WHY DON’T WE JUST STUDY THE PROBLEM?

WHY DON’T WE JUST STUDY THE PROBLEM?

I, like some people, have been very attentive to the debt ceiling histrionics occurring in Washington D.C.  during the month of July.   I’m a bit of a news “junkie” and every time there was an “ALERT” or a breaking story, I would pay very very close attention, making sure I gobbled up every news crumb dropped from the mouth of the commentator.   I don’t know how much was show and how much was “show-nuf” but I will tell you this—I’m not impressed with the outcome of the negotiations.  For all of the madness, it does seem that there would be much more bang for the buck.  Our National debt is axle deep to a Ferris wheel and we are telling ourselves it will go away without any real effort.  Of course, there will be another commission formed to ( again ) study the problem.    Always sounds like a good idea—right?   This time though, it will be a “super commission”.   My source inside the West Wing tells me President Obama is going to require the panel members to wear blue tights and a red cape.  After all, it is a “super” commission. 

Are you aware of the fact that there have been 17 commissions over the years dealing with (take a guess) the National debt?  Here are just a few of the 17:

• The Grace Commission
• The National Commission on Social Security Reform or the Greenspan Commission
• The National Partnership for Reinventing Government or the Gore Commission
• The National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare
• The President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security
• The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
• The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility
• The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
• Simpson/ Bowles Commission

Three of the 17 panels were convened under President Reagan, one under President George H.W. Bush; three were formed under President Bill Clinton, five under President George W. Bush and five ( so far ) under President Barak Obama.  Instead of forming another useless commission, why doesn’t someone in Washington read the conclusion and recommendations put forth by the previous commissions?  Does anyone think our problems are any different now as opposed to “back when”?  Has anything really changed?   WE SPEND TOO MUCH and we have rampant fraud, seemingly overlooked by our Federal Government.      Washington is trying to delay making the tough decisions.  Congress and the Executive Branch really think this desperate situation will go away and / or the American people will, again, forget.  Another commission will not bring forth any better solutions than those held in the past.  It will only provide cover for politicians up for reelection.

THINK ABOUT IT!

NATIONAL DEBT

NATIONAL DEBT

I have written before about our appalling national debt.   From the web site poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf, we see the following information:

• National Debt: $14.047 Trillion
• US Debt per Person: $45,072.00
• US Taxpayer Debt per Person: $126,109.00

These numbers were recorded on 01/20/2011 at 0843 hours.  The first 19 days of our new year.  If you visit that web site you will see the “debt clock” ticking and ticking rapidly.  Our country, the greatest in recorded history, borrowed $80 billion in the month of December.  This marked the 27^th consecutive month of red ink for the Federal government.  Federal outlays for December were $316.8 billion while receipts were $236.8 billion—up 8 percent over this time last year while taxes on corporations and payroll actually increased.  For the first three months of fiscal year 2011, the deficit stands at $370.8 billion.  We are on track to post a $1.00 trillion plus shortfall for 2011.  The fiscal budget deficit for 2010 ($1.29 trillion) was the second highest on record, behind the $1.42 trillion reported from fiscal year 2009.   I am an engineer and not finance major but, it seems to me that something needs to be done on the Federal level to make a much needed mid-course correction.  (Just guessing here but it is a thought!!!!!!!!!!)   With that being the case, let me suggest the following:

