Battle to Save the GOP

The United States system of government requires compromise if it is to function.  The two major poltical parties differ in so many way that it difficult to believe they are even from the same country.  There are many reasons for this situation.  Urban versus rural is the most obvious.

President Ronald Reagan “stood tough and strong against our — and humanity’s — enemies abroad, at home Reagan showed a congeniality to his political opponents. And he stood for and evinced a sunny optimism about both America and the American people. To him it was always “morning in America.””  From http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/02/04/bennett.reagan.optimism/   He compromised with Tip O’Neill, Democratic Speaker of the House.  

Americans want a well managed functioning government.  President Obama ran for election on the theme that he would be the man who would lead a government that would bring all Americans together. The president’s words, “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America – there is the United States of America.”  It didn’t happen.  His intent was in the right place but his ability to deliver has fallen far short.

It is obvious that Americans yearn for a president who can lead all the people regardless of their political party.

During the Obama presidency the GOP has NOT been the party of new ideas.  It has been the party of NO.  That has to change if the party is to survive.

That brings us to the group of potential candidates for the 2016 primaries. Who among the many can convince Americans that they can lead a divided nation?

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan clearly is a well known participant who wants to prove to Americans that he could lead our politically divided nation.  So even though he is an avowed conservative, who has been reported to be an admirer of Ayn Rand, he wants to convey the idea that he could lead the nation even if the Democrats controlled one house of Congress and the Republicans controlled the other.  Thus, Mr. Ryan has forged a budget agreement compromise with Democrats.  It’s not something like President Ronald Reagan reaching an agreement with Democratic leader Thomas (Tip) O’Neill despite what Chris Matthews tries to imagine but at least they were talking to each other.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is another possibility along with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.  After all both of them are holding office in states that are typically Democratic.

That leaves out Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.  All have been strong conservatives.  None has shown any inclination for compromise.

Still the budget agreement is an indicator that Republicans are beginning to understand the path to their success is their willingness to reach agreement.  That ought to translate into agreement on the debt ceiling and immigration reform.

If the GOP says NO to those issues they can say goodbye to winning national elections.

Nelson Mandela

nelson-mandela-timelineThe overwhelming tribute to this man was a colossal mistake. I have attempted to read every article written about this man.  Not one article I have read tells us anything more than he was incarcerated for 27 years.  That he was a leader in the African National Congress.  That he was an inspiration to the Black people of South Africa.  He did not look for revenge but sought reconciliation.  All good things but do those things make him a great leader?  I do not believe that his contributions deserve the accolades that has received. I am not alone in this opinion. 

South Africa is in tatters.  Most of the black township areas consist of poor people who do not appear to have any path to better lives.  Thousands of White people have emigrated to other nations.

The New York Times March 22, 2012 article only begins to tell the story.  Anthony Bordain’s Parts Unknown on CNN shows some of the poverty.  Without an educated society there is little chance for progress.

Great speeches, smiles, and friendliness are wonderful attributes.  They alone do not make a great person.  This man’s accomplishments were few.  Black Africa needs a leader.  Perhaps this memorial will motivate someone to step forward to fill that position.

Sandy Hook Anniversary

This is the one year anniversary of the now well documented shooting at Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

Since the Sandy Hook tragedy (20 children and six adults killed by a deranged young man) there have been at least 19 similar events.  In addition gun violence in big cities continues.  All this in what many people say is the greatest nation in the world.  Apparently the access to guns and the “right” to have a gun takes priority to making the United States the safest nation in the world.

The American Skills Gap

The skills gap in U.S. manufacturing has hit a vast array of industries that are having trouble filling their workforce needs with properly trained workers who can step right in and help companies.

As an example, across the jobs spectrum in the laser industry, from designing equipment, to finding workers to install and repair laser machinery, to manufacturers that need skilled employees on the plant floor, the lack of workers with the necessary skills has become a major problem.

To believe an exhaustive new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the skill level of the American labor force is not merely slipping in comparison to that of its peers around the world, it has fallen dangerously behind.  A new OECD study finds that the US is well behind its global competitors in math, reading, and computer skills.

The highly skilled in the United States earn a much larger wage premium over unskilled workers than in most, if not all, other advanced nations, where regulations, unions and taxes tend to temper inequality. So if the rewards for skills are so high, why is the supply of skilled workers so sluggish?  The answer is not clear.

Socioeconomic status is a barrier. Not only is inequality particularly steep, little is done to redress the opportunity deficit of poorer students. Public investment in the early education of disadvantaged children is meager. Teachers are not paid very well, compared with other countries. And the best teachers tend to end up teaching in affluent schools.

To speed growth, we must close the widening skills gap that exists in all of our industries.  Washington lawmakers do not appear to be inclined to take the proactive lead that is necessary.  This means that large companies and industry organizations will have to take the lead.  That can be accomplished through lobbyists in the capitol or sponsoring training programs.  The question is will private industry take the lead when labor costs are so much lower in other nations?

