BloggeRhythms 11/30/2012

As regular readers know, I spend considerable time reading up on how our government functions on  a practical level, because I can’t believe some of the stuff I find. And what I truly can’t understand is how much of our population, who I assume must be aware of how inefficient, poorly managed and inept most bureaucrats are, just sit there and let these boobs fritter away all those hard-earned bucks collected from taxpayers, yet don’t utter a peep. 

 

What’s more, at the moment, while the administration's demanding tax-hikes on the rich because $16 trillion in debt isn’t enough to pay for what ‘s being spent, I wonder how many of those being bled by D.C. have seen the following article posted on Drudge this AM, titled “End of the Dollar Bill.”

 

What intrigued me most wasn’t the fact that the government wants to do away with the paper buck, an idea I greatly dislike because I surely don’t want to lug the change around, but the number that jumped off the page regarding the “savings” of employing coins. Because according to the writer Kevin Freking of the Associated Press: 

 

“American consumers have shown about as much appetite for the $1 coin as kids do their spinach. They may not know what's best for them either. Congressional auditors say doing away with dollar bills entirely and replacing them with dollar coins could save taxpayers some $4.4 billion over the next 30 years.”

 

Now, when I saw the number $4.4 billion saved over thirty years I did a quick calculation that shows the annual cost of  printing dollar bills is apparently $146,666,666.70. And what that prompts me to ask is, if the government spends almost $150 million per annum just to print singles, what kind of manufacturing process do they use?

 

For that kind of expenditure I’d have to guess they produce each dollar by hand utilizing a few thousand artists, or have forty or fifty guys running each press instead of only one like every other private printer in the business. Or perhaps, the pressman get lots of perks such as free health care for themselves and all their relations, a six week paid vacation and a couple of award trips to Vegas, along with a retirement plan that kicks in after three years on the job at two and a half times highest earnings. And naturally, they have to be able to stay in touch with the world, so add a free Blackberry to boot.

 

As for me, I think this article comes at a perfect time whereas the dreaded fiscal cliff is pending imminently. And if this is what the government does with what it already collects, and now claims to need more from the rich to make ends meet, I hope the tax hikes are enacted. And then, I further pray that those affected don’t actually remit a dime when due, but stand fast as a group and yell “sue me,” while the administration goes flat broke like it ought to.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/29/2012

For the past few days, I’ve been covering the ridiculous position the administration’s taken by insisting on tax hikes on the “rich” whereas the only one’s who’ll suffer are the government itself and the fifty percent of the nation that’s dependent on it, because the successful will take care of themselves as they always have in the past.

 

In that regard, Patti Domm, of CNBC on-line reported this morning that “Companies are racing the clock to hand out billions in special dividends before year end—and some of them are taking on debt to do it. The latest is Costco which announced a $7-a-share payout to stockholders Wednesday and is issuing bonds to pay for the $3 billion dividend.”

 

Now, Costco is only one of hundreds of big businesses doing exactly the same thing, which means it’s likely hundreds of billions, and perhaps also the close to a trillion in off-shore holdings, will now be immediately distributed to investors because its cheaper to distribute those funds now than to pay the anticipated increase in taxes if the money were kept in the businesses themselves, including funds presently stored overseas.

 

So, it looks to me like what we have here is a double whammy in monumental ignorance compounded by outright gross stupidity in money management by the incumbent and his advisors, if any. Because not only won’t the government, as well as many of the incumbent’s constituents, get anywhere near what they hoped from tax hikes, but the entire gross national product will shrink next year because the corporate goal is now to get smaller to reduce tax exposure. Therefore the nation will go backward economically even faster, reducing tax revenues further.

 

But, the most important point to me is, the one I’ve been trying to make for weeks now. And that point is that the government's no match for the entrepreneurs, movers, shakers and doers that made this economy what it is. And those who produce and pay the bills aren’t going to sit still while some clown who’s clueless leads a band of morons in search of deep pockets to fund their survival. And what’s more, this battle didn’t even start yet.

 

So, if just for openers, we have the top business money-makers taking funds out of the economy hand over fist even before the tax game really begins, what do you think will happen when they start really planning? 

 

While I have no clue at the moment as to what comes next for most businessfolks, my guess is we’ll soon see the incumbent sitting in a corner babbling to himself and drooling, as he wonders if entering a battle of wits unarmed is one of the wisest things he’s undertaken.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/28/2012

Well, gee whiz. While scanning Drudge this morning, what did I see? An article by Robert Winnett from the U.K.s The Telegraph on-line regarding taxation in Britain, that includes among other items that “In the 2009-10 tax year, more than 16,000 people declared an annual income of more than £1 million to HM Revenue and Customs.”

 

He goes on to report that “This number fell to just 6,000 after Gordon Brown introduced the new 50p top rate of income tax shortly before the last general election.

 

The figures have been seized upon by the Conservatives to claim that increasing the highest rate of tax actually led to a loss in revenues for the Government. 

 

It is believed that rich Britons moved abroad or took steps to avoid paying the new levy by reducing their taxable incomes.”

 

For me, the timing of this news couldn’t be more perfect, especially after my Monday entry which included the likes of Vladimir Putin moving toward free markets, low tax rates and incentives to spur Russian economic activity while the U.S. administration continues to stifle any hopes of growth via policies that almost insure failure.

 

In that regard, what I've kept repeating recently is my complete and utter confusion as to why the incumbent is so intent on fostering hatred of his predecessor in office. And even if that goal was a valid premise, how does it make sense to kill any chance of economic success when every historic example to date illustrates that attempting to strip the assets of the ”rich” simply doesn’t work, never has and never will in the long run?  

 

However, I guess that’s what happens when one’s in too far over their heads, lacking the experience and background required for critical decision-making in unfamiliar subjects such as economics, taxation, business theory and application, and basic budgeting. 

