[Rhodes22-list] POLITICAL Hey Plumber Joe: Been There, Done That

elle watermusic38 at yahoo.com
Sat Oct 25 13:57:15 EDT 2008


Herb,
 
I know this weill be hard to believe, and I hope you are sitting down, but I agree with you.
 
I come from a long line of immigrants, whose mantra (if they knew that word back then) was;
Use it up, 
Wear it out,
Make Do, 
or do without.
There was no welfare. You're poor? So's everyone else. Grow a garden & get your gun & you'll eat.
 
The Greatest Generation,(and they were) raised (correctly 'reared') a bunch of indulged Baby Boomers, who raised a bunch of slack-jawed, indolent, self-indulgent know nothings who think that flash & dash can substitute for substance, something they wouldn't recognize if it appeared on their iPhones. Hence the current state of political affairs. 
 
We have taken 'incentive' out of the vocabulary of America and replaced it with 'spread the wealth'...just more welfare by another name. 
 
And it's only going to get worse.
 
Dang. I hate politics.No more. We'll be screwed soon enuf.
 
elle

We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.

1992 Rhodes 22 Recyc '06 "WaterMusic" (Lady in Red)

--- On Sat, 10/25/08, Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:

From: Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] POLITICAL Hey Plumber Joe: Been There, Done That
To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008, 1:26 PM

Elle (and others),

I know this is going to sound heartless, but I don't care. This is much 
the reason we are in the mess we're in, and sinking deeper every year.

Yes, it's sad that some parents (WAY too many "parents") put the
TV, car 
& rims, and whatever self-indulgent crappola in front of their kids.

The problem is that when we try to make it "better" through programs 
like the one mentioned, we not only enable the parents, we extend the 
problem.

Those kids will look back and say "My momma got by, my step-daddies all 
had cool stuff, and we managed", and the process continues.

I say don't enable them. There are abuse laws, including neglect, on the 
books. Enforce them. Your kids aren't eating right? Fine, we'll drop
you 
food stamps, you obviously aren't using them correctly. Your kids
aren't 
in school like they're supposed to be, fine, we'll ticket you, and 
arrest you if necessary. Sorry you can't control your children, I 
suggest you begin learning how. Start by turning off the TV and spend 
that time with them.

The schools, no matter how dedicated the individuals are that are in 
them, will never successfully be surrogate parents. They should get back 
to doing what they CAN do successfully.


