Witness to History

Is this the demise of America?

This question may not be in the headlines but it sure is on the minds of many thoughtful Americans. The issues facing America have nothing to do with recession, low demand in the housing and the auto markets and a novice president bowing to an Arab potentate. These are catchy topics, some with more carry power than others, that fill the chatter party lines at the various cable TV and network “news” programs. These issues are passing. They are not fundamental.

Fundamental issues have to do with beliefs and values. Fundamental issues have to do with trust and reliance. Fundamental issues have to do with charity and faith.

The fundamental issues facing Americans are growing with everyday. The debt of this country and its lesser political entities is just too high. It is a millstone around the neck of every taxpayer and is now the birth defect of unborn generations. It is a fundamental issue when the unborn cannot look forward to the clean slate provided by nature but is instead burdened with the promiscuity of their parents. Nature provides most children with hope and innocence and strength and vitality. We all feel sorrow for those children who face challenges because they are denied this opportunity and marvel at the spirit and ingenuity of their small persons to adapt and grow. Promiscuous parents frequently deny their children this opportunity through disease and abuse. We have all become promiscuous parents because of our inability to practice denial and discipline. Denial and discipline are fundamental values.

America needs a cleansing. We are not talking about a bath or a diuretic. There is no laxative that will provide an easy solution for this challenge. We are talking lengthy fasting and exercise and denial and discipline.

It is easy to blame our elected “leaders.” Frankly way too easy. They are a group that reflects the greed, pride and promiscuity of the source of their power. We can change them as quickly as soiled clothing. In a matter of months they can all be gone. But who do we choose? Pro life or pro abortion? Pro free enterprise or pro government control? Less spending or more spending? Pro states or pro national government? These are not passing cable TV topics. These are fundamental issues.

Where do you go if you want to live within your means and you want your government to live within its means? Where do you go to be rid of government forms and invasions of your privacy and home? Heck, where do you go to find people who don’t seek a government solution to everything that comes up? Where do you find people who take care of each other, don’t call 911 and think that families set the standards and values for themselves? Are these values gone? TheFundamentals thinks not.

The country was founded on the belief that not all people wanted the same thing but that there would be benefit if the thirteen defined political entities could form a common bond that would provide benefit to all the citizens. So the compact said several “enumerated powers” could go to the common bond and all others were left to the states. That concept is a fundamental that may well be the only hope for America. In the meantime, the fasting has begun. Fasting, self denial and discipline. American Fundamentals. Have you embraced these fundamentals? If not, why not?

Free Enterprise, Capitalism and Risk

What do administrators, politicians and bureaucrats have in common?

They are risk adverse. They seek safety, reelection and the avoidance of risk.

What do good businessmen, entrepreneurs and Bill Gates have in common?

They are risk takers. They measure events and circumstances with their knowledge and vision and take measured risks. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fail. In a capitalist economic system risk takers make or lose their investments based on the market provided result of their decision making. When they are successful their returns can be phenomenal and the results of their actions can benefit millions. When they fail they usually fail in degrees of personal difficulty. When administrators, politicians and bureaucrats fail they survive. They have no comparable success factors because they are not risk takers. Selling books and becoming lobbyists are not measures of success in economic disciplines.

Today very few observers are critical of the success of Bill Gates. The vision and risk taking and execution of he and his partners/supporters built an industry that improved productivity and efficiency around the globe and created millions of jobs (the credit for which was taken by WJClinton in a powerful example of the survivability of non risk takers.)

Is risk taking a good or bad thing or is it just a fact of life?

Depends on who you ask. In controlled economies risk taking is minimal to naught. The nomenklatura pretend to be in control. Do we want the US of A to follow this path? Big question for the American taxpayer/voter. As we follow this path and encourage the safety of the masses we discourage the risk takers. The current political regime likes to depict the successful risk taker as a pariah.

In free enterprise economies risk taking is the mechanism by which change occurs. Most folk think this change has been good but it is most certainly difficult when it fails or sputters or gets out of whack. Many folk cannot succeed in free enterprise. It is just too difficult. They need safety nets and effective charities. What they don’t need is risk adverse politicians, bureaucrats and administrators pretending to extend the benefits of risk takers to those who have difficulty competing in a tough, competitive environment. This activity is selling snake oil. In recent history in showed up in Ann Arbor, MI in 1964 with an unlikely Texas politician offering to solve the problems of the world.

Whither goes the US of A?

That is the $64.00 question. A self described community organizer is the director for the next four years. His decisions will have some impact, particularly if he seizes the opportunity to revitalize the environment for risk taking. His training does not suggest that he grasps the nature of the current events but TheFundamentals believes he can grasp the choices if he does his homework. His first risk taking would be to challenge the powerful imbedded forces in his constituency. Only he can take that risk. The early returns are not looking good.

Buccaneers and Booty

· What’s the big deal with paying pirates a few coins to gain safe passage around the Horn of Africa? We gave the Indians some good stuff and got the island of Manhattan. It only took us 300+ years to turn that deal into crap. Lobbyists pay millions to our representatives and senators each year to gain favor on legislation that produces economic benefits for their clients. We paid France a lot to get their territory and didn’t even realize that one day it would produce the man from Hope, Arkansas. We’re paying $900 million to fix up the Gaza just in time for the next Israeli war games. We’re bailing out every crook and congressman in DC and New York.

