The Three Liars of Society

Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin
Your choice for urban survival resources


In This Issue:

Surviving the Three Liars of Society
PM’s Health Concoction
Finance is the new warfare & Chinese are winning
McAlvany Intelligence Advisor
Free ebooks for Kindle Readers
Legitimate ways to check your credit score
Emergency water purification methods
Top Money Savers in 2011



Unnecessary laws are not good laws, but traps for money.
--Thomas Hobbes


The Three Liars of Society
There is no longer any stability in our legal system. Once our nation shifted from Natural and Common Law ideals to those of Political Law, no one can predict from one administration to the next what is permissible and what is not. Most recently, this, along with our uncertain tax laws has caused uncertainty among business leaders which prevents them from hiring.

Most larger businesses know doing business in America is a joke due to its constant court ordered mandates, unlegislated bureaucratic rules and other constant changes. In short, we’re always in a state of flux which causes turmoil in the markets.

Political law has also kept our God given rights in a state of flux. The government seems to think they grant us permission to travel, to do business, to write publish or speak. Government at levels is quick to deny those rights on the slightest, unfounded whim since 911 and the creation of the unPatriot Act.

America is the most heavily regulated society on earth and it’s been reported state lawmakers issue some 200 million laws every ten years. Collectively, we have more than 500 million laws, something no rational society can keep up with, but then again, our government is no longer rational. As I write this a MI prosecutor has filed charges again a man for looking at his wife’s email without her permission. If convicted of this non-crime, he faces up to five years in prison and the flatworm of a prosecutor will get on TV in her indignant manner and chastise anyone who dare dream of performing this felonious act.


The legal system has ruined this country and discouraged business and job growth. There are many firms who will not do business in America because of our out of control legal system. No doubt you recall the time when all the states got together with a big law firm to sue Big Tobacco with the promise the proceeds would benefit children’s education. With one exception, the state government lied to the world and of course, the lawyers got rich and the states blew their ill-gotten gains on pork projects. You cannot trust a government based on political law.


What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes
In any new branch of commerce when he knows not
That his plans may be rendered unlawful before they
Can be executed? --James Madison


The American Trial Lawyers Association is a very successful lobbying group. As a result of their efforts, we are the only country in the world which does not have tort reform, a very costly mistake for American jobs.

When in doubt…Sue! The American National Motto

In the previous issue I wrote there are two basic laws. Allow me to remind what they are:

Do all you have agreed to do.
Do not encroach on other persons or their property

Since the 1930s America has been falling into the Dark Ages of law. Laws vacillate in the wind, according to the whim of whichever party is in office. Politicians of both parties have sought to make us more of a democracy rather than a republic and this is something our founders absolutely warned against as majority rule is dangerous. Any sociologist will tell of the bandwagon factor which influences how people vote. Rarely does the individual look at the long term effect of any law and its true cost to society. Marijuana laws are a good example. No one ever got ‘juiced up’ on pot and went on a crime binge. History is filled with examples of folks who got drunk and committed crime, yet pot is bad and offenders fill our jails and penalize our community resources.

The Three Liars of Society include >Legislators >Lawyers and >Lobbyists. No other group in history has done more damage to our Bill of Rights and Constitution.

As far as I’m concerned, Washington has sold our Liberty Bell for scrap. Instead of common sense or common law, prosecutors and politicians now use the blackjack approach to hijacking our rights and undermining our system.

Protection of the innocent is no longer a concern. The law is strictly a punitive tool to enforce whichever behavior is no longer in vogue. In recent years just about everything has come under attack, from gun ownership and tobacco use to wearing a seat belt. Most of the time, it’s not for public safety, it’s to put more cash in government coffers.

As citizens, these government agencies and prosecutors are supposed to be working for us. When they don’t perform, they need to be removed from office. Most of them seem to have forgotten they took an oath, perhaps they need a strong reminder.

Natural law and common law are superior to political law and was made famous prior our American Revolution by Rev. Jonathan Mayhew. Political law is arbitrary.

The vigor of Mayhew’s sermons established his reputation. It was published not only in Boston, but also in London in 1752 and again in 1767. In Boston, John Adams remembered long afterward that Mayhew’s sermon, “was read by everybody.” Some would say later that this sermon was the first volley of the American Revolution, setting forth the intellectual and scriptural justification for rebellion against the Crown.

Natural law or the law of nature has been described as a law whose content is set by nature and that therefore has validity everywhere. As classically used, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior.

If our country were under external attack, we’d all race to the rescue. Why aren’t we defending our freedom and rights from these domestic political terrorists?

In the US the sanctimonious maxim that “Ignorance of the law is no excuse’ puts every citizen at risk. This notion may have been a sound rule in simpler times, when the catalog of offenses was limited to traditional offenses…but it’s a sinister joke when applied to the 6 foot shelf of criminal codes at the federal and state level. Moreover, no one today can rely on a straightforward meaning of the law as they have become twisted, subject to the whims of whichever prosecutor is in office becoming utterly arbitrary and deliberately unclear! In many respects, these prosecutors would be considered traitors under Colonial law.

I’ve included a link below to legal resources that are either free or low cost and which cover many areas of law. Although geared primarily to MI contacts, many of the resources lend themselves to folks in any state…use it as a starting point.

http://julieslist.homestead.com/LegalResources.html


…This is part of an ongoing series of the Poor Man’s take on how our political system has been corrupted.


This n That…


PM’s New Year’s Health concoction
My wife won’t go near this, but I find it healthful and a good way to begin a healthier New Year. I have been drinking this each morning for about eight days and already feel the benefits of rejuvenation. Remember, all recipes are merely guides. Feel free to experiment with other ingredients. I use a blender to make a large cup of this each day.

1 tbs of apple cider vinegar
4-5 ounces of cranberry-pomegranate juice
1 chopped apple, ½ banana, 1 fresh pineapple slice
1 ounce sesame oil
1 ounce blackstrap molasses
1 teaspoon flax seed
¼ cucumber
Bunch of fresh spinach
Small slice of fresh ginger root

The sesame oil gives it a nutty flavor and the ginger root gives it a flavor boost too. This plus a couple of slices of raisin toast and coffee carry me through most of the day-try it!