 

Nonetheless, I’d think that anyone really seeking performance improvement, even at far lower levels of management and policy development, would truly seek the help of qualified experts rather than holding meaningless meetings simply for show with no intention of changing course. But, I suppose when your goal has nothing to do with what you claim is your purpose, and your aim is total destruction of those you fear and abhor, it looks like reversing the succesful path of a nation is simply a casualty of class warfare.

 

That's it for today folks

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/27/2012

Yesterday, I included part of an article by a soviet writer citing parallels to former Russian political ideology that he claims prove that the U.S. presidential incumbent is a practicing communist. However, although I thought his conclusion interesting, I think he’s wrong.

 

While it’s no doubt true that are very strong similarities between the flaws in communist theory that served to greatly depress those nations employing it’s doctrine and those introduced here by the current administration, I don’t really believe our leader has ideological goals. In fact, I doubt he cares about any particular theory at all.

 

To me it seems the goal is simply that there are great benefits to those in power when they dumb down the voting public, increase governmental powers and incent reliance on themselves and their cohorts from the largest segment of the population as possible. And that’s pretty much what’s going on here now.

 

For example, if you can make deals with union leaders who control masses of members, you need only to grease the wheels of a few to capture the support of many at the voting booths. And if you can reduce the quality of education by lowering standards for teachers, while influencing curriculums and distorting historical facts  as well, you have then built an additional base of supporters. Add to that increased welfare benefits, longer term unemployment stipends, free food, cell phones and health care and pretty soon, half the nation blindly falls in line when you need their support, and is pleased to provide payback.

 

So, looking at each issue above among many others, and the careful steps taken in each, I don’t really see a deep-rooted political philosophy at play here as much as an extension of hard-core Chicago politics. The kind that go back to JFK and Sam Giancana where there were no holds barred and votes got delivered by any method that could be thought of, because nobody cared about theories, all they wanted was the power and insurance of a win.

 

However, now that I’ve written this, a question just popped into my head. And that query is: Where’s JFK now and what happened to him?

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/26/2012

Some very disheartening events taking place today, one of which is the likes of Lindsey Graham and Peter King, hard-core conservatives, now saying among others that some tax hikes might be acceptable to them in exchange for serious steps in entitlement reform.  Their goal is avoiding next year’s dreaded “fiscal cliff.”

 

As for myself, I couldn’t disagree with them more on this subject whereas I see it as a no-win situation should they acquiesce.

 

First and foremost the hikes are being demanded for absolutely no reason except for Dem’s hatred of “W” Bush, and consequently will further sink a faltering economy making things far worse. Next, as I’ve mentioned frequently over the past few weeks, the most successful among us will significantly avoid the increased taxation via creativity and knowledge, while the slackers and leeches will recede economically further, unable to help themselves. So, who will they blame for their destitution?  This time around  I think they’ll point at the incumbent. But, let’s say they don’t.

 

One thing I learned through very successful survival in a highly competitive and fast moving business is that incompetents don’t last very long. And therefore in crucial tests versus others who might be vying for my job, or perhaps trying to win a transaction with a client, or even just attempting to better themselves in any serious way at my expense, when I got any sense that they might be drowning in their effort…I threw them all the water I could gather.

 

So, I think Republicans should simply back off, ignore the “cliff” altogether and let the tax hikes take place. They know full well, as I do, that that will reverse the nation’s economic situation, and when that happens go full bore to insure that even the dumbest and most worthless among us learns who’s at fault. And, as he drowns, keep pouring more.  

 

And on that very subject, although I never thought in my wildest imagination I’d ever use a Russian media outlet to help prove a point, here’s an excerpt from pravda.ru by Xavier Lerma that’s right on the money, (no pun intended.) I found it on Drudge this very morning.

 

“Putin in 2009 outlined his strategy for economic success. Alas, poor Obama did the opposite but nevertheless was re-elected. Bye, bye Miss American Pie. The Communists have won in America with Obama but failed miserably in Russia with  Zyuganov who only received 17% of the vote. Vladimir Putin was re-elected as President keeping the NWO order out of Russia while America continues to repeat the Soviet mistake.

 

Recently, Obama has been re-elected for a 2nd term by an illiterate society and he is ready to continue his lies of less taxes while he raises them. He gives speeches of peace and love in the world while he promotes wars as he did in Egypt, Libya and Syria. He plans his next war is with Iran as he fires or demotes his generals who get in the way.

 

Well, any normal individual understands that as true, but liberalism is a psychosis. O'bomber even keeps the war going along the Mexican border with projects like "fast and furious" and there is still no sign of ending it.  He is a Communist without question promoting the Communist Manifesto without calling it so. How shrewd he is in America. His cult of personality mesmerizes those who cannot go beyond their ignorance. They will continue to follow him like those fools who still praise Lenin and Stalin in Russia.  Obama's fools and Stalin's fools share the same drink of illusion.”

 

So, I guess for me regarding Pravda, the old adage is true that says something like: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/25/2012

In keeping with the theme of the past few days, I was planning to continue my thought that the reelected incumbent hadn’t grown into the massive responsibility off his job an iota. And today, was going to present the premise that instead of continuing along a path of ignorant blind hatred of conservative Republican policy as the keystone of fiscal strategy, perhaps it might be best for the nation, and even himself as a leader, to finally learn how the economy really works. Including the colossal harm wrought by raising taxes on the small businesses that drive our nation’s economic success.

 

And were he to absorb the knowledge needed to improve overall economic results, and grasp the fact that rising tides tend to raise all boats, he could then go out and even take some credit for himself --by educating his hard-core constituents as to what’s needed to improve their fiscal lot in life and helping enable them to help themselves. However, that’s not going to be the case as he much prefers promoting divisiveness, manufacturing causes for hatred and keeping the mass of his followers in the intellectual dark.

