Feeling the Economic Pinch? - How Bad is the US Economy? – AP Reports 80% of American’s in Poverty!

Image from Politico - with Article Poverty In American New Highs - 2011

From the Associated Press comes a study on poverty in the U.S. with findings that show greater numbers of American’s living in poverty than one might imagine. The survey breaks down white versus minority groups and finds that there has been a substantial increase in whites living below the poverty line since 1983, and while minorities tend to believe that the situation will improve, whites tend not to trust the government, nor believe that their economic circumstances will change. .

What is included in their data that may skew all groups is the schematic whereby if one was ever unemployed at any time during their life, they were included. One might be unemployed in 1980, yet amass a fortune over the next few years. Additionally the data set relies heavily on the Appalachians, an area that has traditionally seen more poverty than most. That said, one can understand the growing trend toward single mothers among all demographics, given the emphasis in classrooms on safe sex, yet including day cares in many high schools, add to the decline in education, the understanding that one might achieve a free government education if one has a child, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Add a growing number of high school mothers and fathers to the welfare rolls, along with those who can no longer finds a job, or have fallen off the unemployment rolls (which extend generally in three tiers, lasting approximately one (1) year, depending upon the state in which one resides, the fraud that is rampant in the state systems (See Massachusetts EBT scandals), and the drain on the economy worsens.

Will this trend continue? One has to hold onto the fact that history does repeat itself; therefore, one can expect an economic upturn depending upon the outcome of the next election and the fortunes or misfortunes of various long-term members of the Congresses. The ideological clash between bigger government and states solutions that exists in Washington lies at the feet of those that would retain power for decades. Once the land of opportunity, the U.S. now hands college graduates enormous debt without the wherewithal to find gainful employment with income commensurate to sustain an individual with a student loan. Students are returning to their parents homes more frequently, and college is now becoming a possibility rather than a “given” upon graduation.

Additionally one has to factor in the dummying down of the American School System, which began in Philadelphia in the 1970’s with the installation of the first Teachers Union. The loss of status in global competitions in under a 14 year times span was somewhat shocking, however, as nothing has changed since the 1980’s, one must understand that the U.S. public school systems are not preparing students for the future – one can imagine that the colleges also followed suit, downgrading expectations in order to achieve grades.

Add an emphasis on welfare dependency through teen pregnancy, coupled with an education system that has sunk to third world standards, and one has the cocktail for a pervasive and long-term economic decline. That said, nothing is impossible, with the right mix of an emphasis on self-reliance, a lessening of the corporate tax burden, and a standard whereby individuals are expected to, and encouraged to achieve on their own merits, without assistance from the Federal government and that will be the painful, yet positive direction that sets the economy back on the right foot.

There will always be the poor; however, with the inclusion of the new “working poor”, those who would have the wherewithal to support charities, are not in recipe of the same, an upturn in economic security will allow less emphasis on government giving and more on the individual donations that have always been place of pride in the American citizen.

End the polarization in Washington by either electing new Congressional and Senatorial representation, especially in instances where one has made a career out of legislation, rather than the public service for which these positions were originally designed, and that will be a beginning.

No political party or platform is perfect; however, a mix of ideologies would go further than the two-party system currently in place. (Also feared by the framers of the U.S. Constitution).

Reading List: University of Washington Studies on Teacher’s Performance

The Effects of Teachers Unions, Stamford University

MASS EBT, latest scandal – Boston Herald

Teen Trends on Living at Home, Daily Iowan

The effects of single-parent households vs. nuclear households on children and educationWashington University, St. Louis.

The Drama in Washington – ObamaCare to Fund or Not to Fund that is the question. The answer is simple – Pull the Plug!

Flashback 20010 - History - it repeats itself - image majalla.com

It’s as if the nation (or those paying attention) are watching a Shakespearian comedy play out in the nation’s capital. Or perhaps a tragedy – depending upon one’s point of view. The Affordable Health Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, is not particularly popular with a good percentage of the populace, while those who are clueless about the content, or cannot see the forest through the local broadcast news, may love it- until it is fully in effect.

