What Is Your Ideal Thanksgiving Dinner?

 

 

 

Michael’s view:

Family and food. All that is really needed is that. Just invite some close family and friends and have them each bring a dish. Add a turkey, ham, and a some pop and water, and you have the best Thanksgiving meal ever. If you can’t afford all that, get together, buy a ham, and just drink water. As long as you have family, it can always be great.

 Although, I did mention a nice big, juicy ham right?

 

 

 

Chuck’s view:

I simply LOVE my mom’s cooking! Her stuffing is to die for, her gravy, mashed potato’s, German potato salad and breaded green beans are the best. I miss Nana’s Cherry Delight and cheesecake this time of year. We have been having Thanksgiving dinner at our house the last few years and really enjoy just getting together with family and friends and realizing how thankful I am for all those that are in my life.

 

 

 

 

Ken’s view:

I am partial to the one my Grandmother prepared over the years when we were growing up.  If I recall, it included these items:

Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, carrot salad, pea salad, green bean casserole, cream style corn, two jello molds, pumpkin and apple pie, jellied cranberries and turnips.  For decoration, she would make turkeys out of apples, raisins, green olives, cloves and tooth picks.  We would eat the decorations later that night.  Every time I smell a turkey roasting, it takes me back to a happy day in my favorite place – Grandma and Grandpa’s house.  I would love to hear others favorites of the holidays and the traditions of family and food.

 

 

 

 

Frank’s view:

Awaiting post

Buy American, Is It Possible?

 

 

 

Michael’s view:

NO. It is not possible. Why? Well that takes a more complex answer. Let’s analyzes:

1. We have to pay workers more money to do less work than China or India.
2. China, India, ect. can produce more for less than us.
3. People in the U.S.A. do not want to work for less or pay for more.
4. Unless people do one of these things, the U.S. will never buy all American.

So why are these things this way? 1. People in the U.S. are greedy and want more money, because they believe they deserve it. People in over populated countries like China just want jobs, even if it pays fifty cents U.S. money a day. 2. China and the over-populated countries like it have a HUGE work population. The U.S. has more people in government or office work. 3. Americans are GREEDY and don’t like to do more if the don’t get a lot more. 4. The U.S. can’t expect to just suddenly have U.S. manufacturers lower prices and leave pay alone so we can buy American. That’s bad for business and they are greedy.

 

 

 

Chuck’s view:

I find it ironic that it is so “Politically correct” to say you want to buy products that were “Made in America”. Why, you may ask? Because we care more about our personal pocket-book than we do about our country and it’s economy succeeding. Here’s a little premise of how I come to this conclusion;

Black Friday has now morphed into Black Thursday evening since most retail stores are starting their “sales” at as early as 10:00 pm on the day before “Black Friday” (The holiday formerly known as “Thanksgiving”) They are offering these insane, low price “deals” because they know Americans will line up by the thousands to have a chance to purchase some of their cheap, foreign-made products. Why are these products so cheap? Simply put, they are made mostly by under-age child labor and in slave-like conditions. They are manufactured in a factory with little to no benefits to the workers in terrible conditions. The laborers are paid extreme low wages and worked extreme long hours to feed our hunger for cheaper products.

The one reason manufacturers move their facilities over-seas and to foreign countries is for one simple reason, profit! Contrary to what politicians would have you believe, it’s not because of taxes or regulations, it’s because these “Job creators” know they can sell more of their products at a higher profit margin if they only have to pay a child .90 cents a week verses paying an American worker a decent wage plus benefits.

And it is partially the fault of the American consumer. Think about it, would you rather pay $10 for a t-shirt or $35 for the same shirt? I bet people would think twice about buying a TV for $5000 verses $1500. Think of what the cost of an iPad would be if it were made in America….$1500, $2500, more?!?!? The truth is, the few things that are actually made in America are typically priced higher but also made with a more consistent standard that foreign-made products.