 

And then while perusing headlines on Drudge just now, I came across an article in Friday’s, The Washington Post , by Rahm Emanuel, Democrat Mayor of Chicago and White House chief of staff from January 2009 to October 2010, who wrote:

 

“Too much post-election analysis has focused on voter demographics and campaign mechanics, leaving Democrats in danger of drawing the wrong lessons from our electoral success.

 

Demographics alone are not destiny. There is nothing in this year’s election returns that guarantees Democrats a permanent majority in the years to come. President Obama and the Democratic Party earned the support of key groups — young people, single women, Latinos, African Americans, auto workers in the Rust Belt and millions of other middle-class Americans — because of our ideas.”

 

It was then that I nearly fell out of my chair as I screamed “what ideas?” to myself. But then I reconsidered because I guess the Dem’s actually do have some, whereas fear-mongering, creating false demons, and constructing outright lies regarding opponents do take some thought and planning. 

 

However, as I recall, their victory stemmed from promises to strip the assets from the rich, redistribute them to provide the wherewithal for the unemployed, hopeless, and brain dead, and just about insure their followers a free ride without a hint of what to expect when that re-appropriated treasure’s gone. 

 

So, even though Mayor Emanuel took me down another road, he was close enough to my subject for today to help me make my point which is: How incredibly damaging it is when you either don’t understand what you’re doing while responsible for others, or worse, purposefully mislead them. And it looks to me like Chicago, possibly the most corrupt city there is, just took a turn for the worse.

 

That’s  it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/24/2012

My entry for yesterday got me thinking further about how little the incumbent knows about how our economy works, or worse, perhaps a purposeful plan to do the nation significant fiscal damage.

 

But rather than going down some road of dire negative speculation, let’s assume ignorance is the cause of his horrendous fiscal mistakes and not some devious plot of ruination of the successful among us.

 

That premise reminded me again of things that took place in my own career, and how many times various experiences not only helped me succeed, but provided a path to benefitting others. And to this day, I recall clearly my initiation into the equipment leasing and financing business.

 

My previous experience entailed the sale, rental and financing of fork lift trucks, which on their own are relatively costly items, many transactions involving more than $10,000. However, moving on to providing financing for all kinds of equipment raised the bar considerably, whereas many contracts involved hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes reaching into seven figures.

 

When early on in my new career, I mentioned to my employer that at times the sheer size of the deals was intimidating, and therefore a testing of shaky nerves, he replied that it was simply a matter of what he called “exposure,” and that with a little practice I’d soon be performing without a hitch, due to the education acquired as I grew into my new vocation. As it turned out, he was absolutely right.

 

Over the years, if nothing else, I’ve never forgotten the help I’ve received from him and others along the way, and how all of that input permitted me to do better and better, to the extent that, in turn, I continually try to pass that knowledge on, as well.

 

And that’s why the incumbent’s performance is so alien and upsetting to me at present. Because instead of admitting, even if only to himself in the dark, that he ought to learn how to make things better for everyone, he prefers to demonize those who succeed. And in that manner he further cripples half the population who could be doing far more to self-support instead of trying to tear down other’s achievements.

 

However, what’s far worse for him is that, one way or another, the successful among us will find a way to self-sustain and prevail, they always do. But the rest will deteriorate at even a faster pace. Which means that when all’s said and done, the incumbent will preside over nothing. Because he not only doesn’t help those who voted him in, he won’t even try to help himself improve.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/23/2012

Every day's financial news headlines include story's regarding the impending “fiscal cliff,” and what can be done to avoid or soften it’s potential drastic harm to the economy whereas no matter the consequences, the incumbent insists he’s going to raise taxes on the “rich.”

 

In that regard, while surfing business channels this morning, I was reminded of being interviewed for a job many years ago where my potential employer inquired about how much experience I'd gathered. When I answered, “five years,” he requested a clarification, asking if that meant I’d amassed five years of growth, development and skills improvement or was it just one year of basic work repeated five times. Because, he said, there’s a very big difference.

 

And the incumbent got me thinking of that interview because I realized that he came into office without a shred of presidential level capability and not only hasn’t learned a thing while there, but is presently going backwards. What’s more, it really doesn’t matter what area of governance is analyzed, from the economy to health care, to foreign relations, to military planning, to fossil fuel, climatic policies, education, union strongholds, political patronage, world standing, or just about anything else you can think of, things have seriously deteriorated or gotten horribly worse during his tenure.

 

Consequently, I thought a bit further and remembered one of the oldest management theories there is, and that’s called the Peter Principle which, according to Wikipedia, presents the premise that in an organization where promotion is based on achievement, success and merit, that organization's members will eventually be promoted beyond their level of ability. The principle is commonly phrased, "employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence."

 

Now, even though the principle’s basis refers to organizational environments I think it still applies in the incumbent’s case. Because it seems pretty obvious that even a senatorial seat was a stretch for him experience-wise whereas he’d never held a responsible position in his former life. And then the presidential elections were predicated on talk and jive, hype, smoke, mirrors and promises, however, documented credentials and proven performance never entered the question.

 

So, in that sense, it seems pretty simple to understand why the nation’s in the condition it’s in. We have someone at the top who’s clearly unqualified experience and skill-wise, but nevertheless elected. And that’s because the folks who voted for him know even less than he does, which is pretty hard to imagine but certainly true.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/22/2012

After wishing all of you a happy, peaceful, Thanksgiving, I was going to try to briefly describe what mine are typically like. But that would require considerable space to accomplish. For example, it might take a page or two just to describe why my immediate family forbids me to speak whatsoever at gatherings with others, and sits on pins and needles, watching the clock, wondering when a verbal time-bomb might go off.

