BLACK IS NOT BEAUTIFUL

 

     WHEN I SEE BLACK, I SEE DEATH.  BLACK WAS THE SIGNAL OF DEATH SINCE TIME BEGAN.    THE PLAGUE OF THE 1500’S WAS CALLED THE BLACK PLAGUE, WHICH KILLED ONE THIRD OF THE THEN WORLD’S POPULATION.    THE FUNERAL HEARSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN BLACK.   WHEN SOMEONE DIED THEIR RELATIVES AND CLOSE FRIENDS WORE BLACK OUT OF RESPECT.   MEN WORE BLACK TIES AND BLACK ARM BANDS DURING THIS MOURNING PERIOD THAT COULD LAST FOR YEARS, WOMEN WORE BLACK AT THE WAKE AND FUNERAL, WHILE WIDOWS, WORE PLAIN BLACK CLOTHES, SOME FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

      THE FAMILY HOME HAD A BLACK WREATH PLACED ON THE FRONT DOOR, TO SIGNIFY THE DEATH OF A DWELLER INSIDE.    SOMETIMES THE WREATH WOULD REMAIN DISPLAYED THERE UNTIL ANOTHER OCCUPANT DIED, AT WHICH TIME A NEW BLACK WREATH WOULD REPLACE THE OLD.

      THIS CUSTOM HAS ENDURED FOR HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF YEARS, IN AMERICA AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

      FAMILIES OF DECEASED MEMBERS THEREAFTER, WROTE THEIR LETTERS ON STATIONARY AND ENVELOPES RIMMED IN BLACK TO SIGNIFY SOMEONE HAD DIED IN THE FAMILY AND THAT THEY WERE IN MOURNING.

      BLACK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SIGN OF DEATH, GRIEF AND RESPECT FOR THE DEPARTED.    NOWADAYS, YOU SEE LITTLE OF THESE BLACK SIGNS OF DEATH, YET DEATH ENDURES AND IS INEVITABLE FOR ALL OF US.    A FEW OF US OLD TIMERS, STILL RESPECTFULLY WEAR A BLACK TIE AT THE WAKE OR FUNERAL AND THOUGHTFULLY STORE IT AWAY FOR ITS USE ANOTHER DAY SINCE WE EXPECT THAT DEATH WILL REVISIT US AGAIN.

      WE GRIEVE OVER THE DEATH OF A RELATIVE, FRIEND, NEIGHBOR OR SOMEONE ELSE WE RESPECT AND ARE EMOTIONALLY MOVED.    DEATH MAKES US SAD AND SORRY FOR THE DECEASED, EVEN WHEN THEY SAY DEATH IS A BLESSING AND RELIEF FOR A LONG-SUFFERING PERSON.

      DEATH, WAS ALWAYS EXPECTED TO BE FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF MOURNING AND RESPECT IN EVERY RELIGION AND NATIONALITY.   SOME RELATIVES WENT TO THE EXTREME AND HIRED PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS FOR THE WAKE AND FUNERAL WHOSE CRIES, MOANS, WAILS AND TEARS, TORE AT YOUR HEART IN SYMPATHY AND PROMPTED OTHER MOURNERS TO JOIN IN TO EXPRESS THE SAME SIGNS OF BEREAVEMENT AND RESPECT FOR THE DECEASED AND THE SURVIVING FAMILY.

      THE EVER-PRESENT FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND HIS ASSISTANTS ALWAYS WORE BLACK AND APPEARED AS SOMBER AND RESPECTFUL AS THE MOURNERS THEMSELVES.  EVEN THOUGH THEY SERVE A NECESSARY AND APPRECIATED  SERVICE, BUT FOR ALSO THE PROFIT INVOLVED.

      MANY TIMES, AS I ATTENDED SOME WAKES AND FUNERALS, I WOULD SEE LONG LINES OF PEOPLE PASS BY THE BIER OF THE DECEASED, STOP AND BRIEFLY PAY THEIR RESPECTS WITH A SILENT PRAYER OR WORD, THEN CONTINUE ON TO THE DUTIFULLY WAITING FAMILY MEMBERS, LINED UP ALONG SIDE TO UTTER WORDS OF CONDOLENCES TO THEM   WHILE SOME WOULD, AT THE SAME TIME, SAY SOMETHING THAT WOULD RELAX SOME OF THE FAMILY ENOUGH TO SMILE OR EVEN LAUGH FOR A MOMENT OF RESPITE FROM AN OTHERWISE SAD DUTY.

      IT OCCURRED TO ME, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS CLOSE TO THE DECEASED, THAT WOULDN’T HE HAVE BEEN MADE TO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER AT LEAST EMOTIONALLY, IF ALL OF THESE MOURNERS HAD EXPRESSED THIS LOVE AND RESPECT TO THE DECEASED PERSONALLY BEFORE HIS DEATH.  MAYBE, THEY COULD HAVE PROVIDED ADVICE OR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OR ENDEARMENT DURING HIS LIFETIME, WHEN HE MAY HAVE NEEDED SUCH SUPPORT AND WHEN IT MAY HAVE HELPED HIM.

