Bailout goes through. America: the land of the afraid!

Thank you! It is greatly appreciated that you voted no on the Bailout legislation once again. I am deeply troubled by the unwise course of action our federal government has taken as I believe this is just the tip of the bailout iceberg and that it will do nothing other than delay and increase the damage of the upcoming economic panic/ price correction. Please do everything in your power to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Thank you again for keeping in mind that taxpayer money is not trash for Congress to throw around as it pleases.

Respectfully,

Marc

(Sent to Senator Bill Nelson and Rep. Ric Keller. Kudos to them!)

Unfortunately I also had to send this one to Senator Mel Martinez:

It is greatly unappreciated that you voted yes on the Bailout legislation. I am deeply troubled by the unwise course of action our federal government has taken as I believe this is just the tip of the bailout iceberg and that it will do nothing other than delay and increase the damage of the upcoming economic panic/ price correction. I'd like you to reflect on your oath and from today onward do everything in your power to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. It's unclear to me that you don't view the taxpayer money as simply trash for Congress to throw around as it pleases.

It is unfortunate that you apparently fell prey to the fear mongering that surrounds this situation. Only one thing is certain when the government gets involved: the outcome will be worse than where we are at now. Since you chose to back this major theft of American freedom, I hope you are heavily involved in the task force to figure out the root cause of this mess and that you look deeply into the Federal Reserve, consider the incentives that the government gave to these banks to take on the highly risky debts and why it is now our place to pay back foreign banks for their own poor decisions.

This bill's foundation is based on not one data point, but rather it was based on the Treasury making up a very large number with not one fact to back up any of their fear-laden claims.

Only one last parting thought for you, sir. How could you give a bill your vote when it grants $192 million in tax savings to help with rum manufacturing in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands? Who can't make money selling alcohol? If the islands need the money then get rid of the excise tax and let them tax the exports themselves.

Respectfully, 

Marc

A letter sent to the two senators of my state by a close friend

I found his writing to be superb.  He really got to the point!

I urge you to vote NO to any bill that bails out Wall St's irresponsible economics with Federal taxpayer's money.  It is time that our politicians listen to the people of this nation and find a better means to resolving this problem.   Our nation's great Constitution does not grant the right to congress to interfere with private irresponsibility via taxpayers dollars. Follow what your Oath of Office requires you to do; stand by our Constitution and defend it at all costs.  Show the world that our form of government is indeed the best in the world, one that can stand the test of time and difficulty. 

We are now faced with a decision; we can elect to continue to prop up a failed Federal Reserve system, or choose to change it.  A bail out is a simple band-aid, a blank check.  It will drastically work to devalue the US dollar and it will set the stage for other industries to expect federal bailouts.  It is time to make a stand; stand up and tell Wall St. that enough is enough. The people rule this government, not the corrupt lobbyist, corporations and politicians.  Return our monetary system to the people.  --TJLaw

A note to my congressman

I sent this just a few minutes ago to my congressman:

First I'd like to thank you for voting against the first draft of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. I hope you have not decided to join in with the pork process and that you will vote against this legislation as it comes back to you for another vote, now with a bill approaching $1 trillion for the taxpayers.

It is time we lived in a free world that requires us to be responsible. Voting this act in will promote more irresponsibility and devalue our dollar doing more damage than sitting back and watching the economy endure a price correction.  

I think Thomas Jefferson had a simple answer to this issue: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." 

--Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)

Please take into consideration his wisdom and my words as you make your decision. Do not buy into the fear-mongering that wall street, the senate, and the white house have been selling. 

Respectfully, Marc

830 Billion and growing!

Where is the DOJ?

 

Bailout 

 YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS ONE 

Now for the best speech I heard during the debates from Senator Coburn 

Oklahoma is indeed okay!  Too bad he decided he had to vote for the bill.  "We don't know better, it's obvious!  ...their only one place to come to hold accountability and it's in this body!"

I've read and thought in the back of my head that eventually the government would find a way to give full ownership of the land in the United States to the banks in Britain or a World Government.  I figured they'd pull it off using taxes..  IRS back-owed taxes.  Or perhaps through property taxes which keeps all but allodial title holders from ever truly doing more than renting their property from the state.  There is always the slow but steady method of seizures - oh and of course the less obvious but just as useful death taxes.  

