5.14.2009
10.30.2008
Stimulate This!
We spent our stimulus check. Well, at least a bit of it. We got a new Digital SLR camera, if you didn't read about it on Deanna's Blog, it's a very nice Canon with a bunch of cool functions, not the least of which is a 3.5 FPS firing rate. It's a dream to shoot with. So we spent some of our check and did what any smart American would do and saved the rest for future needs.
Since then we've had a wonderful financial crisis that has everyone freaked out. I'm not very effected by it, but even I find myself hunkering down a bit.
This leads me to Tuesday. John vs. Barack. It's been a long journey and now we're just a few days from what promises to be a nutty day of voting and punditry. I'd be remiss if I didn't urge you to get out and vote. I have my opinions about who you should vote for, but I think that'll be clear by the end of this post.
So here's what I've been thinking about, where stimulus package meets election...
A lot of conservatives are criticizing Obama for wanting to "redistribute wealth" and give tax dollars to people who don't work for it. John McCain would rather that America pull itself up by its bootstraps. Reganomics and all, they're gonna give money to corporations so they can in turn hire people and create jobs and boost the economy.
Then we have the stimulus package...a whole lot of tax dollars given out to everyone so we could buy stuff and then people would have to make stuff so we could buy more. Everyone liked it. Heck, I know I did. And a bunch of the smartest economic minds agreed.
Now I know that economics isn't a simple subject, but let me try hash this out a bit.
McCain's plan is to continue giving money (in the form of tax breaks) to the corporations and their owners so that they will in theory hire people in order to make more money. But I'm almost certain they do the same as me only on a much larger scale. Sure, they'll hire a few people. Build another plant somewhere (most certainly not in America). But I'll bet they put quite a bit of it into their immense savings too. Cause heck, even though you've got one or two hundred million socked away, you can never be too careful. Can I also add that a lot of those big wigs that are gonna get the money aren't actually working!
Or there's Obama's plan (heck, it's really the Dem's plan) would give the money to people who have real needs right now. They have a sick child or they want to put their kid through college so that he can have a better chance at "living the American Dream" than they did. It might got o some people who don't work. It might also go to people who are working 3 jobs trying to make ends meet. I was raised by a single mother who worked incredibly long hours at jobs that were way below her abilities. I know it could have been a lot worse. I know that there are real people, real good people, who DO have it worse.
My point is, if Obama and the Dem's want to give the money to them instead of the hedge-fund manager or the old-money aristocrat, LET HIM! PLEASE!
And like the stimulus checks, if you put average Americans in a place where they don't need to worry about how they're gonna feed their kids or whether or not they can continue to own their home, you put them in a place where they can be the consumers that drive our economy. Maslow would laugh out loud at the way McCain and Palin want to deny people basic securities and then expect them to be happy-go-lucky and pursue their desire for a plasma TV.
By giving the money to those on the bottom, not only do you elevate them to a position where they can contribute to a stable and healthy economy, you will positively effect FAR more peoples lives, FAR more directly. Give $1000 to that hedge-fund manager with a golden parachute and he'll blow his nose with it. Give $1000 to a single mom or hard-working dad and you will absolutely make their day and ensure a brighter future for them and their kids. With the amount of money you would have to throw at a major corporation/industry ($770B for instance)to push them towards positive growth, you could ensure security and health for every needy American. We're not talking about creating a few thousand jobs. We're talking a new a brighter future for every person in America (even the hedge-fund manager). We're talking about returning America to a place where people can achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I know it's late in the game. I know that there are a lot of other issues. But I know that we can make this country and this world a better place if we can shift from looking out for number one and start looking out for the little guy.
I cannot urge you enough to vote. Who knows, maybe all three of my readers will be the difference in this already tight election.
Since then we've had a wonderful financial crisis that has everyone freaked out. I'm not very effected by it, but even I find myself hunkering down a bit.
This leads me to Tuesday. John vs. Barack. It's been a long journey and now we're just a few days from what promises to be a nutty day of voting and punditry. I'd be remiss if I didn't urge you to get out and vote. I have my opinions about who you should vote for, but I think that'll be clear by the end of this post.
So here's what I've been thinking about, where stimulus package meets election...
A lot of conservatives are criticizing Obama for wanting to "redistribute wealth" and give tax dollars to people who don't work for it. John McCain would rather that America pull itself up by its bootstraps. Reganomics and all, they're gonna give money to corporations so they can in turn hire people and create jobs and boost the economy.
Then we have the stimulus package...a whole lot of tax dollars given out to everyone so we could buy stuff and then people would have to make stuff so we could buy more. Everyone liked it. Heck, I know I did. And a bunch of the smartest economic minds agreed.
Now I know that economics isn't a simple subject, but let me try hash this out a bit.
