Take Me for a Ride Big Daddy

Our National economy is bad right now. It may get worse. I don’t want to guess how bad it might get; everyone else is trying to do that.

The reality of what has happened is clear in my mind. We have spent ten years refinancing our houses and taking out second mortgages. The “refi boom” propped up our sagging economy and made us think we were OK. It was a big lie and that is no way to stimulate or build an economy by borrowing money at a different interest rate.

Now it is time to sober up and realize we have to make something. Manufacture American goods and sell them to someone else. It is the only path to prosperity.

Erin

The big news this summer has been sky-rocketing gas prices. While I can personally attest to the pain at the pump, there are some positive affects of $147 barrels of oil. Here’s a little silver lining to think about while filling up your tank.

High fuel prices are forcing the average consumer to rethink their commuting habits. Demand is going down. Retail sales of gasoline are at their lowest point in 12 yrs according to the Energy Information Administration. Everyday, I see more and more Scooters around town along with the occasional Smart Car. I’ve even been biking to work lately to help stretch each fill up. These high prices are good for the environment and our (at least my) health.

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Rebuilding American Manufacturing

My grandfather could make anything from nothing. On the farm if you needed a beam for the barn you hooked up the mules, went out in the woods, felled a tree, drug it back, squared it with a hand adz and hoisted it into place. There was plenty of food but no cash and nowhere to buy a beam even if you had the cash.

That direct, hands-on problem solving and ingenuity marked the thinking of generations of Americans and developed our country into a manufacturing powerhouse. We designed, built and exported goods around the world. Our products set the standard for quality and dependability.
What’s more, there was a balance of wages and prices so the people who worked in the factories could afford to buy the items they made.
As everyone knows, that has changed.

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