My View

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

We hear a lot of numbers thrown out about our deficit and the overall financial condition of our country. Here are some numbers that every citizen should keep in mind, and these numbers are frightening. The U. S. government exempts itself from the accounting standards that every company in this country has to follow to comply with our complex tax laws. Why is this important? Because it allows the government to report, with a straight face, that our current deficit is ONLY $1.5 trillion dollars. However, because the federal government does not follow generally accepted accounting principles, it does not have to account for future retirement benefits that it owes. If the government accounted for those liabilities like every company has to do, this deficit number changes. Our annual deficit would be $5 trillion, not the $1.5 trillion that is commonly reported. Now consider this: according to an article in USA Today, the typical American household would have to pay $42,000 in taxes annually to eliminate the real annual deficit of $5 trillion dollars. Keep in mind that the average per household income in the United States is $49,000. What this means is that the ability to solve our dire national financial crisis is not dependent on solely raising taxes. The amount that would have to be collected from taxpayers would wipe out most households. Seeing these numbers puts our situation in very clear terms, and until those in Washington acknowledge this, viable solutions will not be forthcoming. It is obvious by looking at these numbers that government has to shrink if we are going to work our way out of this mess. Ask yourself how many leaders in Washington are proposing serious cuts to government spending. And therein lies the crux of the financial problems that we face as a nation.

Things are so uneventful in my world, that when I die, I hope someone else's life flashes before my eyes.

If you have been watching what is happening in Europe, and specifically in Greece and Spain, you are seeing a slow motion train wreck from a financial standpoint. As these two economies teeter on the brink of collapse, businesses and individuals that are smart and are able are moving currency and assets out of those countries. This is being done to preserve capital and to keep those assets from being devalued by a conversion away from the Euro and back to sovereign currency. This can be done because these nations currently allow for the free flow of capital across national borders, and it is a reasonable reaction to this situation. If Greece, for instance, pulls out of the European Union and goes back to the drachma, the value of funds held in Greek banks will fall dramatically as the drachma is valued against global currencies. So prudent people and businesses have been withdrawing currency and moving to countries that are stable. What does this have to do with us in the United States? Two Congressmen, Barney Frank and Sander Levin, have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner recommending greater capital controls for the United States. Simply put, their recommendation is to limit the movement of dollars and investments to destinations outside the U.S.If these capital controls are implemented, Americans are restricted to the type of investments they can make- specifically in investing in stable, growing companies and economies outside the U. S.- and are subject to the madness that is U.S. monetary policy. If the government continues to print and weaken the dollar, Americans buying power will be diminished and they will have limited options to preserve their wealth. This quiet maneuver to limit our financial flexibility, if enacted, could have dangerous consequences for all of us.

My wife says I keep pushing her buttons. She is right, but unfortunately, I cannot find the mute button.

One year ago, Wisconsin enacted reforms that limited the collective bargaining rights of government workers, brought reforms to the state's underwater pension system, and gave government workers the right to refuse to join a union. This unleashed  the ire of unions in the state, and they have made it their goal to oust Governor Scott Walker. They are failing, as it appears that Walker will continue as Governor. The public sector unions have have claimed that the reforms were onerous and were unfair to government workers. But were they? Here are the facts. Before the reforms, Wisconsin state workers received health benefits 2.3 and pension benefits 5.7 times greater than comparably compensated private sector workers. After the reforms were enacted, state employees receive health benefits 2 times greater and pension benefits 4.5 times greater than private sector employees. Before the reforms, state employees received total compensation (salary and benefits) was 29% higher than comparable private sector employees; after the reforms, 22% higher. The reforms asked the state workers to contribute a modest 5.8% of their salary to their pensions and 12.6% of their salary to health care benefits. Onerous? I think not. Wisconsin's state workers enjoyed- and continue to enjoy- very generous benefits paid by the taxpayer and totally disconnected from economic reality. So when you hear about this skirmish in Wisconsin, think about how much you pay as a private sector employee for your benefits and realize that these union contracts have been incredibly generous. Asking sate employees to pay a small portion toward their excellent benefits package is anything but onerous.