· So, TheFundamentals suggests that each vessel traveling through troubled waters prepare a goodie bag filled with worthless US currency and mortgage backed securities and when the ship is approached by those nasty pirates (some of them appear to be almost entering puberty) the official tribute tosser (union leaders/politicians take note – opportunity to add jobs) tosses the bag at the pirate ship and sails on to calmer waters. Robin Hood, Blackbeard and the community organizer, spreading the wealth around. Bring cameras and teleprompters.

· Everybody is happy. In Sicily they call this protection. In the US we call it a political contribution or foreign aid. In the Indian Ocean we’ll call it “booty bag.” Not, of course, to be confused with a “booty call.” The new Secretary of State can explain the difference to her husband.

· Included in the bag could be invitations to appear on Larry King, if he is still breathing. Or, we could send Catie Kouric to Mogadishu to do a live feed from Camp Booty. Show ‘em your legs Catie. Matt can show them his vacation pictures.

· Next Fox TV could do a reality show featuring talented buccaneers capturing vessels at sea. The Donald could fire the ones who fail. Janet Napolitano could hire the failures for TSA. The ones with teeth could do Burger King commercials. The community organizer could do a cameo in which he explains that failed buccaneers also can become teachers and get all the booty they want if they just join the NEA or the AFT and vote for him, of course.

· TheFundamentals can imagine a pirate union specializing in tribute and extortion. Who could run that union you say? Tee-hee-hee. There’s a softball if ever. Anyone from Chicago politics. Maybe one of Rev. Jackson’s progeny? Blagojevich? Richardson? Daschle? This list can go on forever. Please add your favorite(s) for pirate union leader.

· The opportunities are endless. Buccaneer booty, an American political fundamental.

Code of Honor

The Code of Honor says that one neither cheats nor lets the cheater go undiscovered. In other words, the cheater is held to count as is the knowing and tolerant observer.

Let’s take a look at the Code of Honor and apply it to the world of today. We will observe the situation and then apply logic and reasoning to the facts.

A cheater can be anyone who expects to receive the benefits of work, toil and effort without performing the work, toil and/or effort. That would be a standard definition of a cheater. Get the goods without paying for them. Get a paycheck without working for it. Get the grade without studying or researching and writing the required papers. Jacking the system is cheating. So, who gets the benefits without doing the work in today’s world? Well, how about those union employees who don’t work but get paid? They meet the definition. How about those welfare recipients who get a check but don’t work for it? They meet the definition. How about early retirees who get paid for not working or work another job and get paid twice? They meet the definition. How about unemployed workers who get a check for being unemployed? They meet the definition. How about government workers who stand around on the job (one sees them on TV all the time) but still get a paycheck? They meet the definition. How about the nephew or cousin or brother in law who gets the job because he did some political work for the politician but who doesn’t really have anything to do? They meet the definition.

So, now we have defined a few cheaters in today’s world. Remember we defined cheaters as someone who gets the benefits of work without doing the work. We didn’t say anything about legality because we all know that legality is sometimes this and sometimes that. TheFundamentals remembers when smoking was legal and cool and abortion was illegal and shunned. Some of you may not remember that time. We also all know that what’s legal for one may not be so legal for another. There are people in jail right now for either possession of certain drugs or use of same. There is pretty good evidence that the last three presidents of the US of A used drugs and may have even been in possession of drugs at some time.

The Code of Honor says that you get in trouble if you cheat (see cheaters defined above) and you get in equal trouble if you tolerate cheating. So, does anyone out there know anyone who:
1. Gets a paycheck without working for it?
2. Belongs to a union and doesn’t work but still gets paid?
3. Is a welfare recipient?
4. Gets an unemployment check?
5. Is retired and being paid but doesn’t work?
6. Works for the government and sleeps on the job?
7. Holds a government make-work job because they know someone?

Of course not. We know that this is just logic and reasoning and a Code of Honor applied to the year 2009 and we know that there is no logic and reasoning going on in the year 2009.
Code of Honor. One of TheFundamentals. Not applicable in the year 2009.

It's the debt, Stupid!

Genius Krugman has stated that the percentage calculated by dividing debt by GDP in the US can go to 100% without jeopardizing the economy in the form or excessive debt burden and bankruptcy. He cites other countries (source: CIA – Japan 170%; Sudan and Egypt 106% and Greece 90% among others) as the empirical source of his brilliant conclusion.

