12/08/2008
With our nation in a deep recession, suburbs coast to coast are experiencing the same fiscal pressures that impacting Big cities and small towns alike. As more people loose there jobs, the need for "Social Services" increase, while the tax base decreases. This reality places elected officials in the position of needing to make very difficult choices, and with a very small room for error.
A city must balance the immediate needs of it's citizens while not selling out the long term goals and values that keep current, as well as attract new residents to call that city home.
It is for that reason that UrbanNewsBlog.com endorses Jim Kirsch for the Highland Park City Council.
Jim Kirsch in his role as Chairman of the “Finance Committee” was a driving force in Maintaining Highland Park's AAA bond rating. Jim worked closely with local businesses searching for ways to help keep them, and their jobs in Highland Park. These actions helped to build, and grow the sales tax base. As a result of the fiscal responsibility, and restraint shown by Jim Kirsch, Highland Park enters these trying economic times on solid ground.
We are also happy to hear that Mr. Kirsch continues to push for providing affordable housing for retired residents of Highland Park who want to remain in our community but cannot afford the tremendous tax increases.
In a resent interview Councilman Kirsch stated " As a life-long resident of Highland Park, It upsets me to hear of seniors that after decades of being a critical part of our town's success, find them- selves unable to afford to remain"
It is Jim Kirsch's balance between practicality and compassion that makes him such an obvious choice for reelection.
Urban News Blog
Showing posts with label 08. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 08. Show all posts
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Pirates Riding the Seas in 2008
Larry Lubell
Close your eyes as someone mentions pirates, and your likely to have your head filled with images of gallant, swashbuckling men with a parrot on their shoulder and a cutlass in hand. The "Bad-boys" of the sea, in a Robin Hood meets Keith Richard hybrid. Our image has forever been shaped by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, as well as by Disney, Fairbanks and Halloween costumes.
Time creates legends, mixing one part truth, with two parts fantasy, then laying levels of artistic license. The end product, an icon "Blackbeard" might embrace, although one he is unlikely to recognize. A metamorphosis from a murderous bands of thugs terrorizing the seas, raping woman, setting ships ablaze; to a capped-toothed Johnny Depp and his waif super-model girlfriend/hostage. The classic era of piracy in the Caribbean began in the 1560's with the period from 1700 until the 1730s as the zenith of the pirates reign. We no longer see events through the eyes of the Spanish or Portuguese Empires protecting their ships and the wealth the they carried.
Today the news is filled with stories of a new batch of Pirates, yet we don't see them through the fog of time. These bands we view with the pain of 9/11 clear and fresh. When one of their leaders known only as Boyah, issued a statement to the press, the world listened; but did not like what it heard.
"The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, . "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."
Boyah said that the piracy began when large foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks, and fuel prices soared making difficult traditional coastal fishing unprofitable. At first their attacks were against the trawlers, but soon the trawler's crews began fighting back with heavy artillery. The fishermen in their smaller boats were no match; so the sought out "Softer Targets"
"We went into the deep ocean and hijacked the unarmed cargo ships," Boyah said.
Far from isolated insistences, the past year has seen the number of attacks has increase both in number as well as scale. The International Maritime Bureau recognizes more than 90 pirate attacks off the East Africa coast thus far in 2008.
When attacks are successful, The pirates take there captured ships into Somali waters, where the crew, ships and cargo are held until a ransom demand is met. In the past weeks the ante has been raised again with the capture of a Saudi supertanker carrying more than $100 million of crude oil, and a cargo-ship loaded with Russian-built tanks. Moses Wetangula, Kenya's foreign minister put the ransoms paid at more than $150 million.
The reality is the pirates realize the hijackings have been profitable, and the world has been unsuccessful in stopping the attacks. Until recently,many of the shippers looked at these attacks as just a part of the cost of doing business; there seems to have been a turn in the way nations are perceiving the threat. It appears the very level of success of the Somali bands might bring about their undoing. The very scale of their criminal acts have brought world powers to the brink of deploying armies to address the growing threat. If the Somali fisherman pirates were foiled by armed crews of trawlers, one must assume that jet fighters and nuclear subs can have similar success.
Who knows, maybe in a hundred years Boyah and his followers names will be spoken of along-side famous Caribbean pirates like Edward Teach or "Blackbeard" or Henry Morgan. Maybe the Disneyland that's part of a future space station, will create a ride in their honor, but in 2008 they are a bunch of criminals that need to be stopped.
Larry Lubell
www.UrbanNewsBlog.com
Close your eyes as someone mentions pirates, and your likely to have your head filled with images of gallant, swashbuckling men with a parrot on their shoulder and a cutlass in hand. The "Bad-boys" of the sea, in a Robin Hood meets Keith Richard hybrid. Our image has forever been shaped by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, as well as by Disney, Fairbanks and Halloween costumes.
Time creates legends, mixing one part truth, with two parts fantasy, then laying levels of artistic license. The end product, an icon "Blackbeard" might embrace, although one he is unlikely to recognize. A metamorphosis from a murderous bands of thugs terrorizing the seas, raping woman, setting ships ablaze; to a capped-toothed Johnny Depp and his waif super-model girlfriend/hostage. The classic era of piracy in the Caribbean began in the 1560's with the period from 1700 until the 1730s as the zenith of the pirates reign. We no longer see events through the eyes of the Spanish or Portuguese Empires protecting their ships and the wealth the they carried.
Today the news is filled with stories of a new batch of Pirates, yet we don't see them through the fog of time. These bands we view with the pain of 9/11 clear and fresh. When one of their leaders known only as Boyah, issued a statement to the press, the world listened; but did not like what it heard.
"The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, . "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."
Boyah said that the piracy began when large foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks, and fuel prices soared making difficult traditional coastal fishing unprofitable. At first their attacks were against the trawlers, but soon the trawler's crews began fighting back with heavy artillery. The fishermen in their smaller boats were no match; so the sought out "Softer Targets"
"We went into the deep ocean and hijacked the unarmed cargo ships," Boyah said.
Far from isolated insistences, the past year has seen the number of attacks has increase both in number as well as scale. The International Maritime Bureau recognizes more than 90 pirate attacks off the East Africa coast thus far in 2008.
When attacks are successful, The pirates take there captured ships into Somali waters, where the crew, ships and cargo are held until a ransom demand is met. In the past weeks the ante has been raised again with the capture of a Saudi supertanker carrying more than $100 million of crude oil, and a cargo-ship loaded with Russian-built tanks. Moses Wetangula, Kenya's foreign minister put the ransoms paid at more than $150 million.
The reality is the pirates realize the hijackings have been profitable, and the world has been unsuccessful in stopping the attacks. Until recently,many of the shippers looked at these attacks as just a part of the cost of doing business; there seems to have been a turn in the way nations are perceiving the threat. It appears the very level of success of the Somali bands might bring about their undoing. The very scale of their criminal acts have brought world powers to the brink of deploying armies to address the growing threat. If the Somali fisherman pirates were foiled by armed crews of trawlers, one must assume that jet fighters and nuclear subs can have similar success.
Who knows, maybe in a hundred years Boyah and his followers names will be spoken of along-side famous Caribbean pirates like Edward Teach or "Blackbeard" or Henry Morgan. Maybe the Disneyland that's part of a future space station, will create a ride in their honor, but in 2008 they are a bunch of criminals that need to be stopped.
Larry Lubell
www.UrbanNewsBlog.com
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Republican Party is Dead
by Larry Lubell
It is true that the GOP took a beating the other night. Despite two years of concerted effort to paint Obama as the personification of evil; some sort of "Left-wing radical, socialist,elitist, Muslim that attends a Christian church run by a nutty minister", the American people rejected the scare tactics and gave him a mandate to lead.. The simple truth is the electorate got to know Barack Obama, and man they saw, they information they got from trusted sources, just did not jive with the fear mongering being spewed from much of Talk radio and Fox.