• We have the largest piece-time federal payroll in history AND the greatest number of highly paid Federal employees in history.  I’m not saying they don’t deserve the money they earn.  What I am saying is let’s look at being a more efficient and streamlined Federal government.  Let’s adopt the “best practices” approach to government.  Let’s look at “lean” government just as companies look at lean manufacturing.  Have you ever seen an organization chart for ANY government department or agency?  The lines of communication are impossible.  Don’t tell me there cannot be improvements and efficiencies brought about.
• I retired from GE in 2005 after 17 years with the company.  Each year, beginning in 1995, management demanded at least a 5 % reduction in “head count”.  Why not the Fed?  With efficiency comes a reduction in “head count”.  Doing it better generally, means doing it with fewer people.
• Discontinue (or suspend) corporate welfare.  We give our biggest companies, and banks, a huge break when it comes  handouts.  In turn, they vote for the biggest “boondoggles”. 
• Remove ourselves from Iraq and Afghanistan.  (I know this is a tough one but these two wars drain our resources, both human and monetary.  )  Both countries are corrupt-have been and will be after we leave.  They have done nothing to deserve the human sacrifices we have given, not to mention the billions in wasted dollars.  It is time to reevaluate our presence and make a move.
• Absolutely STOP supporting companies who wish to “off-shore”.  No tax breaks whatsoever BUT tax penalties.
• Provide monetary reward for those Americans and American companies who wish to “buy American”.
• Evaluate (or reevaluate) our military presence across the world.  We must cease being the planetary cop. The US has bases in 63 countries around the world.  There are approximately 255,065 US military personnel deployed worldwide supporting 845,441 different buildings and associated pieces of equipment.  Our Pentagon is, without a doubt, the world’s largest landowner with 2,202,735 hectares of surface area.  The US military is thought to own and /or control 737 bases in foreign lands.  I am not saying close it all down, I am saying we should look at reductions for the sake of efficiency and cost savings.  I know there are reasons for the deployments; i.e. protecting valuable natural resources, peace-keeping, maintaining the power of “political” favorites, etc but surely we can make some reductions and consequently some cost savings will result.
• Continuously evaluate private vs. federal when considering manpower and staffing.  I really think the following agencies could be supported by the private sector:  1.) Post Office, 2.) TSA, 3.) Air Traffic Controllers, 4.) Fannie and Freddie, 5.) Department of Education, etc.  You get the picture.
• I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics and I can’t do my own taxes!! This really burns me up.  Really “grinds” me.  Our tax code is written to satisfy the demands of donors relative to reelection hopes of the executive and legislative branches of our government. Time to scrap the code and adopt a much less complex system. 
• Establish a cabinet level branch of government reporting to the President to constantly look at fraud—all types of fraud.  (Pardon me while I look for my Hoverround!)

OK, time to stop.  I’m really getting depressed because I know that nothing will be done. We just don’t have the political or national resolve.  Our politicians have theirs.  They are “fully funded”.  Let’s face it—the individual “unwashed” common man is basically on his on although, I firmly believe that there is no problem we can’t solve if we are focused and put our collective minds to it.

ON THE BRINK

ON THE BRINK

The data and information used in this document results from a Congressional Hearing conducted by Mr. John F. Tierney for the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.  This hearing occurred in Washington, D.C. on September 22, 2010.  The individuals providing testimony are as follows:

1. 1.       Mr. Jeff Faux
2. 2.       Mr. Mark A. Gordon
3. 3.       Mr. Michael R. Wessel
4. 4.       Mr. John F. Tierney

Other documents referenced are as follows:

1. 1.       “The DoD Manufacturing Technology Program”
2. 2.       “Manufacturing Insecurity”

Selected excerpts from these documents will be given as italicized.  My comments will be in standard eleven point text.

The Honorable John F. Tierney chaired the hearing and called the assembly due to great concern voiced by the Department of Defense.  

I have been associated with manufacturing since 1961 and have performed as a graduate engineer since 1970.  During this period of time, I have seen many initiatives take effect—some lasting and some fading away.  Programs such as Six Sigma, Lean Engineering, Lean Manufacturing, Reliability Methodology, KanBan Scheduling, Statistical Process Control, etc have added greatly to improved quality, efficiency and the overall cost savings for manufacturing processes.  The trend towards automation, digital control of processes and timely reporting of quality “markers” has added remarkable improvements over the years and has allowed the United States to compete with any country in the world.

