Hi Everyone,
So the Republicans had their shortened convention last week and I was really surprised by what Paul Ryan said during his speech. You would think that when someone has center stage to introduce himself to the entire nation, you would think that common sense would be paramount. Paul Ryan had the golden opportunity to say things that were unexceptionable. Not long after his speech, I began hearing and reading negative comments. Just so I wouldn't be accused of repeating what some say are the liberal leaning media, I went to the media that most supports the Republicans. I went to Fox News.
Sally Kohn, who is a writer and Fox News contributor, had some very interesting comments on the "facts" Ryan used in his speech on what he didn't say. The following is from Ms. Kohn's column. These are her words, not mine:
Ryan said that the downgrade of the United States' credit rating was because of President Obama.
Truth: The Republicans refused to increase the debt limit, which lead to the downgrading.
Ryan blamed President Obama for the closing of a GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Truth: The plant was closed under President George W. Bush.
Ryan stated that President Obama wants to give all the credit for private sector success to the government.
Truth: President Obama never said that.
Ryan said that President Obama took $716 billion out of Medicare.
Truth: $716 billion was the amount of savings in Medicare reimbursement rates, which incidentally, save Medicare recipients out-of-pocket costs, too. Ryan himself embraced these same savings in his budget.
So it seems that on his biggest day in his political life, Paul Ryan showed his real character. How can lying be a virtue? It isn't! But it is always a detriment. Why can't Republicans stand on their record and beliefs and not outright lies? Unfortunately, diehards will now believe whatever, just because Ryan or Romney said it. Honesty is a vital aspect of being a true and good leader. Maybe if Ryan had more common sense, he would not have said lies that he surely must have known would be fact-checked. But to be checked by Fox News and found to be lies, says a lot. Between the two of them, I haven't heard one speech that didn't contain at least one lie. Why is that?
Sally Kohn continued her column by stating that Ryan didn't talk about his extremist stance on banning all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Ryan also did not mention his plan to hand over Social Security to Wall Street. Ryan didn't mention his numerous votes to raise spending and balloon the deficit when George W. Bush was president. And finally, Ryan didn't mention how his budget would eviscerate programs that help the poor and raise taxes on 95% Americans in order to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires even further and increase- yes increase, the deficit. So I have to ask, if these are such important issues to Ryan, why didn't he mention them? Oh right, I get it, Ryan's positions are such an extreme that they will become a detriment to the Romney-Ryan bid for the White House.
As a side note, I just read in today's newspaper that Ryan now says that he did not run a marathon in less than three hours as he claimed in a nationally broadcast interview. Ryan acknowledged yesterday that he had misstated his time by more than an hour. Seems his pattern of mis-statements just continues as usual. What a shame.
Lying is just plain stupid and shows a lack of moral character and a total lack of common sense. Isn't common sense an extremely important aspect we seek in our leaders? Please, please beware of and don't be fooled by sheep in wolf's clothing.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
It's That Time Again
Hi Everyone,
In all of human history, from the cavemen/women to the present day, there have always been the haves and have nots. From our earliest times, some people had more food than other people. Some people also had better shelters than other people. Then when money was invented, there were always people who had more money then others. That tradition still continues through today. Today there are people who have more money then those who do not. So now we are in the every four year cycle of electing the next president of the United States. But just as history over time has repeated itself again and again, it seems that we have the opportunity of not letting history repeat itself again. But will we? Our two current presidential candidates seem to represent the old divide. One represents the haves and one represents the have nots. As always, both candidates say only he represents all of the people. So who represents whom? Today I will give you the facts regarding each and at the end, only you can determine, by voting, who is better to lead our country. May you choose wisely grasshopper.
If you don't believe what I say, check it out for yourself. So here we go..........
Our economy is in bad shape and is/was in the worst shape since the great Depression, hence the reason why this period of time is/was called the Great Recession. Bush II's policies including economic, 2 unpaid for wars that continue to this day, an unpaid medicare drug plan that continues to this day, deregulations etc. and etc., was the perfect recipe for what eventually started happen somtime in 2008, as our economy went into a tailspin. As a footnote, please, please check this out, every recession that has ever happened to this country since 1896, began with a Republican President in the White House. Coincidence? You decide. It really is true though! Also, do not forget that the Great Depression, which started in October 1929, did not really end until the late 1930's, when the Lend Lease program with Great Britain started. That one agreement put hundreds of thousands of mostly men to work in factories making the war materials they needed.
Unemployment is too high and will stay high and no candidate has any plan and or power that can really and truly help. Why? Because as long as the housing market stays stuck in the pits (interest rates continue to be low) and companies don't hire additional employees due to the fact that they are making better profit margins now with less employees. Companies have become so much more efficient in running their companies and have perfected the art of a no price/price increase. They decrease the amount of product and then charge you the same. You know what I mean, instead of a 64 oz carton of OJ, it is now 59oz for the same price. Their current mantra is why hire when they are so profitable and collectively sitting on hundreds of billions of dollars.
Banks are not loaning money out very easily. Almost every bank that received Bush II bailout of $750 billion without any strings attached, didn't loan out that money as intended, but instead invested it and made more money than ever before. Their ability to make unbelievable profits, from very risky bets, without making loans isn't going to change very easily. As long as they don't loan out as much money as they used to and instead make billions in profits from their speculative investments, why would they change? If elected, Romney wants to decrease regulations on banks. Obviously he hasn't learned anything what just happened with sub-prime mortgages.
