The Bucket List
I went to see this movie last night. Let me suggest that any of you who have passed the threshold of 70 must go to see it. The writers must have written the dialogue before the strike as it was superbly written. The messages keep coming out all thru the movie.
If you are not familiar with the story, it concerns two dying men placed together in a hospital room. One is a tycoon, the other a car mechanic. They both receive death notices about the same time and decide to use the list as a basis on how to spend the few months left to them. I will stop right here as I don’t want to take away from the experience except to say, if you come away feeling as I did you might wish to make changes in your routine with the years remaining to you. I may not do spectacular exploits as they did but I will keep the thought in mind as I plan my life.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
February 13, 2008
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Recession 1928 vs 2008
Recession 1928 vs. 2008
In 1928 the country was in desperate shape. Social Security did not exist, there were few programs in effect to alleviate real hunger, and unemployment was rampant. Farmers lost their farms; most city dwellers lived in apartments and could not afford the rent. By today’s standards most Americans would be classified as poor. The banks quit issuing loans. Factories were shut down. Even if they could operate there were no customers for their products. For several years people lived in desperation just to exist. There were few who could afford to improve their standard of living. This existed until FDR became President in 1932 and immediately enacted the New Deal. One of his first actions was to close the banks and reopen them one at a time when they could assure their viability. Depositor’s savings and checking accounts were federally insured to protect the average citizen. Jobs were created in construction and in the CCC which took men into the wilderness areas to build trails and huts among other things. Welfare was made available but the key to FDR’s programs was that he wanted American men to go to work doing anything. He did not want to grant handouts while those receiving them stayed idle.
Now let’s compare that era to the present “crisis” in 2008. The average home sells for over $230,000. Credit card debt is at an all time high, the restrictions that were supposed to be in place somehow were ignored allowing people to purchase larger homes than they could reasonably be able to afford. Personal assets and job security were not a requirement to purchase. Houses were sold with interest payments only on the mistaken belief that they would increase in value over time without ever dropping in value. Equity was taken out of home assets and used to fulfill other perceived needs or wants. Millions of manufacturing jobs were relocated to China and other nations which could provide cheap labor. Millions of service jobs have also left the country. Our government provides substantial income to those who lose their jobs allowing them to look for work but not be required to take a job below their perceived worth. It also provides retraining programs in the mistaken belief that there will be jobs in the computer field and others areas all the while jobs are being exported at an ever accelerating rate.
The federal government and all of the so-called presidential candidates are calling for a massive hand out program estimated to cost $150 billion dollars to “stimulate” the economy. A prudent person in debt would take the handout graciously and use it to pay down his debt but the government is wise enough to realize that they will instead do exactly as asked and go out and spend it quickly and wait for the next handout which will surely come as soon as it is apparent that $150 billion dollars is not enough. The money for the most part will certainly stimulate the economy of China and the other cheap labor countries but will do little to restore our own.
Our national debt exceeds $9 trillion dollars. In Arizona the State is facing a shortfall of $1 billion dollars. Most other States are in the same situation. In the meantime we continue to throw funds approaching $1 trillion dollars to support wars in Afghanistan and Iraq while at the same time threatening Iran and other Middle Eastern nations. Our military has been depleted to where drastic rebuilding of all types of weaponry is required. Over 1/3 of all the Air Forces planes are out of service.
We continue our reckless squandering of our grandchildren’s future while determined to live beyond our means. When I was starting out as a young married man there was no such thing as credit cards. We waited until we had accumulated funds and then paid cash for every stick of furniture we wanted.
The Piper will be paid, if not today then tomorrow. With trillions of U.S. bonds in the hands of foreigners we are approaching catastrophe. They are buying up American assets and are beginning to purchase Euros instead of Dollars. They may pull the plug altogether and refuse to support our lavish life style. When that happens no stimulus package will have a positive effect.