Krugman is wrong for many reasons, mostly the following:
1. What is included in debt? In the US debt exists at many different layers. The US debt is now over $11 trillion and rising (look left) at the fastest pace ever. There is more US contingent debt than ever in history and the new transparent administration has not cleaned the windows that show those numbers. What is the current US contingent debt? Also, there is debt all over the 50 states and municipalities and commitments to fund programs and pensions. Last there is consumer debt. Add it up and that 60% current percentage quoted by Krugman is vastly understated.
2. Any citation of debt without the specifics of debt service ability is fiction. How much will the burden of debt service be on this economy? Further, the US and its political subdivisions have used long term debt to fund current costs. This is a violation of fundamental financial values. It is just plain bad policy and lenders with any standards would not make loans for these purposes. Someday, someone will wake up.
3. Debt refinancing issues. What is the likelihood of the US’s ability to refinance its debt as it comes due? To answer this question it would be appropriate to look at the current experience with US mortgage backed securities which would suggest that lenders can disappear even with US government backing. Today, the FED is the principal buyer of US supported mortgage backed securities. Woe be unto those who can’t imagine this happening to US securities.
4. Shrinking GDP. Shrink the GDP and the denominator in Krugman's formula shrinks increasing the debt/GDP percentage. The debt numerator is rising quickly; not stabilizing or declining. Paul, better get that GDP denominator moving up. Oh yes, we’ll borrow and print money to do that. Is the Nobel Prize granted for practicing idiocy?

Simple question. The geniuses who led the US into this briar patch are alive and well. Why are they still in their jobs in congress and in bureaucracies and in the media, academia and business? They have suffered naught for their terrible stewardship of the economy. Their answer to the problem they created is massive spending, massive deficits and massive debt buildup. It is a certain path to insolvency.

The US is in big trouble and the geniuses who led us into this problem are still in charge. Unless and until these fools are removed and no longer directing wasteful spending programs the future is doubtful. Krugman is wrong and this little man will disappear just as his predecessors - Reich, Rubin and Greenspan. They will be joined by Geithner, Summers and Bernanke. They are not the solution; they are the problem. They will be to Obama as the neocons were to GWBush.

There is Hope

He is Risen. There is Hope.

This simple message, http://orthodoxwiki.org/Paschal_greeting , celebrated by many today, is available to all.

Cristo ha resucitado. There is Hope.

There is also need in all our communities. Please locate the food bank in your community and support it. Food banks need donations of supplies and cash. Food supplies include canned goods – meats, vegetables, fruits and pasta meals like those tasty spaghetti-o’s that kids eat. They also need cereal and spaghetti sauce and diapers. No perishables. They need cash donations to help them pay their bills.

Food banks are located at neighborhood churches and run by other charitable organizations. Google “food bank” and you will get a listing for your town (hopefully.) They are staffed by generous volunteers. You will feel good just visiting the food bank and assisting. Other food bank characteristics include helpful people, lack of forms or applications, no standing in line, no scowling and put-out looks, no impatient sighing and you will not be x-rayed through your underwear. You will be able to park close to a food bank, walk right in, no armed guards busting the seams of their trousers, no concrete barriers or cameras and no posted messages threatening imprisonment for minor infractions. The buildings are not fancy; the quarters are Spartan. Caution: food bank visitation and assistance is contagious and addictive.

Food banks offer anonymous and much needed help to our neighbors who are struggling.

Please help.

New York Bubble Machine

“Job cuts needed to stop NY bankruptcy: mayor,” reports Breitbart.com

‘Sweeping layoffs of government employees are needed to prevent New York going bankrupt, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday.’

Bloomberg, who is in tense negotiations with municipal workers' unions, said an extra 7,000 jobs would have to go unless major reductions are made in employee benefits.

‘We cannot continue. Our pension costs and health care costs for our employees are going to bankrupt this city," he said in comments broadcast on NY1 television.

Bloomberg, running for a third mayoral term at the end of this year, said that proposals from unions so far were "nowhere near what is adequate."

TheFundamentals has been discussing the bubble machines at work in Congress, California, The Federal Reserve, Illinois, Department of the Treasury, New York and countless other government sponsored entities around the nation. Mayor Mike Bloomberg apparently is a bit late in finding it in his own backyard. TheFundamentals thought Mayor Mike was a pretty smart guy at least based on his business success. Could he also have feet of clay? Are we looking at another “Maestro” in the making? The Maestro was the label the media applied to former Fed Chairman Greenspan whose failures to regulate financial institutions and provide a stable dollar has resulted in some interesting bubble machine breakdowns around the globe.

Mayor Mike, who thinks that the Obama stimulus is ok because it's free money to support his own bubble machines, now thinks that New York cannot afford to support the labor costs and pensions and benefits for the employees he hired. Mayor Mike, did you just come to this realization? Where were you when the budget was being assembled? Where were you when previous labor contracts were being negotiated? Can you not see beyond your nostrils? Do you think that there is an endless supply of cash and debt available to pay excessive wages and benefits to non performing employees? Is every year better than the previous year? Is that how you ran your own business Mayor Mike? TheFundamentals doubts it.

So now what? Mayor Mike and his deficit spending friends in DC and Albany have been building houses of straw and sticks. The big bad wolf (read unable to borrow more money) has now shown up at the doorstep and is blowing on the whining mayors weak structures and the poor mayor is afraid the straw and stick houses are going to collapse (bankruptcy.) Well Mikey, here’s what the rest of us who have to balance our budgets and save and do without have to say to you and your gathering of spoiled, overpaid, underworked public servants, “Oh - boo - hoo - hoo.”

Buck up Mikey. The community organizer may print you some money.