obama « i-rant

Rewarding Obama (Nobel Peace) for saying the “correct” things.

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on October 12, 2009

I had a FB post about Obama getting the prize for simply talking about issues rather then executing. Its just a little too political for me. He hasn’t done much yet – and by comparison, the scientists and other recipients all do so much to prove their work. Did Bush get an award for all the work his administration did to combat Aids in Africa? No, very little coverage. Interestingly enough, U2 did mention it in their recent speeches during concerts as they went on and on for 45 minutes mostly around social programs. I love that band thought I don’t always agree with their politics. Everybody is entitled to their opinion – I just prefer rational thinkers.

Anyway, giving this to Obama did piss me off; I don’t know who he was up against though. My post on FB read: "and the king of the world is anointed yet again, oh come let us adore him" It was meant as a joke. But what really amazed me was friends immediately commenting online and in person saying "you are blaming Obama for this?" or "Should he give it back?" – so damn defensive of the guy. He is a demagogue. And that is dangerous. And I’m really wondering if people are going to think I’m racist for thinking this way – some people go to the extreme of saying that any word against him or his plans is racist. That’s not fair. In fact, I’m really concerned for him, making him such a demagogue puts his life in danger – lets keep him human for God’s (the real God) sake.

My response of course was somewhat verbose; but for one I thought it was wrong that he would disrespect the Dali Lama in one week and get the prize in the next; this proved how political this is. And further, my point back to them was that I wasn’t blaming him, I’m blaming the Nobel committee and the "world" for thinking he walks on water - he is just a man but the socialist and anti-American world is using him to "reward" us for socialist moves or those that reduce our power.

Honestly, he is doing a lot of subtle things that really scare me. Refusing to meet with Israeli leaders when he meets with Palestinian and Saudi leaders. This move with China vs. Tibet. It’s not outwardly against our traditional friends, just ignoring them and reaching out to "everyone" seems to really be specific former enemies. I do think he is using his demagoguery to create inertia to get him more power – I do think he has privately even considered the chess moves to make him president of the world – or at least the UN (okay, now don’t call me a conspiracy guy – just thinking its gone to his head).

And what I worry about, that he might sell us out to get there "for the greater good" I can see the blind socialist bleeding hearts in this country saying – "that’s okay, we will give up some of our freedom for world peace" and then we have a big void with only Allah to fill it with another dark age. And the moderates sit by and watch – like the eastern Europeans did as Hitler walked through and slowly changed to more and more evil policies - watching the moderates to see if they would act. No – I am not calling him Hitler – I’m not at all, but this kind of blind faith is what eats away at democracy; I question everything, I fear complacency.

And that is the really scary part – are we a crumbling empire? Are our rivals chipping away at our economic power, our military strength, our will to stay united? The Greek Empire was a loosely held group of city states eventually led by Alexander, a strong leader bringing their democracy to the world (admittedly whether those he conquered liked it or not). And the Afghanistan people loved him (as he loved them), as did much of the world. It was the empires that followed, the Syrians, Romans and others that turned into true theocracies and dictatorships. The Christian and the Muslim religious movement grew from crumbling empires as methods for bringing central power to them again, and suppressing those who disagreed with them. These Bishops and Mullas were the power behind the kings and emperors. They still are today. I’m not saying religion is bad – its when you warp it to dictate power that pisses me off. Obama is at the point where he could become his own religion. The people who "love him" follow him blindly, look beyond his flaws and rationalize or compromise for "the greater good." Compromise is not good for long term – you need a shared vision and to have a shared vision you have to have rational thinking about all issues. We don’t have that today.

That’s my rant for today. For all our forefathers have done and strong young men and women have fought for, we don’t want to end up like Italy, Greece or Iran, shadows of great empires – some good, some bad but definitely gone. Yes, I admit we are a living empire – one that has brought great things to the world and one that has done some damage. But I see nothing better in the world. And I still see the possibilities it can continue to create.

Change is good, it is growth, it is the opposite of death

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on June 21, 2009

I’m so torn in commenting on the energy for change in Iran. This article got me there finally.

Gauging Obama in Iran – NYTimes.com

This isn’t George’s or Obama’s country, it’s ours:

"On one side, a handful of supporters of President Bush said Iranian protesters had taken to the streets because they were emboldened by President Bush’s pro-democracy stance, and the example of Shiite democracy he set up in Iraq. On the other side, some of President Obama’s backers countered that the mere election of Barack Obama in the United States had galvanized reformers in Iran to demand change."

This is what makes America great – while I don’t agree with many of the approaches and policies of our current administration I accept his election and love my constitution and country. For no other country can have such debate, transformation and consideration for freedom. The fringe in our country is simply the fringe – while it rules in other countries as there is no mechanism for changing leadership so. Look at what we have done. This is why the world loves Americans, and what our constitution represents.

