I have not been blogging for a while. Sorry. I have like 5 saved drafts. Most of the time I see a cool article I want to talk or rant about. Make a draft with a note or two and then never get back to it. This one caught my eye, and I am actually going to follow through.
7 Numbers that Show How Most Americans Were Robbed of a Comfortable Retirement: Millions of baby boomers are the victims of 35 years of deregulated greed
First off, deregulated? Noting in America has or is deregulated. Nothing. Everything, and I mean everything is regulated in America. Everything. But lets move on.
I am not saying any of this is false or a lie or not true or fictional or made up. It might be, I just don't know enough to know it's percentage of accuracy or inaccuracy. I suspect each of these "7" things has some bit of truth to them. I just think that the situation as it is, is not just the fault of the fat cat evil banker slash rich person. Bankers are one of the party's we need to blame, but not the sole bad guy in this.
So who is to blame?
I think the actions and in-actions of Congress and the Executive and the Fed Res (over the last few decades and last few years) have all had a hand in the dwindling of the vast majorities of America's savings and retirements.What to see where your money went? Take a look at where your purchasing power went (here). Back to Fed Gov blame. Dodd-Frank? Come on. For those of us in aviation that bill or regulation (or what AlterNet calls deregulation) is what is known as FOD (Foreign Object Debris, or the shit that makes airplanes fall out of the sky for you civvie types). That bill was written by Wall Street for Wall Street and the more you learn about it the more you learn it's sole purpose in life is to protect Wall Street and throw a little tiny scrap bone to the common man. It doesn't regulate Wall Street it regulates Main Street.
So who else is to blame? I think that each person has to take some of the blame. You know, personal responsibility. Now that is something that has been regulated almost out of existence by state and federal governments. Spending habits, consumerism, saving habits or lack there of. Too many people put so many of how ever many or few eggs they have in one basket. They are all in the stock market. That is a recipe for disaster. Not only that, but they are so ignorant of how things work. I am not saying I am an expert, but I know enough to know I don't know much and I know more than the average dude or dudet. They are in to pension funds, and have no idea where or who manages those funds. 401K, what's that? Roth IRA, what's that? They could be driving their Prius to a weekend protest against the XL pipeline, and 30% of their retirement fund could be in big oil. At least buy an Apple product, many large funds and pension programs hold AAPL. But then you're back to eggs and baskets.
Anyway, this article had some good points. And obviously it is one very left-progressive point of view. Hmmm. Why doesn't the federal government get into the retirement business? Oh wait, they are, its called social security, it's sad, outdated, unsustainable and they are still looking for where Al Gore buried that "lock box." He put all his eggs in APPL and made out like a bandit. (this author is jealous) Then bought a shitty left wing media company, pretty much idled it for a few years and sold it to the terrorists for a fat, fat, FAT profit. THOSE DAMN 1%ERS!!! Back to Al Jazera, at least they like to tell the truth occasionally, mixed in with their agenda, unlike our state sponsored media. I digress. As I sometimes do. Well, maybe they, the Fed Gov, should double down on a retirement program for the people. Isn't that always the left-liberal-progressive solution? If something is failing and on a big ass scale, pour more money into it, on a big ass scale. (healthcare) But this time, they can use "the peoples" money. (healthcare) Wait, what? They have that? Oh yeah, it's that silly MyRA* (another fact sheet here) thing Obama pitched the other day. How about this "crazy" idea, you might need a tin foil hat to understand this. It's just a slick scheme to get the"working class American people" to buy more of Americas debt. By the time they get any money back with interest, the other type of interest will have made the principle plus interest worth less then the principle they started with. Oh, and the main stream money people love the idea. It keeps their scheme going as well. I hate it when our projected reality makes the Matrix look like a good deal.
* I am semi in favor of this idea I just think it is a Dollar Spot quality band aid for a compound fracture and it's a distraction from other real and big and real big problems.
Anyway, this has been a semi-quasi-unintellectual rant, but I am sure some of you started this article with that preconception. I hope some of you, or even one of you, got something out of it. At least it didn't cost you anything, except time.