      WHEN WE THINK OF RESPECT OF THE DEAD WE MUST REALIZE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR US TO SHOW THE DECEASED A LITTLE MORE RESPECT, LOVE AND ATTENTION WHEN HE WAS ALIVE THAN WHEN HE IS DEAD.   IT SEEMS, IN RETROSPECT, THAT WE MAY HAVE FAILED IN THAT RESPECT, THAT MAYBE WE COULD OR SHOULD HAVE DONE A LITTLE MORE TO MAKE HIS LIFE MORE COMFORTABLE BUT, ALAS IT IS TOO LATE NOW AND FEELING THAT FAULT, WE TEND TO GRIEVE EVEN MORE FOR OUR FAILURES AND OUR SHORTCOMINGS.

      AT LEAST NOW, WE CAN PROVIDE THE USUAL NEEDED SUPPORT FOR THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY AND SHOW THE RESPECT FOR THE DECEASED THAT IS FITTING UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BY PROVIDING HELP AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD OF THE WAKE AND FUNERAL.   THIS MAKES US ALL FEEL GOOD TO HAVE HELPED THE BEREAVED FAMILY AT THIS TIME OF NEED.

      IN LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS WE HAVE SEEN THESE TIME HONORED SIGNS OF RESPECT AND LOVE FOR THE DECEASED AND THEIR FAMILY SHRINK AND ALMOST DISAPPEAR IN THE FAST PACE LIFE OF TODAY.    NO MORE PROFESSIONAL MOURNERS, NO MORE THREE-DAY WAKES, BLACK TIES OR ARMBANDS, BLACK DRAB AND PLAIN DRESSES, NO BLACK WREATHS ON THE FAMILY’S FRONT DOOR, OR BLACK-BORDERED STATIONARY AND ENVELOPES.

      SLOWLY, BUT SURELY BURIAL SITES, WHERE YOU CAN VISIT ESPECIALLY ON MEMORIAL DAY, BIRTH DAYS OR ANNIVERSARIES, WHERE YOU MAY LEAVE FRESH FLOWERS AND SAY A FEW BRIEF PRAYERS, ARE BEING REPLACED WITH QUICK CREMATIONS, A BRIEF MEMORIAL SERVICE, WHILE ASHES ARE CAST AWAY OR PRESERVED IN URNS ON A SHELF AND FINALLY AFTER MANY YEARS ASSIGNED TO AN INSIGNIFICANT PLACE   IN THE GARAGE OR BASEMENT.    THE WAKE AND FUNERAL ARE BEING REPLACED WITH AT BEST, ONE DAY, QUICK AFFAIRS AND BURIALS.  THE CEMETERIES AND STONE MONUMENTS WITH THE NAMES, DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH ARE LOSING FAVOR TO CREMATIONS IN THE INTEREST OF SAVING SPACE AND MONEY.

      LIKE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN LIFE, DEATH IS ALSO LOSING FAVOR, AND THE TRADITIONAL PLACES OF LASTING RESPECT.   LIFE SEEMS TO BE MORE IMPORTANT.   SOME MAY SAY THAT IS A GOOD THING THAT WE SHOULD NOT DWELL ON DEATH, WHICH LASTS FOR AN ETERNITY, WHILE WE HAVE SO LITTLE TIME TO CELEBRATE LIFE, ONE HUNDRED YEARS AT BEST.    OF COURSE, IT IS THE LIVING THAT NEED AND DEMAND, OUR ATTENTION, WHILE THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE FOR THE LIVING, OCCUPIES MOST OF OUR WAKING DAYS AND LIVES.

     HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF THESE CHANGES IN CUSTOMS AND THE FAST LIFE WE LIVE, THERE ARE THOSE MANY PEOPLE THAT STILL DEEPLY RESPECT AND LOVE DEPARTED LOVE ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART OR CONTRIBUTED IN SHAPING OUR LIVES, AND TO WHOM WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE THAT WE NEVER CAN REPAY.   ALL WE CAN DO NOW, IS TO CHERISH THEIR MEMORY AND CONTINUE TO SHOW THEM OUR LOVE AND RESPECT, WE FEEL FOR THEM THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES.    THIS IS SATISFYING AND MAKES US FEEL GOOD TO VISIT THEIR GRAVE, AT LEAST ON ONE DAY PER YEAR, AND PAY OUR RESPECT TO THEM AND TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT, BUT FOR THAT DECEASED PERSON, WE WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON WE ARE TODAY.

       THEREFORE, IT MUST BE SAID THAT, BLACK IS NOT BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE DEATH IS NOT BEAUTIFUL.

WHY IS THE PRICE OF OIL DROPPING?

JULY 20, 2008

 

      IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, THE MARKET PRICE OF OIL HAS DROPPED ABOUT ONE PERCENT. THAT IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT FIGURE, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT OIL PRICES HAVE BEEN ON A STEADY RISE FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.  