elle wrote:
> And if they're hungry, they can't learn.
>
> Too often kids are last in line after the TV, car w/rims, and whatever
self-indulgent crappola the 'parent' puts ahead of 'em.
>
> And we will be 'sharing the wealth 'with these poor folk after
Nov. 4.
>
> elle
>
> We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.
>
> 1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady in Red)
>
>
> --- On Thu, 10/23/08, Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> From: Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] POLITICAL Hey Plumber Joe: Been There,
Done That
>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List"
<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 3:40 PM
>> elle,
>>
>> It always bugged me that school districts are required to
>> pay for the free
>> lunches (and breakfasts) for the "po."  Why
>> should food be part of the
>> school's budget?  If you don't have the money for
>> your kids' food then you
>> should be paying with your food stamps or WIC or whatever. 
>> Except I know
>> why.  If the schools didn't buy the food, the kids
>> would go hungry.  Sad
>> scenario.
>>
>> Slim
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 2:29 PM, elle
>> <watermusic38 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> Herb,
>>>
>>> this brings up an interesting discussion I had
>>>       
>> recently with a successful
>>     
>>> small business  owner in this area who is very active
>>>       
>> with volunteerism and
>>     
>>> youth. She had taught (not in a traditional edu
>>>       
>> setting but through social
>>     
>>> services) various types of sex ed & living
>>>       
>> skills....
>>     
>>> I had taught school for @ 35 years...we were
>>>       
>> discussing criteria for
>>     
>>> welfare, social services, free lunch, etc.
>>>
>>> It was decided that using family income was a poor
>>>       
>> measure of qualification
>>     
>>> for bennies...what should set the bar are the
>>>       
>> following:
>>     
>>> "1. How many cell phone plans are in use in your
>>>       
>> household? How many
>>     
>>> minutes for each plan?
>>> 2. Square footage of your abode.
>>> 3. How many large screen TV's are in your abode?
>>> 4.How many licensed drivers in your home?
>>> 5. How many vehicles are on your property? Give make,
>>>       
>> model, year, and
>>     
>>> monthly payment for each.
>>> 6. How many cases of beer or 5ths of booze are
>>>       
>> consumed weekly by your
>>     
>>> household?
>>> 7. How many children are in the home? How many fathers
>>>       
>> are represented by
>>     
>>> these children? You lose benefits for the 2nd thru
>>>       
>> subsequent children of
>>     
>>> different fathers.
>>>
>>> " Your monthly benefit will be adjusted by
>>>       
>> SUBTRACTING the cost of the
>>     
>>> above items from your welfare check. If you didn't
>>>       
>> have all this crap you
>>     
>>> can't afford, you could pay your own bills.
>>>
>>> When do I get elected?
>>>
>>> elle
>>>
>>> BTW..this was meant to be equally offensive to anyone
>>>       
>> fulfilling the above
>>     
>>> criteria. No race, color, creed requirement.
>>>
>>> We can't change the angle of the wind....but we
>>>       
>> can adjust our sails.
>>     
>>> 1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"
>>>       
>>   (Lady in Red)
>>     
>>> --- On Sun, 10/19/08, Herb Parsons
>>>       
>> <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:
>>     
>>>> From: Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] POLITICAL Hey
>>>>         
>> Plumber Joe: Been There, Done
>>     
>>> That
>>>       
>>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List"
>>>>         
>> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>     
>>>> Date: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 8:22 PM
>>>> Brad!!
>>>>
>>>> I want to see if I'm completely clear on
>>>>         
>> this:
>>     
>>>> You're in the 99th percentile as far as
>>>>         
>> monetary wealth
>>     
>>>> goes.
>>>> You and foreign born wife accomplished this in a
>>>>         
>> single
>>     
>>>> generation.
>>>> And you're unwilling to share your quickly
>>>>         
>> found wealth
>>     
>>>> with those poor
>>>> folks that have struggled for 3 or 4 generations
>>>>         
>> to break
>>     
>>>> free from
>>>> their poverty, and now only ask that they have a
>>>>         
>> few
>>     
>>>> necessities in life
>>>> like calbe for their color TV's and cell
>>>>         
>> phones.
>>     
>>>> I'm sure there's some racist motivation
>>>>         
>> in your
>>     
>>>> refusal to share the wealth.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Brad Haslett wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>> Herb,
>>>>>
>>>>> Fan and I are BARELY in the 99% percentile
>>>>>           
>> and
>>     
>>>> we're not rich. She
>>>>         
>>>>> arrived here in 1989 shortly after Tienanmen
>>>>>           
>> Square
>>     
>>>> with two suit
>>>>         
>>>>> cases and $50 US money and I met her ten
>>>>>           
>> years later
>>     
>>>> after her second
>>>>         
>>>>> graduate degree and third job.  We struck a
>>>>>           
>> bond
>>     
>>>> because after decades
>>>>         
>>>>> of living a "macroni and cheese
>>>>>           
>> lifestyle",
>>     
>>>> maybe a "rice and noodles"
>>>>         
>>>>> lifestyle would be more appropriate - we
>>>>>           
>> found
>>     
>>>> ourselves on the path
>>>>         
>>>>> to success. Now we're being told that
>>>>>           
>> we're
>>     
>>>> guilty of something.
>>>>         
>>>>> It's always good to go home to
>>>>>           
>> Brownstown,
>>     
>>>> Illinois.  The town has
>>>>         
>>>>> grown, it was 650 people when I grew-up
>>>>>           
>> there, now
>>     
>>>> it's up to 700
>>>>         
>>>>> people.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'll get back to you tomorrow on how
>>>>>           
>> things have
>>     
>>>> changed.  I'm glad to
>>>>         
>>>>> be back home.  Mom and Dad are always good
>>>>>           
>> for
>>     
>>>> inspiration.
>>>>         
>>>>> We'll survive!
>>>>>
>>>>> Brad
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 3:31 PM, Herb
>>>>>           
>> Parsons
>>     
>>>> <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>>> What Obama and his ilk don't
>>>>>>             
>> understand is
>>     
>>>> that there are people that
>>>>         