But, now that the federal government is trying to authorize over 700 billion to cover "bad debt" it seems that they may very well use our own "tax dollars" (better read as increased debt) to buy the mortgages of millions of Americans and as the owners default the property will become the federal reserve's.  Quick math (if we pretend the average home debt is 300k, which I would be willing to believe is a high estimate) shows that the federal government is giving the federal reserve enough money to buy up 2,333,333 and a third houses.  Of course, no government program *ever* sticks to the estimated amount and I agree with Bob Barr that this will easily surpass a trillion dollars.

The bill itself has already surpassed 830 billion.  700 billion for the "rescue" and 130 billion for the pork the idiots, oh excuse me...that's Honorable idiots added to the bill so they could feel better about voting for it.  Can't wait to see how much the Congress can run up that cost before they pass the bill on Friday or Monday.

Here is a sickening fact.  Where did the white house get the $700 billion figure?  Out of nothing.  There is not one data point suggesting how much or how little money is needed.  Not one data point.  "It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "We just wanted to choose a really large number."  - Forbes.com 

WMD, anyone?

The bailouts are far from over - as a matter of fact, we just got into the tunnel.  We have been bailing out industries for years.  Transportation is a favorite of the House.  There is also the auto industry that keeps asking for help.  Guess what industry is *included* in the rescue bill: manufacturers of wooden arrows!  My personal least favorite: $192 million for the rum producers of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands!!!  Are you kidding me?  Yep - the economy won't make it without subsidizing the most lucrative substance on earth - alcohol!  

Certainly there will be plenty more industries getting in line for bailouts on the taxpayer's dime.  The auto-industry is in line again and I can guarantee you that the States themselves will get in line demanding aid for their shrinking budgets.

Welcome to the United States of America, Land of the Afraid.

The only way to fix this is to let the economy do what it needs to do.  Then prices will fall and houses, food, and gasoline will become more affordable.  It won't be an easy time, as no depression ever is, but to extend our credit even further which directly decreases the value of the dollar is definitely not the answer.  This bailout will cushion to blow to the rich, but will do nothing to help the poor.  Prices will stay high and you can bet your bottom dollar our government will do everything it can to keep prices on necessities high and all the while say it is the economy that is keeping the poor from the items they need and that only more government programs can help.  More government programs = more spending = lower dollar value.

To those who say voting for a third party/independent is a wasted vote

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost. " -- John Quincy Adams

But, then, what did the founding fathers of this country know? They were too busy establishing a free country. reading, and putting their beliefs and fortunes to use. What are our current leaders doing? Think about that one for a while.

I'll vote my heart and rest easy knowing I voted for what I know is right for our country.

In this election it is too important not to vote for OBama the socialist whose only answer for every concern is more government programs with no idea how he is going to get the funding to pay for it all or McCain who is the most left leaning republican presidential candidate in history who has no concern for a republican government.  Obama or McSame.  Feel free to think that there is a difference, but mark my words when I say there is nearly none.  They will both get this country to the same destination, just one slower than the other.

If everyone in this country voted what they truly believed then we wouldn't have a two party system, there wouldn't be the phrase; "lesser of two evils;" and we wouldn't have apathy during elections.

Of course, of more relevance, if the federal government was bound by the chains of the Constitution the election of President would be pretty unimportant anyway...  The election of Governor and Mayor would be what you cared about.

Marc

Rising Gas, Falling Dollar, or Big Government FAILURE?

This is a write-up I shared with some friends recently.  I figured I'd share some more of my political observations on my blog.  Cheers!

The rising price of gas has not been caused by demand for fuels - it has happened because of the decline of the dollar.  The dollar is declining because the Federal Reserve keeps the interest rate low and prints more money.  More money in circulation = less value for the money.  The Federal reserve is a private organization that is owned by banks all over the world.  Our money isn't backed by gold or silver as is required by the Constitution.   Ever since the Federal Reserve took over control of our dollar it's buying power has steadily declined, inflation has been positive all but two years since 1948.  http://www.miseryindex.us/irbyyear.asp)   Before it was created Inflation was cyclical and it went up and down sometimes as much as 17%, but it corrected as the supply of gold was stablized.  It is why you don't see those cute "how much things used to cost" items in stores going back before the creation of the Federal reserve, because you could reach back another hundred years and find a time when a loaf of bread cost the same as it did in the early 1900's.  You can't today because the price of bread has steadily risen since then.  If you look at the price of fuel versus the value of gold you'll see that fuel cost hasn't risen, the value of the dollar has dropped.  Only Ron Paul addressed inflation as a platform issue.

