by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Mad Musings, Money Matters
Click for larger graphic
The Government is on a desperate search to put as many shekels as it can in it’s coffer. Is raising taxes on the rich the answer?
Most people don’t think so. AP conducted a poll to find out what the best solution was for the deficit problem. 62% think the government should cut spending. Only 20% think the solution is tax hikes. Also, in a recent Investor Business Daily poll, 92% of Americans think it’s important to cut government spending. If we want to put something away for our future or start saving money for a house, we have to make changes to our spending.  Shouldn’t the government do the same?  Many of think they should.
But “we†might be wrong. Maybe “we†just don’t understand. Let’s take a look at the numbers to determine what the best course of action might be.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
Source: WealthPilgrim
My Comments:
Another conflicting topic for me. Â 50% of the population pays almost 100% of the taxes seems somewhat unfair, but there are many ways to cut this cookie, and while I have quite a bit to say on that, I won’t go into it here. Â I think the government isn’t particularly doing a good job with the cash it takes from us, and while a large percent of taxes the overall taxes collected comes from the top 1%, believe, they are barely feeling it; as all indicators show that the gulf between the rich and poor is growing ever wider.
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Military-Political, Money Matters
It sounds like a pretty good deal: Retire at age 38 after 20 years of work and get a monthly pension of half your salary for the rest of your life. All you have to do is join the military.
As the nation tightens its budget belt, the century-old military retirement system has come under attack as unaffordable, unfair to some who serve and overly generous compared with civilian benefits.
That very notion, laid out in a Pentagon-ordered study, sent a wave of fear and anger through the ranks of current and retired military members when it was reported in the news media this month.
Continue reading by clicking source link below…
Source: Military.com
My Comments:
Hmmm…I am honestly slightly conflicted by this…. I absolutely would agree with a 401k type solution with a few more additionals. Â I think the current system of not providing much support for servicemembers who have served for less than 20 years is unfair. Â I don’t support support drawing parallels to civilian systems, it simply is not equivalent. Â And I do believe that Congressional Retirement benefits should be changed before we touch the military’s.
by Rupe | Aug 28, 2011 | Military-Political
In her latest post, my colleague, Liz Economy, asks:  What will Vice President Biden find in China? I thought I’d try out my own response to this very direct question:
1. Biden will find a China whose rise depends on economic growth but whose growth model is no longer sustainable.
Bluntly put, China’s leaders know that their capital-intensive, export-oriented approach is delivering diminishing returns and threatens to become a major political vulnerability for the government. The global economic crisis provided clear evidence that China’s export-driven economy is vulnerable to dips in demand in the rest of the world. Meanwhile, its dependence on investment has introduced distortions and imbalances into the Chinese economy.
Click source link to continue…
Source: Council on Foreign Relations author - Evan A. Feigenbaum
My Comments:
I think the Chinese question is very much worthy of critical discussion. Â I think, however, that the interconnectedness of global economics make China very much susceptible to all the effects faced by large economies such as Germany, Japan and the U.S. Â Yes, the Chinese are moving quickly on many fronts, but to think that they will at some future date become the pre-eminent singular world power is somewhat foolish; besides, what does pre-eminence really means in such a connected world anyway. Â
by Rupe | Aug 27, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Obesity is most widespread in Britain and the United States among the world’s leading economies and if present trends continue, about half of both men and women in the United States will be obese by 2030, health experts warned on Friday.
Obesity is fast replacing tobacco as the single most important preventable cause of chronic non-communicable diseases, and will add an extra 7.8 million cases of diabetes, 6.8 million cases of heart disease and stroke, and 539,000 cases of cancer in the United States by 2030. Click source link to continue….
Source: Reuters
My Comments:
No love loss here. Â I am an adamant anti-obesity supporter. Â I don’t think we necessarily need to tax the food, I think we need to charge people over a certain weight a fat tax. Â I know some of my fat-challenged friend are gonna come at me for saying this, but why tax the food, when you can eat it responsibly and done bulk-out. Â I think that is unfair. Â Tax those who don’t want to workout to keep healthy.Â
by Rupe | Aug 25, 2011 | Fitness
Still giving arms a bit of rest. Did a mix of upper and lower body. Felt pretty strong…I will need to settle down and get back on track next week.
Workout: Day 61 (Th25/Upper/Lower Body ) – 60mins/1min rest
Chest Press Machine Incline – 3×12 (90s)
Chest Press Machine Decline – 3×12 (70s)
Bench Dips 3×25
Bicep Curls (just long bar) – 10x
Hack Squats – 3×12 @270
Seated Calf Raises – 3×25 @ 90
Weightless Squats – 25x
Mixed Shrugs – 3×15 @ 140
Cardio:Â 30 mins
Distance: 2.50
Pushups: 0 (at least 50 per day)
Calories: 747
Tracker
Total Distance: 165.49 miles (Goal 250/84.51 remain) *
Total Calories: 42,741 (Goal 50,000/7259 remain) *
Total Pushups: 1,880 (Goal 10,000 / 8,120)
Good livin’…keep movin’!
-R-