>>>>>> recognize right and wrong no matter who
>>>>>>             
>> it's
>>     
>>>> directed at.
>>>>         
>>>>>> I'm in the 95% that would get a tax
>>>>>>             
>> cut under
>>     
>>>> Obama's plan.
>>>>         
>>>>>> I don't like it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't like it because it takes
>>>>>>             
>> away from the
>>     
>>>> other 5% to give to me. I
>>>>         
>>>>>> hope someday to be in that 5%, and I
>>>>>>             
>> wouldn't
>>     
>>>> want that done to me.
>>>>         
>>>>>> It's all part of that old fashioned
>>>>>>             
>> notion of
>>     
>>>> do unto others as you
>>>>         
>>>>>> would have them do unto you. I don't
>>>>>>             
>> want
>>     
>>>> anyone taking money from me
>>>>         
>>>>>> and saying "I'm going to give
>>>>>>             
>> this to
>>     
>>>> someone else because they have
>>>>         
>>>>>> less than you."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Because I don't want it done to me,
>>>>>>             
>> I
>>     
>>>> don't want it done to anyone else.
>>>>         
>>>>>> But, I realize I'm a bit extreme.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Brad Haslett wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>             
>>>>>>> Andrew,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Pay attention here, Joe the Plumber
>>>>>>>               
>> is not
>>     
>>>> doing mid-night repairs on
>>>>         
>>>>>>> peoples shitters.  He is working
>>>>>>>               
>> under someone
>>     
>>>> else's license. If you
>>>>         
>>>>>>> know plumbing and plumbers then you
>>>>>>>               
>> know that
>>     
>>>> it takes a seven year
>>>>         
>>>>>>> apprenticeship.  How else does one
>>>>>>>               
>> become a
>>     
>>>> plumber?  So did Joe ask
>>>>         
>>>>>>> an invalid question because he
>>>>>>>               
>> didn't
>>     
>>>> identify himself as "Joe the
>>>>         
>>>>>>> Apprentice Plumber"? The latest
>>>>>>>               
>> attack on
>>     
>>>> Joe was from The One
>>>>         
>>>>>>> himself, "how many plumbers do
>>>>>>>               
>> you know
>>     
>>>> that make more than $250,000 a
>>>>         
>>>>>>> year?".  You should know,
>>>>>>>               
>> lot's of
>>     
>>>> plumbing contractors make that much
>>>>         
>>>>>>> and more.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The answer, "we need to share
>>>>>>>               
>> the
>>     
>>>> wealth" is what is disturbing.  You
>>>>         
>>>>>>> can't mathematically give 95% of
>>>>>>>               
>> the
>>     
>>>> people "tax cuts" when the bottom
>>>>         
>>>>>>> 38% don't pay taxes.  Even if
>>>>>>>               
>> you could, I
>>     
>>>> wouldn't be in the 95% and
>>>>         
>>>>>>> as Tip O'neil used to say,
>>>>>>>               
>> "all
>>     
>>>> politics is local". If almost 40% of
>>>>         
>>>>>>> voters have the chance to vote
>>>>>>>               
>> themselves a
>>     
>>>> raise, they will.  You now
>>>>         
>>>>>>> only need a small percentage of
>>>>>>>               
>> party faithful
>>     
>>>> to vote your way and,
>>>>         
>>>>>>> PRESTO!, we've arrived at the
>>>>>>>               
>> tipping
>>     
>>>> point our founding fathers
>>>>         
>>>>>>> worried about.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The truth of the matter is, we
>>>>>>>               
>> don't know
>>     
>>>> what Obama will do, his
>>>>         
>>>>>>> positions have shifted weekly.  As a
>>>>>>>               
>> community
>>     
>>>> organizer he helped
>>>>         
>>>>>>> shake down companies out of money. 
>>>>>>>               
>> As a grant
>>     
>>>> administrator he
>>>>         
>>>>>>> distributed monies to organizations
>>>>>>>               
>> based on
>>     
>>>> race and radical ideas,
>>>>         
>>>>>>> not sound education principles.  As
>>>>>>>               
>> a State
>>     
>>>> Senator he either voted
>>>>         
>>>>>>> "present" if it was a
>>>>>>>               
>> controversial
>>     
>>>> issue or "Yea" if it involved
>>>>         
>>>>>>> funneling money to Chicago cronies
>>>>>>>               
>> for
>>     
>>>> public/private enterprises,
>>>>         
>>>>>>> most of which failed.  As a US
>>>>>>>               
>> Senator he
>>     
>>>> followed the party line 97%
>>>>         
>>>>>>> of the time and wrote no major piece
>>>>>>>               
>> of
>>     
>>>> legislation.
>>>>         
>>>>>>> There isn't a whole lot in his
>>>>>>>               
>> record of
>>     
>>>> late to make judgements on
>>>>         
>>>>>>> other than words.  According to
>>>>>>>               
>> Obama, words
>>     
>>>> mean something.  So, I
>>>>         
>>>>>>> guess that when he plans to raise
>>>>>>>               
>> taxes and
>>     
>>>> engage in restraint of
>>>>         
>>>>>>> trade he means it.  Let's hope
>>>>>>>               
>> that works
>>     
>>>> out better than it did for
>>>>         
>>>>>>> Herbert Hoover.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Maybe this is what Dr. Johnson was
>>>>>>>               
>> thinking
>>     
>>>> when he coined the phrase,
>>>>         
>>>>>>> "it is the triumph of hope over
>>>>>>>               
>>>> experience".
>>>>         
>>>>>>> Brad
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM,
>>>>>>>               
>> Andrew
>>     
>>>> Collins
>>>>         
>> <sailingvesselcarmen at gmail.com> wrote:
>>     
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>> Brad
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What was your point exactly,
>>>>>>>>                 
>> Brad? You
>>     
>>>> made mine quite nicely, thank you.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>> You are having trouble focusing.
>>>>>>>> I am very well versed in
>>>>>>>>                 
>> plumbing, and
>>     
>>>> have seen just how badly unlicensed
>>>>         
>>>>>>>> plumbers can screw things up.
>>>>>>>>                 
>> Some of them
>>     
>>>> even think shit can flow uphill,
>>>>         
>>>>>>>> and I have the photos to prove
>>>>>>>>                 
>> it.
>>     
>>>>>>>> I tell all my intern engineers
>>>>>>>>                 
>> the first
>>     
>>>> rule of construction is "shit flows
>>>>         
>>>>>>>> downhill", and have been
>>>>>>>>                 
>> telling them
>>     
>>>> for 30 years.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>> My firm can plumb anything you
