Sign of the Times

I'm wondering just how the US economy can ever recover from our dilemma. My understanding of capitalism is that in order to build wealth under the system that something actually has to be produced.

We no longer really produce anything in the US, instead we consume (items "produced" in other countries) and tell ourselves that we are more "service" oriented. Without real wealth, sooner or later the pool of customers dwindles. This is where we are right now. We have a few truly wealthy people in this country, but frankly, servicing a couple hundred thousand people who have some money to spend on services will leave a large percentage of the remaining 300 million or so without a method of earning a living. Unless, of course, we actually produce something.

We tell our young that in order to increase their chances they need a college education. In order to accomplish that, they need student loans, the only form of "financial aid" available for the vast majority. So we saddle them with $100,000 or so of debt before they ever get their first professional position. With salaries on the downturn (since we aren't creating wealth, companies stay profitable only by decreasing expenses, i.e. salary), starting out like Sisephus is not a good sign.

Then we have the tax factor. The government takes 25% from even the lowest income individuals and as far as I can tell, there are no services provided for that bill. If you are among this lower bracket, you are screwed. Our taxes go to bail out bad business models and union employees stuck in job banks because there isn't enough work for them to have an actual function. That's largely because we don't produce anything anymore, certainly not anything that is affordable by the majority of our population.

Next, buying everything with money you don't yet have. They tell us consumerism is good for the economy. Not when you don't produce anything and not when you spend what you have yet to earn. It's exactly what the government is doing, but that won't work either. We spend money into a black hole that doesn't churn anything back out in the form of real wealth.

I am not a believer in consumerism, and I certainly don't believe in a "service-oriented economy". The trend is disturbing to say the least, and at some point we need to start producing actual goods that improve our quality of life and get the economy creating wealth again. Without this process the black hole just gets bigger.

Mine That Bird

I just can't get enough of the little big guy. He comes out of nowhere to stun anyone who was watching in the Kentucky Derby - even the announcer, who during the Bird's final push didn't even let us know he was on the move. No fault of the announcer, though, when I watch the replay from above I don't know how he could have seen the little guy flashing through the pack. One would think that spectacular dash from last to first would have garnered Mine That Bird a little attention. Not so much.

Afterwards, the Bird is set for the second leg of the Triple Crown immediately. Then his jockey, Calvin Borel, ends up with a decision to make. No decision, his beloved filly whom he has been riding for several months is sold, and ends up in the Preakness - Calvin remains her jockey. New jockey for Mine That Bird, who, coming out of nowhere was a last minute pickup for Borel, and does not have a regular jockey. No problem there, experienced, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith picks up the mount.

Borel's horse, Rachel Alexandra, is a heavy favorite and gains most of the attention prior to the race. Although content with the thrill given in the long shot win, most doubt Mine That Bird's ability to come close to duplicating his Derby day performance. Well, the little guy came up big. He didn't win the race, Rachel held her own against the boys and she proved herself in her own right - a question for many was whether or not she could beat the boys after trouncing her own gender for several races. At the end of the race, Mine That Bird came within one length of catching the favored filly. The little guy came up big.

I don't think I have ever witnessed a sporting event with two winners, but this one fit that bill. At the Preakness, all of the riders knew the Bird's game, and not a single one was going to let him through on his move for the home stretch. But Mine That Bird found his away around and finally got going with about fifty yards to go. He didn't quite catch the big gal. Even so, second place for the horse many doubted turns out to be a win. There is no more doubt. If this horse, who is a bit smaller than most on the race track, finds an opportunity he does not hesitate. He has another gear that none of his competitors come close to displaying, at least from my perspective. I call that gear heart.

He should get some respect now that he has finished two major races in similar fashion. His story just keeps developing with more twists. Now he's lost his second jockey, Mike Smith, to a prior commitment. Mine That Bird is on his way to the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, and it will be interesting to watch the story as it unfolds. He's already a winner in my book, the results for me are in. I'll be tuning into the Belmont, and following the Bird to get my daily dose of the little big guy.

Carpe Diem

I've always considered myself a planner. I like to know the variables, anticipate outcomes and consequences, factor in the resources I have to use, create a loose timetable and go from there.
Structure and knowledge in this form makes me feel more secure in whatever task or endeavor I am intent on participating in. Well, sometimes I get slapped upside the head and reminded that my comfort zone is not always the best place to be.

Recent events in my life have me responding in almost a completely different fashion. While the end result is still the goal, my attitude has become more in line with Carpe Diem. Do what you can, while you can, with whatever resources you have right now. None of us know what tomorrow holds, so doing what we can today can be our ticket to internal freedom. While I am not promoting irresponsibility in the form of radical compulsion, what I am advocating is doing whatever you can to feed yourself, your dreams and those you care about everyday.

The American Dream In Two Minutes

A perfect time for an unknown horse, Mine That Bird, to find an opportunity in the 135th Kentucky Derby and take it all the way to the bank. Sometimes the American Dream is right in front of us, and we just need a little reminder that it still exists today.

I, for one, cannot help but be inspired by watching a long-shot horse catapult from a dead last position in the pack to overtake a lead in a matter of seconds. Leaving all others in the dust (okay mud as the case may be), this small horse was held back until the opportunities opened up and then he made no mistake about it.

The story is just rich with inspiration - following one's dream and doing what you love to do (Borel); contributing what you can and putting forth an effort to create something larger than yourself (Woolley); and then of course the fatalistic series of events that led to the perfect fit between horse, jockey, trainer and owner.

Whether we are lagging behind, running with the pack, or setting the pace while enjoying a lead, opportunities eventually find us as long as we are in the race. This is the American Dream - but you do have to be part of the pursuit to recognize and work the opportunities when they appear. The race in our daily lives is much longer, so a little reminder from Mine That Bird is a welcome one in my book. The two minute race gave us a concise illustration of what the Dream is. Make no mistake, however, the work that created the race opportunity took a lot longer than that.

Fees or Interest?

If a bank "loans" a person $1.12 to clear a written check, then charges $35.00 for the "service", isn't that really a loan and therefore an interest rate as opposed to a "fee"? I mean, they actually loan money to the writer of the check in the process do they not?

I don't know which is worse...

The notion that a grown man AND his 13 year-0ld daughter would engage is such severe animal abuse or that twelve individuals on a jury failed to convict even with an officer witnessing the event:

http://www.equinevoices.org/kachina.php

In the beginning....

My purpose in starting this blog is to provide a forum to share my views on all of the "distractions" I find myself looking into on a regular basis. Most of the time, I do research and find facts on these subjects, resulting in firm opinions that "can be taken to the bank" - atleast from my perspective. At this point the subject matter will be widely varied and who knows if a particular theme or direction develops. Either way, hopefully what I write inspires some thought or even action in others.