How things change...

Well it looks like my original rant is now outdated... when I began this blog, I had a personal vendetta against the ungainly, inefficient, dangerous, and otherwise ridiculous SUV. Since I last wrote, high gas prices withered SUV sales, and a worldwide recession has further pushed them toward obsolescence. Even the much derided Hummer brand has been purged from the GM line. So I suppose it's time to move on to bigger and better things. Politics is tempting... in particular the rabid partisanship that continues to stifle good policy. I admit, I am partly biased, and I might find myself focusing my vitriol at the Democrats and the current "can do no wrong/Obama will fix everything/Bush is anathema" mindset. I will, though, have plenty so say about the "paranoid/Obama is Hitler/Glen Beck for president" Republicans.
But then, who would want to read a bunch of complaints? Judging from the news networks' constant whininess, I would say that there is a huge market for critics and complainers. I hope, however, to be constructive and also write about some fun things now and then.

Time to get political

Well the big news for what, the past two years? has been this year's election, which is coming up in a mere two weeks. Of course I'll vote early so that I don't have to stand in a line. This will be my first time voting, and I'm excited about that. I've made it my business to be a well informed voter; there's too much spin and propaganda on both sides to decide just on what you hear on TV. It's a big choice- deciding who we think should be the executive leader of the world's greatest political and economic power. What happens in the world as a whole depends in large measure on who is leading this nation. Just look at the current economic crisis- (last year the news was reporting the Dow in the 14,000s, today it's in the mid 8,000s)- this crisis has resonated throughout every other nations' stock markets, setting the stage for a global recession. Just as our leadership is responsible for how the US affects the world, it is also responsible for dealing with things out of our control. War, terrorism, asteroids- we're counting on the people we vote for to find solutions and represent the interests of the whole. It's not a small matter, it's not the time for basing decisions on celebrity endosements or talking heads on TV. It's time for each one of us to study well, be informed, and decide what it really important and who can address those issues best.

Resurrecting the Blog

Well a lot sure has happened since my last post... Hillary was still in the presidential race back then... But one thing hasn't changed-- I still have plenty to say, but not enough time to say it. I'll try to write at least weekly posts, though I won't guarantee anything!

okay, it's not all bad...

I got a bit too carried away on my last rant, the truth is that many in this generation do have their heads on straight. Like my co-worker who told me that he's looking into starting a retirement fund (he's 20). And a friend of mine who judiciously manages a nice portfolio of Wells Fargo stock and a mutual fund. Natalie and I are doing our part, saving about 50% of our income and keeping our hands off our Roth IRA and REIT mutual fund. We graduated college without a lick of debt and with a positive cash flow. Despite the fact that we're uninsurable by the scam artists in the health insurance world, we're doing ok for ourselves. And the solution to so many problems is so simple- live beneath your means. Sure, hard times do hit, but in most cases, saving money and being fiscally conservative are surefire ways to prevent financial catastrophe. The hard part is being conservative when the money is flowing in. But a little bit of self-restraint goes a long way.

Lots of debt...

The news today reported that Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign not only ended unsuccessfully, but $22 million in debt. And of course she wants people to help bail her out. First of all, is this someone we wanted to have in office? Someone who accumulates that kind of debt certainly doesn't have the financial sense to preside over the nation. Bush has already made record gains in the country's debt, and the democrats say they would do better. I'm not convinced. This reflects the nation's current philosophy on finances- rack up as much debt as you want, and then either file for bankruptcy or hope Uncle Sam will bail you out. Hillary should cough up the dough from her own coffers (which are substantial) and not expect someone else to pay up for her failed presidential bid. But like I said, this is the same financial approach that so many Americans have. I was listening to the radio tonight, one of those personal finance shows, and this couple had two mortgages, $87,000 in credit card debt, a $20,000 car loan, and various other financial obligations. There was another story I heard last week about a housekeeper who was "conned" into getting a loan for a $400,000 house. Does this make any sense? The fiscal irresponsiblity of these people is appalling. And we're not talking about poor single mothers who are facing hard times, no, we're talking about double income, $300,000 per year couples who spend like drunken sailors, and people with no financial sense getting themselves strapped down by huge mortgages because they don't do a single bit of research or homework. Like the woman CNN interviewed that was losing her home because she couldn't make the payments- and her quotable statement, "I dint know nuttin bout whats an adjustable rate mortgage". Excuse me? You don't understand, even conceptually, what an ARM is and you think you can buy a house? These stories aside, the fact that a presidential candidate runs up a multi million dollar debt is a scathing indictment that America has no financial sense, from the bottom all the way to the very top.

100 mpg

By the way, I filled up the scooter yesterday and determined it's efficiency- looks like we've been getting a cool 100 mpg.

now for other ridiculous things

I've focused on energy and transportation issues so far, but now it's time to mention some other items of interest... Health care has been a hot topic recently. The democratic presidential candidates talked about it all the time, but now that there's a nominee, no one's mentioned it for a while. We did some research on health care in class last semester, and it is quite complex. Anyways, Natalie and I have been trying to apply for health insurance. Obviously they won't pay for maternity, but we just wanted something for the "just in case" scenarios. Also, health insurance is required for attending the university. Despite our attempts to get insurance, it seems that we're uninsurable. Two healthy twenty-something college grads can't get insurance. Sure, Natalie is pregnant, but you would think we had terminal brain cancer or something. These insurance companies are just as bad as I've always thought. The whole plan is to rip you off in the first place, and if there is any chance that they'll have to pay something, they'll reject your application. Despite my pro-capitalism stance, I just don't see how the current system is serving peoples' needs. Private business is good for so many things, but with health care, the bottom line should not come first.