The GOP lost seats in the House, the Senate as well as the White House, that said; anyone that thinks the Republican Party is Dead is a fool!
After each election, there are no shortage of "Talking Heads" telling us how the party that lost is somehow been thrown onto the garbage heap of history. I have a clear memory of being told The Democratic party was dead or dying after Reagan won, only to be told that the Republican party days were numbered after Clinton won the presidency. I did not believe any of that nonsense then, nor do I find it credible now. That is not to say that the Republicans are in a "Comfortable position" at the moment. Yes they will need to reexamine some strategies, positions and players going forward; but they are very far from Dead.
"I feel like Republicans dodged a bullet last night,' said Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who said the climate now looked strikingly similar to the early days of the Clinton administration.
"After that election, Democrats held 57 Senate and 258 House seats," Ayres said. "Two years later, we took both houses back."
Barack Obama not only won a clear mandate Tuesday night, but he won with a coalition that dramatically altered the Electoral College map.This rethinking of "Red and Blue states" creates opportunities for Democrats after a long period of electoral victories for Republicans .While it is folly for the Democrats to write them off, to be sure, the "Right" has some serious problems to overcome. Their three clearest problems are the loss of Latino voters, young voters and lack of a strong "Bullpen" of candidates.
The power of the Latino vote is ever increasing in the US. Exit polling suggests that approximately 10 million Latino voters went to the polls this election. That represents an increase of nearly two million more voters or an increase near 24% over 2004.Obama's success among Latino voters in general, and young Latino's in particular, has many Republican strategists troubled over their party's long-term health.
"As the U.S. Latino population surges, we are seeing increases in registration and voter turnout due to increased naturalization numbers by Latino immigrants beginning in the 1990s and Latino youth coming of voting age" said Harry Pachon, Ph.D., President of TRPI.
"We've got to get a handle on these voters before they turn completely. They have become increasingly the key to a number of critical swing states."said one leading GOP strategist close to the McCain campaign, in response to Obama's 67 percent to 31 percent edge over McCain among Latino voters. Event the Florida Cuban-American population, typically seen as dependable block of Republican votes in the critical swing state, turned and supported Obama. It is going to be very difficult for any party to be a major national player without Hispanic support.
Eighteen year olds won the right to vote in time for the presidential election of 1972. Ever since, some pundits and politicians have declared each election cycle that this is going to be the year the youth vote flexes it's muscle; yet seldom is that the case. this year, however, the youth vote was a factor. One of the things worth noting is not just the vote totals, but the enthusiasm, and the numbers willing to not just vote, but to do the heavy lifting of working the polls and the get out the vote drive. The Democrats are in possession of a priceless list of dedicated "True-Believer's" email addresses. The Conservative movement is increasingly seen as a group of Middle-aged -white suburban voters, overwhelmingly dominated by men. This "Base" holds less and less appeal with 18-30 voters.
Part of the success of the Rove machine, was the ability to tarnish each young promising up and coming democrat, while maintaining their own stable of well known contenders. Today they seem to be short of viable candidates. Governor Schwarzenegger, is ineligible due to being a naturalized citizen, and is too liberal to appeal to the conservative base. Sarah Palin has proved she has a populist and liked by the conservative base, but has largely been cast as the scapegoat by the McCain campaign, and a joke by much of the center. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney might have the clearest path to the nomination is 2012, in part due to his massive personal wealth, but he has never really gathered much excitement. Gingrich also seems to have plans for a higher profile again, and perhaps seeking the nomination next time around. But he has been a polarizing figure in a country that seems to be looking for compromise.
If Obama, and the Democrats interpret the Mandate from this election to be " The nation wants to go back to the days of "Big Government" and or that the nation want's to adapt a "Liberal agenda" next election, the voters will toss the democrats out on their asses. The electorate was just sick a tired of Bush, the whole Karl Rove ideology, and world of divisive politics. That said, there is no indication that they want to switch "Right- Wing dogma for "Left-wing" dogma- they just want a government that puts solving the problems of real people over any sort of ideological agenda. After year of Americans wanting a divided government, the people now are looking for a government that actually gets things done, and puts the people needs first. If an Obama administration does that, the people will give them their support, if they put their agenda ahead of the people's; they will give the Republicans another shot.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama, and the day America Changed
By Larry Lubell
Some events really do change the world. Often we don't recognize their gravity till years later. Last night history was made, and I do believe most people watching understood they were witnessing a critical turning point in American history.
America is the greatest country earth has yet to produce, not because our history is not filled with mistakes; but because we learn from, and correct those mistakes. We don't burn "Witches" any longer, and collectively we have come to view our westward expansion in the context of the horrors perpetrated against the indigenous population. Truth is, the list of errors, missteps and injustices that are part of our nations history is long, and often, painful to admit. Large segments of our society turned a blind eye to the suffering and mistreatment that made up the daily lives of other Americans. But of all of those evils, slavery stands out as the darkest chapter in our nations history.
Even before we were a nation we were already deep in to the horrors of slavery. In 1663 the Maryland legislature enacted a law that stated " all Negroes and other slaves within the province, and all Negroes and other slaves to be thereafter imported into the province, should serve during life; and all children born of any Negro should be slaves, as their fathers were, for the term of their lives."
There were approximately 645,000 black African shipped to what is now the United States and by the time of the 1860 Census, The slave population in the United States had grown to over four million. It is hard to imagine the nightmare of being kidnapped form your home, brought around the world to be sold, then forced to work 14 hour days or to be whipped and tortured at the whim of a man whose position was determined by the color of his skin. It was not unusual for enslaved black women to be raped by their "owners", or for children to be sold and permanently separated from their families.
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was a turning point for our nation. Lincoln explained his disgust towards slavery, and justification for emancipation by declaring
"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong"!
But the end to slavery, while a step, was followed by the Jim Crow laws that legalized segregation between blacks and whites. In 1896 in Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that separate facilities for whites and blacks were constitutional, resulting in generations of African American Americans growing up in an America who's laws designated that they should be forced into separate schools, required by law to sit in the back of the bus, or a few segregated tables at the lunch counter. It was not till 58 years later that Thurgood Marshall took the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans. and gto the Supreme Court to declare separate facilities by race to be unconstitutional.
While the official laws of this nation slowly started to turn, often the unofficial practices moved at a slower pace. Groups like the KKK, terrorized, and killed blacks in an attempt to keep them from obtaining justice or equality.In fact, between 1880 and 1951, the Tuskegee Institute recorded 3,437 lynchings of African-Americans. It was into this reality that Martin Luther King was born, and it was this world that he sought to, and succeeded in changing.The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 finally ended the legal sanctions, but the gap in opportunity, and discrimination still continued. Time, and the work of so many people have brought our country closer to King's dream, yet some of the legacies still remain.
It was into that present day America that last night Obama stepped on to a stage in Chicago, with his wife and his two young daughters and before a crowd of 125,000 thanked all America for making him The president-elect. As the cameras paned out across the tens of thousands of faces, Kings "Dream" seemed in part realized. The sea of faces really did look like America. And I have to say as a "White American" it made me proud.
America is a great place, because we have learned from,our past, and while still flawed we took another important step at building a more perfect union.
Larry Lubell
Urban News Blog
Some events really do change the world. Often we don't recognize their gravity till years later. Last night history was made, and I do believe most people watching understood they were witnessing a critical turning point in American history.
America is the greatest country earth has yet to produce, not because our history is not filled with mistakes; but because we learn from, and correct those mistakes. We don't burn "Witches" any longer, and collectively we have come to view our westward expansion in the context of the horrors perpetrated against the indigenous population. Truth is, the list of errors, missteps and injustices that are part of our nations history is long, and often, painful to admit. Large segments of our society turned a blind eye to the suffering and mistreatment that made up the daily lives of other Americans. But of all of those evils, slavery stands out as the darkest chapter in our nations history.