Obama on Banking, the Economy and Fixing vs. Controlling

Jim Charanis | 1 Comment » Posted on February 25, 2009

Today’s rant – spurred on by a friend’s insightful rant on an email list I maintain. Jack made some very poignant comments about the economic state we are in and I wrote the following response – edited for clarity in this forum.

I listened to Obama last night – missed the first 15 minutes but I assume that was pretty much all about creating a frenzie of cheer and support for what he was about to say. We know you inherited all of this, I’m tired of hearing that – can we please move on… okay - he did eventually.

I don’t think the problems we have today are all about mortgages and greed. The money on Wall Street was greed driven, and we all know now that they think, "Greed is Good." While I do believe it started with the Clinton administration pushing home ownership (much like Obama is pushing college) for everyone – even those who shouldn’t in the state they are in. It didn’t end there – in fact it could have ended sooner – in 2001. As for homeownership – that’s not bad but most of these people should have considered something less then the homes they had – like maybe some people should consider Technology schools, not college)… but I digress I cannot, however, agree with many of my liberal friend’s panic in saying "I’m willing to let Obama do whatever he thinks is right, including takeover of the banks if need be." That’s as irrational as Bush letting Cheney wipe his ass.

Regarding Clinton starting this vs. Bush causing it… In the dot.com "Boom" Greenspan warned of "irrational exuberance" and we had a bubble burst – Yes, I think Clinton started it – to feed the mass of Baby Boomers who got him elected, but Bush restarted the engine in 2001 to bring us out of the "mental" depression that we were all in after those jealous fuckers bombed us. They are all politicians who live to be elected and these days – live for the 4-8 years they are in office. Clinton had the 60’s generation to support him, Bush had us, who wanted what our parents had – so he tried to give it to us. He just picked really bad people to help him do it – people that were politicians that use other people to get what they want – power and enough money to say fuck you to the rest of the world. I was fooled by them too because I believe in a Republican government….

CMOs (Collateralized Mortgage Obligations), the Gaussian copula function, etc. – Yes – I agree – that’s the Wall Street problem. There is an interesting cover story on Wired magazine this month and much easier to read then the Fortune article a few weeks ago. My feeling is that this is what took down our investments. But it’s not the only thing sick in the economy. I think that it’s the GREED – but not all that people are discussing is Greed driven.

Regarding capital gains cuts on home sales, stock sales, and dividends. I’m sorry for but not willing to support people flipping houses, getting caught in the housing boom. Builders developing against the demand is human nature – people want to better themselves and I don’t think greed drove most of us, it was more like PANIC that we wouldn’t have what generations before us had. That we missed the boat, and this might be our last chance to have that home, build wealth, etc. The people who sold the ARM’s and all-interest mortgages were greedy, feeding on this panic and desire. And the people who were flipping houses also got greedy – some weren’t smart enough to keep money in the bank when doing it. Like sales people – we know there will be lean years with no commission – that’s why we keep cash in the bank. But the people taking the chance to buy a home were just being human. They just forgot that its buyer beware in this country. (and honestly, I know this – I put a little too much of my "cash backup" in the market so I’m pretty much working till I die).

Or is it buyer beware in this century? – The fact is: our government did fall down on the job. While I don’t believe in heavy government "control" I do believe in "oversight" and we got lazy there – the Bush administration pulled too far back. I don’t want the government to run things or own things but I do expect to get my money’s worth on regulators. They let all kinds of devious shit get through from billion dollar ponzi schemes to ass holes like Stan O’Neil of Merrill making really short-sighted and bad decisions. I didn’t like Obama’s tone that all of wall street and banking is corrupt – you can’t lump them all into a bucket of rot – but there are some really bad apples in there and we need to catch them before they infest the rest.

Investment in infrastructure and the military always works. Bush chose to blow up another country to get rid of our old stuff to buy new stuff. A good arms race gave us the 50’s – not a bad time to be alive

– and this along with NASA lead to really cool technology. I’m a little worried that Obama may not buy new stuff (then we will get blown up and it doesn’t matter does it). If he spends money on bridges and power plants that is okay too. The one thing I like about France is their embracing nuclear power (well two things – I dig their women too, maybe three – their love of art.. but that’s it). We should do that. But we don’t need to prop up old industries that nobody wants to work at for the wages they pay. We don’t have a billion Chinese that are willing to work for peanuts to pay for our car companies (its complex – another rant). Further, I don’t think healthcare reform or investing in education will pump up the economy – that’s all feel good politics. Don’t mix the two

We can’t force innovation just like we couldn’t force a revolution in Iraq – it has to come from the people. What can we think of to replace the auto industry?