 

Both Libertarians and Constitutionalists want to get rid of the Income Tax, and return our Federal government to using only excise and luxury taxes to run the military.  If we just worried about that portion of the government we could do it with the current excise and luxury taxes.  When you think about it the Income Tax pays only for all the unconstitutional aspects of our government....but what did those founding father types know?

Following my little rough outline of the true reason for "rising" gas prices as of late, I found this interesting chart which puts positive inflation into perspective so that it is easier to see what you could buy for $1 in 1913 has cost since.  Notice how at no time the Federal Reserve has been able to make our paper dollar worth more than it's beginning value.  In other words, the Federal Reserve has *never* created enough negative inflation to do what it was supposed to do...ensure stable prices and prevent banking panics.

 

chart is from - http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001519.html

 

Year	Amount it took to  equal $1 in 1913
1913	$1.00
1920	2.02
1925	1.77
1930	1.69
1935	1.38
1940	1.41
1945	$1.82
1950	2.43
1955	2.71
1960	2.99
1965	3.18
1970	3.92
1975	$5.43
1980	8.32
1985	10.87
1990	13.20
1995	15.39
2000	17.39
2001	$17.89
2002	18.17
2003	18.59
2004	19.08
2005	19.73
2006	20.18
2007	20.94
2008	21.57

Not what I'd call a "success".  The dollar in 2008 is worth 4.6 cents in 1913.  Pitiful.  But, then honestly taking what belongs with the people under a free market and giving it to be controlled by the richest banks in the world was probably a bad idea...

The one topic I didn't touch in the earlier chat was the fact that our failing dollar will be used to convince the United States of America to combine our economies with Canada and Mexico for stability and security.  It is only a small part of the plan for the New World Order where eventually our Federal Government won't be the problem, but rather the World Government will be.

One of the biggest pieces of legislation to pass during Bush's presidency was HR 418, the REAL ID Act.  This piece of legislation that several states including Deleware and Alaska have passed legislation to declare it illegal in their states, would create a national ID database for Americans that would be shared with Mexico and Canada.  Mexico and Canada could also put their citizens into the database - thus creating the first step to having a North American Country.  But that wasn't the worst thing about this legislation, which passed both the house (HR 418)  and the Senate (HR 1268 - HR 418 was attached as a rider).

Here is a simple synopsis of it from civilrights.org: 

Touted by its sponsors as an anti-terrorism measure, the "REAL ID Act": (1) institutes broad new federal requirements for drivers' licenses, including a requirement that motor vehicle agencies investigate and verify each piece of ID that an applicant shows as proof of identity; (2) for noncitizens, requires drivers' licenses to expire on the same date as an applicant's visa; (3) authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive "all laws" that might impede the construction of roads and barriers at U.S. borders; and (4) introduces new rules of evidence in asylum cases that will make it more difficult to prove legitimate claims. It also changes the process for appealing some deportation orders in federal court.

The drivers' license provisions are extremely burdensome and expensive, for citizens and noncitizens alike, and will do little to reduce the threat of terrorism. Rather than preventing terrorists from boarding planes as they did on September 11, the requirements will increase discrimination and will simply lead to more unlicensed drivers on the roads. The waiver of "all laws" is an extremely disturbing and unprecedented assault on our most basic constitutional principles. Under it, the Secretary can ignore not only environmental protections, as previous law allowed in limited circumstances, but also any civil rights laws, immigration laws, labor laws or even criminal laws that he unilaterally believes pose a burden. The asylum provisions will prevent many legitimate refugees from obtaining safe haven in the United States, while doing little to prevent terrorism, as terrorists are already barred from asylum or any other immigration benefit.