      THE FACT THE OIL PRICES ARE FALLING RAISES MANY QUESTIONS. THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE WHY BECAUSE THE AMERICAN CONSUMER DESPERATELY NEEDS RELIEF FROM THE HIGH PRICE OF OIL IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SURVIVE THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.  IN CONSIDERING THE REASONS FOR THIS PLEASANT HAPPENING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER ALL THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE REASONS:

 

1.     IT CANNOT BE SUPPLY AND DEMAND, BECAUSE DEMAND IS STEADILY ON THE RISE, THEY TELL US, BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS OF INDIA AND CHINA.

2.     IT CANNOT BE THE OPEC HAS DECIDED TO SUDDENLY REDUCE THEIR PRICES AFTER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF MARKET MANIPULATION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR PROFIT AND THEY ENJOY BULLYING THE U.S. AROUND.

3.     IT CANNOT BE BECAUSE MORE OIL OR OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUELS ARE SUDDENLY EXPECTED TO COME INTO THE MARKET SOON TO COMPETE, BECAUSE THAT POSSIBILITY IS ABOUT TEN YEARS AWAY.

4.    THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE OTHER REASON FOR THIS DECLINE.  THE OIL COMPANIES HAVE DECIDED. THEY CANNOT SQUEEZE ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE CONSUMER AT THE PUMP BECAUSE THE WHOLE ECONOMY OF THE U.S. AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES ARE READY TO COLLAPSE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF EXCESSIVE OIL PRICES.

      THE OIL COMPANIES, HERE AND ABROAD, HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN OIL FUTURES IN THE OIL COMMODITY MARKET, WITH THE EXCESS PROFITS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.  SPECULATING, THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE MARKET PRICE OF CRUDE OIL WILL REFLECT FAVORABLY IN THE RETAIL PRICE OF GASOLINE AND FUEL OIL AT THE PUMP.   ONCE THE INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR, TIRED OF THE YO-YO ACTION OF THE STOCK MARKET, THESE DAYS, JUMPED INTO THE FRENZY OF SPECULATION, THIS MADE MATTERS INCREASINGLY WORSE FOR THE CONSUMER AND INCREASINGLY MORE PROFITABLE FOR THESE SPECULATORS.  JUST AS INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS IN THE STOCK MARKET CANNOT MANIPULATE PRICES, THE SAME IS TRUE IN THE COMMODITIES MARKET.   IT IS THE BIG OIL AND FUND INVESTORS THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOMEWHAT CONTROL THE MARKET’S RISE AND FALL AND WHEN THEY DO IT IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS THEM ALL, THEY ALL JUMP IN WITH THEIR MONEY AND NOT DRILL RIGS.  SINCE 70 % OF ALL OUR OIL CONSUMPTION IS IMPORTED, BIG OIL TODAY IS CONTENT TO ACT AS BROKERS INSTEAD OF FINDING MORE OIL IN THE GROUND, OR UNDER OUR SHORES.  FOR YEARS THEY HAVE NOT INVESTED IN REFINERIES OR NEW OIL SEARCHES, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT NEED TO INVEST ONE PENNY IN FINDING NEW OIL, ANYWHERE.   IN THE MEANTIME, ALSO, THE OIL THEY OWN ON AMERICAN SOIL DOES NOT COST THEM AN ADDITIONAL CENT TO PUMP OUT OF THE GROUND.   IT IS A WIN, WIN DEAL ALL AROUND FOR THEM AND THEY ARE DROWNING IN OIL PROFIT.

    THEREFORE, AMERICAN BIG OIL IS THE CULPRIT, AND AMERICAN BIG OIL, WHICH CAN CONTROL THE PRICE OF OIL, FEELS THEY HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF NO RETURN, ON PRICES.   THE PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING FOR RELIEF FROM THESE EXORBITANT PRICES AND CONGRESS, WHICH BIG OIL ALSO CONTROLS WITH LOBBYIST MONEY, KNOWS IT MUST ACT REGARDING PRICES AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.  THIS IS THE TACTIC THE AMERICAN BIG OIL COMPANIES ARE USING TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF THEIR BACKS AND TO GIVE CONGRESS AN EXCUSE NOT TO TAKE ACTION REGARDING ALTERNATIVE FUELS, THEIR POTENTIAL COMPETITORS.

    ONE THING IS CERTAIN WITH THIS CONGRESS; THEY WILL NOT AND CANNOT ACT IN ANY WAY TO HURT THE BIG AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES, AMONG THEIR LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS.   SOON, AS THE PRICES OF OIL CONTINUES TO FALL TO ABOUT $3.50-$3.75 A GALLON, CONGRESS WILL ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO APPOINT A STUDY GROUP OF CONGRESSMEN TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE ALTERNATIVE FUEL PLAN, AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.  

     ONE THING IS CERTAIN, IF WE ALLOW CONGRESS TO LET THE BIG AMERICAN OIL COMPANIES TO TAKE PART IN THIS ALTERNATIVE OIL PLAN, WE CAN BE ASSURED IT WILL RECEIVE ONLY TOKEN ATTENTION AND SOLUTIONS.  ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PLANS SHOULD AND MUST BE PLACED IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH OIL COMPANIES, IN ORDER FOR THE PRICES TO DROP TO THE AFFORDABLE FIGURE.  THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS ENTITLED.    WE MUST KEEP BIG OIL OUT OF THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL BUSINESS AT ALL COSTS.  OF COURSE THE PRESENT CONGRESS CANNOT DO THAT TO THEIR BIG CONTRIBUTORS AND BENEFACTORS.