Peace.
Oh, you scrolled down this far? Observant. Or lucky.
Here is some last minute (unsolicited) advice: Land, food production and preservation, personal
protection, lessen your reliance on the grid and fossil fuels, a modest and efficient house, little to
no debt, live with in your means, silver, maybe some gold, cash, savings and some, and I mean some, money in the
market. It's all a balancing act of eggs and baskets. But what do I know? Or what don't you know?
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
I totally agree with Elizabeth Warren
No, you did not read the title of this post incorrectly, I totally agree with Elizabeth Warren. Not on everything. I don't even agree with myself on everything, from day to day. I still don't like her much, don't agree with her on most things, and think she is an over all danger to the future of our country, but on this one thing, at this time, I agree with her.
So, what is this magical thing she said or did that I agree with? Allowing the United States Postal Serivice to be a bank/credit union.
Exhibit One
Exhibit Two
Exhibit Three
Yep. That's it. Here's why. She, they, make a good point that the poorest of us, what ever number of income you wnat to go with, I don't care. They, spend a good amount of their money, getting their money. They, use check cashing services and pay day loans just to operate in life. I don't know if they actually have other options, but lets just say they don't. They, spend like 10% of a paycheck just to cash a paycheck. That is a little high. They, spend double and some times triple digits on interest for a few hundred dollar loan, due in a few weeks. That, is semi criminal high. Now, imagine if they, could go to the post office and chash their checks. Maybe for free, maybe for 1%. Now imagine if they, could get that $250 loan for 5% or 10%. They, have a fairly good rate of paying back the pay day loan people. You can only burn the bridge once, why not. If you don't pay, then the next time you want your check cashed, you would, and the next time you wanted a loan at a reasonable rate, you would. Why no let the USPS get that 1% fee and that 5% interest. Why not let the USPS shine a little by helping out those in our nation that could use some help to conduct business of life? I see no down side to this, but I am sure there are some.
Now, for all you who are like the USPS is going broke, loosing money all that. I agree. I agree 110%. But, the idots we contiue to elect over and over are going to keep the USPS alive. They will pour, dump, trickle, shovel money to keep it alive. They will not let it die. It is going to stay around. So, while it is here, why not let it try to make some money some other proven ways? Then instead of trying to regulate the check cashing and pay day loan people out of bussines, give the people a viable alternative. Then the shady guys might have to change their rates and or bussiness practices. Could happen.
Again, the USPS is going to be around, regardless if they are raking in the profits or bleeding our tax dollars. They missed the boat on email. A your.name@usps.com could have been on par with yahoo.com and gmail.com, but they missed that boat. This is something that could turn the Titanic that is the USPS around. I might just be heading toward another iceberg, but at least we could get a few more people off before then.
Peace, and buy forever stamps, because regardless, the price of a stamp is only ever going to go up.
So, what is this magical thing she said or did that I agree with? Allowing the United States Postal Serivice to be a bank/credit union.
Exhibit One
Exhibit Two
Exhibit Three
Yep. That's it. Here's why. She, they, make a good point that the poorest of us, what ever number of income you wnat to go with, I don't care. They, spend a good amount of their money, getting their money. They, use check cashing services and pay day loans just to operate in life. I don't know if they actually have other options, but lets just say they don't. They, spend like 10% of a paycheck just to cash a paycheck. That is a little high. They, spend double and some times triple digits on interest for a few hundred dollar loan, due in a few weeks. That, is semi criminal high. Now, imagine if they, could go to the post office and chash their checks. Maybe for free, maybe for 1%. Now imagine if they, could get that $250 loan for 5% or 10%. They, have a fairly good rate of paying back the pay day loan people. You can only burn the bridge once, why not. If you don't pay, then the next time you want your check cashed, you would, and the next time you wanted a loan at a reasonable rate, you would. Why no let the USPS get that 1% fee and that 5% interest. Why not let the USPS shine a little by helping out those in our nation that could use some help to conduct business of life? I see no down side to this, but I am sure there are some.