You should never run away from your problems. Unless your problem is being chased by a bear.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Conference Finals Review and Stanley Cup Prediction

Time to take a look back at the Conference Finals predictions from The View and look ahead to the Stanley Cup Finals. Here we go:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

KINGS vs COYOTES

MY PICK: KINGS IN 6
OUTCOME: KINGS IN 5

The Kings completed their masterful role through the first three rounds of the playoffs with a stunning 10-2 record. Look up the cliched phrase "a team peaking at the right time" and you will find a picture of this year's L.A. Kings. However, they are not peaking at the right time. They are continuing to play solid hockey with stellar goaltending from Jonathan Quick, solid defense, and now their scoring has caught up. This is a deadly combination for the teams that have faced the Kings. The Coyotes were the latest victim to run into the regal buzz saw. Phoenix found themselves down 2-0 after the first two games on home ice and looked like a team that was completely mesmerized and dominated by the skill of the Kings. The play of Mike Smith in net for the Coyotes was solid, but he was often hung out to dry by the skaters in front of him, and L.A. was relentless in attacking the net. By contrast, the Coyotes managed to put together one complete game to stave off elimination, but the reality was that it was just a matter of time before the aggressive forecheck by the Kings and the unyielding defense eliminated any offensive challenge the Coyotes could mount. Oh yeah, it didn't hurt the Kings effort by getting into the heads of the Coyotes with their physical play and their pressure on Smith in the net.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

RANGERS vs DEVILS

MY PICK: RANGERS IN 7
OUTCOME: DEVILS IN 6

Looking at this series, I thought the Rangers had more depth and talent than the Devils. I certainly thought that Henrik Lundqvist was better in net than Marty Brodeur, a Hall of Fame goalie that was past his prime. Uh-uh. The Devils talent proved to be as good as what the Rangers put on the ice, and throughout the series outworked the Rangers on both ends of the ice. And about that past his prime netminder for the Devils? Marty Brodeur showed that there is certainly gas in the tank as he battled and stymied the Rangers forwards for much of the series.The thing that struck me about this series was that the Devils just seemed to have more fight in them and they refused to give in to the Rangers. Now make no mistake that the Devils have talent, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise come to mind, but every player in the line up elevated their game. Bryce Salvador?? Who would have thought that he would be scoring critical goals in this run to the Finals? This team, much like the Kings, seems to have not only the attitude to win the Cup, but certainly the ability as well.

So... now on to the Stanley Cup Finals and a matchup between two teams that have a surprisingly similar make up and style of play. So what will determine who wins the Cup?

Start with the goaltenders. There is now doubting the excellence of both netminders, and the series may well be decided by which can withstand the pressure of the the finals and the offense that their opponent will bring. Certainly, the experience that Marty Brodeur brings into the Finals will serve him well, and playing for a Cup late in his career will cause him to elevate his game. Jonathan Quick gets his first trip to the Finals, and with that comes a certain amount of pressure. I think Quick handles it and it will not be an issue for him. The edge goes to Quick for athleticism and the fact that he has been an absolute wall up to this point.

The battle between the forwards of the Devils and the defense of the Kings is going to be the critical variable in this series. The Devils forwards have been relentless; the Kings defense unyielding. If the Devils can establish their offensive presence, they have the talent to really challenge Quick and can make his life miserable. It will be up to the Kings to contain the four lines that the Devils role and not let them get the momentum and confidence in this series.

The offensive edge in this series goes to the Kings. Not that they are necessarily more talented than the Devils up front, but that the Devils defense is not as talented as the Kings blue liners. I think as the series goes along, the Kings will put a lot of pressure on the Devils D and eventually wear them out. This means that Marty Brodeur will once again have to play exceptionally well in net, and the firepower of the Kings will present a huge challenge to him and his mates.

These are two teams that have many similarities and will take each other to the wall in this series. In the end, the talent of the Kings will be just enough to carry them past the Devils.

MY PICK: KINGS IN 6

My View

All of us, to some degree, are familiar with sacrifice. Some may be sacrificing their favorite foods to lose a few pounds before a beach trip. Some sacrifice physical comfort to train for a marathon or just get back into shape. If you are raising children, or have raised your children, you certainly have a grasp of the concept of sacrifice.

Sacrifice involves giving up something; that is the essence of sacrifice. Giving up chocolate or some other food to lose a few pounds involves sacrifice. Sweating through a long run, having to push through the wall of pain, involves sacrifice. We give up time, treasure, and tears for our children. For most of us, our daily existence involves some sort of sacrifice.