     IF THE AMERICAN VOTER DOES NOT VOTE TO OUST ALL PRESENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THIS NOVEMBER, THEY WILL HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME FOR THIS MESS.  

     DOES ANYONE HAVE A COMMENT OR BETTER IDEA OR SOLUTION?  WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THE IMFLAMMING PRICE OF
GASOLINE AND FUEL OIL

 

 

          As the retail price of gasoline and fuel oil as of June, 2008 exceeds $4.00 a gallon and the cost of diesel fuel is approaching $5.00 a gallon, contract truckers cannot afford to truck and they are parking their vehicles, putting them up for sale and going out of business.  That is only one problem.

 

          Americans who live in the north are seriously considering going to the warm South for the winter to avoid heating bills they cannot afford.  The sad alternative is to sleep with their clothes on under a pile of blankets in a cold house.

 

          Everyone is cutting back on everything they truly need, to buy gasoline and fuel oil at needless high prices.  The situation has become increasingly serious to the point it is now critical and the American public demand the immediate relief they need to survive.

 

          There is no question but the U.S. should have begun development of alternative sources of fuels 35 years ago when OPEC almost doubled the price of oil overnight with it’s embargo.  Instead the U.S. issued more leases for the drilling of oil offshore and in Prudoe Bay, Alaska, with most of the resulting oil being shipped to Japan and other Asian countries.  Any source of alternative energy will take 5 to 10 years to produce enough energy to help prices or supplies.  This is much too late to save most Americans from the disaster of high fuel prices.

 

          Our President, Congress and also each of the two remaining Presidential Candidates just don’t get it; we need immediate relief, not long term or temporary relief alone.  The President must be applauded for suspending the storage of emergency oil as should, Senator McCain be applauded for suggesting a moratorium on the Federal gas tax of .17 cents a gallon for the summer:  these plans for quick temporary relief are welcomed as something better than nothing in the interim.  Obama has no temporary relief.  The President is scrambling for an excuse to help his oil friends with a lifting of the moratorium on drilling for oil along our shores and in North Alaska others are looking for the use of more of our abundant coal supplies to power more electric power plants in spite of the environmental concerns.

 

          The thought of building more nuclear power plants to help our energy supply has us worrying about another Chernobyl disaster and besides, where do we dump the contaminated waste residue? 

 

          All of the above “solutions” are long term 5-10 years into the future, as are our alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, waterpower and thermal energy.

 

          In the meantime the price of oil keeps spiraling up and up to the point we cannot afford it.  Under our system of supply and demand, prices usually rise as demand rises.  It is obvious that the added demand for oil by China and India has affected the price of oil.  In this case, the added production of oil may keep pace with demand and keep prices somewhat stabilized.

 

          One thing is certain; Americans cannot and should not be made victims of the whims of a greedy OPEC consortium of oil producers in the Middle East.  For that reason alone, we need to shed our dependence on oil both domestic and imported.  The only way we can do that is to quickly develop alternative sources of energy to replace this oil dependence.

 

          In the interim, the American public must have and deserve relief from the price of oil because it is obvious the principle of supply and demand is not the sole origin of these spiraling prices.

 

          For example, it is clear that the investor’s speculation in oil futures in the stock market is principally responsible for these high prices and record profits reported by the American oil companies.  Congress or the security and exchange commission must immediately take oil and food off the futures market until prices stabilize or are reduced substantially.  It is unconscionable that investors would be so greedy for profits that to act in the best interests of the American people and the government itself.  If someone cared to investigate they would find that these same oil companies are responsible for this stock market speculation.  I claimed this in an article more than two months ago.

 

          Next congress and the president acting under their, war powers, can put price controls on all domestically produced oil. 

 

          I know there is a move in congress to tax the excess profits being reaped by our domestic oil companies.  This was tried during the Carter administration and it failed.  But I think the legislation should be left on the table as leverage against the oil company’s tactics in raising oil prices and reaping disgraceful profits.

 

          I know that some diplomatic pressure has to be exerted by the U.S. and others, on Saudi Arabia to increase their production of oil to help the supply and hopefully lower prices also.  Russia, England, Canada, Mexico and Venezuela should follow suit in this effort also, because their combined effort would lower prices also.

 

          I believe that the American economy in its present state cannot afford to have the price of oil higher than $3.00 a gallon.  If the above-suggested solutions are implimated the real price of oil should drop to $2.50 a gallon.  This price, over the next 5 to 10 years will give us the time to bring alternative energy sources into production and onto the open market.

 

          Additional oil exploration along our shores and in Alaska along with new nuclear, clean coal burning power plants must be re-examined and if the safeguards for our environment can be guaranteed, we should allow them to proceed in the interest of energy independence.

 

          However, before any of these plans are approved, we need to have congress review all these plans, including alternative energy at the same time, propose the best deals for America and vote one energy plan including all of these proposed projects.