So what do I propose? Let the chips fall where they may. Let the housing market seek its true value not the outlandish values in place today. Stop frivolous household purchases of Flat screen TVs, cell phones that take pictures and devices that hold thousands of musical songs. Each and all are deemed necessary. I am one of the holdouts. I have none nor do I intend to purchase any. I didn’t “need” them before and I don’t need them now. Take the hit and live frugally. The government should do likewise. They could start by banning earmarks added to every piece of legislation passed. Stop the wars, bring the troops and what’s left of their hardware home and rebuild for when they are truly needed. Make balancing the budget and then reducing the national debt the number one priority. The list is endless on what should be done but won’t because of opposition and the feeling that we are special and are ordained by God to live as if we were God’s chosen people. How sad.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
January 22, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
In 1928 the country was in desperate shape. Social Security did not exist, there were few programs in effect to alleviate real hunger, and unemployment was rampant. Farmers lost their farms; most city dwellers lived in apartments and could not afford the rent. By today’s standards most Americans would be classified as poor. The banks quit issuing loans. Factories were shut down. Even if they could operate there were no customers for their products. For several years people lived in desperation just to exist. There were few who could afford to improve their standard of living. This existed until FDR became President in 1932 and immediately enacted the New Deal. One of his first actions was to close the banks and reopen them one at a time when they could assure their viability. Depositor’s savings and checking accounts were federally insured to protect the average citizen. Jobs were created in construction and in the CCC which took men into the wilderness areas to build trails and huts among other things. Welfare was made available but the key to FDR’s programs was that he wanted American men to go to work doing anything. He did not want to grant handouts while those receiving them stayed idle.
Now let’s compare that era to the present “crisis” in 2008. The average home sells for over $230,000. Credit card debt is at an all time high, the restrictions that were supposed to be in place somehow were ignored allowing people to purchase larger homes than they could reasonably be able to afford. Personal assets and job security were not a requirement to purchase. Houses were sold with interest payments only on the mistaken belief that they would increase in value over time without ever dropping in value. Equity was taken out of home assets and used to fulfill other perceived needs or wants. Millions of manufacturing jobs were relocated to China and other nations which could provide cheap labor. Millions of service jobs have also left the country. Our government provides substantial income to those who lose their jobs allowing them to look for work but not be required to take a job below their perceived worth. It also provides retraining programs in the mistaken belief that there will be jobs in the computer field and others areas all the while jobs are being exported at an ever accelerating rate.
The federal government and all of the so-called presidential candidates are calling for a massive hand out program estimated to cost $150 billion dollars to “stimulate” the economy. A prudent person in debt would take the handout graciously and use it to pay down his debt but the government is wise enough to realize that they will instead do exactly as asked and go out and spend it quickly and wait for the next handout which will surely come as soon as it is apparent that $150 billion dollars is not enough. The money for the most part will certainly stimulate the economy of China and the other cheap labor countries but will do little to restore our own.
Our national debt exceeds $9 trillion dollars. In Arizona the State is facing a shortfall of $1 billion dollars. Most other States are in the same situation. In the meantime we continue to throw funds approaching $1 trillion dollars to support wars in Afghanistan and Iraq while at the same time threatening Iran and other Middle Eastern nations. Our military has been depleted to where drastic rebuilding of all types of weaponry is required. Over 1/3 of all the Air Forces planes are out of service.
We continue our reckless squandering of our grandchildren’s future while determined to live beyond our means. When I was starting out as a young married man there was no such thing as credit cards. We waited until we had accumulated funds and then paid cash for every stick of furniture we wanted.
The Piper will be paid, if not today then tomorrow. With trillions of U.S. bonds in the hands of foreigners we are approaching catastrophe. They are buying up American assets and are beginning to purchase Euros instead of Dollars. They may pull the plug altogether and refuse to support our lavish life style. When that happens no stimulus package will have a positive effect.
