This Time, It's Personal

Yep. It's a New Year.

2012-01-04T20:40:00.001-07:00

Hooray for a New Year.

It's a shiny new beginning.

And, hopefully, it truly will be a new beginning for me. Things were a little rough in 2011, mostly due to my inability to say no, a few transitions, and some stupid, horrifying mistakes. Not to mention a shocking level of self-absorption that I hope not to repeat in 2012.

It's a good thing 2011 is over, and 2012 is underway.

Hopefully, your 2012 turns out better than your 2011. If your 2011 was great, may your 2012 be even better. And if your 2011 was crappy, perhaps things turn around for you.

Have You Had a Good Thanksgiving?

2011-11-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, you've had a great Thanksgiving. I have thoroughly enjoyed my Thanksgiving, eating tasty food, and chilling. I did have to do a little work, but not much.

And, of course, I had time to reflect on my many blessings. I am grateful for many things, including:

My family
My faith
My health
My home business

I have plenty, and I have been blessed.

I hope you've had a good Thanksgiving, too.

SOPA/Protect IP: Are You Ready to Be Like China and Iran?

2011-11-21T04:22:00.060-07:00

Right now, Congress is considering legislation that would all the government to block Americans from visiting web sites.

Please read the above again. Let it sink in.

It's supposed to be about preventing piracy, and stopping "rogue" sites. But it's a slippery slope. We've already got a horrifying potential privacy mess in the PATRIOT Act. Do we really need to continue chipping away at our rights with SOPA and/or Protect IP? CNET points out that, in order to effectively block a web site, consumer information and browsing habits might be part of the equation:

Deep packet inspection is the only way to block data from specific Web pages, or URLs. It also may raise new privacy concerns about SOPA because it relies on intercepting customers' Web browsing, analyzing the protocols to see what's going on, and reviewing the packets' contents. That looks a lot like wiretapping, and a bipartisan group of House members soundly condemned it when a company named NebuAd tried it in 2008.

Do you really think, though, that the government would stop at just blocking piracy and rogue sites? The problem, too, is that the requirements could actually lead to self-censorship on the web. Mashable recently published an infographic that provides the basic points of SOPA, and what some of the consequences would be:

If you are at all interested in maintaining some degree of privacy and freedom on the Internet, you need to contact your representatives. Seriously. This is something you need to take action on. Yes, there are budget issues that need to be solved, and health care is still an appalling mess. But it's going to be awhile before any sort of compromise can be made on these issues. SOPA/Protect IP legislation provides a chance for concerned citizens of all political persuasions to make their will known. Take a few minutes to contact your Congressional representatives. You can go to the Senate and House web sites and get the information you need to let your representatives know what you think. Fight for the Future offers the following video. Watch it. You should know what's on the line.

#BAD11: What's the #Food Security Situation in Your Local Area?

2011-10-16T19:31:00.000-06:00

Today is Blog Action Day. I've participated since the first Blog Action Day, and I'm squeaking in for this year. This year's theme is food. One of the items of interest lately in the news has been food inflation. The rising cost of food, along with the fact that many people are still struggling due to the economy, means that food security is increasingly becoming an issue.

While I do think it's important to pay attention to what is happening on the other side of the world in terms of hunger, and I do think that we should be aware of the fact that the food disparity around the world is more a result of distribution than it is a result of scarcity, I also believe that we should look in our own backyards to see what is happening in terms of food security.

You might be surprised at what you find in your own hometown. Consider the food security situation in your city. Could you donate more to the local food bank? Can you volunteer at the local soup kitchen? Sometimes, it seems as though the world's problems are too big for you to tackle. When you start thinking that way, look around in your own hometown. Chances are that you can make difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity, right in your own backyard.

There is always something you can do.

#FINCON11, Hard Choices and What's Next

2011-10-09T21:01:00.000-06:00

I've had a week to absorb what I learned at the Financial Blogger Conference, and reflect on what I want to do next. (If you are interested in the slides, you can find them on the FINCON web site.)

J.D. Roth asked us all to think about why we write.

Pat Flynn told us to be EPIC.

