freedom.

Freedom to live your life making your own rules. Freedom to make choices each day without being told what you must do. Freedom to go after your own desires. Freedom to make as big or as small a difference in the lives of others.

Freedom … Freedom … Freedom!

So, next year my son is going to college like many others in America. I encourage him to go, but for different reasons than most others are encouraged. (Most young adults are pushed off to college by their parents who suffer from jobitis, knowing the disease awaits somewhere in their child’s future.) 

I send my son to college to learn how to learn.

Learn about independence—learn how to deal with adversity—learn about girls—learn how to deal with people and teachers with differing views—learn about making mistakes as an adult and the consequences that come with those mistakes—learn that life is not always fair—learn that dad is not always available to think for him—learn that there is a cost to the choices he makes—learn how to think for himself.

As he takes his classes, he will learn what most others are taught and he will work towards good grades because that is what you do—based on the system that is set up. Since college is expensive, he might as well apply himself. They (the professors) will do their best to teach him how to get a “good” job  – a job where he loses all control over his life, but at the same time he graciously receives a paycheck to partially cover his responsibilities.

While he is on to higher education and society does it’s best to define the role he should play, I will be educating him on the ways of Freedom. I will inoculate my son from catching the dreaded disease of jobitis while he participates in the common steps that society dictates. I will teach him the other ways to earn an income.

When my son graduates from the University of Dad, he will earn true Freedom and never catch jobitis.

The Diminishing Value of our Dollar

Life seems to bring about a touch of stress lately. It is all you can do to get up in the morning and go to work. That is, if you are one of the lucky ones to still have a job. There is a lot of stress wondering if you will be the next one sent home with your bags packed. As of today the unemployment rate stands at 10.2 percent. That number does not really reflect the true story, as many people have completely given up or have taken a part-time job in lue of not finding full-time employment. This would bring the unemployment rate closer to 17.5 percent according to the latest reports (and who really believes them?).

The problem for all of us is our leaders will not do what it takes to resolve the problem. In fact, they are committing incredible crimes with their policies. If you or I would turn on a printing press in our basements as a way to bring in additional revenue to our personal coffers, jail is where we would be. What our leaders get for doing this are private jets, fancy dinner parties and a whole lot more power over you and me.

There has been so much debt created by these people that there is no possible way to collect enough money from us via the tax code. Mathematically, it is not possible to front tax our way out. The only way to get out of this catastrophe is through a back door tax. The dollar must be devalued which will create inflation. That is a back door tax.

Why are they doing this? Well, quite honestly because you, the tax payer are asleep at the wheel. You are working so hard trying to keep your job if you have one or trying to find a job if you don’t. While you are doing everything you can with daily life, the dollar is going in the tank and gold is going up like crazy. I know many of you hear this to be the case, but it is not registering with you. You have no idea what that information means and what you can do about it.

I will not get into what you can do about it, but what it means to you is that all of your savings will be worth a lot less than the amount your statement says.

What I want to do is explain what our leaders are doing in laymen’s terms:

Let’s say you want to purchase a Lamborghini, but you have no money to do so. How do you still pull off the purchase? Quite simply—purchase the Lamborghini with that same Lamborghini. You do this by telling the seller of the shiny new speedster that you are backed (financially) by all of the employees that work at the dealership and you will pay for it in full, with interest at some later date (since the dealership wants to sell the car, they simply say: “ok, sounds good to me.”). You will drive the car off the lot and take it everywhere you go over the next few years (btw—enjoying every mile you put it). However, in time the Lamborghini is starting to show its miles and is in need of repair.  It is now time to make good on your promise to pay for the car. You take it back to the dealership and hand over the keys with a note that says—Paid in Full (with interest), Thanks for the Ride! —You will turn around and walk out the door, memories intact.

This is no different from what are leaders are doing with our dollar; using the dollar to make the dollar and then—-paying the debt with the dollar—while it is worth less. By doing so; the spending, borrowing and printing of the dollar will all be even (zero summed).

When this cycle is completed, your income, savings and investments will all be worth a used car (in desperate need of repair).