Making out bills

Saddled with credit card debt? Sick and tired of bank scandal after disgusting bank scandal?
Then you've got to try the new Militant American money-savings plan.
First go through your credit cards. Match the bank with the scandal that stinks up the news.
For instance, this week I owe a payment to Barclays Bank. Here's the check they're getting;

Save money with Zero's!

 Now all I've got to do is sign, stamp and send that baby. I've saved some real money with just one check! I'm beginning to feel empowered!" I'm getting the hang of this "financial stuff".

"But I don't have a Barclays Bank card!" you say. No worries, Mate! Here's one for CitiBank:

See? Easy!

"But I don't feel right about not making my minimum monthly payment!" you say. Very well then. Let your conscience be your guide. First look at your "Account Balance". Look at the "total Amount Due". Write this number down.

Then do a Google "news" search on your bank. Count up the number of stories that have the word scandal in them. Write this number down.

Now go to your original "credit card agreement". You should have this on file. You do don't you? Maybe you can find it online. Now read it through. Every. Word. This is important. Don't cheat. I'll wait.

Done?
Very Good! Now how many times did you swear? Write that number down. Write down the number of aspirin that you took to try and clear that nasty "numbers headache".

Now, next to your numbers, write down these names;
John Corzine
Jaime Diamon
Rick Ricci

Now look at your worksheet. Do the numbers add up to ZERO yet?

Do a "worksheet" to "get it all down on paper"

If not, then you need to read more about our wonderful global banking industry. Read as much as you can. Take the time to learn whats going on with these Whiz-Bang Bankers and Hero's of Finance. Give it some time.
I'm sure you'll get to zero's soon.

Jumping off a (welfare) cliff

H/T Doug Ross @ Journal

Mr. Ross writes;

I wrote last year about the way in which welfare programs lead to very high implicit marginal tax rates on low-income people. More specifically, they lose handouts when they earn income. As such, it is not very advantageous for them to climb the economic ladder because hard work is comparatively unrewarding... Thanks to the American Enterprise Institute, we now have a much more detailed picture showing the impact of redistribution programs on the incentive to earn more money.

Have seen this central thesis proven in my life.
I've witnessed people willingly drop out of job training because the job would pay them too much money and threaten their government subsidies.

It's the strategy, Stupid!

Words I learned today;
Middle Class Anarchy

U.N. Me and Gun Control

Y'know ... I was mildly concerned about all the brouha goin' 'round about this Global Small Arms Control Treaty. But, really, figured it was a bunch of lying politicians and ineffectual diplomats implementing bureaucratic regulations blowing a lot of hot air. Nonetheless. Could it really subvert the US Constitution?
Repeal the 2nd Amendment?

Then. I. Saw. This.

Watch the trailer. Available on iTunes even.



C'mon. It's the U.N.
They can't even come up with a definition for terrorism.

Paperien, Bitte!

In a bygone era ...

Cleaning out the garage the other day, came across an old box top.
It was from Ma. She was keeping sewing notions in it. That's beside the point.
It was a small box that once held a Taylor brand Ashton Humidiguide Hygrometer.
Maybe circa 1950's

What caught my eye though, was the copy inside the box top.

"Skilled American Workers paid in accordance with American Standards of Living, produced this entire instrument in the United States of America"

What a concept.
Before "globalization." Before the "race to the bottom."
Businesses actively promoted something as elitist egalitarian democratic (small "d"!) as an American Standard  of Living.

Taylor Instruments is still in business.
While initially surprised, I'm pleased to know it.

Independence Day

In Remembrance. Observed with sorrow for the state of the nation. For the bondage's of an overbearing Big Brother are felt acutely today. I'll watch no fireworks. Attend no parades. Listen to no speeches. Wave no flag. The hope of Freedom lives in the future.