Adam Baker gave an energizing presentation on product launches. (Seriously. Woke me up after I had stayed up until 4 a.m. and ended up with three hours of sleep.)

Several people offered to partner with me on my own personal finance blog. (I really think I was the only attendee without a financial blog.)

So I began considering my future. Josh is teaching, so I don't need all the work I have. In fact, I came home to a whole bunch of stuff to do, and some of it seemed...seriously annoying. FINCON provided me with a great deal of food for thought. I need to decide what I want to do, where I want to write, and decide if I'm ready to get serious about my own personal finance blog. I never really wanted one before, but now I'm thinking about it.

I love writing about personal finance. I like to think that what I write helps people. But I'd also like to explore other opportunities -- and some are opening up for me.

And that means it's time to make hard choices. I love working with my clients, but I may have to let some of them go. I'm still trying to figure things out, but FINCON really helped galvanize my thought process, and I'm giving everything some serious thought, and re-evaluating what I want to do, and how I want to do it.

Occupy Wall Street: What Makes a Legitimate Protest?

2011-10-07T15:30:00.011-06:00

Do I agree with some of the Tea Party stuff? No. But do I think they're anti-American, just because they disagree with me? Do I think that their protests from a couple years ago were wrong? Nope. If you have a grievance with the government, and with the way things are run, you should air it. Do I agree with everything in the "manifesto" put out by some of the Occupy Wall Street protestors? Sure don't. But I do agree that it is worth protesting the huge amount of influence that money and corporations have over politicians and policy. And, just because you don't agree with them doesn't make their concerns any less valid, nor does it make their protest any less legitimate, than something you do agree with.

I wanted more time to go into this, but my available ranting time is rather limited these days. So, since he's paid to do it, and he does a really great job, I defer to Jon Stewart:

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T10:34:00.000-06:00

I love Apple computers, so thank you, Steve Jobs, for bringing such interesting and user-friendly products.

And thank you for the following insight:

‎"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new... Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

It's a great reminder to live -- while we're still alive.

If You Disagree with Me, You Must Be Stupid and/or Evil

2011-09-28T13:30:00.000-06:00

I really like the table (see below) offered at A Boy And His Computer. It's meant to highlight the over the top hyperbole often used to describe people who disagree politically. The main difference is that the Democrat list was actually circulated as something meant to be serious, while the Republican list was made up as a counter to the Democrat list, as a way to highlight the ridiculous level of political vitriol in our society. Rather than actually trying to debate policy points and try to solve our problems, everyone's too involved with finger pointing and name calling.

But, both lists are funny and they make me laugh. Of course, they also make me sad because there really are people out there that think that just because you disagree with them, you must be stupid and/or evil, and purposely trying to ruin the country.

How to be a good...

...Democrat:	...Republican:
You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.	You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread because people are evil and should be punished.
You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.	You have to believe that evolution is a myth (despite the evidence of biochemistry and the fossil record) but that Intelligent Design theory should be taught in schools.
You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese & North Korean communists.	You have to believe that there is no causal link between legal, easily-obtainable handguns and high murder rates.
You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.	You have to believe that unfunded arts and school programs are still subject to government control.
You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical, documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs.	You have to believe that global temperatures are completely unaffected by fossil fuel emissions, that the best way to save the national forests is to allow logging companies to cut down old-growth timber, and the best way to save endangered species is to allow trophy hunters and wildlife traders to import more of them.
You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.	You have to believe that homosexuality is evil (despite the fact that it occurs in nature) and that women should stay at home to cook and bear children.
You have to be against capital punishment but support abortion on demand.	You have to be against abortion but support capital punishment.
You have to believe that businesses create oppression, and governments create prosperity.	You have to believe that corporations never purposely hurt anyone to make money.
You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.	You have to believe that hunting requires an automatic rifle.
You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.	You have to believe that middle class income should be taxed, but capital gains and inherited wealth should not be.
You have to believe that the military, not corrupt politicians, start wars.	You have to believe that war is an acceptable solution to any economic or social problem.
You have to believe that the military is another political porkbarrel for wealthy campaign contributors of certain politicians.	You have to believe that everyone should support the troops - except when it comes to pay or benefits.
You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.	You have to believe the NRA is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.	You have to believe that taxes are for poor and middle class people, not the rich.
You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Gen. Robert E.Lee, and Thomas Edison.	You have to believe that Oliver North and Monica Lewinsky are more important to American history than Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.
You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.	You have to believe that affirmative action is wrong, because everyone knows there's no more racism in America.
You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and really a very nice person.	You have to believe that Ann Coulter is normal and really a very nice person.
You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.	You have to believe that the only reason supply-side economics hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and sex offender belonged in the White House.	You have to believe liberals telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and draft-dodger belongs in the White House.
You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.	You have to believe that all Americans should be white heterosexual Christians.
You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese government is somehow in the best interest of the United States.	You have to believe that illegal Republican Party funding by corporations is somehow in the best interest of the United States.
You have to believe that this letter is part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.	You have to believe that the media are biased toward liberals, despite the fact that all the major media outlets are owned by ultra-rich conservatives.