Sources for this article is news.thomasnet.com/IMT/2013/12/10, The New York Times,OECD  

Rising riches: 1 in 5 in US reaches affluence

Despite all the tears shed over the income gap in the United States this article is a reason for hope.  Maybe you won’t become part of the 20% earning $250,000 or more but you just might find a path to recovery.

By HOPE YEN
From Associated Press
December 09, 2013 5:47 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fully 20 percent of U.S. adults become rich for parts of their lives, wielding extensive influence over America’s economy and politics, according to new survey data.

These “new rich,” made up largely of older professionals, working married couples and more educated singles, are becoming politically influential, and economists say their capacity to spend is key to the U.S. economic recovery. But their rise is also a sign of the nation’s continuing economic polarization.

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Leaked Document: Military Internment Camps in U.S. to be Used for Political Dissidents

Is this a real plot or is this the work of Youtube entertainers?  The link was at the end of a photo collection. The person sending me the photos apparently did not realize there is link at the end of the string of photographs.  Amazon is selling a copyrighted book titled “Internment And Resettlement Operations: Army Field Manual FM 3-39.40” for $10.80.  That would make this scary video a great sales tool.

Or is this real?

The Great American Society

Black Friday at the mallWhat a great society we live in, in the United States.  The Associated Press reported that Consumer borrowing rose $18.2 billion in October.

The article is a celebration of American’s willingness to go into further debt.  For October the report says seasonally adjusted debt has reached $3.08 trillion.

It’s all because we are a consumption society.  Whatever we want we buy.  We simply hand our credit card over to the clerk or enter the card number as we buy on-line.  All is well until the bank sends out our bill.  No problem that we spent six thousand dollars.  The minimum payment is only $129.00 per month.  We can handle that.

Businesses in the United States rely on this behavior.  Even as the economy was crashing in 2008 and 2009, the manufacturers and retailers knew that this troubled time would pass.

So here we go again.  After all it’s the poorly educated that continue on the same path.  Society does not know how to resolve the problem.  The Poorly Educated is partly the result of bad habits handed down from one generation to the next and the capabilities of those who are poor.  Not all of us can learn to be a doctor or do computer coding.  Not all of us are willing to put in the long hours necessary to make a small business thrive.  Few of us have the capabilities and good fortune to be a Bill Gates or Warren Buffett.

What we all can do is control our desire to spend so that we can provide our families with some financial security when the bad stuff happens.

Spend Today – Let Tomorrow be Someone Else’s Problem

I am exhausted by government mismanagement.  It’s not about Obamacare.  It’s about foolish spending at the state and local levels.

Here in California the EDD (Employment Development Department),  that is the department that pays unemployment insurance, they decided to implement a new computerized check paying system.  California paid Deloitte Consulting $62 million to develop EDD’s new computer system.  An estimated 148,000 people have experienced delays of up to four weeks in receiving their payments due to computer glitches.

The Los Angeles DWP implemented a new billing system in October of this year.  Thousands of people received bills that were double their normal charges.  Some received bills one half their normal charges.  When those receiving incorrect overcharges refused to pay they were threatened with shutoff notices.

A retired DWP construction worker volunteered his retirement benefit to me, $6,000 per month.  Stunned, I said nothing.  The DWP has a powerful union.

Meanwhile Chicago officials, as they often do, turned to borrowing to relieve the financial pressure. This time they used taxable bonds with high interest rates, making the ultimate price tag even bigger.  A $12 million bill related to disabled parking will be paid off in 2039 for at least $30 million.  The Chicago Tribune found that the mayor’s boasting of tough choices amounts to selling taxable bonds to cover day-to-day expenses.  Long after he is gone the bill for retirement benefits will come due.  With a declining population (in the 1950s it was 3.5 million people, today the population is 2.5 million) this city may be the next Detroit.

Saving for Retirement

Living in one of the highest cost of living cities in the nation made saving for retirement a very difficult task.  Los Angeles-Long Beach California had a composite index of 136.4% on 2010.  The issue is the cost of housing.  That is 207.1% or more than twice the national average.  Costs for other things like food, utilities, and transportation are just slightly over the national average.  A middle class income left little for savings.

Even if you don’t live on the Pacific coast or in Manhattan you are probably unprepared to meet retirement expenses.  That is the results according to a survey by Fidelity Investments.

The problem with this survey is the sponsor.  Fidelity Investments wants to encourage you to increase your savings rate because managing savings investments is their business.

We live in a consumption economy.  The stores keep trying to sell you the latest, greatest whatever.  There is hardly a day that does not have a Macy’s ad in the newspaper.  Internet web sites all have links to the things you probably didn’t know you needed.  The credit card only helps you to buy the stuff you really do not need.

Ban credit cards in your house. Shop at Sears and Penney’s.  Stay out of Macy’s, Lord and Taylor’s, and Nordstrom’s.

Before you pay a single bill each month pay yourself in the form of a fixed amount of savings.