Hi everyone,
I know that I have written about this before, but I feel that it needs to be repeated. I have said so many, many times before, that I have lost count about how politicians don't have any common sense, what so ever! For the majority of politicians, a prequisite to going into politics is, no matter what your age, seems to have never learned about what common sense is. This leads to not being able to use any common sense, since they haven't learned it. I watched today's Sunday morning TV news programs and again, I am so very disappointed.
An interveiw is supposed to work something like this; (correct me if I am wrong), one person asks a series of questions and the other person or maybe persons, are supposed to answer the questions. Seems straight forward and simple enough, don't you agree? Except when it is election season, which seems to be a 24/7/365 affair, that is not how interviews go. Ok, ok, I should take that back and say only 50% of the interviews go that way. Half? Well, there is always a news person/interviewer, but on these shows they are called moderators, who ask the questions just like an interview should go. But when the other person, which is always a politican, answers the question, there is no real answer. Rather, there is a beating around the bush, while adding some prerehearsed comment to deflect the real answer which might and probably would hurt their cause. There are no direct and truthful to the point answers. I find this type of interview extremely frustrating and exhausting to watch. It gives the appearance, maybe rightfully so, that the politicians are more interested in getting whatever message they want to get out and to hell with the content as it pertains to the actual question(s).
Most politicians on both sides of the aisle do this as common practice without using any common sense. Just because it is a common practice, doesn't mean that it is a best practice. It is obviously a worst practice and should be discontinued immediately. Questions should be answered to the point, truthfully and with facts. No made up facts, no spin, no lies and no deceptions, period. Name calling should also be included. It is a sad state of affairs that this happens over and over and again and again with no end in sight. When will politicians realize that the American people really wants direct, truthful and to the point answers. Nothing else should be acceptable. I know, I know that this type of answer won't end any time soon, but I can still hope!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
When is a Secret Not a Secret?
Hi Everyone,
By now, I'm sure you have all heard about the Secret Sevice scandal that happened in Cartagena, Mexico. The Secret Service agents that were involved are not assigned to protecting our President. These are a special group of agents that arrive way inadvance of the President's arrival. They are there to secure the locations that the President will visit. This includes securing and debugging the entire floor of the hotel where the President will stay. They take every precaution to insure the President's safety. So far there are at least 11 Secret Service agents and an unknown number of marines involved.
So how can Secret Service agents and some Marines think that hiring prostitutes is a good thing to do? They can't!!! Where were the supervisors? Two on site supervisors have already departed from the agency.There is no justification for their actions. You would think that being part of an elite force would mean that they had and used great common sense. Obviously, these agents and military personnel have absolutely no common sense at all! Duh!!! You know that they swear to protect the President, even to the point of putting their own lives on the line. I guess that hiring prositutes isn't considered detrimental to the mission they were on. Hmmmmmm.... let me think about that one. Not being an historian expert, I do believe that ever since there has been prostitution, prostitutes have been used to solicit info and secrets for a person, agency or government who hired them. Consequently, the actions of these people could have seriously jeopardized and put in harms way, our President and all those who traveled with them.
Even when you think that the lack of common sense in this story could not possibly stoop any lower, it does when this sorted tale gets even worse. According to multiple news outlets, when one of the prostitutes asked for her money, the guy tried to short change her and she would have none of that. She then made a commotion which got the hotel security and police involved. Oh come on! Wasn't it bad enough that he hired a prostitute, but to try to cheat her out of her money? Anyone knows that was not going to end nicely, with the prostitute just walking away. It really gets my goat when specialized personnel of the elite Secret Service and the Marines to boot, does something so egregious and down right just plain stupid that defies any resemblance of logic. Any personnel found to be involved in this, should loose their job and be banned from any other agency like the: CIA, FBI, ATF etc., etc., end of story!
Til next week.
Peter
By now, I'm sure you have all heard about the Secret Sevice scandal that happened in Cartagena, Mexico. The Secret Service agents that were involved are not assigned to protecting our President. These are a special group of agents that arrive way inadvance of the President's arrival. They are there to secure the locations that the President will visit. This includes securing and debugging the entire floor of the hotel where the President will stay. They take every precaution to insure the President's safety. So far there are at least 11 Secret Service agents and an unknown number of marines involved.
