Is it just me?......Or is there something wrong with this picture?

SOME COMMON SENSEPLEASE!

Jim Gschwind, USN/SW ret, MCSA, MCSE, BS-IT, MBA, PHD Cand(ABD)

                As a normal citizen, I worry a lot, probably a lot about things I really shouldnt worry about. But what I really worry about now is whether my fellow citizens are all suffering from some sort of memory lapse or a group alzheimer syndrome.

                Lets look at a couple items in the news to find out. We are being bombarded by Hillary who states that her husband left this country in great financial shape. Doesnt  she expect anybody to remember that the economy was a campaign issue in 2000 since the dot.com bust had occurred in the fall of 98?   The spending required to get out of that slump rapidly eliminated the surplus. The reason we had a surplus by the way is because taxes were increased by the Clinton Administration to an astounding level.   We had more tax revenue than our expected expenditures required. Every president since Jimmy Carter has inherited an economic mess that was part of the campaign rhetoric of the times. Reagan ran on his trickle down economics; Bush Number One inherited the 1987 stock market bust from of all people our Republican idol, Reagan. Clinton ran against Bush number one in 92 with the Slogan its the economy stupid!.remember? Will someone also explain to me why a retired baptist minister (Wright) needs protection from the Nation of Islam?  I know we are all supposed to be brothers and sisters but isn't that a "stretch"?

                I chose not to be one of the sheep that believe everything and mimic words like a parrot. I will not blame the oil companies for making a 9% profit margin which is less than many companies are able to make. Well continue and our American oil companies and refineries will continue to pay over $100 a barrel as long as China and Australia agree to the price of oil at any cost. Hillary insists she can tell oil companies and OPEC what to do, and is really delusional  if she thinks in this global economy any president can turn our economy around on a dime when the most powerful man in the world is actually the Chairman of the Fed.  This individual  isnt even elected but appointed for a six year term.    Greenspan, despite his ego, actually helped cause our economic woes of 1987 and 1998 and isnt accountable to the administration.   OPEC cannot act in harmony anymore with new countries producing oil. Do not tell me we went into Iraq for the oil because they never sold us much before and we dont get much now from them. Our top oil importers are 1) Canada, 2) Mexico (Pemex), 3) Venezuela, 4) UK North Sea Crude Sweet oil. Saudi Arabia recently drilled in a very high risk and expensive new field and is expected that this expensive field will produce a million barrels a day, but get this!....Saudi fields are drying up and they will LOSE one million barrels from old fields that are not as productive so the new high risk field that they said theyd only drill as a last resort is only making up for their expected losses. Bottom LineThe Saudis, cannot pump any more oil nor any faster and are not the biggest producer of oil on this planet. This anti-business attitude will not help most Americans as there is a real reason why Americans need the stock and bond markets to flourish as most government, union and private pensions are heavily invested in mutual funds and markets around the world. Mess with oil company profit margins and interfere in capitalistic pursuits will inevitably affect your retirement funds folks! Over 60% of Americans with retirement accounts are now tied to national and international market influences. Where do you think the government and unions and businesses put your retirement money for safekeeping? You guessed it..the markets.

                This current sub-prime housing bust was caused mostly by local citizen run Economic Development organizations that consult with local zoning boards. When a bank or credit union wants a zoning variance to move into a depressed neighborhood these organizations would often blackmail the banks insisting that to obtain approval to move into their neighborhoods they must offer at least 10% low cost loans to the neighborhood poor who wanted to get their first homes. The city zoning boards normally went along with these citizen organizations and now you see what happens when free economic forces are artificially manipulated for various groups of low income individuals.

                Speculators whether they be oil or commodity traders can really wreak havoc on a nation of investors. Look at the scare recently concerning a so-called rice shortage. We actually sold some rice, exported it to a country that had a bad harvest and suddenly we are in danger. Actually if the truth be known you should stock up on flour and dairy products and meat because there is a real worldwide shortage in the works. The United States imported wheat for the first time in its history last year. There are a number of reasons why.   Every farmer now wants to get in on the ethanol boom and craze so more acres of corn are being planted versus other crops such as grains for livestock and flour. Remember it takes more corn to make a gallon of gas than other products and is less efficient. Also this must be trucked or pipelined separately since ethanol attracts condensation and they cannot merely put a pig (separator) in a pipeline and separate the fuels. The corn is shipped to our refineries in the south along the gulf coast because big cities like Chicago and Milwaukee that already mandate that fuel will not allow refineries in their area to produce it. It then has to be shipped or put in a separate pipeline north again.   The US congress recently took up a bill to restrict the number of new acres and farms planting corn as this new gold rush threatens other farm crops. Dairy and cattle ranchers are going out of business at an alarming rate because there isnt enough feed for their livestock as the corn and soybeans are going toward bio fuels. Less acreage of wheat means less flour and bread and those prices are going up. Less dairy and cattle farms due to lack of feed is raising the cost of dairy products and beef. Wheat futures are climbing Due to a rapidly spreading rust disease which started in Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East and now moving into China, less and less wheat is being harvested, less feed for livestock. In some countries a person cannot buy butter at any price. So far the wheat crop infestation has not reached Canada or the US nor the pampas in South America but is spreading at a dangerous clip elsewhere. Not lost in this mix is the fact that fuel prices for transporting farm products to market are rising also.

                I for one,  plan to buy and start hoarding  flour, cheese and butter  (not rice), start growing corn in my backyard before congress tells me I cant and refine my own bio-diesel . I have some pet Chickens and wonder if I can refine fuel out of their droppings, at least I have my own egg supply. I will not however let them get my supply of corn for my squirrel feeder.they will not suffer! At election time, hold my nose and vote for any candidate that isnt offering me the moon and stars irregardless of whether they can deliver on their promises or not. But you know something, I am an optimist and do believe, no matter what.......we will survive despite ourselves!

jimjeankaraoke@att.net