Our visit to D.C.

today's recession linked to Great Depression

If you are interested in a concise, quick read on how the policies of the Great Depression created the current Great Recession, Dr. Steve Horowitz delivered a speech at GA State University last March. Here is an excerpt from the speech. The full text can be found at:

http://myslu.stlawu.edu/~shorwitz/gsutalk.htm

"There are indeed parallels between this recession and the Great Depression, but they are not what much of the public commentary would lead you to believe. What we are living through today is a recession whose causes are significantly the unintended result of institutional changes made during the Great Depression and whose proposed solutions reflect the same failed understanding of the causes that motivated Great Depression "solutions" that largely ended up doing more harm than good. History is indeed repeating itself, and not in a good way."

Could Obama be the F-word?

Now that I have your attention...this is a test...100 shares of GM stock (or $5 - which ever is greater) to the first person who can tell me what economic system is characterized by the following:

1. gov't forces private enterprise to use their capital in the "national interest"
2. gov't does not nationalize business, but plans economic activity
3. gov't controls the monetary system and uses politics to control wages and prices
4. gov't planning boards set production target
5. "excess" income is taxed
6. protectionist trade policies
7. gov't appoints "representatives" to board of directors of private companies

Recent examples:

1. Federal bailout of AIG and other banks
2. Federal bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
3. Federal bailout of GM
4. Cap and Trade & CAFE
5. 90% tax on bonuses
6. Feds block Mexican trucks from entering U.S. in violation of NAFTA


Hint - answer can be found in The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics

Yea, Spring is Here!

IT'S SPRING, YA'LL!

It actually snowed in Atlanta!

Wow! We got our first snow of winter today, March 1. I'm sure some of our readers are sick of snow, but every year we pray for just one or two good snows. If only for a day, we will relish the beauty of big, soft snowflakes falling from the sky. The girls even had some fun batting snowballs.

We are reminded, however, that we are in the Deep South, by the loud crack of thunder that sent Sabatini into a panic. Oh well, we'll take what we can get. We'll be back into the 60's by later this week. The trees are already budding with life and the daffodils are in full bloom. Spring is just around the corner and we are fine with that. The girls don't care for softball practice when its cold.

Take care all!

February Has Come and Gone

Cheese!

We started out February with Jeff's 29th Birthday. He does look young, doesn't he?

Okay, here's our quicky update-

Sports: The girls just finished church league basketball and now rec league softball has started. High school softball season is in the fall, so all of the girls are expected to stay in shape by participating in winter and spring sports. Reagan has also just decided to continue basketball by joining another league that is just starting up. This means that someone will have a practice or a game just about every day of the week. But that's okay, because it's fun for all and keeps these girls healthy and focused.

Work: Jeff's group is going through some expected transitional pains as the new company implements budgetary and administrative changes. That's life and he takes it all in stride.

Other than that, same 'ole, same 'ole. Dogs are great. Weather is warm, cold, warm, cold. Had some golf ball size hail last week but no damage to our house. Waiting for it to turn warm and stay warm!

It's good to laugh

Happy New Year everyone! This pic is from late night, Christmas Eve. We had returned from mass and a late night dinner. We were tired and a little gitty. Anyway, we had a great Christmas break and hope you did too. The girls had sleepovers, we watched movies and played a lot of Guitar Hero World Tour, and Jeff's parents visited the weekend after Christmas. Ashley also participated in a charity basketball tournament. Jeff even took some time off! He did sneak in the creation of a presentation for work in the early morning hours as we girls slept in. But he really did play and relax with the kids. I'm so proud of him!


The girls went back to school today, dreading every minute of it, but they came home ready to face another semester of homework and tests. Report cards come out in the next couple of days, but no worries there. wink wink (UPDATE: both got straight A's)


Oh, and how many of your are on a diet like us? I hate to use that word, diet. You know, it's really just a healthy lifestyle. har har I bought Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred dvd. Wow were my muscles sore after the first workout but after 4 days, it's getting better. No more cookies, cakes, candy, or alcohol... just clean livin'. My short term goal is to get back to the weight that I always called my "won't exceed" weight and then there will be another 5 lbs. at least.

We send our best wishes to you for a wonderful 2009.

Christmas Eve