PM is on a health kick this month…this might prove useful to many of you!
You can figure out which foods your body is efficient at digesting, your eating becomes much more efficient. Also, many raw foods contain some of the natural enzymes required to digest them. When you cook them, you kill some/all of the enzymes and put more of the stress of digestion on your gut and causing you to get fewer net calories. One free tool you can use to figure out the foods that are best for you is from, Dr. Joe Mercola. You can use it by going to: http://nutritionaltyping.mercola.com/PreTest.aspx


Weekly Roundup of Useful Stuff


How to Purify Drinking Water in an emergency
http://www.prepare-for-emergency.com/purify-water.htm
*Something I often neglect to mention about preparedness…keep an extra tank or three of LP gas filled at all times. Your BBQ can be used for cooking & these tanks are usable for other devices such as heaters and stoves.

Free ebooks for Kindle Readers
This Christmas, I noticed a trend among the gifts my friends and family received. A lot of them were now owners of a Kindle. Here’s a source of free e-books to put on their e-readers.
This site is the best of a ton of them that I looked at because the books are 100% free with no hidden membership costs.
http://manybooks.net/

Amazon Launches Kindle eBook Lending, BN.com's Nook Is a Bestseller

Amazon.com is now allowing owners of its Kindle eBook reading
devices to lend eBooks to others through the Kindle Book Lending
program. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble said its Nook eBook reader is
its most popular product ever, and said it now sells more digital
books than physical books on BN.com


Atomic Mall Launches Auctions Very Different from eBay-Style Listings

Online marketplace AtomicMall.com launched its anticipated
auction format on Saturday. The sealed-bid auctions are designed
to eliminate the shortcomings of the traditional online auction
format found on sites like eBay. Atomic Mall founder Mike Shannon
tells AuctionBytes he launched auctions to attract unique items,
and believes product diversity will be a powerful force for
attracting buyers to the site.
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y11/m01/i03/s01

Gift Cards Are Out
After nine consecutive years of gains, gift cards are on the wane. Sales of gift cards are expected to drop to $86.2 billion, an 11% decline from their peak in 2007, according to CardHub.com. Shoppers want to avoid pitfalls like expiration dates and inactivity fees that can quickly erode a card's value, says Kwame Kuadey, chief executive of GiftCardRescue.com, which buys and sells gift cards. Even if you use a portion of the gift card, these inactivity fees can kick in if the rest of the card remains unused for at least 12 months. However, the Card Act eliminated other loopholes, including extending expiration dates to at least five years after the gift card is issued. Before, expiration dates could kick in at any time and often did within one year.


The first goal of any off grid electrical system is to reduce the electrical usage of your household as much as possible.
How to do that you say?
Non-electric or hybrid appliances. Let's talk possibilities, starting with refrigeration.
With a propane refrigerator you get a lot less for you money in terms of size and luxuries than you do with an electric unit. It's the price you pay for refrigeration where there isn't any electricity. But let's face it, a cold drink, ice, and preserved food are worth it.
http://www.realgoods.com/product/home-o ... gerator.do


End of Days starts May 21st according a group of Christian groups going about the country to warn the rest of us. Guess that ties into the Mayan Calendar prediction?!

Libertarian Party to participate in "Stripping of Freedom" TSA conference

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict will join Ralph Nader and Cato Institute information policy expert Jim Harper this Thursday, January 6, as a panelist at a public conference examining TSA security procedures.

The conference is sponsored by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), and titled "The Stripping of Freedom: A Careful Scan of TSA Security Procedures." It is open to the press and public. (Advance registration is preferred.)

Benedict commented, "TSA agents strip-scan and grope us when we want to take an airline flight. We need to treat their security theater with just as much scrutiny. Terrorists win by tricking us into letting government trample on our rights."


Top 15 Money Saving Tips for 2011

"Every year, ShopSmart publishes hundreds of tips to help consumers slash their bills," said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. "So to help them kick off 2011 right, we pulled together our best cost-cutting measures that could save hundreds of dollars."
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shopsmarts-top-15-money-saving-tips-for-2011-111821089.html

>>Use vegetable spray as a quick lubricant on squeaky doors, bike chains, etc.<< As the Poor Man recently reported but for new subscribers… For those of you who don’t know, the DHS has started launching a campaign, as of yesterday, encouraging people everywhere that if you see “something suspicious or out of the ordinary” then “say something” to local authorities—or even your local retail store Manager! They are looping this warning video in hundreds of Wal-Mart stores across the U.S. and will soon have them at bus stations, the Mall of America, and other key gathering locations such as sports venues, concerts, etc American Nazis at it again.. Recently an everyday Mom who also is a faithful blogger who believed in self-reliance and would frequently voice her concerns about the world around her—had her child subjected to extensive questioning while at school—illegally of course. These questions were about whether or not her mother owned any guns, took the kids camping, stored food, or has remodeled her home? Who dared to ask a child these questions while she was at school? Nope, it wasn’t the Nazi’s, the KGB, or the CIA. It was an even more intimidating foe that tends to believe they are outside of the reach of the law and justice—the Child Protection Services division of Georgia. They then proceeded to charge the mother with child endangerment, based on the faulty theory that the mother blogged 20 hours a day and thus must be neglecting her daughter. (See http://sherriequestioningall.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-govt-trying-to-find-out-who-has-what.html) >>>Legitimate ways of checking your credit score. Even if you no longer use credit, a bad score can hurt your chances at a job and will affect premium prices paid for auto insurance (which makes no sense whatsoever but our anti-consumer gov’t allows them this unfair practice…guess that’s why they call it ‘free enterprise.’)
None of these services are free >>>>
True FICO Score @ Fair Isaac 800-319-4433 or MyFICO.com
Equifax @ 866-493-9788 or Equifax.com
Transunion @ 800-888-4213 or TransUnionCS.com

Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Silver-Free
http://silver-shortage.blogspot.com/




PMs Political Hacking…

Get links to our intelligence services, preparedness checklists & more at Don McAlvany’s Intelligence Advisor. Don has been around a long time and has always provided useful content (hey, he’s a Phx boy)!
http://miatoday.com/today.asp

Will Congress order changes at the U.S. Postal Service?
Postal reform could be the sleeper issue of the year -- and a politically tricky one. (Which lawmaker wants to become the champion of closing post offices?) But make no mistake: This is the year the Postal Service will really run out of money -- unless Congress seriously addresses postal reform. Pensions are ballooning, mail volume and revenues are plummeting and -- most perilous of all -- a $15 billion line of credit with the U.S. Treasury dries up this year. Two substantive legislative proposals are on the table and after years of avoiding the issue, it appears Congress will have to deliver a serious solution in 2011.


Use a coffee filter to hold a taco or hot dog or other messy food-they make a sleeve!