 

And then, just this morning, perusing Drudge on-line I came across an article from CBS DC, which pretty much parallels my holiday history. The writer did a much better job of concisely covering the subject than I could, so I’ve included a link you can click on.

 

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/11/21/voting-for-obama-keeps-families-away-from-each-other-for-thanksgiving/

 

Hoping you all enjoy your day too,

 

That’s if for today folks

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/21/2012

Just saw a Fox News on-line blurb saying, “Cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas announced.” Followed by, “Mohammed Kamel Amr, the foreign minister, made the announcement in Cairo and was flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 

 

Egypt is assuming the responsibility and leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone of international peace, Clinton said.”

 

After reading the preceding, and wondering what wondrous words of diplomacy, foreign relations and knowledge of solving age-old Middle-Eastern conflicts Hillary assumedly possessed, because, after all she was sent there by the POTUS, I looked up the U.S. subsidy to Egypt out of curiosity.   

 

On a website called, pro publica, I found that “Egypt gets the most U.S. foreign aid of any country except for Israel. (This doesn't include the money spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.) The exact amount varies from year to year and there are many different funding streams, but U.S. foreign assistance to Egypt has averaged about $2 billion a year since 1979, when Egypt struck a peace treaty with Israel following the Camp David accords, according to the Congressional Research Service.”

 

So, what that says to me is, it’s possible that Hillary didn’t really have to show up in Egypt at all, because I believe that a phone call from POTUS, or perhaps a visit to Egypt by even J. Fred Muggs with a note around his neck saying shut this Hezbollah rocket fire down or your funds are gone, would have achieved exactly the same thing. Which brings me back to my continual thought that nothing is ever done by the entire administration that isn’t based on positive political spin

 

Nonetheless, photo-ops don’t equate to effective governance nor do they cover for gross incompetence. So, tomorrow's another day and will likely call for further executive decisions on whatever arises then. And as evidenced by the state our nation’s in, good decision-making isn’t a forte possessed by anyone in the current administration, nor has it ever been.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios  

BloggeRhythms 11/20/2012

Just looked at an on-line recap of a segment from Rush’s show yesterday that started with him saying, “Okay, folks, there's a headline that is attached to a column that ran yesterday in the New York Times, I guess in the Week in Review section. And here's the headline: "Is Rush Limbaugh's Country Gone? It's by Thomas B. Edsall.”

 

The segment's quite long, covers lot’s of detail regarding the past election, and offers rationales, excuses, justifications and various illustrations of why the Republicans lost. However, as I plowed through the rhetoric it became even more clear to me as to why that tragedy happened.

 

As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, I have no political affiliation whatsoever, and the only thing I want from government is protection, be it militarily or local police, and the roads plowed after a snowstorm.  As far as everything else in my life goes, I’d prefer to take care of all that myself, and even if I did need help here and there, I’d never seek the assistance of a politician. To me that’s like looking for intellect from a tree stump.

 

So, as I read along in Rush’s column he began mentioning all sorts of social issues and positions taken by the Republican party, and why they’re better or more beneficial than those of the Dem opponents, which when I thought about them made me realize that the party supposedly of freedom and liberty has as much peripheral, constraining ideology as their rivals. It’s simply packaged in different flavors.

 

And that’s when one of my current beliefs was confirmed once again.

 

Because I don’t imagine my thoughts and aims are much different than others who simply want to pursue their own goals unhampered by any kind of outside influence, be it governmental or any other entity whatsoever. And that was always the claim of the Republican effort. However, they’ve somehow morphed into something else over time, which has loaded them down with all sorts of ideology’s and political baggage that’s as distasteful and anti-free thought as their competition.

 

Consequently, I’m now pretty sure that thinking, productive, self-supporting, industrious types are simply going to go into hiding from an income producing point of view and do as our founders did and fend for themselves. Then, in time, when both major parties go broke and self-destruct the producers will resurface, regroup, rebuild and go on from there. And the best part is, the helpless. hopeless, worthless bottom 50% of the voting population likely won’t get a cent from the top and simply evaporate politically speaking. Or, perhaps the incumbent and his Hollywood friends will support them themselves and financially tap out in the process.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/19/2012

I’m truly sorry I didn’t take up a real interest in politics until after I was well into my business career and too much involved to change. Because if I’d made the switch, and run for office instead of working for a living, my professional life would have been so much easier.

 

That thought struck me because of the time I invest when dealing with others, be they co-workers, clients, prospects, existing accounts or anyone else who might see my proposals, contracts or other items in writing, as well as those who may possibly hear whatever I say. I spend all that time insuring the accuracy of my representations because I believe others rely on them and therefore do all I can to insure that what I transmit can be trusted by recipients.

 

However, had I gone another route and been elected to office, I wouldn’t have had to invest any time at all in accuracy or veracity of my words and simply spouted or wrote whatever sprang to mind at the time, regardless. And I think that point was made quite clearly yesterday by soon retiring Senator Joe Lieberman who said on  a Sunday talk show that in the aftermath of the fatal Libya attacks Republicans are taking a “short-sighted approach by focusing on her public explanation of events,” regarding the comments of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice.

 

So, if I understand the senators words correctly he’s saying that it’s a mistake to listen and rely on what people in government say publically because it’s likely not valid or honest. Which raises another question for me, because if he’s correct, how, where, when and in what form does anyone learn the truth? And furthermore, if the public words are all hype, smoke, and gobbledygook, why do they bother saying them at all?

 

Nonetheless, if nothing else Lieberman did confirm a very, very well known fact for me, which is that the odds are best to simply assume politicians are lying if their lips are moving.