In case you have forgotten, after the Reagan and Bush I years, this country had the largest deficit in our history. The deficit back then was in the trillions of dollars and we were then told that our grandchildren's children would still be paying it back. Amongst other things, Bill Clinton raised taxes on the 1%. And what happened? Within eight short years, our deficit was eliminated and was turned into a surplus, which Bush II inherited and then promptly squandered and turned it into another huge deficit which continues today. Clinton proved that raising taxes on the 1% wasn't a job killer, but rather a job creator. More jobs were created under Clinton than under Bush II even with higher taxes for the 1%. According to the Republicans that can't happen. Now with the majority of Republicans signing Grover Norquist's pledge to not raise taxes ever, especially on the 1%, which they will protect to no end, compromise is a bad thing and will never happen. It's their way or no way! See my 11/27/11 blog about good old boy Grover Norquist.
Now let's look at something different. When John Kennedy first decided to run for President, the Republicans were all up in arms about his Catholic religion. There had never been a Catholic President before Kennedy and Republicans were terrified that Kennedy's religious beliefs would affect and/or impede his decisions as President. It didn't happen and Kennedy was an excellent President. Today the Republicans have taken their own Catholic beliefs and want to instill those beliefs on the entire country, whether you are Catholic or not. How? Republicans now want to eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood and outlaw (including rape cases) or at the very least severely restrict legal abortions in any state that they can to circumvent Roe v Wade. I guess back room abortions are suppose to be a good thing when abortions are illegal in this countr,y as it was prior to Roe v Wade. There are now so many people who can't have children and adopt children from other countries. What will happen when there is an influx of hundreds of thousands of unwanted babies? Who will adopt them and who will pay for their care up to age 18 if they are not adopted? Taxpayers that who!
People seem to think that President Obama is somehow and somewhat responsible for the shortages that Social Security is experiencing. For some 35-40 years, SS always had a yearly surplus. But our wonderful politicians decided to use those yearly surpluses as a piggy bank to help balance budgets. If that money was never touched, there would be no SS shortages, period.
When Romney was Governor of Massachusetts, he considered himself a moderate Republican and stated such every chance he could. With the help of Democrats, he enacted his own Romney Care for his state. What people call Obama care is modeled almost exactly after Romney Care. But now since Romney has forgotten that he said he was a moderate and now says he has always been a conservative, he says that Obama care is a job killer. It wasn't a job killer in Massachusetts. But don't forget that Obama care doesn't really kick in until 2014. What has kicked in is that your child can be covered under a parents insurance plan until age 26. What a help to those young people who otherwise would be uninsured. Remember that insurance companies want to have more young people insured since, statistically, they are a healthier population and their premiums help offset the older populations costs. Now under Ryans budget plan, which the Tea Party wholeheartedly endorses and Romney will eventually have to endorse for fear of angering the conservatives, wants to turn Medicare into a voucher system for those 55 or younger. What that means is that retirees would have to purchase their own retirement insurance, at higher rates, since they are older and would later receive a voucher from the government that would pay a portion of their premiums. The seniors are liable for whatever the vouchers won't pay. That doesn't seem to be fair or right because the poor and middle classe may not be able to afford what is not paid by the voucher system. Then what happens?
Additionally, Ryan's budget plan would eliminate amongst other things, the Dept of Education and the EPA. I guess in the Republicans minds, education and environmental protection are not important and should be eliminated. Remember that the whole reason that the EPA exists is because left on their own, companies have no problem using up any and all resources and polluting any ground, water or air that they want. Is that what this country wants? I don't think so. We have only one planet and it needs to be protected from rogue companies that only care about their bottom lines.
Now if you still need more proof of who represents whom, Romney in his infinite wisdom, has decided to only release his 2010 and 2011 tax returns, which is what the federal law requires. Other presidential candidates have released up to 10 years including McCain and Romney's father, George when he ran for preisdent. But, not Mitt Romney. He has used for years, off shore accounts to hide his assets and pay a nominal percentage of taxes. Off shore accounts are used for only one purpose, to pay less if any taxes. For the 2 years of returns that he released, 2010 and 2011, the average tax rate that he paid was just 13%. Do any of you pay a 13% tax rate? I think not. Romney is well aware that if he releases more tax returns, people will see what he was up to when it came time to pay his fair share. He hasn't paid his fair share in years and years. But that is the way he likes it. In case you were not aware, Romney wants to decrease the tax rate for the 1% even more. The Bush II tax decreases were suppose to create more jobs, but did it? All you have to do is check out the DOL figures for when Bush II was in office up to present and guess what you will find? No increase in total job creation but a decrease during his 8 years. So why are Republicans still trying to keep the present rate and even decrease it? It makes no sense what so ever, except in their minds.
Romney touts his business experience as what is needed to help pull our country out of the Great Recession. Ever checked out Bain Capitol? Bain did create a few jobs, but mostly at its corporate headquarters. But their business was to buy companies at a low price in order to be able to sell them for a profit. How do they do that? By dismantling the company, in order to sell off its parts and lay off a whole lot of the employees. Have you ever heard of a company who buys another company and doesn't lay off employees? Oh right, you haven't heard of it because it doesn't normally happen in 90% plus of company takeovers. Bain also transferred thousands and thousands of jobs, especially manufacturing jobs overseas that will never return to our shores. This is the business experience that he says will help us. I think not! But Romney says he wasn't CEO when jobs were sent overseas. If that is true why was he still signing letters and legal documents as its CEO during that time?
