A NEW HOPE. I would like to offer a thought for our long term future. I don't mean to say that one has to have served in the military to be a good leader for our nation, but it doesn't hurt. I will be the first to admit that before joining the military I was a brainwashed liberal democrat. I was raised around democrats all my life. My military experience opened my eyes, however, to the conservative mindset and the importance of VALUES and PRINCIPLES. In today's economy, we are seeing record enlistments into the US Armed Services. So, watch out liberal America. There are a LOT of conservatives in training who will be taking over the leadership of this country some day. Don't misunderstand me, I am NOT suggesting a military state. I am only pointing out that fewer and fewer of our leaders have any kind of military experience and the LEADERSHIP skills that come with that training. The downsizing of the military from the levels of the 1980s was a HUGE mistake strategically for this country in more ways than I can list in this small space.
AMEN! (My Religious response) and HOOAH! (My Military response). Please make an effort to take these actions. We truly want to get on board and use this site to move forward.
Here is the one thing that we must ALL realize and show the personal and moral courage to do. Blogging on this website is fine for reinforcing our beliefs, but what we MUST do is be willing to engage our fellow man in respectful debate about the issues of this nation. We must reach out to those who do not log into this website; our Families, our friends. our coworkers, fellow Christians and even those who disbelieve. I don't care who they are. We must engage ALL races, genders and classes and do it starting now. I don't know if I like the idea of the "Tea Parties" that were held. To be honest, I'm not a big fan a protests because they come off as one-sided, closed minded and usually just end up being either ignored or become violent to some degree. Question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. So, let's all of us take a bite out of that elephant and start engaging all those around us and not just vent on this blog. Engage them with a "we" mentality and not an "us vs. them" mentality. Our Government has proven that doesn't work.
It wasn't Bush, the government mandated loans came out of the Clinton Era and the hope of allowing EVERY American to enjoy the American Dream of home ownership. Doing some searches reguarding his economic policies will surely get you the information you are looking for. The crash in the housing market was being set up long before Bush came to the White House. Barney Frank and crew should be paying the piper for this one.
Good point. I wasn't really thinking of the rift you describe, but you're right that it is an obstacle to moving forward. What I really had in mind was the difference between American voting selfISHLY versus selfLESSly. I was trying to address our self interests as individuals as opposed to the self interests of the Nation. Too many of us, as individuals, are more concerned about our own individual comfort and conveniences. We vote because of what we think is best for us as individuals and NOT because of what is best for the country. How else do we as a Nation end up bypassing a man who has literally fought, blead, sacrificed years of his life in a POW Camp (even when his captors offered to release him when they learned he was a General's son) and dedicated his entire life to public service for somebody who looks pretty and is an eloquent speaker that has never really lead anything in his life.
First, these aren't the official representatives of another peace loving and law abiding Nation State. They are rouge terrorists hell bent on just murdering us and they ARE NOT citizens of the United States. So, they aren't entitled to squat. As far as I am concerned, milk them for all the intel we can, then send them to Allah so that he may bless them with 70 virgins. It's what they want anyway and it would save our taxpayer dollars so we can afford to let AIG Executives get their bonuses. ( Oops! Sorry about the sarcasm there)
Sarah Palin ALL THE WAY! I'm in the Military and so are my two children. I trust her with my life and theirs! As a matter of fact, if she is willing to make a run at it, I just might go ahead and retire from the military and work for her campaign.
3) NEVER put anything on a credit card that you can't pay off at the end of the month.
4) Assets put money in your pocket. Liabilities take money out of your pocket. A fancy car and a "dream" house are not assets. THEY ARE LIABILITIES! Save and pay cash for cars. Don't finance them. Save and put down a significant down payment on the house you wish to buy to keep the payment low and avoid 30 year loans like the plague.
5) Taking out loans to "establish credit" is a dangerous trap.
6) Get over materialism, NOW! It will never make you happy. It's like being addicted to drugs. The more you buy, the more you want.
I'm not saying that these basic points are the panacea that will solve every problem that we have, but it will move us away from being the debtor Nation that we are. If our children can be taught fiscal responsibility in their personal lives, then maybe when they grow up and become politicians they will be fiscally responsible with our money.
Here are some basic principles that every child should have ETCHED in their minds.
1) There are only 4 things you can do with money; make it, give it, save it and spend it. That's it! The problem with most Americans (and I used to be as guilty as anyone else) is that we focus on spending it first, before we give any thought to the other three.
2) Keeping #1 in mind, use either the 10-90 plan or the 10-10-80 plan. Non-believers in God, you use the 10-90 plan. That is, you save the first 10% of everything you earn and protect it for your future. Then you live WITHIN your means and spend the rest. For believers in God, the first 10% goes back to God. The next 10% you save and then live WITHIN your means and spend the rest. Believe it or not, I've lived both ways and found that the 10-10-80 plan with God actually works better for me in terms of financial stability because I have learned that the material things of this world are MEANINGLESS. (Sorry, I know some don't want to hear me preach. So, please forgive me. He has.) MORE TO FOLLOW
Okay, let's tackle a fundamental problem in America - Our schools. Aren't our schools supposed to teach EVERY child the basics in life to be able to cope? Why then don't we teach basic do's and don'ts about personal finances. I'll share some basics that I think are pretty common sense in other messages. We don't get enough space to complete a thought in these postings.
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