Let's talk about Socialism

Barack Obama says he wants to "spread the wealth around". His own words to "Joe the plumber".

So, I went to dictionary.com looked up some key words

"spread": to distribute over a greater or a relatively great area

Barack Obama says he would raise taxes, not out of a need the goverment has for more money,(side note: history has proven the way for the goverment to get more money is to lower taxes) but "out of fairnes".

"fairness": characterized by equity or fairness; just and right; fair; reasonable.

But, he says he's not a socialist. So I looked up "socialism". Here is what I found:

• a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
• An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competition guides economic activity. There are many varieties of socialism. Some socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the government maintains the dominant influence over the economy; others insist on an abolition of private enterprise. All communists are socialists, but not all socialists are communists.
• a term applied about 1872, to a group of German political economists who advocated state aid for the betterment of the working classes.
• A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor.

Hmm, sounds like "spreading the wealth" to me...Then I looked up "socialist": One who advocates or practices the doctrines of socialism.

So, what's next? In Marxist theory, socialism is the step in between capitalism & communism.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" - Karl Marx

Yep - I think "socialist" the right word.

Watch out for Murphy

You never know when he's coming. Things are better for me today. But Glenn is having issues at work. He's been having little ones all along and we really should have seen this coming. He hasn't quit - or been fired - yet. But we are officially looking for a new job.

I've known him for almost 15 years and he's only had 2 jobs. He doesn't "shop jobs" and doesn't leave unless he has no choice.

Last time it was the company - they closed the local repair center & we didn't want to move. This time it's about our family. His company basically told them they would be fired if they didn't start working nearly 60 hours weekly - including weekends - starting now. We have plans the next two weekends...Plus, he's the one that gets our son off the bus in the afternoons. He won't be home if he's working all those hours. HIS BOSS KNOWS THIS!!! Could we use the OT money? Who couldn't. Do we need it? Not to survive, no.

He's been an electronics technician of some type (consumer electronics & aircraft electronics) for 14 years. He's a very hard worker, enjoys what he does, great at trouble shooting problems and learns new things quickly. He's loyal - as I said, he's only had those two jobs since I've known him. And he is officially on the market again.

I've got nothing

But a blank look today. Don't know why. I just want to write something new. I did write something this morning. But I deleted it - since I'm not exactly anonymous. There may not be anyone out there, but all the same...

It's a hard couple of weeks coming up. Not something I've dwelled on, but may be the underlying reason for my mood. And you know what? I don't need any more drama, so I'm dropping mine (at least this latest episode). "Too blessed to be stressed" is a cliche, but true all the same. I have a wonderful husband, great boys, a life that I enjoy. I'm through worrying about it. I just don't have time to worry about insignificant details.

It's a crazy, busy weekend around here. The Fall Festival at school is Saturday. Then the Pre-school track meet (my personal favorite sporting event) is Sunday. Add to that the Vandy-Geogia game (Go 'Dores) and the Titans (the only undefeated team left) game. These are things I truly enjoy.

Scary Stuff

Glenn & I aren't overly concerned about the credit crisis, because we don't need it. We aren't overly concerned about the housing market because we aren't selling - or planning to in the near future. We aren't panicking about the stock market because all we have invested is in 401k's and IRAs. We're 38 & 36 so we have a while before we have to think about it. This doesn't mean we aren't sympathetic. Our parents are dealing with some of this and we worry for them.

Neither of us is too terribly concerned about our jobs because we have an emergency fund and we're both hard workers and willing to do anything to support our family. I understand there are people out there without jobs. I understand it's hard - I've been there. But, let me tell you something, I would clean houses, deliver newspapers , flip burgers or whatever else it took to keep my family afloat - so would my husband.

We are a dual income family that isn't living paycheck to paycheck, but not on easy street. My husband & I budget very carefully and live well within our means so that our children will be able to go to college and we can make our house payment in full and on time each month. We have no other debt and we have a decent emergency fund. We don't struggle, but we do have to be careful.

We aren't unique in money matters. There are a lot of people in our exact situation. Perhaps we are unique in that we aren't scared. We'll do what it takes to survive.

My point is, none of this money stuff scares me right now. Barack Obama does. There are a lot reasons he scares me, and maybe I'll talk about some of those later, but the economy is supposedly his strong point. And he's wrong.

We benefited from the tax cuts. Are we "super-wealthy"? Letting the tax cuts expire is the same as raising taxes - on everyone, not just those making over 250K. How else is going to pay for all of his entitlements? And if he raises taxes on businesses, who do you think is going to pay that additional cost? Not the business. Prices will go up.

I have compassion for those who need help. That is why I give to charities. Charities of my choice. Giving will suffer if taxes are raised. I will not change what I'm giving to my church (provided my income doesn't change). But others will. And we may not be able to give to some of the other charities currently on our list. And those charities, the people that work for them and the people that they help will be hurt.

Healthcare and health insurance are two different things. No hospital is going to turn someone in need away. But, the cost of healthcare for those of us that pay it is going up simply because so many don't pay for it. The hospitals have got to keep operating. The money has to come from somewhere. The government? Where is it going to get the money? US. And when the government takes over? You may not be able to get necessary tests or medicine because someone else will be making that decision for you.

Mortgages? Have you noticed the PMI on yours? Mine is around $90 a month. You know why we pay that? Because of all the people that default. Because of the sub-prime loans. Because banks (and Freddie & Fannie) got greedy and people made bad decisions.

Think the $700 billion bailout was a lot? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

NOTE: Let me say here, that I understand John McCain voted for some of this, too. I understand he leans toward big government. He was not my first choice in the primary. But, my priorities line up better with his that Obamas. Not just economically. And that made my decision.

It just gets better and better!

No this isn't a football blog - I just can't help myself!

Check this out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex

Vanderbilt hasn't been 5-0 since 1943. They haven't beaten Auburn since 1955. They haven't been ranked since 1984. There are a couple of other things that haven't been done in a while, but they haven't reached those goals just yet...

I'll be 36 next month and I've been a Vandy fan since I was old enough to say "Go 'Dores". I tell my husband (the UT fan) I was raised right. I've been through it all: the 24 years between UT wins, the multiple seasons without an SEC win. I was at the game where they broke a several season streak and won an SEC game. The one where the cops ran the students off the field before they got to the goal posts. I've been to games with less attendance than the local high schools have. I've been to the UT games with more orange in the stands than gold, the Alabama games with more red. I've been to games and stayed to the bitter end while the stadium emptied. I've watched them lead teams going into the 4th quarter only to blow it. I've listened to the local sports guys say they shouldn't even be in the SEC. (side note here: football is the only sport in which they don't compete with the rest of the conference, so there was never any real reason for them to be out). I've watched the seasons where they start 4-0 (most recently 2005) only to miss out on a bowl game because they blew the rest of the season.

My point is I am a true fan. There are a lot of us out there. As a Vanderbilt fan, you learn not to trash talk. You learn to cheer quietly. You learn to be proud of the small accomplishments. And we are finally starting to get louder. We are finally starting to be rewarded. And we are nervous. (I watched Saturday night's game between my fingers.) But we are proud and we believe...

GO VANDY!