As Yogi Berra once said, "It's like deja vu all over again." Our government is making the exact same mistake with higher education that it made with housing. Congress is encouraging students to pursue college degrees by offering low interest rates for student loans which is resulting in students borrowing huge amounts of money to fund their college educations only to find that there is no demand for their newly acquired credentials. There is a surplus of college graduates chasing too few jobs. This coupled with President Obama and the Democrats' relentless assault on American business and no plan to jump start the economy is rapidly building to the next bubble.
As usual, Mr. Obama's timing is impeccable. Yesterday, it was reported in the press that 50% of recent college graduates either can't find a job or are underemployed i.e. accepting jobs that traditionally don't require a college degree. However, today the President gave a speech to students at the University of North Carolina about the importance of getting an education and keeping student loan rates low. Governor Romney appears to be singing a similar tune.
I am pretty well traveled as a result of my Navy career. I lived in a developing country for nearly four years and visited many others. One of my observations has been that there is a common thread in nations like Tunisia and Egypt that has caused unrest - an educated, young population, without opportunity. The lack of opportunity is a direct consequence of bad government policy. Is it any wonder that the frustration built and culminated in the Arab Spring?
Housing prices in the US collapsed when the government induced bubble burst and we are heading for a similar situation with education. We are struggling with historically high unemployment and unprecedented debt. Are our leaders oblivious to this "prefect storm" of unrest just over the horizon?
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
A President Romney Would Make Americans Ride on the Roof of His Car
Back during the 2008 election, the mainstream media couldn't be bothered with asking then Senator Obama about his radial associations or socialist views because of course he would never force them on the American People or compel them to say, purchase a product against their will. Don't be silly! Why waste valuable interview questions on something like that?
Based on the current panic amongst liberal journalists and talking-head types over Mitt Romney placing the family dog, Seamus, in his kennel and strapping it to the top of the car in order for them to take him on a family trip to Canada, one would have to assume that liberals apparently believe he intends to do the same thing with them if elected president.
No. Don't ask him, "How would you fix the economy?" Don't ask about his ideas regarding policy towards Iran or North Korea. No. Don't ask "What are your ideas to reduce gas prices or what would be your national energy policy?" What about ideas to get the unemployed back to work. No. What is really on the minds of most Americans is: "What about Seamus the damn dog on the roof of your car?" Come on! Really?
The journalists and the people aren't that stupid. We all see these questions for what they are: a distraction from President Obama's all around miserable record during his first term in office and a feeble attempt to get an opposition candidate to trip up while answering an irrelevant question. They did this with Santorum and Gingrich too.
Romney needs to push back by answering stupid questions like these with questions. In the case of Solidad Obrien and the Seamus the dog question, he needs to say, "Solidad, can you please tell me how this is a presidential-level question? Do you really believe the American People are lying awake at night wondering about Seamus? Is this really something you consider important because I believe the people are more interested in the economy, unemployment, gas prices, the national debt, etc." If he does this, then maybe we would hear some actual ideas from the candidates.
There was a time when folks put their dogs in the bed of the pickup and off they went! Heck, come to think of it, they did the same with the kids. How about serious journalists asking both Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney some real, relevant, and tough questions and leave the fluff to People and US Magazines. We will all be better off for it.
Based on the current panic amongst liberal journalists and talking-head types over Mitt Romney placing the family dog, Seamus, in his kennel and strapping it to the top of the car in order for them to take him on a family trip to Canada, one would have to assume that liberals apparently believe he intends to do the same thing with them if elected president.
No. Don't ask him, "How would you fix the economy?" Don't ask about his ideas regarding policy towards Iran or North Korea. No. Don't ask "What are your ideas to reduce gas prices or what would be your national energy policy?" What about ideas to get the unemployed back to work. No. What is really on the minds of most Americans is: "What about Seamus the damn dog on the roof of your car?" Come on! Really?
The journalists and the people aren't that stupid. We all see these questions for what they are: a distraction from President Obama's all around miserable record during his first term in office and a feeble attempt to get an opposition candidate to trip up while answering an irrelevant question. They did this with Santorum and Gingrich too.
Romney needs to push back by answering stupid questions like these with questions. In the case of Solidad Obrien and the Seamus the dog question, he needs to say, "Solidad, can you please tell me how this is a presidential-level question? Do you really believe the American People are lying awake at night wondering about Seamus? Is this really something you consider important because I believe the people are more interested in the economy, unemployment, gas prices, the national debt, etc." If he does this, then maybe we would hear some actual ideas from the candidates.
