Friday, September 26, 2008

The truth may cost you!

The truth can never be hid but lies will always, at the least obscure the truth. This is a lesson that the owner of Eli’s Manhattan, an upper east side supermarket found out. He should really take a lesson from government. Never let the people see what you are doing, and no one will be the wiser. But Eli Zabar the owner of Eli’s, thought that bringing attention to the increasing price of doing business would upset enough people that they would act, and they are, by going somewhere else to buy their food. What the other food markets will do, is just increase the price of products that you purchase and leave it at that. Fat, Dumb, and Happy, that is what we are. As a people, we do not like having the “devil in the details” pointed out to us, that only means we have to actually think. Thinking is something that you have to actually engage in, you know turning a noun into a verb. This is especially problematic for us “Fat” ones. We have gone so long with others, just being spoon fed the “truth,” that even lies no longer taste bitter, unless, it is pointed out to us. We really need to go back to the old way of thinking and having a critical eye towards a subject. But in our society today we lack the need or the urgency to do so. We have been so brow beaten to just “go with the flow” and do not “rock the boat” that we enjoy the fact that we do not need to think. How many times have we been told “why do you have to be different,” “why can’t you be like so and so.” If we choose the path of least resistance there is a good chance we will actually do ok. But this path of least resistance is a two way street. The opposition would love to have a least resistive path to influence us and drive us the way that they want. You know, “Fat, Dumb, and Happy.” At least Eli Zabar is trying to teach others about how a rise in fuel costs WILL affect your buying, but he is a small fish in a large ocean of ignorance and blissful thinking. I wish him the best, but knowing people he will come out looking bad.
Below is the story that started this whole thing.

Upscale NYC Market Charges 'Energy Surcharge'
Owner Of 'Eli's Manhattan': 1.8 Percent Fee Put In Place To Educate Customers To Struggles Of Food Industry
Shoppers Tell CBS 2 HD Move Is Just Another Slap In The Face
By CAROLYN COSTELLO, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ― The cost of everything seems to be going up lately, making tough times even tougher. Now a supermarket on the Upper East Side is passing an energy surcharge onto customers.
And as CBS 2 HD quickly found out, many shoppers are outraged.
At "Eli's Manhattan" customers are warned with big signs at the checkout counter.
A 1.8 percent surcharge -- for rising energy and fuel costs -- will be added to their grocery bill.
Shoppers at the upscale supermarket are used to paying more for groceries, but they aren't happy about the added charge.
"I'm really angry about that," one person said. "I won't come back."
"They're a giant rip-off," added another.
"I think it's outrageous," came another reaction. "The prices here are already high, so it doesn't seem fair."
It's a bad business move according to workplace guru Stephen Viscusi, author of "Bulletproof Your Job."
"It's really not necessary to be charging people extra right now and to be pointing it out to customers," Viscusi said. "At some point consumers feel plain ripped off."
But the owner said he wanted to cause controversy with the 1.8 percent surcharge. Instead of burying the cost in the price of groceries, he's pointing it out to get customers thinking and talking.

"To call the public's attention to how much fuel is being used in the food business," owner Eli Zabar said. "In this case, I am making the increase completely transparent to the customer."

Zabar thought the surcharge would make people angry about the rising cost of energy. Instead, they're getting angry at him, forcing him to consider scrapping the surcharge altogether.

"If the shock and awe is too great then what we're gonna do is hide it in the cost of goods itself," Zabar said.

However, Zabar said no matter how you do the math the cost of everything is going up.

If Zabar does decide to scrap the surcharge he said he will not immediately raise the price of food to make up for the lost revenue.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Tax The Hand That Feeds You!