One trend that is very disturbing is the flight of manufacturing from the United States to countries abroad.  We have lost, and are losing, our manufacturing base at an alarming rate!  One trip to any department store will support that fact.  “Made in America” no longer can be found on most consumer items we purchase.   Stores such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Toys-R-Us and Radio Shack depend upon foreign sources to remain low cost providers.  When I worked for General Electric, we had a mandate that at least 30% of all components must come from LCC ( Low Cost Countries ).  A real culture change for most  engineering “types” working for the company.   For decades, manufacturing has been the backbone of the American economy.  The United States has been known as the land of innovation, the home of the automobile, the computer and the jet plane.  These innovations led to good jobs for hardworking Americans.  American manufacturing is the bastion of quality, where the words “Made in America” signify superior craftsmanship, durability and value.    This movement abroad has created one huge problem—the defense of this great nation is now dependent upon the “good graces” of China, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, India etc.  There is no longer the requirement for components going into our most sophisticated weapons systems to be manufactured in the United States.

I would like now to list several “cuts” from the testimony given during the hearings that took place this past September.  You will become aware of  the deep concerns from these experts.

• Manufacturing jobs have been dropping steadily over the last several decades.  After WWII, manufacturing accounted for 40% of American jobs; today, that number is closer to 11%.
• Outsourcing takes control of the supply chain out of our hands.  When foreign companies, and governments, control the production of necessary parts, our critical defense needs are subject to geopolitical forces that are beyond our control. In  2003, a Swiss company decided to delay delivery of essential parts for the Pentagon’s Joint Direct Attach Munitions—commonly known  as “smart bombs” –due to their ability to pinpoint targets.  The Swiss government’s opposition was a result of their dislike for the war in Iraq.  Not only did this force the DoD to acquire these parts at a higher price, there was a significant delay in getting these munitions to our forces overseas.  Lives were lost.
• There have been countless situations where the DoD has received foreign parts that did not meet quality standards, including substandard and counterfeit materials.
• China produces—and therefore controls—97% of rare earth oxides.  It would take about 15 years to establish a domestic supply chain.  The national security implications of this imbalance are impossible to ignore.
• There are not enough highly skilled workers to perform the critical tasks needed to sustain our industrial base.  We have more people retiring than entering the manufacturing workforce, which means companies that want to build in America cannot find workers with the right skills to do so.
• We have been running trade deficit in manufacturing for over thirty (30) years, relentlessly off-shoring production and steadily losing ground in our capacity to produce cutting edge technologies.
• Innovation, design and engineering follow production. For years, US policy-makers have rationalized the movement overseas by manufacturing on the grounds that the technical jobs and capacity would remain in the United States.  THIS IS A JOKE (MY words!!)
• Seventy percent (70%) of the industrial R&D is performed by manufacturing-based companies and the bulk of that R&D is applicable to manufacturing processes and procedures.
• China now holds close to two and one-half TRILLION dollars of our IOUs.   (YOU ARE BRAVER THAN I AM IF THIS DOES NOT SCARE THE PANTS OFF YOU!)
•  CEOs now regularly acknowledge and even boast that they are “global”, not American corporations.  The CEO of Cisco Systems—a major military contractor—stated that “it is our outline to promote a strategy to become a Chinese company.”
•  America’s financial “elite is definitely aware that if manufacturing industries shrink, so would the political power of the strongest unions.  The unions definitely interfere with their “vision” for America.  Over the past two decades, the United States has consistently subsidized, protected and rescued the banking and finance sector.  Among the perverse results of this “too Big to Fail” industrial policy has been the systematic redistribution of capital from the making of products from the manufacturing sectors to the making of products on Wall Street. 