 

          There should be no more tax credits or sweetheart deals or leases for our oil companies.  In addition, oil companies should not be allowed to develop alternative energy fuels, since they will in the future be in direct competition with oil.

 

          If you are wondering where the money is to push this alternative energy, it could come from brining our troops home or canceling the tax breaks for the rich.

 

          There is a very good chance this “Do-Nothing Congress” will pass meaningful legislation because this is an election year and yes, they want to give us a reason to Re-Elect them.

 

          This will give the automotive industry the necessary time to come up with alternative clean energy vehicles such as electric power, which seems to be the best choice.

 

          Just in passing I would welcome comments and ideas from everyone on this subject.

THE CONSTANT GYRATIONS OF THE AMERICAN STOCK MARKET HAS BEEN CAUSING CONCERN AND WORRY AMONG INVESTORS AND NON- INVESTORS ALIKE. IT SEEMS, AS THE MARKET GOES, SO GOES THE ECONOMY. EVERYONE KNOWS THE MARKET FLUCTUATES BASED ON THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY. RECENTLY HOWEVER, THE MARKET HAS FLUCTUATED BASED ON THE RATE OF INVESTORS, IN SPITE OF THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY. THIS HAS COME ABOUT BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR INVESTMENT AND THE PLACES OF INVESTMENT HAVE BECOME LIMITED. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS FALTERED AND SPUTTERED TO A NEAR STOP, DUE TO THE MORTGAGE CRISES, WHICH HAS BORROWERS AND LENDERS IN A FINANCIAL MESS. BANKS AND LENDING INSTITUTIONS HAVE DROPPED THE INTEREST PAYMENTS ON DEPOSITS SO LOW THEY ARE LESS THAN THE INFLATION RATE. THEREFORE, THE STOCK MARKET ALWAYS REMAINS AS THE ONE PLACE, BIG INVESTORS MAY INVEST LARGE SUMS OF MONEY WITH DAILY AND INSTANTANEOUS RESULTS. BASICALLY INVESTORS ENTERED THE MARKET BY BUYING STOCK IN VARIOUS PUBLIC CORPORATIONS. THE PRICE OF THE STOCK IS NOT BASED ON ITS BALANCE SHEET VALUE, BUT ON THE VALUE INVESTORS BID ON THE MARKET FLOOR OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE EXPECTED FLUCTUATIONS IN THE MARKET VALUE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PURCHASES OR SALES OF ANY PARTICULAR STOCK EACH DAY. IN FACT, BIG MONEY INVESTORS CAN SOMETIME INFLUENCE CONTROL OVER THE PRICE AND FLUCTUATION OF STOCK BY INTENTIONALLY BUYING OR SELLING LARGE QUANTITIES OF A PARTICULAR STOCK DURING THE DAY IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE MAKING OF PROFIT ON SAID INVESTMENT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE IS THE COMMODITY MARKET WHERE BUYERS AND SELLERS OF VARIOUS PRODUCTS LIKE OIL, ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND FARM GRAINS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD DAILY FOR DELIVERY, IN THE FUTURE, TO WHOLESALERS, WHO IN TURN PROCESS THESE PRODUCTS INTO FOOD AND ITEMS FOR RESALE AT RETAIL. WHO HAS NOT HEARD AND JOKED ABOUT THE SALE OF PORK BELLIES? RECENTLY, A PHENOMENON HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THIS COMMODITIES MARKET. SPECULATORS AND INVESTORS HAVE JUMPED INTO THIS MARKET, NOT TO PURCHASE ANY COMMODITY, BUT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MAKING MONEY. THE SPIRALING PRICE OF OIL HAS ATTRACTED SPECULATORS, SUCH AS THE OIL COMPANIES THEMSELVES AND LARGE FUND INVESTORS ALONG WITH THE ALERT ORDINARY INVESTOR, BENT ON CASHING IN ON RISING COMMODITY PRICES AND MAKING BIG MONEY QUICK IN THE SPIRALING UP PRICES IN THE FUTURES MARKET EVEN IF IT IS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. JUST AS SOON AS THE INCREASE ETHANOL AND OTHER GRAINS WERE MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE FUELS, THE FUTURES PRICE OF ALL GRAINS HAS FOLLOWED SUIT WITH OIL, RESULTING IN A WORLDWIDE DRASTIC RISE IN CORN, RICE AND OTHER GRAINS. AT THIS POINT AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF THE WORLD FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO AFFORD TO DRIVE TO WORK OR BUY FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WITH STAGNANT WAGES AND THE LOWER VALUE OF THE AMERICAN DOLLAR DUE TO DEFICIT SPENDING, PEOPLE MUST SPEND MORE THAN THEY EARN OR DO WITHOUT. IF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SECURITY AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FAIL