There was a time when folks put their dogs in the bed of the pickup and off they went! Heck, come to think of it, they did the same with the kids. How about serious journalists asking both Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney some real, relevant, and tough questions and leave the fluff to People and US Magazines. We will all be better off for it.
GSA Scandal: Just in the Nick of Time
Sometimes the stars align just perfectly to help make a point. This is one of those times. Just as President Obama was renewing his call for the ridiculous Buffett Rule, the story about the outrageous GSA boondoggle in Las Vegas broke. It seems that civil servants from one of the GSA regional offices thought is was perfectly fine to spend over $800,000 to hold a conference in Las Vegas complete with a fortune teller, $1000 a night hotel rooms for some of the big wigs, and a team building exercise that used taxpayer money to buy 70 bicycles for the attendees to assemble which they then gave away to needy local kids. Although giving the bikes to poor kids was a nice gesture, they didn't have the right or the authority to do it. And as for the top officials treating themselves to $1000 a night hotel suites, I think that as a taxpayer what burns me the most is I don't even know when the last time I stayed in a $1000 a night hotel room. Oh yeah, that's because I HAVE NEVER STAYED IN A $1000 A NIGHT HOTEL ROOM!
According to the GSA official website:
"Our Mission
The GSA mission is to use expertise to provide innovative solutions for our customers in support of their missions, and by so doing, foster an effective, sustainable, and transparent government for the American people."
"Our Vision
The GSA vision is a government that works ever better for the American people."
If these folks are wasting our money, is there any doubt about other federal agencies and departments?
So when Mr. Obama talks about millionaires and billionaires paying a little bit more in taxes because they can afford it and it is only fair, I say not another penny from another American citizen, regardless of their income, until we get control of this runaway government beast! When the President accuses Republicans of proposing budget reforms that would tell those with Downs Syndrome and Autism to fend for themselves, I ask who is really taking money from those in need?
Finally, I offer this thought. When I was a newly commissioned naval officer, our Navy had big problems with ships spilling fuel while in port. The clean-up cost the government thousands of dollars each time it happened. Then, new regulations were established that held the commanding officers personally responsible for paying for the clean-up if there was a spill from their ships. The problem went away almost over night. How about holding the government managers personally financially liable, if their organizations grossly mismanage the "People's" money. I bet they would think twice before authorizing any more $1000 a night hotel rooms.
According to the GSA official website:
"Our Mission
The GSA mission is to use expertise to provide innovative solutions for our customers in support of their missions, and by so doing, foster an effective, sustainable, and transparent government for the American people."
"Our Vision
The GSA vision is a government that works ever better for the American people."
If these folks are wasting our money, is there any doubt about other federal agencies and departments?
So when Mr. Obama talks about millionaires and billionaires paying a little bit more in taxes because they can afford it and it is only fair, I say not another penny from another American citizen, regardless of their income, until we get control of this runaway government beast! When the President accuses Republicans of proposing budget reforms that would tell those with Downs Syndrome and Autism to fend for themselves, I ask who is really taking money from those in need?
Finally, I offer this thought. When I was a newly commissioned naval officer, our Navy had big problems with ships spilling fuel while in port. The clean-up cost the government thousands of dollars each time it happened. Then, new regulations were established that held the commanding officers personally responsible for paying for the clean-up if there was a spill from their ships. The problem went away almost over night. How about holding the government managers personally financially liable, if their organizations grossly mismanage the "People's" money. I bet they would think twice before authorizing any more $1000 a night hotel rooms.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Unemployed Obama Voters: Don't Count on the President's Help
Back in January, Jennifer Wedel asked President Obama in a televised online chat why we are letting foreign workers in the US when her software engineer husband has been out of a job for 3 years. President Obama said, "We need software engineers. It shouldn't be hard to find him a job. Tell you what. Send me his resume." Guess what. It is April and the guy is still unemployed!
So if President Obama can't put a highly skilled, software engineer back to work, how is he going to get the rest of the 8.2% unemployed Americans back to work? And the 8.2% unemployment figures don't even count all those who have given up even looking for a job.
If you are unemployed and plan on voting for Obama in November 2012, that might be something you ought to think about before Election Day. I'm just saying...
So if President Obama can't put a highly skilled, software engineer back to work, how is he going to get the rest of the 8.2% unemployed Americans back to work? And the 8.2% unemployment figures don't even count all those who have given up even looking for a job.
If you are unemployed and plan on voting for Obama in November 2012, that might be something you ought to think about before Election Day. I'm just saying...
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