I would be the first person in line to say that our economy is not improving as well as it should be under President Obama, but remember, our country used to be based on a huge manufacturing sector which now unfortunately doesn't exist. Our econonmy now is based on our being a service economy with people having to spend more on services and not necessarily buying products that are not made in the US of A in order to improve our economy and break us out of this recession. What this country needs is more of a manufacturing base, instead of a service base. Don't believe me, check out China.
Finally, I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn that in the infinite wisdom of Republicans, it is a good idea to have tough new voter identification laws in place by this November. These new laws will make it more difficult for the elderly, disabled, poor and young adults to vote, because each voter would have to show a vaild photo ID. These people don't usually have photo ID's since they don't drive. Having worked for the Board of Elections for the past 10 years, I can tell you personally, that there is absolutley no problem with in-person voter fraud. Even the government says there is no porblem. But the Republicans think there is a problem. What I can also tell you is that these people are part of President Obama's base and the Republicans want to take away those voters rights, which is supposed to be protected by our constitution. But the Republicans pretense is to prevent voter fraud. So I guess that the perceived voter fraud only happens in red states. What a back door way to try to win an election. State Supreme Courts should shoot down these blatant attempts to steal, yes steal, the elections in November. Only you, voters, can stop the insanity by voting in November.
So now I have informed you of who represents whom in this upcoming election. Don't be fooled by the blatant lies, inuendos and dirty pool by what the Republicans will say and do. They will say anything to get elected. Remember the 2003 Bush II lie about how only the Republicans could protect us from another terroist attack? They didn't protect us from 9/11/01 did they? Don't believe what I said above, just check it out for yourself. But don't believe any online stuff. Check it out with major newspapers, where they get sued for misrepresentations and lies. Online writers are not held to the same standards and can and do say whatever they want because they believe the ends justify the means
Now you know, don't let let history repeat itself, choose wisely and vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't vote, you have absolutely no right to bitch about the outcome and keep your thoughts to yourself.
Til next week.
Peter
In all of human history, from the cavemen/women to the present day, there have always been the haves and have nots. From our earliest times, some people had more food than other people. Some people also had better shelters than other people. Then when money was invented, there were always people who had more money then others. That tradition still continues through today. Today there are people who have more money then those who do not. So now we are in the every four year cycle of electing the next president of the United States. But just as history over time has repeated itself again and again, it seems that we have the opportunity of not letting history repeat itself again. But will we? Our two current presidential candidates seem to represent the old divide. One represents the haves and one represents the have nots. As always, both candidates say only he represents all of the people. So who represents whom? Today I will give you the facts regarding each and at the end, only you can determine, by voting, who is better to lead our country. May you choose wisely grasshopper.
If you don't believe what I say, check it out for yourself. So here we go..........
Our economy is in bad shape and is/was in the worst shape since the great Depression, hence the reason why this period of time is/was called the Great Recession. Bush II's policies including economic, 2 unpaid for wars that continue to this day, an unpaid medicare drug plan that continues to this day, deregulations etc. and etc., was the perfect recipe for what eventually started happen somtime in 2008, as our economy went into a tailspin. As a footnote, please, please check this out, every recession that has ever happened to this country since 1896, began with a Republican President in the White House. Coincidence? You decide. It really is true though! Also, do not forget that the Great Depression, which started in October 1929, did not really end until the late 1930's, when the Lend Lease program with Great Britain started. That one agreement put hundreds of thousands of mostly men to work in factories making the war materials they needed.
Unemployment is too high and will stay high and no candidate has any plan and or power that can really and truly help. Why? Because as long as the housing market stays stuck in the pits (interest rates continue to be low) and companies don't hire additional employees due to the fact that they are making better profit margins now with less employees. Companies have become so much more efficient in running their companies and have perfected the art of a no price/price increase. They decrease the amount of product and then charge you the same. You know what I mean, instead of a 64 oz carton of OJ, it is now 59oz for the same price. Their current mantra is why hire when they are so profitable and collectively sitting on hundreds of billions of dollars.
Banks are not loaning money out very easily. Almost every bank that received Bush II bailout of $750 billion without any strings attached, didn't loan out that money as intended, but instead invested it and made more money than ever before. Their ability to make unbelievable profits, from very risky bets, without making loans isn't going to change very easily. As long as they don't loan out as much money as they used to and instead make billions in profits from their speculative investments, why would they change? If elected, Romney wants to decrease regulations on banks. Obviously he hasn't learned anything what just happened with sub-prime mortgages.
In case you have forgotten, after the Reagan and Bush I years, this country had the largest deficit in our history. The deficit back then was in the trillions of dollars and we were then told that our grandchildren's children would still be paying it back. Amongst other things, Bill Clinton raised taxes on the 1%. And what happened? Within eight short years, our deficit was eliminated and was turned into a surplus, which Bush II inherited and then promptly squandered and turned it into another huge deficit which continues today. Clinton proved that raising taxes on the 1% wasn't a job killer, but rather a job creator. More jobs were created under Clinton than under Bush II even with higher taxes for the 1%. According to the Republicans that can't happen. Now with the majority of Republicans signing Grover Norquist's pledge to not raise taxes ever, especially on the 1%, which they will protect to no end, compromise is a bad thing and will never happen. It's their way or no way! See my 11/27/11 blog about good old boy Grover Norquist.