So how can Secret Service agents and some Marines think that hiring prostitutes is a good thing to do? They can't!!! Where were the supervisors? Two on site supervisors have already departed from the agency.There is no justification for their actions. You would think that being part of an elite force would mean that they had and used great common sense. Obviously, these agents and military personnel have absolutely no common sense at all! Duh!!! You know that they swear to protect the President, even to the point of putting their own lives on the line. I guess that hiring prositutes isn't considered detrimental to the mission they were on. Hmmmmmm.... let me think about that one. Not being an historian expert, I do believe that ever since there has been prostitution, prostitutes have been used to solicit info and secrets for a person, agency or government who hired them. Consequently, the actions of these people could have seriously jeopardized and put in harms way, our President and all those who traveled with them.
Even when you think that the lack of common sense in this story could not possibly stoop any lower, it does when this sorted tale gets even worse. According to multiple news outlets, when one of the prostitutes asked for her money, the guy tried to short change her and she would have none of that. She then made a commotion which got the hotel security and police involved. Oh come on! Wasn't it bad enough that he hired a prostitute, but to try to cheat her out of her money? Anyone knows that was not going to end nicely, with the prostitute just walking away. It really gets my goat when specialized personnel of the elite Secret Service and the Marines to boot, does something so egregious and down right just plain stupid that defies any resemblance of logic. Any personnel found to be involved in this, should loose their job and be banned from any other agency like the: CIA, FBI, ATF etc., etc., end of story!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, April 8, 2012
The Tax Man Cometh Again and Again?
Hi Everyone,
I have a problem with our tax system which includes: federal, state, local and school. The entire system is broken and needs to be overhauled, sooner rather then later and a fairer system should be implemented. But what I am most upset with is, New York state's income tax. We work hard every day, week, month and year and in this economy, if you have a job, you thank your lucky stars. Each time you receive your pay check you see all the taxes that are deducted. Like: federal income taxes, social security, medicare and your state's unemployment tax. Here in New York state, like many other states, money is also deducted for New York state income tax. Obviously, that means that we pay taxes on all of our income, so that New York state gets its money.
Then comes April and it's that time of year to do your yearly income taxes. You add up all of your income, calculate your deductions and poof, you either owe more money to the feds or your state or both, or you get a refund. There in lies my problem with New York state. If you get a New York state refund, that amount of money is then used as income for the following year's taxes. Come on, didn't we already pay taxes on that money? Yes of course! But, besides the fact that New York got the use of our money (refund) for free they then tax us on it the following year as income. Where is the fairness in that? By anyone's definition this is called double taxation. How come you can't be tried in a court of law twice for the same crime, (double jeopardy), but double taxation is legal? I am not sure if anyone has tried to sue the state on the double taxation issue, if not someone should.
There was no common sense used when taxing refunds became part of New York state's tax code. This just makes no sense unless.......wait for it........ you were a politician who decided to add this ridiculous tax to fill some budget deficit of many, many years ago. New Yorkers are already paying very high taxes. If New York is serious about tax reform, start with eliminating this double taxation flaw.
I guess there really isn't any free money!
Til next week.
Peter
I have a problem with our tax system which includes: federal, state, local and school. The entire system is broken and needs to be overhauled, sooner rather then later and a fairer system should be implemented. But what I am most upset with is, New York state's income tax. We work hard every day, week, month and year and in this economy, if you have a job, you thank your lucky stars. Each time you receive your pay check you see all the taxes that are deducted. Like: federal income taxes, social security, medicare and your state's unemployment tax. Here in New York state, like many other states, money is also deducted for New York state income tax. Obviously, that means that we pay taxes on all of our income, so that New York state gets its money.
Then comes April and it's that time of year to do your yearly income taxes. You add up all of your income, calculate your deductions and poof, you either owe more money to the feds or your state or both, or you get a refund. There in lies my problem with New York state. If you get a New York state refund, that amount of money is then used as income for the following year's taxes. Come on, didn't we already pay taxes on that money? Yes of course! But, besides the fact that New York got the use of our money (refund) for free they then tax us on it the following year as income. Where is the fairness in that? By anyone's definition this is called double taxation. How come you can't be tried in a court of law twice for the same crime, (double jeopardy), but double taxation is legal? I am not sure if anyone has tried to sue the state on the double taxation issue, if not someone should.
There was no common sense used when taxing refunds became part of New York state's tax code. This just makes no sense unless.......wait for it........ you were a politician who decided to add this ridiculous tax to fill some budget deficit of many, many years ago. New Yorkers are already paying very high taxes. If New York is serious about tax reform, start with eliminating this double taxation flaw.
