A Lack of Confidence

Much of what is happening in the economy now is a function of the lack of confidence in the investing community and the American public at large. Throwing more money into the mix isn't going to do anything if confidence is not restored.

How do you restore confidence when your solution is to panic? That's what the proposed $825 billion rescue package is -- a panic response. MY response to more bailout funds is panic. I am fearful of what it will do to my children and grandchildren. They are the ones being asked to bail us out of the current economic situation. They are the ones who will pick up the bill.

The desire of the government seems to be to stimulate spending. Dollars flowing through the economy is important, however, my response will continue to be to pay off debt (of which I have little to start with) and to build savings. My kids will need something on which to survive. Since the greed-o-nomics of today is creating the problem, it falls on those of us who are able today, to set some aside for the survival of those who must face "the tomorrow" that is being created. I suspect there are others who think the same way. Result: pouring money into the economy through additional bailout funds will have little positive effect except to prop up failures.

The best way to restore confidence in the economy is not to send the message that the government wants more of your money; it is to send a message of fiscal responsibility. That is NOT what I'm hearing out of Washington -- past or present administration.

The GHG Fleecing of the American Consumer

Forty-five trillion dollars!!! That's a number so large that it is unimaginable. That's what we are being told is the cost to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2050. It will be us "little guys" that are stuck with the bill. It won't cost the oil companies. It won't cost the government. It won't cost the multi-national corporations. It will cost the consumers. The taxpayers. The hard-working people of this world. All those other guys will just pocket the money. It is another scheme for sucking the results of the productivity of the average person out of our pockets and into the hands of the elite few.

It doesn't matter what form of government we are talking about. The results are the same. When governments work for the "good" of the people I always start asking which people they are talking about. The little guys? or, the ones that contribute to their campaigns? -- the ones that control the strings of wealth on this globe.

Then, they try to pull the wool over our eyes....

"Gielen said most of the $45 trillion forecast investment — about $27 trillion — would be borne by developing countries, which will be responsible for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050."

Yeah, right. How much of those dollars flowing into developing countries started right here in this one?

Greed Trumps the Common Good

You would think that Dennis Hastert would have done what was in the best interest of his state and his party. Instead, he jumped ship early in order to ensure the security of his financial future. The result was the loss of a seat to the opposition.

"They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice...." __ Romans 1:29

Political Capital

Political capital can best be described as good will. It is earned, traded-for, bought and occasionally extorted. It is the currency of the political world.

Political capital is occasionally in the form of money -- especially during the campaign season. But that money is for creation of good will -- either from the donor, or for the candidate through his expenditure on the campaign. It is designed to create influence in one's favor.

It is often the result of providing someone or group with something they want. This occurs through votes on legislation. It occurs when organizations seek to influence their members.

It is traded-for when I vote for your pet project if you'll vote for mine. It is extorted when I withold my vote if you don't perform according to my wishes.

Political capital, just like economic capital in business, is what makes the machine work. It is earned and it is spent. It is power and influence. Do we as bloggers create and use political capital? Some do and some don't. I think there is plenty of opportunity to do more.

The Memoir of a Former Press Secretary

In an opportunistic culture built around the desire for wealth and power, how are we to ever know the truth of our history? The political environment is especially vulnerable to this attitude because it is filled with practitioners of the art of deception whose sole purpose is the advancement of their personal agenda. Perhaps former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan tells the truth in his new book, perhaps he doesn't. Sadly, we'll never know. I suspect his primary goal is to cash in on his years in service to George W. Bush. Check out the commentary on FoxNews and on Politico.com.