Now let's look at something different. When John Kennedy first decided to run for President, the Republicans were all up in arms about his Catholic religion. There had never been a Catholic President before Kennedy and Republicans were terrified that Kennedy's religious beliefs would affect and/or impede his decisions as President. It didn't happen and Kennedy was an excellent President. Today the Republicans have taken their own Catholic beliefs and want to instill those beliefs on the entire country, whether you are Catholic or not. How? Republicans now want to eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood and outlaw (including rape cases) or at the very least severely restrict legal abortions in any state that they can to circumvent Roe v Wade. I guess back room abortions are suppose to be a good thing when abortions are illegal in this countr,y as it was prior to Roe v Wade. There are now so many people who can't have children and adopt children from other countries. What will happen when there is an influx of hundreds of thousands of unwanted babies? Who will adopt them and who will pay for their care up to age 18 if they are not adopted? Taxpayers that who!
People seem to think that President Obama is somehow and somewhat responsible for the shortages that Social Security is experiencing. For some 35-40 years, SS always had a yearly surplus. But our wonderful politicians decided to use those yearly surpluses as a piggy bank to help balance budgets. If that money was never touched, there would be no SS shortages, period.
When Romney was Governor of Massachusetts, he considered himself a moderate Republican and stated such every chance he could. With the help of Democrats, he enacted his own Romney Care for his state. What people call Obama care is modeled almost exactly after Romney Care. But now since Romney has forgotten that he said he was a moderate and now says he has always been a conservative, he says that Obama care is a job killer. It wasn't a job killer in Massachusetts. But don't forget that Obama care doesn't really kick in until 2014. What has kicked in is that your child can be covered under a parents insurance plan until age 26. What a help to those young people who otherwise would be uninsured. Remember that insurance companies want to have more young people insured since, statistically, they are a healthier population and their premiums help offset the older populations costs. Now under Ryans budget plan, which the Tea Party wholeheartedly endorses and Romney will eventually have to endorse for fear of angering the conservatives, wants to turn Medicare into a voucher system for those 55 or younger. What that means is that retirees would have to purchase their own retirement insurance, at higher rates, since they are older and would later receive a voucher from the government that would pay a portion of their premiums. The seniors are liable for whatever the vouchers won't pay. That doesn't seem to be fair or right because the poor and middle classe may not be able to afford what is not paid by the voucher system. Then what happens?
Additionally, Ryan's budget plan would eliminate amongst other things, the Dept of Education and the EPA. I guess in the Republicans minds, education and environmental protection are not important and should be eliminated. Remember that the whole reason that the EPA exists is because left on their own, companies have no problem using up any and all resources and polluting any ground, water or air that they want. Is that what this country wants? I don't think so. We have only one planet and it needs to be protected from rogue companies that only care about their bottom lines.
Now if you still need more proof of who represents whom, Romney in his infinite wisdom, has decided to only release his 2010 and 2011 tax returns, which is what the federal law requires. Other presidential candidates have released up to 10 years including McCain and Romney's father, George when he ran for preisdent. But, not Mitt Romney. He has used for years, off shore accounts to hide his assets and pay a nominal percentage of taxes. Off shore accounts are used for only one purpose, to pay less if any taxes. For the 2 years of returns that he released, 2010 and 2011, the average tax rate that he paid was just 13%. Do any of you pay a 13% tax rate? I think not. Romney is well aware that if he releases more tax returns, people will see what he was up to when it came time to pay his fair share. He hasn't paid his fair share in years and years. But that is the way he likes it. In case you were not aware, Romney wants to decrease the tax rate for the 1% even more. The Bush II tax decreases were suppose to create more jobs, but did it? All you have to do is check out the DOL figures for when Bush II was in office up to present and guess what you will find? No increase in total job creation but a decrease during his 8 years. So why are Republicans still trying to keep the present rate and even decrease it? It makes no sense what so ever, except in their minds.
Romney touts his business experience as what is needed to help pull our country out of the Great Recession. Ever checked out Bain Capitol? Bain did create a few jobs, but mostly at its corporate headquarters. But their business was to buy companies at a low price in order to be able to sell them for a profit. How do they do that? By dismantling the company, in order to sell off its parts and lay off a whole lot of the employees. Have you ever heard of a company who buys another company and doesn't lay off employees? Oh right, you haven't heard of it because it doesn't normally happen in 90% plus of company takeovers. Bain also transferred thousands and thousands of jobs, especially manufacturing jobs overseas that will never return to our shores. This is the business experience that he says will help us. I think not! But Romney says he wasn't CEO when jobs were sent overseas. If that is true why was he still signing letters and legal documents as its CEO during that time?
I would be the first person in line to say that our economy is not improving as well as it should be under President Obama, but remember, our country used to be based on a huge manufacturing sector which now unfortunately doesn't exist. Our econonmy now is based on our being a service economy with people having to spend more on services and not necessarily buying products that are not made in the US of A in order to improve our economy and break us out of this recession. What this country needs is more of a manufacturing base, instead of a service base. Don't believe me, check out China.