 

Along the same lines, I also noticed that Former CIA Director David Petraeus, retained the very powerful Robert Barnett of the Washington-based Williams & Connolly law firm.

 

According to Fox News on-line, quoting Politico, “Barnett specializes in crisis management and has represented some of the most powerful political figures in the country, including President Obama; former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; Hillary Rodham Clinton; Sarah Palin and former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney. Petraeus, a former four-star Army general, faces probes by Capitol Hill, the Justice Department and the CIA and now has the support of Barnett's 250-member firm.”

 

So, in this case I suppose we can guess what Petraeus expects. Because I doubt folks think things will go smoothly when they go out and hire top-of-the-line mouthpieces to represent them. And judging by the list of names above, most of whom ought to be serving twenty to life for fraud, prevarication, deception, dereliction of duty and grand theft, it seems this guy Barnett is worth every penny they paid him and more so.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/18/2012

As mentioned yesterday, a few extremely significant events are presently taking place, such as Israel's escalating actions in Gaza likely leading to war in the region, potentially including many other nations in the Middle-East. Added to that is looming “fiscal cliff” which must be resolved quickly to avoid recession-causing tax hikes, among a host of other domestic problems.

So, with these critical issues festering here and now, along with many, many others, what does our world-class icon of leadership do? He took off today for an “official” three-day tour of Asia. According to Fox News on-line, he said Thailand’s his first stop because ”it is crucial to American job creation and security.” 

In a news conference he added that visiting Bangkok and it’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. “Is no accident.” Calling Thailand “America's oldest friend in Asia,” a relationship that’s  nearly 180 years old,  he emphasized that the United States is a "Pacific nation," and that the Asia-Pacific region will be crucial for creating jobs in the U.S. and shaping its security and prosperity. He now travels on to Myanmar and Cambodia.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I can’t ever remember hearing anyone, anywhere, any time ever mentioning Thailand's importance in creating jobs in the U.S. In fact, to my knowledge I don’t think that except for wading in rice paddies, anyone in those three nations works at all but I could be wrong. However, maybe they plan to buy Louisiana hot sauce by the truckload to further spice up their already highly flammable food. 

Nonetheless, even I can guess what the real importance of this presidential trip is. Because without having to look  at a globe I know that it’s about as far out of town as someone who wants to go into hiding can travel.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/17/2012

Watching a series of tragic events take place in the Middle-East, from the Benghazi terrorism miscalculation to Iran’s soon employing nuclear weapon technology to Israel's imminent total destruction of Gaza and then adding those disastrous events to the incredibly poor judgment applied to U.S. domestic issues such as health care, pending tax increases, continually high unemployment, deterioration of education, and a dwindling economy got me to thinking about Bill Clinton.

 

The reason  he came to mind stemmed from the fact that he was a small town boob who happens to possess extremely strong traits of salesmanship and public speech.  And although the presidency was a post light years over his head, he also clearly understands his own talents and abilities and isn’t afraid to draw on qualified others in the myriad of subjects where he himself is weak. The best example of which is Alan Greenspan who kept the economy humming along for Bill’s entire tenure, affording Bill the room to make lot’s of other mistakes such as Hillary’s totally bungled up attempt with health care and closely knit relationship with the Arafat's.

 

But then we have the current example of the complete reverse of a politically clever guy like Bill, and are forced to endure a totally incompetent bag of air as he misguides the nation domestically, overseas and in just about everything else he touches.

 

And what it all boils down to in my view is the incumbent’s unfortunately possessing two extremely powerful traits which he doesn’t seem to manage very well, if he tries at all. On one hand, he appears to be hampered by an inability to learn or intellectually grow, whether inborn or purposely applied I simply do not know, coupled with an arrogance of world class size. And when these two traits are continually enjoined, as we all observe every day, the results tend to be horrendous.

 

On the other hand, however, now that the incumbent thinks he’s been anointed he’ll likely pick up the pace of what he believes should be changed in legislation and foreign policy, which will almost surely trip him up. Because as evidenced by the colossal misjudgments he’s already made to date, the odds are compounding rapidly that he’ll vocationally self-destruct. And the incredible pity is, he's doing it to all the rest of us as well.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/16/2012

While former CIA chief, David Petraeus, testifies before closed door congressional committees this morning, disagreeing with what the White House told the press about the terrorist attack on Benghazi, other top congressional leaders are meeting with the incumbent about how to avoid the looming “fiscal cliff.”

 

In the meanwhile AFL-CIO President, Richard Trumka, called the fiscal cliff situation far less important than it’s being portrayed, and feels that the government should simply keep on spending increasing amounts of money until the economy grows back to the levels it should. And that way, he believes, the financial problems will be put off to some future date which he isn’t worried about.

 

However, at the very same time, CNN on-line (among many others) wrote that “Hostess Brands -- the maker of such iconic baked goods as Twinkies, Devil Dogs and Wonder Bread -- announced Friday that it is asking a federal bankruptcy court for permission to close its operations, blaming a strike by bakers protesting a new contract imposed on them. The closing will result in Hostess' nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs as the company shuts 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well as 570 outlet stores. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represents around 5,000 Hostess employees.”

 

So, here we have this guy Trumka on one hand spouting ridiculous gibberish while seeking to gouge as much from employers as he can for his union members, regardless of the incredible financial damage they do overall, while as a practical matter unions simultaneously shut down a major business adding 18,500 to the unemployment rolls.

 

And what these stories remind me of is a personal experience I wrote up quite a while ago.

 

One day back in the early eighties I called on a prospective customer in Brooklyn needing almost $1 million worth of manufacturing equipment. At the time my primarily responsibility was sales, and I had no formal accounting or financial analysis credentials, however, I’d learned enough on the job to have a very good idea of what prospect’s financial conditions were about. And having this sort of knowledge gave me a very good idea of the circumstances I was dealing with, saving me significant amounts of time, and also permitted me to quickly offer the best solutions. 