>>>>>>>>                 
>> like, we
>>     
>>>> are licensed in 4 states. We abide
>>>>         
>>>>>>>> by the law of the land, as do
>>>>>>>>                 
>> you.
>>     
>>>>>>>> Get licensed Joe!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Andrew
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 4:56 PM,
>>>>>>>>                 
>> Brad
>>     
>>>> Haslett <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>>>> Andrew,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> God bless your immature
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> heart.  How
>>     
>>>> the hell do you get experience?
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> You started out shitting in
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> your
>>     
>>>> pants.  Someone had to help you find
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> your way to the John. 
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> Attacking Joe
>>     
>>>> the Plumber because he doesn't
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> have a license is silly. 
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> Allow me to
>>     
>>>> let you in on a little secret
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> here.  I work in the most
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> regulated
>>     
>>>> profession in the world.  I get
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> tested at at minimum every
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> six months
>>     
>>>> (I'm an examiner).  I get a
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> physical every six months. 
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> Every day
>>     
>>>> at work I'm subject to drug
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> testing.  Every day I'm
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> subject to
>>     
>>>> a random government oversight test.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>  I challenge you to find a
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> profession
>>     
>>>> that has a bigger microscope
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> focused on it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> You are worried about a
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> plumber?
>>     
>>>> Here's a clue kid!  Shit flows
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> downhill.  Plumbing is
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> serious
>>     
>>>> business.  It takes 7 years of
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> experience to get a plumbers
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> license.
>>     
>>>> You have to be smart to get
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> one.  But don't you cast
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>> aspersions on someone who is working on a
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> plumbing license or someone
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> who is
>>     
>>>> aspiring one.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> Most of the PhD's I know
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>> couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> instructions printed on the
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> heel.
>>     
>>>> Never underestimate the common
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> wisdom of someone who knows
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> the
>>     
>>>> direction of shit given gravity or
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>> "shit from
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> shinola".
>>     
>>>>>>>>> Brad
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 3:12
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> PM,
>>     
>>>> Andrew Collins
>>>>         
>> <sailingvesselcarmen at gmail.com>
>>     
>>>> wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> Dear pdgrand nospam:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> awful post
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> " ... when decades
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> of liberal
>>     
>>>> energy policy came home to roost "?
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>> This post isn't
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> worthy of even
>>     
>>>> this lowly slug-fest we call a sailing
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> forum.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> And whaddabout the
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> subject line?
>>     
>>>> Ed where are you?
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>> Can we have a new rule:
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> you have
>>     
>>>> to write it yourself not cut and paste
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> any
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> old uncorroborated
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> opinion that
>>     
>>>> oozes across the web?
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>> And if Joe is an
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> unlicensed
>>     
>>>> plumber, he is just that. He should be
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> licensed,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> take the tests, go to
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> trade
>>     
>>>> school. Do unlicensed pilots fly? Do
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>> unregistered engineers
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> practice,
>>     
>>>> do unlicensed beauticians give facials?
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> No,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> they don't
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> This unlicensed
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> tradesman is
>>     
>>>> manipulating gas installations, connections
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> the public water supply,
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>> connectiions to public sewer systems, etc. This
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>> work brings with it