Be Your Own Boss! Buy Our System!

2011-09-20T13:34:00.052-06:00

The other day, I took a check (yes, some people pay me with paper checks, in spite of my efforts to get everything taken care of electronically) to the bank. We went through the drive up, and right there, below the clear plastic chamber, was taped an inspiring flier.

Work from HOME!

I already work from home. But all things work from home intrigue me. And I was further intrigued by the promise that you could be working for a NYSE listed company. Totally legit!

Below was a blank white space, stamped with a name and a toll-free number. Because I get curious, I brought it home and decided to call the number. Sadly, all I got was a recording, encouraging me to set up an appointment for an "interview." So, I decided to search the name on Google. What I got to was someone's Herbalife distributor page. Turns out this great "opportunity" is really an ad encouraging you to buy Herbalife's home business system so that you, too, can be a Herbalife distributor.

Is it an outright scam? Probably not. It's classic MLM. The little flier is accurate; you can start a business as distributor, and you will be working with a NYSE listed company (ticker: HLF). However, like so many MLM "opportunities," you are going to have to whip out the old credit card (I suggest using your best cash back credit card if you do this so that you get something back) to buy a system, and pay for products.

At least I think that's how it works from what I've read about the system, and MLM in general. I don't really know because I never went through with my "interview."

Work from Home = Hard Work

The flier makes it sound so easy. However, it is important to note that working from home is hard work. People seem to think that I play around all day. And I can't really blame them. "Professional blogger" sounds like I just dip around on the Internet. However, there is work involved. Real, honest work. And if you get involved in a MLM or some other distributor type program, there is even more hard work -- and the rewards might not be as big.

I watched my mom sell Avon, and I see any number of attempts throughout my neighborhood, from shoes to jewelry to scrapbook supplies to Tupperware to scented wax, to earn money working from home. As easy as it sounds, though, it's anything but. And it takes a great deal of work to be successful. While there are a few stories of people making it big (the pink Caddy I see around town is a testament to Mary Kay), most people end up just working and working and having little to show. A lot of the time, it amounts to just buying the products at a discount.

Am I wrong here? I don't know much about selling these products, or about MLM. But, horrible as it sounds, I cringe inside when others' response to the fact that I work from home is, "Oh, how nice. What system do you use?"

I'd love to read your stories about working from home, and I'm especially interested in hearing about experiences with MLM and other types of selling. Is it really worth it? Does it live up to the hype? Or is it an exercise in frustration and futility?

Happy Constitution Day! Now, Go Read this Fine Document

2011-09-16T08:00:00.040-06:00

OK. Constitution Day is actually September 17. But, since tomorrow is Saturday, today is being used as the observance day. Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Every year, I take a little time out to recognize Constitution Day by reading that document, amendments and all.

In fact, Constitution Day isn't the only day of the year that I read the Constitution. I believe that every literate American should read the Constitution multiple times a year. We should all be familiar with what is in our founding document, first hand, and not just second hand from some talking head, no matter his or her political persuasion.

Over the summer, someone actually said these words to me: "You really should read the Constitution." I was speechless for a few seconds. It's hard to really offend me. (Get me riled up about politics, easy. But that's not the same as actually being offended.) However, this admonishment did have me a little offended. Because anyone who truly knows me is aware that I have read the Constitution four or five times a year since I was old enough to vote (and I'd read it before then, just not as often).