Our sacrifices, although important, do not involve the totality of our being. I am not going to die by giving up some rich food to lose a few pounds. My desire to run one more mile is not going to kill me. And the sacrifices that I make for my children may cost me some sleep. They have certainly cost me some money. Yet I will wake in the morning and go about my daily affairs unimpeded.

There are those, however, who have sacrificed all. They have done so throughout the history of this nation so that you and I are free to chose to lose those pounds, run those miles, or raise our families in the way we want.

Our glorious freedom was won, defended, and has been preserved to this day by the sacrifice of valiant men and women who without hesitation stood in the breach against those who would try to destroy those freedoms.

Their sacrifice did not take a piece of their life, it consumed them.

This Memorial Day is a call to each of us to recognize that for many, sacrifice was not trivial or short lived. It was final.

The small white crosses on the manicured grounds of cemeteries around the country belie the magnitude of the sacrifice of those they honor. Our response to those that have sacrificed all for us is to honor them, thank them, and remember the sacrifice they have made for each of us.

On this Memorial Day, we as a free people lift our sacrifice of praise to to those who have preserved and given all for our freedom.

My View

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

We all know that our country is staring at a $16 trillion deficit and that the federal government is looking for way to raise taxes. Being direct about raising taxes is not the way a politician continues their career, so the tactic in Washington is to slide new taxes or tax increases into various bills so that they are hidden from view and the political fallout is limited. Another way to raise taxes is to curtail or eliminate deductions that many taxpayers use to limit their tax liability. Although this is a tax increase, it allows politicians to say that they didn't vote for a tax "increase", even though the elimination of a deduction in effect increases taxes. Why mention all this? Quietly, the House Ways and Means Committee has commissioned a study group to examine the $18 trillion sitting in 401(K) plans and personal IRA's. Under current rules, the total allowable contributions into a 401(K) by an employee and employer is $50,000. The Committee is considering lowering the contribution limit to $20,000 or 20% of total compensation, whichever is less. This exposes more of an worker's income to taxation by lowering the contribution limits. There is another proposal being considered that would totally eliminate the tax savings for contributions to 401(K) and IRA plans, treating all contributions as taxable income. Contributors to these plans would instead get an 18% "credit" for any contribution placed into a retirement account. Pay close attention to the progress of these discussions. Washington has a voracious appetite for our money, and it was inevitable that they would start going after retirement accounts. Even if it means that it will lower your standard of living in retirement.

People say that 60 is the new 40. The policeman that pulled me over this morning disagreed.

The classic definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results each time. Look at what is happening in Washington, with our government, and ask yourself if this isn't the epicenter of insanity. Why? Consider these facts. We have an entitlement system that is bankrupting (actually has bankrupted) the country. Yet instead of undertaking meaningful reforms, entitlements continue to drain resources, continue unabated, and are expanding. Or consider our monetary policy. Rather than create sound money, we continue to print more dollars and debase our currency. Right now, we do not feel the effect of the monetary stupidity that the Federal Reserve has foisted upon us. We will, eventually. You can blame the real estate bubble and before that the dot com bubble on inept monetary policy. Our economy has been ravaged by our excessive printing of dollars, and we are doing it again. Don't forget our system of government education. Our public education system continually turns out graduates that are ill prepared to function in a rapidly changing global economy, yet we persist in perpetuating the same ineffective educational programs and resist any changes to improve the system. Both parties are guilty of perpetuating this insanity. This election is about taking the first step in stopping this stupidity and beginning the painful steps to move our country toward a more sane approach to addressing our multitude of challenges. It will be up to the voters to do this. Politicians and bureaucrats in Washington will not.

Now when anyone tells me "Good morning" I am asking them to prove it.

Fiscal responsibility, like personal responsibility, is not always fun and is sometimes painful. Too painful for some countries. France recently took a dramatic turn to the left as the voters there rejected the fiscal austerity that had been implemented under President Sarkozy and elected Socialist leader Francois Hollande. Hollande has promised a return to the fiscal policies that had created the debt crisis that nearly wrecked the French economy. Voters were promised a "new hope" and a change from necessary fiscal discipline by Hollande. Hollande promise to raise taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals, increase public spending, and raise the minimum wage. Sound familiar? If you said it sounds like Democrats in the U.S. led by President Obama, you are perceptive. All of these promises, whether made by Hollande, Obama, or any other socialist around the world, all sound good and make the voters feel good. The trouble with these promises is that sooner or later, the money runs out. Yet the promises persist. Sounds like insanity to me.

