Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with Sen. Bunning getting a “deal” to agree to allow an extension for unemployment benefits. I guess he has come up with a commodity other than money to help people pay bills and maintain a sense of normalcy within their lives. No, that didn’t happen? Oh for Sen. Bunning I guess it is acceptable to exist while holding your breath waiting for your life’s bubble to burst. I’m trying to figure out why he has been given so much power. Okay so politics requires tit for tat, we all know that, but what a blatant example of peacocking at the expense of others. I agree there is an extreme amount of debt piling up without knowing what the long-term outcome will be, but when did the basic standard of living get to be an acceptable sacrifice? When I see someone think somehow its cool for everyone else to do without and be okay, I can’t help but wonder what they would, scratch that, have given up as they dictate and decide what everyone else should be able to do without. So Sen. Bunning as you take your grand stand, I just have a few questions. Are you in jeopardy of falling behind on your mortgage and if not are you willing to downsize, probably at a loss, to cut your expenses? How many vacations have you skipped? Have you and your family forgone shopping? Have you parked your car? What exactly have you done other than say other people have been receiving too much money and it needs to stop. Did you forgo your salary or benefit package in the order to offset spending? Probably not. It’s really easy to sit in the only chair in the room and tell others to make themselves comfortable. Cutting off peoples unemployment benefits without offering another options highlights your humanity and true concern for your brethren. After all who cares if they have four walls if you Sen. Bunning, don’t get an extra vote.
Posts Tagged ‘Financial’
I’m The Man
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010Spectacle Please
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010So posting new information is not the only thing that I‘m behind on, both of the dvrs are 95% full, my father knows more about YouTube than I do and I’m constantly asked by family and friends if I’m on Facebook yet. Okay, okay, I’m getting around to all of it. There is absolutely no way that my father can be more up on things than me. So while I’ve been catching up on Oprah and The View, a couple of stories struck me. One of my favorite is about a guest who was on The View, Dave Carroll, who has gotten to corporate America in my new favorite way. Can anyone say Spectacle! Much applause to you Dave Carroll, thanks for showing us the way. While the question that must still be raised is why most companies require “spectacle” in order to do the right thing, if that’s what gets it done I am certainly on board with creating a three ring circus at their front door. Mr. Carroll your performance was one of the best showcases of musical talent combined with spectacle. I loved it. By the way spectacle is one of my new favorite words and trust me that will certainly be my angle when I encounter future insurmountable and or unforgivable levels of denial, unconcern, and irresponsibility from any company. My heart attack days are over and I’m going to release all the drama that talking to customer service can offer. Again Dave Carroll, bravo on calling American Airlines out in such a truly interesting and charismatic way. I wish I would have thought of it myself. Now personally I don’t think that it should have to come to that, but congrats on demanding accountability from a ridiculous situation. American Airlines and all other companies who need it, the circus can always be open to your business.
Sick and Tired!
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010There is nothing worse than being sick. I take that back. There’s nothing worse than having a sick kid. Well I kind of take that back. There’s nothing worse than having a sick kid and feeling like you can’t take them to the doctor because you don’t have insurance or can’t afford to create a new bill. Honestly I am not sure whether or not universal healthcare is the answer, but I do know in a country where we fund so many things I wonder why there is such a problem with deciding to fund this. One thing I know for sure is healthcare should not be tied to a job. Having a job should not be the key to health and not having one should not mean your health is irrelevant. Particularly at this time when employers are cutting so many workers either to part time which means no benefits or coverage so limited that it might as well be considered no benefits, or all together, something has got to be done. For those who oppose everybody having healthcare my question to you is why are you opposed? Is it due to feeling that people just aren’t worth the expense of everyone having coverage? Or does it have more to do with politics and not wanting to see the President be successful? Is it perhaps because somehow “others” shouldn’t be entitled to benefits that the elite are privileged too (um Congress, I might be talking to you). Irrespective of politics and hey even money, where is the humanity? Most people can’t walk by a sick animal and not want to help, but the underprivileged, unemployed or underinsured, well I guess that’s another story.
Guess Who!