 In one piece of cruddy legislation the house and senate trampled on the Constitution, including the following Ammendments 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11.  McCain voted for it.  The bill that it was attached to in the Senate included $1.845 billion in foreign aid.  Believe McCain when he says he doesn't support legislation that squanders our money or that is filled with pork?  Wish I could believe him. Here is the quick synopsis of that bill.

Bill's need to be fxed such that they are one law, one issue.  That bill is just another example of completely unrelated topics going through as one law.  It's ridiculous.  Only the Constitution Party has this as a part of it's party platform.

Here is McCain's full voting record.

Since 2000, I have not and will no longer vote for the lesser of two evils.  I had an open mind this year and listened to McCain, hoping he would listen to Ron Paul and possibly start a new era for the Republicans.  However, as time goes on it is obvious he won't and isn't much different than Obama.

My candidates may not win, but I will sleep better knowing I didn't vote for either of the two that will only continue to take our beloved country on the path to ruin.  One is a bit slower than the other....but the result is the same.

 

Here is a quick debunk of the wasted vote theory:

The Wasted Vote.

I believe in what the Party stands for but you're never going to win so isn't voting for you a wasted vote?
When you vote, you're not voting for who you think is GOING to win, you vote for who best represents your beliefs. A wasted vote is voting for someone who says one thing and does another. If you want a smaller government and lower taxes, you certainly won't get either by voting Democrat or Republican.

Secondly, ballot access requirements are designed to keep third parties out of politics. Voting can help third parties' ballot access in future elections. In any given race, if Libertarians get a minimum of 5% of the vote, we are allowed ballot access for the next election. Otherwise, without ensured ballot access, Libertarians are subject to strict ballot access requirements that suck up our time, money, and energies. 

Lastly, the swing vote forces the dominant parties to listen to, and conform to, our beliefs. It's a way of voicing your opinion that you're entirely fed up with both Democrats and Republicans.

It goes the same for voting any of the third parties, Constitution, Libertarian, Green, etc... vote your heart and for principles!  Also, if neither can secure a 5-15% vote they will have to spend millions to get on the ballots again next election cycle. It's more important to ensure a party you believe in can get access to the ballot than to prevent yet another inept maroon from the Republican or Democratic party to get into office for another 4 years.    Don't forget that many of Hilary's staunch supporters have decided they will vote for McCain because, even though they are democrats, they don't want to see Obama in office at all.  That is part of why McCain has seen increases in the polls lately.  The real powers in Washington will continue to keep things as they have been going for the last 150 years (downhill) regardless of whether Obama or McCain become president and they will only begin to worry if they see that American's vote freedom and limited government over the status quo.

Republican Jokes aren't Republican anymore

A loved family member of mine sent me this joke recently: (in defense this person is not a republicat, either!)

Why My Liberal Friends Don't Like Me I was talking to a friend of mine's little girl the other day. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied, 'I want to be President!' Both of her parents are liberal Democrats and were standing there. So then I asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?' She replied, 'I'd give houses to all the homeless people.' 'Wow - what a worthy goal.' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where this homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new house.' Since she is only 6, she thought that over for a few seconds. While her Mom glared at me, she looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?' And I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.' Her folks still aren't talking to me.

Then I replied with the following:

Aye, reminds me of another one of those. There was a rich republican whose daughter had been going to a prominent university for the last four years. The father and daughter normally couldn't talk politics as the daughter had bought into the liberal propaganda her professors and teachers had sold her over the years. One evening the daughter was over for a visit and the Dad asked her how things were going at school. She said she was doing great, and was running with a 4.0 gpa. All the nights of studying were really paying off. Her Dad asked her about her best friend that was also attending the university. She told her Dad that it wasn't going very well for her. Her friend had been out partying and visiting with friends, goof-ing off and would only cram last moment for her finals. Her friend had a 2.0 GPA, but it was her own fault. The Dad suggested to his daughter that she go to the dean and work out a deal to give her friend a point off her own GPA, then they'd both have a 3.0 GPA to help her friend out. His daughter responded haughtily that it was a terrible idea. She had earned her grade and it would be wrong to give her friend something that she had sacrificed to obtain out of goodwill. Her father smiled and nodded at her as he said, "Welcome to the Republican Party." The only problem with either of these two jokes is that The Republican Party is just as happy to take our money at gunpoint and spend it via the federal budget as the Democratic Party is. There was a time when the Republican Party may have stood for letting people keep what they worked for, but that time isn't now. Today's Republican Party is centrist, it is no longer conservative. To go conservative you have to opt for either the Constitution or Libertarian Party. Those two parties are the only ones that will return this country's federal government back to it's Constitutional limits and return the money it is stealing from us for all the un-Constitutional, illegal, socialist and special-interest projects it has seen fit to create since Thomas Jefferson left office. The punch line should read - "Welcome to the Constitution/Libertarian Parties."