Even before we were a nation we were already deep in to the horrors of slavery. In 1663 the Maryland legislature enacted a law that stated " all Negroes and other slaves within the province, and all Negroes and other slaves to be thereafter imported into the province, should serve during life; and all children born of any Negro should be slaves, as their fathers were, for the term of their lives."
There were approximately 645,000 black African shipped to what is now the United States and by the time of the 1860 Census, The slave population in the United States had grown to over four million. It is hard to imagine the nightmare of being kidnapped form your home, brought around the world to be sold, then forced to work 14 hour days or to be whipped and tortured at the whim of a man whose position was determined by the color of his skin. It was not unusual for enslaved black women to be raped by their "owners", or for children to be sold and permanently separated from their families.
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was a turning point for our nation. Lincoln explained his disgust towards slavery, and justification for emancipation by declaring
"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong"!
But the end to slavery, while a step, was followed by the Jim Crow laws that legalized segregation between blacks and whites. In 1896 in Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that separate facilities for whites and blacks were constitutional, resulting in generations of African American Americans growing up in an America who's laws designated that they should be forced into separate schools, required by law to sit in the back of the bus, or a few segregated tables at the lunch counter. It was not till 58 years later that Thurgood Marshall took the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans. and gto the Supreme Court to declare separate facilities by race to be unconstitutional.
While the official laws of this nation slowly started to turn, often the unofficial practices moved at a slower pace. Groups like the KKK, terrorized, and killed blacks in an attempt to keep them from obtaining justice or equality.In fact, between 1880 and 1951, the Tuskegee Institute recorded 3,437 lynchings of African-Americans. It was into this reality that Martin Luther King was born, and it was this world that he sought to, and succeeded in changing.The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 finally ended the legal sanctions, but the gap in opportunity, and discrimination still continued. Time, and the work of so many people have brought our country closer to King's dream, yet some of the legacies still remain.
It was into that present day America that last night Obama stepped on to a stage in Chicago, with his wife and his two young daughters and before a crowd of 125,000 thanked all America for making him The president-elect. As the cameras paned out across the tens of thousands of faces, Kings "Dream" seemed in part realized. The sea of faces really did look like America. And I have to say as a "White American" it made me proud.
America is a great place, because we have learned from,our past, and while still flawed we took another important step at building a more perfect union.
Larry Lubell
Urban News Blog
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
This Stock Market is making me Nauseous
Wall Street had one of it's best days ever, the Dow Jones industrials we sent soaring almost 900 points. That would be fantastic if it was not coming after week of disaster and investors did not have the feeling that the market could turn on them in an instant.
Friday, October 10, 2008
McCain, I expected more from you
Larry Lubell
John McCain has a long history of serving America, In October 1967 he was shot down, badly injured, and captured by the North Vietnamese. there he remained a prisoner of war until 1973. He was subjected to unimaginable torture yet re refused to say or do those things that could have ended his suffering. To this day he still carries the scars of those days. He left the military and moved into politics being elected to the house in 1982, then elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 where he still serves today.
John McCain has a long history of being a "Right of center" senator, yet he also has a record of working across party aisles with Republicans and Democrats alike to reform campaign finance system and Immigration .
While he was well known for having a temper, there was a feeling that he was a fair and decent guy, that could rise above partisanship and "put the country first"
It is with that in mind that I express my disappointment over the direction and tone that his campaign has taken. Rather that a discussion between two intelligent, informed candidates with different views on the direction forward; McCain has allowed his campaign managers, Running mate, and crowds to lower the race to base name calling and hate speech.
Activists at McCain / Palin rallies talk openly about Obama being linked to terrorists, or being a terrorist, claiming he has ties to Islam, and that he has some kind of "Secret evil agenda". Followers have been sending viral emails that have worked their way around the Internet for over a year now. To McCain's credit, in the early days of the campaign, he made several statements separating himself from those comments. But As he falls in the polls he has stopped making such corrections, and now seems to be encouraging such inaccurate statements, while keeping just enough distance.
"Terrorist!”
At a New Mexico rally, "Terrorist” screamed a follower. At a later rally when againMcCain called out to the crowd “Who is the real Barack Obama? a woman yelled "He's a damn liar!” "Get him. He's bad for our country."
"Obama Osama!" one woman called out at another rally. And it is not just a few in the crowd, twice this week, hand selected local officials have warmed up the crowd with cries of “Barack Hussein Obama.
A McCain aide said they tell individuals speaking before every event not to do so. “Sometimes people just do what they want,” explained the aide.
But that raises the question, If you can't control your supporters, how can you control the nation.
John Weaver, McCain’s former top strategist, said top Republicans have a responsibility to temper this behavior.
“People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain,” Weaver said. “And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive.”
“Senator Obama is a classic liberal with an outdated economic agenda. We should take that agenda on in a robust manner. As a party we should not and must not stand by as the small amount of haters in our society question whether he is as American as the rest of us. Shame on them and shame on us if we allow this to take hold.”
In Florida, Sarah Palin attacked Obama as someone who "pals around" with terrorists, ( based on an exaggerated account of Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers, a 1960's radical turned college professor) As she spoke their relationship, the crowd booed and one man shouted, "Kill him!"
Palin also repeats "This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America. We see America as a force of good in this world. We see an America of exceptionalism."
I do believe that John McCain loves America, and as a member of government, as a person paid by the people he has an obligation to speak out against that kind of hate speech. It lowers him, it lowers respect in our country, and it is dangerous. It is this kind of "rhetoric that leads to some nut picking up a gun.
I know he wants to win, and I am sure he believes that he is the better candidate. Of course he has no obligation to sing Obama's praises, but he does have a moral obligation to set the record straight, and to take his supporters to task if people are behaving in an offensive and dangerous manner. Ultimately, it reflects badly of McCain, and frankly I have come to expect McCain to exhibit a higher level of discourse.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The rich get richer!
With the stock market in free-fall Banks around the world poised for collapse, and our elected officials talking about a trying to avoid a worldwide depression: I just received an email from Bentley telling me about their new, more deluxe version of the Arnage. 
I'm not sure what is wrong with their marketing team that they believe that I might be a possible customer, but it is fun to pretend.
They begin by telling me how the auto is very exclusive. and that they will limit the edition to just 150 cars worldwide. This is truly good to know, otherwise I would expect to see one of these $275,000 cars parked in every driveway.
"Through a combination of commitment and timeless tradition, the Arnage Final Series is destined to become a true British classic".
"The sumptuously crafted interior of the Arnage Final Series features a waistrail with inset chrome strip and recessed Bentley marque badges, a leather steering wheel that has taken more than 15 hours of hand stitching, along with a burr walnut cocktail cabinet and veneered picnic tables."
When I read the car comes with a "Burr walnut veneered picnic tables", I can't help but find it difficult to picture the passengers actually making their own lunch. I find the image of the "Staff" preparing this "Picnic". Perhaps, the very thought that I would object to someone eating in my new $275,000 car, proves I can't afford to own one of these automotive works of art.
Of course I am not surprised by the fact the car sips gas at a rate of 9.8mpg Urban, clearly, the cost of petrol is beneath concern. That said I am a bit surprised by some of the options that do not come as standard equipment. For example the Silk Curtains to Rear Compartment will set you back an additional $9,490. And what's the use of having the curtain with out having a need for privacy, like maybe when you use the Entertainment Combination system that can be added for just $34,290.
Max. Speed 179mph / 288km/h
Acceleration 0 - 60mph 5.2 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h 5.5 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100mph 12.1 seconds
The thing about buying a car like this is that you are buying into a "Lifestyle"
So how can you just skip over the matching luggage (sold separately)
For example this bag can be yours for just $2,500.