There are only three way of creating wealth; 1.) Grow it, 2.)  Dig it, or 3.) Make it.  Manufacturing multiplies each dollar spent within the sector into an additional $1.41 dollars of economic activity—higher than any other economic sector.  Hopefully, it is not too late to reverse this trend although I see nothing from the political “hacks” in Washington that would indicate specific movement back towards American manufacturing.  This needs to worry all of us.  We are continuing to dig a deep deep hole for the security of our country.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN

Sometimes the only way you know where you are is to look back and see where you have been.  My grandfather use to say this to me when I was a kid.   Heard it a thousand times.  It was his way of saying that frequent reflection is “good for the soul” and reminds us we are going to have good days and bad days, at least on this earth.  Countries are like individuals in that respect—not really that different at all.  We still live in a great country, full of promise.  For the most part, a kid born today can be just about anything he wants to be as long as he has a dream AND the work ethic to put that dream into motion.  This fact has been demonstrated time and time again and with a diverse cross-section of our population.  Woody Allen was pretty much correct when he said that 95 percent of success was just showing up.  A dude names Thomas A. Edison indicated that 90 percent of his success was due to perspiration and 10 percent to inspiration.  A fairly smart guy named Einstein said the world is not dangerous because of those who do harm, but because of those who look at it without doing anything.  Years ago, when I played high school football, I had a coach named E.B. (Red) Etter.  Coach Etter had two great sayings, “You boys had better show me something and damn it, if you make a mistake, make it at full speed.”  “The next one seen loafing will do laps to Pittsburg and back.”  Coach Etter did have a way with words.   One more and I will get to the point; “I don’t get to blow the whistle, I don’t get to ring the bell, but just let the train jump the track and see who catches hell.”  Some of us, are quick to place blame, throw someone under the bus, cry foul, put on that “poor me” attitude.  Ever listen to talk radio?  We do have problems and it has become evident, forgive me—more than evident, that the American people are going to have to help themselves.  We are going to have to work around our Federal government if we get any problems solved.  We start by getting “liquid”.  Eliminate debt, become much more independent and much less dependent upon Federal services.  Employ our full resourcefulness.  Engage.

The significant inactivity we see today from our “Executive” and “Legislative Branches” of government results from nothing more than fear.  Fear of taking a stand.  Fear of performing.  Fear of engaging.  Ever hear these before?

• If I do something to make the train jump the track, I might not get reelected.  Then what would I do?  Better not even try.  Stalling is the best policy.  Let’s consider action AFTER the mid-term elections.   
• I definitely don’t want to offend the unions.  OK, so what if our kids can’t read.  How is that my problem?  I send my children to private schools.  After all, I am a member of Congress.
• If I protect our borders I will lose 12 million votes.
• There is more ( and better ) officiating in an NFL game on Sunday than we get from the SEC relative to oversight of the stock market.  Then again, porn sites are much more interesting than working a “day job”.
• Tort reform!—Do you know how much money those guys contribute to our PAC?
• We know that “Freddie” and “Fanny” are in terrible shape but a “re-org” right now would be too disruptive.  Besides, fixing them would mean admitting they need fixing and we have been saying all along that they were in “fine working order”.
• We can fight two wars.  We just have to make sure we send our best and brightest back—again and again and again.  PTST doesn’t last forever—does it?  After all, those prosthetic devices seem to work well enough.

You get the picture. 

Ever wonder when these guys work?  Is “The View” more important than sitting at your desk in the Oval Office, with your sleeves rolled up and your tie loosened?  Head down, plowing through.   We have viable information that most of Congress did NOT read the new health care bill.  We have viable information that the most of Congress did NOT read the 2500 page “jobs bill”.  We have viable information that the Attorney General did NOT read the bill passed by the Arizona Legislature BEFORE the Federal suit was levied.  I don’t think in my lifetime ( and I’m 68) I have seen a president that travels more than Mr. Obama.  It seems as though he relishes the spotlight and finds great pleasure in conveying absolute minutia to just about anyone who will listen.  When you think about it, what great revelations come from Washington anyway?  I’m not talking about news; I’m talking about “stuff” you can use.  Information that, once known, changes your life; makes every day living easier; reduces stress; promotes a minimal feeling that things will eventually be OK; addresses a growing unemployment; addresses the feeling that there may be a  double-dip recession and does something about it.  Where are the “guys and dolls” we elected?  Well, they are feeding at the public well.  We are truly on our on so, let us act that way.  Develop a resourcefulness that is indicative of our American heritage.  Can do spirit.  The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.  We know that if we don’t they won’t.  Let’s learn from history.