We should "fix" healthcare and education things not "nationalize" them. Again, better regulation not controls. Better ideas not more money after bad ones. What can we do differently then Canada, Europe and China to help people but not create mediocrity and compliance?

HENRYs – the “Rich?”

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on October 31, 2008

Hi folks,

Just got my Nov 10 Fortune Magazine. Terrific article in it if you get the magazine. The Cover Story: Look Who Pays for the Bailout – Meet the HENRYs (high earners, not rich yet). They make $250,000-plus and get taxed to high heaven. And they’re about to be socked again. This isn’t a post to ask you to vote for McCain – Its a post to get you to help Obama see that he is missing a big opportunity to be an agent for change without being a dagger to the heart of the American economy and dream.

If he gets elected, please make him read this article….This is the best story covering why HENRY’s aren’t rich and why they are critical to the success of America. I am not a HENRY every year, but when I’m doing my job as a salesman "making my numbers" I am, and I certainly don’t feel "rich" even on those good years. And those are the years I’m providing the sales for my company to employ our accountants, programmers, trainers, support people, etc. If I don’t sell, they get laid off.

From the Article:

"Now that the government needs more revenue for bailouts and stimulus packages, is it fair or efficient to burden the HENRYs with even bigger tax bills? The case in their favor: As the HENRYs go, so goes the struggling economy. Their stats tell the story. For the 2006 tax year, 3.1 million HENRYs accounted for about 10% of all U.S. personal income taxes. That’s almost as much as the 12 million families and individuals who earned between $100,000 and $200,000 (The Tax Policy Center estimates that HENRYs now number five million and will pay 24% of federal income taxes in 2008) How HENRY’s feel about tomorrow is crucial for the sales of new cars, PCs, and toys. According to estimates by the American Affluence Research Center, the HENRYs control as much as 15% of the $9 trillion in U.S. consumer spending."

Some Statistics from the article: 66% of all tax payers are in the low to no income bracket (<50K income) paying just 8% of all taxes; 22% are in the next slot up (50-100k income) paying 18% of all taxes, the next 9% making 100-200K pay 20% of all taxes and the next 2.3% making 200K-500K pay 17% of all taxes. everyone above 500K is already paying the remaining 37% of taxes. Its different when you look at that. These HENRY’s are only 2.3% of the population yet they pay 17% of all taxes!

"The big tax bite and what they consider investments in their kids chew up most of the HENRYs’ incomes, leaving little for ether extravagant living or, in many cases, saving for an affluent retirement. Indeed, the HENRYs consider themselves "well off" and "successful" but nowhere near rich…."Tony Molino, 50, an attorney in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., speaks for legions of HENRYs: "I’ve worked 50 to 60 hours my entire life, and I don’t have a lot left over at the end of the month. I’m comfortable, but when Joe Biden talks about sucking it up, getting patriotic, and paying more taxes, I get livid."

"The HENRY’s hold down their housing costs so that they can lavish money on what they consider the ultimate staple, their kids’ education….Tom Hume, 39, a real estate broker from Tacoma who made $275,000 last year, pays so much to put three kids through private school that he’s looking at an extremely modest retirement. At the end of each year Hume tries to put $10,000 into his 401(k), but some years he can’t even save that much. "No one is going to feel sorry for me," says Hume, "but as we get closer to retirement, we see that the amount we can save just won’t make it. There’s no extra money in our lives."

"Small Businesses created two thirds of the 6.4 million new private-sector jobs the U.S. economy added between 2003 and 2007"

What happens when you raise taxes on these small business owners and professionals? Are they going to be happy making less money? They can’t – there is nothing left. They are going to work more and fire the office clerk, the extra hygienist, or the receptionist. Am I going to stop paying for private school, stop contributing to my 401(k) or make my daughter stop ballet lessons? Hell No. Or will I sell my boat, stop eating at fancy restaurants and give up my country club membership – I can’t because I don’t have or do any of those things; its not on the list! So I won’t buy that new dishwasher, I’ll fix it; I won’t pay someone to cut my grass, I’ll cut it and I won’t buy a new car, I’ll buy a used one and drive it as long as I can. How can raising taxes possibly help this economy?

I’m not asking you to vote for McCain – just tell Obama that he doesn’t want to be Herbert Hoover. I’m not asking him to cut taxes on the 0.13% of the population making more then $1.5 million. But leave the heart of our free market alone. This is not the time to suck more money out of the economy this is the time to reward success and let the people who drive it continue to do so.

Politics – sparring on VP’s again, isn’t this about the President?