Most wealthy simply do not pay income taxes. Today, it is estimated that a third of all the wealth in the world is held in offshore banks. So why is so much of the wealth of the globe located in places such as Monaco, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Isle of Man? It isn't because those are fun places to visit. It is to avoid taxes. The super wealthy and the international banking elite think that it is really funny that our paychecks are constantly being drained by federal taxes, state taxes and Social Security taxes while they literally pay nothing at all. These incredibly rich elitists make a ton of money doing business in wealthy western nations and then they transfer virtually all of their profits offshore where they don't have to contribute any of it in taxes. It works out really great for them, but it sucks for the rest of us.

It is estimated that approximately $1.4 trillion is held in offshore banks in the Cayman Islands alone. According to an article in Forbes magazine, there is a total of approximately 15 trillion to 20 trillion dollars in offshore bank accounts, brokerage accounts and hedge fund portfolios.

A recent article in the Guardian stated that a third of all the wealth on the entire globe is held in offshore banks and that the vast majority of international banking transactions take place in these tax havens....
On a conservative estimate, a third of the world's wealth is held offshore, with 80% of international banking transactions taking place there. More than half the capital in the world's stock exchanges is "parked" offshore at some point.
All of the biggest banks in the world are involved in playing this game.


>>>Help abused animals at www.TheAnimalRescueSite.com - become a sponsor or donate!<<< <<>>

PM’s Rumor Mill>>>Italy will be the next European nation requiring a bailout!
Our country no longer hold the international respect it once did, Asia is the new empire. Even street vendors in Switzerland are trying to dump the dollar. Even the Euro is likely to fall within two years, as is the US dollar. Asia has far fewer job killing bureaucratic regulations than the west. With strong encouragement from the Chinese government, their people are buying up gold. Paper dollars lost 16% of their value at the end of 2010. Asians are laughing at what they perceive as “dumbed-down Americans,” and plan to have their gold-back currency become the world currency within a few years. Despite this, many are saying the dollar will remain strong throughout 2011. Are we laughing yet? Finance is the new form of warfare.

<<>>


"Coercion by government, the main fear of our founding fathers, is now its most common attribute."
-- Philip K. Howard
New York attorney


Wanted to say thanks. You obviously put some thought and research into your site and your weekly newsletter. I pay for other publications which aren’t nearly as good or on target! --Dave of TN


>>Buy American-Each time you go to a store, ask where the ‘made in USA’ aisle is. If they don’t have any, say thanks & let them know you’ll go elsewhere. Go to TV star (Cheers) John Ratzenberger’s site: www.Ratzenberger.com to find US made products.<< The Parting Shots… It's mind-boggling the blinders our politicians have. I mean, surely that must be the reason. No sane person acts as fiscally irresponsible as they do. If not blinders, then they are deliberately running this country off a cliff and it's criminal at the least. Treasonous is more like it. This financial debacle we're in affects not only the jobs we do or do not have, it affects everything else as well, including energy infrastructure and our food supply. This country is the basis and standard of all the currencies in the world, and we're being run like a banana republic. Given that this train wreck we call a government is still intentionally driving us over a cliff, what can one do? Stop the Police State in America-Ron Paul http://peterschiffchannel.blogspot.com/2011/01/ron-paul-stop-police-state-repeal.html Too many Americans have been ‘dumbed down’ as the Chinese believe (actually, many Asians have felt that way about America since WWII). We’ve been scorned and admired at the same time for our freedoms (which are evaporating) and lifestyle. Consider that Nine out of Ten Americans are hurting financially… More Americans are on food stamps than are enrolled in college Home foreclosure notices were issued at the rate of 322 per hour in 2010 There are 5.5 job seekers for every job & most US jobs pay a fraction of what they used to…dropping significantly from the 80s More than $7 trillion in US household wealth-lost since the Recession began The number of laws that confiscate property and new fines by cities and states (aka: traffic offenses) has jumped 23% …laws such as anti-smoking, no texting, seat belt laws, etc….all in an effort to squeeze more revenue from citizens. Every single month tens of billions of dollars of our national wealth is transferred to the rest of the world. We buy far more from the rest of the globe than they buy from us, and this difference is called a trade deficit. Most Americans don't even think about the trade deficit, but the truth is that it represents a transfer of wealth that is almost unimaginable. Every month when the oil-exporting nations of the Middle East send us oil, what do we send to them? Our dollars of course. So we burn up their oil in our vehicles and end up with nothing at the end of the month, and they end up with a big pile of our money. So what happens the next month? The exact same process repeats again. But it is not just oil-exporting nations that we are transferring our national wealth to. Back in 1985, the U.S. trade deficit with China was 6 million dollars for the entire year. For this past August alone, the trade deficit with China was over 28 billion. Why Rich People are Leaving http://kiyosaki-blog.blogspot.com/2011/01/donald-trump-rich-people-are-leaving.html In other words, the U.S. trade deficit with China in August 2010 was more than 4,600 times larger than the U.S. trade deficit with China was for the entire year of 1985. That is why China has so much money to lend back to us - we have been transferring tens of billions of dollars of our national wealth to them month after month after month. Just think of we saw in 2010: - The TSA 'tip of the spear' enforcing subordination to government authority - Canada's government authorizing its agents to search homes without a warrant - Gold hitting all-time nominal highs due to unprecedented monetary inflation - Governments around the world raising taxes with immediate effect - Homeland Security began seizing domains without due process - The beginning of the end of the Eurozone - World governments engaging in mutually assured destruction currency wars - FBI raiding the homes of war protestors - Passage of the HIRE Act in the United States, a precursor to capital controls - Political heavyweights openly calling for the assassination of Julian Assange - Switzerland settling with the US government - Panama caving to pressure and signing a Tax Information Exchange Agreement - Homeland Security encouraging US citizens to spy on each other at Wal Mart Barron's: US Will See Run on Treasurys, Hyperinflation Investors in U.S. debt around the world are worryingly near a "psychological breaking point" that could force a "run on the bank" against Treasuries. If that happens, hyperinflation quickly follows and gold will soar much, much higher from its now record-setting levels, argues author and longtime trader Victor Sperandeo in the latest issue of Barron's. It’s our hope the Poor Man bulletin, web site, special reports and CDs have given you some means of preparation. You should always be stockpiling cans of oil, ammo, liquor, food, silver coins (I know, they go up weekly), batteries, toiletries, etc. for use in barter and for your family. Soon, your $20 bill might be worth a whole lot less. Please, please, please…share this with your friends and family who may not have stockpiled anything. I know, there are still many who don’t believe. Better off being a Boy Scout. Final shot…if you are an entrepreneur who desires more, learn from one of the best marketers on the planet, Jay Abraham on this 26 minute live video. http://jeffwalker.com/eben-pagan-jay-abraham/ Happy trails till next issue! --the Poor Man