Now, for all you who are like the USPS is going broke, loosing money all that. I agree. I agree 110%. But, the idots we contiue to elect over and over are going to keep the USPS alive. They will pour, dump, trickle, shovel money to keep it alive. They will not let it die. It is going to stay around. So, while it is here, why not let it try to make some money some other proven ways? Then instead of trying to regulate the check cashing and pay day loan people out of bussines, give the people a viable alternative. Then the shady guys might have to change their rates and or bussiness practices. Could happen.
Again, the USPS is going to be around, regardless if they are raking in the profits or bleeding our tax dollars. They missed the boat on email. A your.name@usps.com could have been on par with yahoo.com and gmail.com, but they missed that boat. This is something that could turn the Titanic that is the USPS around. I might just be heading toward another iceberg, but at least we could get a few more people off before then.
Peace, and buy forever stamps, because regardless, the price of a stamp is only ever going to go up.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Lazy Link Post
I am being lazy. There is much to talk/rant about, but I don't feel it is worth the effort today.
This whole Cristy thing is an MSM frenzy about nothing. It's a opportunity for Hilary's numbers to raise and the MSM is all over that. I mean the chance to back back to back "historic" Democratic Presidents. First the first black, now maybe the first woman. They got to help her no matter the cost. Ignore Benghazi, but this bridge closer thing, yeah it's pretty much disqualifies Cristy for 2016. Who ever the R horse is in the race, I will mildly support them only because they are the lesser of two evils. But make no mistake, both choices will be evil. I will vote Libertairan or not vote. I allready know the D does not, can not and will not represent me or my beliefs or my interests, never mind the what is best for the country or the constitution, and for an R to get my vote, I don't even know what they would have to say or do for me to believe them never mind vote for them. In a rigged system, the only solution is to opt out.
Wow that little paragraph turned into an apathetic voting rant. Interesting.
Continuing on the Liberal criticism, simply they are currently in charge and effing things up, never mind the sheer amount of material to work with is endless, this was a good read.
The era of Gesture Liberalism is at hand.
As always, enjoy, or don't.
This whole Cristy thing is an MSM frenzy about nothing. It's a opportunity for Hilary's numbers to raise and the MSM is all over that. I mean the chance to back back to back "historic" Democratic Presidents. First the first black, now maybe the first woman. They got to help her no matter the cost. Ignore Benghazi, but this bridge closer thing, yeah it's pretty much disqualifies Cristy for 2016. Who ever the R horse is in the race, I will mildly support them only because they are the lesser of two evils. But make no mistake, both choices will be evil. I will vote Libertairan or not vote. I allready know the D does not, can not and will not represent me or my beliefs or my interests, never mind the what is best for the country or the constitution, and for an R to get my vote, I don't even know what they would have to say or do for me to believe them never mind vote for them. In a rigged system, the only solution is to opt out.
Wow that little paragraph turned into an apathetic voting rant. Interesting.
Continuing on the Liberal criticism, simply they are currently in charge and effing things up, never mind the sheer amount of material to work with is endless, this was a good read.
The era of Gesture Liberalism is at hand.
As always, enjoy, or don't.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
New Years Potpourri Post
This was going to be a short post. Like most of my posts, it started out
with a quick little idea. This one started off while I was listening to
the morning “news” on the “radio.” They were saying how the new Fed
chick (her name is Janet L. Yellen), the first woman to hold the position, historic hype, is going to
be a breath of fresh air at the Fed. That alone was enough to discredit
those who deserve no credit to begin with. I mean come one, the most
reported trait she has is how much she is going to be like the Ben Bernanke. That's what inspired my joke. Here it is. She is so much like
the former Fed Chairman she will most likely grow a very groomed very
grey beard by the end of her first year. One that would be worthy of accompanying that lovely gray mane of hers. That was it, that was my joke. It was way more funny in my head.