TO STEP IN AND STOP THIS PRACTICE, OIL AND GAS WILL BE TO COSTLY TO PURCHASE, THE ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE AND WE WILL FIND OURSELVES IN A DEEP DEPRESSION. ALL THIS BECAUSE, OF THE GREEDY OIL COMPANIES AND SPECULATORS IN THE FUTURES STOCK MARKET. THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE, THE S.E.C. SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP TRADING IN FUTURES IN THE COMMODITIES MARKET AND PREVENT THIS ACTION BY AMERICANS IN ALL WORLD MARKETS. IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED, AT A RECENT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON ENERGY, THAT THIS ACTION WOULD RESULT IN OIL AND FUEL PRICES TO DROP 30 TO 50 PERCENT, WITHIN 30 DAYS. THIS IS THE TEMPORARY RELIEF THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP PRODUCTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES WE NEED TO END OUR DEPENDENCES ON OIL AND GAS. IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS ACTION WILL DEPRIVE SPECULATORS, HEDGE FUND MANAGERS AND OIL COMPANIES FROM ARTIFICIALLY INCREASING THE PRICE OF OIL AND GRAINS. THEY WILL BE LEFT WITH THEIR USUAL TASK TO PLY THE STOCK MARKET FOR GUESS ESTIMATES OF BARGAIN PRICES OR OTHER SCHEMES TO PRODUCE PROFIT. THIS HAS BEEN THEIR PERPLEXING TASK, SINCE THE MINI-STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 2002. AS A RESULT, MANY INVESTORS SHIED AWAY FROM THE YO-YO ACTIONS AND UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE MARKET AND POURED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE BUNDLED MORTGAGE MARKET. THE LOWERING OF MORTGAGE RATES, DUE TO THE WEAKENING ECONOMY, ENCOURAGED HOMEOWNERS TO REFINANCE THEIR MORTGAGES, AT THESE LOWER RATES AND HIGHER VALUES OF HOMES AND PROPERTY. THIS ALLOWED HOMEOWNERS EASY ACCESS TO THE EQUITY IN THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTY TO USE FOR SECOND HOMES, SCHOOL TUITION OR FOR LIVING EXPENSES, WHICH WERE INCREASINGLY ON THE RISE. ALL THIS, SEEMED LOGICAL AND JUSTIFIED, IN A RISING MARKET, UNTIL THE BUILDING BOOM COLLAPSED FROM OVERBUILDING AND THE LAGGING ECONOMY. PRICES AND VALUES OF HOMES BEGAN TO DROP PRECIPITOUSLY AND HOMEOWNERS FOUND THEMSELVES PAYING A SUB PRIME MORTGAGE GIVEN BY A GREEDY LENDER WHOSE BALANCE EXCEEDED THE VALUE OF THE HOME. THIS WILL CAUSE 3 TO 6 MILLION AMERICANS TO DEFAULT ON THEIR MORTGAGES AND MANY WILL JUST WALK AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND RESPONSIBILITY, SINCE MOST A JUDGMENT PROOF. IT WAS THIS VOLATILE STOCK MARKET AND THE FAILING MORTGAGE MARKET, WHICH DROVE MOST SPECULATIVE INVESTORS INTO THE COMMODITY FUTURES MARKET TO PLUNDER BY PROFIT TAKING. WHEN THE S.E.C. STOPS THIS ARTIFICIAL ACTION, THESE SPECULATORS AND BIG FUND MANAGERS (UNION AND RETIREMENT) WILL PROBABLY BE FORCED TO RETURN TO THE VOLATILE STOCK MARKET. WITH ADDED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THESE FUNDS FLOODING THE MARKET, AGAIN YOU CAN EXPECT THE DOW JONES AVERAGES TO RISE AGAIN AND IT?S CYCLICAL ACTION TO REPEAT, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, DUE TO PROFIT TAKING AND REINVESTMENT BY THESE CONTROLLING BIG INVESTMENT FUNDS. THERE IS ONLY ONE SURE WAY OF PREVENTING THESE IMPROPER TACTICS WHILE GAMBLING WITH PENSIONED RETIREMENT FUNDS. CONGRESS MUST PASS LEGISLATION, REQUIRING THESE FUNDS TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE US GOVERNMENT AND THEREBY SECURED. INTEREST WILL BE PAID MONTHLY AND COMPOUNDED AT THE SAME RATE PAID FOR GOVERNMENT LOANS. THESE FUNDS WILL BE DRAWN DOWN UPON RETIREMENT TO SAID INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY, THEREBY GUARANTEEING THE SOLVENCY AND INTEGRITY OF SAID FUNDS FOR ALL RETIREES IN THE U.S.A. THIS PROGRAM SHOULD ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL PERSONAL RETIREMENT FUNDS, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. THIS ACTION SHOULD DRAIN MOST OF THE VOLATILITY AWAY FROM THE SPECULATIVE INVESTMENT MARKETS AND RESTORE STABILITY TO THE STOCK MARKET AND INSURE EVERY AMERICAN WILL FIND HIS OR HER RETIREMENT ACCOUNT PRESERVED AND PROTECTED WHEN THEY RETIRE. WALL STREET SHOULD BE MADE TO MOVE TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA, WHERE GAMBLING IS LEGAL AND MOST GAMBLERS ARE LOCATED. WALL STREET SHOULD THEN BE RENAMED, "GAMBLE STREET, NEVADA."