So, even if you don't read the Constitution at least quarterly, try to read it annually. Mark this momentous occasion by reading through the Constitution. You never know when you might find some food for thought.

What's on My Bucket List?

2011-09-14T14:49:00.001-06:00

Every now and then, you get insight into my life, not just a political rant or shameless self-promotion. Today is one of those times. Mainly because there is the chance at winning $500. J. Money (I hope to meet this guy at the Financial Blogger Conference the first weekend in October) is hosting a cool giveaway. I am trying to the $500 Budgets are Sexy giveaway, sponsored by Life Insurance Finder. No voting necessary, and anyone can join the fun. You enter (this blog post is worth five entries), and then the winner will be chosen randomly. I suggest you head over and enter to win.

Now, just in case you're still here, and you care, here are some of the items on my Bucket List:

Visit the four continents I haven't been to yet. (I'm not counting Antartica; I'm ambivalent about that one.)
Raise my son to be a contributing member of society.
Actually go through with cutting out some clients.
Spend more time working on my own blog(s).

I've got a much longer bucket list, but I think this will do for now.

What's on your bucket list?

How Do You Remember 9/11?

2011-09-11T10:15:00.001-06:00

This morning, my eight year old son retrieved the Sunday paper, and was greeted with an image that is familiar to most of us: Billowing smoke and flame. "The Day the World Changed," he read out. "What happened?"

So I told him.

Of course, most of us have been reflecting on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 for a good part of this past week. A shared moment in time, due to its horrific magnitude, like the Kennedy assassination or the Challenger explosion, the attacks of 9/11 transcend location; you remember where you were and what you were doing.

That morning was odd for me. I woke up, and began getting ready to attend class in my dorm room. Normally, lI would watch CNN while going through my morning routine. For some reason, I didn't have it on that morning. One of my friends called. "Can you believe it?" he demanded, assuming that I knew. "What?" I asked. (If I'd a clue, I wouldn't have needed to ask.) "Um. Only the possible deaths of thousands of people..."

TV on.

At first, I thought it had to be a joke. I went kind of numb. At the time, I didn't know anyone affected. But it still felt personal. Interestingly enough, the first class I attended that day happened to be Middle Eastern Political Thought. The instructor completely changed the lesson to address the event and give us all a crash course on Osama bin Laden, and other pertinent tid bits related to the situation.

I also spoke with my Muslim friends that day; all expressed sorrow and outrage.

In the days that followed, though, and every year since, I have been somewhat encouraged by the drawing together of most of our people. While the prejudice expressed, and the excessive hatred and labeling that still goes on, from all sides, it is encouraging that we as a society have made the move to commemorate 9/11 as a day of service.

And it is encouraging to know that we still have real heroes to honor.

Image source: Huffington Post

Plutus Awards: I Need Some Votes

2011-09-02T23:41:00.000-06:00

I've been nominated, and made it through as a finalist, for a Plutus Award. This is an award for financial bloggers. I'd love some help with votes in the Best Blog Contributor/Freelance Writer.

The public is welcome to vote, so I hope you do...for me ;) Any way, you can vote at the Plutus Awards site. You don't have to vote in each category; you can just keep hitting next until you see my name, and then keep hitting next til you finish.

If you aren't a financial blogger, you can skip the whole first part by filling in your name and email and then hitting next. Locations are being logged, so multiple votes won't count. And, of course, if you are familiar with the other blogs and bloggers, you can vote for your favorites.

Thanks.

Listen to Me! Interviews with Chris Gaddis and PT Money

2011-08-21T12:10:00.000-06:00

Over the summer, I've been interviewed twice. For one interview, I'm just talking about blog posts that have appeared on blogs I write for, and sharing some of the tips. The other interview is about my life as a freelance writer, and how I run my work from home business. If you have an hour (each interview is half an hour long), take a listen:

Chris Gaddis, WIOX 91.3 Roxbury, MONEY TRAIN

Chris Gaddis shares his money knowledge every Wednesday morning on a local radio station. It's located in the Catskills, an area of the country I've come to love, since my husband is from near there. Beautiful country. So it was fun to talk to Chris -- even if it was 7 am for me.