Well with all of the forclosures, Pink slips and general hard times that we find ourselves in today, it is nice to know that there will always be those that have a different set of problems; like should I buy the car in black or silver.
Larry Lubell
I'm not sure what is wrong with their marketing team that they believe that I might be a possible customer, but it is fun to pretend.
They begin by telling me how the auto is very exclusive. and that they will limit the edition to just 150 cars worldwide. This is truly good to know, otherwise I would expect to see one of these $275,000 cars parked in every driveway.
"Through a combination of commitment and timeless tradition, the Arnage Final Series is destined to become a true British classic".
"The sumptuously crafted interior of the Arnage Final Series features a waistrail with inset chrome strip and recessed Bentley marque badges, a leather steering wheel that has taken more than 15 hours of hand stitching, along with a burr walnut cocktail cabinet and veneered picnic tables."
When I read the car comes with a "Burr walnut veneered picnic tables", I can't help but find it difficult to picture the passengers actually making their own lunch. I find the image of the "Staff" preparing this "Picnic". Perhaps, the very thought that I would object to someone eating in my new $275,000 car, proves I can't afford to own one of these automotive works of art.
Of course I am not surprised by the fact the car sips gas at a rate of 9.8mpg Urban, clearly, the cost of petrol is beneath concern. That said I am a bit surprised by some of the options that do not come as standard equipment. For example the Silk Curtains to Rear Compartment will set you back an additional $9,490. And what's the use of having the curtain with out having a need for privacy, like maybe when you use the Entertainment Combination system that can be added for just $34,290.
Max. Speed 179mph / 288km/h
Acceleration 0 - 60mph 5.2 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h 5.5 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100mph 12.1 seconds
The thing about buying a car like this is that you are buying into a "Lifestyle"
So how can you just skip over the matching luggage (sold separately)
For example this bag can be yours for just $2,500.
Well with all of the forclosures, Pink slips and general hard times that we find ourselves in today, it is nice to know that there will always be those that have a different set of problems; like should I buy the car in black or silver.
Larry Lubell
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Four Confess in Hanging of Obama Effigy
Larry Lubell
UrbanNewsBlog
Just to make sure, I checked my calendar, and confirmed that yes we are indeed in the year 2008, not 1908.
I would love to tell myself that America has moved away from overt racism and the vial hate that flows from those that hold such views. That now questions of "Class" have replaced hard-core racism.
I have been following the story that a effigy of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree on the campus of George Fox Christian university University in Oregon. Today the Christian university said it has punished four students who confessed to hanging a likeness of Obama from the tree.
This kind of incident could be written off as the outrageous acts of a hand full of extremists. That would be upsetting, but easy to discount as statistical anomalies; the more unnerving part is the response of many of the readers of the article who left comments demonstrating that after reading the piece, they came- away with the idea that the four students were somehow the victims. With a choice of words I can picture coming only from people wearing a "White Hoods"; one of the comments included:
Stevie D
Too bad they didn't get the real Obama and all his stupid liberal views. Take his racist wife too.
SurpriseOctober
How did they know it was an "Obama effigy"? Did it have a tape recorder attached that droned on and on and on about "Hope" and "Change"?
It is clear, that while much of "Main stream" America has moved away from this type of overt racism, there are still those that refuse to abandon their vial hate-filled views. Instead of an overly optimistic conclusion that we Americans have left this garbage in our past, I need to take some solace in the fact that at least the center has moved. With Obama, the likely next president of the United States; this story show simultaneously how far America has come; as well as how much further we still have to travel.
UrbanNewsBlog
Urban Insurance Agency
UrbanNewsBlog
Just to make sure, I checked my calendar, and confirmed that yes we are indeed in the year 2008, not 1908.
I would love to tell myself that America has moved away from overt racism and the vial hate that flows from those that hold such views. That now questions of "Class" have replaced hard-core racism.
I have been following the story that a effigy of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree on the campus of George Fox Christian university University in Oregon. Today the Christian university said it has punished four students who confessed to hanging a likeness of Obama from the tree.
This kind of incident could be written off as the outrageous acts of a hand full of extremists. That would be upsetting, but easy to discount as statistical anomalies; the more unnerving part is the response of many of the readers of the article who left comments demonstrating that after reading the piece, they came- away with the idea that the four students were somehow the victims. With a choice of words I can picture coming only from people wearing a "White Hoods"; one of the comments included:
Stevie D
Too bad they didn't get the real Obama and all his stupid liberal views. Take his racist wife too.
SurpriseOctober
How did they know it was an "Obama effigy"? Did it have a tape recorder attached that droned on and on and on about "Hope" and "Change"?
It is clear, that while much of "Main stream" America has moved away from this type of overt racism, there are still those that refuse to abandon their vial hate-filled views. Instead of an overly optimistic conclusion that we Americans have left this garbage in our past, I need to take some solace in the fact that at least the center has moved. With Obama, the likely next president of the United States; this story show simultaneously how far America has come; as well as how much further we still have to travel.
UrbanNewsBlog
Urban Insurance Agency
Monday, September 29, 2008
Congress Fails to act - Heaven Help Us !
by Larry Lubell
The House of Representatives, on a 228-205 vote, failed to pass the $700 Billion dollar bill seen by many as our last, best hope at rescuing the financial industry.
Over the weekend, it seemed as if our Law makers would have a moment of clarity. where they put the good of the nation over the easiest campaign slogan to sell. That they would actually "Lead" rather than take a poll; sadly that was not the case.
Too many lawmakers apparently refused to go along with the unpopular legislation with elections just five weeks away.
The compromised plan, which is designed to stabilize U.S. credit markets by freeing up some badly needed capital working and attempting to put a bottom to the crises; needed 218 votes for passage. But it came up 13 votes short. The final vote was 228 to 205 against with about 60% of Democrats voted for the measure, but less than a third of the Republicans backing it.
"We're all worried about losing our jobs," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., declared in an impassioned speech in support of the bill before the vote.
"Most of us say, 'I want this thing to pass, but I want you to vote for it — not me. "
"We're in this moment, and if we fail to do the right thing, Heaven help us," Ryan added.
After news that the deal had been done; Investors who had been counting on the rescue plan sent the Dow Jones plummeting 700 points as it became clear the measure failed to get the necessary Republican support,
"Our time has run out," said Rep. Spencer Bachus, the ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee. "We're going make a decision. There are no other choices, no other alternatives."
Barney Frank, D-Mass.warned: "Today is the decision day. If we defeat this bill today, it will be a very bad day for the financial sector of the American economy and the people who will feel the pain are not the top bankers and top corporate executives but average Americans."
In 1990, Nationwide, 73 percent of whites owned homes, while that number was just 46 percent of African Americans and Hispanics. There was a push, in large part by African American lawmakers, to increase home ownership in minority areas. This was seen as a way out of being a part of the "Working poor". It was also seen as a way to stabilize an area and reduce crime. Fannie Mae was seen as a way to help get loans to those that needed them. But as is often the case, an attempt to help those in need, was seen by some as a license to steal.
There were TV shows promising riches by following others success "Buying then Flipping" homes. We were all sold on the idea that we could by a home, slap on a coat of paint, plant a few flowers, then burn a scented candle furring the open house- and in two weeks clear a $20,000 profit. Suddenly we were all Donald Trump.
All common sense legislation, and reasonable regulation was dismantled. Congress appointed the foxes to guard to henhouse, and then we trusted their monthly count of the number and health of the chickens. Each person whose job it was to check the health of the hens, just passed the responsibility down the line. Wall Street was the place stuck holding the hot potato; therefore, it is there that many will list as the "Personification of evil."
This disaster was caused by greed from the bottom up, and a complete brake-down of any "Adults" standing in the way of what were obviously bad deals.