Finally, I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn that in the infinite wisdom of Republicans, it is a good idea to have tough new voter identification laws in place by this November. These new laws will make it more difficult for the elderly, disabled, poor and young adults to vote, because each voter would have to show a vaild photo ID. These people don't usually have photo ID's since they don't drive. Having worked for the Board of Elections for the past 10 years, I can tell you personally, that there is absolutley no problem with in-person voter fraud. Even the government says there is no porblem. But the Republicans think there is a problem. What I can also tell you is that these people are part of President Obama's base and the Republicans want to take away those voters rights, which is supposed to be protected by our constitution. But the Republicans pretense is to prevent voter fraud. So I guess that the perceived voter fraud only happens in red states. What a back door way to try to win an election. State Supreme Courts should shoot down these blatant attempts to steal, yes steal, the elections in November. Only you, voters, can stop the insanity by voting in November.
So now I have informed you of who represents whom in this upcoming election. Don't be fooled by the blatant lies, inuendos and dirty pool by what the Republicans will say and do. They will say anything to get elected. Remember the 2003 Bush II lie about how only the Republicans could protect us from another terroist attack? They didn't protect us from 9/11/01 did they? Don't believe what I said above, just check it out for yourself. But don't believe any online stuff. Check it out with major newspapers, where they get sued for misrepresentations and lies. Online writers are not held to the same standards and can and do say whatever they want because they believe the ends justify the means
Now you know, don't let let history repeat itself, choose wisely and vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't vote, you have absolutely no right to bitch about the outcome and keep your thoughts to yourself.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Please Beware! How To Avoid Being Scammed
Hi Everyone,
My wife and I were at a pool party yesterday and I again heard a very familiar story. Today's blog is geared to the older generations, who are the easiest to fall victim.
The story we were told yesterday was how this elderly, but still very active both physically and mentally woman, was scammed out of money, by paying in full upfront for work that was never performed. The elderly get scammed more often than younger folks. I would like to give some common sense advice for when any type of work needs to be done on their homes. So here is my top 10, plus one list:
1) If you don't know who to call, ask your neighbors, family and friends for people/companies who they have used and (this is very important), would use again.
2) Get at least 3 quotes. Remember that the cheapest quote is not always the best. If one quote is far less then the others, get another quote from another company.
3) Ads can be very misleading as to their performance level and professionalism so be careful when calling them.
4) Ask companies for references, but remember that they are only going to give you their best ones, not the ones who had problems.
5) Do your homework. Call their references and ask very pointed questions regarding what they did and how that relates to the job you want done.
6) Call your local Better Business Bureau and get any info they have on the company. You can even check Angies list online
7) Go to the government agency in your county i.e.: consumer affairs etc., that holds the contractors license and get any info that they may have. Also make sure that the contractor's insurance policies are in effect during the duration of the job. At the least they should carry, Worker's Compensation and Liability insurance.
8) Once you have chosen a contractor, depending on the job will depend of whether any up front money will be due. For the most part, any small job should be paid in full only at the completion of the job and never pay upfront.
9) If you have to sign a contract, make sure that your interests are covered like; amount of money to be paid up front, then at 50-75% of job completion and the final payment to be made only after your approval of the job completion. Also make sure that start and end dates are included. The best contracts have daily or weekly penalties if the job is not finished on the agreed upon time.
10) Make sure that the contractor follows the signed contract and that they do not use any cheaper materials or short cuts. That means that you have to watch the job while in progress.
Plus One) And last but certainly not least; NEVER, EVER use a contractor who shows up at your door uninvited, even their price seems to be to good to be true, that's because it is a scam.
By using common sense, most people can avoid the pitfalls of being scammed out of your hard earned money.
Til next week.
Peter
My wife and I were at a pool party yesterday and I again heard a very familiar story. Today's blog is geared to the older generations, who are the easiest to fall victim.
The story we were told yesterday was how this elderly, but still very active both physically and mentally woman, was scammed out of money, by paying in full upfront for work that was never performed. The elderly get scammed more often than younger folks. I would like to give some common sense advice for when any type of work needs to be done on their homes. So here is my top 10, plus one list:
1) If you don't know who to call, ask your neighbors, family and friends for people/companies who they have used and (this is very important), would use again.
2) Get at least 3 quotes. Remember that the cheapest quote is not always the best. If one quote is far less then the others, get another quote from another company.
3) Ads can be very misleading as to their performance level and professionalism so be careful when calling them.
4) Ask companies for references, but remember that they are only going to give you their best ones, not the ones who had problems.
5) Do your homework. Call their references and ask very pointed questions regarding what they did and how that relates to the job you want done.
6) Call your local Better Business Bureau and get any info they have on the company. You can even check Angies list online
7) Go to the government agency in your county i.e.: consumer affairs etc., that holds the contractors license and get any info that they may have. Also make sure that the contractor's insurance policies are in effect during the duration of the job. At the least they should carry, Worker's Compensation and Liability insurance.
8) Once you have chosen a contractor, depending on the job will depend of whether any up front money will be due. For the most part, any small job should be paid in full only at the completion of the job and never pay upfront.
9) If you have to sign a contract, make sure that your interests are covered like; amount of money to be paid up front, then at 50-75% of job completion and the final payment to be made only after your approval of the job completion. Also make sure that start and end dates are included. The best contracts have daily or weekly penalties if the job is not finished on the agreed upon time.
10) Make sure that the contractor follows the signed contract and that they do not use any cheaper materials or short cuts. That means that you have to watch the job while in progress.
Plus One) And last but certainly not least; NEVER, EVER use a contractor who shows up at your door uninvited, even their price seems to be to good to be true, that's because it is a scam.