I guess there really isn't any free money!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, April 1, 2012
This could kill you and or a loved one
Hi Everyone,
Does today's topic title seem to be dire? Well, unfortunately it is! Each and every year thousands of humans are killed by it and there seems to be no end to it. What really bothers me is that people don't take it seriously enough and that is when it can kill them. Sometimes without even a warning. It can be the most gentle of things and at other times it can even make mountains into mole hills. The insideous thing about it is that in moderation it actually helps us, but, over indulge in it and it will kill you.
Unfortunately, in this country, Republicans have no plans to combact this killer. But on the other side of the aisle, the Democratics also have no plans. Why not? This has been a problem to people and animals since the creation of the world. So why hasn't someone, some company or some country found a way to arrest this issue? People don't believe there is a problem until they are faced with it and their potential demise. By then a solution may be too late for them.
What is this problem, that it is so wide spread and found around our entire planet???? It is called dihydrogen monoxide. As I said before, this stuff, dihydrogen monoxide, is crucial to all living things on earth. But too much of it can and will kill you in a matter of seconds. Where is the big government agency to help set up guidelines to help protect us all from getting too much of it? There is really only one reason and one reason alone. That is because dihydrogen monoxide is really H2O or water!! April fools!!! Did I get you?
Til next week.
Peter
Does today's topic title seem to be dire? Well, unfortunately it is! Each and every year thousands of humans are killed by it and there seems to be no end to it. What really bothers me is that people don't take it seriously enough and that is when it can kill them. Sometimes without even a warning. It can be the most gentle of things and at other times it can even make mountains into mole hills. The insideous thing about it is that in moderation it actually helps us, but, over indulge in it and it will kill you.
Unfortunately, in this country, Republicans have no plans to combact this killer. But on the other side of the aisle, the Democratics also have no plans. Why not? This has been a problem to people and animals since the creation of the world. So why hasn't someone, some company or some country found a way to arrest this issue? People don't believe there is a problem until they are faced with it and their potential demise. By then a solution may be too late for them.
What is this problem, that it is so wide spread and found around our entire planet???? It is called dihydrogen monoxide. As I said before, this stuff, dihydrogen monoxide, is crucial to all living things on earth. But too much of it can and will kill you in a matter of seconds. Where is the big government agency to help set up guidelines to help protect us all from getting too much of it? There is really only one reason and one reason alone. That is because dihydrogen monoxide is really H2O or water!! April fools!!! Did I get you?
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Not Subject to Doubling
Hi Everyone,
And so it goes, that either every day, week or month you find another surprise that catches you off guard a bit. I'm not talking about some big life altering surprise. But a surprise that just creeps up on you.
Being a coupon using house, a while ago my wife and I started to notice that some coupons had a Do Not Double exclusion printed on them. Now, it seems that the majority of coupons are Do Not Double. Not sure about where you all live, but around where we live, all grocery stores double the value of coupons up to and including 99 cents. We don't even see many 99 cents coupons around here anymore. The highest cents off coupons we find are for 75 cents. The bottom line here is that the big companies like: Kraft and General foods etc. have found another way to pad their already heavily padded bottom lines.
There are still so many people having a hard time making ends meet. Regularly using coupons can really lower your food bill, especially if you use the coupons when the products are on sale. That is a win win situation. Unfortunately it is painfully obvious that the companies have the right to make coupons not eligible to be doubled. But these are the same companies that now sell almost everything in smaller sizes and weight etc., but charge the same amount as their older predecessors, or even more now. They said it was so they wouldn't raise their prices. It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Now isn't the time to eliminate coupon doubling. It doesn't make common sense, oh wait......... unless you are the big company and in their eyes, it is just another way to make more money by making us pay more.
Til next week.
Peter
And so it goes, that either every day, week or month you find another surprise that catches you off guard a bit. I'm not talking about some big life altering surprise. But a surprise that just creeps up on you.
Being a coupon using house, a while ago my wife and I started to notice that some coupons had a Do Not Double exclusion printed on them. Now, it seems that the majority of coupons are Do Not Double. Not sure about where you all live, but around where we live, all grocery stores double the value of coupons up to and including 99 cents. We don't even see many 99 cents coupons around here anymore. The highest cents off coupons we find are for 75 cents. The bottom line here is that the big companies like: Kraft and General foods etc. have found another way to pad their already heavily padded bottom lines.
