at some point we all have to talk about politics. i suppose it is ingrained in the American psyche from early on. (less now than with our parents) so lets see…

 Barrack Obama, he is the man! he wants to fix everything. i like that he has vision, that is great, i just wish that vision was less myopic. Sen. Obama wants to create more green-collar jobs (to the tune of an $160 BILLION dollar program), higher minimum wage (have you heard of inflation?), free/affordable health-care for everyone, and tax-free status for pensioners (even though employee pension plans are almost non existent nowadays). ALL great things… umm, one question? check please?!? where does all this money come from? SOMEONE has to pay. so we go back to our lesson on Social Security.

you pay in your whole life and then you get to be supported by the younger crowd when you are older. OK. great. lets look at a country that is arguably a perfect example of this. Germany, has social health-care and a wonderful pension program. which is supported by a 10% MANDATORY contribution to the State Pension fund on ALL income, 7% goes to the health-care system (both with an employer match). in addition to this, have you ever wondered why lots of Europeans ride bikes and walk? do you even know what gasoline costs over there? last time i bothered to do the Euro per liter/ Dollar per gallon exchange it was over $8/gal! still want to whine about our fuel prices?

So i think, maybe, he should explain a little better how he can accomplish all that he has promised, with no tax increase for, what did he say, 95% of Americans?

hmm… i think we should check the price of the meal before we order.

i have been having a fit over Bernake lowering the Fed rate to 2%… but i have been calming myself down and am starting to think a little more calmly.

it seems to me that continuously lowering the Fed makes for a shortsighted solution that is focused on the slowing economy. one that is more like a triage technique. it was good for when we first got in this pickle… but now that we are at the hospital, lets get some surgeons in here! we need to look at the whole picture, not just a slowing economy (imports are down and so are our exports), but the rising risk of inflation. I am in the party that says inflation is going to start causing a serious problem. we need to try to regulate that as best we can! cause as far as i can see we are looking at one of the worst inflation rates in decades if we don’t!