Archive for the ‘Rants’ Category

What’s the REAL problem with the energy crisis in the US?

Our dependency on foreign oil for our energy needs is going to completely destroy this country. We are in the midst of the LARGEST transfer of wealth in history. We, the United States, are losing ourselves to other countries. We are dependent on countries like Saudi Arabia and the rest of the middle east including Iraq (you don’t still think we went there to get rid of the big ‘ol bag dictator do you?), Japan and China. The middle East is an easy part of the equation to see. But you may be asking why China? Well, who do you think is giving us all the money we need to live? They’re buy our treasuries (t-bills etc.). Here’s a quote from the Market Oracle:

These securities are either sold on the open market or directly to the Federal Reserve. The U.S. public debt, as of July 17, 2007 stood at $8.887 trillion. In addition to the national debt, the State and Local debt at the end of 2006 stood at just over $2 trillion.

Some consider that all government liabilities, including those that the government has contracted for but not yet paid, should also be included in the national debt . Corporations must report such liabilities in their annual financial statements under GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).

These “off-balance sheet” items include future payments for federal pensions, Medicare and Social Security. Inclusion of these obligations would dramatically increase the U.S. national debt to $59.1 trillion or 403% of GDP! On a per capita basis this amounts to $516,348 for every U.S. household! By means of comparison, the average American household owes $112,043 for mortgages, car loans, credit cards and all other debt combined.

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Friday, July 25th, 2008

Barack Obama “Out Classes” Hillary Clinton

Last night was the 2 final primaries for the Democratic party nominee for president of the United States of America. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton split the two states, Montana for Barack Obama and South Dakota for Hillary Clinton. Now the democratic primary season is over, finally, and Barack Obama is the presumtive nominee of the democratic party. After the consensus formed around the fact that Barack Obama finally put it away, all three politicians gave speeches. That is the basics of what went on in the last 24 hours. Now, if you think the drama is over for the democrats you have another think coming. 

Barack Obama’s speech was one of the best speeches I’ve heard in a very long time. He accepted his winning of the required number of delegates and becoming the presumtive democratic nominee. He also spent a fair amount of time honoring and extolling the great impact Hillary Clinton has had on the american people, the democratic party and the election process. Praising her for her strength, intelligence and tenacity. Of course he also spent time on the offensive towards John McCain. Barack Obama’s speech was a positive and uplifting speech that worked hard to show what we have in common as a nation and as a people. He sounded like a unifying voice. A voice that was speaking for the American people. His was a speech that elicited a sense of national pride. Listening to him last night I felt proud to be an American. His speech raised within people a feeling of pride that we have someone who is truly speaking for us and will honor the values of the american people and the nation. A feeling we all have been missing for the last eight years. One that believes that everyone around the world can benefit from the United States being a respected country once again. Respected for it’s virtue, honesty and strength and not just because of our military might. 

Hillary Clinton’s speech on the other hand was none of the above. Yes, she did acknowledge Barack Obama reaching the required number of delegates. But the lion’s share of her speech was political posturing. She was still promoting her resume. She was still saying how she’s the better candidate. She was still saying she received more popular votes. She was still saying how she won the swing states and how no person could win the presidency without those states. In short she was trying to leverage herself and turn the screws on Barack Obama to force him to ask her to be his VP running mate. I found it to be very unprofessional of her to speak like that last night. She had a great opportunity to start to reunite the democratic party. Instead she chose to continue to fight. Too bad for her she’s only shadow boxing right now because she’s the only one in the room. She made herself look bad last night and actually helped to show that Barack Obama is in fact the correct choice. (more…)

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008