Image from Flickr.

People in North Pole, Alaska, are upset that the town’s long-standing tradition of letters from Santa is coming to an end. People all over the United States will be affected by the change, as the Postal Service is dropping the national program that answers children’s letters near Christmas.

However, the change seems to be hitting hardest in North Pole, Alaska. It should come as no surprise that the tradition that became a nationwide Postal Service program began in North Pole, Alaska. Every year since 1954, children have gotten replies to their letters to Santa Claus, complete with North Pole postmarks and signed by “Santa’s Helpers.”

No money for Santa?

When I read about canceling the letters from the Santa program, I assumed it was because the Postal Service was trying to save money. After all, the USPS has already raised postage prices and discussed stopping Saturday delivery. It has seemed for a long time that soon the Postal Service will need a loan to continue operating.

However, it turns out that volunteers write the responses to children’s letters to Santa. Still, delivering some of the letters must have cost the Postal Service extra for labor and fuel. I thought “What a logical, frugal thing for the post office to do. They shouldn’t be wasting money on this.” As you can probably guess, I don’t have children, and I’m not really into Christmas.

A sad surprise

Turns out, money wasn’t the problem at all. While I supported the Postal Service’s decision when I assumed it was for financial reasons, I felt even more strongly that the USPS had done the right thing when I read the real reason the national program is being dropped. From the Huffington Post:

Last year, a postal worker in Maryland recognized an Operation Santa volunteer there as a registered sex offender. The postal worker interceded before the individual could answer a child’s letter, but the Postal Service viewed the episode as a big enough scare to tighten rules in such programs nationwide.

Of course, people in North Pole, Alaska, and probably elsewhere, are still opposed to the change, calling the Postal Service the Grinch. However, I think children’s safety is a lot more important than furthering the Santa fantasy and cutesy holiday traditions. Letting a registered sex offender have access to hundreds of little children’s addresses is just not right at all.

No sex offenders in the North Pole, eh?

While residents of North Pole, Alaska, are outraged, the mayor admits that the Postal Service is taking necessary cautions. However, he also says the incident that happened so far away from North Pole, Alaska, shouldn’t affect their small town.

The Postal Service has had restrictions in place for years, and there are still other letter-answering programs besides the one that the Postal Service is dropping. However, a spokeswoman from the Anchorage post office says Alaska won’t be able to operate any letter answering programs because of the new restrictions. Read the full story about why there will be no more letters from Santa in North Pole, Alaska

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Hungry families need help all year, but Thanksgiving is a great time to start donating to fight hunger in the U.S.

I was absolutely shocked to read at Reuters Web site that “More than 49 million Americans — one in seven — struggled to get enough to eat in 2008.” That’s 14.6 percent of the households. It is endlessly astounding to me that one of the richest countries in the world has 49 million hungry residents and still doesn’t provide health care for its citizens.

The list of huge problems that needs White House attention is getting bigger. The USDA survey on “food insecurity,” which is where the one in seven statistic came from, shows that the most important fights we should be conducting don’t require bombs and should occur in our own neighborhoods.

Where help is needed most

Paycheck loans can help families who don’t have enough money to buy food, but they are only temporary solutions. The federal survey says that 5.7 percent of households in the U.S. ran short of food for seven to eight months of the year. The USDA has conducted this survey for 14 years, and the number of people in 2008 who had trouble obtaining enough food is the highest yet.

“The number of Americans receiving food stamp assistance soared above 36 million for the first time in August, the eighth month in a row that enrollment set a record,” Reuters reports. President Obama wrote a statement saying he vows to reverse the trend. Food stamp benefits already were raised through the stimulus package.

Help if you can

There are a lot of worldwide and nationwide organizations that help provide people with food, but the best place to start is in your own community. We all know how long it takes for government programs and efforts to be effective, so the best thing you can do to help with this national problem is to find a local organization.

If you’re lucky enough to always have food, share! Especially around Thanksgiving, it is easy to find private organizations or churches that gather and distribute food donations. It’s easy to forget that hunger is a year-round problem, not just an issue around the holidays. Encourage your friends to help if they can.

President Obama's plans for the Consumer Financial Protection Agency could mean that debt relief is closer than ever for the downtrodden. (Photo: flickr.com)

The recession has forced America to face some of its most deep-seated systematic financial troubles. One thing that has become clear is that unscrupulous mortgage lenders and credit card agencies have dined for far too long upon consumers who largely didn’t understand that they could hold out for something better. Foreclosure and bankruptcy have amplified the burden on consumers, courts and the economy as a whole tenfold, which makes the question of how debt relief should be handled a more pressing issue that it has been in decades.

Cornell and George Washington Law School Economics lecturer and former professor Dr. Neil Buchanan ponders in a recent FindLaw column entitled “Should Federal Agencies or Courts Protect Consumers in Financial Markets?” which side of the regulatory coin America needs most. Existing regulatory agencies are being given more extensive duties by the Obama administration in order to help make America’s financial markets safe and sound. At the same time, new agencies like the newly minted Consumer Financial Protection Agency appears to be on its way to receiving unprecedented powers. In theory, it will have the power to police how mortgage lenders, banks, credit card companies, payday lenders or any other consumer finance company interacts with consumers. It is Buchanan’s opinion that allowing regulatory agencies to protect consumers is the best route, as relying solely upon the courts wouldn’t be enough of a deterrent to keep suspect lenders from indulging in bad behavior. The ideal system would have both in place as a regulatory enforcement clearing house.

But Isn’t This Big Government Clogging the Market?

Some will surely feel that way. What I have seen from state governments is an overzealousness to regulate payday lending, to the point where it is impossible for such legitimate businesses to operate in some states. Mortgage lenders and credit card company supporters would likely have similar complaints, although the path of destruction their industries have carved is rather hard to ignore. Buchanan begins his argument by considering the “courts only” option. If it were possible t regulating a market in need of deep repair like the mortgage industry through simple enforcement of the law, that would be ideal. However, Buchanan doesn’t see that as being enough. Sometimes the courts might work in favor of the consumer and debt relief, but not often enough. Extreme circumstances would be required to convince most judges to see cause to invalidate a contract. The “non-elite” consumers, as Buchanan calls those most in need of debt relief, would not receive the help they need.

There is precedent here, but it could be a one in a million kind of thing. Buchanan points to a New York Times story where a judge ruled that a homeowner’s mortgage debt could be completely discharged during bankruptcy. This loop in legal convention happened due to a technicality: the mortgage company couldn’t prove it had the legal right to collect payments on the homeowner’s mortgage due to the fact that their mortgage had been repackaged and resold so many times that the paper trail had been lost. The mortgage company claimed this was “standard procedure” now, but the judge wouldn’t accept such shenanigans. Since the judge wasn’t exactly sure who was due the money, he decided he couldn’t compel the consumer to make mortgage payments to any one party.

“Saved by a Technicality” Won’t Work for Everyone

Buchanan rightly points out that not all judges will be as determined to call mortgage lenders’ bluff in such situations. “Standard procedure” should hold in most cases, meaning that homeowners would still be legally obligated to follow the terms of their mortgage contract. And mortgage lenders have certainly learned something from that case and are making sure all paperwork is in order. Once again, the deck will be stacked against consumers.

Don’t Depend Upon Courts for Debt Relief

Courts enforce the law. When a consumer enters into any legal contract with a lender, the terms of that contract are in most case subject to enforcement by law. Buchanan considers the vast majority of consumers to be “grossly mismatched” against mortgage and credit card companies. Mandatory arbitration clauses, hidden interest spike triggers and means of computing interest are always written in the best interests of the creditor. Consumers often agree to such contracts because they feel they don’t have any other choice. New regulatory agencies may be able to curtail abusive practices that are currently considered legal, but until that time officially arrives, there is too little hope that the average consumer will be able to fight back through the court system.

Courts Have Been Friendlier to Finance Companies

Families can go to court to attempt to prove that they shouldn’t have to pay under the terms of less than legal contract. However, Buchanan believes most judges will stick to enforcing contract language. In turn, the lending companies themselves are effectively using the court system to compel consumers to pay, even if it is through wage garnishment.

What about “Equitable Doctrines” for Debt Relief?

Hoping that lenders lose their paperwork isn’t a good strategy. That’s where “equitable doctrines” come into play. These can create situations where courts might be willing to set aside otherwise valid contracts because they feel that it there were unconscionable circumstances that placed the consumer under duress or undue influence to sign. Buchanan draws our attention to the “doctrine of unconscionability” itself, claiming that it works in two ways. First, in terms of procedure, there is the scenario where a contract was formed under suspicious circumstances. Second, there is the scenario where the substance of a contract is deemed grossly unfair. If both conditions are met, a contract like a mortgage, credit card agreement, etc, will not be enforced.

Too Good to Be True?

Perhaps it is. It all looks great on paper, says Buchanan, but debt relief is hard to come by via equitable doctrines. Only the most extreme cases are considered by courts, and for most people, having trouble paying a mortgage or credit card they signed up for won’t be enough to sway a judge. This raises the question in Buchanan’s mind as to whether courts should be compelled by stronger legislation to accept equitable doctrine arguments based on things like unconscionability. But as with any other action fought through courts, the cost would likely be prohibitive. Moreover, lenders would still be favored because “losing a contracts case legally cannot result in a company paying punitive damages,” writes Buchanan. “If you lose a contracts case, you merely pay what you would have paid anyway; and if you win, you are ahead. Thus, from the standpoint of repeat players, there is no reason not to abuse your customers (except to maintain goodwill, which many of the companies at issue here have already forfeited).” Then there are plenty of consumers who simply will not have the stomach to sue or be willing to accept a lesser settlement.

Calling on the Government for Debt Relief

Traditionally, the government has remained behind the scenes while consumers have pursued their right to take debt relief matters before the court system. As Buchanan suggests, however, this route has not often proved itself to be effective for the average consumer. In situations where genuine signs of abusive practices and unconscionable contracts are involved, new government agencies could take up the baton and make financial regulation more consumer-friendly.

“An agency can be empowered by Congress to order changes in behavior, changing business practices broadly and generally in order to level the playing field on which financial institutions and their customers do business,” says Buchanan. There could even be scenarios where lenders themselves could support agency regulation over the courts. “Out of control lawsuits” that financial institutions claim burden them unnecessarily would certainly be something lenders would be willing to leave behind so that a regulating agency can rule on matters. “But that hypothetical,” Buchanan writes, “ignores the financial industry’s real agenda, which is to fight to maintain both weak legal rules (allowing them to win in court) and weak-to-nonexistent agency regulation.”

Congress, Act Now

New agencies are about to spring forth from the executive branch to regulate the financial abuse of consumers through deceptive practices. Congress is in a perfect position to arm these agencies with more consumer-friendly laws that will make reasonable debt relief easier to attain. It’s that kind of consumer protection that Neil Buchanan and most concerned consumers are in search of as America looks to emerge from the darkness of the recession into the light of a stronger domestic America.

Image from Flickr.

For a television show to stick around for 40 years, it’s got to be doing something right. Today marks the 40th anniversary of “Sesame Street,” which means Big Bird’s 40th birthday as well.

While many people would probably be aware of this without Google’s commemorative display today, thanks to the world’s most popular search engine, everyone knows.

‘Sesame Street’ anniversary celebrations

Besides starting its 40th season on PBS Nov. 10, the “Sesame Street” anniversary and Big Bird’s birthday will be commemorated with some late-night appearances and new merchandise. “Sesame Street” had to rely on donations to PBS just like every other show in the beginning, but I’m sure it makes most of its money now from merchandise such as lunch boxes and toys.

Tonight, Big Bird will appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” While the former star of “The Man Show” and every kid’s favorite giant bird seem an unlikely pair, Kimmel and his audience were kids once, too, and no doubt have fond memories of Big Bird. In fact, Jimmy Kimmel was only 2 when Big Bird was born. On Monday, Elmo and Rosita will be on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

‘Sesame Street’ anniversary video contest

If you don’t want to stay up past midnight to celebrate the “Sesame Street” anniversary, you can head to the “Sesame Street” web site. Smartly targeting the demographic that uses the Internet most, Grover invites you to vote for your favorite “Sesame Street” video from the ’80s.

In the “Sesame Street” 40th anniversary collection section, you can purchase a Big Bird on Google T-shirt. There are also DVDs, cookbooks and a corduroy version of Elmo available.

‘Sesame Street’ today

I think there’s no argument that “Sesame Street” is the longest-running show ever. Having a cast made up of puppets has allowed the show to keep some of the same characters throughout its four-decade run. In fact, if you visit the “Sesame Street” web site today, Bert and Ernie will perform a cheeky little sketch to inform you that today is Sing a Song Day.

So sing a song, vote for a video and buy a T-shirt to ensure that there will be many more Big Bird birthdays and “Sesame Street” anniversaries to come. Think of the children!

Millions of Americans who can't find work could benefit from the unemploment extension vote.

The unemployment extension vote that took place Tuesday cleared the way for the unemployment extension bill to make its way through Congress. The House has passed the bill, which would allow unemployed workers to collect benefits for an additional 13 weeks beyond what is already allotted.

Originally, the bill specified that only states that have unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher would receive the benefits, but that provision has been amended. Because some states with lower overall unemployment rates have areas with very high unemployment, the bill was amended to include all states. Another unemployment extension vote must take place before the benefits will be extended.

Unemployment extension vote sorely needed

The nation’s unemployment rate is hovering uncomfortably near 10 percent, at 9.8 percent, and several million Americans are scheduled to stop receiving unemployment benefits before the end of the year. People who aren’t getting payday cash rely heavily on unemployment benefits.

The bill would provide emergency unemployment compensation for people who are actively seeking work but unable to find it. If the Senate passes the bill when it holds the unemployment extension vote, job seekers would have another three months to try to find jobs while still collecting unemployment insurance.

Why unemployment extension is needed

Out-of-work citizens who are collecting unemployment must actively seek work. In the state I live in, people are require to apply for three jobs per week in order to be eligible for unemployment. Though the jobs the insured applies for do not have to be in the person’s field, people aren’t required to accept job offers unless the pay and position match their previous job.

People in many different fields are having a very tough time finding work during this recession. Many people often think that someone who is collecting unemployment should take whatever job he or she can get, but the reality is that sometimes people can make a lot more from unemployment than they’d make working at Starbucks. Extending unemployment benefits would allow people more time to find a suitable job in the right field of work. This could prevent people from having to uproot their families and move for a job or accept positions below their skill levels.

As anyone who has tried to find a job during this recession knows, the unemployment extension vote could greatly help or hurt millions of Americans.

Drama in the unemployment extension vote

So far, there have been some near scuffles involving the unemployment extension vote. Congress held a cloture vote Tuesday, which is simply a vote agreeing that they should proceed to have a vote on the bill. This was necessary because some members were unable to reach an agreement regarding amendments to the bill.

Sen. Harry Ried at one point threatened to hold a vote at midnight this morning. That would have been the soonest time Congress could legally vote on the bill, as it was 30 hours after the cloture vote. He didn’t follow through with holding the unemployment extension vote at midnight, but the bill passed in House anyway.

Do you think the tax credit will stimulate home sales?

A Senate committee on Wednesday reached an agreement regarding the first time home buyer tax credit. If they have their way, the first time home buyer tax credit wouldn’t be just for first-time home buyers anymore.

If lawmakers approve, the tax credit will be extended to people who have owned and lived in their houses for at least five years. Also, the credit was set to expire Nov. 30, but the proposal will extend it to April 2010.

Details on first time home buyer tax credit

I don’t know what they are going to call the first time home buyer  tax credit once it’s not for first time home buyers anymore, but I do know that the credit will change from the original $8,000 to $6,500. Obviously, the first time home buyer tax credit does not put quick cash in the hands of people making the biggest purchase of their lives, but it does give them a $6,500 discount on what they owe the federal government.

So, potentially, if an individual or couple pays their taxes in full, they could get a check for $6,500 come tax time. But not just anyone. The credit will be available to couples making up to $250,000 per year or individuals who make $125,000 or less. Right now, couples making $150,00 per year or less and individuals with salaries of $75,000 or less are eligible for the first time home buyer tax credit.

My, how stimulating

So, if the Democrats on the Senate Committee who drew up this proposal have their way, the first time home buyer tax credit would be extended to a lot more people — people who make more money, people who have already owned houses, people who want to buy a house after Nov. 30. Clearly the government is attempting to stimulate the housing market, which has been and still is in a slump.

Last month, home sales in the U.S. fell to the lowest levels seen since 1982. Of course, a $6,500 tax credit is not enough to get people who were not previously considering buying to go out and sign mortgage papers. However, for those who have been thinking about it, this not-just-for-first-time home buyers tax credit might be the push that they need.

Remember the mortgage crisis

Of course, anyone who is considering buying a home should not let this first time home buyer tax credit convince them to do something risky. Remember the whole sub-prime mortgage crisis? Yeah, that was the thing that pushed us into a huge, foreclosure-filled recession. So home buyers must make sure, tax credit or not, that they do not sign up for a mortgage they cannot afford.

Your monthly mortgage payments should be no more than one-third of your income, and even that is a little much if you ask me. There is no such thing as “a good time to buy” for everyone. Whether buying a house is a smart decision depends on your financial situation, and yours alone. The price of the home and its possible value in the future doesn’t matter as much as whether  you can realistically afford your house payments.

Scammers at  every turn

It remains to be seen whether this new version of the so-called first time home buyer tax credit will pass. Many critics have pointed out that a lot of people scammed the government out of $8,000 when they were ineligible for the tax credit.

Some people scammed the government by getting the credit even though they were not purchasing their first home. The new version of the tax credit would deem this a non-problem. Trouble is a lot of people pulled off getting the tax credit without purchasing homes. That scam is one that hurts fellow taxpayers because it does not stimulate home sales, and it does bilk the government out of much-needed funds.

Image from every-passing-moment.blogspot.com.

Avid Michael Jackson fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of documentary film “This Is It” for quite sometime. Now, the day has finally come, as “This Is It” hits theaters tomorrow.

People will go to great lengths for Michael Jackson. After his death, people scraped together money and got unsecured loans to go visit Neverland Ranch or the Staples Center during the funeral. Michael Jackson’s undeniable — and possibly unparalleled — popularity will no doubt have fans flocking to theaters. However, that’s not the only reason I predict “This Is It” will be a box office smash.

Can’t compete with Michael Jackson

Besides having a built-in and enthusiastic fan base, “This Is It” also happens to be the only new film coming out this week. That is pretty surprising to me, considering that Friday is Halloween. It seems to me that releasing a big horror film on Halloween weekend would be a good idea.

So that leads us to the question of cause and effect. When “This Is It” makes tons of money at the box office, will it be because of Michael Jackson fans? Or will it be because there’s nothing else new in the theaters? Also, did all the other filmmakers decide not to release movies on the same weekend as “This Is It” because they were afraid they couldn’t compete? If that’s not the reason, what is? Why isn’t anyone releasing films over Halloween weekend?

Can’t compete with Halloween

Of course, another logical conclusion is that filmmakers and theaters assume that no one wants to go to the movies on Halloween. With trick-or-treating for parents and kids and so many parties going on, it’s understandable that people might assume opening a movie on Halloween would guarantee it a bad opening weekend.

However, I am sure that horror movie fanatics would love nothing more than to catch a scary, gory film on Halloween night. I’m sure if “Saw VI” came out on Halloween, plenty of the film series’ fans would make sure to include it in their plans. Obviously, the film has a huge fan base, as it’s currently second place for box office earnings. The only film making more money than “Saw VI” right now is “Paranormal Activity,” another scary movie.

About ‘This Is It’

I have seen trailers for “This Is It” that feature Michael Jackson dancing on stage just like the good old days. I am sure a lot of fans will be happy and comforted to see footage of the King of Pop in the days before he passed. Mostly, I think fans will be glad to have new images in their heads to replace the photos that came out following Jackson’s death.

The Official web site for “This Is It” says the documentary film is compiled from more than 100 hours a video. ” ‘This Is It’ will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place starting this summer.”

You can get tickets and see showtimes directly through the “This Is It” web site…

Banks have suffered through the recession with huge mortgage industry defaults, but a new fear that credit cards will do the same is looming. Ken Lewis, Bank of America CEO, stated he believes that despite the government’s $700 billion rescue program, it will be “an awful year” for credit cards and companies that issue them.

It’s estimated there are almost $76 billion in credit card loans, and more than half of that debt is held by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.

The charge-off rate

Already setting the stage for disaster is the banking industry’s estimate that  their charge-off accounts have reached a historic high of 7.73 percent. Most experts anticipate that figure will increase, as the unemployment rate is still dangerously high.  This rate is commonly accepted as the most accurate indicator of future losses in the banking, mortgage and credit card industries.

Analyst Mike Taiano believes that the charge-off rate could be higher than 10 percent by year’s end. “With the economy the way it is, most consumers are still struggling. … Though there are some indicators that we are through the recession, there is still a long way to go to recover,” he said.

Bracing for the loss

Unlike the recession of the ’80s, when unemployment rates ran high also, this generation brings its own set of problems. First, new proposed legislation is set to allow consumers to request their banks reduce their mortgage debt if they have filed bankruptcy. Experts are fearful that this will cause more people to file bankruptcy so they can default on credit cards and other outstanding debts.

On the brighter side

David Robertson, publisher of the Nilson Report, stated that it’s “encouraging” that banks are adept at maneuvering recessionary periods after “years of practice.” When facing credit card losses, they know what cautionary actions to take.

For example, banks are slashing limits already and raising interest rates to bring in as much revenue as possible.  They are also working their customer service teams exceptionally hard, encouraging communication with customers. American Express is a leader in the mitigation process and recently offered their credit card holding customers a $300 cash-back return if they paid their account balances off and the closed their accounts before April.

Citibank

There is also news that Citibank is joining the ranks of a banks coming up with strategies to mitigate loss.  The company is looking to work out a joint venture for its private credit card division that serves retailers, as a way of moving out of the credit card business altogether.  However, experts say Citibank is alone in wanting to distance themselves from the credit card industry.

Most banks know they will have a difficult time attracting a completely new set of customers and would rather work hard to keep the ones they have, while easing their own risk.  Stuart Gunn, director of Bridge Strategy Group, stated: “If you want to be the retail bank of choice, it means you have to have CDs, debit cards, home equity loans and credit cards. Do you really want to exit one of the major lines of business?”

Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota votes for people over corporations. (Photo: flickr.com)

Following one of the more vile incidents against a woman in American history, the Senate has voted in favor of Sen. Al Franken’s amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that gives the government the right to withhold defense contracts (no small cash loans, either) from companies like Halliburton/KBR (not just that company) that deny employees from taking “workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court,” reports Think Progress.

If you aren’t already aware, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by Halliburton/KBR co-workers in Iraq during the year 2005. After the tragic incident, she was imprisoned in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed. If small cash loans could have bought a human conscience, perhaps her captors could have found it within themselves to stop.

Talk and Lose Your Job

Furthermore, she was told that if she went against the company’s mandatory arbitration clause and sought treatment and justice outside, she’d lose her job. Apparently Jones was not alone in receiving this type of treatment. Considering that multiple source tend to corroborate that Halliburton/KBR’s record with cases that went to their “independent” arbitrator, one wonders why they even bothered with the charade of mandatory arbitration clauses.

Here’s What Sen. Franken Proposed

And Here’s the GOP Rebuttal

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) called it “a political attack directed at Halliburton,” and Franken’s response (read the amendment yourself) was that “This amendment does not single out a single contractor. This amendment would defund any contractor that refuses to give a victim of rape their day in court.”

(Photo: wikipedia.org)

For the record, here are the 30 who voted against the Franken amendment:

• Alexander (R-TN)
• Barrasso (R-WY)
• Bond (R-MO)
• Brownback (R-KS)
• Bunning (R-KY)
• Burr (R-NC)
• Chambliss (R-GA)
• Coburn (R-OK)
• Cochran (R-MS)
• Corker (R-TN)
• Cornyn (R-TX)
• Crapo (R-ID)
• DeMint (R-SC)
• Ensign (R-NV)
• Enzi (R-WY)
• Graham (R-SC)
• Gregg (R-NH)
• Inhofe (R-OK)
• Isakson (R-GA)
• Johanns (R-NE)
• Kyl (R-AZ)
• McCain (R-AZ)
• McConnell (R-KY)
• Risch (R-ID)
• Roberts (R-KS)
• Sessions (R-AL)
• Shelby (R-AL)
• Thune (R-SD)
• Vitter (R-LA)
• Wicker (R-MS)

If you’re interested in telling your senator what you think, I encourage you to do so. You elected these officials, and they are accountable to you. If you need small cash loans to pay for the ever-increasing cost of postage or Internet bandwidth, click the button to apply. Be a citizen of a representative democracy.

Jaime Leigh Jones’ Response

Jones made an appearance with Sen. Franken following the vote. “It means the world to me,” she said. “It means that every tear shed to go public and repeat my story over and over again to make a difference for other women was worth it.”

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If you already own a Kindle, you could save a bunch of money on "Whitopia." Image from wikimedia.

Rich Benjamin’s book “Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America” came out today, and already it’s getting all kinds of attention. In the book, African-American author Benjamin chronicles his experiences as he lives in and studies Whitopias, which he explains are “whiter than the nation, its respective region, and its state.”

I was a little nervous to find out what Benjamin has to say about Whitopias, considering that I have lived in or near some of the places he writes about. However, a woman from Cour d’Alene, one of the Whitopias where Benjamin lived for a while, says the “writing is phenomenal, and it’s hard to put down.” Those don’t sound like the words of a woman who is offended. Either that or people from North Idaho like being painted as racist hicks. Who knows?

‘Whitopia’ for sale online

Amazon.com is selling “Whitopia” for $24.99 for the hardcover version. If you own a Kindle, you can buy “Whitopia” for $9.99. You might not need easy cash loans to get the text, but a Kindle will run you about $300, so you might need a no fax payday loan for that.

I think Benjamin is going to make a killing on this novel. I predict “Whitopia” will show up on the bestseller list.

‘Whitopia’ excerpt

To get an idea of what “Whitopia” is really about, here is an excerpt from the book, which I found posted on NPR.

If so, you would join a growing number of white Americans homesteading in a constellation of small towns and so-called “exurbs” that are extremely white. They are creating communal pods that cannily preserve a white-bread world, a throwback to an imagined past with “authentic” 1950s values and the nifty suburban amenities available today.

I think that whether the author thinks the people in these Whitopias are racist depends on whether he believes they are creating these mostly white communities on purpose. North Idaho definitely has a reputation in surrounding areas of being racist, while southern Utah is generally considered white by religion.

Race in America

Regardless of whether Whitopias are racist, Benjamin is racist or everyone is racist, this book is bound to sell very well, simply based on the fact that rascism is a hot topic in America, and it’s getting hotter every day.

Swine flu may come, even if you wash your hands and use good judgment. But with the stated H1N1 vaccine risks, will you be getting the shot? (Photo: flickr.com)

Flu season is fast approaching, and many people are concerned about whether H1N1 – more commonly known as the “swine flu” – will devastate entire communities. When cooler heads prevail, however, it’s easy to see that H1N1 isn’t all that different from any other flu in any other year.

If you aren’t an infant, elderly or suffering from a serious health ailment that would make contracting the flu a danger (this is the biggest thing, truly), there isn’t much to worry about.

Wash your hands regularly, use a surgical mask if you’re sick and have to go out in public and deal with H1N1 the way you would any normal flu. Take in nutrients, get rest and try not to expose others.

It’s common sense, the same way same day loans can float a budget in the short term during an emergency.

There Are H1N1 Vaccine Risks, Anyway

Some people will opt for the H1N1 vaccine, whether it is because they are at risk or that they think flu shots are essential. However, there are medical experts that have stated their concerns over H1N1 vaccine risks. This leaves people in the position of having to decide whether the vaccine is worth the risk or worse than simply contracting the flu and letting normal immune systems deal with the invader.

According to the Center For Disease Control, high risk individuals are children under 2; those over 65; pregnant ladies; people with chronic asthma, diabetes or HIV; and children younger than 19 who are involved in aspirin therapy. For these groups, the shot may be worth it. There are even locations that will deliver it for free or at a discounted rate, depending upon a patient’s financial situation.

But What About GBC Risk?

Also known as Guillain-Barré syndrome, it is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to death. However, Dr. Jennifer Ashton estimates that this risk is “only 1 in a million vaccines.”

However, since I’m not in an “at risk” group, I’ll take the flu instead. Since I have young children, I have more to consider. Yet it is my belief – based upon my understanding of the evidence – that H1N1 vaccine risks are just another sign that the more you look for loopholes, the more you’ll find.

I am not concerned about my children dying due to swine flu. Common sense treatment and doctors (if necessary) are all they’ll likely need if the swine flu comes to call. If I need financial backup, I’ll consider same day loans.

Mortgage loan modification programs aim to make these signs less popular. Image from Flikr.

Consumers seeking debt relief may be one step closer, if the president has his way. President Obama is set to revamp financial products in an effort to protect borrowers from delinquency and foreclosures. The recession has brought the number of defaulting loans and people losing their houses to record highs. It caused the lending and banking crash, that pushed banks and lenders perilously close to complete financial ruin.

The goal of the government is to make the loan process as simple as possible for consumers. They cite the intricate and wordy loans of the past as the number one cause people defaulted on their loans in the first place.  Their vision is to create an easy loan process that works with the customer instead of the lending institution.  The Obama administration has taken a lesson from the new 401(k) procedure where a record number of companies are automatically signing new employees up for the retirement savings plan, unless they opt out. The same ease of inclusion that is a characteristic of 401(k)s will hopefully be enacted with home loans.

The financial overhaul

Several weeks ago, Obama unveiled his plan to overhaul the financial regulatory system by creating a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. The purpose of the agency would be to “monitor consumer financial products and revamp the entire home-loan process.”  In March the administration began embarking on its $50 billion plan to aid lenders in modifying home loans and lowering payments for customers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Agency is the next step to making housing affordable. As spokesperson Gary Ulbreicht stated, “The initial stimulus for the lending industry was for short-term help. … It’s meant for people who are currently in trouble and need assistance. The Consumer Financial Protection Agency is for long-term change. …Hopefully, it will successfully monitor financial actions of lenders for years to come.”

Critics of the plan

Critics of the plan maintain that its slow start will deter any real change for desperate consumers.  Many lending counselors are criticizing the plan, stating that lenders and banks nationwide are reluctant to cooperate.  Currently, approximately 50,000 homeowners are enrolled in a three-month trial mortgage modification program under this plan. However, initial goals of the administration were for 4 million households to be on board by this time.

Critics are also saying that the plan is paternalistic and would “restrict borrowers’ options and make loans harder to get and potentially more expensive.”  Making loans more difficult to procure would make consumer debt relief impossible.  Once that happens, people will stop spending again and less money will be fueling the economy. This situation could create an even greater recession for the entire market.

Still help is needed

Despite criticisms, the reality is that help is needed in the mortgage arena.  Although there is a fear that the Obama administration is limiting loan products and thwarting innovation, if they can make loans more affordable for the many homeowners in serious financial trouble, it might be worth it. Once homeowners can get a handle on their mortgages, they will be able to  work on complete debt relief.

Possibly the standard “30-year fixed mortgage” that so many critics are decrying is just the thing the nation needs to get back on its feet.  Kevin Iverson, mortgage broker for Reed Mortgage Corp., stated, “This country’s home owning pool was built on the 30-year fixed mortgage. …It worked to create a steady base of homeowners who could pay their bills and at the end of that time, owned their homes. Why not get rid of all the diverse and confusing loans and return to the old model?  It worked for the country once, why won’t it work again?”

Barack Obama touts health care everywhere he goes. Image from Wikimedia.

Many consumers are struggling with debt relief because of the huge cost of health care.  Congress has taken the cause up as one of its most pertinent issues to sort out, and President Obama is targeting it as a strong focus throughout his presidency.

Although the topic is much cause for debate among congressional leaders and experts, they all agree that at the center of the issue lies the average health care provider.

Patient-centered medical home

The health care industry has introduced a new term: “patient-centered medical home.”  This refers to the primary location for doctors to care for their patients, normally the doctor’s office.

At a patient-centered medical home, doctors would offer services ranging from flu shots to the management of chronic diseases. They would use the patient-centered medical home as a hub to coordinate care with nurses, pharmacists and specialists.  A study showed that if every patient had a central location for their health care needs, the resulting efficiency could reduce health care costs by 5.6 percent, or $67 billion annually, which would be a possible solution to debt relief for the industry.

The current doctor’s office

Today’s doctor’s office is a far cry from the optimum patient-centered medical home of the future. Research shows that the average patient spends just more than 7 minutes with their primary care physician, who gives superficial answers that focus on symptoms. Often times doctors send patients to chronic care specialists unnecessarily.  Many of these chronic ailments could be managed by the physician if he or she were willing to spend more time with the patient.

Another issue to address is the inefficiency of emergency rooms. Often  patients rush to emergency rooms for immediate care when their physician could realistically handle the issue.  Again, it becomes an issue of time and individualized care by doctors.

Reform

The patient-centered medical home is reminiscent of the “gatekeeper” model of the 1990s. Managed-care was set in motion with the primary goal of managing costs.  Today’s model has a new focus: patient care.  Experts are touting that with new digital technologies to help, it is easier than ever for true health care industry reform to happen.

Health care today is known to be “disorganized and wasteful”, according to Dr. Paul H. Grundy, health-care transformationalist for IBM.  He also noted that health care eats up almost 18 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.  Most of the cost is shouldered by the private sector, that covers about 60 percent of the nation’s insured consumers. Grundy added that “employers can drive the medical-home idea as buyers of care.”  He believes that IBM’s Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, a coalition of more than 500 employers, insurers, consumer groups and doctors, can help to transform the industry as a whole and spur debt relief for the consumer.

There are also four large medical societies endorsing the medical-home concept, and beta programs are currently running in several states.  President Obama is also looking to the idea, saying that any health-care initiative should “encourage and provide appropriate payment for providers who implement the medical-home model.”

The optimum model

In Newport, Va., Dr. Peter Anderson is using the medical-home model. One example is his recent patient, 72-year old Gretchen Parker. Parker was diagnosed with diabetes last year and rather than put her on immediate insulin shots or medications, Dr. Anderson took a model approach.

He developed a plan for Parker to lose 55 pounds through diet and exercise. His team worked with her to best model a new lifestyle for the patient. Her blood sugar is now back to normal. This is an example of how the future of health care is going to be developed.

Health care

In the end, physicians are the key to reforming health care.  Though the model involves more detailed care and more time, the resulting efficiencies will be well worth it. If the health care industry can scale back costs and help employers, consumers, insurers and physicians find debt relief, then the changes will be well received.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) (Photo: wikipedia.org)

No long ago, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) screamed “You lie!” at President Obama during his presentation on health care reform before a joint session of Congress. Mr. Wilson was reprimanded for his lack of decorum and shall remain the butt of all those South Carolina jokes that aren’t already aimed at Governor Mark Sanford. Now, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has joined the parade of politicians making inappropriate (if comical) outbursts during governmental sessions. If their government salaries and lobbyist monies aren’t enough to fund decorum and comedy workshops for our elected officials, then perhaps a personal cash loan will do.

“Don’t Get Sick”

But if you do, “Die quickly.” That’s what Alan Grayson said the Republican plan for health care is these days, whether or not you have insurance. This wasn’t an off-the-cuff remark, either. As you can see in the video below, Alan Grayson had actually prepared placards in order to drive his point home before the House of Representatives. I suppose that not getting sick isn’t a viable option for most people who live their lives outside a bubble. I agree with Mr. Grayson there. But the “die quickly” part is part truth and part theater.

It’s a theater of horrors for many who can’t afford adequate insurance

Alan Grayson’s exact words were “If you get sick in America, this is what the Republicans want you to do: ‘If you get sick America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly,’” he said. Die quickly or you’ll just be a drain. And being a drain is such a drag.

According to CBS News, Alan Grayson’s act was a drag on the House. That’s why Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) and others from the “don’t get sick – die fast” party are seriously considering moving forward with a resolution of disapproval against Alan Grayson’s curt presentation. They did the same thing when they censured Joe Wilson, but of course Wilson had the gall to mouth off in front of the president.

What does this resolution say?

“The conduct of the Representative from Florida was a breach of decorum and degraded the integrity and proceedings of the House” is in part how it reads. And indeed it did. However, the problem may have been merely in Alan Grayson’s presentation. Considering the ridiculous amount of misinformation over health care reform that originated with the Republican party (plot to kill old people, plot to kill veterans, plot to kill white people, et al), I don’t think Alan Grayson’s comedy is too large a leap. But he needs to be respectful and more fact-based in presenting the germ of that idea.

The resolution has yet to be submitted

CBS indicates that Alan Grayson may have been given a chance to apologize on his own first. Up to this point, however, Mr. Grayson has refused to do so and has made no further comment on the matter. Perhaps he’s busy looking for a personal cash loan so that his reply can reach a comic crescendo, with props and all. Carrot Top may be on his speed dial, that’s all I’m saying.

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Your stimulus dollars at work, as recounted by the new Recovery.gov (Photo: flickr.com)

Is America’s economic engine running without knocks and pings yet? I would suggest that we are far from being out of the woods yet, despite pockets of stability. However, those who are ready to exclaim “mission accomplished” will most likely credit the Obama administration economic stimulus packages as the jolt that jumpstarted a nation. For the believers in the congregation, there is a Web site called Recovery.gov. Its purpose has been to track just how those stimulus dollars are being spent.

Yet Recovery.gov has had its own knocks and pings

According to numerous sources, Recovery.gov was nearly written off by many as yet another example of a government promise that failed to deliver. Critics levied charges that the information was either out-of-date or contradictory to other published information. People are looking to payday loans with no faxing to stimulate their budget between paychecks; they don’t want their government to mismanage their tax funds.

Recovery.gov has relaunched

Responding to this criticism may be a significant reason why Recovery.gov has relaunched. The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board told the New York Times that the site relaunched today (Monday, September 28, 2009). Recovery Board chair Earl Devaney has said that the new and improved Recovery.gov “will be very interactive and user-friendly and will allow the public to find detailed information on projects in their states, congressional districts, and even in their own neighborhoods.”

Think you see some shady deals?

The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board has also made a toll-free phone number available for taxpayers who suspect that stimulus funds are being used in a fraudulent manner. That number – (877) FWA-DESK gives us all a chance to be the watcher who watches the watchmen. Just think “Fraud, Waste and Abuse,” suggests the Recovery Board: F-W-A.

$787 billion in stimulus | Can Recovery.gov track it all?

That is a question that remains to be seen, despite the fact that Recovery.gov originally launched back in February 2009. However, Devaney defends the work that’s been done on the Web site. “We put up the most complex database of government spending, ever, in five or six months,” he told the Pittsburgh Tribune. “Normally, that would take a couple of years.”

He makes a valid point, as there’s quite a lot of data to track across the board. Payday loans with no faxing are easy to follow from origination to delivery and repayment, but you’re only dealing with one person at a time, rather than multiple infusions made into scores of national agencies. Obviously, a stimulus database will take time before its close to perfect. I just hope that President Obama’s promise of transparency will indeed be a promise fulfilled.

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The Senate says "no" to payday cash for ACORN (Photo: therealbarackobama.wordpress.com)

Is it any surprise? We’ve known for some time that ACORN is a questionable organization. The latest pimp and prostitute video is just the icing on the cake, comments the Hot Air blog. Now the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is halfway toward being blocked from continuing to give ACORN (Association  of Community Development Organizations for Reform Now) grants for such programs as mortgage counseling services. The Senate voted overwhelmingly – 83 to 7 – to cut funding. All that has to happen now is for the House or Representatives to agree in their vote and for President Obama to sign off. Considering that he may have had connections to ACORN during his community planning days in Illinois, it will be interesting to see how the president reacts when the bill to shut off the lights hits his desk.

ACORN will need private funding to continue operating

Perhaps a bit of payday cash? Seriously, who would consider it a good investment to fund an organization that encourages tax fraud, insurance fraud, voter fraud, defying the police with foreclosed property break-ins and subprime lending? ACORN founder Wade Rathke and cohort Martin Eakes from Self-Help Inc/Self-Help Credit Union couldn’t be pleased with the vote. Perhaps they should have thought about that before they played such a huge role in driving America’s economy into the ground with their strong-arm tactics at the dawn of the subprime mortgage lending debacle.

The Los Angeles Times reports at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-acorn15-2009sep15,0,3037782.story?track=rss that in addition to the pimp and prostitute video that recently came out of the Baltimore ACORN office, FOX News supposedly has aired videos depicting similar shenanigans in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C. The L.A. Times also indicates that the Census Bureau has washed their hands of ACORN and will not enlist the organization’s assistance in tabulating the 2010 Census. Considering that ACORN’s voter registration efforts have signed up such normal, everyday citizens as Mickey Mouse, can you blame the Census Bureau for running the other way?

The New York Times didn’t even think to assign a reporter

I don’t care if it directs negative publicity in Barack Obama’s direction, this ACORN senate vote story deserves serious attention. As it stands, the New York Times linked to the AP report of the story online – but they didn’t even mention it in their print edition. Any wonder that print journalism is dying? Segregating such a story to its blogs section is a clear sign that the New York Times is just as partisan as any other fish wrap that lines birdcages across this nation. Biased reporting, the availability of free online news (at least for a while longer) and the costs of newspaper production all make for a grim picture. Scores of journalists who have been given the boot need payday cash. They may even need housing assistance, but it doesn’t appear that ACORN will be able to help them any longer.

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America's Constitution is a landmark document that protects freedoms. Is our government still paying attention to the "powers not granted" part of the Tenth Amendment? (Photo: flickr.com)

As Constitution Day approaches this Thursday, September 17, some awake and aware teachers will consider Constitution Day activities for their students, write up Constitution Day lesson plans and make Constitution Day worksheets. Celebrating the set of principles that the founding fathers of America set forth to guard against the intrusion of tyrannical power into this country’s government is certainly an admirable thing to remember, as the U.S. Constitution continues to be a landmark document in human history.

And the fight against possible tyranny lives on

And that tyranny isn’t necessarily coming from the obvious sources some people might expect, such as the Taliban, North Korea or C Street House. On Constitution Day, some people will be celebrating what power the Constitution grants individual states, a power that some feel the federal government is ignoring. In particular, the Tenth Amendment will be in the spotlight on Constitution Day. To set the state, take a look at this Supreme Court ruling:

“The Tenth Amendment was intended to confirm the understanding of the people at the time the Constitution was adopted, that powers not granted to the United States were reserved to the States or to the people. It added nothing to the instrument as originally ratified.” — United States v. Sprague, 282 U.S. 716, 733 (1931).

Some states want America to return to governance via the Constitution

A press release by Michael Boldin of the Tenth Amendment Center suggests that America’s government has ignored that “powers not granted to the United States” portion of the Tenth Amendment. They have launched the “10-4 Candidate Pledge for the Constitution” in response to this. Their hope is that Constitution Day 2009 will energize and inform the people that regardless of their personal stance on the reforms the Obama administration is attempting to pass (including those that would excessively limit or ban pay day loan stores outright), it is believed there are certain areas of the law where individual states have the right to accept or nullify laws that come from the federal government.

In particular, there have been seven states so far in 2009 that have passed sovereignty resolutions under the 10th Amendment. Two states have nullified federal firearms regulation. In opposition to federal law, 13 states have enacted Medical Marijuana laws. In response to federal health care reform and the public option, three states are thinking about constitutional amendments that will allow their residents to opt-out of a federally controlled plan. Despite one’s personal opinions about President Obama’s plans, it’s difficult to argue that people should have the choice to go one way or the other. The Tenth Amendment Center (and numerous others) believe the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution grants states that power.

What is the 10-4 Pledge?

The 10-4 Pledge is 10 affirmations and promises behind which politicians may affix their stamp of approval. “All just political authority is derived from the People,” is one example. Another is that they will “always vote in favor of the Constitution of the United States. Every issue. Every time. No exceptions. No excuses.” The underlying theory here is that the Constitution is not in need of revision, but that the principles outlined remain relevant and hence should be followed in America’s current iteration of government. Politicians from Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and other states have signed on; how many more will follow?

Fear of too much power

That’s the reason America’s founding fathers created the Constitution, and that is what supporters of the 10-4 Pledge fear today. Government without limits is what England threatened to hold over Americans in colonial times; 10-4 supporters feel that President Obama’s vision of the federal government’s role in certain affairs also represents such an government unlimited platform. “We the People” were intended to be represented by the Constitution. Boldin and the Tenth Amendment Center would like to keep it that way.

Their research indicates that somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 powers were granted to the federal government by the Constitution, which leaves some rather significant holdovers that individual states can rule upon, including health care, “creation of free speech zones,” federal gun regulation, the “war” on drugs and more.

Not left, not right – for all Americans

Some issues aren’t easy to resolve through national partisan politics. The 10-4 Pledge is intended to remind politicians (and the public) that some issues need to be resolved “close to home,” on the state level. But “that’s just the opposite of how things are today,” says Boldin. “People (should be able to) find candidates for office who believe in the strict limitations on power that the Constitution stands for.”

Any pay day loan company should take note

A national government that is clearly in league with keeping Wall Street and the establishment healthy while largely ignoring the deepest financial needs of average people should drive people to question whether that’s the kind of governance they want. Constitution Day is a perfect opportunity to consider this, and the 10-4 Pledge could be a useful tool for those who feel that states should have the right to decide what works best for them when it comes to individual financial welfare – or anything else that plays a key role in individual freedom and welfare.

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Saving money is not as easy as it looks. Image from flikr.com

The government has always pushed for people to put money into personal savings. Now President Barack Obama has created ways that will actually make saving easier for workers.

Just like Personal Money store makes online payday loans easier, Obama has come up with these three ways for individuals to save money: auto-enrollment in retirement plans, issuing tax returns as savings bonds and putting unused sick or vacation days into 401k plans.

1. Auto-enrollment in retirement plans

This will not make retirement plans mandatory for employees, it will simply make it easier for employers to enroll their employees in the retirement plans. CNN Money explains:

To make it easier for smaller and medium-sized employers to automatically enroll workers into retirement plans, the administration will clear up some bureaucratic paper-work hurdles for employers to offer that option.

2. Tax returns as savings bonds

This one is pretty simple. Recently the government made it possible for tax payers to get their refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts rather than sending a paper check. Similarly, now tax payers will have the option of having their tax return issued in the form of government savings bonds.

Automatically converting your tax returns into government savings bonds means that your money will be automatically saved and it will earn a higher interest rate than it would at a normal bank. The longer you leave your money alone, the more you will make off of it.

3. Saving sick and vacation days

Many people do not use up their sick days or vacation days at work. For the vast majority, that means that they are wasted. The government now will make it easier for employers to convert their employees’ unused sick or vacation days into dollars invested in their 401k plans. Again, this isn’t a mandatory thing at all. Employers and employees have the option of whether they want to do it or not, it simply will be easier.

Why the extreme measures?

Before you start spouting off about big government and personal freedom, remember that all of these things are completely optional. No one — not employers or employees — is require to participate. However, the benefits of personal savings in relation to the economy are obvious to everyone, so as part of the effort to turn the recession around, the White House has come up with these ways to encourage and facilitate personal savings. Just in case you’re in doubt about whether this help is necessary, here are some statistics from CNN Money:

Even among those with savings in the bank, the nest egg is relatively lean. Of workers 55 years or older, about half have less than $50,000 in savings, excluding their homes and pensions, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Some of these measures will be very lucrative for people. Unfortunately, these only help people who have jobs and qualify for tax returns. Saving money and investing wisely is very important, and I for one am glad to see that the government isn’t just talking about the fact that people should save money, but is actually taking steps to make it easier. I hope we will see more measures like this in the future, and that we can find a way to help people who don’t have 401ks and tax returns.

Remembering the lives of those who are no more, honoring those who serve America in a 9 11 moment of silence. (Photo: defenselink.mil)

A 9 11 Moment of Silence
Filling the hole inside us with
Memories
A reason beyond politics,
A cause
A light that cannot be extinguished

In honor of the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a 9 11 moment of silence was observed in numerous places across the nation. According to the Associated Press at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j_uiAU6uwN5XVEsj-xdaXFFL0ZYAD9AL29AO0, President Obama took the lead as he and First Lady Michelle Obama observed a 9 11 moment of silence today at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Time, which is the moment at which American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center eight years ago. Afterward, a wreath-laying ceremony occurred at the Pentagon memorial, where an additional 184 people were slain. As a part of this day of remembrance, the president and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will meet with victims’ relatives.

An E-mail sent to White House staff

FOX News claims that they obtained an E-mail that was sent to all White House staff regarding the 9 11 moment of silence. As FOX is generally quick to accuse the current administration of latching onto moments like 9 11 solely for political gain, it will be nice to see the people of America prove them wrong. I hope that the public bands together to put together their own memorials and bars FOX from covering them, in fact. If online cash loans were needed for all the flowers they bought in memory of the fallen, I say it is money well loaned and well spent.

The E-mail message establishes the time of the 9 11 moment of silence and invites all Office of the White House, Office of Policy Development and Office of the Vice President personnel to gather with President Obama and the First Lady on the South Lawn for the 9 11 moment of silence. Those unable to attend the ceremony are urged to observe the 9 11 moment of silence where they’re working.

Nearly 3,000 died on September 11, 2001

New York, Washington, Pennsylvania and locations across America observed the 9 11 moment of silence. In New York, multiple news sources report that friends and family of those who died read the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died as a result of the attacks and the destructive aftermath.

In addition to the 8:46 a.m. 9 11 moment of silence in Washington D.C., a separate ceremony went on at the Pentagon where American Airlines Flight 77 struck. Another moment of silence was observed in New York at 9:03 a.m., when the second airliner (United Airlines Flight 175) hit the World Trade Center. Just before 10 a.m. Eastern Time, the 40 passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 were remembered with a 9 11 moment of silence in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Some polls indicate people still fear terrorist attack on American soil

Eight years have passed since the events of September 11, 2001. Some polls indicate that the perceived level of threat – while less than half what it was at the time of the terrorist attacks – is still significant. A CNN poll shows that 34 percent of Americans feel that another act of terrorism is “likely in the next few weeks.” Only 60 percent of those polled are confident that the Obama administration is keeping America safe. I’d like to know how many of those people are from South Carolina, believe that Joe Wilson was right to shout “You lie!” at the president during a joint session of Congress or think that being “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” is a legitimate mental health condition.

A name was added to the list of 9/11 dead this year

The New York Times reports that Leon Bernard Heyward’s name increased the total number of 9/11 casualties to 2,752. Mr. Heyward died in October of 2008 due to complications caused by exposure to dust after the collapse of the World Trade Center. A Bronx resident, Heyward was a father of two who worked for New York’s Department of Consumer Affairs. He was one of many people on the street who helped evacuate people before the first tower collapsed. His service to his fellow man will not be forgotten, just as the lives of all who died on that dark day will live on in the collective memory of this nation. Personal Money Store helps people apply for online cash loans; those who fell while serving others on 9/11 are heroes who deserve a 9 11 moment of silence.

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President Obama's school speech is meant to encourage, not indoctrinate. (Photo: flickr.com)

It’s a ridiculous question, of course. Can’t we all appreciate that the president wants our youth to work hard and achieve a bright future for themselves and America as a whole? Because the more well-prepared, motivated young people who enter the adult world, the better this country will be as a whole. From money lenders to structural engineers, a world of jobs will need to be filled. There’s nothing complicated or – dare I say – nefarious about that. Yet that’s exactly what critics are complaining about with the Obama school speech. They need something to gripe about to give themselves purpose, so they claim it’s all part of “the agenda.”

And the Obama administration has bent over backward to please these people. They even released Obama’s school speech text. Is that conclusive enough evidence to dispel the notion that some unspeakable evil is about to be wrought upon our impressionable youth?

The uproar is “silly”

That’s what Secretary of Education Arne Duncan calls the unsupported furor over Obama’s planned address to the schoolchildren of America. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has stated that “It’s a sad state of affairs that many in this country politically would rather start an ‘Animal House’ food fight rather than inspire kids to stay in school, to work hard, to engage parents to stay involved.”

According to the New York Times, the Obama school speech is intended to encourage kids to “dream big dreams, respect their teachers, study hard and learn from failure.” We all fall down at times; we do so in order to learn to pick ourselves up again. Nothing could be more serious. This is what we owe ourselves.

President Obama will deliver the school speech at noon Eastern Time from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, but it will be broadcast live to schools across the nation. Most of America’s 15,000 school districts plan to show the Obama school speech, and accommodations will be made for the few whose parents object to their children viewing the speech. Why a parent would object to what has been revealed to be an inspirational message is beyond me. If there are other reasons, then I would ask why the child is in a public school system to begin with. It is self-defeating to leave the child in public school if the parents have no intention of allowing that child to assimilate into the general public sphere. I would say that it damage’s the child’s psyche, but I’m a writer and concerned citizen… what’s that worth?

It’s about taking personal responsibility

Guilford County Schools of North Carolina Chief of Staff Nora Carr finds that the Obama school speech planned for the children of America is nothing controversial. On the contrary, it’s something “refreshing,” particularly from a politician. Taking personal responsibility for one’s actions and decisions has been a foreign concept for politicians in America of late, particularly with those who cheat on their wives and spend taxpayer money illegally. Don’t worry, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina, I’m not naming any names.

Before the text of the Obama school speech was released by the White House, certain parents in Guilford County School District were angry like a number of those in red state pockets around the Bible belt. There were also those who were upset that school districts were allowing parents the option to opt out. While I do think parents should have such an option, it seems odd to me that they wouldn’t want their children to be involved in building up their country. Narrow-mindedness leads to a lack of intellectual diversity. Choking out ideas with the weeds of narrow fundamentalism teaches children to submit to authority and stifle creativity in deference to the party line. If all of the Republican complainers think that the Obama “agenda” is enslaving children, they ought to look in the mirror first.

This isn’t mandatory, folks

Nor should it be. As I’ve said, parents should indeed have a say in what their children are taught in schools. Not control, but a say. If they want their children out, they should have that right. Some schools are even opting out, which I suppose is also their right, although again, I don’t see why they would unless it’s true that they’re actually too busy. School has just begun around the country, so this is understandable.

Speech is OK; now let’s attach the Obama school speech lesson plan!

Work hard at your education, students. (Photo: flickr.com)

The Obama school speech lesson plan has also been controversial. The same people who initially opposed any sort of speech from Obama to America’s schoolchildren had gripes over the lesson plan the White House provided as supplementary material in case teachers wanted it. In particular, discussion points like “Write letters about what they (students) can do to help the president” were interpreted as some sort of mandatory service call, which is ludicrous. What’s wrong with helping the president if children choose to do so? Such a question does not exist in a vacuum; it is part of much larger discussion, one that includes not only teachers, but parents and caregivers as well. Talking about what kids can do is not a call for mandatory service, but a chance for them to use their imaginations and decide how they might go on to interact with their world in a positive way. Hiding from the world – whether it be due to political or religious fundamentalist views – does not provide a real growth environment. Children must have guidance, but they must also be allowed to interact with the world around them.

But the squeaky wheel got the grease and the question on the optional supplemental lesson plan was changed. Yes, it’s an OPTIONAL supplemental plan. Please find something productive to do with your lives, objectors. Now it reads: “Write (a letter to yourself) about how (you) can achieve short‐term and long‐term education goals.” Sure, it does make the meaning more clear for those who can only see in black and white… I suppose catering to the lowest common denominator in America isn’t a completely foreign concept.

The president struggled to get to where he is now

And it’s that kind of message Mr. Obama wants to get across to children: the road will be hard. There will be bumps. But if you commit to hard work, it will eventually pay off. Whether junior becomes a lion tamer or a money lender, hard work and a commitment to being the best they can be in their chosen field is what will lead to their own success. A society made up of such motivated individuals will not be predisposed to fail. Education is the key toward a better America.

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