Try to keep this in mind while you are out shopping this holiday season. Try to find ways to reward your local community and economy instead of the economies of China and Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

Ken’s view:

This is a tough subject to address and will require a lot of research to find if you truly are buying American.  I owned a hardware store and I am an American.  However, if you purchased a product from my store, chances are along with supporting me, you also were buying a product made overseas.  It has been suggested to us that you should boycott those products and instead give gift certificates to local restaurants, beauty shops, etc.  The problem is, I sold what was available to me and unfortunately that included products manufactured in China, Taiwan and other foreign countries.  I don’t think we can boycott products without putting Americans out of business.  Sure, there are still some American made items out there and I had those on my shelves.  I could not have a complete hardware store without the 60% of the products that were made overseas.  I know I had more American made items than the larger stores had, but then I had to listen to people who claimed my prices were too high and they would go to the large store and buy the import item for less.  I think buying American is a great idea, but at the same time it is not the fault of the business owner that they can’t sell only those items.  However, there is one way to support America without buying American.  Know who the owner of an establishment is.  When you go to the convenience store, are you supporting an American or a foreign nation who funds the money for the business and takes its profits for their country (some of which are terrorist countries).  Sometimes you have to buy overseas products, but you should not support foreign businesses.  I spent more on inventory than I needed to because , when possible, I wanted to give my customers the choice of buying domestic.  A prime example was in black and galvanized pipe and fittings.  It cost 20% more for domestic and accounted for 5% of my total sales in that category.  Even though I pointed out the American made quality compared to the foreign-made, it did not sway the decision to save a few dollars.  Support American owned businesses and know they would love to sell only American made items if they could.  If possible, do not support a local business that is owned by a foreign country.  We all know which companies are most likely owned by those countries.  I do not patronize convenience stores, donut shops and gas stations where I can plainly see my money going to a foreign country.  Find instead the local American person and support their business.  It is impossible to support only America in anything you purchase.  You go to the restaurants owned by the nice American couple and then eat off of plates made in China and the food is cooked on a grill made overseas and the chairs are made in….well I think you get the picture.  Maybe Mondays post we will address the topic of people who speak foreign languages so Americans can’t understand what they say.  Shouldn’t that be illegal?  If you live in America, you should be required to speak American in public!

 

 

 

 

Frank’s view:

It is only human nature for people to buy a product as cheap as they can. If they are to buy American made products, we have to make them cheaper than any one. However, we know the unions will not go for lower pay. We are locked in. How can we ban all imports?

Are Nonprofit Organizations Really Nonprofit?

 

 

 

Michael’s View:

Well I think first we need to look at a few facts about these organizations:

1. While not the official term, their general goal is to use surplus money to complete plans for  self-preservation and expansion of their work.
2. The average salary for nonprofit employees is $49,000, but varies greatly. (Depending on position it ranges average of $30,000-$118,000.)
3. Some large nonprofits’ executives and higher employees get much higher pay. James Mongan (CEO, Partners HealthCare System) got $3,421,870 in 2008.
4. CEOs at for-profits however received up to $192.92 million in 2008.

So obviously the CEOs of nonprofits don’t get nearly as much as the for-profits. However, it may interest you to know the average income for a household with a profesional degree is about $100,000, while that for only an associsates was $51,970.  These are not saying the households are poor, but 3.4 million dollars is plenty more than 0.1 million dollars. It also may interset you to know only about 40% of the total money made was used for expantion in the nonprofits. So 60% went to bills and salaries. Bills aren’t cheap, but if your expantion was a new building for, oh a few million, and didn’t use all your 40%, your bills can’t use most your 60%. Are nonoprofits what they claim? Some sure, but $3,000,000 a year is quit a check.

Chuck’s View:

I find it appalling that in most cases, less than 20% of monetary donations for ”not-for-profit” organizations actually go towards the research and development of actually trying to “find” a cure for a disease. The Susan G. Komen foundation is one of the worst culprits of this deception upon people. I understand organizations require good leadership and direction but at what cost?

