The 2010 elections may be a wake up call for the democrats but not the call the republicans are expecting. Day after day the Republican Party has announced in every way conceivable that the democrats will see a blood bath come the November elections. I am not as sure that will be the case. Many on the republican side ore in hot water also. The electorate is not just going to dump every democrat and vote in a republican. People are mad and the democrats will take a hit but there are plenty on the other side that are going to get voted out of office also. Even if that happens the present administration needs to heed the voices in the street and start to get some change moving. Jobs are the number one issue and the only way this administration can get things moving is to fund infrastructure programs all across the nation. Those against spending more money and increasing the debt are the same people who are clamoring for new jobs to get the economy going. The problem is the companies with the money are holding on to their cash and not putting it into expansion which in turn means jobs. If the administration can pull together a plan that will rebuild our sagging infrastructure and at the same time create the jobs needed for recovery by doing so the 2012 elections will be in the bag.

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There is a lot of moaning, groaning and complaining by the American citizenry over the actions those in power take. As an U.S. citizen it is our right and duty to complain about the things we believe are wrong. People complain and say things such as "how could they do that"? People on both sides of the aisle feel wronged about most everything. As for me I do complain but I also take action. When I ask the average citizen if they voted in the last election the answer is generally a no. I then ask them if they have gone to a town meeting of any kind in the last year or two and the answer is overwhelmingly no. I then ask if they have written any letters to their representatives telling them how they feel, and again, the answer is again overwhelmingly no. I then ask them how they think the problems and issues they are unhappy with may be resolved and the general answer is: "to throw those in office out and elect new people".

By this time I now have enough information to ask the final question which is; If you do not attend meetings or write letters to voice your opinion and you do not vote in elections just how do you convey your dislike of a position or condition to those who are in power to change the situation? There is usually a long pause and then a most profound shrug of the shoulders. At that point in time I generally tell them that the rules we live by are made by the people who show up. That statement in and of itself includes voting, going to town meetings, or any other public forum for the purpose of finding out the desires of the populace on any given subject. It also includes writing letters to those in power and voicing your opinion. I would suggest the next time any of us complain about what the politicians have done we need to ask ourselves what we did to get the politician to see the issue our way. No matter how one looks at this condition the only rule is; the rules are made by those who show up.

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This is just a quick thought for all of those who are in jeopardy of loosing their homes. Why in the world are the banks making it so difficult for people to receive extensions on their mortgages? If a person has a thirty year mortgage and needs to cut the size of the payments to keep the house why is so difficult to make an adjustment to the mortgage contract allowing the individual to pay off the loan in forty or even fifty years? A little common sense and a lot less greed will help all of in the long run. If the government wants to stick its nose into things it may be time for our leaders to tell the banks the way things need to be or else. With this approach the banks still hold the mortgage and the home owner still has the home and as time progresses the payments can be increased by the home owner as their income stream returns. These banks need to get real and start to think with their head or there should be an imposed penalty placed against the banks for having made the loan in the first place. The only looser should not be just the home owner.

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We are near the end of July and the retailers have started Christmas sales to stimulate business. I think it is a good Idea for the retailer and the customer. For the majority of people in the U.S. the Christmas season is a big deal. Each year I go to Ocean City New Jersey in August and always stop at the Christmas store on the boardwalk. We always find some special things for home decoration, presents, or stocking stuffers. The place is open 364 days a year and only closes on Christmas day. There is also a huge Christmas retail shop in Frankenmuth Michigan. I was there a number of years ago;visiting several times in one year, and the place was always packed. The huge parking lot in front of the facility had a whole section striped for bus parking. It seems the people in Michigan come from all over the state to see all there is to see about Christmas decorations, presents and anything else you can think of. My point here is if it can work in these places then it should work in most other places.

Christmas in July seems like a good marketing program that just may work. If it does start an increase of revenues in the business cycle it will be a good thing for the economy. However there are detractors to the program. Some people feel it will kill the holiday spirit by being around all the time. Others feel a bit offended on religious grounds. These are good points but not everyone feels this is a negative thing. The only question I have is this is the same time the back to school sales programs start so will one program hurt the other?






