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Back Again

The year-end is always hectic. If we're not preparing for the holidays, then we're trying to see if we can make the year profitable. Luckily, most machine shops don't have to worry about Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.

Personally, I had to turn my attention to getting everything ready for what may be our last full-family Thanksgiving gathering. To quote Popeye, I've been an orfink for a couple of years, but my wife and I host the holiday feast for my middle brother and his family when they aren't traveling to my sister-in-law's parents' gathering.

Why was this one probably the last? Seems like time keeps flying by. My two nieces are both 21 or older and my nephew is a college freshman. Soon, too soon, both of the girls will be leading lives of their own, establishing their own family traditions. We'll be empty-nester by proxy.

But, it's not the end of the year or the end of traditions that has us worried. It's the end of a forward-looking society that has us scared. Like most shop owners, we've been working and saving all of our lives. Now, we're faced with uncertainties that threaten to leave us impoverished.

Health-care Reform
There are tax payers and tax eaters. As long as there were more payers than eaters, we could get along. But, with the legislation before the U.S. Senate, that could change. The legislators don't have to worry about decreases in health care and increases in taxes to pay for expanded coverage. Nope. They have their own system.

With the passage of some kind of expanded coverage in the House, Speaker Pelosi is now floating the idea of a value-added tax – the equivalent of a national sales tax.

Cap-and-Trade
This should be called the National Impoverishment Bill. Like it or not, our society runs on energy. Two types, in fact: transmitted energy, such as electricity and natural gas, and mobile energy, such as petroleum.

Under the cover of global warming, or climate change, or whatever it's called this week, the government is trying to scale back our energy usage to keep the earth from getting too warm. Those who won't cut back, get to pay taxes on their energy usage. Which machines do you want to shut down?

The hypocrisy of going "green" is galling. Media stars urge us to forego plastic grocery bags while they own private jets.

We're told to use those nasty compact fluorescent bulbs while Disneyland and Disney World light up their parks so bright for the holiday's that that can be seen from orbit.

Climategate
What was a science has become a religion. Global warming advocates have been shown to be less than honest in their predictions and methods. Data has been destroyed and ignored if it didn't fit their hypotheses. Critics have been ostracized. The scientific method has been ignored for either money or an agenda.

How can we trust anything they offer now that they've been shown – through their own words – that they'll say and do anything to promote their views?

The Recession
This is the 800 lb gorilla in the middle of the room. Jawboning economists keep telling us the recession is over, but unemployment keeps growing. Nice to know that businesses are laying off people because business is so good.

It's these and other uncertainties that make us uneasy and fearful. FDR once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." A lovely platitude, but not for an age where a social reformist president and congress are out to grab everything they can from the payers and give it to the eaters.

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Last modified: 01/15/10