1. Loans with no money down.
2. People that did not qualify for the loans without short-term temporary interest only ARMS.
3. Stated Income loans (A loan that encouraged lying)
4. Inflated home prices, and loans to large areas filled with new track homes where very few had any equity, and even a small fall in values would lead to collapsing prices.
"We needed it. Without it, the stock market will now reflect a series of assumptions":
1. Worldwide economic collapse;
2. A depression that is a sequel equal to the Great Depression;
3. Many, many more bank collapses than we have had already; and
4. Much more unemployment and many, many foreclosures.
"I don't want to bury the punchline, but when you add these worst-case prices together you get Dow Jones 8378, which, reluctantly, I admit is where we are going if everything fails with the plan and the economies here and worldwide are left to their own devices."
When we see the Dow Fall 770 points in one day, falling to 10,365 and falling nearly 4,000 points from yearly highs we are clearly at the point of crisis.
"On this day congress had a moment do the right thing, and they failed, Heaven help us
Friday, September 26, 2008
$700,000,000,000.00
While President Bush urges lawmakers of his own party in the House to back a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. seized WaMu, one of the nation's largest banks.
Washington Mutual Inc. overnight imploded under the weight of its enormous volume of bad mortgages, the FDIC then sold the assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $1.9 billion
Banks and brokerage houses are falling and merging so fast they look like Gladiators having a bad run of luck against a Colosseum full of hungry lions. It is clear that the whole mortgage industry
is simply in water over it's head and they no longer have the strength to tread water.
The idea that the "Market place" will be able to sort this out by it's self has been abandon by all but a small percentage of the true anti regulation die-hard's. To the vast majority, it is clear that the
federal government has to step in and shore up the banking system. The problem is that some of these anti regulation true believers lawmakers, in the house, have rejected Bush's $700 billion bank bailout and have stalled any
deal coming forward.
While I have a difficult time with the idea of fixing the problem by handing money over to the same people that messed it up in the first place. And I fully understand that it is a grave mistake to expect the U.S. Government to micro manage
the economy. I agree that it is the private sector that creates wealth, jobs and expands the economy. But just as the Democratic party has given up on the discredited idea that the government can solve all of our problems; it is time for the right wing of the Republican party to abandon the notion that deregulation is the silver bullet to all of our problems. An intelligent view of how we got to this current mess, demonstrates that both the public and private both have a role to play.
Larry Lubell
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
McCain / Obama Debate Cancelled ?
Today, John McCain announced he'll suspend his campaign to return to Washington in order to focus on the economic crisis. McCain's campaign also stated that it wanted to push-back Friday's debate with Barack Obama, to an unspecified later date.
I applauded the wisdom of the McCain camp to cancel the first day of their convention; as a result of a category 4 hurricane hitting Texas. Clearly they did not want to be seen as having a "Party", wearing funny hats, and throwing "Red-meat" to the crowd while a split screen showed people's home being washed-away.
Political ploy or not, I like the idea that McCain is going back to Washington to do his job as a Senator at this crises point in our nations economy.I do have a problem with delaying Friday's debate with Obama.
At a time when the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, is asking for a $700. billion financial bailout, to save America from the worst financial disaster since the Depression, I think we need to hear what Obama and McCain plan to do to correct the mess one of them will inherit. A debate is not a party, a time for merriment, it is a time to hear both candidates stand up before us to explain and defend their ideas. A chance for us to decide who's strategy seems to ring most true, and whom do we trust to transport us from where we are now, to safer ground.
We need to here both men explain why they think the system collapsed, what they did while in government to help prevent the disaster; and most important what specific legislation they will seek to in act in response.
Albert Einstein said " No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it." It seems like the same people that brought America to the point of apocalypse, now want a blank check to fix the problems they caused.
I for one, would like to hear both men face each other directly, not through campaign mud slinging, let them both make the case why their the one to put things right.
Larry Lubell
I applauded the wisdom of the McCain camp to cancel the first day of their convention; as a result of a category 4 hurricane hitting Texas. Clearly they did not want to be seen as having a "Party", wearing funny hats, and throwing "Red-meat" to the crowd while a split screen showed people's home being washed-away.
Political ploy or not, I like the idea that McCain is going back to Washington to do his job as a Senator at this crises point in our nations economy.I do have a problem with delaying Friday's debate with Obama.
At a time when the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, is asking for a $700. billion financial bailout, to save America from the worst financial disaster since the Depression, I think we need to hear what Obama and McCain plan to do to correct the mess one of them will inherit. A debate is not a party, a time for merriment, it is a time to hear both candidates stand up before us to explain and defend their ideas. A chance for us to decide who's strategy seems to ring most true, and whom do we trust to transport us from where we are now, to safer ground.
We need to here both men explain why they think the system collapsed, what they did while in government to help prevent the disaster; and most important what specific legislation they will seek to in act in response.
Albert Einstein said " No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it." It seems like the same people that brought America to the point of apocalypse, now want a blank check to fix the problems they caused.
I for one, would like to hear both men face each other directly, not through campaign mud slinging, let them both make the case why their the one to put things right.
Larry Lubell
Friday, September 5, 2008
Couture Wars
The "Right" bashes "Popular couture every chance they get, but they sure like to use the songs that couture creates.
John McCain's camp again finds it's self trying to defend the use of copyrighted material against the wishes of the creators and performers that brought the music to life.
This is not the first time the McCain team has had this problem, several months back, his campaign received a Cease and Desist from John Mellencamp demanding that they stop using his tunes "Our Country" and "Pink Houses.and again when In August, when Jackson Browne was outraged to find that Ohio Republicans used his song "Running on Empty" in an attack ad against Obama.
It raises two questions:
1. Why do members of the "Right" produce so little music worth listening to.
2. Were they as careful vetting the songs as they were their VP pick.
"I feel completely F#ck@d over," the band's Nancy Wilson told EW on Thursday night after their song was played following McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. According to TMZ -- which broke the scandal, the band has filed a cease and desist order.
Palin has the nick name "Barracuda: so it is easy to see why playing the song had a certain degree of logic. The song was used as a theme for Governor Palin Wednesday night after her speech. The Band "Heart" acted swiftly by issuing a statement asking the campaign to stop use their of copyrighted material music..
"We hope our wishes will be honored," the band said in a written statement.
After three separate artists, and their legal representatives issued formal complaints, you would think the McCain camp would respect both the will of the artists or at least the law- No such luck. After the close of McCain's speech Thursday night, what song came through the PA system? You guessed it ... "Barracuda."
After the speech, Nancy and her sister Ann issued the following statement to EW:
"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."
.
A legal representative of Browne stated "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible,"
Van Halen was also upset to find that Their song "Right Now" was used against their wishes at a rally announcing Palin as McCain's running mate.
If people were prosecuted for "Uploading" songs from Napster, how could the legal minds behind the convention not understand better than to "Steal"copyrighted intellectual property, and play it on a world stage.
Is this a question of F*ck Y@u, we will do what ever we want, or an example of carelessness Either way it raises questions about the campaign.
John McCain's camp again finds it's self trying to defend the use of copyrighted material against the wishes of the creators and performers that brought the music to life.
This is not the first time the McCain team has had this problem, several months back, his campaign received a Cease and Desist from John Mellencamp demanding that they stop using his tunes "Our Country" and "Pink Houses.and again when In August, when Jackson Browne was outraged to find that Ohio Republicans used his song "Running on Empty" in an attack ad against Obama.
It raises two questions:
1. Why do members of the "Right" produce so little music worth listening to.
2. Were they as careful vetting the songs as they were their VP pick.
"I feel completely F#ck@d over," the band's Nancy Wilson told EW on Thursday night after their song was played following McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. According to TMZ -- which broke the scandal, the band has filed a cease and desist order.
