lots of zeros

I heard this week that if YOU spent a million dollars every day since our Christian calendar began, in other words 2-thousand and nine years, that would be about 733 billion dollars. That's less than the stimulous bill being passed tonight. Truly mind boggling! Try to imagine spending a million dollars every day of your life, let alone over two thousand years. We wouldn't hit a trillion for another 250 years or so.

I can't fathom what this is doing to our national debt, but I do realize something must be done. I did email the Whitehouse earlier this week, begging for this package to focus on infrastructure, new energy technologies (like solar and wind, rather than propping up the antiquated smoke-stack and fossil fuel industries) and jobs.

If you missed "House of Cards" on CNBC, it's mandatory viewing. Unfortunately it's a slow start, but eventually David Faber does an excellent job of explaining the bank and credit crisis. For the first time, I truly understand just how toxic the CDOs and bad loans are. I can't believe the mortgages that were being approved and sold as Triple A investments. Those "structured" investments were just as much a Ponsi scheme as Madoff's mess. Pension funds (I hope not PERA) relied on those high ratings. I'd like to see people go to jail -- the greedy zeros that ruined our entire economy -- but that would be hundreds of thousands of white collar criminals. The cost of ajudicating them and housing them on top of the current crisis really points out how screwed our economy is. I wonder if it's possible to fix this global nightmare. Yes, it is Friday the 13th.

Do it Right... please!

I cannot believe nine days have passed since I posted. Time is flying here at Casa Suavita! Working on my creative writing assignments and spending time online "over there" at WD WOW consumed my time. Yeah, ok, the big confession -- and far too much TV. Talk about Kleishas. I've become a total news junkie. Jeeez! My friends think I'm nuts. I know way too much about Tim Geithner, the Stimulous Plan and bank bail-out. Yeah, it's good to be informed, but I'm over the line. I promised some news black out days, and I've got to start. I've justified this excessive viewing due to these historical events -- Obama Inauguration, first press conferences, and all these economic plans. But, the Senate just now passed the Stimulous 61-37 (had to haul Ted Kennedy in on a stretcher, but got it done.) It's a given the two bills will be reconciled and signed into law quickly now. So, it's time to step away from the TV now.

Actually I really want to rant right now, but I'm trying to restrain myself. I certainly hope spending $838 Billion of tax money will improve our national infrastructure, and start our conversion to a greener future with solar and wind power to replace our ungodly oil and fossil fuel dependence. I'm still going to email the Whitehouse and add my voice to the plea for sane spending. It can't just be any wild or wasteful spending. These billions better be for infrastructure and not more bureaucracy. Please, let's do this right and not just make a big financial mess for the future.

I just reached for the remote to turn off the tube, but instead I switched to C-span. I need an intervention now. HELP!

The First Day...

of the rest of my life!! I've got to come up with a new phrase. Like Phase II, or my Real Life -- anything but "Retired." I am not retired. That implies doing nothing or to quit living. I've only stopped the government job. Everything else is just beginning!

I'm taking a creative writing class, doing meditative and other retreats. Later I'll be traveling. Tonight at a Super Bowl party, people were asking (again) if I'm bored. I actually haven't even had my first official day of retirement yet. For the past two weeks I was finishing up work stuff. Monday is really my first official day of "retirement." So, that explains my irrational exuberance over the economic stuff. I've got to let that go. I need to spend one or two days a week avoiding the news. It's too stressful. I want to create a Peace Zone. I need it.

I've said before ranting is my Kleisha (sort of addiction -- in Buddhist thinking it's what we grasp or cling to.) I know it's my issue and I want to Let Go. So, I'm glad I blog. It's a way of tracking myself and holding myself accountable out here in cyberspace. Let's hope that I make progress this year. I don't want to look back and see that I wasted another year foaming at the mouth over politics and world economics. Quieting our mind is also a political act. Much more important than any ranting I can do. We need less Greed, hatred and ignorance -- and ranting. What is it Brother Bob says - "Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me."

"it is Shameful!"

Thank you, President Obama. It IS shameful. It IS the height of irresponsibility. (click the title above for his comments.) These arrogant Capitalists have two choices -- if you want government bail out money, then curb your excessive (outrageous) spending and show some signs of truly trying to solve your internal problems, or spend as you want, but don't ask for a hand-out. I may have reacted strongly (prior post) but Good Grief, do these multi-million (Billion Dollar) executives have any common sense at all?