JULY 4^TH, INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

             JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES CELEBRATES JULY 4^TH OF EACH YEAR AS INDEPENDENCE DAY.  BUT I WONDER HOW MANY AMERICANS REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CELEBRATING?

 

             MOST AMERICAN CHILDREN LIKE THIS HOLIDAY BECAUSE OF THE PARADES AND THE YEARLY SOUNDS AND LIGHTS OF EXPLODING FIREWORKS AND THE SPECTACULAR DISPLAYS OF ROCKETS BURSTING IN THE SKY AT NIGHT WITH ILLUMINATING FLASHES OF COLORS, REDS, WHITES, BLUES AND SO ON.

            

             MOST ADULTS ARE FREE FROM THEIR WORK; SPENDING THE HOLIDAY HAPPILY WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH COOKOUTS AND SWIMMING, MINDFUL THAT IT IS INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR ALL AMERICANS.

 

             MOST OF US LOOK UPON OUR FREEDOM AS A GOD GIVEN RIGHT, BUT FEW REALIZE HOW MUCH SUFFERING AND SACRIFICES OUR FOREFATHERS ENDURED TO PROVIDE ALL AMERICANS WITH A FREE COUNTRY IN WHICH TO LIVE.

            

             OUR FREEDOM, IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY, DID NOT BEGIN WITH THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 4, 1776, OR WITH THE SIGNING OF OUR CONSTITUTION IN 1787.  OUR FIGHT FOR FREEDOM STARTED MANY YEARS BEFORE, WITH THE MISTREATMENT OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR 13 COLONIES, GOVERNED BY THE BRITISH.  THEY INSISTED ON TAXING US WITHOUT REPRESENTATION AND WITH BRUTE FORCE AND SENSELESS AUTHORITY.

 

             SLOWLY THE RESENTMENT GREW AND THE POT OF REBELLION WAS STIRRED AND HEATED UP TO A BOILING POINT.  SOME OF THE MOST SERIOUS CAUSE WAS THE BOSTON MASSACRE, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY, THE STAMP ACT AND FINALLY THE QUARTERING OF BRITISH TROOPS IN AMERICAN HOMES.

 

             AFTER YEARS OF ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THESE INJUSTICES AND MEETING WITH FAILURE, THE COLONISTS FINALLY COLLECTIVELY EXPRESSED THEIR UTTER DISGUST OF BRITISH RULE BY SIGNING AND PUBLISHING THAT FAMOUS DOCUMENT ENTITLED “THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE” ON JULY 4, 1776.  THEY KNEW THIS ACTION WOULD BRING MILITARY REPRISALS BY THE BRITISH TO STAMP DOWN THIS REBELLION BY THESE “AMERICAN TRAITORS.”  BUT, IN THE FACE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE, OF AN IMPENDING WAR, THESE BRAZEN, BUT BRAVE COLONISTS, COMMITTED THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LIVES AND PROPERTY IN AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE 150-YEAR YOKE OF BONDAGE TO BRITISH RULE.  WITH ONLY THE BARE DETERMINATION AND HOPE TO LIVE FREE AND CHARTER THEIR OWN FUTURE DESTINY THESE MEN CHOSE THIS COURSE OF ACTION, HOPELESS AS IT SEEMED TO EVERYONE AT THE TIME.

 

             THEY DID THIS, KNOWING THEY HAD MADE NO PREPARATION OR MILITARY PLANS, WITH A RAG-TAG “ARMY” OF CITIZEN SOLDIERS, WITH NO NAVY, NO FUNDS OR SUPPLIES AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OTHERS EXCEPT THEMSELVES.

 

             THUS BEGAN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AN INEXPERIENCED VIRGINIAN LANDOWNER, GEORGE WASHINGTON, LEADING AN ARMY OF UNTRAINED CITIZENS, WITH MORE SPIRIT THAN ARMS OR UNIFORMS IT WAS, IN THE END, THIS DETERMINED AND DEDICATED SPIRIT OF ORDINARY CITIZENS BENT ON FIGHTING AND WILLING TO DIE FOR THEIR FREEDOM THAT WOULD WIN THE DAY.

 

             FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, HOWEVER, THEY MET WITH SUFFERING AND HUNGER, BITTER DEFEAT AFTER DEFEAT, BUT THEY NEVER FALTERED OR HESITATED FROM THEIR GOAL TO “LIVE FREE OR DIE,” AS NEW HAMPSHIRE REMINDS US WITH THEIR STATE MOTO.

 

             THANKS TO THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, BEN FRANKLIN AND LATER, SAM ADAMS, THEY ENLISTED THE SUPPORT OF FRANCE, A RECENT CHAMPION OF FREEDOM LEARNED FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.  FRANCE, NO FRIEND OF THE BRITISH AND BITTER COMPETITORS AND RIVALS CAME TO THE TIMELY AID OF US FELLOW REVOLUTIONARIES WITH ARMS, FINANCE, CREDIT AND FIGHTING MEN LED BY GENERAL LAFAYETTE AND A LARGE CONTINGENT OF FRENCH SOLDIERS.  THESE MEN FOUGHT AND DIED FIGHTING BESIDE OUR AMERICAN PATRIOTS IN BATTLE.