Palin has the nick name "Barracuda: so it is easy to see why playing the song had a certain degree of logic. The song was used as a theme for Governor Palin Wednesday night after her speech. The Band "Heart" acted swiftly by issuing a statement asking the campaign to stop use their of copyrighted material music..
"We hope our wishes will be honored," the band said in a written statement.
After three separate artists, and their legal representatives issued formal complaints, you would think the McCain camp would respect both the will of the artists or at least the law- No such luck. After the close of McCain's speech Thursday night, what song came through the PA system? You guessed it ... "Barracuda."
After the speech, Nancy and her sister Ann issued the following statement to EW:
"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."
.
A legal representative of Browne stated "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible,"
Van Halen was also upset to find that Their song "Right Now" was used against their wishes at a rally announcing Palin as McCain's running mate.
If people were prosecuted for "Uploading" songs from Napster, how could the legal minds behind the convention not understand better than to "Steal"copyrighted intellectual property, and play it on a world stage.
Is this a question of F*ck Y@u, we will do what ever we want, or an example of carelessness Either way it raises questions about the campaign.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Bristol Palin's "Shotgun-Wedding"
Sarah and Todd Palin have released the following statement in conjunction with the McCain campaign:
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.
We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
All parents know that despite our best wishes, and most carefully crafted plans, often life throws you a curve. I am sure that watching their daughter, drop out of school, give up, or put on hold any plan of college; because she got pregnant, was not the film they played in their heads. But as a family they made choices based on their beliefs, values and priorities- and I respect their choices.
What upsets me is Sarah Palin unwillingness to let others have the power to make these tough choices according to their own belief set.
My wife and I discussed the "What if" question of Down Syndrome when she was pregnant, We did not have to face that heart-wrenching choice, but if we did- our decision would have been not to carry to term. If faced with our 17 year old child informing us that she was with child, we would not encourage her to get married; but instead to have an abortion or give the child up for adoption. If I had a 17 year old son that told us how he got his friend pregnant, I would not encourage him to marry the girl. Of course I would not tolerate him just "Walking-away"- but I could not in good conscience let him give up his dreams. He would be selling himself short, and living a life filled with regret, and what ifs that would tear him apart and result in him being an unhappy husband and father, which would make both the mother and child's lives both miserable.
But, maybe I'm wrong?
The point is, while I respect her right to follow her Beliefs and values; she wants to make it illegal for me to follow mine. That is what I object to - that is what gets me angry.
Sure I think we should respect the privacy of candidate's children; however
When you force others to follow your will, People have the right to call you on it.
during Sarah Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race, Palin again stated that she is against abortion unless a doctor determined that a mother's life would end due to the pregnancy. That even in the case of her own daughter being the victim of rape, she would still oppose the right to an abortion. These views are well outside the mainstream. I am sorry to say this, but, I cant help but feel that the impending marriage of her daughter,is less a tale of "Star-Crossed-Lovers" and more an example of old fashion "Shotgun-Wedding".
But that might be popular not just with Anti-Abortion crowd, but the NRA as well.
Larry Lubell
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.
We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
All parents know that despite our best wishes, and most carefully crafted plans, often life throws you a curve. I am sure that watching their daughter, drop out of school, give up, or put on hold any plan of college; because she got pregnant, was not the film they played in their heads. But as a family they made choices based on their beliefs, values and priorities- and I respect their choices.
What upsets me is Sarah Palin unwillingness to let others have the power to make these tough choices according to their own belief set.
My wife and I discussed the "What if" question of Down Syndrome when she was pregnant, We did not have to face that heart-wrenching choice, but if we did- our decision would have been not to carry to term. If faced with our 17 year old child informing us that she was with child, we would not encourage her to get married; but instead to have an abortion or give the child up for adoption. If I had a 17 year old son that told us how he got his friend pregnant, I would not encourage him to marry the girl. Of course I would not tolerate him just "Walking-away"- but I could not in good conscience let him give up his dreams. He would be selling himself short, and living a life filled with regret, and what ifs that would tear him apart and result in him being an unhappy husband and father, which would make both the mother and child's lives both miserable.
But, maybe I'm wrong?
The point is, while I respect her right to follow her Beliefs and values; she wants to make it illegal for me to follow mine. That is what I object to - that is what gets me angry.
Sure I think we should respect the privacy of candidate's children; however
When you force others to follow your will, People have the right to call you on it.
during Sarah Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race, Palin again stated that she is against abortion unless a doctor determined that a mother's life would end due to the pregnancy. That even in the case of her own daughter being the victim of rape, she would still oppose the right to an abortion. These views are well outside the mainstream. I am sorry to say this, but, I cant help but feel that the impending marriage of her daughter,is less a tale of "Star-Crossed-Lovers" and more an example of old fashion "Shotgun-Wedding".
But that might be popular not just with Anti-Abortion crowd, but the NRA as well.
Larry Lubell
Saturday, August 9, 2008
John Edwards is Toast!
John Edwards made a large sum of money as a PI lawyer.
His looks and perfect amount of southern twang, helped his rapid rise to senator then to vice presidential hopeful in 2004 and a leading presidential candidate in 2008. In fact there were many that felt Edwards was on the "Short List" of running mates for Obama.
Today any hopes he might have of "Higher Public office" ended in a fiery crash after he admitted he lied repeatedly about the affair with Rielle Hunter. He went on to deny fathering her child.
That kind of Revelation has leveled many a politician but when you add the fact that he was cheating on his wife between her bouts with inoperable cancer, I can't see any way back into the good graces of the American People.
I think it is time for him to just "Go away" for a while, then find another line of work.
Larry Lubell
His looks and perfect amount of southern twang, helped his rapid rise to senator then to vice presidential hopeful in 2004 and a leading presidential candidate in 2008. In fact there were many that felt Edwards was on the "Short List" of running mates for Obama.
Today any hopes he might have of "Higher Public office" ended in a fiery crash after he admitted he lied repeatedly about the affair with Rielle Hunter. He went on to deny fathering her child.
That kind of Revelation has leveled many a politician but when you add the fact that he was cheating on his wife between her bouts with inoperable cancer, I can't see any way back into the good graces of the American People.
I think it is time for him to just "Go away" for a while, then find another line of work.
Larry Lubell
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Fair Tax Code
Rich people pay the lions share of the taxes in the US. They don't just pay the most money, they pay the largest percentage of their income.
Then again they have a lot more money.
This could then lead to the question, Which is a Better Measure of financial Inequality: Wealth or Income?
In fact the real difference in wealth is not seen by comparing the yearly income of the to top 10% and the bottom 10%- its when you compare the "NET WORTH" of those two groups. The net worth difference is more than `10 times as great as the income difference.The bottom 60% of households possess only 4% of the nation's wealth while it earns 26.8% of all income. This means that the rich pay a larger percentage of their income then the bottom half, but they pay a smaller percentage of their wealth. It is this reality that in large part is responsible for why the "Rich keep getting richer"
If we put aside income and focus on the distribution of wealth,the research points to two quite different views of the amount of inequality in American society.
"Ultimately, we are interested in the question of relative standards of living and economic well-being. We need to examine trends in the distribution of wealth, which, more fundamentally than earnings or income, represents a measure of the ability of households to consume."
Alan Greenspan, Former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
It it easy to see why any question regarding the "Fairness" of any tax plan, is colored by the discussion of Wealth vs Income. Based on income, it is easy to make the point that the wealthiest Americans don't just pay the most money,they pay the largest percentage of their income, often while using the least amount of government services. Switch the discussion to talk about net wealth and the lower half see a system that favors the rich and one in which they are forever "Loosing ground". As property values increase, those who own property see their net wealth rise, where as those that do not, see the dream of home ownership get pulled further out of their reach.
