IrishBeat.com

With all this recent commentary about the state of affairs in our economy, I couldn’t help but wonder what Christmas would be like if we had stayed with the traditions of 50, 75, or 100 years ago. I’m not old enough to have experienced a Christmas then, but in what I can see from the media, it seems like Christmas sure was simpler and more focussed on religious and family traditions. Maybe there were a couple gifts, but not this orgy of packages under the tree. Sounds kinda nice.

Pile o crap

With the economy in the state it’s in, it feels like we’re having Christmas shoved down our throats more than ever by the corporate greedy. The advertisers are playing into our attraction for a good bargain and selling us more crap that we really don’t need. I think it’s a good pill for the economy to take if, as Americans and consumers in general, we can learn to settle back into a simpler lifestyle, enjoy Christmas and the holidays for what they are and stop spending more than we have and buying more than what we need.  And maybe we might even be able to balance our own budgets.

I read a good article about banking and the ways their sales material tries to fool the consumer into believing the bank is working for them. It’s an interesting read. Here’s the link.

10 Things Your Bank Won’t Tell You
by Jim Rendon
Monday, August 18, 2008provided bySmartMoney.com

Great article pointing out the reality of the banking industry. One thing he missed is the technical aspect that banks have lobbied Congress into allowing them to decrease the time for clearing collection transactions, yet left the hold time for deposits as it’s been for over 60 years. This means banks can hold your money for up to 10 days on a deposit, yet ensure they take it from you immediately. There are huge profits made on this float, and it’s a legal loophole that they want to ensure does not close. The fact is that the transactions clear in the same time frame with little difference as to the timing. Banking for the consumer is a farce and another example of corporations focusing on profit and not the consumer…

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what I can get out of the country and get away with it!  In today’s Democratic race what are the options? A known liar, cheater and manipulator or a pompous ass that does not have enough common sense to know that he his preacher is a racist.  How does one decide between the two?

My personal choice is that I will not. This will be the one election I choose to vote Republican.  Although there are aspects of the Republican Party I do not like, I cannot stand to think of Clinton or Obama in the White House.

The one major issue I think the democrats have misjudged again is the War in Iraq.  Once again, they will loose the White House because of this issue.  It is a tragedy that we have lost one life during a mis-shapen war over oil (and potentially terrorism). However just to piss away those lives and stop what we are doing; those dead soldiers are turning over in their graves just hearing it being considered.  The fight needs to remain in the terrorists’ back yard, not America’s. It is ridiculous to assume that we were going to fix this in 5 years, 10 years even 20 years. However, it is not ridiculous to think that we can continue to influence the direction Iraq and other countries are going as long as we have a presence. We got into the war for all the wrong reasons but now that we are there, we need to make the commitment to stay. What do we do if we stay? Get the politicians the hell out of the decision-making and turn it back over to the Soldiers. They are the best. They will get the job done IF we give them the chance and do not tie their hands.

Maybe in 2012 the democrats will get it together and gives us options for a real world candidate; one that is a strong leader and believes in defending this country! God Bless America!