I believe that all “Not-for profit” organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and others should be required to tell those who make financial donations exactly where the money is going and how much. This should be displayed and easy to read on any forms or products being used to raise money for the group in question. We have all seen the pictures of the poor, dirty, starving children of Africa on late night TV infomercials. I wonder how much of my .30 cents a day actually goes to that child and their family? How much is siphoned off to pad the pockets of CEO’s and others on the board of directors. I mean, does the director of the Salvation Army actually require a six figure salary?

An extreme example of a “not-for-profit” organization using its members and believers in its cause misusing funds is not only close to my heart but also of a personal nature. Three of my four kids are active in Scouting and over-all they have received many benefits from the group. Every 4 years or so the organization puts together a National Jamboree filled with many fun activities for the scouts to partake. The BSA sets a price that includes food, housing, entertainment, etc. and allows each individual council to have a particular number of scouts attend. The local scout councils then set a price that helps cover the cost of getting to the event and any incidentals. The problem is that the local council uses this event as a fundraiser for no one else but the council! The funds raised do not directly go towards the scouts but typically goes to the bottom line of the council’s balance sheet! Most local scouting councils do this for their famous popcorn fundraising and it’s “Friends of Scouting” fundraising drive. Always choosing the right wording and glossy three-fold pamphlets in order to make one believe that the money being raised is going to help the boys with little to no mention of the “training” trips to baseball games for leaders or nights filled with alcoholic drinks and partying.

I am all for donating to those in need and towards organizations I feel are close to my heart, as long and I know my donations are not being spent frivolously on things not required to operate the organization. I have attached a link to a “Charity Navigator” website that offers proof to many of my claims here: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.comments&orgid=7655 

 Ken’s View:

As far as the money left over at the end of the year, yes they are non-profit.  However, the people leading the organization make very good money as CEO, CFO, etc.  They have lavish offices and salaries with expense accounts and bonuses.  The government watches these groups closely so it is not totally abused, but there are ways of hiding profits into people’s pockets, and I am sure there are many smart people who find those opportunities and take full advantage of them.  Goodwill and United Way are examples of non-profit organizations.  If you give $10.00 to an organization like this, you pay for salaries, advertising and other “essentials” for their business.  In the end, about $1.00 of your $10.00 will go to aiding someone.  I would rather give $10.00 directly to someone I knew who needed the whole amount to get by.  I am not saying these organizations are corrupt, just that they find a way to spend all of the money taken in and give just enough to the cause they represent to stay ahead of the government.

 

 

Frank’s View:

Donate dirictly to the organization, not though a solititor. They will take off the top for themselves.

Why Do We Honor War Veterans?

 

 

 

Michael’s view:

I think this one is a rather no brainer. They picked up some guns and helmets, go across seas, and get shot at for our freedom. Why wouldn’t we? They don’t have to do it. Nobody makes them do it. They choose to do it. Why? They do because it is the right thing to do, because they want to do something important, because they want to follow in (insert inspireor’s name here)’s footsteps, or because they want to make this country safe for (insert spouse’s name here) and (insert kids’ names here) so that they can live free. For whatever reason, they risk life and limb for us, literally. If they risk it all for our country, and sometimes give it all,  why wouldn’t we honor them?

 

 

 

 

Chuck’s view:

Humans have always celebrated those of our society who were willing (or forced) to protect and defend civilization. Be it the Greeks of old or the veterans of recent days. I think it is in our nature to want to say,”Thank you!” to those who we feel battle for our way of life. I do often wonder why, though, we hold the soldiers who battle wars like that in Iraq or in Afghanistan in the same high regard? Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying these soldiers don’t deserve to be honored but shouldn’t they be honored by the people of the nation they are fighting for? I mean, our men and women of the Armed Forces helped to free the Iraqi people from the likes of Saddam Hussein, shouldn’t the Iraqi people praise (and pay) for the benefits of these same soldiers? We, the United States, didn’t benefit directly from the removal of Hussein or Gaddafi but we still have to “foot-the-bill” both monetarily and personnel wise.