From my own perspective, we have seen the foolishness of communism. The Soviet Union proved that if you try to eliminate the rich, you will not be able to distribute their wealth among the poor to make everyone "Middle-class", you just make everyone poor. Take away the incentive to achieve a higher standard of living, and you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. The fact is, we need rich people.
For a country to prosper financially it needs the following:
1. A stable government.
2. A population that believes they have a vested interest in the country's success.
3. Insurance companies to protect both commercial as well as personal assets.
4. An educated work force.
5. Leaders that realize that it's the private sector that creates wealth and
Policies that provide conditions for that private sector to thrive.
6. Intellectual Property rights must be honored.
7. Taxes have to be enough to pay for the expectations of the citizens including
the infrastructure to be competitive in the global market- but low enough the
the majority of money is the control of the private sector.
Sure it helps if the country has a large amount of national resources, however Israel has created a standard of living dramatically higher than Saudi Arabia, and did so with out oil.
In fact there are many other conditions that can help or hurt the chances of any country's economy, but the seven above are critical.
So we need a tax system that levels the playing field enough to provide for a basic standard so even the poorest can maintain a reasonable standard of living, and feel vested in America; yet keeps enough wealth in the hands of the wealthy so as to provide conditions for the private sector to thrive and grow.
The truth is it can be very difficult to get that balance right.
Larry Lubell
www.UrbanInsuranceAgency.com
Then again they have a lot more money.
This could then lead to the question, Which is a Better Measure of financial Inequality: Wealth or Income?
In fact the real difference in wealth is not seen by comparing the yearly income of the to top 10% and the bottom 10%- its when you compare the "NET WORTH" of those two groups. The net worth difference is more than `10 times as great as the income difference.The bottom 60% of households possess only 4% of the nation's wealth while it earns 26.8% of all income. This means that the rich pay a larger percentage of their income then the bottom half, but they pay a smaller percentage of their wealth. It is this reality that in large part is responsible for why the "Rich keep getting richer"
If we put aside income and focus on the distribution of wealth,the research points to two quite different views of the amount of inequality in American society.
"Ultimately, we are interested in the question of relative standards of living and economic well-being. We need to examine trends in the distribution of wealth, which, more fundamentally than earnings or income, represents a measure of the ability of households to consume."
Alan Greenspan, Former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
It it easy to see why any question regarding the "Fairness" of any tax plan, is colored by the discussion of Wealth vs Income. Based on income, it is easy to make the point that the wealthiest Americans don't just pay the most money,they pay the largest percentage of their income, often while using the least amount of government services. Switch the discussion to talk about net wealth and the lower half see a system that favors the rich and one in which they are forever "Loosing ground". As property values increase, those who own property see their net wealth rise, where as those that do not, see the dream of home ownership get pulled further out of their reach.
From my own perspective, we have seen the foolishness of communism. The Soviet Union proved that if you try to eliminate the rich, you will not be able to distribute their wealth among the poor to make everyone "Middle-class", you just make everyone poor. Take away the incentive to achieve a higher standard of living, and you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. The fact is, we need rich people.
For a country to prosper financially it needs the following:
1. A stable government.
2. A population that believes they have a vested interest in the country's success.
3. Insurance companies to protect both commercial as well as personal assets.
4. An educated work force.
5. Leaders that realize that it's the private sector that creates wealth and
Policies that provide conditions for that private sector to thrive.
6. Intellectual Property rights must be honored.
7. Taxes have to be enough to pay for the expectations of the citizens including
the infrastructure to be competitive in the global market- but low enough the
the majority of money is the control of the private sector.
Sure it helps if the country has a large amount of national resources, however Israel has created a standard of living dramatically higher than Saudi Arabia, and did so with out oil.
In fact there are many other conditions that can help or hurt the chances of any country's economy, but the seven above are critical.
So we need a tax system that levels the playing field enough to provide for a basic standard so even the poorest can maintain a reasonable standard of living, and feel vested in America; yet keeps enough wealth in the hands of the wealthy so as to provide conditions for the private sector to thrive and grow.
The truth is it can be very difficult to get that balance right.
Larry Lubell
www.UrbanInsuranceAgency.com
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The price of gas in 2008
Let's do the Math!
The five largest U.S. oil companies earned $36 billion during the first three months of this year. This is after last year's figures set an all-time record.
Even if we assume that the next months will see the big 5 earning somewhat lower profits, they should still break $120 Billion dollars profit in 2008.
"Americans are furious about what's going on," declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and want Congress to do something about oil company profits and "an orgy of speculation" on oil markets.
The cost of energy not only impacts consumers when they fill their tanks, but is a driving force in the price of everything we buy. Congress is getting the message that Americans are "Mad as Hell" and expect their government to do something.In response to the growing rage and falling economy, the Democrats on the hill have pushed legislation to tax the "Windfall profits of the oil industry." The law would boost taxes paid by the large oil companies, or allow them to instead invest the money in new clean energy development.
Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has acknowledged that Americans are hurting from the high energy costs but strongly opposes the Democrats' response and has ridiculed those who "think we can tax our way out of this problem.""Republicans by and large believe that the solution to this problem, in part, is to increase domestic production," McConnell said.
A GOP energy plan, rejected by the Senate last month, calls for opening a coastal strip of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil development and to allow states to opt out of the national moratorium that has been in effect for a quarter century against oil and gas drilling in more than 80 percent of the country's coastal waters.
The question is, how big are the profits compared to the increased costs we are all paying.
Here is how the basic math works......
Let's say that the combined profits for the big 5 are $120 Billion.
There are 126 Million households in the United States
$120,000,000,000 : 126,000,000 = $952 Dollars/ household in 2008 will go to profit for the Big 5 Oil Companies.
Average Annual Miles per Household = 11,100
The Average Fuel Economy = 22 miles per gallon
11,100 miles : 22 = 504 gallons of get used/ household
Now, let's take 504 gallons and divide that by the $952 Dollars profit/ household in 2008
and we see that about $1.88 of the cost/ gallon we pay at the pump goes straight into the pockets of 5 Oil Companies.
Take a cost of $4.00 at the pump, subtract the windfall profits, and gas is $2.12/ gal.
How do you like that math?
Larry Lubell
www.urbanInsuranceAgency.com
http://www.defra.gov.uk/
U.S. Department of Energy’s Transportation Energy Data Handbookhttp://www-cta.ornl.gov/
U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Surveyhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/contents.html
Your Car Travel
AssumptionsEmissions per Gallon of Gasoline = 0.0089 tons of CO2Average Annual Miles per Household = 11,100Per Capita Miles Driven in 2004 = 9,941Average Vehicle Trip = 10 milesAverage Fuel Economy = 22 miles per gallon
The five largest U.S. oil companies earned $36 billion during the first three months of this year. This is after last year's figures set an all-time record.
Even if we assume that the next months will see the big 5 earning somewhat lower profits, they should still break $120 Billion dollars profit in 2008.
"Americans are furious about what's going on," declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and want Congress to do something about oil company profits and "an orgy of speculation" on oil markets.
The cost of energy not only impacts consumers when they fill their tanks, but is a driving force in the price of everything we buy. Congress is getting the message that Americans are "Mad as Hell" and expect their government to do something.In response to the growing rage and falling economy, the Democrats on the hill have pushed legislation to tax the "Windfall profits of the oil industry." The law would boost taxes paid by the large oil companies, or allow them to instead invest the money in new clean energy development.
Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has acknowledged that Americans are hurting from the high energy costs but strongly opposes the Democrats' response and has ridiculed those who "think we can tax our way out of this problem.""Republicans by and large believe that the solution to this problem, in part, is to increase domestic production," McConnell said.
A GOP energy plan, rejected by the Senate last month, calls for opening a coastal strip of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil development and to allow states to opt out of the national moratorium that has been in effect for a quarter century against oil and gas drilling in more than 80 percent of the country's coastal waters.