If I could be any person, living or dead, I would certainly want to be the living one.

And that, my friends, is my view.

An Open Letter to Ryan Suter

Dear Ryan,

Your fans in Nashville, not to mention your teammates and the management of the Predators, eagerly and with some trepidation await your decision about where you want to play next season. As you well know, this is a big decision, a decision that will not only affect your compensation but your chances to win a Cup. It is a decision that should not be made quickly but requires some thoughtful deliberation.

You are wise to take some time and ponder this decision. Obviously, the decision you make will affect the rest of your career.

You are weighing several variables. It may be forward of me, but I want to offer some input for your consideration. Sometimes, a different perspective helps to sort out what is important. Granted, I am just a fan in the stands, but maybe this will be of some help to you.

To start, you are right to want to get paid. You are one of the best- and most underrated- defensemen in the NHL. You deserve to get paid, and you have worked for this payday. It is time to cash in. I certainly don't fault you for this, and neither do the fans in Nashville.

Keep this in mind, though. The Predators have said they are going to pay you. The contracts with Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber have set the bar, so for the point of this discussion, let's say the Predators offer you $7 million per year. Pretty good money, eh?

Suppose a team that covets your services, say Detroit, offers you a bit more to jump ship. Say $7.5 million per year. An extra $500,000 in your pocket sounds pretty good. Until you consider that the State of Michigan levies an income tax of 4.25% on those gross earnings. That amounts to a $318,750 haircut, and that $500,000 difference suddenly becomes $181,250. Oh yeah, don't forget that the City of Detroit tags you for another 2.5% off the gross earnings, or another $187,500. Suddenly, that extra $500,000 has evaporated and your net earnings are $6,993,750.

You're a smart guy, and I'm sure that living in a state like Tennessee with no income tax starts to look pretty good.

You will be well served to examine the tax rates in any potential destination. Most of these places sure do take a bite out of that money that you are going to get paid.

By the way, don't forget to look into the cost of living in any potential new destination. Just so you know, Tennessee has the second lowest composite cost of living index in the U.S. Now I know that if you are making $7 million a year, that may not be a consideration, but it is nice to live in a place where your dollars go further. No sense in wasting those hard earned dollars.

Beyond the money, I am certain that you are going to look hard at the quality of life for you and your young family. You certainly want to live in a place that is good for your loved ones. That is understandable. We all want that. Just so you know, Nashville was the only U.S. city with an NHL franchise that was named by Kiplinger Magazine as one of the best value/most livable cities.

Just thought that might be important in making your decision.

Those are all important considerations, but for you, winning the Cup is what drives you. That is the goal of every hockey player, and I would be disappointed if you didn't have the drive, that desire, to capture a Cup.

You have said that you want to be in a place where you can win a Cup, and that will weigh heavily in your decision. It may be the primary factor in making your decision. Being a part of a team that can contend for a Cup is essential to you.

Yeah, about that.

I have to admit, Ryan, I am conflicted about this. Not that you want to win a Cup, but that your intimation is  whether a Cup can be won in Nashville.

Consider these facts:

You have been here through the growing pains of this franchise. You have seen this team just be happy to make the playoffs, and you have been part of the team that finally broke through the first round and challenged in the second round. You were part of team that dominated our divisional nemesis in the first round and felt the sting of of a disappointing exit in the second round.

Yes, these are growing pains. And the growth of this young franchise has been steady if not spectacular. Consider what this team has done in its relatively brief existence, and the success and growth that has occurred. Not only have you been a part of the on-ice growth, but you have been a part of hockey taking root and flourishing in Nashville.

Now all those facts may not carry much weight with you, but I think they should. Not only is the team growing and improving, but now you have an engaged fan base that is one of the best in the NHL.

The ownership group for the first time in the history of this franchise has said they will spend to the salary cap.This means that you are going to get paid, but it also- and this is important- means that the owners are willing to add the components necessary to win it all. I think the acquisitions that were made this season are indicative of the desire of the owners to add the type of players that can bring the Cup to Nashville.

You are part of a youthful team that has tremendous potential. There is young talent that is seasoning and getting better, and blended with veterans like you, can play excellent hockey every night. And it is a young team that learned some lessons- painful lessons- by the early exit from this year's playoffs.

These factors point to a team that has the potential to contend for the Cup, not just now, but in years to come.