Kind of like the Federal Reserve, it is one giant bad joke. The other point that has been brought up over and over and it will be
touched on at the end of this blog, is the historic-ness of the first
time any person on thing happens. All I can think of now when I hear
that said is the line from the fine animated feature length move
“The Incredibles.” “When everyone's super, no one will be.” We are to
that point. If we try to make everything historic, nothing is historic.
And that is the case with the new Fed Res Chair. Not super, not special, not
historic.
Moving on, past my bad jokes. This post also serves as a proof of life post. I am still alive, and like I have said, I think many times before, it is not due to lack of material to blog about that this blog goes unserviced. Let’s take a peek at a few topics.
ObamaCare. A mess by design. A mess due to incompetence. A mess because no one wants to tell the King or anyone one close to him, that the magic thread is really not magic at all, it fact it’s a straight up lie. A few things I want to know is how the DSH and the Whitehouse can change this law as they go along. That part has not been explained to me, and most likely never will. I am guessing it was little bits of “at the discretion of the Director” or “at the discretion of the President” written into the law by the dutiful Dems to cover their asses. I wonder if any of them even know those caveats were in there, seeing they didn’t read it before they passed it. This is all a stepping stone to a single paying (that single payer being the United States Government via me and you, the tax payer). The more this fails, the better single payer looks. Again, failure by design.
Taking money from middle age military retirees. A.K.A., ME! The one percent reduction in cola for military retirees before they are 65. That is me. That is me in a very short number of years. That is money directly out of my wallet. I wish they would take a little piece of all these alleged valuable benefits I am told I have instead of taking away actual dollars. It is only going to get worse. They know they can chip away at Vets and we will “Solider” on. I have had a 20 plus year agreement/contract with the government of the United States via the United States Navy. I held up my end, I expected them to do the same. Unfortunately, I expect nothing less from the shitty representation in the Legislative and Executive branches that we currently have, to take away from me, while fighting to give more and more to those who have no such contract and have given no service or sacrifice for their entitlements and or benefits. It is both sad and infuriating and will only get worse. Stand by for Bonus Army Redux.
Hillary “Benghazi” Clinton. The last thought I had on my drive into work was this: Hillary 2016. I know, if that is the thoughts that I have, there could be something wrong with me. Anyways. It is time for a woman President. Even my six year old daughter who knows very little about our government and our Presidency has asked many time why their has been no women Presidents. We might even be over due for a woman president. But it is not time, and more importantly, it will never be time for Hillary “Benghazi” Clinton to be that woman. I mean if it is a woman or if it is another man, if they are from the Republican or Democratic Party, like she said, “What difference, at this point, does it make?” They, he or she, will just keep us trucking down the road to destruction with less freedom and more tyranny along the way. They will inherit a massive and growing pile of shit. I guess the best we can now hope for is the taking responsibility and not a constant drum beat of blame the predecessor. Shake the eight ball until you get a negative response, and that's most likely the truth.
So, Happy New Year. Peace.
Moving on, past my bad jokes. This post also serves as a proof of life post. I am still alive, and like I have said, I think many times before, it is not due to lack of material to blog about that this blog goes unserviced. Let’s take a peek at a few topics.
ObamaCare. A mess by design. A mess due to incompetence. A mess because no one wants to tell the King or anyone one close to him, that the magic thread is really not magic at all, it fact it’s a straight up lie. A few things I want to know is how the DSH and the Whitehouse can change this law as they go along. That part has not been explained to me, and most likely never will. I am guessing it was little bits of “at the discretion of the Director” or “at the discretion of the President” written into the law by the dutiful Dems to cover their asses. I wonder if any of them even know those caveats were in there, seeing they didn’t read it before they passed it. This is all a stepping stone to a single paying (that single payer being the United States Government via me and you, the tax payer). The more this fails, the better single payer looks. Again, failure by design.