 

             WHO DOES NOT REMEMBER THE TRUE AND INSPIRING STORIES ABOUT THE OLD NORTH CHURCH IN THE NORTH END OF BOSTON AND THE PREARRANGED SIGNALS OF “ONE LANTERN BY LAND AND TWO BY SEA.”  THE DARING HORSEBACK RIDE OF PAUL REVERE AND HIS FAMOUS RIDE FROM BOSTON TO CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, THROUGH HILL AND DALE, SHOUTING “THE BRITISH ARE COMING!”  WHO CAN FORGET THOSE SHOTS HEARD AROUND THE WORLD AT LEXINGTON COMMON, BUNKER HILL AND ALONG THE ROAD BETWEEN.  IN SOMERVILLE ON WASHINGTON STREET, THE MARCHING BRITISH ENCOUNTER THE WAR’S FIRST AMERICAN FATALITY, A 74 YEAR OLD, JOHN MILLER.  WITH MUSKET IN HAND AND ALONE, WHO TOOK AIM AT THE BRITISH MARCHING BY.  WHEN TOLD TO RUN BY A FEW WATCHING RESIDENTS, HE REPLIED, “I AM TOO OLD TO RUN” AND HE DIED INSTANTLY FROM A VOLLEY OF FIRE FROM THE FRONT LINE OF MARCHING BRITISH SOLDIERS STILL IN FORMATION.

 

             THUS, WENT THE WAR EVERY DAY WHILE OUR HEROES SUFFERED AND DIED EACH DAY WITHOUT COMPLAINT NOR ANY THOUGHT OF SURRENDER.  THEY, AT TIMES WERE LEFT ONLY WITH SHEER DETERMINATION TO WIN AT ALL COST AND WITHOUT THOUGHTS OF SURRENDER.  THEY STRUGGLED BUT PERSEVERED UNTIL 1785 AT YORKTOWN, WHERE THE WEARY AND TIRED BUT VICTORIOUS, GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, ACCEPTED THE SWORD OF SURRENDER FROM, BRITISH GENERAL CORNWALLIS.

 

             THESE “REBELS” AND PERCEIVED “TRAITORS,” HAD IN TEN YEARS, ACCOMPLISHED THE IMPOSSIBLE, PULLED OF A MIRACLE AND SNATCHED VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT.  SOMEHOW, THESE PATRIOTS FINALLY DELIVERED TO THOSE SURVIVING AMERICANS AND THOSE OF US WHO FOLLOWED THE FREEDOM ALL PEOPLE CHERISH ALONG WITH A NEW GOVERNMENT “BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.”

 

             AS A RESULT, IN 1786, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS MET IN PHILADELPHIA AS A GROUP OF ABOUT 50 MEN FROM THOSE 13 COLONIES.  HALF WERE LAWYERS, WHOM WE ALL LOVE TO HATE AT TIMES.  SOMEHOW, IN 1787, MORE OUT OF NECESSITY TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR SAFETY, RATHER THAN TO FALL SEPARATELY, AND TO MAKE ORDER OUT OF THE TEN YEARS OF CHAOS.  THESE MEN BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY ONLY CAME UP WITH AN IMPERFECT CONSTITUTION AND AN ENTIRELY NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

 

             THIS IMPERFECT DOCUMENT AND THIS RESULTING IMPERFECT GOVERNMENT HAS ENDURED NOW FOR ALMOST 250 YEARS THANKS TO SOME NEEDED AMENDMENTS OVER THE YEARS, SUCCESSFULLY MEETING A MYRIAD OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY CHALLENGES FROM THE WAR OF 1812, THE U.S. CIVIL WAR, THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, TWO WORLD WARS, KOREAN, VIETNAM TO AFGHANISTAN AND NOW TWO WARS IN IRAQ.

 

             IN EACH OF THESE WARS, THOSE AMERICANS THAT SERVED IN DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY DID THEIR DUTY AND GAVE THEIR LIVES, SO THAT WE MAY CONTINUE TO LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY.  IN MANY INSTANCES, ORDINARY AMERICANS AT HOME CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM IN WARTIME AND AT TIMES OF PEACE BY MAKING WHATEVER SACRIFICES WERE NEEDED OR ASKED OF THEM.

 

             IT IS THIS UNRESERVED AND COMPLETE DEDICATION OF EVERY AMERICAN TO THE CALL TO DUTY TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY AT EVERY TIME OF NEED, THAT IS THE BACKBONE A HALLMARK OF EVERY AMERICAN SINCE THAT DAY IN JULY, 1776 WHEN OUR FOREFATHERS SET THE EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW.

 

            THIS IS THE INDEPENDENCE DAY WE CELEBRATE EVERY YEAR.  A REMINDER AND TRIBUTE TO THOSE PATRIOTS OF 1776 WHO MADE THE SACRIFICES TO FORM THIS UNION THEN AND TO THOSE AMERICANS SINCE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED TO KEEP THIS TREASURED FREEDOM THEY GAVE US.