MSNBC, as usual, always has interesting stories on the sad state of housing.  Today was no different with their story titled “Will Housing Bust Trickle Down to Poor, Hungry?” It’s a good read for those keeping an eye of the effect of the housing problem.

This latest story from MSNBC describes how the housing and financial markets may influence donations to charities.  The story notes that Federal contributions to feed the hungry have actually been reduced by 50% since 2004.

There are a good number of people that cry socialism when they hear talk of a national health care system.  But you never hear people screaming about socialism when the government is responsible for feeding its citizens.

The problem in today’s society is that too many people believe government should do everything for them.  And I have sad news for these people…  The government can’t even do the basic jobs we elected them to do, so how can you expect them to do more?  Throwing tax dollars at such an inefficient government can do only one thing - waste more of our money. Read the rest of this entry »

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A lot of economists are concerned about the housing problem in the United States.  Some are saying this could lead to a recession, while a few say it could be a significant recession (depression).  One thing is for certain, this problem did not occur overnight, nor will it be solved overnight.

Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf said Thursday that housing is in the worst shape since the depression of the 1930s.  It’s a rather interesting article, and you can read it here.  Mr. Stumpf does not think we are near the end of the housing troubles, nor do I.

As you may know, I live in Ohio.  Actually a suburb just west of Cleveland.  As I drive around, I see a lot of empty commercial buildings.  Whether it is office space or industrial buildings, the growing number of vacancies can not be ignored.

There is talk of a “regional” effort to deal with the economic problems in my area, but I feel this would just be the creation of another tax district.  You know, how can the region accomplish its goals without money?  Fooey on that! Read the rest of this entry »

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So the title sounds a little crazy right?  As a parent, it is easier to spot when your child is in danger if you can see the problem.  Unfortunately, we can’t see that danger with excessive amounts of lead in the countless toys being shipped in from China.

In the news today, MSNBC has an article titled “Recalls bring bad tidings for holiday toy sales.”  Yes, the poor stores will suffer some losses but make no mention about the children that ingest this lead.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is responsible for safeguarding the public from unseen dangers such as lead.  But how aggressive are they in protecting our children from lead poisoning?  As news keeps piling in about recalled toys, it appears they are powerless or simply to overwhelmed to protect the public. Read the rest of this entry »

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