Here is a link to the radio interview.

Phil Taylor, owner PT Money

I am a staff writer on PT Money, one of the many great personal finance sites out there. The owner, PT, is also the mastermind behind the Financial Blogger Conference happening the first weekend in October. I super-pumped to go meet the people I've "met" online. Plus, it's a great excuse to go to Chicago.

At any rate, here is my interview with PT. He asks me about how I got started doing what I do, as well as asking questions about what my day is like, and my writing process. Plus, he lets me plug my book. Listen for the sound of the doorbell (it rings twice); my online buddies joked about how "authentic" it makes the interview. :)

Shameless Self-Promotion: U.S. Debt Ceiling Edition

2011-07-21T20:57:00.001-06:00

With things heating up about raising the U.S. debt ceiling, and with plans emerging left and right, it's getting interesting. Unfortunately, what is likely to happen is that we will see a plan that will -- once again -- have the most detriment to the middle class and the poor. With a tax increase off the table, it is obvious that there will be no extra revenue to help ease the deficit, so the poor and the middle class will get the shaft and sacrifice the most as programs are cut. Severely. Because, you know, the wealthy just can't afford tax increases.

As you might imagine, as a financial writer I've written about the debt ceiling, and the possibility of a U.S. default, quite a bit. So, in the interest of self-promotion, here's some of what I've written in the past few weeks about the national debt, and all that's going on:

At Personal Dividends, I wrote two posts. One is about the fact that even severe program cuts probably won't be sufficient to solve our problems (we'll eventually need to raise taxes), and one about how a U.S. debt default is likely to affect you.
Way back in May, I wrote about the debt ceiling, and why you should care about it, on Free From Broke.
Will the U.S. really begin defaulting on its debt? Probably not. But I look at the possibility over at Smart On Money.
Over at Bargaineering, I wrote a little bit about how we ended up with a debt ceiling, and what is likely to come after Aug. 2. To solve this problem, we need to reduce spending and raise revenue. It's not either-or.
What happens if the U.S. defaults anyway? Does it really matter? At Deposit Accounts, I explain why it does matter if the U.S. defaults on its debt.
If the U.S. does default, and the world economy sees another crisis, you'll want your money in a smart place. At Dividend Stocks Online I take a look at investments that might possibly help you weather the storm.
Everyone's bracing for what could happen if the U.S does default. At the GFT UK blog, I take a look at the inevitable credit downgrades that will start rolling in.
If we do default, who is going to bear the brunt of the problems? A GFT Forex, I point out that the obvious answer: Not the wealthy. Most people, though, will see a de facto tax.

Chances are that we won't see a default. Unfortunately, I think a permanent solution to this problem is a long way off. And I think it's downright irresponsible to keep acting as though constant tax breaks for the wealthy and loopholes for major corporations will provide us with enough revenue to keep things going. Nope. To fix a mess that was decades in the making, we'll need a couple decades of lower spending AND higher taxes. But, what do I know? I'm a crazy liberal.

What do you think is the solution to our deficit problem is?

U.S. Debt Crisis: WHY, Exactly, Can't We Raise Taxes?

2011-07-14T20:29:00.001-06:00

Everyone needs to make sacrifices during this tough time. That's politicians of all stripes are saying. What they're not adding is that when they say "everyone," they really mean "everyone else." We're in the midst of a debt crisis, and we have politicians (who at least have had the decency to freeze their pay the last two years) doing their best to explain why Social Security payments, government employment pensions, and any number of programs are on the cutting block, but higher taxes aren't even on the table.

It makes no sense. Okay. It kind of does. Us regular schmoes aren't making huge, vote-buying campaign contributions to maintain the status quo.

I agree that some cuts need to be made, and that hard choices are coming. But the spending cuts being considered don't exactly mean sacrifice for the big corporations raking in record profits this year and the wealthy who are enjoying some of the lowest tax rates in the developed world. If everyone were actually expected to sacrifice, we wouldn't just be asking students to start paying student loan interest immediately. We'd be raising taxes on individuals making more than $500,0000, couples making more than $1 million and businesses making more than $50 million. That would be a way to raise some revenue without completely gutting the middle class and the small businesses that represent the backbone of our economy.