All of us were distressed by the second round loss to the Coyotes, and it is apparent that the Predators still need some pieces. But you know what? There will be 29 teams in June that will say they need some pieces.

The fact is that you are an integral part of the Predators, and yes, this team is close to genuinely contending for the Cup. The consistency and the upward trajectory of the Predators bode well for the future of this team. Having you on board means that consistency and upward trajectory can continue without interruption.

I hope you don't think I am being too forward in offering my input to you. Sometimes, another perspective is important.

How satisfying will it be to be part of a team that moved from expansion franchise to Cup winner? One that does it in a relatively short period of time. That is the opportunity and the potential that you have in Nashville.

And I and the Predator faithful hope you see that and will be a part of it.

Second Round Review and Conference Finals Predictions

Once again, the View has proven that you should not bet the house money on his predictions, as my prognostication skills for the second round came in at a meager 25% correct. Here is the recap:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NASHVILLE vs PHOENIX

MY PICK: NASHVILLE IN 5
OUTCOME: PHOENIX IN 5

The Predators did not play Predator hockey, while the Coyotes did, prevailing in five games. The Predators could not generate consistent offensive efforts against the Coyotes stingy defense, and when they did, Mike Smith cleaned up most of the chances. The Predators had a chance to seize home ice advantage before falling in OT in game 1. While that may have been encouraging, the Predators defense was absolutely horrid in game 2, hanging Pekka Rinne out to dry. After a strong effort in game 3, the only victory for the Predators, the offense once again sputtered, and the Predators were unable to get past the second round for the second year in a row. While one can look at different reasons for the failure of the Predators to advance, the fact remains that the best players on the Predators roster could not produce offensively against the Coyotes, and this cost them the series.

ST. LOUIS vs LOS ANGELES

MY PICK: ST. LOUIS IN 7
OUTCOME: LOS ANGELES IN 4

Jonathan Quick has been outstanding in the playoffs, but I felt that the Blues had the offensive horsepower to pressure the Kings defense and make Quick's life miserable. Uh...no. Quick continued his red hot play and shut down the Blues offense. The Blues seemed to get rattled by the physical play of the Kings, and they were taken off their game, seeming to want to retaliate against the Kings rather than play their style of hockey. Obviously, the loss of Jaroslav Halak hurt the Blues, as Brian Elliott struggled and there was no recourse for the Blues but to stick with him. The Kings have the ability to play a physical game, but their skill players were superb in this series, bedeviling the Blues defense and scoring timely goals and putting pressure on the Blues. Pressure the Blues surprisingly could not handle throughout the series.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NEW YORK vs WASHINGTON

MY PICK: NEW YORK IN 6
OUTCOME: NEW YORK IN 7

The story of this series was the Caps Braden Holtby, who was superb ad kept the Caps in every game. Except for a late goal and an OT win in game 5 by the Rangers, this series would have gone to the Capitals. The Rangers responded well to the challenge the Caps presented in the deciding game 7 by limiting the Caps potent offense, even though Jason Chimera had a late goal to make the game close. In the end, the Rangers had just enough offense to eke out the series win, but this was tougher than many expected it would be for the Rangers.

PHILADELPHIA vs NEW JERSEY

MY PICK: PHILADELPHIA IN 6
OUTCOME: NEW JERSEY IN 5

After the dismantling of the Penguins, it appeared as if the Flyers were firing on all cylinders. Solid defense and an explosive offense looked to make this a short series for the Flyers. Just one problem. The Devils played a more complete game in every game of the series. The Devils defense did a good job of containing the Flyers forwards and Marty Brodeur was solid in net. The Devils forwards outworked the Flyers D throughout the series, and Ilya Bryzgalov was just average in net for Broad Street Bullies. As this series was played out, it appeared that the Devils grew in confidence while the Flyers were searching for their mojo. They will have a lengthy off season in which to find it.

So let's take a look at the conference finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

PHOENIX (3) vs LOS ANGELES (8)

The Kings are 8-1 so far in the playoffs, and they have knocked off two division champions in Vancouver and St. Louis. This will be the toughest test so far for the Kings, as they will face a goalie that is nearly the equal of their own Jonathan Quick. The Coyotes play a solid team game, and their defense does a great job of protecting Smith, so the Kings will have to use their big bodies and their physicality to make things difficult in front of the Coyotes net. If the Kings do not come out ready to play, the Coyotes will make them pay. Relying on Quick alone to keep the Kings in the game will create problems, because the Coyotes have the ability to score and can pressure in the offensive zone. I look for the Kings ability to physically wear down the Coyotes to work to their advantage as this series goes along. Once again, this series will go to the team that makes the fewest mistakes, and I think that will be the Kings.

