May 31, 2008
Roger reviews Sex In The City.
May 24, 2008
Roger reviews Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
May 12, 2008
A month ago, I was shopping in Sears and I was asked by the cashier if I wished to apply to a Sears card and I politely said no. Being who I am, I couldn't leave it as simply as that. I always have something to say, something to comment and sure enough, I added to this simple, one-word response.
"No, thanks - I don't want to get into debt. I have no debt and I just save for what I want."
"Well, that isn't good. That means that you can't get what you want right away."
Right away? Can't get what I want? Are you serious? I had no desire to get into a deep financial conversation with this clerk that was making a commission on my desires to accumulate debt. Further, I simply just wanted to ask her: Why? Why do you want to have debt?
Frankly, I don't know the averages, but it seems to me that more than half of all Americans carry some sort of debt (not including property secured by a trust deed - Mortgages for the rest of you). Often, this debt is for purchases made for food (groceries and take-out) and entertainment.
America, the great, is doing the exact same thing: America is living beyond its means. Debtor nations do not do well in the world. America is no longer the richest nation in the world. How can it be when it owes approximately 9.2 Trillion dollars? By the way, don't give me any crap that we owe it to ourselves so we really, in fact, do not owe 9.2 Trillion dollars. We owe that money and one day, we are going to have to make good on that debt. Period. America's insatiable thirst for cheap consumer goods is what is killing us.
In 2002, America's revolving consumer debt grew to 730 Billion, up from 554 Billion in 1997.
We are responsible for our individual debt, but what about the national debt? Our children and their children will have to pay for it. This stimulus stuff is bad. What do you intend to buy? Going to Wal-Mart? If you spend your money at Wal-Mart, where do you think you money is going? Three places, actually. One: Cost of goods. These are the items that are shipped in from China. Two: The shareholders of Wal-Mart. Three: The employees. As usual, the least paid is always at the end of the line.
Savings are at an all-time low. We spend, spend, spend and we do not save. If we went back to saving, our economy would actually be stronger. While America is the engine for the world, that engine will be running out of gas because it will be drowning in debt.
Control your spending. Stop buying the stuff you don't need.
May 7, 2008
A shout out to the middle earth (err, I mean, middle office) people: Your FRIEND passed away. A tragic loss. Stop fussing about why he died or how he died . . . you seem to have nothing better to do. Stop tearing him down. He passed away and his family is not talking - get over it. If you really want to know how or why he passed away, go ask him yourselves - the residents who pay your salary sure would support you and appreciate you in this endeavor.
May 1, 2008
Bank of America: You are unbelievable. You bill me $3.00 for my savings account being below the $300.00 minimum when you transferred money out without my permission and you have the audacity to bill me? Two months in a row for your error? You've got to be kidding me . . .
Check out our new Income Tax Pages found here. This is what we do and we will keep it up along with your submissions. Have at it and we'll be talking with you soon enough.