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As I have mentioned in the recent past BP is selling its assets to other companies. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. The reason given for these sales is to pay for the cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. The real reason for the sale of the assets is to fund the promised amount agreed to be set-aside for the spill. At this point BP already knows the spill clean up will cost much more than anyone originally projected. Selling the assets is a simple way for BP to fill the fund with the agreed upon set-aside amount. Once the set-aside amount is fully funded BP can sell off additional assets or cut deals which will bullet proof them from having the balance of their assets in harms way. Then they will split off these assets and new business propositions to a new holding company providing the stockholders with shares in the new company. The stockholders will be happy and BP will wind up running a series of leased operations. This allows them to file bankruptcy, once the set-aside fund is depleted, leaving BP with little or no assets to show. That will mean that the pile of money set-aside is all anyone is going to get. The conclusion of this process will be that BP has transferred all its assets to a separately sovereign company, which is not liable for the debts of BP, and all the operations and leases BP holds at the time of bankruptcy will default to the new company which will turn out to be who the operations were leased from. The moral here is it pays to have the best legal counsel oil money can buy.

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Perhaps it seems that I am ranting but I would like to know where America's business courage is. I think the time has come for the big corporations to get off the bench and start growing their companies as if they were real players in the global community. All I hear is that these companies have loads of cash but because they are not sure of the tax future and apparently there are no guarantee's on any risk they may take they have stopped their growth cold. They are cost cutting and starting to manage their business a bit better but that is not growth even if it helps the bottom line. Growth comes when we plan to gather new customers and find ways to make the operations more efficient. It also requires making new products and services not the repackaged versions of the same stuff that we have seen for the last three years. It is time for the big companies of America to grow a big set and start to think of ways to conquer and expand their share of the global markets.

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The market is up today and down tomorrow. What is the matter with the market place? From moment to moment it jumps out of its skin with every stock move and every rumor put out to play. The numbers for companies have been good and the numbers are seemingly going to remain up for the future. The problem is the trading is thin and the money on the side lines is playing it ultra safe. I can understand the need for safety but there is nothing but complaint from most of the present and former stockholders who want more return with out the risk. The problem is that there is always risk and that is not going to go away ever. It is time for the individuals who are holding cash to take a few risks and start the ball rolling. It is not a matter of luck it is just a matter of patience combined with risk.

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Everyone keeps wondering when this economic cloud will pass. People worry about oil, going green, the national debt, and a thousand other things. What they do not seem to worry about is the infrastructure of this country. Interstate roads need upgrading and repair. As for local roads, in most places, there is a need to repave everything in sight. Bridges and tunnels all across the country are in disrepair and in quite a few instances there is a need to shut them down. With out these components the movement of product from place to place in this country will start to cost more for the products they convey.

This is simple economics when thought about. Saving money by not repairing means the repair will be more expensive when the repair is made. The poor condition of the roads causes the trucks to move slower which means it costs more in time, which is money, and therefore will cause the cost of the product to rise. Roads in bad repair cause damage to trucks, which cause the truckers to pay for evermore repairs to their vehicles and then they add costs to the price per mile formula they use to provide rates to the public. It all means the products you buy will cost more because the infrastructure is in bad shape. It is time we all start to scream for this work to be done.

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One of the things I worry about is the long term willingness of the E.U. to continue stand with the U.S. Economic turmoil, as we have in our midst today, is most destructive on relationships. The recent B/P blow up between England and the U.S. is a perfect example of how relationships diminish when the economies of nations conflict. The E.U. has come up with a plan to support Greece and it is working to assist Spain, Portugal and Italy with their economic problems. The E.U. partners are fighting amongst themselves in a quiet fashion so the neighbors will not hear. The response to economic problems is no different than the spats families have when in the same state of economic turmoil.

The problem is the U.S. has been the European economic savior for the last seventy years. It can no longer function in that fashion and remain solvent itself. The issue then becomes if you cannot help you are seen as a hindrance. That was the reality of the B/P blow up. Unfortunately, it does not take too many of these blow ups with the E.U. to cause them to consider the U.S. as a hindrance. That does not mean they will walk away or break the friendship with the U.S. What it does mean that we must be careful in our approach to the E.U. relative to doing things that they see as counter productive to the solutions they are looking for and need. We see things in quite the same way when the shoe fits us. If we can give the E.U. the assistance they ask for, within our capabilities, then as we all emerge from this economic tunnel the E.U. will stand stronger than ever with the U.S.

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There has been talk of Russia starting up the cold war again. This comes from the misguided understanding of the geopolitical and global economics if the day. Russia was floating the idea of the ruble and the Euro working a deal to take advantage of the perceived weakness of the dollar. The E.U. did not seem to go for it but the people who took notice of the talks quickly came to the conclusion that Russia wanted to go toe to toe once again with the U.S. This comes about at the same time the Russian spy issue popped up in the U.S. news.