The problems surrounding the beheamoth of a bill that was pushed thorugh with few reading the contents, if any of the nations Reprepsenatives actually ahd the time to read it prior to it’s passages are set to affect individuals and businesses, to varying degrees, with a negative, rather than positive impact. Those with health insurance in place are looking at skyrocketing costs, while those without, will fact both the high price of the exchanges, as well as penalties enforced by the IRS if they cannot afford the exchange insurance. Businesses are feeling the pinch of new taxes as well as complying with the ACT for employees – they are reducing employee hours, and or simply not hiring. Never mind the arbitrary rules applied across the board to groups who may or may not want to participate and have an in somewhere in DC

Then you have the GOP –the majority of which were against the bill in the first place, due to a popular rising up against the Bill, who now is faced with an option to defund the program and stop it in its tracks –thereby doing the general public a favor. However, that is something that they are clearly not concerned with more than they are their chances for reelection. The article in Politico headlined GOP feuds over ObamaCare”, sums it up nicely. The Gist: The usual more Libertarian leaning members of the GOP are more concerned with delivery justice that holding onto “power”, while those who are entrenched so deeply in Washington, are more interested in fallacious polling, special interest groups and peer pressure, than doing what would be best for the nation. (Op-ed included with Politico’s article.)

Therefore, what is necessary, but unlikely, is a popular uprising against both Democrat and Republican Senators and Congressional Representatives who end up saddling the nation with this nonsense. The way this is most likely to occur will be through the rising up of individuals vowing to repeal the act, regardless of how much has been invested in the system. Of course, they have to put it into effect to truly understand how widely unpopular universal health care will be across the board – so, to wit, they are still as clueless as the day the signed it in 2009.

The way to defund is simple – Congress holds the keys to the Governments purse strings – this was written into the Constitution in the event some idiots decided to push through legislation that was not in the best interest of the nation as a whole – those in Congress would be able to put the skids on anything like this by simply not paying for it.

Time to pull the plug, and shut down the government – not merely threaten to do so, actually just shut it down – the result: three to four weeks of blissful peace and quiet from those elites who believe they own the nation. (Or are akin to the Prince and Princesses of DC). This has occurred before with outstanding results and little to no harm to the general populace (The harm was in listening to the evening news, interviewing those in the government who were whining heavily.) May some services be interrupted, certainly. Do we really care if some study of blueberries in Maine doesn’t get funded for a few weeks?

To those on both sides of the aisle, who understand this is a purely bad bill, but are concerned that they may not get to be screaming popular should the defund by shutting down the government – grow a pair. If not now, then perhaps, when writing in one’s memoirs of the time they spent in Washington, prior to losing the next election and returning home – they would wish they had.

To those standing up for what is right (and not politically, ethically), especially Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Mike Lee, thank you. The left and the media and those McCain’s of the GOP may be calling you all kinds of names, however, there is a point where being popular with those in DC and the media elite, is not as important as being popular with the people. The aforementioned are the smart guys in DC – they understand how they got there – and anyone smart enough to understand people combined with politics should be admired- The rest of those who don’t, really shouldn’t be in their current positions. Of course this is just the opinion of one person from Massachusetts, who has seen the effect of the Health care law here – where those without the ability to pay for what amounts to the proposed exchanges, either pay the fine as it is less expensive, or get a waiver due to being the working poor. In addition the want ads are chock full of requests for physicians and surgeons in hospitals statewide – no need to be licensed at the moment, just able to get one – there is a growing desperation for caregivers. Therefore fewer insured, the government makes more money from fees (taxes) for noncompliance and individuals find the quality of healthcare less than stellar. It’s sold somewhat differently – however, the reality of this program - bites. This is what has been exported nationwide.

President George H Bush – Acts of Kindness show the Mettle of a Man

Former President George H.W. Bush - image abc news

There is so little “good” or “heartwarming” news one finds on the top of trends, either on-line, in broadcast or print. In general, the daily bombardment of scandal, death, and dirty deeds, is forefront and foremost in the delivery of the news. Therefore, when on reads a heartwarming story, a decent story, it’s worth taking a look. Thus is the case with what has taken place with a former President - Former President George H. Bush, has done, what most would consider a great act of kindness – a 2 year old cancer patient, is the subject of more than a bit of press, due to the eldest Bush shaving his head “in solidarity “with this child. (CBS News). There are great men who do use their positions of power and wealth, to promote causes, and there are others, who, do so quietly and behind the scenes, yet, it is with such a great show of kindness, with an object to bring awareness and raise funds that brings high praise to the man.

To the former President – job well done.