Jul
30
More Retailers Accepting Food Stamps
July 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment
More retailers are accepting food stamps these days, as more consumers are turning to government aid to pay for groceries.
Almost 39 million people received food stamps or Electronic Benefit Transfers in April 2009. That's up 20% over April 2008. Retailers like Costco, 7-Eleven and Target are jumping on the payment method as they know that [...]
Jul
9
Pro-Marijuana Ad Pushes Pot As Budget Fix
July 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment
A pro-marijuana group is launching another television bid to legalize pot in California, but this time their pitch is that legalizing and taxing the drug could help solve the state's massive budget deficit. And California needs to do something drastic, now more than ever.
The 30-second ad aired on Wednesday and features a retired 58-year-old state [...]
Jun
26
The Hidden Costs Of Government
June 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment
South Carolina governor Mark Sanford has been in the news, just in case you've been living under a rock. He disappeared and then admitted that he was having an affair with some Argentinian gal. Immoral behavior from a overly-religious man in a position of power? Color me shocked. But I don't give a damn about [...]
Jun
12
The U.S. Senate Thursday backed a plan giving the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products, because you know, they've been doing such a bang up job with everything else they "regulate". The agency would curb advertisements, require stronger package warnings and inspect manufacturers.
Supporters said the bill, which passed in [...]
May
21
California's Budget Crisis
May 21, 2009 | 3 Comments
Arnold may be good at protecting John and Sarah Connor from cyborgs, but he's facing an even bigger threat with California's budget. California is an odd state. The Hollywood machine alone makes the state something of an economic engine all in itself. I mean, how many billions, trillions pass through the Hollywood machine daily?
All of [...]
May
7
Obama Vows To Cut Government Waste
May 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Looks like I was right on target with my article about cutting waste in the goverment. On Thursday President Obama vowed to cut "stunning" waste in the US government budget, as he laid out details of his sweeping budget for 2010.
"There is a lot of money being spent inefficiently, ineffectively, and — in some cases [...]
Apr
29
Don't Use Our Government As An Example Of How Get Wealthy
April 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment
When it comes to creating and maintaining wealth, you want to educate yourself. Don't go looking at the government as a model. That would be disaster. Think of the government as a large company or corporation.
The government likes to send plenty of money overseas. To other companies if you will. Meanwhile, there are areas of [...]
Mar
31
The Economy: Why Is No One Talking About Waste?
March 31, 2009 | 1 Comment
You might remember that old commercial selling cheap wine. I forget the name of the wine, but a man and a woman are dining. She asks, "Is this (Insert name of cheap wine)?" The man replies, "Of course. How do you think I got so rich?"
The point is you gain wealth by not just making [...]
Feb
7
February 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment
First, read this article:
http://blog.stealthmode.com/2009/02/06/an-open-letter-to-my-two-mortgage-companies/
I, at first, wanted to join in the bashing that was going on in the various internet forums.
I scrimped and saved and paid off my home mortgage in about 6 years. I do coding/teaching/projects on the side and used it to pay off all my student loans and mortgages.
I think, much [...]
Jan
31
Obama Gives Keynes His First Real-World Test
January 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment
NPR has an article about Keynes and spending our way out of a depression.
One point about Keynes theory that if I remember correctly goes something like spend in bad times cut back in good times. Keynes is overused much like prescription antibiotics.
Prescribing Keynesianism to some politicians is like prescribing crack to a coke addict. [...]