When did it become vogue for young people to mortgage their future with student loans. A college education is not for everyone, nor should it be. There is nothing wrong with young people choosing to attend a trade school to keep expenses down. The administrators at the universities and colleges cringe when they hear discussion of limiting education only to those who can afford it. During the past 20 or so years the education business has brainwashed young people to believe their only hope for a prosperous future was to attend a four year college, but actually in five years, at the very least. This is not to make the student's life better, it is to pad the pockets of the staff at the colleges and the banks that write the loans.
A few weeks ago I went to dinner at Benihana's and shared my table with 2 young men who graduated college 2 years ago. Neither one has been able to find the high paying job they were told they would get upon graduation and both are considering post graduate studies to defer their student loan payments. So the answer to their debt problem was to aquire more debt and hope down the road they would be able to pay it back. More alarming both voted for Barack Obama, because, and get ready for this, because George Bush reformed the bankruptsy laws so that student loans cannot be adjudicated. You see, if not for George Bush, they would have been able to get their education then file bankruptsy and let others pay for it. They were none too amused when I explained that Barack Obama is the reason they cannot find their dream job, and no one but they should pay for their education. I went on to explain that banks would be less likely to extend credit to students if there was a high risk the loans would defaulted. Evidentally their education was wasted since they did not understand what I was explaining.
The problem is the professors and even the high school teachers fill the students' heads with visions of $50,000+ salaries when they graduate. Sadly, even in good times, those jobs are few and far between to start. Most jobs will start at $28,000 to $35,000 per year, not much higher than someone with just high school degree. The college diploma will start paying off after you prove yourself.
Unfortunately I see a big problem coming and soon. Student loan defaults are increasing in an alarming number according to Forbes magazine. Get ready my friends, this will be the bailout.
It is time to stop promoting a college education to those who cannot afford it or be awarded a scholarship of some sort. A college education is not an entitlement, and it is not for everyone. Start teaching kids the value of learning a trade. Welders, plumbers, mechanics, etc., are in demand and earn good living, and they will start their life without the $300 a month payment for 25 years.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Liberal Hypocracy 101
One thing we can all agree on, is that there is hyocracy on both sides of the political aisle from time to time. When it comes to liberals though, the hypocracy is blatant and rampant. Let's look the issue of state's rights over the federal government's rights. The first case is Arizona 1070 on immigration.
U.S. federal law requires all aliens over the age of 14 who remain in the United States for longer than 30 days[5] to register with the U.S. government,[6] and to have registration documents in their possession at all times; violation of this requirement is a federal misdemeanor crime.[7] The Arizona Act additionally made it a state misdemeanor crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying the required documents,[8] required that state law enforcement officers attempt to determine an individual's immigration status during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest", or during a "lawful contact" not specific to any activity[9] when there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is an illegal immigrant.[10] The law barred state or local officials or agencies from restricting enforcement of federal immigration laws,[9] and imposed penalties on those sheltering, hiring and transporting unregistered aliens.[11] The paragraph on intent in the legislation says it embodies an "attrition through enforcement" doctrine.[12][13]
This state law reflects the federal law, and allows state agencies to enforce immigration laws for the federal government. In other words, the State of Arizona wants to work with the United States of America and help prosecute illegal immigrants. Just the term illegal immigrant defines them as not having the same rights as an American citizen. The loons on the left went ballistic (gun metaphor used on purpose) that this was unconstitutional. Can someone explain what is unconstutional about enforcing our immigration laws? And please keep in mind, that they are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, therefore not granted the our inalienable rights. The democrats and their ilk screamed for justice. They pressured Washington to take a stand. They wanted the US Justice Department to fight this to the hightest court. This law, afterall, was racist. It meant to cause harm to the hard working hispanics. Let me explain something, nowhere in that law did it single out hispanics. There are illegal immigrants from every nationality in this country and it must be dealt with. I would also like to state that if I get stopped by law enforcement, I, an American citizen, must show my identifacation. There is nothing wrong with having to that, and I certainly do not want non citizens given more freedom than I.