So what do I propose? Let the chips fall where they may. Let the housing market seek its true value not the outlandish values in place today. Stop frivolous household purchases of Flat screen TVs, cell phones that take pictures and devices that hold thousands of musical songs. Each and all are deemed necessary. I am one of the holdouts. I have none nor do I intend to purchase any. I didn’t “need” them before and I don’t need them now. Take the hit and live frugally. The government should do likewise. They could start by banning earmarks added to every piece of legislation passed. Stop the wars, bring the troops and what’s left of their hardware home and rebuild for when they are truly needed. Make balancing the budget and then reducing the national debt the number one priority. The list is endless on what should be done but won’t because of opposition and the feeling that we are special and are ordained by God to live as if we were God’s chosen people. How sad.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
January 22, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
Friday, December 21, 2007
Illegal Immigration
Response to Editorial and Ernesto Portillo’s Column
12/21, 2007
I can’t let the Star off the hook for today’s editorial content. You take aim at relocated Americans who have moved to Arizona either in pursuit of employment or to retire. I retired here 14 years ago. My first home was in Villa Sin Vacas. I kind of liked the sound of my new area. I had no hard feelings for Latinos or the Spanish culture. Illegal immigration may have been in full force but I was not aware of it.
As the years past by and particularly since I became a hiker I began to be aware on an increasing basis the garbage that was being strewn in the pristine wilderness areas through which I was hiking. Because I am an avid reader and keep myself informed I have come to deeply resent the invasion of my country by millions of illegal immigrants who are predominantly Mexicans.
I resent Mexican Presidents Fox and Calderone for interfering in our countries business by insisting that we accept all who wish to come here outside of our immigration guidelines. I also resent the fact that these so-called leaders do so little to provide employment opportunities for their people. Check out the Mexican government’s immigration policies to see how they treat immigrants.
I also resent the fact that thousands of Mexican jobs that had been created by NAFTA have gone instead to China. This is a country that violates every facet of international trade by pegging their currency to the dollar, by pirating trademarked goods, by employing children working long hours for little pay, by exporting contaminated food products for people and pets and toys containing excessive amounts of lead and other poisons, by selling human organs removed from prisoners in their custody.
I deeply resent our current weak leadership in Washington for allowing them to do all this without sanctions. I also resent these same leaders for allowing illegal immigration to get so far out of control. As Mr. Portillo so eloquently stated there have been severe actions taken by our country to return Mexicans to their country. The first was by President Hoover. This was during the depression and millions of Americans were without work. The second was by President Eisenhower when the millions of returning veterans were in need of employment. The amusing thing to me is that our government had no problem finding and evicting on a fast track basis. They could do the same today but have no desire to do so.
My personal position is that temporary work visas should be increased if a labor shortage exists that is not being filled by citizens. People like you are fond of saying illegal immigrants are doing jobs Americans won’t do. This may be partially true but equally true is the depressed wages being paid because of them which discourage Americans from taking these jobs. You in your arrogance like the fact that this keeps construction and manufacturing costs low so you can live in a bigger house and purchase goods for less. You care not one little bit that working Americans would also like bigger homes and to be better able to provide for their families.
Since you seem to resent other Americans from settling in Arizona, I have a question for you. Were you born in Arizona and were all other members of your editorial staff born here? If not, then you have no more right than I do to express your thoughts as you feel you have the right to do. I would also like to know if any of you have ever been employed in a labor intensive job. I doubt it very much or you wouldn’t be so happy to see our industrial base collapse with jobs heading by the millions to communist China all for the sake of you being able to have all the goodies you want at low cost.
I took the time this morning to respond as I deeply resented both editorial columns. I made it longer than normal since I realize it wouldn’t be published anyway. You can call us bigots if you want. We just want order to our immigration process not the chaos we are presently witnessing.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
December 21, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
12/21, 2007
I can’t let the Star off the hook for today’s editorial content. You take aim at relocated Americans who have moved to Arizona either in pursuit of employment or to retire. I retired here 14 years ago. My first home was in Villa Sin Vacas. I kind of liked the sound of my new area. I had no hard feelings for Latinos or the Spanish culture. Illegal immigration may have been in full force but I was not aware of it.
As the years past by and particularly since I became a hiker I began to be aware on an increasing basis the garbage that was being strewn in the pristine wilderness areas through which I was hiking. Because I am an avid reader and keep myself informed I have come to deeply resent the invasion of my country by millions of illegal immigrants who are predominantly Mexicans.