McCain's plan is to continue giving money (in the form of tax breaks) to the corporations and their owners so that they will in theory hire people in order to make more money. But I'm almost certain they do the same as me only on a much larger scale. Sure, they'll hire a few people. Build another plant somewhere (most certainly not in America). But I'll bet they put quite a bit of it into their immense savings too. Cause heck, even though you've got one or two hundred million socked away, you can never be too careful. Can I also add that a lot of those big wigs that are gonna get the money aren't actually working!
Or there's Obama's plan (heck, it's really the Dem's plan) would give the money to people who have real needs right now. They have a sick child or they want to put their kid through college so that he can have a better chance at "living the American Dream" than they did. It might got o some people who don't work. It might also go to people who are working 3 jobs trying to make ends meet. I was raised by a single mother who worked incredibly long hours at jobs that were way below her abilities. I know it could have been a lot worse. I know that there are real people, real good people, who DO have it worse.
My point is, if Obama and the Dem's want to give the money to them instead of the hedge-fund manager or the old-money aristocrat, LET HIM! PLEASE!
And like the stimulus checks, if you put average Americans in a place where they don't need to worry about how they're gonna feed their kids or whether or not they can continue to own their home, you put them in a place where they can be the consumers that drive our economy. Maslow would laugh out loud at the way McCain and Palin want to deny people basic securities and then expect them to be happy-go-lucky and pursue their desire for a plasma TV.
By giving the money to those on the bottom, not only do you elevate them to a position where they can contribute to a stable and healthy economy, you will positively effect FAR more peoples lives, FAR more directly. Give $1000 to that hedge-fund manager with a golden parachute and he'll blow his nose with it. Give $1000 to a single mom or hard-working dad and you will absolutely make their day and ensure a brighter future for them and their kids. With the amount of money you would have to throw at a major corporation/industry ($770B for instance)to push them towards positive growth, you could ensure security and health for every needy American. We're not talking about creating a few thousand jobs. We're talking a new a brighter future for every person in America (even the hedge-fund manager). We're talking about returning America to a place where people can achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I know it's late in the game. I know that there are a lot of other issues. But I know that we can make this country and this world a better place if we can shift from looking out for number one and start looking out for the little guy.
I cannot urge you enough to vote. Who knows, maybe all three of my readers will be the difference in this already tight election.
10.09.2008
For Sale, Lemodade Stand
Dear Federal Government,
Have I got a deal for you! I have a lemonade stand that is in dire need of a bail out. From what I hear, you are in the market for failed enterprise and I thought we could make a deal. You see, I haven't been selling any lemonade lately despite my best efforts. I even started using real lemons instead of the half teaspoons of lemon juice I was serving. But I digress. Business has not been good regardless of the hand-crafted signs and many hours of roadside marketing. I know that this is not the type of thing that the Federal Government usually engages in, but you see I bought this lemonade stand from a guy who bought it from another guy who bought it from his neighbor. He assured me I'd make money on it. So I know that I have made some bad decisions and have risked my financial stability by doing this, but I was hoping you would pay me $250,000 for my lemonade stand. Otherwise I'm sunk.
Oh, and if you could avoid putting any restrictions on my ability to open and operate my planned orange juice stand, that would be great. I know that it can be a successful, profitable business if it can operate in a free market, without oversight or interference. I'm a pretty smart guy, so you can trust me to open a great orange juice stand with your $250K.
Oh, hey, before you go, have a glass of juice!
7.21.2008
6.09.2008
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
Staff come today. Not all of them, but a fair bit. Nearly all my leadership staff, all the wranglers, and about 10 of my counselors all come today for what we call Skills Week. I'm stoked because this is when we set the tone for the summer. I also got to talk with a few of my leadership staff last night and got pretty excited about the summer there.
This also means that I'm gonna be really busy now. I don't know when or if I'll blog, so you should just go read Deanna's more. She's good at blogging. So maybe I'll talk to you, maybe I won't, but either way, you'll always have the hippos!
This also means that I'm gonna be really busy now. I don't know when or if I'll blog, so you should just go read Deanna's more. She's good at blogging. So maybe I'll talk to you, maybe I won't, but either way, you'll always have the hippos!
5.23.2008
I know, I know...
It's been a long time. I'm a bad blogger. When I accepted my job, I didn't quite realize the magnitude of my task. I have about 2 weeks left to accomplish 3-4 months worth of preparation. Hence my not blogging much. I was thinking one up this-morning, so once I get a picture for it, I'll put it up.
Until then, please enjoy this video...
Until then, please enjoy this video...
4.29.2008
Excuses Are Like Feet...
...When you're at camp it doesn't matter if they stink!
And that's my excuse. I've been at camp. But look! I've got a nifty new name badge and a LAPTOP!
I've never had a job that gave me a laptop before! Heck, I've never had a desk before! So I apologize for being a lame blogger, again. But I'll try to keep you posted on what's going on. Or at least update you with my most recent excuse.
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