By using common sense, most people can avoid the pitfalls of being scammed out of your hard earned money.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, July 29, 2012
USPS
Hi Everyone,
For a couple of years now I have been reading and hearing about how unprofitable the United States Postal Service has become. Because the USPS does not receive any taxpayer assistance, the USPS must be run like any other business. Being profitable is of the utmost importance or so you would think.
The decrease in USPS revenues is not a unforeseen occurrence. More and more people are paying bills on line. Less and less people actually write letters to friends etc. And when was the last time that you ordered something from a company that was delivered to you via the USPS? I can't remember any company using the USPS instead of UPS or FedEx or even the old DHL. So with at least those problems facing the USPS, you would think that they must be running it as efficiently as possible? Yea right! Due to the fact the we do not go to our local post office very often any more, I was surprised at what I found missing from ours.
For as long as I can remember, post offices always had at least 2 mail slots in which to mail your letters and bills etc. There was always a slot for out-of-town mail and one for in-town mail. Well lo and behold, when I visited my post office, the slot for in-town mail was permanently, covered over. All mail, both in-town and out-of-town mail went onto the one slot. When our daughter recently mailed some thank you notes, including some local ones, one of the local notes was returned due to an incorrect address. What surprised me was that the USPS postmark was from a city over 30 miles away. What? That meant that the locally addressed mail that she mailed from our local post office was driven 30 miles away, sorted at some USPS sorting location and driven back another 30 miles. Let me think about that one for a moment........ I know that no one really uses snail mail for many things, but just bear with me for a second; in order to mail say an invitation to a friend in the same town that we live in, it has to travel 60 miles instead of 2-3 miles. Can someone please tell me where the common sense is in doing it the USPS way? Oh yea, there is no common sense involved here. I just don't get why the USPS doesn't see the problem. To me the no brainer, common sense solution is to bring back the 2 mail slots. But I doubt that will happen any time soon.
Til next week.
Peter
For a couple of years now I have been reading and hearing about how unprofitable the United States Postal Service has become. Because the USPS does not receive any taxpayer assistance, the USPS must be run like any other business. Being profitable is of the utmost importance or so you would think.
The decrease in USPS revenues is not a unforeseen occurrence. More and more people are paying bills on line. Less and less people actually write letters to friends etc. And when was the last time that you ordered something from a company that was delivered to you via the USPS? I can't remember any company using the USPS instead of UPS or FedEx or even the old DHL. So with at least those problems facing the USPS, you would think that they must be running it as efficiently as possible? Yea right! Due to the fact the we do not go to our local post office very often any more, I was surprised at what I found missing from ours.
For as long as I can remember, post offices always had at least 2 mail slots in which to mail your letters and bills etc. There was always a slot for out-of-town mail and one for in-town mail. Well lo and behold, when I visited my post office, the slot for in-town mail was permanently, covered over. All mail, both in-town and out-of-town mail went onto the one slot. When our daughter recently mailed some thank you notes, including some local ones, one of the local notes was returned due to an incorrect address. What surprised me was that the USPS postmark was from a city over 30 miles away. What? That meant that the locally addressed mail that she mailed from our local post office was driven 30 miles away, sorted at some USPS sorting location and driven back another 30 miles. Let me think about that one for a moment........ I know that no one really uses snail mail for many things, but just bear with me for a second; in order to mail say an invitation to a friend in the same town that we live in, it has to travel 60 miles instead of 2-3 miles. Can someone please tell me where the common sense is in doing it the USPS way? Oh yea, there is no common sense involved here. I just don't get why the USPS doesn't see the problem. To me the no brainer, common sense solution is to bring back the 2 mail slots. But I doubt that will happen any time soon.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Stop The Insanity
Hi Everyone,
The 7/21 horrendous massacre in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado should have never, ever have happened. What I am about to say will anger many people, but it needs to be said again and again until the situation is corrected.
So I have some questions. Why is it still legal to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle? Why is it also still legal to be able to buy: military smoke canisters, bullet proof vests, thousands and thousands of rounds of ammunition in one purchase, Kevlar helmets and neck and groin protection? Let's start with the rifle first. Doesn't just the name of it suggest what it is used for? An AR-15 assault rifle is made to kill people. Who takes an AR-15 or AK-47 rifle hunting? No one. Its sole purpose is to kill and injure as many people as possible in a short period of time. Additionally, why do law abiding people need body armor protection. For protection while they are hunting animals who don't have guns? I think not. Body armor has only one use and that is for protection from bullets flying at you. In my wildest imagination, I never thought someone could purchase thousands of bullets at once.
Even though background checks are mandatory that all dealers must do prior to selling any firearms, that doesn't prevent a law abiding person from doing something like what happened in Aurora. FYI, private owners are legally allowed to sell any type of firearms to another person. So how is it possible to buy all this stuff? Well you can thank, take your pick: the 2nd amendment, the NRA and the U.S. Supreme Court for allowing this to continue. Someone along the line, this country has confused the right to bear arms with the supposed right to bear assault weapons that are used to kill people. When will this insanity end?
I was hoping that President Obama and or Mitt Romney would say something about this problem. They both acknowledged the tragic incident, but both of them failed to say one word about opening up dialogue regarding banning assault weapons. Both are obviously afraid of what the NRA would do to them in this election year. I just don't understand why it is so important that people should be able to own assault weaponry? That makes no sense to me. Why aren't people screaming out their windows that they are mad as hell and they aren't going to take this anymore?!
