Oil and gas prices have been dominating the headlines for the past six months, maybe more.  Quite frankly I am sick and tired of it.  Ok, I think the American people and our government understand that this is a problem.  Also, something needs to be done, but with the way congress works, in particular the Democrats, it could be another eight million years before any tangible legislation is put into law.  So, in light of this horrid situation I would like to turn to another economic issue, because it's obvious that nothing is happening with this one.

   This is an issue that many of the democrats and the left handed media have brought up on numerous occasions.  It's the issue of the national debt and everything that goes along with it.  Our debt is in the many of trillions and as we have heard from our predictable media, that's kind of bad.  I will give this to them, they are right, lots of debt is no good.  Where we differ though is in the solution to the problem(which is mostly always the case).  Democrats will lead you to believe that the only way to pay off our debt is to raise taxes.  This is obviously not true, and not only that, it's sort of a stupid idea.  Everyone knows that raising taxes is very closely related to losing re-elections, and most congressmen won't want that. Although some democrats will lead you to believe that raising taxes is good for their standing with the public (again very wrong and dumb).  Raising taxes doesn't solve the worst problem we have in relation to the debt.  The value of our currency is not great and to lower the debt its value has to go up.

   My solution would be much different from raising taxes and much easier on the American people.  This would never happen because congress is too counterproductive, stubborn, and proud to let it happen, but I believe the primary change that needs to be made is that the government has to do away with NAFTA.  Oh geez, I might get assassinated by a Clinton crony for even suggesting that, but hey I pride myself on good ideas, not really winning votes and charming obtuse women.  Sorry about that, that wasn't very classy, but you have to sneak cheap shots in sometimes.  If we get rid of NAFTA, it would in turn help to increase the value of the dollar.  How?  Well, without NAFTA it would be harder for us to continue buying things from overseas like we have been doing.  It would also increase production in the states, which would, in turn, allow us to sell more products here and overseas, thus increasing the value of our money.  Great idea huh.  Yeah not really, because it has its problems too.  Without NAFTA taxes and tariffs on foreign goods will increase.  Also, it will cost our businesses more money to increase production, thus products will be more expensive.  This is still better than raising taxes thought because it isn't such a direct hit to the people.  It's kind of like a sports franchise that isn't doing to well financially, if they raise ticket prices fans will get angry and maybe not come anymore.  The better idea is to leave ticket prices alone and increase concession prices.  If fans can afford a ticket price they'll find enough money to buy stuff and they always do when they are in the stadium.  So, don't take our money with taxes, simply let us do what we love to do, buy things and buy American.  Wow, this is a good idea, not only does it offer a solution, but it's very patriotic.  That is just packaged to sell to the American people.  I'm sorry my ego is going rampant right now, I must sign off.

      I have titled my current post as the "Angry American" because I am completely pissed off by not only our current situation, but more importantly by the two Presidential candidates.  By nominating John McCain and Barack Obama, I believe we have dug ourselves a hole as a country and it is only going to get deeper with these two. 

   In watching all of the banter that has been going back and forth in this pre-election madness, I have realized that neither one of these candidates really stand for anything.  Obama is campaigning for change, yet he really isn't sure what, how, or when that change will occur.  And I can't even tell you what McCain is doing.  Rush Limbaugh called him the most dangerous man in politics a couple of years back and I completely agree.  He stands tough on only a few issues, torture and tax cuts.  Torture is something that he will never endorse, but I believe if he thinks saying he agrees with raising taxes will win him the election, then bygod McCain will say it.

   This kind of thing isn't completely foreign to our electoral system and some of it is not surprising, but these guys are lacking more than any other candidates that I have ever seen.  In '04 we had the War in Iraq and the War on Terror that pretty much shaped the entire election, so Bush and Kerry didn't have to blow you away in the pre-election process, they already knew what the main issue was and the winner was the one who had the best "perceived" idea of how to face the issue.  But a great contrast from this year's candidates and candidates of the past is none other than Bill Clinton.  Don't get me wrong, I despise Bill and his socialist politics as much as the next conservative, but comparing his campaign with these two guys just shows how absolutely inept they are.  Obama's for change and McCain is for whatever, what in the heck does that mean?  What are you changing Obama?  And McCain for God's sake get yourself a platform and inspire instead of trying to ride the middle line.  Clinton, as hated as he may be, could teach these two guys something.  In his first campaign he had one point that stuck with a majority of swing voting Americans.  His campaign slogan was "it's the economy stupid" and he was right.  He identified the most important thing to Americans at the time and he attacked it.  He offered his ideas (which neither of these candidates really does unless asked) and he ran them into the ground.  The one thing I have to give Bill credit for is that at least he was creative.  These two hacks, and that is exactly what they are, are trying their best to get close to the middle, but they aren't really giving any ideas. 

   If either one of these candidates wants to really get ahead they need to stop worrying about offending voters.  One of them needs a creative idea to show that they are willing to be a guiding light.  But I think it's pretty obvious neither is willing to take a risk.  Then again we should have known that, they are both politicians, they are not true leaders and definitely not visionaries, but merely hacks going by the polls trying to get elected.  I hope, in 2012, someone arises from the ranks not afraid of America, but willing to open the eyes of the public to ideas and ways to make our country better.  These two hacks seem to be content with the level we are currently at.  A true leader is never content.