OBESITY VS NATIONAL DEBT

OBESITY VS NATIONAL DEBT

There was a very interesting article in our Sunday paper this past week highlighting the alarming rate of obesity in our country.  We are a FAT and Chubby country with associated “numbers” trending upward at an alarming rate.   Well there is another worrisome trend constantly mentioned in the news and that’s the national debt.  These two seemingly unrelated but problematic realities of life may not have any connection at all, but then again—let’s take another look.  Are there timelines for both that might indicate some correlation?  Is it remotely possible that from a cultural standpoint both might lend themselves to cause-effect relationships?  What, if any, common thread or threads run true to both downward-spiraling situations?  Let us look at obesity first.

OBESITY

I would like to detail several “bullets” that will alarm even the most placid reader into wondering how we got where we are today.  My information comes from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta.

• 60 million people in the United States are “officially” obese.
• A staggering 33% of all adult Americans have a Body Mass Index (BMI ) measuring 30 or greater
• Obesity has increased 60% in the last 20 years
• Obesity-related health issues account for 300,000 deaths per year—second only to tobacco usage

We have become a fast-food nation consuming enormous amounts of carbohydrates, sugar, processed food additives, saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, sodium and other highly detrimental ingredients I probably can’t pronounce anyway.  An adult should consume no more that 65 grams of fat per day and should eat no more than 2,000 calories per day.  That caloric intake will ensure weight maintenance and, depending upon what foods you eat, will give you all of the nutrients required to maintain good and lasting health.  The following table indicates body mass index ( BMI) and can serve as a guideline for any adult.  Please take a look:

     BMI below 18.5           Underweight

     BME 18.5 to 24.9        Average

    BMI 25.0 to 29.9        Overweight                       

   BMI  30 +                       Obese

The calculation is based upon the following formula:  [Weight (pounds)/(Height)²] x 703.  Of course there are tables in various web sites that will calculate the BMI for you.   

Let’s now look at the BMI trend for our country over the years:

As you can see, from 1960 to 1980 we were trending upward ever so slightly but then came the late ’80.  Something happened and we went wild and from the early ’90s to 2004, we truly lost our way relative to diet and the foods we consume.  We threw caution to the winds between 2004 and 2009.  That brought us to our present condition.  Again, approximately 33% of our 307,946,578 population has a BMI greater than 30.  Not only a national tragedy but a national disgrace. 

NATIONAL DEBT

So much for the good news.  Now let’s look at our national debt.  (NOTE: Please don’t confuse our national debt with our deficit.  If you really want to become depressed, look at our national deficit.  Again, here are several “bullets”:

• As of 3:37 GMT, 4 March 2010, we have a public debt ( national debt ) of $12.526 trillion
• With a total population of 307,946,578, the per capita debt is $40,676.85
• Our debt grows $3.96 billion dollars for each day we breathe air
• We have a record deficit ( there’s that word again ) of $1.4 trillion.

Again, let’s represent those horrible numbers visually.  Take a look.

Notice any correlation between obesity and the national debt?  Now let’s look at another graph.

During the war years ( WW II ) you might expect a burdensome national debt.  We had to pay for horrible years between 1942 and 1945.  Going to war costs money BUT, we dug our way out and got things in control until LBJ took office as the president in the late sixties.  The “War on Poverty” might have been a wonderful thing to contemplate, but it was remarkably costly in terms of entitlement programs that would ultimately cost us the “farm”.  Nixon and Carter kept thing in check but then comes the Bush presidency.  Reagan and Bush did not help much but I suppose by the time they came into power the die was cast.  We lost control of government spending—just as we lost control of any and all self-discipline relative to our waistlines.  Our consumption of food AND national spending jumped considerably.  We could not deny ourselves.  We see it—we buy it—we eat it.