Taking money from middle age military retirees. A.K.A., ME! The one percent reduction in cola for military retirees before they are 65. That is me. That is me in a very short number of years. That is money directly out of my wallet. I wish they would take a little piece of all these alleged valuable benefits I am told I have instead of taking away actual dollars. It is only going to get worse. They know they can chip away at Vets and we will “Solider” on. I have had a 20 plus year agreement/contract with the government of the United States via the United States Navy. I held up my end, I expected them to do the same. Unfortunately, I expect nothing less from the shitty representation in the Legislative and Executive branches that we currently have, to take away from me, while fighting to give more and more to those who have no such contract and have given no service or sacrifice for their entitlements and or benefits. It is both sad and infuriating and will only get worse. Stand by for Bonus Army Redux.
Hillary “Benghazi” Clinton. The last thought I had on my drive into work was this: Hillary 2016. I know, if that is the thoughts that I have, there could be something wrong with me. Anyways. It is time for a woman President. Even my six year old daughter who knows very little about our government and our Presidency has asked many time why their has been no women Presidents. We might even be over due for a woman president. But it is not time, and more importantly, it will never be time for Hillary “Benghazi” Clinton to be that woman. I mean if it is a woman or if it is another man, if they are from the Republican or Democratic Party, like she said, “What difference, at this point, does it make?” They, he or she, will just keep us trucking down the road to destruction with less freedom and more tyranny along the way. They will inherit a massive and growing pile of shit. I guess the best we can now hope for is the taking responsibility and not a constant drum beat of blame the predecessor. Shake the eight ball until you get a negative response, and that's most likely the truth.
So, Happy New Year. Peace.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
On Slacking and Slackers
I am kind of feeling a bit lazy of late. Kind of slacking one could say. Been reading a lot, on the net and actual books. I'm kinda in a mood today. Not a bad mood, just a mood. Instead of inteligently ranting on a subject as I normally do here at TOA. I am going to let someone else do that.
Peace.
Confederacy of Slackers
Peace.
Confederacy of Slackers
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Musings on Immigration
I will try to keep this short. (I've never said that before, I know...)
Men and Women like this need some sort of legitimacy. They need it so they can go back to where ever it is they came from and see their families, take care of business, what ever, and then come back and work. They need it so they can be protected under our laws, or maybe some sort of special laws for temp workers. Kind of like a military Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA for us in the know. They need it so they can be differentiated from the people who are trying to immigrate to this country legally and illegally. They need it for lots of reasons.
I love the fact that she said there and never Americans working in the fields. That one always made me laugh. No American is getting a pink slip from picking strawberrys because some Mexican took their job. I agree with her that their needs to be better pay. If all fresh fruit and vegitables were 10% more expensive tomorow, and I knew that money was actually going to go to the workers, I would happily pay it. But, I know that most if not all hikes in prices will be eaten up along the chain somewhere before it gets to the worker.
I know some of you are going to be like "what chu talking about TOA?" Well, just look at our country. TOA is not anti immigrant, he was an immigrant. Well, not me, I am the voice of TOA, I am talking about the people who came to this land and made this country. The original Orthodox Americans. Or the ones who took it over from the natives, but we are not talking about that today. Look how America came to have all the types of people it has. I just heard a storty about a typical day in the early 1900s on Elis Island. There were some days where 10,000 were proccesed through. On most days it was 5,000. Now look at ObamaCare, they can't even handle 6 people a day on the freaking internet! Maybe they should get some pencils and paper and set up some islands. Nah, you can't fix broke that easy. At least not something broke that big. I digress, kinda.
So, my solution, does it matter? I could have the best solution in the world, and it will never be considered or implemented. Congress with either do something stupid or do nothing at all.
