The government did it to us.....

Like many in our country, we are in a financial bind. I am making less than half of what I made a year ago, but I am so blessed to have a job. I lost my job in the banking industry last December and was unemployed for 3 months in early 2009. Though a complex set of "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances, we lost our entire investment portfolio when the market crashed in late 2008. So here we sit, 3 houses and payments and my renter is moving out this month, making my cash flow even worse. Given the real estate crash, we can't sell any of the houses, so what do you do?

I am not a pro-default kind of guy. However, it looks to me like the government has done this to us. All reports that I read trace the evolution of this crisis to subprime mortgage loans that were initiated and supported by Federal government policies designed to fulfill the "American right to home ownership". Those loans defaulted, causing mortgage bond defaults, causing the big banks to lose money and require TARP and bailouts. So now, the banks are fine, but you and I are in a bind. Why didn't average Americans get a bailout? Why didn't the government pay everyone's mortgage down based on the depression in real estate THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAUSED! I know, we are all responsible for our own situation. But come on! We have paid these investment bankers millions, and we are all still struggling and faced with losing our homes and investments.

I have requested mortgage modifications for 2 of my mortgagors. However, after 30 days, I have not heard a word from them. My homes have lost so much value that I doubt they will ever come back in value enough to sell and make a profit or even break even. What do we do? I have some thoughts and if enough Americans made the moves I am thinking about, we could probably make the Federal government take notice of us little guys and help us out. After all, they caused this, didn't they?

Post and let's talk about it.....

Does it really take a great deal of smarts?....

Consumer confidence is down this month. Hmmm....Cap and tax is going to increase my taxes and make everything cost more, who wants healthcare reform (government takeover) anyway? - unemployment continues, credit card companies cut off credit lines, cash dwindles. It's no wonder consumer confidence is going down. Do the politicians see this? How can we make things better and restore confidence? The antidote is certainly not increasing taxes and creating more uncertainty in the world! STOP!! Lower everyones taxes and things will get better. Letting businesses and people keep more of their own money makes them feel better. When they feel better, they spend more. When they spend more, the economy improves. Is that so hard to understand? It is really pretty simple.

The prescription for this time in our history is not more government - it is less government. We need term limits in the US Senate to stop the imperial governing class. Why is Nancy Pelosi still there? (I know she is in the House).

Thoughts for the day....

Your step kids are not your kids. They are the product of your spouse and someone else who are their parents. You are a step parent. Your dreams, goals and expectations do not apply to your step kids. (OK - there are some out there who are filling a role as a parent due to the absence of a parent - you are exempt from this post!) My experience says that it is OK to set "house rules" that everyone in the house abides by such as cleaning up and the like. However, most rules should be set and enforced by the parent, not the step-parent. In the case of differing rules for step-siblings in the same household, I just tell my kids that they are my kids and my rules apply. For the most part, they have accepted that explanation.

Be a friend to your step child. Don't seek out pro's and con's about your kids versus your step kids. Accept them all as they are and love them as they are.

You will save yourself a lot of controversy, headache and heartache if you follow these simple rules. Ask me if you have any questions!

Lying Again...

Did you hear about Honduras? The US government says the president was ousted in a coup. Truth be told, the president was trying to take over the country and turn it into a dictatorship like his buddy Huge Old Chavez. Look it up in the news...don't just believe Reuters or AP...look up real news reports coming out of Nicaragua. Look at the Wall Street Journal. Why isn't Obama supporting the government and not the bad guy dictator wanna be? Is Obama a commie? A socialist? Ever heard of Saul Alinsky?

The US press and government is trying to spoon feed us a bunch of crap. They are supporting communists (Nicaragua, Venezuela) and socializing our country. Let's stand up now and reclaim common sense in 0ur country.

Are you asleep out there?

We are being lied to by our government. Everyday. The "change" that some of you voted for is going to get crammed down our throats and the end result will be a dingy memory of what our country used to be.

Global warming does not exist. The earth is actually cooling. Why do you think they stopped calling the "crisis" "global warming" and started calling it "climate change"? Cap and trade is a huge energy tax that will put us at a huge disadvantage to the rest of the world. Do you think Russia or China will agree to this? NO!!!