 

In this case then, during my first visit to the prospect’s plant, when I was asked to present a financing suggestion I requested financial statements to get an idea of what to offer. In response I was handed three years of federal Income tax returns, all of them showing major losses.

 

When I told the prospect that from what I’d seen there was no way his business could afford the new equipment, I was informed that they’d not made a profit on paper in many, many years and thus paid no income taxes of any kind. However, he then took me by the arm, walked me to a room with a hidden wall safe, opened the camouflaged door and smiled as he pointed to what had to be millions of dollars worth of negotiable treasury bonds.

 

The bonds, he told me, were amassed resulting from sales the company made for cash, most of which he chose not to report to the IRS or anyone else. Nonetheless though, he felt they established the fact that he was running a very profitable operation, could now clearly afford the equipment, and asked again for a quotation on financing his new equipment.

 

I responded that from my perspective, he was asking my employer to install very costly equipment in a business that lost money hand over fist on paper for years, evidenced by the only hard documentation we could rely on. While at the same time, by hiding significant income, he evidently wasn’t afraid of exposure to the federal government which had a very sophisticated IRS, squads of attorney’s and collectors, federal courts, an army, air force, marines and navy. So, by comparison, whatever kind of measly threat could we ever make if we had a collection problem with him? And that’s when I politely told him we were unable to accomodate his business at that time because the lack of profitable evidence didn't exist on paper thus tying our hands.

 

I mention this today because between the unions, governmental interference and exposure to excessive taxation, I believe the small business sector is being forced to mislead, avoid, circumvent and elude additional assessment it can’t afford if it wants to survive, much like the situation cited above. And this will be especially true for operations dealing in cash transactions who will now be incented to bury, hide and avoid reporting every cent they can. Not because they're crooks, but simply in order to sustain.

 

Therefore, while all the threats of tax increases may sound good to the inexperienced, work-avoidance, shortsighted malingerers of the Democrat base, the major losers in this equation will be them. Because they have no clue as to what they’re doing income or tax-wise and never, ever did.

 

That's it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/15/2102

Over the past few days, I’ve been getting a growing sense that the election results are finally beginning to take hold, Whereas up to now, it's seemed that most of the folks I know are in some kind of aftershock, not really believing yet that the incumbent’s actually going to stay in office.

 

And along those lines I also think many folks are just now coming around to considering several matters which now have to be dealt with differently, since Mitt Romney won’t be there to help.

 

Among the current issues are things like finding the truths of what actually happened in Benghazi. Although four American lives were lost, the actual cause of those deaths has yet to be presented without conflicting answers to a considerable number of questions. In time, after various congressional groups and committees probe for answers, perhaps the facts will ultimately surface, however from a credibility perspective the administration keeps losing ground and the public’s faith.

 

Then there’s the matter of the incumbent’s absolute insistence on raising taxes via the “fiscal cliff” whereby the “rich” will be forced to pay higher rates. And this is where I think another terrible mistake’s being made due to either politics, dislike of the successful, or outright economic ignorance.

 

As far as those affected by the tax rate hikes go, they represent the working half of the voting population and therefore pay just about all of the nation’s bills. In that regard, the larger business entities will simply pass on the increased costs to their customers and the market place, competition, and buying public will determine how much those company’s get away with

 

But, on the other hand there’s the huge group of small businesses', local entities and entrepreneurs whom I believe are going to carefully analyze the rising costs of taxes and reevaluate whether or not their hard work is worth it if the government insists on taking more from them.

 

I also think the forgoing will be especially true because the tax money’s needed due to government mismanagement, fiscal incompetence, and the redistribution of hard-earned income to myriads of leeches who contribute absolutely nothing to the economy at all.

 

Consequently, I don’t have any idea at the moment of what form a tax revolt will take, or precisely when it will occur. But I strongly feel that it will happen because it has to. The government’s simply too slow, too inept and far too ignorant to stay ahead of those who are successful businesswise. And the resounding proof of that is the incumbent’s insistence on penalizing those who accomplish something instead of truly seeking their help, financial wisdom and advice.

 

However, I sense that this time around he’s going to take the worthless half of the population down with him while the truly productive will survive quite well in whatever financial fashion or mode they decide to create for themselves. Because the government's forcing them to go it alone and they will.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/14/2012

It looks like the voting majority is getting precisely what it wished for, and I suspect, far sooner than expected. Because according to Fox News on-line “President Obama, ahead of his first press conference since winning re-election and a meeting later this week with congressional leaders, staked out his starting point for fiscal cliff negotiations -- $1.6 trillion in tax hikes.”

 

I mention the above because it seems quite obvious that those favoring the incumbent's remaining in office wanted to see taxes raised on the “rich,” and to have all that was humanly possible done to insure that those at the top of the economic scale be brought down ASAP.

 

And now, not only are the miserable lower half of the population going to get their wish, they’re going to get even more than they ever dreamt of. Because if the tax hikes actually take place, not only will the entire U.S. economy shrink dramatically, the government will soon go broke while successful employers who have the slightest opportunity to relocate will take their businesses somewhere else. Consequently, the productive among us will now wind up in the same sinking boat as the hopeless, hapless and lost at sea which is apparently exactly what most voters dearly want.

 

And the most remarkable aspect of all this is the magnitude of the ignorance displayed in this situation. Because I honestly can’t fathom people being so outright dumb.  And despite the fact that our school curriculums are worthless, I still have to believe that a significant part of the population understands that the government operates primarily on revenues from taxes, and that taxes derive greatly from rising incomes and asset values, and when costs rise too high, profits -and eventually the entire economy- will shrink. And therefore, raising taxes on the successful may look good in the short run, but in the end it’s like trying to qualify for disability aid by cutting of your feet.

