.
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Government Needs a Twelve Step Program
Is it just me or has the number of egomaniacs and narcissists in government grown exponentially over the last couple of years.
In the past there were always a few who put themselves and their personal interests above the common good.
Recently it appears to be the norm rather than the exception.
We have the Governor of Illinois in New York this week asking for us to feel sorry for him for attempting to sell the new President’s Senate seat as he ignores the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
We have our own Governor flying off to Switzerland while New York is attempting to deal with a $15 Billion budget deficit.
This after a disastrous selection process to replace Hilary Clinton that included back room meetings, internal leaks from his office and more mudslinging then has been seen since John Candy in Stripes.
We have former Senator Bruno being indicted, a new Secretary of the Treasury who can’t remember to pay his taxes and the list goes on and on.
A friend of mine is in a 12 step program after finally realizing that his life had become unmanageable.
He was told that he had to make character changes and that a bailout was not going to solve his problem.
He was told that even though his actions had put him in considerable debt, his was not just a financial problem.
He needed to change the way he lived and the way he thought.
He needed to get rid of his ego and work on his character defects.
He needed to accept the things he could not change, change the things he could and find the wisdom to know the difference.
Well he did all of those things and he got his life back together and is completely out of debt.
After many years he still attends his meetings because he does not want to fall back into where he was before.
Maybe it’s time for government to do the same.
For it is obvious that for years those in power did not see that our economy was becoming unmanageable and that is why we are where we are today.
When I asked him what he thought he said “One day at a time”
When I asked him if he thought the program would work in government he said KISS.
When I said I didn’t understand he explained.
For years and years I made my life a misery and I always over complicated everything. I was the only one who knew what was right and I never valued anyone else’s opinion. It was always someone else’s fault and I never took any responsibility for my actions.
Until someone told me “Keep It Simple Stupid”
With no disrespect intended I think our government needs to heed this advice.
In the past there were always a few who put themselves and their personal interests above the common good.
Recently it appears to be the norm rather than the exception.
We have the Governor of Illinois in New York this week asking for us to feel sorry for him for attempting to sell the new President’s Senate seat as he ignores the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
We have our own Governor flying off to Switzerland while New York is attempting to deal with a $15 Billion budget deficit.
This after a disastrous selection process to replace Hilary Clinton that included back room meetings, internal leaks from his office and more mudslinging then has been seen since John Candy in Stripes.
We have former Senator Bruno being indicted, a new Secretary of the Treasury who can’t remember to pay his taxes and the list goes on and on.
A friend of mine is in a 12 step program after finally realizing that his life had become unmanageable.
He was told that he had to make character changes and that a bailout was not going to solve his problem.
He was told that even though his actions had put him in considerable debt, his was not just a financial problem.
He needed to change the way he lived and the way he thought.
He needed to get rid of his ego and work on his character defects.
He needed to accept the things he could not change, change the things he could and find the wisdom to know the difference.
Well he did all of those things and he got his life back together and is completely out of debt.
After many years he still attends his meetings because he does not want to fall back into where he was before.
Maybe it’s time for government to do the same.
For it is obvious that for years those in power did not see that our economy was becoming unmanageable and that is why we are where we are today.
When I asked him what he thought he said “One day at a time”
When I asked him if he thought the program would work in government he said KISS.
When I said I didn’t understand he explained.
For years and years I made my life a misery and I always over complicated everything. I was the only one who knew what was right and I never valued anyone else’s opinion. It was always someone else’s fault and I never took any responsibility for my actions.
Until someone told me “Keep It Simple Stupid”
With no disrespect intended I think our government needs to heed this advice.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Bailout and Usury Law
"Usury" is the unlawful act of charging interest on a debt (including discount points, fees and other charges) at a rate greater than what is permitted under any applicable law or exemption from a law.
Usury laws are set by individual states and vary widely.
It is not so surprising that many of the major banks are set up in states that have little or no usury regulation.
This allows the banks to charge exorbitant interest rates, many which come into play after teaser introduction rates.
These same banks sell off this debt when they cannot recover it and in turn write it off on their balance sheets.
The consumer is still held responsible for the total balance owed which at times is much greater than the original amount borrowed.
Many of these same banks have just been bailed out by the Federal government.
The interesting thing is that you do not hear much about what the terms of these bailouts but you can be sure that it is not the 25% - 30% that these banks are still charging their customers.
Wouldn’t it make sense that the government require these banks to ease the burden on their customers since they are getting money almost interest free.
Money that is coming from these same taxpayers.
It seems that this would be a way for the government to ease the credit crunch that many Americans find themselves in.
It would reduce the amount of bankruptcies and prevent these banks (at least those being bailed out) from charging these exorbitant rates.
Instead of the government sponsoring what have become legal loan sharks.
