Entertainment

The History Channel has been running a documentary on Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. president. I remember seeing a movie years ago about his life, but this two hour documentary is superb. Not only is it entertaining, in fact it's my kind of entertainment - non-fiction and biographical. It seems to be historically correct at least to my satisfaction. The discussion of the  presidency of Andrew Jackson is timely as it pertains to the current administration's view of presidential power. Jackson expanded the power of the presidency by ruthless tyrannical practices. Although at least his practices were basically legal and probably ethical. The role of the executive branch of the government has always been interpreted by the administration that controls the office. This interpretation is usually up for critical discussion and outright contempt. President Andrew Jackson was perceived as a president and supporter of the common man which differs significantly with the priorities of President George W. Bush who is definitely the president of the wealthy. Andrew Jackson was the people's president. He was very much a common man himself with many questionable skeletons in his closet, but he was definitely an honorable man, an honest and straightforward person and a person of conviction and truth. And we haven't even talked about his duals, alleged adulterous wife and his treatment of native Americans. Watch the documentary for an honest, unbiased and real view of the man.

The Wizard of Oz Munchkins finally get their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I wonder why it took so long. There are only a few munchkins still alive as well as any of the other stars of the movie. Why did it take so long to recognize these actors? I'm sure the munchkins would like to be remembered for their great acting ability not merely for their size, but at least they got their star.

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Health, Fitness and Lifestyle

OK Thanksgiving is over and the December holidays are within our grasp, how much weight have you gained? What an un-holiday question? Of course it is, but it may give you reason to ponder over the significance of the holidays. Why are the holidays so important and how should we celebrate them? Well let me tell you, the holidays are special times, times when we should take a break from our busy lives and celebrate the meaning of the day. The holidays are times when we thank our God for our bounty and especially for the special people in our lives. The holidays are not times for abandoning responsible behavior. They are not intended for us to indulge in irresponsible activities such as gluttony. Responsible eating just like responsible drinking of alcohol should be a mainstay in our repertoire of good living skills. I don't think that any special occasion or holiday should be a license for overeating, overdrinking or any other overindulgent behavior. Celebrations should not be the stimuli for the abandonment of self-monitoring of self-destructive behaviors. Celebrate the holiday, but do not abuse yourself in the process.

We can enjoy Christmas and New Years without overeating, overdrinking, and overdoing. First we must make a conscious decision to celebrate the true meaning or essence of the holiday. We must not view overindulgence as the celebration. We can enjoy the holiday and all that comes with such celebrations, but we must do so in style which includes moderation. To do so we must put eating and drinking in perspective as well as any other binge type behaviors. I do place over-spending for the holidays in this same category. Why do we continue to hurt ourselves by putting our financial well-being at risk during times of celebration. Why do we treat ourselves so badly? Why are we so destructive in our so-called celebrations?

The answer to these questions lie in our philosophy of healthy living which includes self respect. Healthy and proactive living has to do with our degree of self respect. It also has to do with our unique definitions of healthy living and happiness. I think we must start living each day as if it was our last day on earth, but in a responsible manner. To me a responsible manner means in a manner that gives respect and dignity to the individual. Overeating, excessive sell-indulgence and dangerous behavior do not relate to responsible living and do not show respect and dignity to the individual. They show complete disregard for the dignity of the individual and ultimately the family and humankind itself. 