 

However, as pitifully sad as the ignorance of our leadership is regarding basic economics, there’s a bright side I also read about today on Fox that says, “Nancy Pelosi told colleagues Wednesday that she plans to seek another term as House Democratic leader.” So, at least while the nation destructs before our eyes and the horrendous errors in leadership judgment pile up, as least we’ll all have someone to laugh at, because if you searched the entire solar system you couldn’t find a bigger joke than she is.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/13/2012

The more the strings in the Petraeus scandal that get pulled, the stranger the story. And before too long, I expect there will be ramifications far greater than those apparent so far. I have no idea whatsoever as to what the outcome will be, but it should be interesting to watch.

 

In the meantime, an article in the Washington Post on-line caught my eye this morning, saying “The FBI probe into the sex scandal that prompted CIA Director David Petraeus to resign has expanded to ensnare Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced early Tuesday.

 

According to a senior U.S. defense official, the FBI has uncovered between 20,000 and 30,000 pages of documents — most of them e-mails — that contain “potentially inappropriate” communication between Allen and Jill Kelley, the 37-year-old Tampa woman whose report of harassment by a person who turned out to be Petraeus’s mistress ultimately led to Petraeus’s downfall.

 

Allen, a Marine, succeeded Petraeus as the top allied commander in Afghanistan in July 2011. He also served as Petraeus’s deputy when both generals led the military’s Tampa-based Central Command from 2008 until 2010.”

 

Now, this guy Allen’s a four star general in the U.S. Marines and obviously charged with responsibilities of the highest order regarding the safety, well-being, and security of our nation, yet he supposedly sent 20-30,000 pages of emails to some bimbette while on duty, which I think demonstrates some kind of serious lacking in the capabilities of leadership and competence stemming right from the top.

 

And when I saw the number of pages involved, I did some simple arithmetic (which I hope is correct) that seems pretty astounding. 

 

I took an average of 25,000 email entry’s and surmised they took about two minutes each to type. That equals 50,000 minutes all told. From there I divided down the total, which resulted in 833 hours, equaling 34.7 days, 8.68 weeks, and finally, 2.17 months.

 

So, here’s a top-ranked guy with authority and responsibility up to his ears, maybe even higher, taking two months of his extremely valuable time to correspond with some babe instead of doing his job, which makes me wonder how he got away with it at all. Because you’d think he’d be missed.

 

But then you look at the guy at the very top, who did nothing for the past three years but campaign for reelection, neglecting practically everything else on his plate. And I guess this all goes to prove that this country will run right along regardless, and doesn’t really need either of these guys in the first place.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/12/2012

One of the most valuable practices I taught myself was to always pay attention to others, listen carefully when they speak, observe how they act and store what I learned for future reference and guidance. And although I found this practice to be of the most benefit in business situations, it certainly applies just about everyplace else.

 

Along those lines, over time I’ve continually noticed that if nothing else, people tend to be very consistent. And although they may be able to change or adapt for a while in particular instances, sooner or later they’ll likely revert to their individual natures. I suspect that tendency stems from the fact that maintaining a facade, except for the very best actors, is an extremely difficult thing to do. Then there’s also the fact that even the best of us at times get lazy, sooner or later causing mental slip-ups.

 

I thought of this subject today because of two situations in the news that bring the concept of consistency vividly to mind. In one we have one of the most highly regarded military figures of all time, David Petraeus, in the midst of a brewing scandal that may well have huge future ramifications, perhaps even entwined in the growing governmental errors of judgment and misuse of power that took place in Benghazi. However, on a consistency basis, I think the chances are the general’s just a guy who got mixed up with the wrong lady at the wrong time, but overall will not really be involved in major crime, conspiracy or subversion of his nation’s best interests. He simply has much too long and strong a favorable track record to indicate otherwise.

 

And then we have the White House cover-up of the same situation, coupled with the fact that they apparently delayed release of the Petraeus scandal until after the election. So, here too we have a glaring example of consistency, whereas political spin, fact alteration, and outright lies and deception are the ongoing modus operandi of the whole administration.   

 

However, the good news is that if my theory about consistency’s correct, the current leadership will keep making mistakes that get bigger and bigger because they’re incapable of change or intellectual growth. And the reason for that is, no matter what position you hold, you simply can’t get smarter than the limitations you were born with. Consequently, all we have to do is is sit and wait, because sooner or later this squad of misguided buffoons in D.C. will self-destruct altogether.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/11/2012

While the shock of the election results still has many folks reeling, I keep giving the matter more thought and believe I see a clear picture slowly forming. And one of the things that’s most important is how the electorate divided into two almost equal parts.

 

On one side sits a group that includes those who are the nation’s most successful economically. Business owners, high-earners, investors, entrepreneurs and also payers of almost all of the taxes of all types that keep government’s operating at every level, be it local, state or national.

 

Then, on the other hand is the half that does nothing but take, and survives on the efforts of those who do. And therefore, if push actually came to shove, the productive  types don’t need the others at all. What’s more, if government's had to depend on only those with their hands out, they’d quickly disappear altogether. Consequently, I think the nation’s political  future rests on who needs who most.

 

So, although I have no idea what form a revolt will take, I’m rather certain that one will happen between economic winners and losers. Because I firmly believe that this nation isn’t the same as those in Europe, or anywhere else in the world, where government's divide the spoils of winners for redistribution to losers. Our society is built on a totally different premise which prevents success to no one, however it does demand that if you want something, then go out and earn it yourself.

