You may recall an article I wrote about how people in our area who drive GM products do not seem to be in touch with rules of the road, WELL how about this. General Motors CEO Dan Akerson said he would favor a $1 dollar hike in gasoline tax, including a 50 cent immediate hike… are you ready for this “To take advantage of the recent DECLINE in gas prices.” Did I miss this DECLINE?? According to Akerson this would put people in the position of buying more fuel efficient cars and lessen the burden on the auto industry to meet future mileage goals. I know I can’t afford a new car period let alone one of those HIGH-Priced hybrids and the like. I’m sure I’m not alone here. Heck it’s getting to the point I could not afford a USED car as those prices have gone up so much. A friend who sells used cars told me used cars are getting harder to buy. New car dealers who once brought the cars to auction are now selling them on their lots. I once had a New car dealer tell me he would not keep a car on the lot if it had 50,00o miles or more on it. Now I see he has cars with 150,000 miles with a price of $5,000,oo (or more). A friend traded off his 2000 Oldsmobile for a new car and was only offered $1000.00 trade in. Later the dealer had it on his lot with a $5,900.oo price tag. There is gold in them thar used cars. Now, I know the CEO of GM can afford the tax increase. Heck, he probably doesn’t even buy gas, as evidenced in his statement about the decline in gas prices. I’m sure he doesn’t buy his cars as they are most likely part of his compensation package. In other words he isn’t among the core people of our country. He hasn’t a clue about what he is saying. He is only looking at saving his company money so he can get a bigger bonus. Before I close this entry. Greg Martin, Gm’s Washington spokesperson confirmed Akerson’s statement reflects Gm’s VIEW. But GM will not actively pursue the passage of such a tax, as it would be very difficult to get enacted. I suppose that is how GM drivers feel too. After all they are supporting the company by buying GM products. That Is How I See It. Views: 186
Category: Uncategorized
Extended Warranties
Extended Warranties. You know those things you asked to purchase every time you purchase an appliance, electronic equipment, or even a car. Ever wonder why? The fact is the retailer gets as much as 50% of the price you pay. ALL PROFIT. Do you really need it. Most likely not. The manufacturer’s warranty usually covers less time than they figure the item will last. If something goes wrong it is generally during the manufacturer’s warranty period. I usually divide the expected life of the purchase by the price I give. I find, unless I do something stupid and break it, my extended warranty goes unused. My first experience with extended warranties came many years ago, (when they were something new). I purchased a VCR from a well known outlet store. They talked me into purchasing the EW, (extended warranty). After 1 month it broke. The manufacturer’s warranty was still in force. Of Course. But here is the kicker. The store would not replace it. Give me a loaner, or anything. The extended warranty did not entitle me to anything. It was another 3 months before I got my VCR back. I had to make the payments for 3 months, without having the product. A contract is a contract. I live up to mine. My second encounter was when I purchased my first Big Screen TV, about 11 years ago. I still have that TV everything works fine. Knock on wood. The warranty went unused. Another TV I purchased 16 years ago is still running just fine. I did not purchase a warranty on this one. It is up to you whether you purchase the extended warranty. As for me I don’t have the money to donate. That Is How I See It. Views: 227
Tattoos
Tattoos . I just don’t get it. I realize lot of you have tattoos. I also realize there is a long history of tattoos. Usually tattoos are a ritual of certain tribes. There is also the story of sailors getting tattoos when they cross the prime meridian. This one I get. Tattoos are permanent. (Not so much now as it once was). I know people who get them when they are young and regret them when they are older. They try to have them altered, because they are not relative to their adult lives. I know people who have actually had them removed. (I don’t know which is more painful. Getting a Tattoo or having it removed. I am told both are painful). According to the United States Food and Drug Administration. The inks and pigments used in tattoos can cause allergic reactions, infections and scarring. A friend of mine had an “8” tattooed on his bicep, to honor Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was really worried when Jr. left the 8 car. Luckily Jr. was able to get 88, and he was just able to add an 8. What happens if Jr. ends up in, lets say 57 at some time in his career. Now what. Another friend had his girlfriends name on his forearm. One day she tried to kill him. He was in the hospital quite a long time. She went to jail. He never saw her again. But when he started dating again. The name on his forearm kept girls away. (He eventually had it removed at, for him was a huge expense). But now he is happily married, and we never mention his tattoo. No he would not put his wife’s name on his body. Women…. I know you think they are an adornment. But as you age…well it is a wait and see. I see what would be very attractive women, if not for the alteration of their skin. To me that is just a big turn off. I’m not talking about a little butterfly on your ankle or somewhere. I can handle that. What I am talking about is the large tattoos, or many tattoos. Tattoos can also lead to you not getting a job, or at least a job you would prefer. A prospective employer may look at you and see the tattoo, not the real you. People who do not have tattoos tend to not trust anyone with a tattoo. Well like I have stated before, this is a place for me to put my opinions. I respect your right to do with your bodies what you want. But to me TATTOOS are TABOO. That Is How I See It. Views: 90