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com

http://www.OldBookNook.com

http://www.GreenIrene.com/Poorman

Don't Get Caught With Your Pantry Down-New 11th Ed.
http://tinyurl.com/PMBasics

Free Money assistance for women, businesses, more.
http://hop.clickbank.net/hop.cgi?poorman11/mlesko


A Shallow Planet Production

Food Stamps as Collateral-Poor Man's Take on Crazy Economy

Bruce’s Poor Man Recession Bulletin
Your choice for urban survival resources
http://www.PoorManSurvival.com


In This Issue:

1. Communists are now our friends
2. 10 Riskiest places to give out Social Security number
3. Cool products you can get for free
4. Send a free ecard or one with money
5. Humorous cartoon movie explaining Fed moves
6. How to properly check basement for water problems
7. Surviving in the City


Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money, for money is men's protection and the base of a moral existence. Destroyers seize gold and leave to its owners a counterfeit pile of paper. This kills all objective standards and delivers men into the arbitrary power of an arbitrary setter of values. Gold was an objective value, an equivalent of wealth produced. Paper is a mortgage on wealth that does not exist, backed by a gun aimed at those who are expected to produce it. Paper is a check drawn by legal looters upon an account which is not theirs: upon the virtue of the victims. Watch for the day when it bounces, marked: 'Account Overdrawn.'"
-- Ayn Rand



The Paradox of US Recession-Or, Can I use food stamps as collateral?

There is much confusion in America surrounding the recession. The nightly news brings stories of homeless and hungry, foreclosures and federal actions…but we also see stories of sold out Carnival Cruise ships limping back to the United States or one day staggering sales of new video games and Ipod phones.

I see record shattering prices paid at auction for all kinds of items (including a recent gun auction we attended, but that doesn’t surprise me as much) and I can’t help but wonder - where are these people getting the money?

Train traffic is another economic indicator and a set of tracks runs very close to our home and it runs 24/7. Last night, within a 25-minute time span, seven trains went by. That tells us someone isn’t hurting.

Does everyone get a good paycheck, perhaps working for the government? We know government workers earn on average 60% more than there private sector counterparts, but even state and local governments are hurting. So many contradictory messages floating about such as this one:

Car, retail sales boost outlook for economy
The economic outlook has brightened noticeably in recent days, with a splurge of car-buying by consumers unexpectedly lifting retail sales and businesses putting some of their nearly $2 trillion in stashed cash to work buying other companies with an eye toward growth.

According to the US Census, which has a data base dating back to 1946 for federal employment, current "civilian" employment is about the same it was during the Regan era - slightly under 2,000,000. The largest growth in Federal employment since 9/11 is for TSA (airport security) and the . We now have more than 19 million federal employees (about 310 million citizens).

Scroll down to near the end of this week’s bulletin to watch a damn cute little video which explains the Fed’s QE2 actions…you’ll love it. Thanks Mike for sharing!

As I’ve written previously, here in MI it’s tough to get a tradesman to even return a call. They all must be busy working on other projects? The local commissars still think everyone has a whole bunch of money and income as they discriminate against lower cost housing projects…so exactly what gives?
http://www.givemeliberty.org/

This is the time of year to stock up on seasonal grocery items such as turkey and baking goods. Purchase extra sale items and stockpile them away for later in the year. If you find butter, for example, on sale, buy extra and freeze it.

Finally, it would appear many eBay customers believe I offer lay-away. At last count, I had a dozen unpaid purchases from my storefront?! A large uptick in slow paying ebayers.

Here’s what readers can buy the Poor Man for Christmas…get me a Solar Impulse HB-SIA, the zero emission, solar & battery powered aircraft. I’ve always wanted a helicopter, but this will work!

When the socialist economies of Eastern Europe disintegrated, the cause was evident to nearly everyone: the stifling directives of central planning had all but obliterated individual initiative and accountability. The cure was just as obvious: a healthy dose of entrepreneurship and private enterprise."
-- Dr. Lawrence W. Reed
(1953-) President of the Foundation for Economic Education



This week’s cool stuff n resources


Cool Products and Services You Can Get for Free
Look hard enough and you can find a bevy of 100% discounts, especially online. "Facebook is a great source of freebies right now, as so many brands try to attract fans and establish themselves," says Julia Scott, who runs the popular blog BargainBabe.com.
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111305/cool-products-and-services-you-can-get-for-free

One App Will Set You Free…SIRI Personal Assistant uses natural language processing and personal preferences/context to understand complex requests using your voice commands as prompts. Cost-FREE
www.Siri.com

DIY Clay Pot Smoker & Other Projects Can be found at:
www.Instructables.com


10 Riskiest Places to Give Your Social Security Number
We should always be leary about giving our social security number, but at some places, it is more risky to do so. McAfee looked at places that have had the most data breaches.

More consumers are selling the gift cards they already possess for around 10% to 20% less than face value to third-party sites like GiftCards.com, CardHub.com, PlasticJungle.com and GiftCardRescue.com. Sales at GiftCardRescue.com are up 1,000% through October of this year compared to the same period in 2009, says Kuadey. PlasticJungle.com says sales have more than doubled through the middle of this year. “People would rather use the cash anywhere they like than be restricted to a specific store,” says Dan Horne, professor of marketing who tracks the gift-card industry at Providence College. In turn, consumers who shop at specific stores can buy the cards at a discount; for example, GiftCards.com recently listed a SpaFinder gift card worth $100 for $86 and a $37 Home Depot card for …

Read more: Why Cash Is the New Plastic - Spending - Budgeting - SmartMoney.com http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/budgeting/3-signs-cash-is-making-a-comeback/#ixzz15M6hNraq

Send a free Thanksgiving e-card…animated and personalized with your message
www.Care2.com/send/catthanks1.html
Even though the popularity of gift cards seems to have waned somewhat, try this new service to make it more personal by uploading a special image and message. Go to:
www.GiftCardMall.com

Does your kid have a wish list?
Send a letter to Santa via Macy’s which has placed special boxes at their mall locations. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Dave Guindon’s eBay feedback analyzer software-free
http://www.feedbackanalyzer.com/download.php



If your furnace quits or breaks down try these eight simple solutions before you call for service help. You can solve the problem and avoid a $200 service call.
http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Heating---Cooling/Furnace-Repair/simple-furnace-fixes?pmcode=IAFEC967&_mid=765734&_rid=765734.595400.338589


Make Your Own Windshield Scratch Remover
Ever see those guys standing on a street corner offering to remove scratches from your auto glass free of charge? Most of the time it is a scam designed to bilk your insurance company. Grit on your wiper blades will cause scratches (along with neighborhood kids) making night time driving a pain in the butt as the light from oncoming cars can be blinding especially as one gets older. Try this home made approach before calling your insurance agent.
Ingredients

Jeweler’s rouge
4 oz. of ammonia
1 gal of water

Get out that handy portable drill you have and fasten a lamb’ wool buffing pad to it. You might want to wear some rubber gloves and use a safety rated indoor/outdoor extension cord for your drill.

