FFM

This is a war of messages. We need a long-term economic plan that includes some non-earmark spending now and a solid action plan to gain control over our deficit within a reasonable time period. The plan for controlling the deficit must be real and not fiction to be "implemented in the future". As importunately, someone has to convince the public that they need to support it. Right now Obama is not up to the task. Part of it is that he is waiting for the mid-term elections to conclude. The rest of it is he just is not able to do it.. He can give one great speech. Can he sell an idea over time? He sold himself during the campaign for the presidency. He must apply the same effort to selling the nation on a long-term economic plan that includes the stimulus. Where Have You Gone Barak Obama ?

Free Our Free Markets What does the American auto industry, the health care industry, wall street firms and the banking industry all have in common; other than they were all on the brink of failure? These are industries where the production side of the industry is no longer a free market with many producers competing head-to head to earn the business of consumers, or customers, of the industry. Instead each of these industries are controlled by a relatively small number of very large corporations that have transformed these markets into oligopolies.

As I am watching one of the Sunday morning talk shows and thinking about the economic mess we are in, a commercial comes on for Bank of America. I then realize that here is a company that is part of an oligopoly that controls the financial services industry that I have been complaining about destroying our free markets. It made me think further about the fact that these oligopolies are not only controlling our free markets, but they also have a heavy influence on our "free press". Later in the same day I read an article about who is monetarily watering the Tea Party movement. Guess what; it is not totally a grass roots movement. Per the New Yotk Times article highlighted above "....the sugar daddies who are bankrolling it, and have been doing so since well before the “death panel” warm-up acts of last summer. Three heavy hitters rule. You’ve heard of one of them, Rupert Murdoch. The other two, the brothers David and Charles Koch, are even richer, with a combined wealt

" When Congress passed a new  financial regulation  bill last month, it sought to prevent federally insured banks from making speculative bets using their own money. But that will not stop banks from making bets that some critics deem risky, even as the rules go into effect over the next few years" By  NELSON D. SCHWARTZ  and  ERIC DASH New York Times Published: August 25, 2010 The reason for this is very simple. Our representatives, including Obama, were bought off by campaign contributions from the banking oligopolies. Until we have a constitutional amendment outlawing such bribery, "our representatives" will be representing someone else. The ability of unions and corporations to influence our government is taking away our freedom. including free markets.  FixCongressFirst

"...the policy elite — central bankers, finance ministers, politicians who pose as defenders of fiscal virtue — are acting like the priests of some ancient cult, demanding that we engage in human sacrifices to appease the anger of invisible gods." -- Paul Krugman This is because the high priests consult with economists. The answer is to stimulate now with worthwhile, non-earmark projects, and simultaneously create a plan implemented later that will reduce and gain control of our deficit. The high priests are not alone in their deficit concerns; so is the average citizen. Us "average Joe's" must be convinced that we can control the deficit and that we have a will to do so.

The money provided by the federal government should have been offered to school districts only if the districts agreed to aggressively renegotiate contracts with their teachers and administrators. If teachers are dismissed i t means the number of students per classroom will rise and the quality of education will decrease . On the other hand, by reducing compensation to levels in-line with the private sector, retaining more teachers will be possible and the quality of education will not be harmed. The private sector pays the salaries of teachers. The employment and compensation of the private sector, especially in Michigan where I live, has been devastated. Teachers must adjust to the new reality.

Net neutrality under attack:   Don't let Verizon and Google dictate the future of the Internet. Contact the FCC! This post reflects a comment received from Common Cause. It is time to stand up with them and keep the internet free . As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers how to write the rules to protect freedom and openness on the Internet,   who should they turn to: consumers like you and me, or the oligopolistic telecommunications companies?   Verizon and Google announced this week that they have it all figured out when it comes to net neutrality.* They unveiled a policy framework that would give telecom companies the right to speed up or slow down certain kinds of content, and to block outright  applications or content on wireless networks.

What does the American auto industry, the health care industry, wall street firms and the banking industry all have in common; other than they were all on the brink of failure? These are industries where the production side of the industry is no longer a free market with many producers competing head-to head to earn the business of consumers, or customers, of the industry. Instead each of these industries are controlled by a relatively small number of very large corporations that have transformed these markets into oligopolies. Adam Smith when he discussed “rational self interest” and competitive markets in his book Wealth of Nations, envisioned many consumers buying goods and services from many producers with everyone looking out for their self-interest. By keeping markets “free”, producers pursue their rational self-interest and this best meets the needs of the consumers and the citizens of our country, who are also looking out for their self-interest. Under this system, what

It is time to develop and use other sources of energy. It is not in our culture and governmental system to think long-term.  Forget about the world running out of oil. Do we really believe that in the long term, maybe as short as five years, we can coerce the Middle East to sell us their energy at cheap prices? The answer is clearly no. We just do not know the exact date when the mid-east uses their oil as ransom again. OUR LEADERS ARE NOT LEADING ON THIS ISSUE. It is their responsibility to lead. We did not elect them to take a poll of the citizenry and do what the majority wishes. Their job is to lead and convince the majority.

We are in the midst of a Great Recession that could have been a depression. The net worth of all Americans has been negatively affected, as has their optimism and willingness to go on spending binges as they have over the last several decades. Controlling the binge is a good thing; however, it means that we must find another engine for our growth rather than the American consumer. The good news is there is a new engine, and an established one, that will drive us to prosperity again.