Smoke No Smoke
This is my experience with smokers. My Dad smoked. Sometimes Pipes, sometimes Cigarettes. He sometimes rolled his own with Velvet tobacco. He died of Emphyzema. But I do remember the sweet smell the pipe gave off. My Brother smoked. He finally gave up the habit. After two bypass surgeries. Now the aroma of the Pipe depended on the tobacco used. But I remember the smell was not as good when it was wrapped in paper. They both smoked Chesterfields. and sometimes Lucky Strikes, Probably my brothers choice because it was easier to sneak one of Dad’s. Later he switched to the mentholated Kools. I remember they spent 2o cents a pack. We farmed for a living and I have no idea what percentage of our income that amounted to. As for myself I had always been told how bad the habit was, for my health. So If I knew this back then. I really have little compassion for those who sue tobacco companies and say “I didn’t know they were bad for me.” Anyway I never smoked. I got more than my share from second hand smoke. Also I had better things to spend my money on. What little I had. I remember, as a lad, my uncle had a a regulation pool table in his basement. The door was always open anytime we wanted to play. The only rule that applied to my family was ‘NO SMOKING”. I know if it had been necessary other rules would have been, “NO ALCOHOL’ and ‘NO CUSSING’ etc. I remember one time when my Aunt and Uncle were away for a week. My brother decided it would be okay to smoke, no one would know. WRONG !! My Aunt walked in a week later and demanded “Who has been smoking in my house”. We wondered, ” how did she know?” Years later when I got married and had my own house I found out. Tobacco stinks. Being around it all those years I didn’t know the difference. So knowing how bad it smells and being able to smell it on people who either smoke or are around smoking….well. I feel sorry for children who have to breathe their parents second hand smoke. I think, “Don’t the parents care about the danger they are exposing their children to.” Not to mention they have to go to school smelling like that too. Now you have the right to smoke if you choose. I just ask you be considerate of others. And I am seeing more signs of smokers respecting the rights of those of us who choose not to smoke. Thank YOU very much. In parting let me give you a couple of examples. I was in a restaurant, near the door they had allotted 5 booths for non-smokers. The rest of the restaurant, including the coveted spots near the fireplace, were designated Smoking area. After I sat down a man came in sat down behind me IN the non-smoking area and lit up one of those little cigar cigarette thingies. I politely pointed out this was a non-smoking area, and the rest of the restaurant he had at his disposal. He said, “I’ll be done in just a minute.” I let it rest. Then he lit up another. The waitress told him he had to move if he wanted to smoke. He refused. The manager told him the same thing. He just sat there and lit up another. Now I have to say this is extremely rare. But there are people out there like this. Now to a better example. Again in a restaurant we were seated in an area that made a tee. there was no separation. in reality, but the smoking and non-smoking were side by side. The gentleman sitting in the smoking area was perfectly right to light up. But he smoked those generic cigarettes that stink even more than brand names. I could have probably tolerated a brand name cigarette. But the odor was really bad. So I just turned to him, and said, “Do you smoke while you are eating?” He said, “No.” I then said. “Why do you smoke when I am eating.” He looked at me and said, ” I never thought about it that way.” He proceeded to put his cigarette out and thanked me for letting him know. This is how more smokers are becoming. Respectful of our right to not smoke. And I respect their right to smoke. I could go on and on. But I think you all get my point. I do have one last question for the ladies. Why do you buy expensive sweet smelling perfumes and then cover it up with smoke smell? That Is How I See It. Views: 107
Postage Rates
This is a classic. What do you do if you own a business that is dying. Dying due to competition that is offering the same basic service for a much, much lower cost. Many of us use email to correspond with one another. We pay our bills online. We send our Christmas, Birthday cards, etc. Electronically. To stay in business we would make necessary cutbacks. That means like most business we close our less profitable outlets or manufacturing sites. We lay off people. We cut back on benefits. I don’t like any of these things, but that is what is really happening in the business world. The United States Postal Service is still a needed service, not just so much as it once was. I have not seen any of the aforementioned steps being taken. They are saying they will stop Saturday delivery. But they have not said anything about the employee’s pay being cut for the extra day off. We know that the pay scale for postal employees has always been higher than in the private sector. The Benefits better, the retirement better. Good for the employees. As long as the USPS can afford to pay all this, fine. But looking to the long term. If I own an automobile dealership, and I charge more than other