Think about it, an individual or a country, without discipline, is doomed to excesses. Weight, money, etc etc—it does not matter.  This is what has happened to our country.  We sit in front of TV an average of 4 hours per day, eating our Cheetos, drinking our “BUD” and wonder why we are so fat.  Never moving, never reaching for our gym bag, never walking more that the distance from the lounge chair to the refrigerator.  In concert, our government spends OUR money like a drunken sailor on shore leave and we wonder why we are so broke.   Well-meaning administrations made decisions designed to help us, but in the long run have truly hurt.  Both occurrences seemed to start trending upwards around the latter ‘80s.  Like a rocket in flight, we are headed to the stars.  The only problem is—we will come down again.  I suspect it will be a very very hard landing.

DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DO

DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DO

Do you ever wonder how people spend their time?  This CAN BE a very personal question depending upon who you ask and yet, maybe we need to ask it more often of some people. The last decade was a bumper time for political scandals. The misdeeds were very interesting, if not fascinating.  Sex seems to be the activity of choice although income tax evasion was a close second.  2009 in particular was notable.  Let’s take a look at only a few names.

John Ensign:   Senator (R)  State of Nevada—Affair with former staffer.

Mark Sandford: Governor  (R)   State of South Carolina—Affair with reporter—Brazil

Rod Blagojevich:  Governor (D)  State of Illinois –Conspiracy and Bribery

John Edwards:  Senator & Presidential Candidate (D)  State of South Carolina—Affair

Eliot Spitzer:  Governor (D)  State of New York—Affair with hooker

Deborah Jeane Palfrey—D.C. Madam—Ran an upscale prostitution service for high-rollers; i.e. Congress

Larry Craig:  Senator (R)  State of Idaho—Possible homosexual advance

 Mark Foley:  Representative (R) State of Florida—Propositioning interns

Jack Abramoff:  D.C. Lobbiest  (R)  –Income Tax evasion

Charlie Rangel: Representative (D) State of New York—Income tax evasion

Tim Geithner:  Secretary of Treasury (D)—Income tax evasion

OK so nobody is perfect but you must admit, these kids have been really busy with 58% of the activity being sexual in nature.  You have to wonder why these high-profile politicians can’t be normal and simply rob us blind like in the “good old days”.  ( OH wait, they’re doing that also. )  Speaking of robbery, take a look at the various pay scales these guys are suffering under.  ( Please keep in mind we have a 10+% unemployment rate in this country with 85,000 additional jobs being lost during the month of December 2009.

Average pay for a governor—$124,398

Average pay for US Senator—$174,000

Average pay for member of House–$174,000

Governor of New York—$179,500

Governor of South Carolina–$106,078

Governor if Illinois–$155,600

A good romp in the hay takes at least one hour and then you’ve got transportation to and from the “scene of the crime”.  Also, consider the fact that you’re taking up your driver’s time.  ( No self-respecting senator or member of the House would be seen driving his own car.  It would really look bad come reelection time. )  Thirty minutes there, thirty minutes back—at least two man-hours of time.   One hour with your “sweetie”, that’s three additional man-hours; i.e. 1.) Member of Congress, 2.) Driver and 3.) Hooker, etc.  ( Of course this assumes that the “man of the house” is not on his way to Brazil to be with his soul mate. )  Time flies when you’re having fun but that’s a minimum of five (5) man-hours for just one “outing”.  When you consider these guys put in a good four hour day, you really have to wonder who is minding the store. 

How to we get a job like that?  

WHEN DO THESE GUYS WORK?

WHEN DO THESE GUYS WORK

I definitely don’t want to be overly critical but have you ever wondered when our elected officials work.  How many hours do they really put in that represent “fruitful” endeavor?   Work that truly generates results.  I have a fairly good Congressional representative ( Mr. Zack Wamp—Third Congressional District, Tennessee ) and I would imagine he puts in long hours.  I get e-mails and see stories in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press of junkets, fundraising excursions, joint meetings with other Republican “types”, dinners, luncheons, etc.  His Congressional staff is adequate ( I suppose ) to handle the routine occurrences of “every day” events in Washington D.C.  I don’t really believe Zack is into pushing the boundaries of Congressional duty or thinking out of the preverbal box.  He basically tows the party line and keeps a very low profile.   I wonder though who is minding the store.  That same feeling exists “in spades”, when we look at the travels of our brand new President.    In his case there is a feeling that ‘if I’m not on television people may think I did not win’.  God forbid “my people” would ever feel I did not win.  What would Opra think?    Not being in the public eye is taken very seriously and considered a no-win situation.   Take a look:

