Stop Pulling the Wagon

I have long believed that the word ‘FREE’ is perhaps the most abused and misused word in our language.

Almost nothing is truly ‘FREE’. Somebody, usually you, paid something for whatever it is, either directly or indirectly.

Does anybody feel that anything you get from the government is free?  Really?

But even on a consumer level consider the following:

For example: BUY ONE – GET ONE FREE!  The cost of the item you are getting ‘FREE’ is ‘buried’ in the profit of the one you paid for. It would be more accurate and truthful to say something like: Buy one item and receive an additional item “free” of additional cost but in today’s world that is not ‘smart’ advertising.

We got into a big fight with eBay because they “strongly suggested” to us as a Seller to start listing our items with “Free Shipping”.  “Strongly suggested” is a phrase that I remember from my days long ago in the Army when it was often phrased “We can’t make you do this but we can make you wish you had”  I argued with eBay that there is no such  thing as “Free” shipping because shipping costs money.  Their reply was that it is not dis-honest or unreasonable to build the cost of shipping into the cost of the product and therefor you can offer “Free Shipping” because you do not have to add an additional amount to the purchase price to cover the cost of  delivery.  When a potential buyer looks at the product they do not have to do the mental math to add on the shipping charge.  In the end we found out eBay was right (from a marketing perspective).  Customers love ” Free” shipping.  To this day I hate it that eBay was right.  Maybe I’m just a sore loser.  Still, it violates all logic from my perspective.

In fact the logic behind all this “FREE” stuff just makes me crazy but it is rampant in our world today.  Everywhere you look, somebody is offering something for “FREE”.  I believe we need to remember that the bean counters who rule our world have built the true cost of “FREE” into the cost of the products we buy.  In the end “it ain’t Free”.  There is a cost for “Free”.

Remember that the cost to the seller for the “FREE” coupons you use is built into the average selling price you pay for the products you buy.

Here is another thought to lock away.  If you think your home is “FREE and CLEAR” when you pay off your mortgage,  try not paying your property taxes for a couple of years and see what happens.  You see, you can never truly own your home as “FREE and CLEAR”  property.  In reality, you are only renting it from the government.

Learn to be naturally suspicious when someone offers you something for “FREE”.

Who was the singer whose song included the line “Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose”?  (Janis Joplin – from her song “Me and Bobby McGee”)

……Bob

LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY.

OUR GOVERNMENT HAS HALTED  NEW DRILLING FOR OIL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS.

CHINA, VENEZUELA, CUBA, MEXICO, BRAZIL AND OTHERS ARE STILL DRILLING AND PLAN TO EXPAND DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

SINCE THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT BE DRILLING WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OIL SHORTAGE.

TO FILL OUR DOMESTIC NEEDS FOR OIL WE WILL NEED TO IMPORT OIL.

I BELIEVE IT IS SAFE TO ASSUME THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS IMPORTED OIL.

NOW FOR A QUICK REVIEW TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY:

1. WE AMERICANS CANNOT DRILL FOR AND GET THE OIL OURSELVES.

2. OTHER COUNTRIES, NOT ALWAYS FRIENDLY TO US, CAN GO AND GET THIS SAME OIL FROM THE SAME SITES WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DRILL IN.

3. THESE OTHER COUNTRIES CAN THEN SELL THIS  OIL TO US AT A PROFIT.

4. THIS ALL MAKES SENSE.

NOW I GET IT.  GUESS I WAS JUST HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GOOD ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL LOGIC.

BOB

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW MY POSTS.  I’M BACK.   WELL AT LEAST MOSTLY BACK.  I APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE.

MY LAST POSTING WAS IN SEPTEMBER AND I HAVE BEEN “UNDER THE WEATHER”.   NO STITCHES TO SHOW YOU.  NO  BORING STORIES TO SHARE.

MY LIFE WAS AT NO TIME IN DANGER, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A FEW DAYS WHEN I FELT I WOULD HAVE TO SHOW SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT  TO BE WELL ENOUGH TO DIE GRACEFULLY.  FOR THE MOST PART, AND ON MOST DAYS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FUNCTION AT A LEVEL, THAT WITH SOME HELP, I COULD SORT OF DO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF WORK (MY POOR WIFE DOING THE REST) TO KEEP THINGS GOING.  BUT, THIS BLOG, AND SOME OTHER THINGS HAD TO “GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE”.

THANK YOU TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE AND DAUGHTER WHO SHOWED ME MORE SUPPORT AND GRACE  THAN I DESERVE DURING THIS TIME.

THANK YOU TO ALL MY FRIENDS, INCLUDING THOSE AT MY CHURCH WHO HAVE KEPT ME IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

IT HAS BEEN A PAINFUL AND HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.  YOU SEE, I AM A LOUSY PATIENT.  FOR MOST OF MY YEARS I HAVE BEEN DISGUSTINGLY HEALTHY AND I GUESS I GOT SPOILED.

WHILE  NOT AT DEATHS DOOR (AT LEAST I DON’T THINK SO) DURING THESE WEEKS, THIS EPISODE HAS CAUSED ME TO LOOK ANEW AT MY OWN MORTALITY,  AND WHILE I SELDOM TAKE MYSELF OR LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY, I HAVE HAD PERIODS WHEN I FOUND MYSELF WONDERING IF I HAVE MADE SUFFICIENT EFFORT TO TRY AND DO SOME GOOD ALONG THE WAY.

ENOUGH WITH THE SOAPY, MAUDLIN STUFF! LOOK AT ALL THE GREAT MATERIAL I HAVE MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS!  THE ECONOMY!  THE ELECTION!  LIFE IN GENERAL!  SO MUCH GOOD STUFF!