....and I'm not kidding... there are no Constitutional Conservatives left in the Republican party, except for the registered voters. :(

Bah! FInancial Bail-outs? What did the founding fathers know?

Bailouts?  Why?  There is no reason to bailout the entities that supported ripping off people by selling them loans they couldn't afford just a few years after they took them on.

The republic of the United States of America is in desperation and it needs to be returned to the Constitution.  The regulatory laws have taken the worlds greatest nation and brought it to its knees in nearly a century.

But....then, what did the founding fathers know?  They couldn't possibly fathom the issues of our current world, could they?

Let's see what some of them had to say!

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."

--Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802) -

"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers."

--Thomas Jefferson

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."

--THOMAS JEFFERSON, Notes on Virginia

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." 

--Thomas Jefferson

"How soon we forget history... Government is not reason. Government is not eloquence. It is force. And, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. "

-- George Washington

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." 

--George Washington

"It is our true policy to steer clear of entangling alliances with any portion of the foreign world. "

--George Washington

"It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it. "

--George Washington

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. "

--Benjamin Franklin

But, then what did they know?  Our Republic which is currently in a period of experimental regulatory law with the Federal government as supreme ruler of the sovereign states is doing just fine and very few of the bits of wisdom from those idiots that wanted to be free are followed anymore!

The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 has brought us nothing but reduced inflation and a dollar that can buy more than ever before, right?  Oh...wait....no!  Today's dollar can barely buy 4 cents of what the 1913 dollar could buy!  Inflation, before that unconstitutional and foreign controlled entity existed was cyclical, meaning that some years inflation was positive and some years it was negative, but the dollar didn't decline exponentially every year as yet an additional positive percent of decline was applied.

Granted the poor little banks that let down their investors by abusing people with loans they couldn't afford didn't get their just because of the Federal Reserve...they acted as willing accomplices taunting the poorer American with the chance to own a dream house for a fraction of the *monthly* cost of a true fixed rate mortgage.  In turn home sellers could afford to get more money for the houses they sold and prices for homes began to sky rocket.  If you listen to the real estate brokers they would tell you it was just an appropriate appreciation for housing as they slyly raised their cut of the take upwards of 8% plus some completely unnecessary fees.  Local and State governments got excited about their property taxes and suddenly saw unprecedented income for themselves which they instantly found ways to spend and borrow against!  What a dream!  All this heavenly fortune backed by a completely worthless note called the dollar!  Awesome!  How could anyone see that their would be an issue?

I, myself, fell victim to this ridiculous debt economy and pulled the plug on home-ownership in VA realizing a $90K loss in one year. (2006-2007)  I even got to see our benevolent government helping me out on my 2007 taxes.... yes sir!  You have to claim a gain on a house you sell, but no you may not claim a loss on that same house!  Strange how it is a capital gain, but cannot be claimed as a capital loss.

Now, here we watch the Federal Reserve bailout corporations that have hugely deep pockets and tell us we'd fail as a nation if we didn't!  Your government is here for you!  To hell with you people who've lost all you put into your housing for the last 10-30 years, we need to help the billionaires!

Those mega corporations deserve to eat the risks they so eagerly took on.  We are doing two things as a country by offering these bailouts which will easily go beyond a couple trillion dollars.  1) Rewarding shady practices which were intentionally designed to play on the desires of the people to copy our government and buy more than they can afford.  2) Devaluing the dollar even further.