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>> responsibilities that every municipality requires
>>>>         
>> be
>>     
>>>>>>>>>> satisfied by obtaining a
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> plumbing
>>     
>>>> license before being allowed to this
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> kind
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> of work.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Andrew
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> 2:37 PM,
>>     
>>>> <pdgrand at nospam.wmis.net> wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>>>> October 17, 2008
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Hey Plumber Joe:
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> Been There,
>>     
>>>> Done That
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> By C. Edmund
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> Wright<http://www.americanthinker.com/c_edmund_wright/>
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> God love you Joe.
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> Bless your
>>     
>>>> heart Joe.  You, and people like you, are
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> what makes the
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> country work.
>>     
>>>> You make the country great. You get it --
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> act on it -- and you
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> enrich
>>     
>>>> the lives of your family and your friends
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> your communities and
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> your
>>     
>>>> charities as a result.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> But I think what I
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> should say
>>     
>>>> now is "God help you Joe."  Look, 16
>>>>         
>> plus
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> years ago I was
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> where you are
>>     
>>>> now. And I must tell you  if Obama wins, I
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> am pulling the plug
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> in a few
>>     
>>>> months. I am out. I have had it.  I am
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> preparing to destroy
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> almost
>>     
>>>> 100 jobs and lower my tax bracket and I
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> can't
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> wait.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Consider: 16 years
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> ago I was
>>     
>>>> statistically in poverty, but I had dreams
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> and a plan. At the
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> time, the
>>     
>>>> remnants of Reaganomics still set the
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> economic tone and a
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> fired up
>>     
>>>> Newt Gingrich was forcing conservatism on
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> Clinton White House
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> every time
>>     
>>>> Bill and Hillary tried to move left.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>>  There
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> were actually
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> politicians who
>>     
>>>> praised business owners and business in
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> general.  Against
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> that
>>     
>>>> backdrop, I've had a pretty good run.
>>>>         
>> It's been
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> extremely
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> challenging and the
>>     
>>>> move up was not a straight line, but I am
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> better off than I
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> was 16 years
>>     
>>>> ago. And 8 years ago. And 4 years ago.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> And
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> so are a lot of
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> folks who have
>>     
>>>> been on this ride with me.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> But Joe, I am not
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> better off
>>     
>>>> than I was just 2 years ago. That's when
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> decades of liberal
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> energy
>>     
>>>> policy came home to roost and four dollar gas
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> took several hundred
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> thousands
>>     
>>>> from my bottom line faster than I could
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> possibly react. 
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> That same gas
>>     
>>>> price slammed my customers -- and my
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> customer's
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> customers --
>>     
>>>> forcing our company into a vice of rapidly
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> rising
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> costs and rapidly
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> dropping
>>     
>>>> revenues. Oh, and for fun, slower payments
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> our customers.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> That started the
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> ripple
>>     
>>>> through the sub prime mortgage industry, and we
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> have all seen the
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> unraveling
>>     
>>>> of our financial system which was more or
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> less totally
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> underpinned by
>>     
>>>> real estate "values." Those assumed
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> valuations
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> were the basis for
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> any number
