Why you need this blog.

Even though I truly believe I will benefit from blogging even if no one reads my posts, I sincerely want the time you spend reading my elementary writing to be worthwhile, intellectual, and entertaining. It is my hope readers will leave my blog with a greater and more respectful understanding (as opposed to wrathful) of the particular perspective I present.

It is my aim to bridge competing perspective’s gaps on ‘hot button’ issues rather than widen the huge schisms already all too present. Most of all though, if you do chose to spend a part of your day reading what I author, I hope you find it enjoyable. Please do not read my blog if you do not find it enjoyable. 


Without further adieu, the 3 reasons you need this blog:

1) We are ignorant and unstable people.

Many of us are fully capable of having a well researched and rational understanding of what our favorite sports team should do: personnel changes, play calling, and diagnosing what is working and what needs to be changed. For those who do not relate to sports, many are able to express very comprehensive thoughts pertaining to what would be best for celebrity relationships. 

We are also able to make very compelling statements as to why various movies, TV series, and written material were successful, or what could have been done differently for those that failed to live up to our expectations. The quote: “everyone is a critic” seems to be true.

However, myself included, we know not the names, nor recognize the faces of our elected officials, let alone know their stance on any given number of issues: how they intend to spend OUR money (yes they are spending the money we give them from taxes), how they propose to enact their social agenda, and even if they are trustworthy.

In summary, you need this blog because we are ignorant of the policies and agendas of our elected officials and unstable when attempting to discuss them with other people.

2) No accountability.

Secondary to our ignorant and unstable nature, we do not understand how to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Thus we end up with huge corporations getting bailed out with taxpayer money for their irresponsibility. No accountability.

For Example:

• TARP: Troubled Assets Relief Program
• Bank Bailout
• Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Bailout
• AIG Bailout
• Auto Industry Bailout
• Quantitative Easing 1 and 2 (QE): ~$2 trillion, ouch…

Click here for QE details

QE: The US Federal Reserve held between $700 billion and $800 billion of Treasury notes on its balance sheet before the recession. In late November 2008, the Fed started buying $600 billion in Mortgage-backed securities (MBS).[42] By March 2009, it held $1.75 trillion of bank debt, MBS, and Treasury notes, and reached a peak of $2.1 trillion in June 2010. Further purchases were halted as the economy had started to improve, but resumed in August 2010 when the Fed decided the economy was not growing robustly. After the halt in June holdings started falling naturally as debt matured and were projected to fall to $1.7 trillion by 2012. The Fed's revised goal became to keep holdings at the $2.054 trillion level. To maintain that level, the Fed bought $30 billion in 2–10 year Treasury notes a month. In November 2010, the Fed announced a second round of quantitative easing, or "QE2", buying $600 billion of Treasury securities by the end of the second quarter of 2011.[43][44]

42. Conerly, Bill (13 September 2012). "QE3 and the Economy: It Will Help, But Not Solve All Problems". Forbes. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
43. Inman, Phillip (14 July 2011). "Moody's sounds note of caution while Bernanke promises support for U.S. economy". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 19 July 2011.
44. Zumbrun, Joshua (13 September 2012). "Fed Undertakes QE3 With $40 Billion MBS Purchases Per Month". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 13 September 2012.

Good Wall Street Bailout Article: Econmatters

I have been unable to locate exact dollar amounts. However, this only supports the point there is a lack of accountability. When taxpayers can no longer see where the government is spending their money, there is no potential for accountability.

You need this blog in order to learn how to demand those individuals in powerful positions be held accountable and be subject to the consequences of their actions or lack of action.


3) We are prideful people.

Please excuse my lack of clarity on this reason. You also need this blog because we need to learn how to agree to disagree. It is not my goal to convert my readers to my beliefs, but rather facilitate an environment where discussion about difficult, controversial issues – money, politics, religion, ect, are discussed respectfully, passionately, and intellectually.

Thus, we need constant training and refinement in not only being educated on controversial subjects, but also in discussing these subjects with those who may not hold the same viewpoint in a civilized and respectful manner.

In conclusion, you need this blog only if you will first and foremost enjoy reading it, followed by:

1. A need to no longer remain ignorant in our knowledge and understanding of political/social policies and agendas.
2. Learning to hold those responsible accountable for their decisions or indecision.
3. We are prideful people (myself included) who have a near impossible time discussing controversial issues in an intellectual, respectful, and civilized manner.

Next week’s topic: Fantasy Football Part 1: Draft Day Planning