Government Corruption

Someone has suggested that even the best of intentions by the best and most honorable men are subject to corruption.  I tend to agree wholeheartedly.  Just look at the mess.  The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775; after 234 years, it is broke.  Social Security was established in 1935; after 74 years, it is broke.  Fannie Mae was established in 1938; after 71 years, it is broke.  The War on Poverty was started in 1964; after 45 years, $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.  Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965; after 44 years, they are broke.  Freddie Mac was established in 1970; after 39 years, it is broke.  The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before; after 32 years, it is an abysmal failure.  Now, here comes the health care law.  I didn't bother to look for a picture to post with this blog. 

Free Enterprise

This is what happens when you are in debt: “WASHINGTON – The Treasury Department on Thursday is expected to order seven companies that have not paid back last year's government bailouts to halve their top executives' average compensation. The cuts apply to the 25 highest-paid executives at banks and other companies that received the most assistance, with salaries being slashed by as much as 90 percent, according to a person familiar with the matter. The seven companies are Bank of America Corp., American International Group Inc., Citigroup Inc., General Motors, GMAC, Chrysler and Chrysler Financial. Smaller companies and those that have repaid the bailout money, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., are not affected.” Everyone knows that the capitalist free-enterprise system is designed to reward those who strive, but one little drawback is that even when you are super rich, nobody can tell you when you’ve had enough. Where does ambition end and greed begin? Where would you draw the line? Is that why Buffett gave most of his money to the Gates Foundation - to ease his conscience? All I know is, this topless woman has nothing to feel guilty about. She only has $200 in her back account.

In Denial

From a story somewhere: WASHINGTON – “The two most influential women in President George W. Bush's White House — first lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — are strongly defending the president's legacy against critics who are calling his administration one of the worst in history. "I know it's not, and so I don't really feel like I need to respond to people that view it that way," Mrs. Bush said in an interview that aired Sunday. "I think history will judge and we'll see later." Rice took a similar view in a separate interview, saying that claims that the Bush administration has been one of the worst ever are "ridiculous." Let’s be real, please. He has dug us a hole so deep that it will be impossible to climb out of it. That is not ridiculous. Please wake up from your slumber.

Executive pay

From an investor advisory newsletter, don’t ask me which one: “In fact, American executives could learn a thing or two from some of their counterparts abroad. Just look at Haruka Nishimatsu, CEO of Japan Airlines Corp. for example. Each morning, Nishimatsu gets down to business immediately after his morning commute to the office – on a city bus. His desk – like those of all the other Japan Airlines employees – sits in the middle of an open office. I know this from personal experience, having sat at a desk just like that when I’ve worked in Japan over the years. He eats lunch in the company cafeteria and hopes – like all Japanese employees – that he’ll have time to eat his meal before it gets cold as he stands in line waiting to pay. This hardly sounds like the life of a corporate CEO, especially when you consider that JAL is one of the world’s top airlines. Nor does the fact that when JAL cut back and asked many of its employees to take early retirement, Nishimatsu first eliminated every one of his own corporate perks, including his own pay – which, at a mere $90,000 (U.S.), is below what JAL’s pilots get paid.” There’s something to be said for modesty and reality checks. Even the woman at left knows this. I have no clue who she is but she appears to be working hard.

Timid Reporter

The Timid Reporter wants his interviews to be read but I can't be his agent for free so he needs your help. Please. He might stop annoying me if you will just help him out with a little publicity. I would appreciate it.