>>     
>>>> of derivatives and credit swaps and so on.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> Well, forget all
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> that Wall
>>     
>>>> Street talk. To you and me it means employees
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> are more desperate
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> for money,
>>     
>>>> customers are less willing to buy, slower
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> pay and banks less
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> willing to
>>     
>>>> lend. It certainly means whatever homes
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> 401K's you have
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> are worth
>>     
>>>> less too which makes your bank even less
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> anxious
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> to lend to your
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> business. It
>>     
>>>> is the main street carnage of "unfettered
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> government"
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> onto small
>>     
>>>> business. It is the destructive fruit of
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> environmental
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> leftists, the
>>     
>>>> Fannie-Freddie cronies in government and
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> corrupt liberals in
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> positions
>>     
>>>> of power.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> And sadly, this is
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> also the
>>     
>>>> result of George Bush giving into these
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> folks
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> all too often in
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> defense of
>>     
>>>> his "new tone." (That worked out well,
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> didn't
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> it?) This was helped
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>> ironically by John McCain "reaching across
>>>>         
>> the
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> aisle"
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> to vote against tax
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> cuts and
>>     
>>>> vote for energy restrictions and so on. All
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> of this was nicely
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> summed up
>>     
>>>> by Mitt Romney when he said that our
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> problems
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> stem from "too
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> many
>>     
>>>> Republicans acting too much like Democrats."
>>>>         
>> Now, if
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> the polls are
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> anywhere near
>>     
>>>> accurate, we are going to get a taste of
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> "real
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> Democrats acting too
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> much like
>>     
>>>> Marxists" for at least a few years.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> Mitt was right, but
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> the
>>     
>>>> pundits said McCain was more acceptable to the
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> moderates. Hmmm.
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> Wonder if a
>>     
>>>> financial turn-around specialist like Mitt
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> might sell to the
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> moderates
>>     
>>>> now? Just a wild thought from someone not
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> smart enough to be a
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> beltway
>>     
>>>> pundit.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> Now Joe, as someone
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> whose been
>>     
>>>> there, let me tell you how this works,
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> though I think you
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> have a good
>>     
>>>> idea.  At the end of the year, as an LLC,
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> do file taxes with
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> the
>>     
>>>> business profit on my personal returns like many
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> others do as well. 
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> And yes,
>>     
>>>> that figure is much bigger than 250
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> thousand.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> But that's not
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> really MY
>>     
>>>> MONEY to keep. It's how I underpin my
>>>>         
>> business.
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> When customers
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> disappear or
>>     
>>>> take their time paying bills, I still have
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> pay my employees,
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> rent,
>>     
>>>> suppliers, and countless other expenses. Every
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> penny that the tax
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> man takes
>>     
>>>> out of that profit is less money that I
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> to carry forward to
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> stay in
>>     
>>>> business for the next year. And if Obama and
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> Reid and Pelosi take
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> more of
>>     
>>>> this by "raising taxes on the rich"
>>>>         
>> then of
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> course my business
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> will
>>     
>>>> suffer. And so will all the employees.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> This is exactly what