This issue should not be a political issue, but yet it is, unfortunately thanks to the NRA and a lot of republican backers. But I suppose it always will be a political issue. My common sense solution is simple and straight forward: make it illegal to purchase and or own any type of assault weapon that has the ability to shoot multiple rounds while holding the trigger. I would also make it illegal to purchase any type of body armor protection - period. Additionally, there must be some kind of limit in the amount of bullets one buys. There should also be a ban making it illegal to post anything online about how to make any kind of explosives. Until something is done about assault weapons, we should not be surprised when unfortunately another Aurora occurs. STOP THIS INSANITY!
Til next week.
Peter
The 7/21 horrendous massacre in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado should have never, ever have happened. What I am about to say will anger many people, but it needs to be said again and again until the situation is corrected.
So I have some questions. Why is it still legal to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle? Why is it also still legal to be able to buy: military smoke canisters, bullet proof vests, thousands and thousands of rounds of ammunition in one purchase, Kevlar helmets and neck and groin protection? Let's start with the rifle first. Doesn't just the name of it suggest what it is used for? An AR-15 assault rifle is made to kill people. Who takes an AR-15 or AK-47 rifle hunting? No one. Its sole purpose is to kill and injure as many people as possible in a short period of time. Additionally, why do law abiding people need body armor protection. For protection while they are hunting animals who don't have guns? I think not. Body armor has only one use and that is for protection from bullets flying at you. In my wildest imagination, I never thought someone could purchase thousands of bullets at once.
Even though background checks are mandatory that all dealers must do prior to selling any firearms, that doesn't prevent a law abiding person from doing something like what happened in Aurora. FYI, private owners are legally allowed to sell any type of firearms to another person. So how is it possible to buy all this stuff? Well you can thank, take your pick: the 2nd amendment, the NRA and the U.S. Supreme Court for allowing this to continue. Someone along the line, this country has confused the right to bear arms with the supposed right to bear assault weapons that are used to kill people. When will this insanity end?
I was hoping that President Obama and or Mitt Romney would say something about this problem. They both acknowledged the tragic incident, but both of them failed to say one word about opening up dialogue regarding banning assault weapons. Both are obviously afraid of what the NRA would do to them in this election year. I just don't understand why it is so important that people should be able to own assault weaponry? That makes no sense to me. Why aren't people screaming out their windows that they are mad as hell and they aren't going to take this anymore?!
This issue should not be a political issue, but yet it is, unfortunately thanks to the NRA and a lot of republican backers. But I suppose it always will be a political issue. My common sense solution is simple and straight forward: make it illegal to purchase and or own any type of assault weapon that has the ability to shoot multiple rounds while holding the trigger. I would also make it illegal to purchase any type of body armor protection - period. Additionally, there must be some kind of limit in the amount of bullets one buys. There should also be a ban making it illegal to post anything online about how to make any kind of explosives. Until something is done about assault weapons, we should not be surprised when unfortunately another Aurora occurs. STOP THIS INSANITY!
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, July 8, 2012
When Will They Learn
Hi Everyone,
It happened again on 7/4/12 and this time all 24 people on board the bus, including the driver were injured. The bus driver was actually found on the shoulder of I-95 about 150 yards behind the bus. I don't know how he got there. There was another terrible bus accident on I-95 on 3/12/11 that killed 15 people and injured another 18. During the past few years there seems to be an increase in the number of chartered bus/tour bus company accidents between Boston and Washington DC. What disturbs me about these accidents, is that I believe that each and every one of them could have been prevented. I found many similarities between all of the accidents. Once I figured out the similarities, I used my common sense to come up with a solution that would saves lives.
So these are the similarities:
1) All of the accidents occurred on or near the I-95 corridor, between Boston and Washington, D.C.
2) The large majority of the accidents occurred in the early morning hours.
3) Lack of sleep and speed were involved in all.
4) The majority of the accidents happened after the buses left either a Connecticut or New Jersey casino in the early morning hours i.e.: 4:14 am and 4:45 am.
5) The majority of the corporate owners have been cited for safety violations.
So these are my common sense solutions that would save lives:
First of all, why is it so important to have buses leave a casino at 4:00 am? So gamblers can get to work that day? This practice should stop and the last buses should leave at midnight or even earlier. Then tiredness should not be a factor. I am not sure what it is called, but a GPS like unit should be installed in all charter and tour buses, so that the companies can find out which drivers speed and progressive disciplinary action up to and including termination should be either implemented or strictly enforced. Finally, if a company receives a certain number of citations, they should lose their license to operate for a period a time. If the companies still don't get it, their license to operate should be revoked, period, end of story. I don't think any of my solutions will be used any time soon, which is really unfortunate. How many more injuries and deaths have to happen before any real changes are implemented?
Til next week.
Peter
It happened again on 7/4/12 and this time all 24 people on board the bus, including the driver were injured. The bus driver was actually found on the shoulder of I-95 about 150 yards behind the bus. I don't know how he got there. There was another terrible bus accident on I-95 on 3/12/11 that killed 15 people and injured another 18. During the past few years there seems to be an increase in the number of chartered bus/tour bus company accidents between Boston and Washington DC. What disturbs me about these accidents, is that I believe that each and every one of them could have been prevented. I found many similarities between all of the accidents. Once I figured out the similarities, I used my common sense to come up with a solution that would saves lives.
So these are the similarities:
1) All of the accidents occurred on or near the I-95 corridor, between Boston and Washington, D.C.