The reality of the talks and the responses are simply one nation doing business with another. If everyone has to compete and exchange in dollars it gives the U.S. a strong edge. There are others in the mix of Eastern and European countries, which might find it easier to work with a currency more favorable to them. It is a business move for Russia and not a shot at restarting the Cold War.

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From the beginning of history nations have had to decide on what has been called the "guns or butter principle". Simply put the principle states that over time all nations need to look at what the needs of the nation are, in terms of the well being of the people, when they look to go to war. If there is great need at home then spending money on a war may be not only foolish but catastrophic in terms of the health and well being of the nation. Over the centuries nations have been caught in this squeeze with an enemy advancing on their borders. When it is a matter of survival there is nothing to do but spend the money for the defense of the nation. War costs money and is destructive by its very nature. The art of deflecting war is difficult for some cultures to learn. Usually these cultures see war as a way of life. When war and the preparations for war become the sole purpose of the leaders of a country the nation suffers greatly. North Korea has spent sixty years building up its military and defenses with out full consideration of the consequences for the nation as a whole. It is time for all nations to rethink their positions and end these generally unnecessary and costly wars.

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Thirty years ago President Regan asked the question: Are you better off now than you were four years ago? We know he was referring to the economy but that question could be asked of the current state of the danger to our nation. We always here of the U.S. defending itself over there but the secret war is here. Bobble headed politicos tell us they are on top of things but their comments leave much to be desired in the realm of assurance. We know we have terrorists in our midst and we know that there are spies working for other governments within our borders. The problem is that knowing these things exist does not mean they are under control. It just means we know about them but it does not mean we know who they are or what they intend to do.

Based on the public statements provided by the directors of our law enforcement and defense security agencies they sort of have a handle on these things. Unfortunately, the caveat is they always state that they cannot know everything. That comment is understood but their realities do not coincide with what seems to be reality. What we all want to know is what they are doing to secure our borders and our harbors. It is not a matter of worrying about the local Hispanic alien. What we all worry about is the international visitor, home grown terrorist or perhaps the subversive spy that we want to be sure these agencies are covering. Simple breaches of security at airports, just over the last several months, provides example enough to indicate that we do not seem any safer now than we were five years ago.

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There is no doubt that China is on the move and the big cat in the arena and with it is the U.S. Some say that the two countries will be at odds with each other by the year 2020. By that time China will have a strong military and a navy with six aircraft carriers capable of defending their assets and resources around the globe. There will have to be moments when the two nations come into conflict but a drawn sward scenario may not be in the picture. I do not foresee a hot war or a cold war. These two powers are too big and too smart to believe either of them can win a military conflict over the other. The real duel will be over first seat or second seat of international power. Remember the size of the population generally does not matter. However, in this case the size of China's population can make the difference.

If over the next ten years China can effectively turn its population into consumers of their products the volume of money turned annually will have to rival that of the U.S. That is not necessarily the fly in the ointment but it is area that could start a competition that could look like a cold war. If it does become a cold war all of the gamesmanship will be in the economic and financial arena. The country that holds that card will hold the winning hand. At this point the hand dealt to the U.S. does not look so promising.

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Every once and a while I stop and look around to see what has changed and what is in the mill to make things change. For the last thirty years this country was supposed to be looking for a new source of energy. It seems no one has found anything near a new source of energy. All we hear from day to day is a rehashing of all the old energy sources coupled with new technology to make them seem like they can solve the energy needs of the world. We all know these approaches will not and can not supply all the energy needed to enable the population of this globe to grow. The demand for energy around the world is presently growing in the double digits range. No matter how one calculates the available energy resources around the world it is obvious that we will run out eventually.

There is a point of no return when using our present energy sources. There is also the chance that we will not run out of energy because we have killed ourselves with the pollutants from the energy we are currently using. If we understand the dilemma we are in then we should be asking where is the new energy resource we are supposed to be looking for. If not where it is then what do we assume it will be and who is looking for it? If we do not start to ask these questions and demand answers we will be gone before the last of the energy resources are. Perhaps a better question to ask is how much money is being allocated to the research of this new energy source? From the results so far we can be sure the budget has been quite small. This search should be the most important item on every to do list of every country on this planet. However, when countries are asked these questions the answers are the technology is not there yet and the research is very slow and expensive. The problem for me is I do not consider that an answer.