Rub the rouge onto the buffing pad until it is coated with powder. Place on your windshield where the scratches are and turn on. If the scratches aren’t too deep, this action will restore the glass. Afterward, mix the ammonia and water in a bucket (this is why you might want rubber gloves) and wash the windshield and then dry with some paper towels.
Note: you can get the rouge from a jeweler and ask for a grade suitable for polishing glass.

Damp Basement?
We didn’t find basements too often while living in AZ but MI has many and they’re often referred to as MI basements due to dampness. Here’s a pretty quick way to determine if the moisture is seepage from inside or merely condensation from inside.

Tape a piece of aluminum foil tightly to the inside of your basement wall. After a few days, examine the foil. If the wall side is wet, you have seepage. If the room side is wet, the problem is condensation. If both sides are wet, you need to waterproof that basement and use a dehumidifier.


Surviving in the City
This article appears on the End Times Report webpage
(http://www.endtimesreport.com/Surviving_in_the_City.html) and should be required reading for any individual
who is preparing for 'hard times', regardless of cause. This article is from Christopher Parrett's book,
"The
LDS Preparedness Manual" which is posted for free downloading to any and all at
http://www.abysmal.com/LDS/Preparedness/ The author also has a web site at
www.anothervoiceofwarning.org This has been around since Y2K days and is still relevant.

Download one of the themed shopping lists from FreePrintableGroceryList.com. The Thanksgiving list features a cute turkey graphic and lists items commonly purchased for that holiday. The site also has a Christmas menu planner and a gift-shopping list template. Everything at the site is free to download and print, and you can choose from PDF or editable DOC versions. (The DOC versions are especially handy, because you can type right into the lists using Microsoft Word or another compatible word processing program.) Here's link to the holiday lists, but be sure to check out the master grocery list and other printables as well:
www.FreePrintableGroceryList.com/category/holiday

Vanishing Point: How to disappear in America without a trace
http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm


May we be a channel of blessings for all that we meet.
-- Edgar Cayce, American spiritualist (1877-1945)


Guest Editorial

Our Vanishing Rights
Our inalienable rights, guaranteed by the United States Constitution, have steadily become alienable. The actions of Congress and the States are restricting our freedom.

Years ago, with the advent of the automobile, when codifying this new means of transportation, states decreed that having a driver's license was a right. Today, having a driver's license is a privilege. It would be awkward, if not impossible, for the courts to penalize individuals by taking away their right to drive a vehicle.

In many states, you can be ticketed for not having a seat belt fastened when driving a vehicle or not wearing a helmet operating a motorcycle and riding a bicycle.

There are federal and state laws preventing smoking in certain prescribed areas. There are a multitude of rules and regulations dictating how businesses, professions, and manufacturing can be managed.

Politically correct speech, though not a formal law, is an incursion on our vocabulary. A subtle control on how we express ourselves.

Undeniably, some of these laws, such as requiring seat belts and helmets, are logical measures to lessen injuries if there are accidents. Non-the-less, if some people are foolish enough not to take these precautions, it is their constitutional right to make those choices. This philosophy of "the government knows what is best for you" leads to complete control of our lives. Big Brother telling us what to do is a Dictatorship not a Democracy.

Some of these controls and restrictions may be unconstitutional. Yet, there is no uproar by the passive public, which results in the further removal of our rights. One feature in the proposed national health insurance plan calls for mandatory insurance for all citizens.

The appeal and success of our Republic is based largely upon the freedom its citizens enjoy, unrestricted by authority. Let's not squander anymore of our constitutional rights to our control-seeking, elected officials. Vote the incumbents out of office to re-establish that they are our servants, not our masters.

By: A. Woodrow
Author, How to Make Your Vote Count
Founder, Democracy Conservator Foundation
"Preserving our democratic representative government through smart voting"
http://www.DemocracyConservator.org
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2785668/are_our_constitutional_rights_eroding.html

Sidebar:
Your property rights are under assault
There’s no doubt private property was one of the founding tenets of our country but state and local governments have increasingly violated those rights.

Private property rights have attributes in addition to determining the use of a resource. One is the exclusive right to the services of the resource…
weakened private property rights are socialism and “commonly owned” resources. Under socialism, government agents—those whom the government assigns—exercise control over resources. The rights of these agents to make decisions about the property they control have expanded greatly in America without regard to the rights of the citizens who have paid for the property.

http://www.realtor.org/library/library/fg802
http://prfamerica.org/speeches/10th/USPrivatePropertyRightsUnderIntlAssault.html
http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-pi210.html


I have no need to run for president anymore. The Democratic Party has adopted my platform!
--Norman Thomas-Socialist Party/1940


Thanks Mike for sharing this…

I Should Have Moved to OK vs. Communist MI…drat!!!

Several weeks ago, OK passed a law, declaring Oklahoma as a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. Joining Texas, Montana and Utah as the only states to do so. More states are likely to follow: Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolina's, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia,Mississippi, Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again. HJR 1003 (Wooops!)

The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma, a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles.

Just this month, the state has voted and passed a law that ALL driver's license exams will be printed in English, and only English, and no other language. They have been called racist for doing this, but the fact is that ALL of the road signs are in English only.

Oklahoma recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen.

The property which every man has in his own labor, as it is the original foundation of all other property, so it is the most sacred and inviolable.
--Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations


Oddities:

**A Mystery Missile if fired off the coast of California to who knows where and no one will admit who or what did it.
In the same area a cruise ship is disabled, the Chinese have submarines in the area and the president is in Asia for 10 days. A few days earlier UFO's were spotted and filmed over New York City and El Paso, Tx and Pennsylvania

**Airport security began confiscating little old ladies' knitting needles and breaking the mouse-sized nail files off of passengers' nail clippers. Surprisingly, no decrease in the number of hijacking attempts by little old ladies and manicurists was noted.