2) The large majority of the accidents occurred in the early morning hours.
3) Lack of sleep and speed were involved in all.
4) The majority of the accidents happened after the buses left either a Connecticut or New Jersey casino in the early morning hours i.e.: 4:14 am and 4:45 am.
5) The majority of the corporate owners have been cited for safety violations.
So these are my common sense solutions that would save lives:
First of all, why is it so important to have buses leave a casino at 4:00 am? So gamblers can get to work that day? This practice should stop and the last buses should leave at midnight or even earlier. Then tiredness should not be a factor. I am not sure what it is called, but a GPS like unit should be installed in all charter and tour buses, so that the companies can find out which drivers speed and progressive disciplinary action up to and including termination should be either implemented or strictly enforced. Finally, if a company receives a certain number of citations, they should lose their license to operate for a period a time. If the companies still don't get it, their license to operate should be revoked, period, end of story. I don't think any of my solutions will be used any time soon, which is really unfortunate. How many more injuries and deaths have to happen before any real changes are implemented?
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Have You Checked Yours Lately?
Hi Everyone,
As the title of today's blog asks, have you checked yours lately? I am talking about the interest rates on your savings or CD accounts. It is hard to swallow when banks offer "high value" interest rates of around one half of one percent or 0.50%. Where is the high value? Higher then zero percent? The prime interest rate is stuck at the historical low rate of 3.25%. But, are you aware that the prime rate has been at 3.25% since 12/16/2008? Can you remember how much the interest rates were in your accounts during the years 2008,09,10,11 and 2012? Don't remember? That's ok, because I am pretty sure that what you do remember is that your savings and CD interest rates that you received have dropped substantially since 2008. I just read an ad for a bank that is offering 1.20% for a 3 year CD. If memory serves me correctly, back in 2008 you could get a 1 year CD with a 5.00% interest rate. What has happened?
Back in the day, bank savings and CD rates raised or lowered interest rates when the prime rate went up or down. That made sense. But wait, the prime rate hasn't changed in more then 3 1/2 years. If the prime rate hasn't been lowered since 2008, why have the rates gone down hill? According to what I have read on the subject, it seems that even though the big bank bailout times 2, stopped the bleeding it didn't stop the banks from hoarding the TARP money and not loaning it out. So what is the reason? Oh yea........their hunger for more money. Now some people say that federal regulations is the cause, but the important regulations like the Volker rule has not been passed. The credit card regulations should have nothing to do with interest rates on savings. I truly believe that banks have learned very well from the airline industry. Flying now is like an a la carte experience. They charge extra for anything and everything they can i.e.: pillows, blankets, carry on luggage, weight of checked baggage and where you sit, etc., etc. So now banks are charging excessive fees and lowering savings rates for the sole purpose on making more and more money.
I have a great common sense idea. Since banks need lots of money to invest, why not entice existing and new customers to deposit their hard earned money with the bank by offering higher than normal interest rates? Say 1.50% or even higher. The bank(s) would receive a new influx of money that would most likely beat their current amounts. Even though they would pay a higher interest rate, they would more than make up for it with their new investments. Unfortunately, bankers haved proved time and time again, that they don't have a lot of common sense. Just wait, someday soon, one bank will realize this and do it.
Til next week.
Peter
As the title of today's blog asks, have you checked yours lately? I am talking about the interest rates on your savings or CD accounts. It is hard to swallow when banks offer "high value" interest rates of around one half of one percent or 0.50%. Where is the high value? Higher then zero percent? The prime interest rate is stuck at the historical low rate of 3.25%. But, are you aware that the prime rate has been at 3.25% since 12/16/2008? Can you remember how much the interest rates were in your accounts during the years 2008,09,10,11 and 2012? Don't remember? That's ok, because I am pretty sure that what you do remember is that your savings and CD interest rates that you received have dropped substantially since 2008. I just read an ad for a bank that is offering 1.20% for a 3 year CD. If memory serves me correctly, back in 2008 you could get a 1 year CD with a 5.00% interest rate. What has happened?
Back in the day, bank savings and CD rates raised or lowered interest rates when the prime rate went up or down. That made sense. But wait, the prime rate hasn't changed in more then 3 1/2 years. If the prime rate hasn't been lowered since 2008, why have the rates gone down hill? According to what I have read on the subject, it seems that even though the big bank bailout times 2, stopped the bleeding it didn't stop the banks from hoarding the TARP money and not loaning it out. So what is the reason? Oh yea........their hunger for more money. Now some people say that federal regulations is the cause, but the important regulations like the Volker rule has not been passed. The credit card regulations should have nothing to do with interest rates on savings. I truly believe that banks have learned very well from the airline industry. Flying now is like an a la carte experience. They charge extra for anything and everything they can i.e.: pillows, blankets, carry on luggage, weight of checked baggage and where you sit, etc., etc. So now banks are charging excessive fees and lowering savings rates for the sole purpose on making more and more money.
I have a great common sense idea. Since banks need lots of money to invest, why not entice existing and new customers to deposit their hard earned money with the bank by offering higher than normal interest rates? Say 1.50% or even higher. The bank(s) would receive a new influx of money that would most likely beat their current amounts. Even though they would pay a higher interest rate, they would more than make up for it with their new investments. Unfortunately, bankers haved proved time and time again, that they don't have a lot of common sense. Just wait, someday soon, one bank will realize this and do it.
Til next week.
Peter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)