For years I've said there is no such thing as common sense, and this national debate should prove it. I was yelled at today for my comments (by a Republican) who supports Capitalism. Great -- support it, but what kind of capitalism sends executives to Washington for hand outs and then thumbs its nose at the public who pays for their negligence with such gross, ridiculous wasteful spending?? It's pure, audacious GREED! Banks and financial institutions propping themselves up on the backs of the working class who can barely make ends meet -- sickening, and I'm truly about to stop paying taxes and go to court if need be.

I beg for someone to post a calm, rational explanation of how I can be wrong on this. All this fuss over Blago, and I think these miserable corporate crooks are so much worse. Blago was just bragging and cussing, these bastards are ruining the entire WORLD economy. But, we're the fools for propping them up. I want to STOP!

Yes, I was willing to go along with the first bail out, but that's when I thought we were trying to solve a crisis. This IS the crisis now. I'm just thankful we have a President ready to stand up to it. Yes we can -- stop them, and let's start now.

And, on another wasteful topic, it's about time we change the daily US postal delivery. I've been ready for this for two years. People who want immediate delivery can pay for overnight or second day, otherwise, why not just have delivery a couple of days a week. The world is changing -- use email and online payments. Its' ridiculous to have men and women trudging up and down the street every day delivering junk mail at government expense. We can't afford it and it's totally unnecessary.

Criminalizing Capitalism?

Ooooh, my dander is up today over ridiculous comments on the CNBC (TV) business channel. In defense of some of the outrageous corporate waste and fraud that's currently going on, a couple of the commentators there (Larry Kudlow, for one) feel the hoy polloi (disparaging term for "the people" or "masses") just don't understand corporate culture. Today's remarks by Dennis Kneale, one of the CNBC pundits, was worse! He claims Merrill Lynch can "make a million bucks in ten minutes" so it's no big deal to spend a million on the CEO's office. WHAT? That mentality is exactly what drove these companies into the ground and begging for bail outs.

It's a SAD day in America when government, financed on the backs of the working class, has to pay for all this wasteful crap. Commodes that cost nearly 100 grand, CitiGroup trying to buy a 50 Million jet after getting 45 BILLION of bail out funds, and executive bonuses for bozos who can't keep their companies profitable? Larry, you have lost your mind! Dennis you are just plain nuts.

You guys have been whining and crying about socializing banks. This is why it's happening. Are you too stupid or deluded to see that? When the government operated like that, (thousand dollar hammers) and massive federal waste (under Republicans, mostly) that's when the national debt sky rocketed. That's Econ 101 (not brain surgery.) What pisses me off, is the hoy palloi I hang with generally make $20 or 30 an hour, and we're the "stupid stiffs" financing these bail outs. The unemployed or minimum wage workers don't pay taxes, and neither do the uber rich with their endless loopholes. On the other hand, I paid $12,500 in federal withholding and probably owe even more because I did manage to save a few bucks. I would like to jump through the cable wire and smack you. You people are totally out of touch with reality -- TOTALLY! (I'm sending this link to CNBC management.) How can we take financial advice from morons? I've never been more disappointed -- I've watched CNBC for years. That must be why I'm broke and paying for your Capitalist criminals. On second thought, maybe none of us should pay taxes until this mess gets resolved. Why should I pay for some billionaire's stupidity?

He's In!!

Two things come to mind -- thank God we made it through this critical moment of history; He's in and Alive! (And, Bush is gone! )

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Yes, I began crying around 8:30 am (MST) and didn't really stop until Aretha sang. That was not a shining moment (IMHO.) Over the weekend I recorded Ray Charles singing "America the Beautiful" during the Obama train trip to Washington. I sobbed like a baby. Aretha just made me grit my teeth. And, even tho ultimately the Quartet was lively, it sounded funereal at first (and depressing.) I found several things odd: the poem was odd, even parts of Obama's speech were odd. I guess expectations were SO high...

But, here he comes to the luncheon with the Flourish "Hail to the Chief", being introduced as the President of the United States and that makes me cry again!!

I have my own DVD of the day. I channel-surfed lots of viewpoints and angles. The crowd of millions was so awesome, the sights and spectacle breath-taking. And, there's more to come. The parade, the commentary, the reality of it all. One thing that really struck me during the ceremonies was the idea that racism is far from over in the US. My own cousins continue to send horrible, offensive emails to me. Young black men will continue to be thrown to the ground and shot, just as one was two weeks ago. Bigotry, hate, resentment and fear are not easily dissolved. But, with a multi-racial President holding the highest office, surely tolerance will be more prevalent and discrimination dissipated. Today we have hope! Yes, "hope over fear" -- finally!