**Humorous, must-watch animated video explaining Fed economic actions.
http://www.examiner.com/right-side-politics-in-national/quantitative-easing-explained-video





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Parting Thoughts…our friends in China

A reader sent this note-I find it hard to argue with…ever wonder why we’ve cozied up to Communist China, once an avowed enemy? It’s because the US is becoming more communist every day and we‘re now owned by it!

There was a time when we rounded up Communists, now we’re their buddy. We have Communists within & without…for the first time, true income equality will appear (for all but the political class), but the only thing available to share will be poverty. Ask a Russian.

Chinese missiles can ravage U.S. bases
China's military can destroy five out of six U.S. bases in Asia with waves of missile strikes as the result of its large-scale military buildup that threatens U.S. access and freedom of navigation in East Asia, according to a forthcoming congressional report.


Communism in the United States is something of an anomaly. The basic principles of communism are, by design, at odds with the free enterprise foundation of U.S. capitalism. The freedom of individuals to privately own property, start a business, and own the means of production is a basic tenet of U.S. government, and communism opposes this arrangement. However, there have been, are, and probably always will be communists in the United States.


Charges that the federal government is inching ever closer to communism are far from new – this 1955 academic editorial contends that arresting all card-carrying members of the communist party would have little effect on our march toward communism: Our own politicians will get us there quite handily on their own.



The Von Mises Institute, in Human Action, argues that Marxist redistribution is a direct form of coercive suppression. They say that both the initial and ongoing forms of redistribution are direct coercion of the victims.

Milton Friedman argued that the absence of voluntary economic activity in communism makes it too easy for repressive political leaders to grant themselves coercive powers. Friedman's view was also shared by Friedrich Hayek and John Maynard Keynes, both of whom believed that capitalism is vital for freedom to survive and thrive.

When most middle class wealth is built on jobs, no jobs = no middle class. So will the jobs be back soon? Short answer: No. And the main reason, politicians' speeches to the contrary being lies, is deliberate government policy

In Saving Freedom, Senator Jim DeMint addresses his concern that the United States - the world's great bastion of freedom - is sliding toward socialism. Federal control now extends in various ways to education, health care, financial markets, real estate, businesses, and religion. The walls between government and the private sector are getting thinner every day.
Out-of-control government spending and increased debt are draining the economic and political strength of our people. Senator DeMint provides a firsthand account of the behind-the-scenes actions in Congress that are altering the character of our Nation. He illuminates key principles of freedom and how they are being compromised by big government. More important, he lays out an action plan to reclaim America's freedom based on legislation that would reduce debt, fix Social Security, and provide a tax credit for every family to buy health insurance.


That’s it for this issue from your merry muckraker-I am looking out for you!

http://www.PoorManSurvival.com
http://www.GreenIrene.com/Poorman
http://www.OldBookNook.com



A Shallow Planet Production

How healthcare reform will affect you, Middle Class Stressors

The Poor Man’s Recession Fighter Bulletin
Your Choice for Usable Information

In This Issue:

· Home butchered meat trend
· Stress points sapping middle class
· Overview of how healthcare reform will affect you
· Work-at-home blog and resources
· Microloans for women entrepreneurs
· Odd stuff to keep in your freezer


*What makes Clint's day. There's a new coffee-table book out on Clint Eastwood's film career, from the 1959 western Rawhide to his most recent directorial duties on Invictus. The book includes 325 photographs and movie stills and some wonderful quotes, such as this one from the time he had the romantic lead in The Bridges of Madison County. Said Clint, "This romantic stuff is really tough. I can't wait to get back to shooting and killing."


The Green Millionaire

I just finished reading the Green Millionaire by Nigel Williams. An interesting book filled with methods for which we could all save money and the planet by becoming more recycling oriented…lots of good statistics and suggestion for products to save energy, boost your car mileage and so on. The biggest drawback…no website links or contact information for the products he suggests.

His premise is you can become wealthy when you implement the money-saving strategies he suggests while saving the planet.

The book is free and includes a trial subscription to his newsletter…the catch – you sign up for a bi-monthly automatic billing of $29.95. You do have a free 14-day trial evaluation period. I’m still waiting for my 1st issue of the online newsletter.
https://www.greenmillionaire.com/index.html

Who would’ve guessed…lawyers are the worst drivers. According to an insurance institute study, 44% of lawyers and judges admitted to being in an accident prior to shopping for auto insurance. Financial professionals, and government workers were next in line as the worst drivers.

Europeans are gloating this week. The continent might be struggling with ballooning debts, a faltering euro and national strikes, but when the U.S. House voted in favor of President Barack Obama's health care bill Sunday night, March 21, Europeans seized the moment to thumb their noses at Americans and remind them that they've had pretty good health care for decades.

Finally…Does anyone aside from myself feel Americans are practicing the crime of democracy? The federal government seems to dominate our nightly news and our daily lives…yet, access to government actions are limited to mainstream folks more than ever before. Freedom of information and open access always seem in short supply. Indeed, under Bush Jr., the Attorney General sent a memo to all federal agencies directing them to cripple the process wherever and however possible. Slowly but surely, the government rules every aspect of our lives.

So much for transparency in government that Pres. Obama promised. Below is a resource you can use to learn more about Freedom of Information:
http://www.nfoic.org/

--Just got a note from Diane Sawyer/ABC news regarding their current series about the attack on the middle class. There is a chance they’ll include a plug for the Poor Man in an upcoming segment!

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Penny Pinching Tips


Try the following free site for online coupons
www.coolsavings.com

Fee-based online manufacturing coupon clipping service
www.thecouponclippers.com

Need to escape an auto lease…try these sites
www.swapalease.com
www.leasetrade.com
www.leasetrader.com

Peer-to-Peer lending sites
A booming alternative to tight fisted bankers – average loan is $5000. Review these sites: (Check each site to see if they operate in your state)
www.prosper.com
www.lendingclub.com
www.raisecapital.com


Count me in – a non-profit group which makes microloans to women
In all 50-states.
www.makemineamillion.org

Always an interesting site-Work-at-Home Blog-See her radio show guests!
http://blog.2work-at-home.com/WordPress/work-at-home/radio-guests-this-week-will-be-vipdesk-and-scoping-expert-linda-evenson/

Tired of Looking for a job – try starting your own direct selling biz
http://www.directsalescareers.com/products.shtml


VIPDesk-Seeks home-based call center people & more
http://www.vipdesk.com/info/careers_concierge.asp

Start Sampling Coupon Site – zip code specific
http://www.startsamplingemail.com/common/dynamicflows/DynamicRegPathCustomPage.jsp

Note: Get your resume noticed. Worried about a gap in your work history…Fill it in with volunteer work. Millions of Americans are currently between jobs, so periods of unemployment aren’t eyebrow raisers like they used to be.