 

Unfortunately for the incumbent though, the concept of work is one I believe he knows nothing about altogether, so he’s going to have to learn the hard way when taxpayers unite, refusing to let the imbalance go on. And that’s why, although he won the election I don’t think anyone who really counts cares a whit. Because his support group is made up of empty wallets, while those with all the money don’t need him nor care about him at all.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/10/2012

While half the voting public remains in shock from last Tuesday’s election results, disastrous ramifications have quickly begun taking place. The reason's being that the administration has always placed politics above sound governance judgment.

 

As a result, the nation faces the dangers presented by extremely weak foreign policy postures compounded by continual instances of hiding embarrassing truths, altering  negative facts or purposefully misinforming the public regarding myriad mistakes stemming from gross ineptitude and derelictions of duty.

 

In that regard, today’s major news headlines concern a dalliance by none other than the perfect soldier and current CIA Director, David Petraeus, who has now resigned his post. However, to me what makes this happening far more tragic isn’t Petraeus’s straying. A significant number of guys do that. It’s the timing of when the story broke that’s disturbing. Because I sense that this situation was known to the administration some time ago, but covered up tight till after election day took place.

 

Along the same lines we have the situation in Benghazi which may very well turn into another Watergate, and certainly should be examined by Congress inside and out, up and down and around the block whereas this is another political cover-up of the highest order. And if we get lucky, maybe the Republican house will accomplish what anti-administration voters didn’t by tossing the incumbent out.

 

Whatever happens in the forgoing situations however, one thing’s become crystal clear now. We haven’t even reached the end of the incumbent’s first term yet, however horrendous errors in judgment along with extremely serious breaches of conduct keep piling up. All of which indicates to me that, although I have no clue as to what the specifics will be, the odds of a foreshortened second stretch in office for POTUS keep improving as the clock ticks.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/9/2012

No matter how Republicans attempt to recover from the shellacking they took on Tuesday, one thing is now crystal clear. The electorate’s split almost exactly in half politically, and the incumbent's unwavering campaign rhetoric made clear  that he fully expects the have’s to support the have not’s regardless of any and all economic damage wreaked upon the have’s by his unwavering efforts to “level the playing field.”

 

So, it seems to me that if the have’s wish to preserve what they earn and however else have amassed, they now have to react quickly and effectively whereas they simply can’t afford to wait another four years, hoping to win next time. Thus, the question becomes what to do right now and in what manner.

 

To that extent, I think we’re already seeing evidence of particular steps, such as the relocation of over-burdened productive Californians now moving in droves to industry attractive, low tax-based places like North Carolina and Texas. Similarly, the last census showed that large cities typically house  left-leaning populations while upper scale suburbs indicate the reverse.

 

What the changing demographics say to me is that although I doubt there’ll be another civil war wherein the entire nation divides in two along geographical lines, this time around I expect there will be localized demarcation lines such as the democrat isle of Manhattan versus the more right-leaning suburbs of New York state. And in that way, across the entire country I think it’s likely large left-focused cities will similarly be surrounded by more conservative thinking suburbs.

 

However, I sense the geographic population shift is only a visible indication of where the nation’s heading politically. Because although productive types and higher earners may choose to live outside city lines or other venues altogether, they’re still going to be expected to financially support those who live within them. And there’s the rub. Because I expect there'll soon be a time where they become fed up, put their collective feet down and refuse to pay up their hard-earned bucks to support those who choose to sponge. And that to me spells revolution.

 

I have absolutely no idea what form or shape the coming financial revolt will take, I only know there’s going to be one because it has to happen. Fundamental logic dictates to me that there has to be a point where earners completely tire of carrying those who don’t, and government edicts of any type will be rejected. However, refusal to obey those edicts individually will accomplish nothing because the government's too strong.

 

And that means banding together, forming of groups, perhaps another tea party like the one in 1773 against the British due to taxation without representation. Because, even though the Republican party’s supposed to be representing those carrying the heaviest financial burden, considering the totally inept job they do they might as well not exist.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 11/8/2012

Just about all I’ve had any contact with are in states of shock, disbelief, or otherwise disoriented by Tuesday’s election results. Seemingly so taken aback by the outcome, they’re unable to react coherently at the moment, shaking their heads, mumbling to themselves or staring blankly into space.

 

I’m certainly not surprised by their reactions,  and also believe it will be some time before they return to an even keel. However, when they do, I think there will be an intensity of focus not seen in our nation for a very long while. Because, regardless of all the pre-election speculation, the prognostications of pollsters or the spin and slant spewed by the “media” regarding the incumbent retaining the White House, most folks that I know, as well as myself, expected a significant Romney win. Consequently, the final outcome was like watching a healthy Mohammad Ali being knocked out by Peewee Herman.

 

But, now that the results are in, I suspect that the fifty percent of the nation that pays all the bills is going to begin to object more strongly to their pockets getting picked by those who contribute zip. Especially because of the underlying cause of pending increases in taxes, where the basic premise is flawed.

 

At the moment we have a circumstance where the incumbent now thinks he can demand that the most successful earners increase their tax contributions simply because he believes they have no real right to do so well in the first place. However, the fact is that they not only do have that right, they’re exercising the very essence of our nation’s founding beliefs by making the best of themselves while government piles horrendous mistake upon mistake and loses most of what it already takes from them right now.

 

Therefore, I sense the time’s come where since the election not only didn’t provide some hope for reversal of the disastrous economic state the nation’s in, but will likely make it far, far worse, the nation’s producers and earners will either band together or find some other route to stem government's unbridled loss of their hard-earned funds.

 

And if those approaches don’t work out satisfactorily, the producers, movers, and shakers are simply going to go somewhere else. Because I doubt they’re just going to sit still for being penalized for being the best at whatever their trade is, especially when those who caused the economic problems contribute nothing at all.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios