Do you want to know how to get rich? There are so many ways! According to late-night television there is real estate and buying products wholesale just to name a few. Some individuals only need to think the right thoughts or have faith in some unseen power to receive the wealth they so richly deserve. There are of course "those" who do not want you to know this secret information. For almost every penny you have you will be allowed into the information seller's inner sanctum. You can be one of the lucky few allowed to know what the secret is.
The above paragraph pretty much sums up every come on one might hear from "get rich quick" schemes. There are so many. They involve products, land, signing up other suckers or just the selling of information itself. Some shysters try to convince you it is all in how you think. You must not be afraid to be wealthy. Yeah right! Who among us could be offered a wheelbarrow full of cash and be "too afraid" to take it?
There are legitimate ways to gain wealth. They take knowledge, patience, time and hard work. There are no shortcuts. There is no secret. Let us use a bit of logic for a moment. If you knew of a surefire way to gain riches would you be so stupid as to tell anyone about it? Of course not! Why would you want others to take away what you work so hard for? The last thing you need is competition!
So many informercials offer some system that guarantees your bank account will grow. They have web sites and books that are yours as soon as you give forth your credit card number. Even then there is further help and information to be had. Again you must fork over more of your hard earned money. When does it end? It ends when you wake up or when your money runs out.
P.T. Barnum is quoted as saying that a sucker is born every minute and two to take him. Do not be that sucker. Do not be the one who cheats the unwary either. Anything worth having takes time. The more you want the more effort it will take. These snake-oil salesman have been around since the beginning of time. Do your homework. Reign in your greed. Be a critical thinker and do not let yourself be caught in their web of lies. I know you are smarter than that.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
People And Pedestals
I have a few disparate ideas I wish to talk about. They both involve how we treat people. In one case we take advantage of them. In another we take them for granted. I have a real problem with the usury rates of interest being charged to low-income borrowers. I also find it hypocritical that so many suddenly miss and mourn Michael Jackson. Both points are on my mind and both reflect what I call wrong-thinking.
A well-worn saying is "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Banks charge fees when your account is overdrawn. If you have no money to begin with how can you pay extra fees on top of it? If you are desperate for a car there are companies that will provide you financing. The interest rates they charge add up to almost half a house payment. The worst abuse comes in the form of payday loans.
Some people may receive these loans in their communities. Others see commercials on television. Wherever you get your loan you should be ready to pay a lot of money for a very long time. The interest rates can climb into the 500% range and higher. The fine print is rarely read and the traps laid out are many. I wish I had better advice for those who use these loan services, other than to say, just do not do it!
Regarding the death of pop icon Michael Jackson the whole thing has gone too far. People who could not have cared less about him are suddenly crying on camera and declaring their undying love. Naturally his music is selling like hotcakes. The media is eating this up. They love nothing better than speculation and controversy. This all begins when we place people on such high pedestals.
Everyday people deserve admiration because, unlike entertainers, they do not expect it. We behave as if stars are such perfect people that we forget that they are merely human after all. When some famous person does something that goes against our perceptions we respond in shock. Why should we be surprised that stars are not gods? The higher we put them the farther they have to fall when they inevitably show their true colors.
We abuse the less fortunate by asking for more than they can afford to give. We shun the more fortunate when they reveal their humanity. Let us not push down nor raise up our fellow human beings. Let us see people for what they are. We are fallible creatures. We need, love, bleed and die. Only God gives when we do not deserve it or spare us punishment when we have earned it. The rest of us should simply try to do what is right and get along with our fellow men and women.
A well-worn saying is "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Banks charge fees when your account is overdrawn. If you have no money to begin with how can you pay extra fees on top of it? If you are desperate for a car there are companies that will provide you financing. The interest rates they charge add up to almost half a house payment. The worst abuse comes in the form of payday loans.
Some people may receive these loans in their communities. Others see commercials on television. Wherever you get your loan you should be ready to pay a lot of money for a very long time. The interest rates can climb into the 500% range and higher. The fine print is rarely read and the traps laid out are many. I wish I had better advice for those who use these loan services, other than to say, just do not do it!
Regarding the death of pop icon Michael Jackson the whole thing has gone too far. People who could not have cared less about him are suddenly crying on camera and declaring their undying love. Naturally his music is selling like hotcakes. The media is eating this up. They love nothing better than speculation and controversy. This all begins when we place people on such high pedestals.
Everyday people deserve admiration because, unlike entertainers, they do not expect it. We behave as if stars are such perfect people that we forget that they are merely human after all. When some famous person does something that goes against our perceptions we respond in shock. Why should we be surprised that stars are not gods? The higher we put them the farther they have to fall when they inevitably show their true colors.
We abuse the less fortunate by asking for more than they can afford to give. We shun the more fortunate when they reveal their humanity. Let us not push down nor raise up our fellow human beings. Let us see people for what they are. We are fallible creatures. We need, love, bleed and die. Only God gives when we do not deserve it or spare us punishment when we have earned it. The rest of us should simply try to do what is right and get along with our fellow men and women.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Corporate Fear
Intellectual property brings with it certain inherent rights. Ideas should be protected. Making money from your ideas is the American way. Companies pay employees for their ideas. Quite a bit of income is earned in the process. There is no harm in this until a better idea comes along to threaten a company's supremacy. Bad things occur when companies, seeing a threat to their bottom line, stand in the way of progress. Innovation is stifled and competition is eliminated. This should not be the way America does business.
Automobile manufacturers have fought for decades against more fuel-efficient vehicles. They have done their best to convince us that bigger is better. We have been more than willing to play along. The car has always been a status symbol. We love to thumb our collective noses at progress. Hummer owners especially are enamored with their suburban assault vehicles. Driving to the grocery store or dry cleaner is always fraught with danger!
Even when electric vehicles were being built most car makers were unhappy. Any threat to the "big 3's" dominance resulted, and still does, in increased lobbying efforts. Our environment never stood a chance against all of the money flowing to politicians. It should therefore be no surprise that the first electric cars were junked. Even now when some automakers work toward more fuel-efficient modes of transportation they are only throwing us the proverbial bone.
Cars will get more miles to the gallon. How many and how long it will take is the question. They will not become substantially better; better for the Earth or better for our pocketbooks. Auto makers and politicians will always be willing bedfellows. Let us not forget the energy companies. Oil, whether for our gas tanks or for our manufacturing processes, will be number one for many years to come. Alternative energy sources have a hard row to hoe.
King coal has been putting out a lot of propaganda as of late. Their commercials suggest that their product is a clean energy source. Who are they fooling? Coal is a dirty fuel, stripped from this planet in a dirty manner and fills our air and lungs with its dirty by-products. Ask any relative of a coal miner just what anthracite does to the human body. Black lung is a disease that kills.
I acknowledge that we need electricity. Coal is the predominant method in creating electricity. Power plants provide us the lifeblood we need to thrive and survive. Nuclear energy also offers a way to power our homes. There are alternative energy sources. Geothermal, wind and solar are much cleaner options for our various needs. As long as the big energy companies collude with our government we will be slaves to that which slowly kills us.
As I opined in an earlier post the drug companies do not always do right by their customers. Our lives, their length and our health all benefit from prescription drugs. They help us and heal us. What happens when a patent runs out? Other drug manufacturers have the right to create generic versions. They will be much more affordable. The original drug maker loses a source of funding. Sometimes they allow this to occur and concentrate on their new offerings. In other cases they fight tooth and nail to prevent the loss of their revenue stream.
Drug companies commonly use two methods to extend a drug's patent. In one scenario they use the courts. They convince a judge that there would be some type of harm if another company were to have access to their formula. The only real harm is to their bottom line. Another way, which is more common, is to create a new drug. The new drug will be chemically different from its predecessor. The problem is that the difference is minor. It is nearly identical from a medical standpoint yet different enough from a legal one.