Usury laws are set by individual states and vary widely.
It is not so surprising that many of the major banks are set up in states that have little or no usury regulation.
This allows the banks to charge exorbitant interest rates, many which come into play after teaser introduction rates.
These same banks sell off this debt when they cannot recover it and in turn write it off on their balance sheets.
The consumer is still held responsible for the total balance owed which at times is much greater than the original amount borrowed.
Many of these same banks have just been bailed out by the Federal government.
The interesting thing is that you do not hear much about what the terms of these bailouts but you can be sure that it is not the 25% - 30% that these banks are still charging their customers.
Wouldn’t it make sense that the government require these banks to ease the burden on their customers since they are getting money almost interest free.
Money that is coming from these same taxpayers.
It seems that this would be a way for the government to ease the credit crunch that many Americans find themselves in.
It would reduce the amount of bankruptcies and prevent these banks (at least those being bailed out) from charging these exorbitant rates.
Instead of the government sponsoring what have become legal loan sharks.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
WE COUNT!.... 9/11 Health Survey
WE COUNT! 9/11 Health Survey
Beyond Ground Zero (BGZ) Network in partnership with 9/11 Environmental Action (EA) is conducting a wide spread community health survey that seeks to uncover the true scope of the 9/11 health crisis.
Over the next several months BGZ and 9/11 EA will conduct extensive outreach throughout Lower Manhattan with the goal of creating the most inclusive and broad database of 9/11 health symptoms and their effects. We invite anyone who believes that they suffer from 9/11 related health problems to take our survey.
Click Here to take survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8FOlIKyiSk_2b_2bDvSqjawkgQ_3d_3d
Beyond Ground Zero (BGZ) Network in partnership with 9/11 Environmental Action (EA) is conducting a wide spread community health survey that seeks to uncover the true scope of the 9/11 health crisis.
Over the next several months BGZ and 9/11 EA will conduct extensive outreach throughout Lower Manhattan with the goal of creating the most inclusive and broad database of 9/11 health symptoms and their effects. We invite anyone who believes that they suffer from 9/11 related health problems to take our survey.
Click Here to take survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8FOlIKyiSk_2b_2bDvSqjawkgQ_3d_3d
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
WHERE TO TURN TO BE PROFILED ON ABC SUNDAY MORNING NEWS 1/11
Where to Turn will be profiled on the ABC 7 Sunday Morning News Program with Michelle Charlesworth.
Between 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM Sunday January 11.
Feel free to tune in and learn a little more about our programs
Between 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM Sunday January 11.
Feel free to tune in and learn a little more about our programs
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
"In a crisis, beware of the danger but recognize the opportunity"
"In a crisis, beware of the danger but recognize the opportunity"
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
As our current economic situation and the recent solutions implemented show we are too often blinded by our immediate needs and do not consider the long term impacts.
Bailouts are almost always a no win solution, as they never hold those being bailed out responsible for their previous errors, and they do not promote change as another bailout is just the next crisis away.
Setting such a precedent is a roadmap for disaster.
A disaster from which we may never recover.
We currently have an opportunity to make things right.
What was done or not done cannot be changed but we do have total control over what can be done.
Let’s get the bureaucracy to move.
And most of all let’s be honest.
We must not allow bailout money to be spent on exorbitant salaries and perks (golf courses, private jets etc). as currently is the case.
But we also need government to take a look in the mirror and make the changes needed.
With a federal budget deficit on its way to over $1 trillion it was good to hear that President elect Obama stated that he would bar pork-barrel projects from his stimulus package.
But much more needs to be done.
Just eight years ago the federal budget ran at a surplus and it can again but it is going to take bipartisan cooperation and some real change.
We need to change the way we do things at every level.
In an age of web hosting and immediate access why is full Congressional staffing necessary at home and in Washington?
Why do the House and Senate continue to vote themselves raises while everyone else is asked to scale back?
Why do members of government at all levels get hundreds of thousands of dollars in perks every year for things that common workers have to pay for?
And why when a good percentage of Representatives are millionaires do they need salaries at all?
Government needs to start leading by example.
In Washington and at home as well.
Last year New Yorkers had to pay over $4 dollars for gas because it was a necessity.
Gas prices are nearly half that now.
I am sure that New Yorkers would not mind paying extra taxes on gas if they new the money was going to fix existing infrastructure and not into the pockets of MTA execs and their pet projects.
Also when the budget ax comes down it should begin at the top and not with support services but with agencies like the LMDC which do little more than employ political cronies with six figure salaries.
Governmental waste, bureaucratic red tape and political patronage are some of the real dangers of this current crisis
As President Kennedy said we need to be aware of these dangers but also recognize the opportunities that we have.
Lets seize this opportunity and make some real changes.
Friday, January 2, 2009
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