Sunday, January 31st, 2010Okay, so I’ve been absent for a while. Trust me it’s not due to my lack of passion, actually the opposite is true. I’ve been struggling with my personal issues. Yes, like pretty much everyone, I have them. I admit it. Everything I do lately has been with the desire to stick it to someone to prove that they underestimated me and messed with the wrong person. While that might work somehow, somewhere, as a life focus not so much. I have found myself consumed with things that I deem turning points in the vision that I had for myself and sadly, find myself regularly picturing those who I hold responsible in my personal and financial downfall. Though I have been trying to channel myself in positive ways, tae-bo just isn’t enough. Maybe I just don’t do it frequently enough, something I have vowed to correct in this upcoming year. No, I’m not going to call it a resolution we all know those don’t usually go so well. Yeah, okay it’s kind of a resolution but again, I’m not going to call it that because of the way “resolutions” work out. I know you understand. So anyway, I guess my intention is to use this blog to along with imparting my wisdom that I know undoubtedly you will come to know and love, to hopefully help myself by removing anger from the decision process with the objective of ultimately reaping more success. I kind of sound like Oprah don’t I. Really the truth is I am ready to get back on the track with the plans that I had for myself before all of the outside intervention, we’ll just call it, that impacted the direction I have gone. That “intervention” is an unfortunate reality in my life and with my husband technically laid off and no insurance, this is all the therapy I can afford but we’ll save that for another day, another time. So I guess what I’m saying is “I’m baack”!
The Jobs That Pay
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009There was an article on Yahoo.com discussing 10 fields where it was surprising that people were only making minimum wage. Hmm, I’m going to see if I can guess the jobs. Let me ask, are any of those jobs dependent on your speed, agility and ability to hold onto or launch a ball? No? Perhaps it might involve a ball being dunked, dribbled or maybe being swung at by a bat interspersed with lots of spitting? No? Do any of them require meticulous outward appearances, interpretations of scripts and are shown on television or in theaters? No? What about the job where you sing and at the same time you create a new dance step? No? None of those jobs pay minimal wage? Okay, then is it one of those gigs where you get paid just because you are you? Yeah I know, who am I kidding, I know there are those “fabulous” ones who are lucky enough to make a cushy living on that one. Minimum wage, yeah right. Well let’s see what jobs actually made the underpaid and underappreciated list. EMTs and lifeguards, wow, they can breathe life into our bodies but not necessarily into their own pockets. Preschool teachers and nannies, evidently the formative years don’t pay. CNAs, guess that’s the problem with the nursing home smells, they don’t earn enough to clean, well pretty much anything. Rounding off the list were tax preparers, automobile mechanics, line cooks, amusement park ride operators and pharmacy techs. While I appreciate the talent that individuals in sports, entertainment and the fabulous ones have, I think we also need to appreciate the things that people contribute every day as well. It may not be on the grand scale or platform that some professions offer, but important and respectable none the less. Irrespective of a person’s field of choice, shouldn’t people in general be able to live without their daily necessities balancing in the wind? I don’t think that athletes, entertainers, the “fabulous” and only those at the top of a company ladder should have that aspect of life on lock as they say. But hey, only a select few think I’m fabulous, so I guess I don’t carry much weight!
Life Goes On
Friday, September 4th, 2009Hooray! Wedding obligations are temporarily over; I don’t have to start again until November. Maybe now I can give my opinion on something other than floral arrangements and seating charts. Since my mental occupation has ended, I am ready to re-acclimate myself to things that don’t have anything to do with love, bells, or expensive dresses. So as the many happy couples start a life that will soon be a little less so, I am ready to once again delve into the issues that can make life unhappy with a frequency that may only be rivaled by marriage. No I’m not necessarily speaking from personal experience. And no I’m not jaded, just realistic, living a life that constantly meets or exceeds your wedding day is pretty unlikely. Just keeping it real but hey, hugs, kisses and best wishes all around.