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> almost
>>     
>>>> none of those lawyers turned politicians
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> understand.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> But of course, you
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> will have
>>     
>>>> to send tax money into the government, Joe,
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> because the man who
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> is in
>>     
>>>> charge of spending that money -- Charlie
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> Rangel
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> -- damned sure
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> wasn't
>>     
>>>> paying his fair share as we know now. Get out
>>>>         
>> that
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> checkbook.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Of course, all of
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> this matters
>>     
>>>> only if you can afford to fill your
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> plumbing vans with
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> gas at gosh
>>     
>>>> knows what price. It could be that the
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> recession will lower
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> the gas
>>     
>>>> price, but that's not terribly good news
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> you either, since
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> customers
>>     
>>>> don't spend as much money in a recession. I
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> mean, I hate to
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> burst your
>>     
>>>> bubble, but small business owners are
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> surrounded by a sea
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> of
>>     
>>>> challenges outside their control and almost all
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> them are caused by
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> liberalism.
>>     
>>>> Government has formed a business firing
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> squad and it's a
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> doggone
>>     
>>>> circle!
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> I wish you well,
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> guy.  You
>>     
>>>> might just have the genius and persistence to
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> pull this off. I
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> really do
>>     
>>>> hope so. As for me, I have had enough. I have
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> fought creeping
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> liberalism and
>>     
>>>> managed more wins than losses over 17
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> years. We have
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> progressed to
>>     
>>>> where  our business,  now a corporation,
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>>  is
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> big enough so that
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> Obama and
>>     
>>>> his ilk now have their own ideas about
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> "what
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> larger businesses
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> can
>>     
>>>> afford" and what "corporations can
>>>>         
>> afford."
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> Well I've got
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> news for
>>     
>>>> him. I cannot afford what they think I can
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> afford,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> so I am breaking her
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> up and
>>     
>>>> giving her away to some key employees.  I
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>>>>>>> wish
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>>> them well too. They
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> are like
>>     
>>>> you, tough and smart. Perhaps if they stay
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> small enough and
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> never can
>>     
>>>> carry forward more than 250 thou to the next
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> year, they will be
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> allowed to
>>     
>>>> keep their businesses through a downturn.
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> As for me? I'm
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> outta here.
>>     
>>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>> part
>>     
>>>> --------------
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> An embedded and
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>>> charset-unspecified text was scrubbed...
>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>> Name: untitled-[2]
>>>>>>>>>>> Url:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>                       
>>
http://www.rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20081017/5a0870b2/attachment.txt
>>     
>>>>>>>>>                   
>> __________________________________________________
>>     
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>>>>>>>>>>>                       
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>>     
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>>>>         
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>>     
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>>>>>>>>>>>                       
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>>     
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>>>>>>>>>>                     
>> or for
>>     
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>>>>         
>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>                   
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>>     
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>>>>>>>>>                   
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>>     
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