Here is an example. Astrazeneca makes the drug Prilosec. This medication is now available over-the-counter. A new drug was waiting in the wings. The company wanted to hold on to their customer base so they created Nexium. Both drugs block acid. Both are for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Nexium is billed as being even better than Prilosec as a course of treatment. Based upon my research the two drugs are almost chemically identical.
Drugs, transportation, energy sources or other staples of our existence cost money. There will always be companies that will sell them to us. We all know that progress in technology occurs over time. People manage to find a way to do it better though not always cheaper. Progress is stifled when greedy companies stand in the way. Fear of losing money cannot be the only motivation of corporate life. Survival of the fittest refers not just to man but also to business. If leaders of industry want to survive then I suggest this simple mantra: Innovate rather than stagnate.
Automobile manufacturers have fought for decades against more fuel-efficient vehicles. They have done their best to convince us that bigger is better. We have been more than willing to play along. The car has always been a status symbol. We love to thumb our collective noses at progress. Hummer owners especially are enamored with their suburban assault vehicles. Driving to the grocery store or dry cleaner is always fraught with danger!
Even when electric vehicles were being built most car makers were unhappy. Any threat to the "big 3's" dominance resulted, and still does, in increased lobbying efforts. Our environment never stood a chance against all of the money flowing to politicians. It should therefore be no surprise that the first electric cars were junked. Even now when some automakers work toward more fuel-efficient modes of transportation they are only throwing us the proverbial bone.
Cars will get more miles to the gallon. How many and how long it will take is the question. They will not become substantially better; better for the Earth or better for our pocketbooks. Auto makers and politicians will always be willing bedfellows. Let us not forget the energy companies. Oil, whether for our gas tanks or for our manufacturing processes, will be number one for many years to come. Alternative energy sources have a hard row to hoe.
King coal has been putting out a lot of propaganda as of late. Their commercials suggest that their product is a clean energy source. Who are they fooling? Coal is a dirty fuel, stripped from this planet in a dirty manner and fills our air and lungs with its dirty by-products. Ask any relative of a coal miner just what anthracite does to the human body. Black lung is a disease that kills.
I acknowledge that we need electricity. Coal is the predominant method in creating electricity. Power plants provide us the lifeblood we need to thrive and survive. Nuclear energy also offers a way to power our homes. There are alternative energy sources. Geothermal, wind and solar are much cleaner options for our various needs. As long as the big energy companies collude with our government we will be slaves to that which slowly kills us.
As I opined in an earlier post the drug companies do not always do right by their customers. Our lives, their length and our health all benefit from prescription drugs. They help us and heal us. What happens when a patent runs out? Other drug manufacturers have the right to create generic versions. They will be much more affordable. The original drug maker loses a source of funding. Sometimes they allow this to occur and concentrate on their new offerings. In other cases they fight tooth and nail to prevent the loss of their revenue stream.
Drug companies commonly use two methods to extend a drug's patent. In one scenario they use the courts. They convince a judge that there would be some type of harm if another company were to have access to their formula. The only real harm is to their bottom line. Another way, which is more common, is to create a new drug. The new drug will be chemically different from its predecessor. The problem is that the difference is minor. It is nearly identical from a medical standpoint yet different enough from a legal one.
Here is an example. Astrazeneca makes the drug Prilosec. This medication is now available over-the-counter. A new drug was waiting in the wings. The company wanted to hold on to their customer base so they created Nexium. Both drugs block acid. Both are for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Nexium is billed as being even better than Prilosec as a course of treatment. Based upon my research the two drugs are almost chemically identical.