I resent Mexican Presidents Fox and Calderone for interfering in our countries business by insisting that we accept all who wish to come here outside of our immigration guidelines. I also resent the fact that these so-called leaders do so little to provide employment opportunities for their people. Check out the Mexican government’s immigration policies to see how they treat immigrants.
I also resent the fact that thousands of Mexican jobs that had been created by NAFTA have gone instead to China. This is a country that violates every facet of international trade by pegging their currency to the dollar, by pirating trademarked goods, by employing children working long hours for little pay, by exporting contaminated food products for people and pets and toys containing excessive amounts of lead and other poisons, by selling human organs removed from prisoners in their custody.
I deeply resent our current weak leadership in Washington for allowing them to do all this without sanctions. I also resent these same leaders for allowing illegal immigration to get so far out of control. As Mr. Portillo so eloquently stated there have been severe actions taken by our country to return Mexicans to their country. The first was by President Hoover. This was during the depression and millions of Americans were without work. The second was by President Eisenhower when the millions of returning veterans were in need of employment. The amusing thing to me is that our government had no problem finding and evicting on a fast track basis. They could do the same today but have no desire to do so.
My personal position is that temporary work visas should be increased if a labor shortage exists that is not being filled by citizens. People like you are fond of saying illegal immigrants are doing jobs Americans won’t do. This may be partially true but equally true is the depressed wages being paid because of them which discourage Americans from taking these jobs. You in your arrogance like the fact that this keeps construction and manufacturing costs low so you can live in a bigger house and purchase goods for less. You care not one little bit that working Americans would also like bigger homes and to be better able to provide for their families.
Since you seem to resent other Americans from settling in Arizona, I have a question for you. Were you born in Arizona and were all other members of your editorial staff born here? If not, then you have no more right than I do to express your thoughts as you feel you have the right to do. I would also like to know if any of you have ever been employed in a labor intensive job. I doubt it very much or you wouldn’t be so happy to see our industrial base collapse with jobs heading by the millions to communist China all for the sake of you being able to have all the goodies you want at low cost.
I took the time this morning to respond as I deeply resented both editorial columns. I made it longer than normal since I realize it wouldn’t be published anyway. You can call us bigots if you want. We just want order to our immigration process not the chaos we are presently witnessing.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
December 21, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Olson-McCain
Olson-McCain
The Star continues on a regular basis to print on the front page data about the earnings of Lute Olson while he is on a leave. As far as I am concerned that issue is between Lute and the Athletic Dept. which is functioning in the black due directly to the success of Lute Olson's basketball program.
This letter is a request to place a front page article about the salary and perks being paid by taxpayers to our absentee Senator McCain. Every week for some time now when I look at bills voted on in the Senate he is listed as not voting. You can check it out easier than I but if researched I am sure what you will find is that he has been absent for the past six months or longer. While he is out campaigning he is not tending to the business of Arizonans who put him in office. There are many issues in Congress that are of concern to me and I trust others. He should be admonished for his lack of attention.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
December 16, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
The Star continues on a regular basis to print on the front page data about the earnings of Lute Olson while he is on a leave. As far as I am concerned that issue is between Lute and the Athletic Dept. which is functioning in the black due directly to the success of Lute Olson's basketball program.
This letter is a request to place a front page article about the salary and perks being paid by taxpayers to our absentee Senator McCain. Every week for some time now when I look at bills voted on in the Senate he is listed as not voting. You can check it out easier than I but if researched I am sure what you will find is that he has been absent for the past six months or longer. While he is out campaigning he is not tending to the business of Arizonans who put him in office. There are many issues in Congress that are of concern to me and I trust others. He should be admonished for his lack of attention.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
December 16, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Poor Bush, Cheney and McCain
Poor Bush, Cheney and McCain
I wonder what has happened to the people in the intelligence section that released the data showing that Iran ceased their work on developing nuclear weapons in 2003. I’ll bet they have been reassigned to a much lower position.