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Odd Stuff Your Freezer will help to preserve…Batteries: A number of studies have shown that storing batteries in the freezer helps them retain their charge longer. This is less true for alkaline batteries (freezing extends their shelf life by only about 5%) than it is for NiMH and Nicad batteries often used in electronics. Keeping NiMH batteries in the freezer can boost battery life by 90%.
* Plant Seeds: Many (but not all) types of plant seeds will keep longer and germinate more successfully when stored in the freezer. Consult a copy of Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops, by S.D. Doijode, for more than you'd ever want to know about this fascinating topic. Many of the planet's most important seeds are being stored in the chilly "doomsday" seed vault in Norway.
· Plastic Soda Bottles Filled with Water: Grandma knew that keeping her freezer chockfull helped to insulate it and perform better, and kept things cold longer if the electricity failed. I like to fill empty plastic soda bottles nearly full with water, and put them in the freezer to take up any vacant space. Plus they make convenient "drip-less ice cubes" to use instead of real ice cubes in my ice chest. More at:
· http://shine.yahoo.com/event/financiallyfit/9-weird-things-i-freeze-to-save-money-1172687/

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Make Your Own Energy
Step-by-step guide reveals how to
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News & Views


America lagging behind in too many areas…
Since 1999 there has been zero net job creation in this country. In the 1960s the US had the top high school graduation rate in the world; by 2000, we were 19th. Our college graduation rate has fallen to 12th place. We have only a tiny fraction of the top 10 global companies in emerging green industries.

Here are the top predicted growth occupations in the coming years. Note the anticipated growth in security jobs…perhaps that is why so many Wall Street firm executives are now applying for concealed weapons permits?

Predicted job Growth Areas for Men

1. Security Officers
2. Appliance/Automotive/Home Repair
3. Farming/Gardening
4. Disaster Preparation/Recovery/Cleanup
5. Personal Protection Guns/Safes/Home Security Systems
6. Dog Breeder/Trainer
7. Community Leadership City Counsel/School Boards
8. Community College/Trade School Teacher
9. Energy Reduction Expert
10.Entrepreneur/Businessmen Source:
http://www.pennyjobs.com/pp/public/Articles.aspx?aid=515
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Stressors Sapping the Middle Class

Working harder for less is the new normal--for those lucky enough to have a job. Millions of families are giving up comforts they long took for granted, such as restaurant meals, new clothes, vacations, spacious cars, home improvements, and cable television. College funds and retirement savings have taken a hit, and some families have been forced to downsize their homes or, worse, submit to foreclosure. Little wonder that record numbers of Americans tell pollsters it's getting harder to get ahead and that they worry their kids' standard of living may fall rather than rise.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-Stressors-Sapping-the-usnews-2236123833.html?x=0

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In a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll last fall, Americans were asked how much of the time they trusted the government to do the right thing; 65% said "only some of the time," and a stunning 11% said "never."
Big Brother is watching…Resources to protect your privacy

Your personal information—everything from your shopping habits to your health history—can be available to creditors, employers, landlords, insurers, law enforcement agencies, and, of course, criminals. All they need to do is tap into the public and private databases that gather, buy, and sell your vital statistics.

Demand for your personal information has exploded in recent years. Its availability has also raised privacy concerns. When users buy and compile various pieces of information about you, “they can paint a very complete picture of your activities,” says Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group.

Here’s what Big Brother has on you:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/consumer-protection/big-brother-is-watching/overview/index.htm

Also, See How Privacy Vanishes Online
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/technology/17privacy.html?src=me&ref=technology

In Bid to Sway Sales, Cameras Track Shoppers
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/business/20surveillance.html?adxnnl=1&hpw=&adxnnlx=1269338880-mW1wcFHNuEA3EBZFvDiftQ

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Home-Butchered Meat

The thud of heavy knives bashing bones, the splat of dead muscle hitting the table, the twisting of heads off bodies and the ripping of flesh from limp, cold limbs. Is this a nightmare vision from the makers of Saw or Hostel? An autopsy? No, it's actually the scene at a home kitchen near you, as more and more young Americans are taking a DIY approach to meat. It's part home economics, part politics and certainly at least part fad. But it's changing the way many Americans approach meat, chop by succulent chop.
More at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100323/us_time/08599197434500

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OIL Still at $75 a barrel-Fuel Prices Rose 20 cents a gallon last week…Talk about short-term thinking! OPEC is pushing car-manufacturers and drivers around the world to accelerate hybrid and electric car development. Just this week, Chrysler announced it would roll out an all-electric car — based on the Fiat 500 platform but made in America — for 2012. This car, which was tested in Europe, gets up to 120 miles on a charge. Other U.S.-made electric cars will hit the highways even sooner.

The combination of electric, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles entering the market should drive U.S. gasoline use DOWN over the next 5 to 10 years, perhaps down a lot. And this should rev up America's energy independence. The only thing that could derail this shift is lower gasoline prices. And OPEC is making sure that's not going to happen.
The cheapest source of new energy is to use less of it, and therefore make the energy you have go further. A smart grid helps you do that, by managing energy usage more effectively. The Obama administration announced a $3.4 billion package in 2009 to help build a smart electric grid meant to trim utility bills and reduce blackouts.


>>><<<

Nearly half of Americans are "extremely" or "very worried" about rising costs for health care and health insurance, and a majority place the blame on drug and insurance company profits, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds

Overview of how the new healthcare reform will affect you
http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/109145/in-depth-health-care-overhaul

"On Sunday evening the richest, most powerful country in the world, the USA, finally entered the 20th century. Yes, not the 21st century, but the 20th," read an article published Monday on the popular French news website Rue89.com.

Parting Shot-No church would have me but…

I grew up in a part of Cleveland, OH where the population was about 40% Jewish (I’m a Heinz-57 Deist) and I often noted how well as a whole these neighbors did financially. Young men were groomed to become professionals or business owners and I always felt they prospered because of an unwritten dogma – “Sell to anyone, but buy from your fellow Jews.”