dealers of like vehicles. Where would you go? Pay more at my dealership, or go across the street, and buy the lower priced vehicle. What do I do. The USPS says we’ll charge more and make up the difference. Now they don’t have to have as many customers, to maintain their profit. Meanwhile the guy across the street is selling more units at less cost per unit, but is making a larger bottom line profit, due to his increased volume. They even have unknown cost to customers. How many of you have mailed a birthday card only to find out you had insufficient postage. Why? Because the envelope is 1/16 of inch larger than allowed thus incurring a ‘SPECIAL HANDLING” charge. This means the card didn’t fit through the sorter, and someone had to actually pick it up to put in the bag. So is the answer keep raising prices. Or lower the prices and increase volume. That Is How I See It. Views: 106
College Football Hall of Fame
The National Football Foundation has decided to move the College Football Hall of Fame from South Bend Indiana to Atlanta Georgia. South Bend Indiana. Home of Notre Dame. Can any school match the football tradition held by Notre Dame. Their heritage dates back to 1887. The actual name of the town where they are located is named NOTRE DAME. Bet most of you didn’t know that. A little history and facts about Notre Dame football. Did you know that Notre Dame has a winning percentage of .723. An all time record of 899 wins, 301 losses, and 42 ties. Their postseason record is 14-15. With 11 National Titles, 7 Heisman winners, 96 All Americans. Notre Dame may actually have 13 National Titles, as the 1938 and 1953 are in question, Notre Dame only claims the 11 that are not in doubt. Their record includes 7 undefeated seasons, and 4 single loss seasons. As for the 122 year history (No team in 1890 and 1891), Notre Dame has 103 winning seasons, and only 13 losing seasons. With 48 players and coaches in the Hall of Fame. The BCS even has a “NOTRE DAME” rule. Speaking of Bowl games Notre Dame is in another one this year looking to make them 15-15 in bowl games. Who can ever forget the Knute Rockne speech “…win one for the gipper….” Why would you want to move the College Hall of Fame from such a tradition laden area. Surprise “MONEY” that’s all it could be. I don’t know as a fact. But I figure Atlanta made it monetarily well worth the move. Oh well why fight it MONEY really does talk and those without it walk. That Is How I See It. Views: 134
Gas Prices
Try as we might, the consumer can never figure when to buy gasoline. I play this game every week. Do I fill up Monday or wait for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or is Sunday going to give me the best price. Whatever day I pick I the price will go down the next day. But I have an SUV, a Pickup truck. a sports car, and a motorcycle. (Don’t misunderstand my truck is 23 years old, My SUV is 16, my sports car was a gift for me to fix, and occupy my time, and the motorcycle was given to me by a friend who at age 77 decided it was time to quit riding). So I buy gas on one day then go back the next with the other 3 vehicles. (I at least can save a little money on 3 out of 4 vehicles). The gas companies have conspired to raise the price of gas to $3.00 a gallon ever since they reached $2.00. They drove to get the price to $2.00 ever since they attained $1.00. They always have an excuse. We didn’t produce enough gas. Crude oil prices are up. (which I feel they control to an extent). We had an oil spill. The demand for gas is too high. The gas demand is too low. And my favorite. It’s a Holiday. Whatever other reason they can think of. It is always “NOT MY FAULT” with them. A year or two ago our government was saying “we must curb our driving habits to cut down on gas consumption. Then when they realized the loss of tax revenue from our driving less,; using less gas. They wanted to raise our gas tax if we didn’t pick up our usage. We are in a catch 22. Not all us are able to go out and buy the electric cars that government is pushing. (They really don’t look that safe to me.) For city driving they may be okay, For those of us who live in a rural area and have to drive 50 plus miles to reach a city big enough to support charging stations. Retirees? Sometime they purchase one last car as they retire, knowing they can’t afford new car payments, taxes, plate fees, and insurance on a new car. Gasoline companies your days are numbered keep raising prices and you force people to switch to electric cars, bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds. We once had steam cars and they could get us from point A to point B quite effectively. Horses worked pretty good for a long time. I could see a time when mini cities will spring up with all the things people will need can be shopped, bought and delivered to my house. The bygone (in some areas) trolley car can be revived to take people to anywhere they want within the mini city. That Is How I See It. Views: 134
Who is paying for the “BAILOUT”