There are still so many people having a hard time making ends meet. Regularly using coupons can really lower your food bill, especially if you use the coupons when the products are on sale. That is a win win situation. Unfortunately it is painfully obvious that the companies have the right to make coupons not eligible to be doubled. But these are the same companies that now sell almost everything in smaller sizes and weight etc., but charge the same amount as their older predecessors, or even more now. They said it was so they wouldn't raise their prices. It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Now isn't the time to eliminate coupon doubling. It doesn't make common sense, oh wait......... unless you are the big company and in their eyes, it is just another way to make more money by making us pay more.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Do You Do It?
Hi Everyone,
This great country of ours is based on the ability of the citizens to vote in elections. We have fought a lot of foreign wars to give numerous countries their own ability to have democracies. Voting in elections is essential to our way of life. So my question of the day is ....... do you do it? I mean, do you vote? I'm pretty sure that the majority of you will answer yes. But do you really?
Having worked for the board of elections for the past 12 years, I have noticed something very peculiar. It seems that the majority of voters believe that the most important election in which we need to vote is for the president of the United States. Maybe that is because the presidential race gets the most amount of tv coverage and of course tv ads. Did you know that the highest percentage of eligible voters, vote during the presidential elections? Do you know which election day has the lowest voter turn out? The answer is local elections in an off year, when there is no presidential election being held. When you think about it, which election is actually more relevant to where you live? The mindset of voters ought be that local elections should be as important as presidential elections. But unfortunately it is very disappointing to see very low voter turnout during local elections in an off year.
This year is going to be a bit different here in New York State. Not including school budget/board elections, there will be 4 election days. The first is in April for the republican primary, the second will be held in June for the congressional primary, (this is a new one), the third will be in September for the NYS legislature, local government and the presidential primaries and the fourth one is the general elections in November. So please remember to vote on all election days.
Now for my common sense solution to the low turnout for non-presidential elections. Change all election days from Tuesdays to Saturdays. The marjority of voters have Saturdays off and that I believe, will increase the number of voters. Won't know if that would happen until they change the day. I guess we'll have to wait and see about that.
In addition, if you don't vote. you have no right to bitch and/or complain. You didn't even make an attempt to try to make a difference. Yes I know that a lot of people are fed up with our policitians on both sides, but that should not distract you from voting. It is your civic duty to vote. So please vote on every election day!
Til next week.
Peter
This great country of ours is based on the ability of the citizens to vote in elections. We have fought a lot of foreign wars to give numerous countries their own ability to have democracies. Voting in elections is essential to our way of life. So my question of the day is ....... do you do it? I mean, do you vote? I'm pretty sure that the majority of you will answer yes. But do you really?
Having worked for the board of elections for the past 12 years, I have noticed something very peculiar. It seems that the majority of voters believe that the most important election in which we need to vote is for the president of the United States. Maybe that is because the presidential race gets the most amount of tv coverage and of course tv ads. Did you know that the highest percentage of eligible voters, vote during the presidential elections? Do you know which election day has the lowest voter turn out? The answer is local elections in an off year, when there is no presidential election being held. When you think about it, which election is actually more relevant to where you live? The mindset of voters ought be that local elections should be as important as presidential elections. But unfortunately it is very disappointing to see very low voter turnout during local elections in an off year.
This year is going to be a bit different here in New York State. Not including school budget/board elections, there will be 4 election days. The first is in April for the republican primary, the second will be held in June for the congressional primary, (this is a new one), the third will be in September for the NYS legislature, local government and the presidential primaries and the fourth one is the general elections in November. So please remember to vote on all election days.
Now for my common sense solution to the low turnout for non-presidential elections. Change all election days from Tuesdays to Saturdays. The marjority of voters have Saturdays off and that I believe, will increase the number of voters. Won't know if that would happen until they change the day. I guess we'll have to wait and see about that.
In addition, if you don't vote. you have no right to bitch and/or complain. You didn't even make an attempt to try to make a difference. Yes I know that a lot of people are fed up with our policitians on both sides, but that should not distract you from voting. It is your civic duty to vote. So please vote on every election day!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, March 4, 2012
What's The Price?
HI Everyone,
In this hotly contested presidential candidate race, every day there is another opportunity to prove that politicians have no common sense at all. But I will take a repose from politics this week.
Each and every one of us at some point in our lives will need to buy or lease a car or two or three or more. Since car prices are through the roof and in a lot of cases, cost about as much as a small house, it never ceases to amaze me the advertising tactics used by car dealers. Today's blog is about an ad that I recently read in my Gannet newspaper. Let's see if you can figure out exactly how much this car will cost.