Just when you thought the Dems could not really tell you who they were (liberal socialist wanna-bees), the American public is handed a beautiful gift. For many years the Democrat party has steered away from the "we will raise your taxes" mantra for fear of not being elected. I mean in the past they found out what happens to their candidate if they come out for bigger government and more taxes. So what makes this election cycle so different? For one thing the Dems are not listening to the constitutes that they claim to represent. So who are they listening to? I really do not need to point out a lot of peoples names except Barack Husain Obama. From the reading that I have done and the people that he (yes, he is lowercase, because he is not the messiah, sorry to disapoint) has associated with. Namely a lot of people in Chicago who believe in the redistribution of wealth and those who frown on private ownership of property. The fact that he has insulated himself with these anti-capitalist should tell you what kind of administration that he will have. Obama was raised with silver spoon in his mouth, he went to the best schools and has had a great life, that, others would just love to have. So why do they want to take money from the wealthy and give it to the middle class? As Biden has stated earlier, to be a real patriot you must give up more of what you have. I am sure that is what comrad Stalin told his countrymen. The kulacks (well off or middle class of peasants) were told that they must give up their farms and collectvise for the good of the others around them. Those who did not were called unpatriotic and greedy, I really do not need to tell you what happened to those who refused to give their "fair share." Biden said that it is time for them to step up and help America get out of the rut. The fact is Obama thinks that being a socialist is a popular thing, that is what the crowd that he runs with thinks.
Now lets use a little common sense about those that need to step up and start paying. How many wealthy people do you know who are willing to just give all of their gain away. How many rich people do you know, will just allow someone to take it all away from them. You don't or they would be called the poor! Now I want you to really be honest about the answer that you give to this next question. How many of the poor and middle class, work for the poor and middle class? If you answered none then you are being truthful to yourself and you have a basic grasp of economics.
Let us start with taxing the wealthy. What does the wealthy do, when they are not making money? They consume just like the rest of us, only they buy a much bigger version of the stuff that we use. We by a fishing boat, they buy a yacht, we buy steak and potatoes, they buy fillet mingon, we buy a chevy, they buy a mercedes, you get the picture. All of this may strike you as a we have nicer stuff and you don't moment, but stop and think how they acquire the finer things in life. They have to buy these things just like you and me but with one exception, they do not have to create the finer things, they buy it. Now you need to ask yourself who makes these finer things for them to buy, we do! Yes the so called "rich" who need to be "patriotic" are paying you and me for these goods and services that some politician seems to think just grows on a magic finer things in life tree. Now back to the first question who hires us the wealthy or poor. Apparently  it is the wealthy and not the homeless bunch down in a van by the river (thanks Chris Farley.) Thanks goes to those who can afford the better stuff, because we make it and need them to buy it, so we can justify our showing up at work to make the stuff. There is a whole lot of emphasis on the stuff we make so that the "rich" can buy it. If the wealthy just stoped buying the stuff we make then we cannot justify our pay and we will be out of a job. Now how does taxing the crap out of the rich benefit us when it hurts us. I saw some but clown of a senator (D) who seems to think that our economy is a pie that does not expand or contract, that this is a zero sum game. You know where if I get a buck more than before, then some one else had to loose that buck. Well if you look at our economy that way then you are looking at it from a socializing stand point. Socialist want you to believe that because some one gets rich you get poor, it just doesn't work that way. You too can get rich because the wealthy are sharing their money with us by buying our stuff. This includes factory made goods right down to the organically grown tomatoes at the local farmers market.
Now let us talk about making the rich pay. Let's say we hit them with a 40 or even 45% tax on every dollar that the rich take away from some poor struggling family. Now the wealthy have way less money to buy a yacht or parts for it, you, as boat builder are seeing less and less rich cliental come to see your boats, that you have painfully and skillfully crafted. You also notice that parts are starting to pile up in your warehouse, this is not good you think to yourself. Now the year goes on and fewer and fewer people visit your boat shop and you do not carry the inexpensive dinghies for the poor (not enough money in building them.) You are faced with a delima, keep your doors open or go into bankruptcy and become impoverished. Another thought comes into mind, let some of your labor, the poor people who help you build the boats for the "rich", go in order to cut your operating expenses and keep the doors open and hopefully ride out this "economic downturn."
Now the layoffs start and guess what, you, the working poor are now out of a job, and all because you bought into the lie of socking it to the rich will help you. All you have really done is elected a jackass (D) of a politician into office who says he will sock it to the rich wile taking money under the table from a rich lobyist. And you are still left with out a job, because you let some one convince you that it would be better.
Bottom lines seems to be damn the torpedoes truth and full speed ahead. What you do not see are the ICE BERGS OF REALITY!
Yes, this trickle down is a reality and not voodoo, in other words when the masters are finished with their meals they do give the scraps to the dogs, if not then the dogs would let the foxes raid the hen house. 
Enough said for now, I will let you chew on it for a while.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Sara Palin-mother and politician


After all the hoopla about Sara Palin having a 4 month old downs syndrome baby and her daughter about to be a new mom; we are hearing from the left that she really needs to stop and rethink this whole VP thing. For one her newborn is a special needs child and will require a lot of attention; two her daughter will need her when she gives birth to her first child and three this will place a lot of stress on her family. They are trying to get the message of " we do not want your family to be hurt, we are giving you this advise for your own good." I know most of you are smart enough look right through this BS and see the truth of what they are saying. The fact is that for many decades feminism has fought hard for the inclusion of women in every facet of our society. They want that "glass ceiling" busted up and the mens only club to be the mens and womens only club. Look at Nancy Pellosi, the first female speaker of the house, she has a lot of children and grandchildren, Hillary Clinton, she has a kiddo also, but that did not stop these women from following their dreams. What makes Sara Palin (R) Alaska so different…oh, wait she is a republican. Just like blacks are just as qualified to what ever they want except if they are a republican wanting to be a Supreme Court Justice. This is from the same party that claims that they were responsible for the 1964 civil rights act (Al Gore's father voted no BTW) and claim to uphold the working woman's right to achieve whatever she wants…unless it is to be a republican. Are you starting to see a pattern here? The things that are being said about Sara Palin would never have been said about Pellosi or Clinton. Also I noticed that not one word about Sara's husband watching the children and helping with the special needs of their newborn. Like all responsible fathers, he will be there, come hell or high water! As for their daughter her soon to be husband will be there to take a responsible role and help her as they build a family. He really does not need the Mother-in-law to be there at every step (I know that is a recipe for failure.) But whatever they decide to throw at her will only go to strengthen her resolve and continue to just cement her positions that much more. Tonight she gave us a glimpse of what we are to expect from her as the next VP and I do not believe that she will quietly sit on the sidelines and allow John McCain to do all the heavy lifting. Well boys, girl power is about to come of age…Palin Power!