Politics and the World

As was discussed in last month's blog the Florida state legislature has passed a property tax amendment to be voted on in the January 29, 2008 Florida primary. I'm still not sure if I will support the amendment. Yes, I support the Save Our Homes provision as well as the portability provision, but I'm not sure that the meager reduction of property tax for each homeowner justifies the reduction in the delivery of state and local services to the people of Florida. First, the tax savings for most home owners will be less than a couple hundred dollars a year. Dose this justify the reduction of governmental services to all Floridians? In fact the yearly tax savings for this webmaster is a measly $70.00. I think that I would forgo this tax savings if the government would improve or at least maintain state and local services. By services I am referring to such fundamental services as fire, police and health concerns. If there is no money for these basic services, will Floridians be forced to pay as they need such protection and services? Maybe. Also, I do not like the idea of local parks being closed on days of the year that they are normally open and in operation. Holiday light celebrations and municipal decorating have been stopped in many instances due to this reduction in funding for services. Now let's be real, this would not affect the security and safety of any people, but it would affect our moral and public feeling. We all need a little Christmas so to speak. I just don't know if the provision on the primary ballot is the best for Florida.

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio has come up with a proposal to have citizens of Florida seek a citizenry-led (Cut Property Taxes Now) property tax referendum to be placed on the November 2008 election. This plan would call for a flat 1.35 percent cap on all property taxes. It would keep the Save Our Homes provision as well as the portability and most of the other provisions in the legislative proposed amendment. I think that this is even worse for the people of Florida. Extreme cuts in property taxes would ensure a decline in the delivery of vital local services to Floridians. This is a ridiculous proposal, motivated by Speaker Rubio, a conservative Republican, to gain political support from the people of Florida at the expense of the realistic, practical and ethical operation of the state and local governments. To me this proposal should be grounds for impeachment of the Speaker. The success of this referendum would lead to dangerous reduction in services putting the welfare of the people of Florida at risk. The Speaker seems to be willing to put the welfare of Floridians at risk to gain political support and an almost guaranteed victory during the next state election cycle. 

The state and local governments of the state of Florida have the constitutional responsibility to operate their respective agencies in a realistic, practical, fair and just manner. We the people of Florida have the responsibility to provide the monetary funding to ensure the operation of state and local government. We must pay our bills. A fair and equitable tax structure must be developed and employed to maintain the governments in the state of Florida. Perhaps a restructuring of the governments of Florida is a more reasonable and productive way to provide a fair and equitable tax structure. Perhaps eliminating the financial and personnel waste in the execution of constitutional responsibilities of the governments in the state should be revamped. Perhaps revising the political structure including job descriptions and governmental operations as defined by the Florida State Constitution should be the prime target for any proposed amendment for effective, efficient and equitable execution of services in the state. Perhaps a state income tax is needed to assure proper funding of the state of Florida. A state income tax, now that's a novel idea. I believe the time is right. We must pay our bills and support the services rendered by the state of Florida as provided for in the state constitution.

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Technology and Business

Many Americans are using the current downturn in the economy as an opportunity to re-examine their household budgets in an attempt to gain some financial responsible behavior. It's too bad that it takes such an economic disastrous situation as we are experiencing today for people to gain some hind of financial control in their lives. The price of gas has skyrocketed, oil is approaching $100 a barrel, the housing market has turned feet up and dying as we speak, wages have stagnated, jobs are plenty but workers are minimally  compensated, health care costs have gone through the roof and the economy is generally not the friend of the middle class. These disastrous conditions do affect the financial health of one's life.

People of all economic classes are starting to take action to control this economic boom of the Bush administration. Of course I jest in speaking of the economic boom of the last 7 years under the presidency of George W. Bush. For the poor and middle class the short lived budget surplus of the Bill Clinton administration has succumbed to an economic devastating situation caused by the Bush administration. The victim of this devastation is the demise of the middle class. These people are not prospering under the deficits of President Bush; we are drowning. People who appear shocked and mystified by reading this discussion must be completely oblivious to the current economic situation. You all must be either crazy mad and totally insane or fortunate to be among those who make up the upper 2% of the wealthiest people in America. In any case, the middle class, the once common men and women need help and many of us are seeking that help. Many of us, not all, but many are taking action before it is too late.