The bailout of the banking system was either poorly planned or….A very well thought out scam. I Think the banks had already made their money. They were not really LOSING money. They were squandering the profits on BONUSES and such. I read about one company that limited Bonuses to the average pay of all employees including the lowest paid employ to the highest. The Bank Bonuses I’ m sure far exceed this standard. I know the people we have elected are nearly all millionaires and they stand with the people who made them millionaires rather than the people who actually vote them in. After all they probably came out ahead themselves by giving the bailout. Now I am a common sense person. Common sense says that the way to help the people, would have been to simply buy out the loans the banks had that people were really struggling with. Now I’m not talking about the people who make huge amounts of Income, and simply were losing money because they bought homes for more than they were worth, because they could get these low cost loans. I’m talking about the lower middle income person who trusted the banks. And were trying to realize the American Dream of home ownership. Common Sense says buy these if you must feel the need to help the banks. Offer them to the victims of the low cost loan system (the afore mentioned lower middle class) at a similar or even lower rate. Let these people stay in their homes. They would still be paying property tax. Maintenance costs. Utility bills. ETC.. generating business. But by giving money to the banks,,,,What did they do started a big foreclosure trend and now resell or whatever they want with the property. (Probably getting tax breaks) But I have strayed from the topic. How the government is supporting the buyout is by making the Elderly pay. How you ask? The Government who will get their high retirements, not from Social Security, But from their guaranteed retirement Which is more than I made while working. The plot. We have “X” number of people who draw Social Security. (Many of whom lost their nestegg to the “DEPRESSION”) and Social Security is their only source of income. So you take “X” number of people and not give them a raise (because even though medical costs, Utility bills, Insurance etc keep increasing the rich people ruling us say there is no cost of living.) So you take “X” x “Y” (unknown raise) So “X”= People on Social Security. “Y” = unknown possible raise. “Z” = bailout money, Therefore “X” times “Y” time 2years equal “Z” Social Security pays the bulk if not all the bailout. Thank you Social Security recipients. That Is How I See It, Views: 86
Politicians and Common People
I don’t claim to be a scholar. I merely approach things from a common sense view. That is to say …if I look at all sides of things that I can see, and it seems logical then I accept that as a best answer. I have never affiliated with any political party. My view is this. THERE IS NO PLACE IN GOVERNMENT FOR POLITICS. When we elect a Republican or Democrat the party dictates what line should be taken on certain matters. The Democrats have their pet projects. The Republicans have their pet projects. It is a constant struggle of pet projects. But do these pet projects include what is best for the country or for select companies, groups, etc. I can not think of any member of Congress, Senate or actually anyone in power who is not really wealthy compared to most common people. I did read about one man elected to Congress several years ago from a small district. It said the man’s net worth when elected was around $25,000 By the end of his term his net worth was closing in on 1 million dollars. In school we were taught. Government of the PEOPLE, By The People, For the People. To me it seems that has revolved to Government of the People, By the Wealthy, For the Wealthy. The wealthy and influential people have so many loopholes in Taxes for example that we the common people do not have. The people on Capital Hill and even at the State Level have no idea of the real world. The way they look at things are To use an example of the rises in gas prices. I don’t know how many have investments or ties to the gas industry but i’ll bet it is considerable. The way these wealthy politicians look at things is “I can afford it, if you can’t that is your problem.” Meanwhile they are getting richer from their investments. So many of these people stay in office for too long. I don’t think the founders of our country USA ever intended for the people who represent us to make it a career. It was meant to be a service to support and bring the wishes of the people to light. Then make decisions as to how best meet these issues. But do these people who in many cases do not even reside in the area they represent. They may maintain a residence there. But spend very little time there. they have no real day to day contact with the common person. When and if they visit their home area they surround themselves with the influential and rich. They do not see the struggling that common folk are going through. So they think everyone is as they are. Anyone who is struggling is a minority. Surprise We who are struggling in this time of economic depression, are the MAJORITY, silent though we may be. Silent only because our cries land on deaf ears. WE THE PEOPLE need to find a way to put our peers in the offices. So we may be represented and Not just the wealthy and Big Business. I am in favor of term limits. Thus inspiring our representatives to do their best to fulfill their obligations to the electors, return to civilian life and not make a Career of Ruling our Country. Mind you this is only my opinion based on what I see as the truth. And thus ends my first views From The Middle. That Is How I See It. Views: 99
My views on news sports etc
Welcome to my blog. My posts will be derived from the way I see things. Views that come from my lower middle class existence. There is no set topics as of now, and may vary from post to post. Some may be political in nature, some on sports, Some on Religion. Whatever trips my trigger at the time. They may or may not be on proven fact. Just my understanding of things. Some things may be tongue in cheek. Sometimes just ramblings of whatever crosses my mind. Looking forward to comments. (no attacks on me) just how you feel about my observations. We both may learn from each other. Views: 101