GUESS I BETTER GET BUSY AND MAKE UP FOR SOME LOST TIME.   GET READY!       …….BOB

In 1961 East Germany built the Berlin Wall to keep East German citizens from escaping the tyranny of Communism in the East to Freedom in the West.   

When they built this wall the East Germans lost any credibility they might have had to extoll the virtues of Communism.  No one would believe them because they had to keep their citizens isolated behind walls from opposing ideas. 

Credibility is a fragile thing.

Now we have an Islamic Cleric – Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf – who wants to build a Mosque within rock throwing distance of Ground Zero where the Twin Towers were brought down and more than 2,700 people were murdered by Radical Islamic Terrorists on September 11, 2001.  

The Imam says he wants to build this Mosque as an outreach in the name of  Peace and Understanding.  He states his goal is that Christians and Jews can learn to accept Islam and we can all live in mutual tolerance and harmony.  

I have a question Imam Feisal Adbul Rauf.  To build credibility for your stated mission, will you support the building of Christian Churches and Learning Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Amman, Jordan?  How about within a few hundred feet of your Holy sites in Mecca and Medina?  That way Muslims could learn tolerance and understanding of the Christian faith.   

I am told Islam does not allow Christian Churches in Saudi Arabia or Jordan.  What is your position on this? 

It seems to me that Islam has built something very much like the Berlin Wall around many Islamic countries and won’t allow its citizens to even look at a Bible or discuss Christianity.  This begs the question:  Is Islam afraid of its followers learning about Christianity? 

When you demand that we allow you to build a Mosque in the name of  tolerance while Islam  denies the same tolerance to Christians and Jews,  you lose your credibility.      

This is not about hatred, and we do not hate peace loving Muslins.  This has everything to do with the small percentage of Muslims who are determined to impose their own violent image of Islam and Sharia Law.  They don’t want to co-exist in peace.  They have one non-negotiable demand:  Accept their view of Islam or die.  

It also has to do with credibility, Imam.  When you demand to build your Mosque knowing it will further divide people,  we just don’t believe your motives are to promote peace and understanding.  

In this matter Imam, you have no credibility with the majority of Americans.

………Bob  

The Simpsons Movie - 20th Century Fox - Matt Groening

I ask the question metaphorically as I do not advocate violence. 

Still, what does the citizenry do when government will not listen to the clear voice of the people?

Federally run and mandated Healthcare – We don’t want it!

Amnesty for illegal aliens – No! 

Porous and open borders – No!

Bailouts for poorly run Corporations and States -No!

Bankrupting our children and grandchildren with deficit spending – No!

Micro-manage every aspect of our lives – No!

Tax everything and every part of my daily life – No!

Leave me alone, get out of my way and stay out of my wallet – YES!

Are these people so self focused on their own failed ideology and so oblivious to the will of the American people?  Have they no eyes?  Have they no ears?  The American people are fast approaching the point of open rebellion.  The anger is building day by day.  Revolution is in the wind.  They have taken our America and trashed it. 

Pray that it will be only a peaceful rebellion and confined to the ballot box.                         …..Bob

I AM SORRY TO SAY than in my mind our current government has become little more than a dis-organized criminal enterprise.  if it were an organized criminal activity it would be efficient and not Thirteen Trillion Dollars in debt.

Howver, instead of just complaining about Government on a Federal (and most States) basis I have an obligation to say what I believe  Government  should look like and what I think it should be responsible for.  Especially what I have observed it is capable of doing resonably well even if not cost effectively.

Let me think:

1.  Provide for the nations defense and prevent armed and unarmed invasion by foregin powers and masses.  Secure our borders. 

2.  Uh…….Give me a little time……..  I’m trying to think of something else I want the Federal Government to be in charge of. 

In the process of (re)building the Federal Government we should examine all current Federal Departments and Agencies.

For example:

The Department of Energy was formed in the 1970’s with the goal of making the U.S.  LESS  dependent on foreign oil.  At the time we were importing about 30% of the oil we used.  Today, the Department of Engergy has a budget of more than 24 Billion Dollars and we are importing  70% of the oil we use.  If this were a private enterprise it would be broke and out of business.

How about the Federal Department of Education?  Could someone please tell me what the purpose of this department truly is?   Again we have liftime employment and benefits for those who work there but aside from that, I am unaware of any real, practical, positive help they provide my local schools.  Sorry,  issuing ill-conceived, unwanted and often unfunded “mandates” don’t count.  Our schools are best managed on a local basis with very little interference from State Government and none from the “Feds”.

I could continue department by department and agency by agency but will instead let the reader think of all the the Federal Agencies and Departments they come in contact with and ask themselves what they truly accomplish other than issue a lot of regulations and rules which complicate and make our lives more difficult and expensive.  To me, it does not count that these Departments and Agencies provide a place where employees shuffle papers around and build “Kingdoms”.  

Do any of these agencies or departments ever get “sun-setted” or shut down no matter how ineffective or wasteful they are?  If so, can you name one? 

Even programs and agencies most of us could support like Social Security, Medicare and a few others are so horribly mis-managed, stolen from (by Congress) and inefficient that they are un-sustainable and virtually bankrupt.  In the long term the only way the government will be able to make Social Security viable is to keep increasing the age of eligibility to the point that we qualify for benefits one month before we die. 

I would ask the reader to make a list of the Departments and Agencies that they believe Government manages efficiently and cost effectively.  How about the Postal Service?    

Your own thoughts are welcome and it is okay to disagree.

Just something to think about.                             …..BOB