Drugs, transportation, energy sources or other staples of our existence cost money. There will always be companies that will sell them to us. We all know that progress in technology occurs over time. People manage to find a way to do it better though not always cheaper. Progress is stifled when greedy companies stand in the way. Fear of losing money cannot be the only motivation of corporate life. Survival of the fittest refers not just to man but also to business. If leaders of industry want to survive then I suggest this simple mantra: Innovate rather than stagnate.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My Personal Philosophy
I have created, over the years, a number of concepts that help me grow. They give me perspective. How we look at a situation is just as important as how we handle it. Based on my last few posts I wish to offer these few words of wisdom:
Learn from the past. Enjoy the present. Prepare for the future.
All I want is to help people reconcile and accept the truth in their lives. I want to offer support and encouragement through my words. I have no idea just who may read these postings nor what they may mean to them. I can only tell myself that what I do is good. Why else would I bother?
When you drop a pebble in a pond you create ripples. Each post is my pebble.
Thank you for reading.
Learn from the past. Enjoy the present. Prepare for the future.
All I want is to help people reconcile and accept the truth in their lives. I want to offer support and encouragement through my words. I have no idea just who may read these postings nor what they may mean to them. I can only tell myself that what I do is good. Why else would I bother?
When you drop a pebble in a pond you create ripples. Each post is my pebble.
Thank you for reading.
I Want It Yesterday
One of the downsides of our culture is "instant gratification." Who can blame us for our impatience? So much of what we desire comes to us faster than ever. Food, Internet access, television shows and movies on demand are always ready. Our every whim can be satisfied at a moments notice. The technology that allows this is a blessing as well as a curse.
It has trained us. We are like Pavlov's dog. We expect far too much to occur when we snap our fingers. We do not see that some decisions should not be made in haste. The world moves so quickly. We think that we must move in concert with the crowd. This is more than just stopping and smelling the roses. The choices we make require planning, research and thought. Foresight must become a learned response.
See that special item in a store? Pull out your credit card and it is yours for the asking. How will this affect your finances? Do you really need this bauble? A friend taught me long ago that any decision should have a waiting period. One day is not too long to assure yourself that what you are doing is right.
Our future is not assured. There are costs involved even when we die. Life insurance removes the burden from your loved ones. How many individuals actually consider this fact before it is too late? Insurance is generally cheaper the younger you are. An IRA also helps to ensure your final years are satisfying. The more you save now, the better your tomorrow will be.
The concept of foresight does not only cover financial concerns. Preparing for your future can benefit you through education, home buying and health maintenance. The decisions you make today, large and small, will have some affect on what happens in the future. No one can truly prepare for every eventuality. Informed planning, hope and prayer will keep you in good stead.
It is perilous to go through life assuming that everything will work out to your advantage. Only gamblers and fools leave their fate to chance. Intelligent people know better. Anything worth having takes work. Anything worth doing requires sweat. The road less taken is rocky for a reason. It may be hard to traverse but it will lead you to a place greater than you can imagine. I hope to see you there!
It has trained us. We are like Pavlov's dog. We expect far too much to occur when we snap our fingers. We do not see that some decisions should not be made in haste. The world moves so quickly. We think that we must move in concert with the crowd. This is more than just stopping and smelling the roses. The choices we make require planning, research and thought. Foresight must become a learned response.
See that special item in a store? Pull out your credit card and it is yours for the asking. How will this affect your finances? Do you really need this bauble? A friend taught me long ago that any decision should have a waiting period. One day is not too long to assure yourself that what you are doing is right.
Our future is not assured. There are costs involved even when we die. Life insurance removes the burden from your loved ones. How many individuals actually consider this fact before it is too late? Insurance is generally cheaper the younger you are. An IRA also helps to ensure your final years are satisfying. The more you save now, the better your tomorrow will be.
The concept of foresight does not only cover financial concerns. Preparing for your future can benefit you through education, home buying and health maintenance. The decisions you make today, large and small, will have some affect on what happens in the future. No one can truly prepare for every eventuality. Informed planning, hope and prayer will keep you in good stead.