• 10 December          Oslo City Hall
• 2 October                 Copenhagen
• 10 August                Guadalajara
• 11 July                       Ghana
• 10 July                      The Vatican
• 6 July                         Russia
• 6 June                        France
• 5 June                        Germany
• 4 June                         Egypt
• 7 April                        Iraq
• 3 April                         France
• 6 April                         Turkey
• 3 April                         Germany
• 2 April                          UK
• 31 March                     UK
• 19 February               Canada

You talk about global warming and extending your carbon footprint.   He has not yet been in office a year and yet he has logged thousands of frequent flyer miles.  Let’s also mention that the list above represents international trips and not those taken on Air Force One for “state-side” business.   It is apparent that he is very much dependent on “others” to conduct “the people’s business”.    I suspect that every President conducts himself in about the same fashion but is it not time to vote someone in who will be the President of the United States and not strive to be “king of the world”?  Let’s take a look at several areas desperately needing Presidential oversight if not Presidential attention:

• FAA—Reorganization and new equipment were needed years ago.
• FDA—Too few inspectors, too little time
• FMEA—Are we really sure that New Orleans could withstand a CAT 3 or CAT 4 ( not to mention a CAT 5 ) hurricane?  We still don’t have this cat in the bag.
• CDC—Doing a fairly good job but needing additional attention.
• Veterans Administration—Underfunded from the get-go.
• Commerce—Do I really need to say more?  We are driving off manufacturing at an alarming rate with no real end in sight.  Have you tried to get an SBA loan lately?  Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
• Health Care—Congress has not and will not produce a “workable” solution.  Too many special-interest groups are in their pants.  They won’t be reelected without money being dumped into their PACTS.  Absolutely  no mention of fraudulent activities or tort reform in the present plan or plans.
• Education—Less than a 50% graduation rate and a full 33% of our graduates can’t read at a fifth grade level.   Skill with mathematics is at an all-time low.  Significant trouble spots; Washington D.C., Detroit, Atlanta, Kansas City, Saint Louis, etc etc.  Whole generations uneducated and we seem powerless to do anything.  One of these days a dimwit will get elected to public office and we all will pay the price.  ( Come to think about it, it’s already happened.  Can anyone say Al Frankin????????)

Make your own list but, you will have to admit no one seems to be minding the store.  I have come to believe that it not a Republican thing or a Democrat thing—it is a Washington thing.   At any rate, we need a fix and need it fast.

ONE TRILLION–WHAT’S IN A NAME

ONE TRILLION

We use the word trillion dollars as though it was absolutely commonplace and every day language;  so much so that everyone must have a trillion, be happy to give you a loan, I have plenty more where that came from.   In reality, most of us will never see a million dollars much less a billion and certainly not a trillion.  The trillion dollar figure is usually associated with our US deficit and our national debt.   That’s where we most often hear the number used.  Just this week, we read about Congress “needing” to raise the debt ceiling another $1.8 trillion to keep the FED operating.  The thought is they will ask now to avoid having to ask prior to the 2010 elections.  That wouldn’t look good at all would it?  $1.8 trillion dollars—absolutely ridiculous!

Do you really know how much a trillion is?  Let’s take a look at some numbers.

• 1 trillion is 1 million million
• 1 trillion is 1,000 billion
• 1 trillion is 1 with 12 zeros; i.e. 1,000,000,000,000
• It is $39,365.95 for every man, woman and child in the United States. ( Of course that does not include illegal aliens. )
• If you spent 1 million dollars per day, beginning the exact day Jesus was born, you would still have 726 years before you spent it all.

