"That's done. It's all been paid back."

That is a quote someone told me regarding the auto bailout.  The problem?

It's a freaking LIE!

"More than $1 billion of the $12.5 billion Chrysler bailout is not expected to come back to the government. The government has recouped more than $22 billion of its nearly $50 billion GM bailout after agreeing to take stock in return for most of its investment. But the government's remaining stock would have to rise massively in value for taxpayers to get all their money back. If the stock were sold at some recent values, taxpayers would still be out more than $10 billion."

There are a TON missteps on all sides of politics.  There are statistics that get twisted all over.  But to say that the bailout was financially successful is total crap.

Furthermore, is this the message we want to continually send people?  Hey, if you just screw all your money away, it's okay, because apparently someone else can [and should]  fix it for you.  Perhaps this attitude is one reason that Americans' finances are typically such a disaster. 

What would housing look like if people weren't living off their credit cards?  What would have happened if people had lost their jobs, but also had a 6 month emergency fund and no credit card debt?  What would have happened if people had cut back on 'necessities' like smart phones and just put their money in the bank.  Even a checking account would be better than screwing it away on those things people can't seem to live without.

But, hey, it's always someone else's fault right?

Fabulous post

http://prometheefeu.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/mankiw-is-right-buffet-is-wrong/

How to end a depression REALLY

This article has some ideas...  How to End a Depression

  "Maybe we should try the Harding do-nothing approach — which isn’t actually do-nothing; he cut taxes and spending and balanced the budget."

Mr. President, please don’t play the race card in 2012...

Author: Congressman Allen B. West

I was born in the inner city of Atlanta in 1961, when segregation was still rife, at a time when I would have been barred from visiting the very beaches that make up part of the congressional district I so proudly represent.

Just two years after my birth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. momentously described his dream that one day his children would “live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.”

How proud he would have been on that November Tuesday in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. Clearly, Dr. King’s dream had come true. White voters across America had judged our President by the content of his character, not the color of his skin, and elected a man of color, whose very lineage with a black African father and white American mother, was a literal manifestation of the figurative melting pot of these United States.

The inauguration of our first black President, the highest office in the land, and perhaps the world’s most powerful office, clearly demonstrated to the world that race need not be a hindrance to success and achievement in America. The fact that Barack Obama won the largest share of white support of any Democrat in a two-man race since 1976 indicated the lion’s share of these voters made their decision based on his character, his vision of hope and change, and his ability to relate with everyday Americans.

Still, let us not ignore that white Democrats aren’t the only voters who are capable of making a decision based on character rather than color.

In the 2010 election cycle, 42 black Republicans were vying for seats in the House of Representatives, and 14 of them made it to the general election. Two of those candidates, myself as well as Tim Scott from South Carolina, carried that success all the way to the House of Representatives. I represent a Congressional District where more than 90 percent of my constituents are not black. A powerful movement of respect for black conservatism is brewing in this country, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be proud of it.

With all of this progress, why is it that we continue to hear charges of racism emanating from the left, and most disturbingly, from the White House itself? It seems anytime there is criticism of the President or any of his black members of his administration, such as Attorney General Eric Holder, that criticism is decried as racist.

Mr. Holder recently said of his critics, “This is a way to get at the president because of the way I can be identified with him, both due to the nature of our relationship and, you know, the fact that we’re both African-American.” In other words, he insinuated Republicans -- along with Conservatives and Tea Party members -- are incapable of judging anyone solely by their character, something I take very personally.

Mr. Holder and others need to know, the criticism of the President is not of his person, but of his policies, which have clearly failed our nation--and most tragically of all in this supposedly post-racial period --have failed the black community.

As of December 2011, black unemployment remained in double digits, nearly double the national average for men at 16.4 percent, and 14.1 percent for women.

According to a Washington Post poll in September 2011, the proportion of black Americans with a “strongly positive” view of President Obama has slipped from 83 percent to 58 percent. It would obviously be absurd to say the black community’s changing view of President Obama is racially biased, so how can one make the same claim about white members opposing his policies?

As we proceed into this general election cycle, it would be a disgrace if Mr. Holder’s comment is the first salvo in the upcoming campaign to deflect honest assessment of the President’s performance in office. This campaign must be about ideas, policy and the direction of this country, and the President must not hide behind a curtain of so-called racial bias.

All Americans, black or white – and every shade in between – must be allowed to voice their opinions, level their criticisms and engage in candid discussion without fear of being labeled “racist” simply because of the color of their skin. This is precisely what Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of so eloquently, and what we celebrate today.

My message to President Obama is this: “Mr. President, your very presence in office demonstrates Dr. King’s dream has indeed come true. But how devastated would Dr. King be to know the Americans who are still fomenting racism at the highest levels are the very people for whom he fought for and died?”

It's on with the dishwasher!

We are trying to figure out the best dishwasher detergent for our place.  You move between states enough, you learn that the water in each place is different.  And that continues to be true this time. 

Some people have suggested those Cascade Complete packs - but we still get all kinds of residue and such.  But I found this website with a dishwasher detergent recipe.  I think we're going to give it a try. 

Dinner

Dinner tonight - and I made waaayyy too much

  http://healthyeasyrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/12/vegetable-chili.html

Trying to work out

Dr.Hubby and I try to have a date night once a week.  This is also our night to have a splurge meal.  Now we don't crazy, but everybody needs a free meal.  Even the trainers on the Biggest Loser say you can have dessert once a week.

So we went to BL Bistro - SO DELISH!  I had this pasta dish that was A-MAZING! 

But this morning came... and the leftovers were staring at me.  Even with a splurge meal, I always bring home leftovers - that Dr.Hubby eats later. 

I needed a workout instead.  I didn't feel like running outside today - no particular reason, I just wanted to mix it up. 

I did Leslie Sansone's 4 mile workout - whew!  This exercise is 60 minutes of cardio with walking and some aerobics.  I also added a few things:
  - I incorporated some hand weights when she has us do some arm exercises.  She doesn't use them in this video, so it was nice to step it up.
  - I also incorporated some light jogging during some intervals of walking 'up and back.' 

60 minutes later I was done... almost!

I found a small medicine ball at Walmart - and it came with a 30min dvd.  I tried the dvd once this week and did it again today.

Now I just finished - and it is time for lunch!  I'm having some chicken tortilla soup (less than 25% of the calories from fat), probably a Cliff bar, and a lot of water to drink! 

Today feels like an awesome day!