"But, Miranda," you say. "Tax cuts stimulate job growth because big businesses will hire more. Tax cuts stimulate economic growth because people at the top will spend more, helping everyone. When we cut taxes, it encourages net revenue growth. Tax cuts at the top help everyone else by paying for themselves -- and then some."

Sorry, folks. I don't buy it. That's trickle down B.S. at it's finest. I've got 5 reasons why the argument that tax cuts at the top are beneficial for everyone is a huge load:

Tax Cuts Don't Boost Revenues, Time, 2007
"No serious economist believes Bush's tax cuts will pay for themselves," from an article in The Economist, 2006.
Rich Americans Save Tax Cuts Instead of Spending, Moody's Says, Bloomberg, 2010.
This testimony from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office that points out that cutting income taxes ranks last in effectiveness among 11 proposals for spurring economic growth.
Economist Robert Shapiro points out that "out of 8,467,000 private sector jobs lost in this dismal cycle, 7,796,000 of those jobs or 92 percent were lost on the Republicans' watch or under the sway of their policies."

What's spooky is that 4 of the 5 points above aren't exactly being made by bastions of progressivism. There are plenty of economists from all points on the political spectrum that know that cutting taxes doesn't mean revenue growth. It only works if you cut programs, too. It's just plain fiscal irresponsibility to claim that tax cuts alone are good for our economy -- and it's dishonest to imply that top rate tax cuts are good for the middle class.

For more fun, you can see that we've seen better "real" growth with higher tax rates when you have a look at this chart. (Warning: This one is from the Center for American Progress.)

Indeed, during that magical economic watershed moment in history we call the 1950s, there was a top tax rate of more than 90%. Do I think we need such a high top tax rate? No, I don't. I do believe that the rise of the middle class (a socioeconomic class that is shrinking at an alarming rate) was engineered, and that higher top tax rates had something to do with it. But I'm not an economist. However, Paul Krugman is Nobel laureate economist. And he charts the rise of the middle class -- and its shrinkage right along with massive tax cuts -- in The Conscience of a Liberal.

Business Insider published this rather interesting look at the growing wealth gap we have in this country:

So, I ask again: Why is it that the diminishing middle class has to pay to get us out of this hole? Why should a shrinking middle class bear the brunt of this? Is there any reason why our system, which has been rewarding those at the top with greater and greater wealth for decades, can't ask the rich be subject to a tax raise as the rest of us are hit by program cuts?

Indeed, according to the Congressional Budget Office, letting the Bush tax cuts expire would actually pay for the rising costs of health care in the coming decades. Here is what the Washington Post recently reported on a CBO analysis:

“If policymakers are to put the nation on a sustainable budgetary path, they will need to let revenues increase substantially as a percentage of GDP, decrease spending significantly from projected levels, or adopt some combination of those two approaches,” the CBO report said.

I, personally, believe that we should follow the third path: Decrease some spending, and increase some taxes. It's not an either-or situation -- and it shouldn't be. Yes, government spending needs to be reined in. We need to decide on what our priorities will be, and we need to cut some of the fat. But we shouldn't rely entirely on spending cuts.

If everyone's going to sacrifice, tax hikes at the top need to be put in place.

Who Are Your Fellow Americans?

2011-07-12T22:50:00.002-06:00

With the recent celebration of Independence Day, I'm reminded of the dream of America that many of us are familiar with. We've most of us been raised on stories of how anyone can make it in America, have their beliefs respected, and be accorded an "equal chance" (whatever that means).

I love this country, and I'm glad to live in it. However, just because I'm grateful to live in America doesn't mean that I don't see some of the problems that still exist. Unfortunately, from our nation's founding, not everyone has been treated equally, and many people have been treated poorly based on culture, religion, race or other characteristics. We're always finding a new group to malign. I was contacted about this interesting video not too long ago. It offers a snapshot of Muslims in America.