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There is difficulty in understanding the Louisiana people. They are up in arms about the oil spill and they want their money for cleanup and repairs but they also want the oil industry to provide new jobs for them. I was in Louisiana in 1981 in the Big Easy when the talk was how the oil industry was going to save their culture. No one was talking about the fishing industry or the land or anything else. There were questions then as to what would happen if there was an oil spill. At that time everyone was sure the oil companies had a handle on everything and any oil spill would be cleaned up in a matter of days. They were sure the oil companies were in control of such issues.

There was greed in the air then, which I can understand, because there was a need for jobs. There is still a need for jobs but the difference now is the fields are closed to be sure we take steps to prove we are protected against future oil occurrences. The rhetoric that is becoming louder now is not for safety but for jobs at what ever the cost. Those who work in the oil industry want to work now. In reality they do not care if the fishing industry will suffer because the business people and the people in the oil and associated industries want to turn the now faltering economy around. They need jobs to make it happen and the safety in the oil fields is now in the way. Their need, or should I call it greed, makes them willing to roll the dice on safety if it will put a lot of people back to work. I understand that need, however I will not be quite as understanding when the next major spill takes place and everyone in Louisiana is up in arms.

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It has always been and will always be that only Americans can move America forward. There is nothing more boring than to listen to or read the news when it is all about some government official, elected or not, that has a connection to some crime they have committed in office. We also have economic issues that everyone complains about yet no one wants to give up anything that benefits them. People who have health care do not care if those who do not have it ever get it. These same people want tax breaks while they are working but feel those on social security are getting more than their fair share. The unions do not want to give anything back and in the same breath ask for more. People are upset because the economy tumbled and now they have to retire later than their plans were set for. I saw this whole thing on every news cast a few months ago and it was the people in the streets of Greece. The people of Greece wanted what they wanted and did not care if Germany would have to foot much of the bill.

Some where along the line Americans decided that what ever they asked for they should get without working for it. They also decided that others, who do not have, are suffering from their own short falls. In reality all Americans are suffering from the failure of every American to stand up and decide to fix what is broken in government, society and the economy. There is no individual out there willing to stand up for the underdog or fight the cheating and corrupt elected official. In the last ten years the only people who took the type of stand we need for America was a group in a plane overtaken by terrorists which crashed in Pennsylvania on 9/11/2000. They realized it was do or die time and they were not going to loose who they were. It is time for the rest of us to stand up and take the fight to the wall. MORE TO COME

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It was just a few weeks ago that the government of England was mad at the U.S. because of our Force Majure actions to secure a monetary fund from B/P to cover the initial stages of the oil spill. It seems we were terrible people because we wanted to make sure that money would be there if the company went bankrupt. The English position was how we, America, could think that B/P would not honor its responsibilities. They were also upset because the money might come from the dividends B/P was going to pay out to the English pension funds. That payout amounted to a lot of money and all of England wanted to be sure it came to them. However, over the last three weeks the B/P operation has started to make some internal moves that caused the Brits to be unsure of the ultimate direction or outcome of the moves. It seems the English monetary agencies started to feel unsure about the moves the company was making. To that end the government and its associated agencies have stepped in on the quiet side just to be sure the company will not make any moves that will be contrary to the public face they have put on starting with the new internal moves and restructuring. It seems the U.S. most likely had it correct from the beginning and the English don't want to be left out of the money if the company does file for bankruptcy.

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Just prior to the market implosion of 2007 many companies were preparing to launch new products into the market place. The change in the economy prevented such ventures from taking place. With the new and confused current economy companies want to introduce new products to the market but are afraid the launch of a new product may hurt the company if all does not go well. This fear is making a number of companies consider going outside their operation and launching the new products as a start up operation. The mother company will use its status to leverage money and loans to make the launch. In return the companies will become a major stock holder of the new operation.

With just enough investment they can create a new company with out the fear that if it goes badly the mother company will be hurt. Any failure will not taint the reputation of the mother company but if all goes well the rewards will fall to the mother operation in the form of profits. It is a good way for a company to expand without chancing the dropping stock price of a failure were the product launched directly from the original company.

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China is swiftly building a global military and is preparing to extend that power with the deployment of aircraft carriers. Presently there are six carriers planned to hit the seas over the next eight years. In addition to the new carriers China is developing new support aircraft for them. The new carriers will be state of the art and the new support aircraft will be as close to the U.S. state of the art as they can make them.

The launches are presently scheduled for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 with new support fighters in modification through the period. They are working to be able to deploy a carrier and a land based version capable of going head to head with the U.S. f22. When all of this comes together China will have a mobile power base to enable them to protect their interests across the sea and around the globe. These are global military positioning and power extension tools. Let us all hope they do not make any mistakes with these tools.

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