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 31, 2008

My bile is up – I have to post this here as I have in other people’s face-book (my mom and sister, oye)!

Vice in GoGo Boots was the article I commented on: That was a really stupid editorial. The Times continues to go down-hill. If you can’t look for good here you don’t get it. I’m disappointed you couldn’t find a better bit of writing to do your satire. How fun it is to degrade a woman for being a woman. How odd it is to compare a potential VP to a First Lady. How stupid it is to focus on shopping and a breast-pump then execution on the job. It may be satire but its just like the satire about Obama’s race – stupid and it lingers.

I know my mom and sis think this is an insult to women – that the republicans just picked her for the woman vote. The conspiracy theory people all think the religious right is forcing him to do things. Who the hell knows, its all crap anyway. Mom makes a point that Liz Dole would have been better, that Palin should focus on Alaska and her family. Okay, good point - I agree Alaska needs her. Sis believes Hillary is a brilliant, educated, dedicated, person who best represented her views. I guess I wouldn’t have voted for Clinton because she is nothing like me, I’m not brilliant, barely educated and she doesn’t represent my views. Neither does Obama. I’m not thrilled with McCain and I don’t know enough about Palin and Biden is not my kind of politician. What the hell am I going to to. I’ll tell you this…

I give up – you both win. I will only vote for ugly women who don’t love their children from now on. Never mind the the many women I come in to contact every day who’s husbands take care of their children while they help change the world. Case in point – I work with 5 women, 3 have children, they are loving mothers who’s husbands keep house or work as well, and they are better salespeople then me. Imagine that.

Had it been Hillary I would have thought twice, Obama scares me. He is a demagogue and a populist, he will make ignorant people follow blindly and intelligent people afraid to speak their mind out of guilt. Its all wrong. You know what really bothers me, people love to judge from a bias point of view with the Republican party. Perhaps Liz Dole didn’t want to be VP, maybe she is tired of all this crap? I’m sure he would have picked Colin Powel in a heart beat but he and his wife don’t want him in the race anymore. And every time the Republicans put an African American or a Woman or an African American woman in a position of power she is a "Token" or a Frumpy Old Woman. Bush has put more blacks and women in appointed roles then any other administration, including Clinton. He has silently done more for Africa and Aids then any other president. I’m a pragmatist more then a staunch conservative but I feel the pressure to be "conservative" as they are the only ones being practical these days.

The Democrats continue to shift so far to the left and destroy even keeled thinkers like Joe Liberman with ignorant policies based on guilt and condescension. I want my kids to think about the environment and to care about the poor; but I want them to do it by contributing to our economy, changing the way we do business, contributing jobs and helping others to stand up on their own. Its not about redistribution of wealth, its about expansion of wealth. Its not about feeling sorry for the poor black man, its about the idea that three of the top four executives in my company are woman and we are one of the best run companies that I’ve ever been exposed to let along a part of. I don’t know everything about her but I went out and read both sides (as you saw in my post) – good and bad if you didn’t like the Bush administration, this certainly won’t be business as usual:

New York Times: Governor Palin "Took Intense Criticism From Members Of Her Own Party For Turning The Spotlight On The Failures Of Alaska Republicans." "But Ms. Palin ran as a change agent when she was elected as governor of Alaska in 2006, and in a move that might have appealed to Mr. McCain, she took intense criticism from members of her own party for turning the spotlight on the failures of Alaska Republicans, some of whom had been beset by corruption scandals." (Michael Cooper And Mitchell L. Blumenthal, "McCain Chooses Palin As Running Mate," The New York Times, 8/29/08)

If you want change – there it is, from within. Obama should have picked Hillary, McCain should have picked Liberman or Romney. There is too much change in this race.

Obama’s always been a senator – debating and legislating. And only on the national stage since 2006. He has been in our US Senate for 2 years and campaigning for the last 8 months (or more). I "hope" if he becomes president that he will know how to run things, will pick a cabinet that helps him and that he doesn’t debate over things, defer to other countries, do the "right" thing all the time – at the expense of our country as a sovereign nation. He has power over our youth because he says things, he is handsome, he is a preacher. I don’t like that – I want kids to be thinking not following. Kennedy was a wonderful leader -but he became paralyzed in so many of his decisions and did some pretty stupid things along the way. I’m sorry his life was ended so soon as he might have had time to learn from those mistakes, and changed things with his actions rather then his death.

I’m not sure and I haven’t been sure from the start the McCain was the right man for the job. But I’m getting closer with these conversations. In the end I think Obama will win, we will become a part of the European union and pay a VAT and Income Tax – I won’t have any money for retirement but it won’t matter because the state will take care of everything for me and my kids.