Look out Amero, here we come!  With the US Dollar poised on emanate failure now is the best time ever for Canada, US, and Mexico to finally enter the dream of one world government by combining our economies.  We'll be convinced by our leaders that it is our only hope to give up on the worthless dollar and pickup a new un-backed and just as worthless currency that spans three nations.  Are we really going to be that stupid?  Can't we see that our Constitution had us use Gold and Silver for a reason?  That only Congress itself was allowed to specify the value of the dollar?

Naw!  Forget the Constitution, it's too lame to apply to today's world, right?  I took an oath years ago to the contrary, so did John McCain, so did Barack Obama and so did every other member of Houses, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.  Who among them can stand up and say they defend the Constitution of the United States?  Who among them can say they will protect her from enemies both foreign and domestic?  Not McCain nor Obama!  They have voted in legislation that is directly unconstitutional.  They think we live in a democracy and our media reinforces that opinion.  I know I served a Republic.  A republic uses the rule of law to protect the Liberty of All while a democracy protects no one as rights become priveledges and can be voted away.

It's disturbing to see that the President of the United States and the Houses believe another stimulus shot in the economy complete with more bailouts for all will help us.  Didn't they notice that the last "stimulus" had the exact opposite effect? We are headed for a major depression and putting it off by printing money we don't have or borrowing money that isn't added to the debt will only delay that depression and make it much harder to recover from?  The most unfortunate reality is that without the over-regulation that our government has placed on this country the depression would be much less painful or even been avoided.

According to the White House our Federal Government will take in approximately $2.5 trillion dollars in income and spend $2.9 trillion in 2008.  Meanwhile they are authorizing an $11 trillion deficit.  That gives the Federal Government a beautiful Debt to Income ratio of 2,500 billion / 527 billion (interest only based on new 11 trillion amount) = 21%. Sadly, though if you look closely you'll notice that our income equals our out-go with the interest just being rolled into debt.  What's truly laughable is that our country's leaders are banking that in the coming years they'll make more income and eventually be able to overcome the deficit spending.  I say it's laughable because as the economy falters they cannot realistically believe that next year they'll have bigger revenues than last year.  By then, of course, we'll either have a democrat who will raise the burden of taxes on everyone to once again "balance" the budget or we'll go with more deficit spending on the ridiculous notion the economy will regain an upward climb and begin to cover the outlandish spending.

Wouldn't it make more sense for the federal government to prioritize and begin cutting huge but unnecessary programs from the budget?  Oh, I dunno...how about all the unconstitutional ones?  Then perhaps we could get the government back to doing what the states gave it the power to do, see the Constitution of the United States, Sections 8 and 9....  Oh, dear!  Apparently in section 9 it specifically says that no money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.  How did Fannie Mae and all the others from late last week and early this week get bailed out?  I don't recall the Congress voting on it.

I refuse to ever again vote the lesser of two evils.  I will only vote for candidates that support the Constitution and hold Liberty and smaller government as core principles.  The only two parties I know of that support those ideals currently are the Libertarian and Constitution Parties.  Don't waste your breathe trying to convince me that I need to vote the lesser of two evils as"this is an important election" or "the situation could never be more dire!  We need you this year!"  You aren't wrong, you just don't realize that voting for either of the two major parties is a vote for the current situation we are in and will result in no changes, no increases in Liberty, no reduction in government spending, no return to a Republic, and no hope for our future.  This is an important election, it is the election where a third party will finally make permanent ballot access by obtaining 15% of the vote.  The republicans had their chance to make smaller government and instead they created the single largest growth of government in US history.  The democrats had the power to implement change in the last four years and all they did was pass a censor.  Neither party can function in a way that will help our beloved country out of the mess it is currently in.  Let's get the better third parties out of the ditches of having to buy ballot access every year and get them on the playing field where they belong so they can help undo what our lost brothers in the Demorepublicats have done and this country can once again rise to the prosperity it has enjoyed while being a beacon of Liberty to the world through friendship to all other countries of Liberty and alliances with none.

Join me in not voting for Obama or McSame!   -- vote for someone else on your ballot that may share your views and send a real message to the inside of the beltway.

/salute

Marc

Hang on while I get the mice working in the server!

Isn't it amazing that in this day and age of "Web 2.0" there are still companies out there that work on their own little time line that is convenient for them?

