This article says the recession may be over Just in time for holiday shopping!
Seriously who are they kidding? ( the article is well thought out, but the idea of the recession ending seems ludicrous)IMHO it is their way of saying spend and spend for Christmas shopping is upon us.
I would venture to guess that most Americans who were scrapping by and lost their jobs ate up all their available credit before they were willing to go on state aid. And for those those who were not able to find another job.... and even for those who were, They have nothing left to spend on frivolous stuff this Christmas.
And although this may be bad for the economy it is very good for us. Imagine having the opportunity of learning that life does not suck just because you can't by everything- in fact life can be even more fun when you don't buy things. We have our houses so full of stuff that with a little ingenuity we can make do and find out that it is actually fun to make do, to find out how resourceful you can be- and you know what? It builds you self worth when you find ways to make do. It builds your self worth to have industry happening in your home, to be smart and useful once more as a human being should be and not just an unfortunate unemployed cog in a broken military industrial complex that has become our nation's lack of economy.
What I am trying to say is that it is time we realized that we need to revamp our personal economies and industry and worry less about the national one.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tax rates and universal health care.
We are currently earning $14/hour- not really enough to scrape by- that bring in about $1792/month of which $110 goes to social security and other taxes.
We have good health insurance- that costs our employer about $1495 per month (not counting dental).
If the US government has a single payer, universal health care then our business could pay us that $1495 per month more in wages. Our take home pay would be $3287/month.
Sounds great doesn't it? Well in most countries with single payer health care the taxes are high- 30-50 percent of wages. At 30 percent of wages that would be $986.10 going to taxes and a take home pay of $2300.90. That is $500 more in my pocket and it doesn't even count the savings of out of pocket medical expenses.
At 50 percent tax rate our take home pay becomes $1643.50 which is $38.50 less then what we are earning now- but our current medical bills (even with good insurance) comes to more then that from just 1 doctor's visit- so we would still be doing better then what we are doing now.
We have good health insurance- that costs our employer about $1495 per month (not counting dental).
If the US government has a single payer, universal health care then our business could pay us that $1495 per month more in wages. Our take home pay would be $3287/month.
Sounds great doesn't it? Well in most countries with single payer health care the taxes are high- 30-50 percent of wages. At 30 percent of wages that would be $986.10 going to taxes and a take home pay of $2300.90. That is $500 more in my pocket and it doesn't even count the savings of out of pocket medical expenses.
At 50 percent tax rate our take home pay becomes $1643.50 which is $38.50 less then what we are earning now- but our current medical bills (even with good insurance) comes to more then that from just 1 doctor's visit- so we would still be doing better then what we are doing now.
Monday, October 19, 2009
This popular sovereignty necessarily implies popular responsibility. Instead of blaming their troubles on a king or tyrant, all citizens are responsible to share the burdens of governing, “that every man might bear his part”
-Dallin H Oaks 10-13-09
Aside from the obvious fact that this objection would deny free speech as well as religious freedom to members of our Church and its coalition partners, there are other reasons why the public square must be open to religious ideas and religious persons. As Richard John Neuhaus said many years ago, “In a democracy that is free and robust, an opinion is no more disqualified for being ‘religious’ than for being atheistic, or psychoanalytic, or Marxist, or just plain dumb.”[xiii]
read it
-Dallin H Oaks 10-13-09
Aside from the obvious fact that this objection would deny free speech as well as religious freedom to members of our Church and its coalition partners, there are other reasons why the public square must be open to religious ideas and religious persons. As Richard John Neuhaus said many years ago, “In a democracy that is free and robust, an opinion is no more disqualified for being ‘religious’ than for being atheistic, or psychoanalytic, or Marxist, or just plain dumb.”[xiii]
read it
Magic is in the air
or at least the aroma of a wonderful chocolate birthday cake. After I let Shanny taste that magic by spoon she followed me around with her little mouth open.
Wow- have we been busy lately. Every weekend for the last 2 months has been booked. This week my kids learned a lot about the cultural formalities that surround them. They attended a very traditional Lutheran funeral (complete with hotdish, rolls and red jello for lunch) and then a wedding.
This week we hope to tone things down again and get back into home making and family routines.... try to get that bedtime thing happening :)
Wow- have we been busy lately. Every weekend for the last 2 months has been booked. This week my kids learned a lot about the cultural formalities that surround them. They attended a very traditional Lutheran funeral (complete with hotdish, rolls and red jello for lunch) and then a wedding.
This week we hope to tone things down again and get back into home making and family routines.... try to get that bedtime thing happening :)
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
quotes
If God doesn't destroy Hollywood Boulevard, he owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.
Jay Leno
If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don't hoard it. Don't dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke.
Brendan Francis
When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
Barbara J. Winter
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as true strength.
Ralph Sockman
Happiness is a choice, not a result.
Ralph Marsdon
All violence in human life is caused by “wealth without work; pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character; commerce without morality; science without humanity; worship without sacrifice; politics without principle, and rights without responsibilities.”
Gandhi
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize that nothing is lacking,
the whole world belongs to you!
Lao Tzu
Bad times, hard times - this is what people keep saying; but let us
live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are,
such are the times.
St. Augustine
If logic tells you that life is a meaningless accident, don't give up
on life. Give up on logic.
Shira Millgrom
"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better
place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I
make it better?' To that there is an answer."
Leo Buscaglia
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas Edison
It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.
Moliere
It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.
W. C. Fields
Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.
Dr. Seuss
The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace.
Mother Teresa
Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
Mohandas Gandhi
Jay Leno
If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don't hoard it. Don't dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke.
Brendan Francis
When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
Barbara J. Winter
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as true strength.
Ralph Sockman
Happiness is a choice, not a result.
Ralph Marsdon
All violence in human life is caused by “wealth without work; pleasure without conscience; knowledge without character; commerce without morality; science without humanity; worship without sacrifice; politics without principle, and rights without responsibilities.”
Gandhi
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize that nothing is lacking,
the whole world belongs to you!
Lao Tzu
Bad times, hard times - this is what people keep saying; but let us
live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are,
such are the times.
St. Augustine
If logic tells you that life is a meaningless accident, don't give up
on life. Give up on logic.
Shira Millgrom
"Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better
place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I
make it better?' To that there is an answer."
Leo Buscaglia
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas Edison
It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.
Moliere
It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.
W. C. Fields
Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.
Dr. Seuss
The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace.
Mother Teresa
Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
Mohandas Gandhi
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