I’m not into conspiracy theories, but …
… things I’ve been seeing on the news lately don’t serve as a pleasant premonition to our future financial well-being.
As this part of my Firefox Toolbar demonstrates, I read a lot of news. I wish I could get my RSS feeds anywhere, anytime. I try to make up my own mind about the state of affairs in the world without too much of a reliance on some clearly biased networks. However, the words I would use to describe my feelings would not paint a very optimistic picture of the outlook that jigsawed recently. As a matter of fact, I dare anyone to put a positive spin on the list of events below.
- Driven by economic and religious catalysts, people in the “hot” and “unstable” regions of the world further entrench their haterd for you and I. Some of those folks happen to control sweet light crude that we’ve learned to love and depend on.
- The current administraton delegated the operations of six major US ports to a Saudi company. I’m not saying Saudis are terrorists. I’m just saying that we’re dealing with the least-monitored economic artery and a country run by a single family, named after that family, sitting on top of world’s largest oil reserves, and enjoying the presence of Islam’s two holiest cities (more).
- There is no motion in the marriage penalty situation. After my wife and I got married, we had to make sure we have enough withholdings to not be stuck with a tax liability. One of the paychecks went to hell; this year no refund, but no tax liability, either. For a bunch of folks who overzealously protect the institution of marriage by disallowing gay people to enter it, this administration surely doesn’t want to help out the youngen BY SIMPLY INCREASING THE STANDARD DEDUCTION FOR MARRIED FILED JOINTLY!!!
- Not enough is done to promote alternative sources of energy. And why should something get done? Our entire executive branch is budded up with folks with permanent ties to Big Energy (more). Is it so hard to create a tax break for those buying and selling biodiesel? Making biodiesel? Siphoning vegetable oil from restaurants and using it to partially fuel their Mercedes Benz 300SD’s?
- The newly-assembled conservative Supreme Court is ready to pounce on a woman’s right to choose. No immediate economic impact, just pisses off a lot of women.
Who cares about those issues, though. We got a war to fight, taxes to cut, goverment to reduce, fetuses to save. We’ve got Saudis to please, other planets to explore, budget deficit to expand [sarcasm alert].
You know that CareerBuilder commercial, “I’m sorry … It’s just that I work with monkeys …” ? I feel like that from the moment I leave my house to the moment I come back to it. Don’t you?
Wow. I hope you don’t think your views are mainstream. You have lost a reader. Please stick with financial tips as stated and not politics.
Comment by Eric — February 21, 2006 @ 7:21 pm
Read the caption in the header, Eric. This is not Motley Fool. This is my blog.
Comment by How To Be Poor — February 21, 2006 @ 7:27 pm
You should also add to that list the fact that Iran will begin to sell oil in Euros this march. Google it if you don’t beleive me.
Comment by Lawrence — February 21, 2006 @ 11:40 pm
If by “mainstream” Eric means far-far-right neoconservative Republican, then of course they’re not. I’m getting the feel that what Eric thinks of as “mainstream” is probably instead in line with his own hidden agenda. Most commonsense people are terrified with what is being done with this country and the level of rampant corruption and abuse of powers. It definitely affects us financially in that we all will end up paying the debt, nationally and internationally.
Yes, this all does bother me. Why am I supposed to be so concerned with gay people marrying or what some lady across the country does with her fetus? If it doesn’t affect me, why am I supposed to care? What really matters to be right now is if I get drafted into some stupid costly war or if Congress decides to squeeze more interest pennies off the backs of those of us with student loans. I’m concerned with the poor job market, lack of affordable healthcare, and emminent domain.
Comment by Greling — February 22, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
Thanks, Lawrence and Greling. I’ve read up on Iran wanting to go PetroEuro as opposed to PetroDollar. The decision can definitely pack enough punch to affect all of us profoundly.
I just want everyone to understand that I’m not on some kind of a political bender to voice my opinion. Even the most conservative of you cannot deny the magnitude of the recent events. 9/11, the war, the hurricanes, the govt’s failure to carry out its duties, the Republican war on science, the projected gas shortage, the job losses, the rise of Asia, the hatred pointed at America, the global warming … the list goes on, as does its economic impact on all of us. Kids don’t have it easy these days, Grampa.
Comment by How To Be Poor — February 22, 2006 @ 8:03 pm
I would amend your statement slightly, namely the Evangelical Christian’s war on science. Most republicans had nothing to do with this campaign run by a few in the religious right. Even the Catholic church has enough sense to recognize and approve of the teaching of evolution.
Along with the rise of Asia should be noted the fall of Africa. The US government was so quick to intervene in Iraq because of oil….but Africa all we have done is reinforce the oil company elite and further entrench brutal dictators.
Comment by Kyle Stewart — February 23, 2006 @ 5:17 pm
link exchange…
link exchange…
Trackback by link exchange — October 15, 2006 @ 11:43 am
greatings…
wonderful…
Trackback by domainmaster — January 5, 2009 @ 4:07 am