It is perilous to go through life assuming that everything will work out to your advantage. Only gamblers and fools leave their fate to chance. Intelligent people know better. Anything worth having takes work. Anything worth doing requires sweat. The road less taken is rocky for a reason. It may be hard to traverse but it will lead you to a place greater than you can imagine. I hope to see you there!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
It Is Only Money
How often have you heard this phrase? It is usually uttered by those who have little of it - or by those who take it for granted. We are pushed to spend every day. Commercials tell us that we "are worth it" and that "we deserve it." This attitude helps no one. It blurs the line between wanting and needing. A frugal mindset is essential in dealing with our consumerist culture.
Frugality benefits us no matter what we consider buying. In the grocery store we can choose less expensive brands. We can be more economical when car shopping. A vacation is just as nice while staying at a cheaper hotel. Some repairs around the house do not require an expensive handyman. How we prioritize our funds is also a sign of frugal living.
The first consideration when budgeting is our needs. You do keep a budget? You must use some method to reconcile your finances. We need to know what we have and where it goes. Our immediate needs must come first. Rent or mortgage, car payments, food and utilities are due each month. The goods or services that enable us to live and work are on the top of the list.
Debts are next in line. We can save a lot of money by paying them off and related interest before the amounts become staggering. It is a simple calculation. The interest you pay on a credit card is greater than the interest gained via savings. It should be no surprise that, in the long run, we will have more later if we pay debts sooner.
Saving for the future is a sound policy. The proverbial "rainy day" and our eventual retirement require funds that have been smartly invested. We all must educate ourselves about the various investment vehicles available. Risk must be assessed. Do not take the word of any banker or investment advisor. Do your homework. Be sure that the choices you make are in your best interests.
Lastly we have the wants. We want a nicer television or a better home. Some of you may wish to splurge at a favorite casino. There is nothing wrong with spending money on ourselves. There are questions that need to be asked. What will this money do for me? Can I truly afford it? Is what I gain worth what I give? These questions are good when spending or when making any life decisions.
We hate discussing our finances with others. It is a private matter that is usually kept within the immediate family. To some extent this makes sense. What we make is no one's business. On the other hand, if we were to discuss some aspects of our finances with others, we may learn a lot. Many life issues are better understood in relation to others whom have been there. Learn from others' mistakes so that you will never have to make them.
Frugality benefits us no matter what we consider buying. In the grocery store we can choose less expensive brands. We can be more economical when car shopping. A vacation is just as nice while staying at a cheaper hotel. Some repairs around the house do not require an expensive handyman. How we prioritize our funds is also a sign of frugal living.
The first consideration when budgeting is our needs. You do keep a budget? You must use some method to reconcile your finances. We need to know what we have and where it goes. Our immediate needs must come first. Rent or mortgage, car payments, food and utilities are due each month. The goods or services that enable us to live and work are on the top of the list.
Debts are next in line. We can save a lot of money by paying them off and related interest before the amounts become staggering. It is a simple calculation. The interest you pay on a credit card is greater than the interest gained via savings. It should be no surprise that, in the long run, we will have more later if we pay debts sooner.
Saving for the future is a sound policy. The proverbial "rainy day" and our eventual retirement require funds that have been smartly invested. We all must educate ourselves about the various investment vehicles available. Risk must be assessed. Do not take the word of any banker or investment advisor. Do your homework. Be sure that the choices you make are in your best interests.
Lastly we have the wants. We want a nicer television or a better home. Some of you may wish to splurge at a favorite casino. There is nothing wrong with spending money on ourselves. There are questions that need to be asked. What will this money do for me? Can I truly afford it? Is what I gain worth what I give? These questions are good when spending or when making any life decisions.
We hate discussing our finances with others. It is a private matter that is usually kept within the immediate family. To some extent this makes sense. What we make is no one's business. On the other hand, if we were to discuss some aspects of our finances with others, we may learn a lot. Many life issues are better understood in relation to others whom have been there. Learn from others' mistakes so that you will never have to make them.