Wedding Bells
Monday, August 17th, 2009Wedding Bells are ringing for my younger brother and actually for a good amount of other family and friends this year. This summer I will have attended four weddings with each costing a shiny penny just for having been invited. There’s the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, the hair, the gift for the wedding and if you’re an honored member a gift for the shower, and let’s not forget that always fun money dance. I really have to take a deep breath here because the list just goes on and on. Despite my delight for the various people, most of whom I do believe will live in marital bliss, sorry I’m not naming any names or pointing any fingers, the expense of a wedding is big business. The flowers, the pictures, the cars, the dresses, the pre-wedding parties, it all adds up and gets to be pretty overwhelming. I have to say whatever my thoughts of their future, and irrespective of whether I’ve shed tears of joy or sadness, I will truly be happy when my dance card can be withdrawn from the all this wedding business at least for a while. Oh wait, I have two more weddings before the end of the year. I’m afraid it will never end.
The Business of Death
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009Lately with everything that has been going on from the seeming one after the other deaths of the” rich and famous” to grave selling schemes of the “unimportant and forgettable”, not my sentiment but evidently the way the despicable people who could even think to do such a horrific thing must have felt, it has been highlighted that death is a big business. From those who can and do capitalize from the passing of an icon to those who are never satisfied with the knowledge that there will always be business, death is a never ending money scheme. I guess the question is when has it crossed the line? Well for certain I can tell you when you decide to dig up people’s remains and toss them around like you are throwing, hmm, I actually can’t think of anything that should be tossed aside like the remains of the people in the Bur Oak incident and if I’m not mistaken I believe we’ve had something like this happen before, trust that you have not only crossed a line but evidently no line exists for you. You know I think the really sad part of all of this is that no matter the life you lead on earth if there’s money to be made by a business; there is not even peace in death.
Equity Is Key
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Okay, admittedly it’s hard to be sympathetic to someone who is making what appears to be an exceeding large salary when they are still not satisfied and want more. I know many would gladly accept that salary and at this time I will happily throw my name into the bucket for getting paid to share opinions especially since right now I’m doing it for free. Tell you what American Idol, I’m feeling really generous and I’ve got a real bargain for you, I’ll do it for one-fifth of Paula Abdul’s salary. Sorry Paula, a girls’ got to eat. Irrespective of the fact that Paula and others in her position do not have to worry about everyday things like so many of us do, the fact of the matter is companies garner lots of money from having certain “names” attached with their projects, sports teams, television shows, etc. Because of this, I do believe that individuals should be fairly compensated within the realm of fairness for that specific circumstance. Of course that does mean that we will continue to hear ridiculous sounding salaries like those of many athletes and entertainers. However, as with anything, I am in favor of equity. An organization shouldn’t make millions and feel that they should not compensate appropriately those who contributed to them having those earnings. I’m sure it is also a big blow to the egos of entertainers and athletes alike to learn they are not exempt to those issues of us non-clouted individuals, you know when someone else makes judgments on your worth. Being compensated based on your “value” to the company for all but the one at the top will always knock you down a peg. You know businesses have the unique ability to make you feel like crap on so many levels, whether you are the third assistant removed or the co-star of a movie you still can get it handed to you. It’s got to be hard to sit next to someone who is making say $45 million for just a couple of years of work when you feel your work is no less important than theirs and you only get 10. Plain and simple, that sucks. I think I would complain too. No matter what these companies pay those who assist with their operation, rest assured, the company is without doubt getting theirs. Companies just show some respect for those who helped you get it.
The Cost of Government
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009The problem with the seemingly endless taxes and taking by government is just that, it’s endless. It feels like there will never be a time when it is enough and governments whether state or federal take from you every way they can. And they’re the government, so they can and do a whole lot. Now honestly I feel that any and everyone should be able to go to the doctor when needed. I think the life and health of people should be a primary concern, after all it is people who make the world go round, I think I heard that somewhere before. So with that being said, why don’t we stop some of the frivolous spending on things like unnecessary investigations, impeachments, special sessions to get budgets passed and the general wastefulness that occurs, and take care of those things that are important? Let’s add to the pot by putting a hold on looking so important by jumping on every worldwide cause at least for a little while, and be important to those who share directly in our lives, our fellow Americans. Charity begins at home; I think I heard that before too. Wouldn’t we garner more respect and consideration within the world if we took better care of our own people? It’s my opinion that the world expects us all to have wealth, health and a better life. Wasn’t that the draw for so many immigrants? The current economic situation is a highlighter on how far we are from that dream.