MY PICK: KINGS IN 6

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NEW YORK (1) vs NEW JERSEY (6)

The Battle of the Hudson will be an all out war. These two teams don't like each other and it will show as this series unfolds. Look for the Devils to play with confidence after dispatching the Flyers, and they will give the Rangers problems. Both teams are opportunistic and have forwards that can score. Home ice will once again be an advantage for the Rangers, but one has to wonder how a difficult 7 game series with the Caps will affect them. The Rangers are the more physical team, and that will work in their favor the longer this series goes. The Rangers D will be challenged by the Devils offensive capability, but they should be able to contain them.In the end, I think the Rangers have the advantage in net, and will ride the play of Henrik Lundqvist to a series win.

MY PICK: RANGERS IN 7

So there you have my picks for the Conference finals. Remember, don't bet the rent money on them.

My View

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

Every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics release the Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measure inflation at the wholesale and retail level, respectively. If you listen to the reports of the data, you will hear either number reported "excluding food and energy costs". The rationale for this is that both of these costs are extremely volatile and can distort the reading of inflation in our economy. In some respects, this is true, because we all know that food and energy costs can swing quickly based on seasonal demands and the available supply. But here is what you should know. For most Americans, their largest personal expenditures after housing costs are for food and energy. Both of those expenditures comprise a significant amount of the personal household budgets of many Americans, and excluding the effects of rising prices in those areas does not paint a clear picture of the real cost of living for most of us. Here is a chart of the Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index for the past 22 years:





While energy grabs our attention because of the pain at the pump we experience when we gas up our vehicles, food costs have consistently- and painfully- risen over the past decade.  So when you feel the pinch in your monthly budget and are trying to figure out what is happening, remember that the information that we are getting from Washington is not accurate as to the actual cost of living and the increases- inflation- that we all feel. And that inflation is going to get worse.

If a leper gives you the finger, do you have to give it back?

About energy prices... We all know how painful it can be to fill up our vehicle. Three years ago, the average per gallon cost of gasoline was $1.78. Today, it averages $3.55 per gallon. This is problematic for us as consumers, because the rise in gasoline prices extracts more money from our wallets that could have been spent elsewhere in the economy. This increase in the cost of gasoline, as well as other sources of energy, are part of the administration's plan to foist green energy on American consumers. Those rising energy prices are a drag on the economy and make the recovery to good economic health more difficult for our country. There is another aspect to this situation that we should consider. Our nation's inept energy policy is a serious threat to our national security. The failure to develop the resources that are within our borders makes our country susceptible to the whims of foreign countries that often do not have our best interests at heart. Abundant and relatively cheap sources of energy are the foundation of our economy, and failure to develop our own sources of energy plays right into the hands of the countries that would love to see our nation get weaker. As citizens, we should demand that our government develop the abundant resources that our country has and stop foolishly attempting to force upon us inefficient and costly green energy projects that have no hope of meeting the energy needs of our country.

I finally got accepted into college. Unfortunately, it's a clown college.

The upcoming election poses stark choices for us as a nation. All of us can pick an issue, or issues, about which we are passionate, and we decide which candidate will get our vote (or votes if you are a Chicago Democrat) based on their position on the issues that motivate us. Consider this: the fundamental issue in this election is austerity. More specifically, are we as citizens going to force the government to be more austere and rein in spending? Or will we allow the government to force us into austerity by spending more at the federal level and extracting more of of incomes through higher taxes? The vote in November is about whether we as citizens will force the government to live within reasonable means or allow unlimited growth of government on the backs of the taxpayers.  Our votes will determine the direction of government growth and therefore the direction of our economy and our standard of living. We already have a case study to see what happens when citizens vote for unfettered government growth. Watch the slow motion train wreck that is Greece to see what happens when citizens allow government to grow without restraint. As unhappy as the citizens of Greece are right now, it is going to get worse for them. Hopefully, our nation doesn't go down that same path. 


I get a lot of sound advice from my wife. 99% sound, 1% advice.


And that, my friends, is my view.