Bush was so eager to attack Iran before his term ends and now his bubble has burst. He has lost any international support for military action or increasing boycotts. He will be forced to talk instead.
Let’s not forget our own Senator; you know the one that sang his little ditty, “Bomb, Bomb, and Bomb Iran. He had such a cute smile while doing it. Should he win the nomination and become President, you can be sure he would find a way to attack Iran.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
December 5, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
I wonder what has happened to the people in the intelligence section that released the data showing that Iran ceased their work on developing nuclear weapons in 2003. I’ll bet they have been reassigned to a much lower position.
Bush was so eager to attack Iran before his term ends and now his bubble has burst. He has lost any international support for military action or increasing boycotts. He will be forced to talk instead.
Let’s not forget our own Senator; you know the one that sang his little ditty, “Bomb, Bomb, and Bomb Iran. He had such a cute smile while doing it. Should he win the nomination and become President, you can be sure he would find a way to attack Iran.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
December 5, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
Friday, November 23, 2007
Ernesto Portillo Jr. Columnist
Ernesto Portillo Jr., Arizona Daily Star Columnist
When are you going to stop supporting his continuing haranguing against any and all who disagree with his philosophy which supports open borders. He is a broken record who takes every opportunity to push his position.
Mexico has a deliberate and successful program to relieve their overpopulation and lack of good jobs by shipping surplus citizens to our country. The money sent back to Mexico is that countries largest source of income.
He uses the term immigrant in his articles as if we are against immigration of Hispanics or others from around the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we are against is illegal immigration, those who slip over the border or who overstay their visa limits. We cannot continue to be flooded in the current fashion. There must be order to the process or else the standard of living for those who do physical labor will continue to decline. What does he care? I assume you pay him well for his writings.
In his way of thinking, if someone has eluded authorities for a period of time, then if found out, should be allowed to stay no matter what. He was outraged that the student and his family were deported over the drug incident recently. He was elated when the Police Department officials stated they would never again inform Homeland Security. I on the other hand, deplore weak leadership that turns that agency from enforcing all laws on the books.
His latest article was an attack against Mr. Tom Horne, the state superintendent of public instruction. Mr. Horne does not support ethnic studies programs. In my opinion schools should teach reading, writing and arithmetic as they used to do. There is a need for history, geography and world events but special programs to emphasize our differences that foster adversarial feelings between different racial, gender and place of origin are not beneficial and a waste of time and resources. He concludes outrageously by printing Mr. Horne’s office address and requesting readers to deluge his office with outrage.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
November 19, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
When are you going to stop supporting his continuing haranguing against any and all who disagree with his philosophy which supports open borders. He is a broken record who takes every opportunity to push his position.
Mexico has a deliberate and successful program to relieve their overpopulation and lack of good jobs by shipping surplus citizens to our country. The money sent back to Mexico is that countries largest source of income.
He uses the term immigrant in his articles as if we are against immigration of Hispanics or others from around the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we are against is illegal immigration, those who slip over the border or who overstay their visa limits. We cannot continue to be flooded in the current fashion. There must be order to the process or else the standard of living for those who do physical labor will continue to decline. What does he care? I assume you pay him well for his writings.
In his way of thinking, if someone has eluded authorities for a period of time, then if found out, should be allowed to stay no matter what. He was outraged that the student and his family were deported over the drug incident recently. He was elated when the Police Department officials stated they would never again inform Homeland Security. I on the other hand, deplore weak leadership that turns that agency from enforcing all laws on the books.
His latest article was an attack against Mr. Tom Horne, the state superintendent of public instruction. Mr. Horne does not support ethnic studies programs. In my opinion schools should teach reading, writing and arithmetic as they used to do. There is a need for history, geography and world events but special programs to emphasize our differences that foster adversarial feelings between different racial, gender and place of origin are not beneficial and a waste of time and resources. He concludes outrageously by printing Mr. Horne’s office address and requesting readers to deluge his office with outrage.
Jack B. Walters
3961 N. Hillwood Circle
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 722-2958
November 19, 2007
jackbwalters@yahoo.com
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