Dead Presidents
Money is not the root of all evil. Love of it is. We all need money. We need things. We want services performed by others. Money is pretty much the way to make sure our needs are met. There are anti-capitalists that see money as evil. Money is simply a tool. It is no different than a hammer, a nail or this guy my wife works with. Any tool can be used in a manner never intended by its creator. Reality is that money is the great equalizer.
Different people earn varying amounts of money. This will never be equal. This fact also supports my point. Not every good or service is worth the same in value. A fresh loaf of bread is delicious. Filling up your shopping cart with bread must have a greater cost. This inequality is inherent in our capitalist system. Those who hold a more Socialist mindset would disagree.
Equability is a laudable goal. When it comes to things like hiring practices or university admissions I am all for equality. There are some basic facts that cannot be denied. Not all endeavors provide the same level of value to a society. A cashier, for example, may assist many customers during their workday. A manager works harder. They handle many daily tasks that require a greater level of skill. A business owner works harder still.
Here is the bottom line. No one would work a day in their lives unless they got paid. I am sure there are inherent benefits to any job. One feels a sense of self-worth and satisfaction when completing tasks. The baker, for instance, looks upon their creation with pride. But what will the baker do when he needs other foods for his diet? Who will he turn to for garbage disposal or repair of his vehicle?
There must be something in common for all who toil so that goods and services can be fairly exchanged. Bartering is a fine ideal but unfortunately it is rarely used. Money not only allows us to get what we want but it also creates a measure by which things are valued. Why else would people strive to better themselves if there was no standard by which to measure their success?
I can hear the groans now. Success is not measured by how wealthy someone is you might say. Maybe not. What does give someone an indication of their value is the amount of money they are given. Most people are never satisfied with their pay. What is undeniable is that money is given, we in turn use it, others receive it and the cycle continues. If you can think of a better system I would love to hear it.
The painful truth is that capitalism works. We need corporations. We need the wealth they create, the employment they offer and the goods or services they provide. It is because of this system that the anti-capitalists have the time to march and protest. Much of what we take for granted each day occurs because, somewhere along the line, money changed hands. Money allows us to work, play, sleep and dream. Penny for your thoughts?
Different people earn varying amounts of money. This will never be equal. This fact also supports my point. Not every good or service is worth the same in value. A fresh loaf of bread is delicious. Filling up your shopping cart with bread must have a greater cost. This inequality is inherent in our capitalist system. Those who hold a more Socialist mindset would disagree.
Equability is a laudable goal. When it comes to things like hiring practices or university admissions I am all for equality. There are some basic facts that cannot be denied. Not all endeavors provide the same level of value to a society. A cashier, for example, may assist many customers during their workday. A manager works harder. They handle many daily tasks that require a greater level of skill. A business owner works harder still.
Here is the bottom line. No one would work a day in their lives unless they got paid. I am sure there are inherent benefits to any job. One feels a sense of self-worth and satisfaction when completing tasks. The baker, for instance, looks upon their creation with pride. But what will the baker do when he needs other foods for his diet? Who will he turn to for garbage disposal or repair of his vehicle?
There must be something in common for all who toil so that goods and services can be fairly exchanged. Bartering is a fine ideal but unfortunately it is rarely used. Money not only allows us to get what we want but it also creates a measure by which things are valued. Why else would people strive to better themselves if there was no standard by which to measure their success?
I can hear the groans now. Success is not measured by how wealthy someone is you might say. Maybe not. What does give someone an indication of their value is the amount of money they are given. Most people are never satisfied with their pay. What is undeniable is that money is given, we in turn use it, others receive it and the cycle continues. If you can think of a better system I would love to hear it.
The painful truth is that capitalism works. We need corporations. We need the wealth they create, the employment they offer and the goods or services they provide. It is because of this system that the anti-capitalists have the time to march and protest. Much of what we take for granted each day occurs because, somewhere along the line, money changed hands. Money allows us to work, play, sleep and dream. Penny for your thoughts?
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