First, I would like to applaud those of you who have established and maintained a sound, secure household budget You are definitely well above the curve when it comes to financial preparedness. You people need no additional help. You are healing yourself, so to speak. You can read on just for the leisure time reading practice. The rest of you, you who have been living life high, living the good life irrespective of your financial condition, you who have not prepared for the future, you people must take heed and warning. Your financial health and life is at hand. You must read on and learn. You must develop a financial plan to guide you through the financial maze to economic health and recovery. Lastly, you who are reading this saying to yourself, "Oh that's not me. I'm just fine. I have to increase my debt ratio. I just have a high standard of living. Someday I'll get that god job or maybe I'll win the lottery". You people are in denial and in most need of a sound financial overhaul, but you will never realize that fact until it's way too late for remedy. I mourn for you. You are in trouble, it's your own fault, you are adversely affecting the economic health and well being of all Americans and that of our country.

How does one regain or at least gain for the first time, control over one's financial health? The first step is information. You must take inventory of your assets and debits. You must determine  your disposable income and find ways to improve it. Then you must list your liabilities and find ways to minimize these liabilities. You must develop a financial budget and follow it. You must make no excuses. This is hard and inclusive. The entire family must commit to this end. No exceptions. You must live within your economic means.

Next, you must realize the pitfalls in your budget. Or maybe I should say you must be aware of ways to maintain your budget and still enjoy life. I think the first step is to list the things in your life that are essential to living and those which are not. Food is essential to one's life, Divo TV is not. Transportation is essential to one's life, a new car every year, the most expensive car or a car for each member of the family is not. In other words, you may be overextending yourself when it comes to meeting the essential needs in your life. Cut down on eating out, be conservative when it comes to transportation and re-evaluate what you really need in order to be happy. Many times if people would just evaluate their spending with respect to a hierarchy of needs, they would discover that they are living at a rate well above one necessary to successfully meet those essential needs. You would be surprised by the results achieved if you took a long hard look at the manner in which you are providing for the essential needs of your family. Many times you will discover that what was once thought of as an essential need turns out to be a nonessential need. Or you may discover a more economical satisfying way of meeting that same need, thus conserving valuable dollars and cents or sense.

Another step in this budget process should be the periodic review of such commodities as banking, health insurance, auto insurance and many other necessary commodities or insurances that are necessary in your life. In other words compare interest rates of banking institutions, check insurance quotes, review your TV needs, compare Internet and computer costs, etc. Don't become complacent in what you pay for ordinary, essential services. You do not have to stay with the same insurance company or Internet service provider just because it's comfortable. You should look for deals, wise deals, and change providers if a better deal is found. You must be careful in this regard. Get all the information. Do your homework and be aware of all the fine print, so to speak. Then make a decision that will meet your particular needs and remain within your budget limits.

A household budget should be a living document. It's execution should be a work in progress. Revision, rethinking and re-inventing should be employed when following a household budget. Don't be afraid to change. Change is the one thing that you can expect. Everything changes. So too should we. However, the change must be warranted and done to produced a positive result. Your future depends on your ability to not only change, but to be able to distinguish when a change is needed. Life is to be lived and enjoyed, but in so doing one should be constantly seeking the positive effects of that living. Economic, financial sound balance should be a goal of good living. 

I believe that the federal government as well as the business community have a responsibility in this matter. Strong and equitable consumer laws should be legislated and enforced. In other words the government should help the consumer to maintain responsible financial behavior. The business community including public and private financial institutions should be held to a standard enforcing current laws for  responsible economic behavior of the consumer. For example, consumers who do not qualify for conventional loans should not be granted those loans. People who do not met the needs analysis standings regarding financial credit should not be granted that credit. People must be forced to live within their means. Most importantly, private or public financial institutions or businesses should not seek economic windfalls at the financial rape of consumers. The financial situation of individuals and families directly affect the financial standing of our country and everyone's financial well being. 

This is a cooperative venture. For a financially solvent country there must be financially solvent individuals and families. We are all in this together. Our success as a nation depends on each of our success as an individual or family. We must take action now before it is too late.