We hail the homecoming of our soldiers as they come back from battle in the form of parades and parties and well wishes. But what exactly are we thanking them for? The service they voluntarily signed on to do? Don’t we already pay them for that? Why is it so politically correct to thank our armed service members for protecting us when, in reality, they did nothing to protect us by fighting a war to free a people from a ravenous dictator half a world away? I can understand when we cheered the heroes of World War 2 who fought against Japan or the Germans, these leaders posed a viable threat to our way of life and our freedoms. Did Saddam pose a similar threat?

I recall my dad telling me stories of how when he came back from the very unpopular Vietnam war how he was treated. He was spat on in the airport and called a “Baby-killer”. There were no parades or ”Welcome hone” parties thrown for these brave soldiers who, in most cases, were forced into the service through the draft. They didn’t have the choice not to go off to some far away land and fight for a people they didn’t know. They didn’t receive large signing bonuses or college degree’s in exchange for their service. PTSD was unheard of as a diagnosis from their time “in country”. My dad still suffered nightmares of his time in Vietnam until his last days. It wasn’t until many, many years later that many big cities held a “Welcome home” parade for the veterans of the Vietnam “conflict”.

I would be very interested to read what others feel/think about this topic. Please reply and let us know. 

 

 

 

 

Ken’s view:

As veteran’s Day approaches, I thought about what it really means to have fought for your Country.  The Civil War was bloody and involved the entire Country fighting each other over freedom.  Freedom to do what they felt was their right and no one was going to tell them otherwise.  It would be the equivalent of someone coming to your house and telling you couldn’t have a certain possession and you fight for the right to keep it.  I never researched WWI much, so I can’t speak on why our Men and Women fought that war with such gallantry.  I only know that both the Civil War and WWI were popular with Americans and soldiers were honored upon return from the battlefields on which they fought.  WWII was a two-part war.  We fought the Germans (Nazis) and the Japanese.  The Japanese war was an easy one to explain our involvement.  We were attacked on our soil.  My Dad was involved in WWII and to listen to him talk about it is why you can see honoring the Men and Women involved.  He served in the Navy and his stories of conditions aboard ship during the war are enough to honor him for his service, let alone the separation from family and facing the danger of death everyday.  He was honored recently for his patriotism and you can read more about that on his posts in recent blogs.  Korea was passed over and as an afterthought, usually thrown into WWII celebrations.  If there is one war that America still needs to make right with the soldiers who fought in it, it would be Vietnam.  Some day, America needs to do an all out celebration of those who fought in that war.  The current war on terrorism is and will be ongoing.  We applaud those who are fighting that war.  Although I have never served in the military during war or peacetime, I know many who have.  We honor those that have and we need to pay special attention to those who fought in Vietnam.  I am sure my Dad would agree and it does not take away from anything WWII veterans did.  The only problem with being a Vietnam veteran is the unpopular view of the war with Americans.  That should never have detracted from the sacrifice that our soldiers made in fighting that war.  So let us salute all our veterans of wars past and present and honor the memory of all our soldiers living and dead.  There was no war greater than the other and all who served sacrificed equally.  Some with their lives and some with the conditions they endured.  In the end, I know my Dad salutes them all as equals, and I do as well.  Thank you veterans!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Frank’s view:

As a vet myself, I have to give the greatest honor to the Marines in the Korean War. I was there and on a destroyer. We helped those Marines out of north Korea after they were attacked by hordes of the Chinese army. Out numbered ten to one, they fought their way down from the chosen reservoir in below 0 temperature and ended up with frozen feet and others were wounded. A Sargent I met had part of both his heels removed because of frostbite. They deserve all the honor we can give them. My good friend made a tape of his baker company. He is gone now but the memory of his time under fire will always be in my memory