First, I'll give a rough definition of "Web 2.0". It is providing users with a product that they can incorporate into something of their own. Myspace.com, Utube.com, Google Maps, AIM Pages and the like are the babies of this concept. With an API provided by Google you can take a Google map put it into your own site and put all kinds of information in it. Chicagocrime.org is one example. The bottom line is providing a solution that people can use and reshare in an immediate way. Almost back to one of the original hopes people had for the Internet - to be closer to other people through sharing.

Now on to the reason for this entry, an example of a company that doesn't "get it" when it comes to providing a good customer experience on the Internet. I don't mean to single them out as if this was the worst thing imaginable, because believe me it is not. It just happens to be the latest encounter I've had with a company that makes you wonder why they cannot see the bigger picture. Hey, at least they *are* online! I recently booked a room with Marriott in New York. During that process I neglected to uncheck one of the e-mail subscription offerings. Kudos to their marketing team! As always you guys and gals do your best to ensure that by default people get hassled with offers as a reward for doing business with your company! Upon discovering this mistake (after receiving three ads from them in a week) I clicked the unsubscribe link and unchecked the offering and pressed submit. Low and behold, their marketing team also worked out a deal with their web, database, and technology teams to ensure it takes 10 days to remove a person from their list. Needless to say I have received several more e-mails since "canceling".


Today I took the liberty of utilizing Marriott's feedback and here is what I sent them. I hope they enjoy it!

It would be appreciated if improvements could be made to your e-mail distribution list database such that it does not take 10 days to process a transaction that takes most companies .03 seconds to complete on their address database.
It is my perception that it is an irresponsible management decision or an improperly fueled marketing drive that permitted the current environment for Marriott's on-line presence to take days instead of minutes to notate a person's lack of desire to continue receiving such advertisements. Marriott's oversight requires me to deny electronic correspondence from the marriott.delivery.net domain. When this policy has changed to align Marriott's online presence with acceptable practices in this "instant age", I will applaud your efforts.
To the person who reads this correspondence from me, I appreciate your diligence in relaying this perception to management through whatever channels they may or may not provide you, hope that this message found you well, and wish you an outstanding day. At the very least I hope you have a chuckle and something to share with a colleauge during a break.
Best wishes, Marc

Note my final paragraph to them. Remember folks, that the person receiving your complaint or compliment is not the multi-millionaire that runs the company and insists on the ridiculous policies. Nay, instead, they are just a person who is just as perplexed about the concept of "corporate logic" as the rest of us and they deserve to be treated nicely. Also, keep in mind that 99% of the time that consultant you interact with is just doing exactly what they have been told to do by their manager. They may interpret what they were told a bit differently than the next consultant, but chances are they are doing just that...what they were asked to do. Yelling at them or wishing they would be fired is not going to solve the bigger issue you have with that company.

Not that I can think of an instance in recent memory involving a big company over a typical member trying to cancel their subscription or anything like that. Yeah, right! Yes, the consultant stretched their duty a bit there, but they used tools and techniques given to them by the company they worked for. If you were told to keep half the people calling you to cancel or lose your job what would you do? Of course, in the usual scape goat flare that entities exercise when caught with their hand in the cookie jar they fired the little guy. Wonder what if anything happened to the manager that was truly responsible for that consultants actions. What about the manager over that manager or the call center's general manager. Likely nothing. They have a job to do, a goal to keep, and lot's more people to train to replace all the people burned out from the job.

If you ever do get the CEO of that company you are angry with on the line give them a piece of your mind! Chances are you'll be talking to a dial-tone in a matter of seconds. The top brass of a company isn't concerned with individual customer experience, they have to hit the sweet spot for the majority and keep them engaged with the products they produce to keep the bottom line healthy. Of course, when they fail to do so they'll just jump ship with their golden parachute and contemplate where they will share their "wisdom" next.

Ah, well enough on corporate dissapointment today.

Marc

A fun Day!

Today was a very fun day. I took the kiddos to Maryland's Sugarloaf mountain.

On the way there we had to cross the Potomac without a bridge. It was our first time to take our car on a ferry. We crossed from Virginia to Maryland at White's Ferry Crossing. Perrissa was very excited. She chattered and talked about everything the ferry was doing as it went across (we had just missed it) and came back to pick us up. Pearce was quiet but smiling and absorbing every detail. I had the kids unbuckle their seatbelts so that wouldn't be necessary in case there was any need to get out of the car.

