Deflation is bad?

I was reading an article tonight in the NY Times that said the Federal Reserve had gone down to 0-0.25% interest rates to stave off recession, and fight deflation. While I love that loans cost less (not that I have any...I tend to pay cash or decide that I can't afford it), why is it bad when goods and services are actually affordable?

Water costs $1.59. A soda costs $1.79. Renting a movie is $5. GOING to the movies is $12. Going to Disneyland? That'll be $70 per person, plus $3 waters, $8 burgers, and a $30 T-shirt.

And we're fighting to keep these prices this high???

Why is it bad for me to be able to enjoy life? Screw the big corporations.....especially the financial corporations that made sure we were all in debt to them in the first place with deceptive lending practices, inflated interest rates, and creative accounting (a la Enron).

When did inflation become a good thing? I remember hearing my grandpa talk about getting a candy bar for a nickel, when I was spending 39¢ of my allowance on a candy bar. Now I speak fondly of my 39¢ candy when it now costs $1.09, and I'm not even a father yet! So prices have gone up 3-fold since my childhood, and the minimum wage has gone from $4.15 to $6.55. So prices are up 300%, wages 50%. And we wonder why people rely on credit that they can't pay back?

Screw the companies that created this. Screw the Government for allowing it to happen while keeping our wages low (and voting themselves wage increase after wage increase in Congress, where most don't even show up to work). I say let deflation happen. We need it more than we need a $600 check in the mail for economic stimulus. If crap costs less, I'll buy more crap. If I'm barely scraping by, living paycheck-to-paycheck, I'm gonna save that money for when my paycheck is smaller (or goes away when my mis-managed company goes under, and isn't one of the companies that Congress uses MY tax dollars to rescue).

So forgive me that (and I know this from my work experience) I feel that a soda that costs 1½¢ for 7-Eleven to dispense - including the cost of the cup shouldn't cost me $1.69. Forgive me if I feel that a bottle of water, which costs Disneyland 18¢, shouldn't cost me $3 when I go to visit. And forgive me that I say f*** the CEO's who make millions per year while doing everything they can to squeeze every last penny out of us, making $20K per year.

Done venting for the moment...and to the person who emailed me today, I'm going to look into that, and include it if my research convinces me that it is a real thing. I noticed you are an author on the subject, so forgive me if I look into it myself to make sure you aren't just looking to advertise your book on my site. If it is legit, however, I will certainly include your book (and a link to you) in my post. I'm not out to make money, nor to help others to, but I have no problem helping people find you and your book if I think they should.

The Farewell Kiss

An Iraqi newsman yesterday did what mothers across America would love to do...he threw a shoe at President Bush.

Yelling that it was a farewell from the Iraqi people (and a much fonder farewell than I would like to see him get...a pie in the face would be a lovely touch in my opinion), an Iraqi reporter hurled his shoe at the President, though W's baseball days as the owner of the Texas Rangers apparently left him with his instincts intact. King Bush the 2nd deftly dodged the shoe, and chuckled to himself as the man was brought down by security. If you question either of those statements, the link above contains video evidence courtesy of the N.Y. Times.

While I give Bush full marks for his dodging of the Weapon of Olfactory Destruction (apparently it's the most lethal weapon found in Iraq since our invasion), I give the reporter even MORE props for having the huevos (I love writing on a blog as opposed to a paper, where I would have to stick to one language) to tell Bush what most of the world thinks of him, aside from about 20% of mindless Americans.

And as for Bush's dodge of the projectile, I give him as much credit as I give for a skinny Sammy Sosa (who played under Bush on the Rangers) for bulking up and hitting 60+ home runs...with the aid of steroids. Perhaps we should test George for banned substances?

With our new president in 36 days, I should tell you that, though I don't post as frequently as I would like, I plan on being almost as hard on Barack as I have been on George. While I'm glad he won, it is our job in the public to be the watchdog of the government, no matter who is in charge. The only reason I say that I will be "almost as hard" on Obama as I have been on Bush is that I don't see Barack doing as much stupid sh**. If he does, though, I will jump all over him like dogs on a half-eaten beef rib. We are One Nation...Under Blog.

Besides...Barack Obama comes to the presidency as a politician from Illinois. Though he's not from there, don't forget that two governors in a row (Ryan and Blagojavich...and forgive me if I spelled the other felon's name wrong) have gone to prison. Illinois politics are still as dirty as they ever were. While I will not lump Obama into the same crew as these men (and I use the word "men" medically, not as a definition of who they are...they are scum), we still have to look beyond hope and be ready to point it out if Barack pulls any of that "pay to play" crap.

U.S. Arms Sales up for highest bidder

Well, highest bidder and highest rank achieved in the military. According to this article in the NY Times, a little name-power helped propel them to the forefront of defense spending contracts.

It wasn't based on their track record as a company, or the quality of their products...it was based on a name.

I don't care if you're Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative; this HAS to give you pause in trusting your government to make right decisions on WHAT'S RIGHT, not a name.

I've been predicting an imminent WWIII since 9/11...here's to hoping I'm wrong on that one...

Iraq becoming Americanized

Yes, our occupation of Iraq has made Iraq more American. Just check out this article from the NY Times. Turns out that al-Maliki's government is embezzling billions of the tax dollars that you and I sent there, and overseers who are there to report such shenanigans are being fired left and right. Looks like the Iraq government is becoming more like the U.S. government every day!

I know that the NY Times is a liberal paper but experience has taught me one thing...if someone says the government is screwing you, they are almost always right.

New Stephen King story