An American, Capitalistic Solution

Getting out of Debt and Growing the Economy can't be rocket science. I almost flunk math in school and never took math in college and I always managed to pay my bills and balance my budget my entire life.  I think most Americans did, at least, my 'Baby Boomer' generation managed to have it all.

If the European economy doesn't improve, such as Greece's, our own economy will be effected by the European debt.  Obama will not win no matter who is running against him, because he cannot campaign on an European style, big government, entitlement system like the one Greece is bankrupted under; unless Obama can pull off the biggest magical show since Houdini.  This entitlement, big government system will not work in America; not only in mathematical theory, but
in reality; as it plays out in real time across Europe.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-s-goodman/world-economic-forum-global-financial-crisis-davos_b_1239074.html.

What made America the most powerful Nation in the world?  Capitalism.

The American economy may seem like it's getting better to some people because they want to believe what the President, who wants a second term, is telling them; but they don't realize the facade given to them is just that, a fake rosy front covering up a terrifying problem.

Most people who have stopped looking for work are not counted as unemployed  anymore. The government magically wipes those people off the unemployed charts.
However, the government is supporting 46 million people on food stamps; the greatest number in history. The 1% rich Americans don't pay enough taxes and of the 99% of middle to low income people, 46% of Americans don't pay any taxes. 
 (see website: http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Donald-Marron/2011/0728/Why-do-half-of-Americans-pay-no-federal-income-tax)

We have more than a 15 Trillion dollar National debt; spending more than we take in.

A solution that dawned on me yesterday follows through on Conservative ideas and sounds so simple minded that it seems impossible to work; yet, a simple mathematical solution is what works; in order, to solve our American, Capitalistic way of life. Realizing that a dollar earned and only a dollar spent, will keep you out of debt:
But, for some people it might seem impossible.  Rocket scientists may need to count out all their pennies and line them up in an orderly fashion; not, throw them up in the air, to see gravity at work.

Presently, American companies go overseas to avoid paying high American taxes, leaving American's unemployed or with such low salaries that the government exempts them from paying any taxes;

thereby,  the government is not taking in any taxes from either source, creating more debt.

How can we pay off more than 15 trillion dollars of National debt...the 1% rich , according to all economists, would not put a dent in the national debt.

Partial Solution 
I agree all the loop holes in our tax system should be taken away and everyone should pay their fair share including the 99% of middle to low income people of which 46% don't pay any taxes because of low income loop holes.

Companies could be encouraged to stay in America by being taxed less (if at all) 
with the stipulation of increasing employee minimum wages/salaries to an all time high, so employees can make a decent income in order to pay their government taxes and all of their entitlements. Companies end up paying taxes through their employees and in the end, they all still have to pay taxes one way or the other. 

Churches would be responsible for taking care of the poor; once a tradition.
NO subsidizes for farmers to STOP planting food; nor stockpiling food, to control stock market prices when over half the world is starving. 
The government would not be paying for record high food stamps and unemployment would be lower. 


There are fair and balance ways of working this out without blaming American Citizens;
 neither the 1%, the 99% nor the 46% 
 when it's the government who controls the purse strings of our National Debt.

It Was a Good Day

Yesterday, Kristine, was having more anxiety than I thought would be possible since having increased her Clozapine to 300 MG. The 25 MG increase, at first, calmed her down and decreased her anxiety.

Lately, she has been feeling the urge to get a job; probably because I talk about it since it's the next step after graduating from La Cordon Bleu. 

She has self doubts and questions some of her actions, which helps me guide her more easily to her next goal. 

The increase in Clozapine, also, made her personality slightly flat. She quietly sits to crochet, more drawn inside herself, as if, deep in thought. 

There are times when she doesn't respond to me when I ask her a question. Probably because I talk to her a lot, if only, to see if she is still alive inside that brain of hers.

Although, she has motivation and is always busy doing something; the added medication draws her more inward to where she likes to be alone; and the added anxiety for finding a job, makes her want to smoke and talk to her good voices, more than usual. Occasionally, I see her smiling to herself. 

I think her anxiety will subside, as of today, because she realized the top places that she has chosen to work, are not hiring now.

In the meantime, while waiting for job openings and responses to some of her contacts, she is busy creating artwork. That is what mental illness did to her. It switched her brain around from being interested in and having a degree in marketing and business to wanting to create works of art. She has been on a roller coaster ride of creative activities. 

She is a perfectionist when it comes to doing the project; except towards the end when she loses interest in putting the final touches on some things; like putting a backing on her rugs.  I think it's the illness and the anxiety that makes her want to keep moving onto something else; never stopping until she's tired and falls to sleep.

All her efforts go into gifts for friends and family members.  That's why I encourage her to get a job so she can pay for all these projects.  I probably add to her anxiety. What are mothers for? 

Last January we took her to a quilting shop that my husband and I had visited, in Whitefish, Montana, a very small, artsy, western town where we plan to retire, some day. That's where she got the bug. Kristine decided she wants to learn quilting; besides, having learned to needlepoint, crochet, knit and bake.  

When we first entered the shop, my husband said to me, " I love these quilts. You should start quilting."

I said, " What do you mean, I should start quilting? Since you like them so much, you should take the class." 

I have no interest in sewing. Although people make beautiful and functional things by sewing, crocheting, knitting, I personally think of it as mindless, repetitious work

to get to the end result. 

When I paint a picture, every stroke is different. It was when I drew my orange tree that I thought my brain would explode from the repetitiveness of drawing the leaves over and over. 

So on this windy California day, Kristine and I venture out to the local quilting shop. Janet is very easy going and patient with Kristine, considering she came into the shop with no experience and a grandiose idea for making a quilted comforter with a sailboat on it. 

Before we got to the shop, Kristine had the idea that she would make it on her own; after all, she said, " It's not rocket science."  

As she listened to the quilting teacher explain all the details, Kristine was convinced to start out with a pillow and signed up for a class. 

We headed for Staples for a larger copy of her sailboat pattern.  

As boring as it sounds, we went grocery shopping where Kristine always thinks of something to make for her next baking project. This time it's a strawberry pie. Her dad said he never heard of a strawberry pie.

Bakeries have all kinds of berry pies, but have we ever seen a strawberry pie?

Strawberry and rhubarb pies are delicious, but there are no rhubarbs any where.

The grocery guy told us that people have stopped buying rhubarbs and he's surprised they don't stock any, not even in the freezer.

There's a story behind the missing rhubarbs, but don't ask me, I can't remember what the guy said...it was that interesting.

I am fairly sure that the consistency of the strawberries do not lend themselves to pies; thus, the added rhubarbs which are firmer and hold up better.

I am just guessing, as it reminds me of the time when I was in college. My mother gave me some strawberries to take to school. I  decided to mail them in a box to a guy I was dating. After receiving them, he said to me over the phone, " I think you are suppose to refrigerate strawberries." 

I cannot, even, imagine what they looked like when he opened the un-refrigerated 

container I sent them in. 

In those day, I knew nothing about cooking or food preparation; but, I did know how to put on my makeup, which was far more important than knowing how to cook. 

At least, I could get a date who would take me to a restaurant where I would not have to cook. 

I don't know where I lost that priority. 

It will be interesting to see how that strawberry pie turns out.