We then went on up to Sugarloaf mountain. Pearce was certain we had passed under Thomas' the Train's bridge. We had gone under a C&O railroad bridge. C&O was the first railroad of any length ever built in the US, or so we found out. Sugarloaf mountain was a very interesting site. It isn't anything to compare to the Sandia Mountains of Albuquerque, but it did provide for some nice views and good hiking. The mountain is 1280 or so feet high at it's peak giving it a rise of about 800ft above the surrounding terrain. It was cool in the early afternoon, but the kiddos braved climbing up the green path to the peak. Took us about 30 minutes to get there from the west parking lot. Then we walked down the red path and turned left on the blue path to go back to the parking lot. Monkee and Poppa were waiting for us there. It was a good bit of exercise. The mountain stands out all by itself, unlike most mountains. It was fought over during the Civil War for use as a signal station. For more info on the mountain, check it out here... I can see the "hill" from my office window and I thought it would be fun for the kids and I to go there. I was right.

Next we headed to DC at Perrissa's request. We got there and I looked for The Brickskeller. When we finally walked into it at 4:15pm we discovered it didn't open until 6pm. Just enough time to visit Thomas Jefferson's Memorial. Perrissa bought a book while we were there that she can use in her home schooling. Then we headed back to The Brickskeller and enjoyed a very empty pub. Pete and I enjoyed some of the over 1200 beers that are available here. They included: Belhaven Scottish Ale from Scotland, MacTarnahan's Highlander Pale Ale from the US, and MaDonna WhiteBeer from Romania. Each were very good in their own right.


Ah, two day weekends are too short. Time to hit the rack and get some rest.

OS Configuration - isn't it grand?

What I did today. Oh, the fun!

At work, got a new PC, configured it, and installed all these fun applications:
Some misc Windows Updates
and then....
1. Acrobat Reader with Yahoo Toolbar (so I could find my blog space again!) I love the Yahoo toolbar as it let's you keep all your bookmarks/favorites on their servers so you can reach them anywhere!

2. Got sick of the default Windows folders settings, so I set them up the way I like them...


3. Turned off the "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts" in Advanced settings on IE. I like having multiple IE settings open for browsing and I can not stand having the site I am currently browsing replaced by something else launch using Start->Run or launching a link from my filesystem. Yeah, yeah, I use Ie. So sue me. The majority of sites out there are written to adhere to it and even though many claim it looks better on the other free browsers out there I have yet to see the truth in that.

4.
5. Google Mail Alert
6. Windows Updates - upgraded to Media Player 10 and grabbed SP2 for XP.
7. NVidia updated display drivers with Multi-Display Technology (helps keep the apps going where you want them instead of always to monitor #1.
8. Remedy (oh, the joy of tickets!)
9. Microsoft antiSpyware Beta (if you don't have it you need to go get it!)
...and then....
I remember that I want to see an option in Windows someday that you set in the O/S that will cause all installers to just run quietly and install to their default locations. I am so sick of clicking Next->Next->Next->Next. Yeah, sure, I spent years trying to keep the files installing where I wanted them to, but I gave up because, who honestly cares?! Nearly all of them update O/S files and install junk in several other locations other than where you tell them to install. The DOS & Unix days are over, give up...move on. DLLs are here to stay. (I really hope that turns out to be untrue).
...and then....
with my rant over I set the Anti-Spyware beta to play nice. Most important, there is no need to scan your PC *every* morning at 2am, set that to once a week. One of my favorite tricks with this software is that you can stop pesky startup applications from running, like the Realplayer Nice to know that my local IT staff left a default windows password and didn't block anonymous access on my workstation. Gotta love this tool!
...and then...
10. http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearType/tuner/Step1.aspx and set the clear type to my preferences. Not just enough to have it on, it has to be tuned!
11....

[Still setting it up so this will change as I go. It's stuff to publish a good list for me so I don't have to spend the rest of my life guessing what I did last time to completely overload my new PC and make it run just as slow as all it's predecessors. ;0) ]