When I went to college in Arizona I noticed a similar philosophy among the Mormons. In fact I admire the Mormons for several reasons. They too foster success among their young and willingly support the businesses of their spiritual community. Also, their members never need rely on government welfare. The Mormons will help their own through paying rent and utilities for an out-of-work member and they have their own grocery store to provide food to its members. They also practice long-term food storage and believe everyone should stockpile a two-year supply of food.

These observations led me to found a not-for-profit group (later in life) called the Minimalist Group, which is based on the idea of minimizing dependence on government while maximizing self reliance.

It’s been my goal in building up the Poor Man site and Bulletin to foster a sense of community among its readers. Sharing resources, ideas and thoughts is what will allow us to remain optimistic during trying times and will help each of us survive and prosper. A small reminder – you can always email me and/or post your wants and needs and thoughts through our Yahoo community bulletin site.


Yours for better living,
Bruce “The Poor Man”
http://www.PoorManSurvival.Com


P.S. Spending into oblivion

We're in the terminal stages of the world's most gigantic pyramid scheme" set to vaporize assets of the average citizen…

Here's just a glimpse of the likely fallout:

· A PRICE EXPLOSION as Americans scramble over one another to obtain tangible assets or simply hoard basic necessities, before the dollar's purchasing power evaporates fully.
· WIDESPREAD SHORTAGES, sparse grocery store shelves, and the return of long gas lines.
· FAILED BUSINESSES and economic dislocations far eclipsing anything we've seen to date.
· A BREAKDOWN IN COMMERCE, as longer-term transactions become impossible to do.
· RISING CRIME with rampant unemployment far beyond today's "official" 10% jobless rate.
· GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS DRYING UP, with the dependent class – angry, hungry, and desperate – taking to the streets. Looting, arson, and general lawlessness will quickly follow.

The Fed's own Inspector General in recent Congressional testimony admitted after much waffling that she cannot account for trillions of dollars in off-balance-sheet transactions and has absolutely no idea how much the secretive central bank is losing on its "investments."

As scandalous as the massive corporate bailouts are, they pale in comparison to those that will be required for Social Security and Medicare. An editorial in Barron's stated flatly – "Medicare, Medicaid, pensions, indeed the full freight of the federal government constitutes a Ponzi scheme in plain sight. Income is recycled to pay benefits; no new wealth is created."

Beware the "International Emergency Economic Powers Act" and how it can be activated to seize what's yours…The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) is a United States federal law allowing U.S. Presidents to identify any unusual extraordinary threat that originates outside the United States and to confiscate property and prohibit transactions in response. In the United States Code the IEEPA is Title 50, sections 1701-1707. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Emergency_Economic_Powers_Act

Or read the Treasury Dept. PDF of the Act here”
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/legal/statutes/ieepa.pdf

Be sure to order your Poor Man Recession Survival Kit – get PM Part I & Part II for only $4.95 plus $2.25 shipping…see our site today. http://www.poormansurvival.com

US Jobs-Our Biggest Export?

Well-Paying Jobs-Our Biggest Export
Our Precarious Prosperity
http://www.poormansurvival.com
Bruce David



Since the late 1980s my op/ed pieces blasting Wall Street policies of offshoring US jobs have appeared in USAToday, the Wall Street Journal, Crain’s and other business publications.

Decades of sinking real wages for the middle and working classes and increasing disparity between rich and poor, have left Americans more economically polarized than ever before. Wall Street has shown utter disdain for the consumer class. The government hasn’t done much better and this has led to…


The federal deficit for this year alone is four times last year's record. The official US debt is exploding. Bill Gross says it will be 100% of US GDP within 5 years.
At 100% of GDP...even mainstream economists believe the situation will be irreversible...interest payments will be more than the US can afford.

Obama may have been handed the keys to GM…but the old jalopy is worn out. The French say the whole US economic model is ready for the junkyard.

China has the biggest pile of Treasury bonds in the world – $768 billion of them. That’s 768 billion reasons to worry. Because each T-bond is denominated in dollars…and while everything else is going up, dollars are going down. Yesterday, the dollar touched a new low against the euro for this year – at $1.42.

Tim Geithner is in China, hat in hand, like a major debtor called into the bank president’s office. Geithner, of course, has no choice. He has to go…and defend the USA.

The US government is less concerned with protecting foreign lenders than it is with getting the US economy back to its old E-Z money ways. Cheap money is what people want. Cheap money is what the feds are trying to give them.

And now, the “French model” for managing an economy is the envy of the world. At least, that’s what you might think if you read The Economist.

What’s the ‘French model?’ It’s a system where the state meddles heavily in the economy. Health care, education and public transport are all government enterprises. And political cronies, rather than entrepreneurs, run key businesses.

Heck the French don’t even have a word for “entrepreneur,” as George W. Bush pointed out.

It seems to work fairly well. The health care system functions fairly well – while taking a smaller percentage of GDP than in the US. The trains run on time and grammar and secondary schools are probably better than in the US

Despite an effort by mainstream TV news to report ‘positive signs,’ things are not getting better for the average American. You can’t fix the economy by overspending – we must get people back to work before they will buy anything major again…if you have cash right now, you can name your price on many things including cars and homes!

The rest of us will, out of necessity, become even more frugal…which in itself, is not a bad thing. Affluenza has afflicted Americans for many decades.

So what do you do? The man or woman on the street; perhaps with kids to feed and the need to keep a roof over your head?

Try these suggestions.

Start from where you are.
Keep informed.
Connect with others.
Support local businesses, politicians, non-government organizations (NGO's) that help.
Write letters to make corporations more accountable.
Research your company's pension fund investments.
Promote biking, walking and public transportation.
Simplify your life and consumerism.
Develop new "health and wealth" indicators for your city.
Create and support stakeholder businesses that draw on the region's resources.
Strategize to take away the "person" status of corporations

As is my norm, here are some additional resources for you to use. Support local businesses, especially those which hire in your community!

Our Main Resource

Financial Times – Excellent reporting & resources covering the economy
http://www.ft.com/reports

Nice site for a more sustainable future-areas you can put to immediate use
http://www.newdream.org/

Financial Integrity Offers many free tools you can use to control your money
http://www.financialintegrity.org/index.php?title=Main_Page


Government website comparing the economics of various countries w/ ours
http://www.america.gov/capitalism_compared2.html

And as always, bookmark our poormansurvival.com site I add new content weekly and have recently added several new legitimate work-at-home resources.