The question is, how big are the profits compared to the increased costs we are all paying.
Here is how the basic math works......
Let's say that the combined profits for the big 5 are $120 Billion.
There are 126 Million households in the United States
$120,000,000,000 : 126,000,000 = $952 Dollars/ household in 2008 will go to profit for the Big 5 Oil Companies.
Average Annual Miles per Household = 11,100
The Average Fuel Economy = 22 miles per gallon
11,100 miles : 22 = 504 gallons of get used/ household
Now, let's take 504 gallons and divide that by the $952 Dollars profit/ household in 2008
and we see that about $1.88 of the cost/ gallon we pay at the pump goes straight into the pockets of 5 Oil Companies.
Take a cost of $4.00 at the pump, subtract the windfall profits, and gas is $2.12/ gal.
How do you like that math?
Larry Lubell
www.urbanInsuranceAgency.com
http://www.defra.gov.uk/
U.S. Department of Energy’s Transportation Energy Data Handbookhttp://www-cta.ornl.gov/
U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Surveyhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/contents.html
Your Car Travel
AssumptionsEmissions per Gallon of Gasoline = 0.0089 tons of CO2Average Annual Miles per Household = 11,100Per Capita Miles Driven in 2004 = 9,941Average Vehicle Trip = 10 milesAverage Fuel Economy = 22 miles per gallon
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Top 10 Best Selling cars
Best Selling Cars of 2008
1. Toyota Camry: 31,601
2. Honda Accord: 23,957
3. Nissan Altima: 21,635
4. Honda Civic: 20,993
5. Toyota Corolla: 20,736
6. Chevrolet Impala: 17,544
7. Chevrolet Cobalt: 17,310
8. Chevrolet Malibu: 14,105
9. Pontiac G6: 13,942
10. Ford Focus: 11,600
1. Toyota Camry: 31,601
2. Honda Accord: 23,957
3. Nissan Altima: 21,635
4. Honda Civic: 20,993
5. Toyota Corolla: 20,736
6. Chevrolet Impala: 17,544
7. Chevrolet Cobalt: 17,310
8. Chevrolet Malibu: 14,105
9. Pontiac G6: 13,942
10. Ford Focus: 11,600
 |
Car Insurance Info Page |
Visit this group |
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The $100 fill-up has arrived in the United States.
No more than a few years ago if someone would have told you that a fill-up could run upwards of $100; you would have laughed loudly to their face. No ones laughing now.
(But the execs at "Big Oil" Companies are wearing a grin). Crude Oil which had been trading at the $20 range, and had never hit $50, has now broken through $120 a barrel.
The national average for regular unleaded is $3.53 and rising daily. Last year at this time, people were complaining that it was $2.86 per gallon. According to AAA, 24 states and the District of Columbia are averaging at or above $3.50 a gallon for regular unleaded.Premium, which is required for many cars and SUVs can run 40 to 60 cents higher. Once again, California is home to the nation's highest average gas prices.
•San Francisco $3.97 per gallon; last year $3.47
• Los Angeles $3.85; last year $3.32
• San Jose $3.89; last year $3.36
• Sacramento $3.86; last year $3.30
• San Diego $3.88; last year $3.35
As scary as these prices seem now, many are warning that Americans should expect the price to increase another 25 cents over the next month and continue to climb over the summer months.
"A national average approaching $4 a gallon for self serve regular is likely, with cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York seeing prices for Premium at over $4.75 per gallon. Those type of prices will be devastating to America's already weak economy. As you read this blog, millions of families are struggling to make their mortgage payments, many of which are adjusting dramatically upward. In fact America finds it's self in a recession while simultaneously suffering inflation. We also find that the government as well as individuals and business are deep in debt; as a result, our options are limited.
(But the execs at "Big Oil" Companies are wearing a grin). Crude Oil which had been trading at the $20 range, and had never hit $50, has now broken through $120 a barrel.
The national average for regular unleaded is $3.53 and rising daily. Last year at this time, people were complaining that it was $2.86 per gallon. According to AAA, 24 states and the District of Columbia are averaging at or above $3.50 a gallon for regular unleaded.Premium, which is required for many cars and SUVs can run 40 to 60 cents higher. Once again, California is home to the nation's highest average gas prices.
•San Francisco $3.97 per gallon; last year $3.47
• Los Angeles $3.85; last year $3.32
• San Jose $3.89; last year $3.36
• Sacramento $3.86; last year $3.30
• San Diego $3.88; last year $3.35
As scary as these prices seem now, many are warning that Americans should expect the price to increase another 25 cents over the next month and continue to climb over the summer months.
"A national average approaching $4 a gallon for self serve regular is likely, with cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York seeing prices for Premium at over $4.75 per gallon. Those type of prices will be devastating to America's already weak economy. As you read this blog, millions of families are struggling to make their mortgage payments, many of which are adjusting dramatically upward. In fact America finds it's self in a recession while simultaneously suffering inflation. We also find that the government as well as individuals and business are deep in debt; as a result, our options are limited.
Now is an auful time to be trying to sell Motor Homes, but a great time to be selling mopeds and scooters. I have had customers of ours tell me they are "Putting away" their car and buying a 125 cc bike.The allure of 60 or 70 miles per gallon is too hard to pass up.
Get a Motorcycle Quote
Urban Insurance Agency can save you money on your motorcycle insurance. Read 10 Ways to Save Money on Motorcycle Insurance.
Owning and maintaining a car has never been cheap. And, gas is one of the biggest, of those expenses. With gas prices at all time highs, this has never been truer. But you can save gas and save money if you follow the following tips.
Get a Motorcycle Quote
Urban Insurance Agency can save you money on your motorcycle insurance. Read 10 Ways to Save Money on Motorcycle Insurance.
Owning and maintaining a car has never been cheap. And, gas is one of the biggest, of those expenses. With gas prices at all time highs, this has never been truer. But you can save gas and save money if you follow the following tips.
Monday, August 13, 2007
A new definition of freedom
Like most people who have recently spent time in New York City, It is impossible not to notice that NYC is a much cleaner and more livable city. There was a time in the early 80s when New York seemed permanently type cast as post- apocalyptic nightmare of filth and decay.
Then came Rudy Giuliani.
Yes at times he was “Heavy-handed.” Yes he was frequently accused of being dictatorial, but it was hard not to notice that was a significant degree of competency to the man.
In the days immediately after 9/11, he was a shining example of how a leader should behave. Again he seemed competent, in control and strong, particularly in contrast to our president and Vice President, both who were literally and figuratively “In an undisclosed location.
So while I am willing to “Take my hat off to him” for some of his strengths, I can't help but be afraid of his tenancy to turn to autocratic rule.
Yesterday Rudy Giuliani defined Freedom in a manor that should scare the S#!t out of all Americans.
Freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."
Rudy, Thanks for cleaning the graffiti off the trains, and getting the landscaping done in Central Park; But I’m sorry, I have a very different understanding of Freedom.
Then came Rudy Giuliani.
Yes at times he was “Heavy-handed.” Yes he was frequently accused of being dictatorial, but it was hard not to notice that was a significant degree of competency to the man.
In the days immediately after 9/11, he was a shining example of how a leader should behave. Again he seemed competent, in control and strong, particularly in contrast to our president and Vice President, both who were literally and figuratively “In an undisclosed location.
So while I am willing to “Take my hat off to him” for some of his strengths, I can't help but be afraid of his tenancy to turn to autocratic rule.
Yesterday Rudy Giuliani defined Freedom in a manor that should scare the S#!t out of all Americans.
Freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."
Rudy, Thanks for cleaning the graffiti off the trains, and getting the landscaping done in Central Park; But I’m sorry, I have a very different understanding of Freedom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
