Republicans are having their big day...

...just a few miles away in South Carolina this week and I have to wonder, for the third presidential election in a row, why is it so hard for a group of very rich families to come up with at least one respectable candidate? And why do they appear to hate Obama to the point they will not budge one inch? I suppose it has to do with bluster and positioning to keep Republican voters focused on things like the race issue instead of seeing real issues, especially the poor approval ratings those politicians have? Perhaps they figure nobody knows that “the President” is really just a talking head and that the very influential people in the background are the ones pulling the strings. After all, you don't really believe those “Super Pac's” are spending Millions upon Millions of Dollars just to feel good? Surly the Rockefeller's of this country will make sure things go their way! Us voters? Well we are just along for the ride, and to pay the eventual tab.

Speaking of Dollars, Wall Street has said gas will be $5.00 a gallon...

...by summer and here we are half way through January and we are well on our way. Starting off with government taxes (State and Fed) we had a over 8 cents per gallon added for openers. Since then we have seen another roughly 20 cents added bringing the corner station up to $3.51.9 a gallon as of Wednesday Night. With 5 months to go till vacation time, another $1.50 a gallon only needs another “incident” or two in the Mideast for the “futures guys” on Wall Street to pump those prices where they want them. Time will tell... by the way, they say oil isn't a monopoly? Have you ever noticed that while there may be differences in pricing from corner to corner it is always the same one or two cents? The basic cost is always the same no matter how high or low? Can you say Monopolistic Price Fixing?

Internet Pirates and Intercontinental Pipelines?

Distractions All! It seems to me that between the rhetoric being espoused in the Primaries and the focus on “Illegal File Swapping and Canadian Oil” in the news, the powers to be are working very hard at distracting us from the real problems America faces. The real and foremost problem is obscured. This country has suffered a massive moral and financial meltdown. Presidential Bean-counter Candidates the likes of Mitt Romney tout their business success on such endeavors.

You can not go into Lowe’s, WalMart and, yes Staples and find products made in the USA! Where are they addressing the real problems? Where are the plans to bring America back from the brink of obscurity? Other than from some in the Media, I haven’t heard a peep from ANY of the guys who want to run this country.

The Other Day...

I finally purchased replacement trunk supports for my old Ford. It had gotten to the point I was pressing more weight to open the trunk than I do in the gym for exercise, so I decided it was time for the replacement parts at last. Thank goodness Google was still up, on-line and working, so I was able to find at least 5 different suppliers of replacements. Only ONE was made in America. It cost a dollar more than the others, but at least I was able to find one replacement part still made here. In recent months I replaced a few other parts.... radiator, OEM, came from China. Brake parts for an overhaul, came from Mexico. Tires, not from Akron anymore, they came from Argentina! Paint to repaint a fender? Japan! If it wasn't for the internet I don't believe I could have found even one part made in America at an old fashioned bricks and mortar store.

   (I had to explain to a friend recently that no cars are actually made in America anymore... assembled, yes, but from parts shipped in from everywhere else. A sad state of affairs.)

In today’s New York Times...

I read an article by NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF who aptly mentioned in his article Is Banking Bad?

Speaking about newcomers to the industry he commented; "I hope that they’ll show judgment, balance and principles instead of their elders’ penchant for greed and rigging the system. Just as Communists managed to destroy Communism, capitalists are discrediting capitalism."

I suppose that knowing this has been coming on for at least two decades with the entire world precariously balanced between a recovery and utter devastation another full blown depression will surly bring, the “I gotta get mine while there is something still to get” attitude is understandable. Morally bankrupt, but understandable.