The liberals end free speech in Canada

Ann Coulter was slated to speak last night at the University of Ottowa, but because of threats and a student body creating a security threat she was forced to cancel.

The leader of the student body claims that Ann is a hate speaker and therefore is not entitled to free speech. Sounds like someone is taking the law into their own hands. Free speech, hate speech or whatever you want to blab about is your right. It is also your right not to listen. Go home and watch American Idol on your couch and eat a bag of chips.

The leader of of the student body against Ann claims she's targeted Jews, Muslims, homosexuals, women (which Ann is) and Canadians (eh). Maybe Ann should take control of the white supremacy group. While I may not agree with Ann on a lot of her verbiage, I respect her for speaking her mind and trying to make a difference. She makes us think and creates debate which can, but not always, foster change.

Ironically, while the conservative right gets away with the tough guy approach, the liberal left looks like a bunch of renegades in the wild west. Afterall, isn't it the left who promotes freedoms and rights?

What's that coming down the chimney?

On the eve of Obama's health care reform bill and also the eve of Christmas (literally), there is something coming down my chimney and it certainly doesn't look like Santa. The claim of saving tax payers $1.3 trillion in the near future sounds like someone is blowing a lot of smoke and the last I looked, my fireplace is not even lit.

Did Obama really compare his bill to Social Security passed in the 1930's? Social Security as far as I knew has been a stranglehold on taxpayers for the past two decades. This should act as foresight to what this 'historic' health care reform bill will mean to our future. Thanks Mr. President, but why not look into the fat within our government. The amount of waste, inefficient tendencies and cavalier attitude toward spending our money the government basks in should be addressed before they start pointing their fingers on anyone else's shortcomings.

Now a $1.3 trillion savings does sound appealing to me as a taxpayer, but the more I think about it someone will be picking up the tab for the difference. Something tells me it will be the, wait for it, wait, oh yeah, the TAXPAYER. Yes, just not in the form of taxes. It will now be in the form of higher fees for your coverage, fines for no coverage and the net result will be people with money will be paying the way for people with no or very little cash. Sounds remarkably like socialism to me.

Santa, all I want for Christmas is my country's soul back. I know we sold it out for a bag of magic beans and the dream of a golden harp, but we were desperate. And to all a good night.

Houston, We Have Lift Off

Does anyone remember the dot com bubble? Huge moves up despite no underlying fundamental reason, violent swings back down and everyone got rich until they became poor again. Man that was fun. Welcome back. Despite the Fed artificially keeping rates low, record number of foreclosures is the reality. Despite equities having their largest bull market run in history over the past 8 months, unemployment topped 10% and is poised to head higher.

Crude? Just over a decade ago, crude was about $15. It has since run to $146, back down to $46 and then back up to $82 in less than 16 months. You can compare the most widely used commodity on the planet with most tech stocks during the dot com bubble. The Dollar? The almighty U.S. dollar has been battered down like a third world nation's during a revolution. The weak dollar strategy by the U.S. is a good strategy if they can get China to de-peg the yuan. China is beating the U.S. at it's own dirty little scheme and in the end we will pay dearly for this game of Russian roulette we started.

If it's one thing I've learned, it's to be aware of violent swings and big moves. Something smells funny and although I don't know exactly what, I know it's not a Haggas on my neighbor's cooktop.

Rampant government corruption enriches Traders

At 10 am this morning US economic numbers (ISM, construction spending & pending home sales) rolled across news services as per usual. What was very unusual is that on a very quiet Monday morning the S&P's rallied over 6 points, roughly 50 DOW points, 10 minutes before the numbers were published. Guess what? The numbers were better than forecast on each front.

Maybe these traders had valuable insight, but more than likely they have valuable friends in the right places. Money makes people do funny things and the larger the stakes, the more unscrupulous one becomes. I'm not sure what's worse, the 'Greed is Good' mentality of Wall St. or the 'lie to your face' approach of government.

The only thing that helps me sleep at night is that I truly believe the US government has the very best interest of this nation at heart in all it's decisions, despite the few bad apples who sit in Congress, the Senate and the Treasury. Lie, cheat and steal followed by see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil seems to be the current policy. It has been said that nice guys finish last. Well, I'm here to dispell that saying.

First class often means no class

I recently payed a bit more for a first class ticket to relax a little more comfortably enroute to my destination. The seat was great, the service delightful, but my neighbor in the adjacent seat chewed a piece of gum the entire flight. Although I detest gum chewing, I can get over it if you chew quietly and with your mouth closed. Not this gentleman (and I use that term loosely), no, he chewed with his mouth wide open the entire time making annoying sounds continually.

Why is it people only want the perks of first class without the actual responsibility? Don't act the part, be the part. Show some manners, consideration and some class. Our society embraces rude behavior as if it's 'the norm'. Maybe Emily Post should be required reading in this nations schools. Perhaps there should be a class dedicated to proper manners in school. One thing is for sure, chewing gum should not have to be tolerated in tight public quarters; ie an airplane, bus, train or elevator.

Wake up America and stop embracing an unrefined, impudent existence.

Do you really need those chips?

The last statistic I heard was that two thirds of Americans are overweight and one third are obese. That's obscene! As the politicians struggle to lower medical costs in this country, America goes on stuffing junk food down their throats creating higher premiums for the people who keep themselves fit. Why should I absorb some of your medical premiums for your diabetes? For your hip & knee arthritis? For your poor breathing condition? For your need for junk food?

I went to lunch today and sat next to a woman who was more than two times the weight she should be. After her Sandwich, the 12 inch of course, she devoured a bag of potato chips. OK, is the 240 calories in a bag of chips going to kill you? No, but would not eating them kill you? Really lady, you are overweight by a good 150 pounds, do you really need to eat the chips too?

There is no need to give up and there is no need to go on some crazy diet or workout routine, just start by not eating processed food, junk food and anything other than the essential food groups for a while. You can still sit on your big fat butt in front of the television, but drink a glass of water (or a red wine if your not an alcoholic) and just say no to the junk food. I love America, but sometimes I get disappointed by the people who take this great country for granted.

Waiter, check please

Walmart, the largest reatailer in the US, said that the economic recovery will be lethargic at best and yet politicians continue to see things through their rose colored glasses. Where can I pick up some of these happy pills? Unemployement continues to climb and the only money being spent is by the government. Let me remind you, they are spending our money. They are spending money they collected and anticipate collecting for a very long time going forward. Pass the wine, I need to be sedated.

The FDIC proposed Banks prepay fees out 3 years to 2012. Are the banks going to pay these fees with the money they borrowed from one branch the government to pay a different branch of the government? I'm confused. What the heck is going on. I feel like I'm standing in front of a 3 card monty scam in Times Square and although I don't know how, I'm $300 poorer and still scratching my head. Hey, where'd they go? This government is scaring me.

This whole thing is very reminiscent of 1929. Let me remind you, after the market crashed in 1929, it rallied roughly 45% in the next 6 months before falling 86% from that point in the next 2 years. I understand Bernanke and his brain trust know this and have calculated for it, but still I have this feeling of uneasiness. Paulson hightailed it out of Washington first chance he could without looking back. Bush is thanking his lucky stars he made it out when he did. Do you think the Republican party actually thought Sarah Palin was a good running mate? No way!!! They foresaw what will unwind in the very near future. Sorry Obama, but we're going to need you to touch your toes. I hope I don't run out of Spaghetti-O's and Twinkies.