Now let us look into two states, Washington and Colorado, that recently passed laws legalizing marijuana, which defies the federal law on controlled substances. There is Washington Initiative 502,
"Initiative 502 defined and distinguished marijuana from other parts of the cannabis plant, legalizing small amounts of marijuana-related products for most adults, to tax them, and designate the revenue for healthcare and substance-abuse prevention and education. Cannabis is still classified as a schedule I controlled substance under federal law and subject to federal prosecution under the doctrine of dual sovereignty. Possession by anyone younger than 21, possession of larger amounts, and the growing of unlicensed or unregulated marijuana remains illegal under state law."
and there is Colorado Amendment 64,
"Colorado Amendment 64 is an amendment to the Article 18 of the Colorado state constitution to adopt a progressive cannabis drug policy. Section 3 will allow the "personal use and regulation of marijuana" for adults 21 and over. Section 4 addresses legal commercial cultivation, manufacture, and sale. The intent is that cannabis be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol.[2] "
Both states basically gave their middle finger to Washington and enacted their own law on a controlled substance in defiance of federal policy. The democrats and their brethren applauded these laws as progressive and long over due. Now there are reports that the US Justice Department will challenge both states to the highest court, and instead of being lauded for upholding the federal law, the left are screaming that their rights are being infringed upon. So we get more proof that the liberal brain is not capable of cognitive thought, because all 3 cases are the same, except in Arizona the law upheld the federal law, and in the cases of Washington and Colorado, the laws challenge the federal law.
Personally, I believe the federal government should ride this one out. Let both states allow the use of marijuana. Allow their states to get overrun by our baked citizens. Let tourism flourish by those that choose to get baked while on vacation. I have travelled extensively in Amsterdam. I saw what effect legallized marijuana had on that city. Once productivity deminishes, and unemployment rises, they will learn. I also feel the federal government should allow Arizona the freedom to pursue illegals immigrants.
U.S. federal law requires all aliens over the age of 14 who remain in the United States for longer than 30 days[5] to register with the U.S. government,[6] and to have registration documents in their possession at all times; violation of this requirement is a federal misdemeanor crime.[7] The Arizona Act additionally made it a state misdemeanor crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying the required documents,[8] required that state law enforcement officers attempt to determine an individual's immigration status during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest", or during a "lawful contact" not specific to any activity[9] when there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is an illegal immigrant.[10] The law barred state or local officials or agencies from restricting enforcement of federal immigration laws,[9] and imposed penalties on those sheltering, hiring and transporting unregistered aliens.[11] The paragraph on intent in the legislation says it embodies an "attrition through enforcement" doctrine.[12][13]
This state law reflects the federal law, and allows state agencies to enforce immigration laws for the federal government. In other words, the State of Arizona wants to work with the United States of America and help prosecute illegal immigrants. Just the term illegal immigrant defines them as not having the same rights as an American citizen. The loons on the left went ballistic (gun metaphor used on purpose) that this was unconstitutional. Can someone explain what is unconstutional about enforcing our immigration laws? And please keep in mind, that they are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, therefore not granted the our inalienable rights. The democrats and their ilk screamed for justice. They pressured Washington to take a stand. They wanted the US Justice Department to fight this to the hightest court. This law, afterall, was racist. It meant to cause harm to the hard working hispanics. Let me explain something, nowhere in that law did it single out hispanics. There are illegal immigrants from every nationality in this country and it must be dealt with. I would also like to state that if I get stopped by law enforcement, I, an American citizen, must show my identifacation. There is nothing wrong with having to that, and I certainly do not want non citizens given more freedom than I.
Now let us look into two states, Washington and Colorado, that recently passed laws legalizing marijuana, which defies the federal law on controlled substances. There is Washington Initiative 502,
"Initiative 502 defined and distinguished marijuana from other parts of the cannabis plant, legalizing small amounts of marijuana-related products for most adults, to tax them, and designate the revenue for healthcare and substance-abuse prevention and education. Cannabis is still classified as a schedule I controlled substance under federal law and subject to federal prosecution under the doctrine of dual sovereignty. Possession by anyone younger than 21, possession of larger amounts, and the growing of unlicensed or unregulated marijuana remains illegal under state law."