I take that back. I do have suggestions. This could start being fixed by holding business feet to the fire. They can't give money to a worker who does not have the proper documentation. Make that documentation much easier to get. You hire someone with out, your whole chain of command from the person who hired to the CEO goes to jail. For even as something as short as a week or a month. That shit would stop right quick. Then knowing they can't get hired with out documentation, all workers would seek out getting said documentation. They would seek legitimacy, imagine that. So obviously it is the immigration system that is massively broke now since most seek illegitimacy. With little fear of the system. There will always be a black market and under the table, but most major farms and plants, would abide. Another idea would be to have a sponsor that would have to be held responcible for your actions. You and your guest would have to report to someone, kind of like a parole situation. Hey, it's just an idea, and I would probably have lots of problems with any situation they set up. But as far as I can tell, my 10 minutes of brain storming with myself is just as good or better then anything Congress has done in 40 or 50 years. Booya!
Peace Out, and it was not that short. I stopped, I could have gone on for much longer.
P.S. What really pisses me off is the American citizens who sit on their couches and do nothing and get free government money and services. There are jobs out there. I bet you can get a job in a field somewhere in America any day of the year. But many, or even most, who are on the government tit are too proud or lazy or have a million other excuses why they can't or won't do what this woman has done for going on 20 years. Maybe if there was no welfare or food stamps or Obama Phones, there would be more Americans in those fields working beside her. No effing excuse!
Men and Women like this need some sort of legitimacy. They need it so they can go back to where ever it is they came from and see their families, take care of business, what ever, and then come back and work. They need it so they can be protected under our laws, or maybe some sort of special laws for temp workers. Kind of like a military Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA for us in the know. They need it so they can be differentiated from the people who are trying to immigrate to this country legally and illegally. They need it for lots of reasons.
I love the fact that she said there and never Americans working in the fields. That one always made me laugh. No American is getting a pink slip from picking strawberrys because some Mexican took their job. I agree with her that their needs to be better pay. If all fresh fruit and vegitables were 10% more expensive tomorow, and I knew that money was actually going to go to the workers, I would happily pay it. But, I know that most if not all hikes in prices will be eaten up along the chain somewhere before it gets to the worker.
I know some of you are going to be like "what chu talking about TOA?" Well, just look at our country. TOA is not anti immigrant, he was an immigrant. Well, not me, I am the voice of TOA, I am talking about the people who came to this land and made this country. The original Orthodox Americans. Or the ones who took it over from the natives, but we are not talking about that today. Look how America came to have all the types of people it has. I just heard a storty about a typical day in the early 1900s on Elis Island. There were some days where 10,000 were proccesed through. On most days it was 5,000. Now look at ObamaCare, they can't even handle 6 people a day on the freaking internet! Maybe they should get some pencils and paper and set up some islands. Nah, you can't fix broke that easy. At least not something broke that big. I digress, kinda.
So, my solution, does it matter? I could have the best solution in the world, and it will never be considered or implemented. Congress with either do something stupid or do nothing at all.
I take that back. I do have suggestions. This could start being fixed by holding business feet to the fire. They can't give money to a worker who does not have the proper documentation. Make that documentation much easier to get. You hire someone with out, your whole chain of command from the person who hired to the CEO goes to jail. For even as something as short as a week or a month. That shit would stop right quick. Then knowing they can't get hired with out documentation, all workers would seek out getting said documentation. They would seek legitimacy, imagine that. So obviously it is the immigration system that is massively broke now since most seek illegitimacy. With little fear of the system. There will always be a black market and under the table, but most major farms and plants, would abide. Another idea would be to have a sponsor that would have to be held responcible for your actions. You and your guest would have to report to someone, kind of like a parole situation. Hey, it's just an idea, and I would probably have lots of problems with any situation they set up. But as far as I can tell, my 10 minutes of brain storming with myself is just as good or better then anything Congress has done in 40 or 50 years. Booya!
Peace Out, and it was not that short. I stopped, I could have gone on for much longer.
P.S. What really pisses me off is the American citizens who sit on their couches and do nothing and get free government money and services. There are jobs out there. I bet you can get a job in a field somewhere in America any day of the year. But many, or even most, who are on the government tit are too proud or lazy or have a million other excuses why they can't or won't do what this woman has done for going on 20 years. Maybe if there was no welfare or food stamps or Obama Phones, there would be more Americans in those fields working beside her. No effing excuse!
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