As Ramadan approaches, it is worth considering that people are people -- no matter their backgrounds.

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T05:08:00.004-06:00

Another year, and another chance to reflect on how glad I am that we are able to live in this country. As we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it's a good time to remember that our Founding Fathers had many different ideas about how the government should be organized, and different ideas about the proper way to govern. But they did come together to sign this declaration. And the world was changed forever.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T07:04:00.000-06:00

I think it's important to remember -- especially to remember those who have given their lives in service to our country. The sacrifices made on our behalf are significant, and we should remember that the relative peace and security that we feel right here at home are paid for by the time and the lives of brave men and women who fight elsewhere. Memorial Day is a great time to reflect.

So, as you break out the barbecue and enjoy a holiday from work, take a few minutes to think about how you have benefitted from the service of those who gave all.

(Source)

MIA

2011-05-19T21:55:00.000-06:00

I've had a few emails lately asking me when I'm going to post something new. After all, I almost completely missed everything to do with the state legislative session. And there is a budget battle raging. And possibly a rapture coming up.

But I haven't had time. I have a number of thoughts swirling in my mind, but I don't have time to organize them. One of the hazards of being a professional blogger is that my own pet projects sort of fall to the wayside. I am well, my son is well, and Josh finished his Ph.D.

Thanks for your kind wishes and inquiries. I am touched by your concern. And so glad to have such good online friends.

And the Winner Of My Book Is...

2011-04-07T21:27:00.001-06:00

We've finally got a winner for a little contest involving a giveaway of the book I co-wrote with Robyn Tippins. Using Random.org, two winners were selected from those who left comments over at Practical Blogging. The winners are:

Tom Drake, who wins a signed copy.
Talia, who wins an unsigned copy.

You both need to email me at mirandamarquit@gmail.com with your postal addresses, and I'll get the books sent out.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Even if you didn't win, you can still buy my book; there is a Kindle version available, too :)

Listen to Me Plug My Book -- And Win a Free Copy!

2011-03-15T21:28:00.000-06:00

In an effort to help sell copies of the book I co-authored with Robyn Tippins, I've done a couple of stints on Blog Talk Radio shows. It's been great, and I've enjoyed it. We were on Wayne Hurlbert's Blog Business World. Earlier today we were on The Power Connection with Marie Pijanowski. You can listen to the shows.

You can also enter to win a free copy of the book. Head over to Robyn's blog, Practical Blogging, to enter the contest. There aren't very many entries, so if you want a free book, all you have to do is leave a comment. And, of course, I'm perfectly happy if you want to go buy the book :)

Are Dems Finding their Way Back to Populism?

2011-03-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

I don't watch Rachel Maddow much, but I thought this was an interesting look at what's going on right now. As an economic populist myself, I have been rather frustrated with the Dems' move toward corporate money and interests. It's one of the reasons I am not registered to vote with either party.

No one talks about being a populist anymore -- much the way that few people talk about being social progressives. Some of the political nuances that existed 100 years ago have been swallowed up by the lazy thinking that divides people squarely into two camps: Democrat and Republican. This tendency to use party names as labels has led to a lot of the acrimony we see today.

However, it appears that many are getting fed up with the simplistic idea that belonging to one party or the other can tell you everything you need to know about a person. I don't like how Maddow seems to continue the idea that all Republicans are the same, but she makes some good points about some of the economic elite in the party. At any rate, I am glad that between the Tea Party and general dissatisfaction many progressives have been feeling, it appears that the two-party system could be on the verge of cracking. Which wouldn't make me sad at all.

We could use a little more critical thinking and nuance in our politics.

I'm Moving to Wisconsin. Apparently there are Plam Trees!

2011-03-02T08:23:00.004-07:00

I Like Adam Smith Better than I Thought

2011-02-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Economic theorist (and man widely worshiped by many capitalists) Adam Smith apparently thought it reasonable for the rich to contribute more than their "fair share" -- whatever that means -- to society. You'll find the quote below in An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations, Volume 3. He doesn't suggest an income tax or anything like that. But he does seem to indicate that those of us who make more should, perhaps, be expected to contribute more.

Let the personal attacks on me begin...