Really big number right.   Our Federal deficit is $1.4 trillion dollars.  Our national debt is (are you ready for this one?)  $12,103,309,193,440.45.  Don’t forget the $0.45.  The IRS will chase you down for that.

Twelve trillion eggs would weigh a little over thirteen million tons. Twelve trillion gallons of milk would easily fill Lake Superior—four times over.  Last year, the interest on $12 trillion was a mere $385 billion dollars.

Some economists say that our total debt, due to unfunded liabilities; i.e. social security, Medicare, medicade, food stamps, etc ,is approximately $100 trillion dollars.  Do you know whose picture is on a trillion dollar bill?  YOU’RE GRANDKIDS AND YOUR GREAT GRANDKIDS.

Isn’t it about time Congress calls a halt to the spending and the bleeding?  Do you know that there are over 5,000 “earmarks” in the newly proposed health care bill?

What if we changed our Constitution so that we had permanent representation—FOR LIFE?    Incumbents forever !!!!!!   No more pesky opponents, no more campaigns, no more fund-raising, no more lying to get our vote, no more kissing up to special interest groups for their campaign donations.  There would be no real need for party affiliation.  Instead of  having the “publicans and the sinners” we would have the American Party, or better yet, no party at all.   No need to “bring home the bacon”.  Would this situation create a reduction in spending?  Quite frankly, I think not.  It is time to THROW THE BUMS OUT! Let’s start all over.  Lets air out the halls of Congress.  Surely there are men and women with a modicum of integrity left in this country who would be willing to serve their fellow man.

SHAMEFUL

With so many individuals and families having such a difficult time right now, it’s hard to believe the amount of money our Congress is willing to spend to get reelected.   I know this first hand.  Our oldest son has been out of work for fourteen (14) months now.  He was in commercial real estate in Atlanta and I can tell you first hand–it is tough.  The company he worked for had an office in Atlanta.  They pulled out of the market when things got really tight and business dropped to virtually nothing.  He has a wife and three children and they all feel the pinch. 

In reading an article written by Brian M. Riedl, let’s review some of the “must-have” items Congress is willing to spend OUR money for.

• Washington spends $25 billion annually maintaining unused or vacant federal property.
• Washington will spend $2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission spent $3.9 million on rearranging desks and offices in it’s Washington headquarters.
• The refusal of many federal employees to fly coach costs the government $146 million annually in flight upgrades.
• The federal government owns more that 50,000 vacant houses.
• Members of Congress have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supplying their offices with DVD recorders, ionic air fresheners, camcorders, popcorn machines, plasma televisions and signature signing machines.  Also, $24,730 leasing one Lexus, $1,434 for a digital camera and ( are  you ready for this one ) $84,000 on personal calendars.
• $200,000 for tatoo removal in Mission Hills, California.
• $190,000 for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming.
• $75,000 for the Totally Teen  Zone in Albany, Georgia.
• Taxpayers are funding the costs of painting for high-ranking government officials at an average costs of $50,000 each.

In addition:

• Washington spends $92 billion on corporate welfare.
•  The Fed made $72 billion in payment errors in 2008–with pending corrections.
• Federal auditors spent the last five years to find out that 22 percent of  the ongoing programs have absolutely no benefit to those they were designed to help.
• The debt-ridden Post Office spent ( last year ) $13,500 on ONE dinner at Ruth’s Chris Stakehouse, including over 200 appetizers and over $3,000 on alcohol.  Eighty-on guests consumed an average of $187.00 of food each.

Is is not time “WE THE PEOPLE” demand better oversight.  Is it not time we have a “come to Jesus” meeting with these slugs, throw them all out and start over?  Could anyone do any worse than the bunch of criminals we have running the show right now.  Is it really too much to ask that, with a great many people suffering,   Congress act responsibly, do the adult thing, demand a reversal in the course and turn this around for the betterment of all.  How much longer should the average voter, tax payer, etc etc have to wait for some reform to the ridiculous spending habits of our “law makers”?