and there is Colorado Amendment 64,
"Colorado Amendment 64 is an amendment to the Article 18 of the Colorado state constitution to adopt a progressive cannabis drug policy. Section 3 will allow the "personal use and regulation of marijuana" for adults 21 and over. Section 4 addresses legal commercial cultivation, manufacture, and sale. The intent is that cannabis be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol.[2] "
Both states basically gave their middle finger to Washington and enacted their own law on a controlled substance in defiance of federal policy. The democrats and their brethren applauded these laws as progressive and long over due. Now there are reports that the US Justice Department will challenge both states to the highest court, and instead of being lauded for upholding the federal law, the left are screaming that their rights are being infringed upon. So we get more proof that the liberal brain is not capable of cognitive thought, because all 3 cases are the same, except in Arizona the law upheld the federal law, and in the cases of Washington and Colorado, the laws challenge the federal law.
Personally, I believe the federal government should ride this one out. Let both states allow the use of marijuana. Allow their states to get overrun by our baked citizens. Let tourism flourish by those that choose to get baked while on vacation. I have travelled extensively in Amsterdam. I saw what effect legallized marijuana had on that city. Once productivity deminishes, and unemployment rises, they will learn. I also feel the federal government should allow Arizona the freedom to pursue illegals immigrants.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Time to get Things Started
OK, I finally went apoplectic and realized Facebook is not the best place to vent. I decided to start a blog to release my political opinions. Let me define myself. I am 47 years old and grew up in NJ. Although NJ is generally a blue state, Morris County, my home county is solid red, and Ocean County, my summer county is also solid red. I am identified as a republican, but most importantly I am conservative. As Ed Koch often called himself a liberal with sanity, I like to think I am a conservative with sanity.
I am the youngest of 6 children. I am the second American generation in a family of Italian origin. My grandparents immigrated to America legally in the early 1900s. My maternal grandfather fought in WWI and my father and several uncles fought in WWII. My father had achieved the American dream and was a successful businessman and investor. He provided our family with the best of everything, including a summer home on Long Beach Island, but he and my mother also instilled morals and values in my upbringing. My mother had the most important job of all, she was a stay at home mother of 6 children.
My parents made sacrifices and sent me to private, not religious, private schools, and my father saved for my college education. I attended a university in our budget, and graduated without the burden of student loans. Three of my siblings also attended and graduated college and post graduate education, while 2 chose not to attend college and pursue other avenues. In all, no matter what our choice was, Mom and Dad supported us and paved the best road to our future they could. I share this not to brag, but give a bit of a background and some insight to opinions I will blogging about in the days to come.
I am fortunate that I have never been unemployed in my adult life. My first "real" job started 3 days after college graduation in 1987. I've made many changes throughout the years, and changed career directions a few time, and owned my own business from 1999 until 2007.
I will use this blog to share things that are important to me. Expect to read posts about politics, boats, sports (mostly hockey when we have a season), and dogs, and any other thing in the news that strikes my fancy. This blog will hit from the right. My beliefs are to the right, and I will reserve to spin topics to the right, but I will always remain factual.
I am the youngest of 6 children. I am the second American generation in a family of Italian origin. My grandparents immigrated to America legally in the early 1900s. My maternal grandfather fought in WWI and my father and several uncles fought in WWII. My father had achieved the American dream and was a successful businessman and investor. He provided our family with the best of everything, including a summer home on Long Beach Island, but he and my mother also instilled morals and values in my upbringing. My mother had the most important job of all, she was a stay at home mother of 6 children.
My parents made sacrifices and sent me to private, not religious, private schools, and my father saved for my college education. I attended a university in our budget, and graduated without the burden of student loans. Three of my siblings also attended and graduated college and post graduate education, while 2 chose not to attend college and pursue other avenues. In all, no matter what our choice was, Mom and Dad supported us and paved the best road to our future they could. I share this not to brag, but give a bit of a background and some insight to opinions I will blogging about in the days to come.
I am fortunate that I have never been unemployed in my adult life. My first "real" job started 3 days after college graduation in 1987. I've made many changes throughout the years, and changed career directions a few time, and owned my own business from 1999 until 2007.
I will use this blog to share things that are important to me. Expect to read posts about politics, boats, sports (mostly hockey when we have a season), and dogs, and any other thing in the news that strikes my fancy. This blog will hit from the right. My beliefs are to the right, and I will reserve to spin topics to the right, but I will always remain factual.
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