I need a soapbox

These things have been on my mind a while, and I just want to get them out there, because it seems like no one is taking these things seriously. If they are, then they are the minority. If they are the minority, then what better forum to get them out in.

1. When was the last time we had a real clear candidate who talked about the issue that are facing us and not just conjecture? Washington? I don't even know if they had issues back then. Oh yes, how to sustain a democracy. Well, it seems like there is no one talking about the issues I want to talk about. Don't get me wrong, I am a Republican. But come on, McCain? Is this the leader of our country? Is this who is going to be inviting heads of state to dinner? I am afraid he'll fall asleep halfway through the evening. I am all for tax cuts, but McCain is talking about making all these tax cuts permanent, and honestly, I don't know what we plan to do in the future to fund what this government deems a budget. At some point we have to pay the piper, and that piper is Social Security. A number of weeks ago I read some commentary by Glenn Beck titled The $53 Trillion Asteroid and it shed some light on something I have worked on in my professional career for nearly 14 years. The fact that Social Security, as you and I know it, will cease to exist in 2019. 2019. Matt and Jenny's twins will be my oldest son's age. And yet, do we have a plan to fix that? Is anyone talking about that? Do you realize that there is no "fund" that is holding that money that is coming out of your paycheck every month. Each time I sit down to work on a financial plan for a client's future I tell them, "We are not counting social security into the equation." Do you realize what an amazing failure this is? Yet it seems that we all just anticipate that the government will just print more money. It's what they do best. But the more money we print, the less the dollar is worth. What do you plan on doing for your social security? What about your kids? Time to get those Roth IRAs set up I guess. Or I will be welcoming you to Wal*Mart.

2. Who is going to fix this economy? Are we in another 1970s scenario with runaway inflation, soaring gas prices, and a nation grinding to a halt? One of the main forces in the economy is the Federal Reserve. I assume not many of you care what the Fed really does, but it's my blog and I can rant all I want, right? Besides, I don't have any funny golf stories yet. The Fed controls the money supply in the economy. They do that by lowering or raising the rate that is charged to banks. See, banks have to have so much in reserves at the end of each day. If they have too much out on loan or not enough in the coffers, they borrow from the Federal Reserve overnight to meet that requirement. They are then charged a rate for that loan. This is the Fed Funds rate. This is how the Fed controls the money supply. Interest rates are basically the cost of borrowing money. When the cost is low (interest rates are down) there is more money in the economy because it's cheaper to get money. The opposite is true. Now go way back to your Econ 101 class that you thought you would never use again. When you have lots of money chasing a set number of goods, what happens? Prices rise! Again, the opposite is true. If interest rates are higher, that shrinks the money supply. So now, we have fewer dollars to spend on a set number of goods. What happens then? Prices fall! Well done. Bored? I'm just getting warmed up. Now here is the kicker. We have an economy that is stumbling around like your uncle at last year's Cinco De Mormo (July 24) celebration. The credit crisis has caused all kinds of havoc on the efficiency of our nation and you have probably heard the "Recession" word many times. It means people are loosing their houses, their jobs and their confidence. So when the economy needs a shot in the arm, what does the Federal Reserve do? You were listening! That's right, it lowers interest rates so that more money comes into the economy. More money means spending, building, expanding, growing, buying, hiring, sunshine, rainbows, a world of make-believe. But wait, what about that "inflation" word we heard about. See.....? The Fed has one heck of a job ahead of itself. 1) Keep this economy rolling along. 2) Keep inflation down. 3) But keep the economy going by making more money available. 4) But make sure that prices don't rise.

It's dizzying. Who is going to fix that? Hillary? Ha! I know Bill wants to take credit for the amazing economy and stock market surge during his 2 terms. But I have 2 words for you Bill, "Baby Boomer". That's like saying I was in control of the plane I just flew back from Hawaii. Actually I was just along for the ride. I have yet to hear anything worth while out of Hillary as far as an economic plan. Oh yea, she and McCain are on with the proposed suspension of the $.15 gasoline tax. Again, when are we going to see something really take place? When are we going to get someone who stands up and says we need to fix this and do it right, right now? Does anyone not see a pattern here? Am I the only one taking crazy pills? Bush 1, Clinton 1, Bush 2, now Clinton 2? These are the SAME PEOPLE who do the SAME THINGS and know the SAME GAMES and know the SAME PEOPLE. How many times do we need to drink sour milk to realize, it's STILL SOUR?

I am beside myself. I know I don't get that way very often. But you've been so good to listen to me. I know, it may have scared you a little bit. Don't blame me, just blame someone else, then sue me. I had pasta for dinner, so I know it's not something I ate. But I just can't sit by and not say anything anymore. I am sure you all have those things that just bottle up inside, and one day they just pop. Like that guy at the office who clicks his pen, you can hear it over the cubicle wall. He wont stop, and then one day you just up and push the cubicle wall right over on him.

Thanks, I needed that. I really want us to be friends, I want to talk about things on my mind. Don't hesitate to correct me if I am wrong. I can take criticism. I can take rejection.

Just be careful the next time you sit down in your cubicle.