Things That Make Me Pause

You know, there are things all around us each day that should make us go Hmmm. As I grow older I begin to realise that not much suprises me anymore, however, many things make me pause. That's the theme of this blog and here you will find the things that make me pause, and think to myself, 'How damn stupid can some people be?'

Point in case... Today on my morning drive, the news came across my radio that my state, pardon, commonwealth, was closing down 18 rest stops on our major highways. The reason given was lack of funding, budgetary cutbacks, cutting expenses. My commonwealth recieved about 18 million in stimulus monies. Since the monies were provided, the state has laid off/fired/eliminated teachers, and other key state employees. I have not seen nor heard of a single job that has been created. This was, I thought, the purpose of the stimulus monies, to create jobs, and improve the economy. This makes me pause.

When I watch the Government take over big business, GM, FORD, CHRYSLER/DODGE, and promote fuel efficient vehicles... a $4500 bonus to those who trade in a gas guzzler (= <18mpg) for a car that gets equal to or better than 28mpg, this makes me pause. This is the same government that decided it was a family's right to own a home, whether they could afford it or not, and in that brainfart placed the housing market in the place it is today. The mismanagement of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. I am taking pause again.

Listen, do we really want an accountant to determine the level of Healthcare we deserve? Pancreatic Cancer cannot be cured. You ARE going to die if you develop it. Do you want an accountant or a doctor to determine your treatment path? The accountant will look at the bottom line. $500,000.00 to keep you comfortable for another year of life, or free to deny any benefit. Take pause when these decisions are being made.

Is it right for government to tax you a higher percentage because you had the business savy to make a million bucks? If I make X annually, and you make Z, if we are both paying our 33% then what's the problem? Your 33% will always be a higher dollar amount than mine, until I get to your income level. We are not talking about tax brackets, we are talking income level. I take pause whenever someone says to me that I should work my butt off to succeed, then give away my rewards for succeeding. I want to be a millionaire. I want to buy nice things as my reward for making it. I do not want to drive a car that gets 28mpg and can be crushed by a bicyclist on a downhill run. I want to spend on whatever i want to buy. I cannot however, because my company decided they would withold our incentive increase this year to fight a tough economy.

Take pause. If I do not get my increase I do not have any money to spend on the items which have had their prices increased. If I do not buy these items, more new items cannot be produced. If new items are not being produced they cannot be shipped. If they cannot be shipped then my company cannot make money. It's a vicious cycle isn't it? It gets better. If the items are not being produced then Bob at the factory gets laid off. If they are not being bought, then people who work at the stores get laid off. Maybe the store goes out of business altogether. Maybe the factory where these goods are made goes out of business too....

Then to top it off, you are expected to show charity to those with less than you...oh and don't forget to donate blood... if you can get any more blood out of this turnip.