The ad is for leasing any of 7 different Hyundai cars. In big letters it boldly states: $0 downpayment, $0 1st month's payment, $0 security deposit and $0 bank fee. The bottom line is that you don't need any money what so ever to get a new car for at least 30 days or until your quote, second monthly payment is due. The monthly lease cost goes from $159 to $277. So far this seems that this might be a good deal, if of course you are interested in a Hyundai, right? But is it? After the monthly cost is the all important little asterick. Then at the bottom of the page is the very small type face "fine" print that applies to the asterick. The fine print states the following: "Closed end leases based on 0 miles/year. Customer picks additional mile/year option from chart based on need (min. 12k mi/yr)". The chart is at the top third of the page and it shows two options: 12,000 miles/yr = 8 cents per mile and 15,000 miles/yr = 8 cents per mile. So the $64,000 question is how much would your monthly lease payments be? Under the 12,000 mile/yr plan you would have to multiply by .08 cents which equals $960 per year. Then divide $960 by 12 months and that would equal an additional $80/month. The 15,000 miles per year option would equal to an additional $100/month.
Based on the above math, the least expensive model isn't what is stated in the ad as $159/month, but would actually cost either $239/month for 12k/yr or $259/month for 15k/yr. I wonder how many people actually went to this particular dealer expecting to pay $159/month? I also wonder what people, (but not just any people, but perspective customers) would say and think upon being told that the actual monthly price would be either $239 or $259/month plus tax? I can't say that the ad is inaccurate, because the fine print details the additional costs. But isn't the ad really misleading and deceptive and written to increase traffic into their showroom? This dealer has no intention of leasing any of their cars for the advertised prices, which may or may not confuse customers. In my opinion, just advertise the car for $239/month for 12k/yr or $259/month for 15k/yr. Wouldn't that make more common sense then a confusing ad? You so have to read all of the fine print so you can understand what the actual monthly payment will be.
Til next week.
Peter
In this hotly contested presidential candidate race, every day there is another opportunity to prove that politicians have no common sense at all. But I will take a repose from politics this week.
Each and every one of us at some point in our lives will need to buy or lease a car or two or three or more. Since car prices are through the roof and in a lot of cases, cost about as much as a small house, it never ceases to amaze me the advertising tactics used by car dealers. Today's blog is about an ad that I recently read in my Gannet newspaper. Let's see if you can figure out exactly how much this car will cost.
The ad is for leasing any of 7 different Hyundai cars. In big letters it boldly states: $0 downpayment, $0 1st month's payment, $0 security deposit and $0 bank fee. The bottom line is that you don't need any money what so ever to get a new car for at least 30 days or until your quote, second monthly payment is due. The monthly lease cost goes from $159 to $277. So far this seems that this might be a good deal, if of course you are interested in a Hyundai, right? But is it? After the monthly cost is the all important little asterick. Then at the bottom of the page is the very small type face "fine" print that applies to the asterick. The fine print states the following: "Closed end leases based on 0 miles/year. Customer picks additional mile/year option from chart based on need (min. 12k mi/yr)". The chart is at the top third of the page and it shows two options: 12,000 miles/yr = 8 cents per mile and 15,000 miles/yr = 8 cents per mile. So the $64,000 question is how much would your monthly lease payments be? Under the 12,000 mile/yr plan you would have to multiply by .08 cents which equals $960 per year. Then divide $960 by 12 months and that would equal an additional $80/month. The 15,000 miles per year option would equal to an additional $100/month.
Based on the above math, the least expensive model isn't what is stated in the ad as $159/month, but would actually cost either $239/month for 12k/yr or $259/month for 15k/yr. I wonder how many people actually went to this particular dealer expecting to pay $159/month? I also wonder what people, (but not just any people, but perspective customers) would say and think upon being told that the actual monthly price would be either $239 or $259/month plus tax? I can't say that the ad is inaccurate, because the fine print details the additional costs. But isn't the ad really misleading and deceptive and written to increase traffic into their showroom? This dealer has no intention of leasing any of their cars for the advertised prices, which may or may not confuse customers. In my opinion, just advertise the car for $239/month for 12k/yr or $259/month for 15k/yr. Wouldn't that make more common sense then a confusing ad? You so have to read all of the fine print so you can understand what the actual monthly payment will be.
Til next week.
Peter
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