Healthcare is not a crisis! Do you like your healthcare? Ok, there is a small population of uninsured out there we could cover with a few billion dollars per year - so cover them. But do we need to spend billions to junk what we have now? NO!! This is about government taking control of your lives, your health.

Here comes higher taxes! They will say, "oh well financial crisis, healthcare, climate change uh, sorry, promised not to, but somebody has to pay for all this and even though I promised not to, I HAVE to raise taxes to protect this for your children." Cap and trade is going to be a huge tax on everything - it will affect the economy top to bottom. You will see higher income taxes for healthcare if you allow this to continue. They will try to pass a VAT or value added tax. That tax will increase the value of all goods made in America. It will increase prices you pay for everything and drive manufacturers away from the US.

What does the federal government do well? What is the last thing they took on and you said "boy they did a great job with that..." Let's see - social security is bogus and bankrupting, medicare, medicade - not models of efficiency. Federal energy and education programs - no child left behind? Are you kidding me? We have thrown more money and federal bureaucracy at education and scores and performance continue to decline. Energy programs? What? Energy self-sufficiency? HUH? WAKE UP PEOPLE! CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR AND COMPLAIN LOUDLY AND OFTEN. The political class do not care about you, they care about their power and getting re-elected (their continuing power).

Term limits and ousting incumbents should be next on our lists. If we sit back they are going to get all this "change" done and it will be too late to undo it. It's time to act and take this country back! Folks this is bad and getting worse. We have got to do something.......God Bless America.

What do you mean my name is ATM?

I named this "thing" "Making Smarter Steps" partly because my intention was to offer new parents in a step family relationship some advice learned from my nearly 10 years as a divorced and step parent.

Divorced parents - be nice to each other as much as possible and get the conflict between you behind you as soon as possible. I have seen divorced parents work together and I have seen conflict-ridden divorced parents. The divorced couple that can work together and remain civil is much better off. It seems many times one (or both) ex-spouse(s) is/are simply unable to release the anger and bitterness after YEARS of being divorced. Their lives are apparently centered upon making the offending ex "PAY". All pay a price, but sadly the kids pay the largest.

Fifty percent of us are divorcing for many different reasons. Some divorce due to physical abuse, addiction to any number of things and mental cruelty. I understand that many times the reason for the divorce is beyond the control of one spouse or the other. However, for many, the "blame" for the divorce is shared by both spouses. This being the case, GET OVER IT!!!!! Go on with your lives and raise your kids. There is happiness out there - rather than wallowing in self-pity, go get happy!

I know first hand that the child support system in many states is set up as a "penalize the male spouse" system that is abused by attorneys and child support claimers. Money and child support payment is a primary wedge between ex's. The receiver does not have to account for the money and in many cases does not spend the money on the kids. Rather, they see the payments as being penalties the ex pays for daring to follow through with a divorce. Many child support payers are simply treated as ATM's that produce cash for the ex and then are trampled by the system. It is one of the many things about divorce and child support that are wrong.

Who is really telling the truth?

I have never witnessed a time when there was so much mis-information being bandied about the US and world media. What and who can you really believe? For instance, there is a story today about the Nicaraguan president being ousted in a coup. President Obama and many other leaders in the western world are calling for this "injustice" to be stopped and that the ousted president be reinstated. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that the "president" was constitutionally replaced as a result of his own malfeasance, trying to extend his term-limited term by holding some form of kangaroo court referendum. Somebody is lying! Who is it? WHY?

Global warming - somebody is lying - who is it? Health care in the US - somebody is lying - who is it? In my book, global warming is total hooey. The earth has not warmed in 10 years. I believe that God made this earth and that no human can affect what God made. It's that simple. Besides, the "science" does not support the global warming claims. It is all hysteria and modelling. Folks, this cap and trade stuff is potentially devastating to you and I. Think about it - the pres has said it was his intention to increase the prices you pay for gas, electricity, natural gas and coal by 100%. Think of how those costs will make everything you buy cost more. More to run factories, more to deliver goods, more to do ANYTHING.

Health care - I read reports where 80% of the US public likes their health care. If 80% likes it, why mess with it? It's all about power and money. They say that we have a problem - let's let the US government fix it. Like they do such a good job at anything? They run a darn good military and created a nice interstate system, but besides that, I can't think of too many things the federal government does so well. I'll put my faith in the common man and private industry.

Who is telling the truth and what is their intention?

First post

My wife has been on me for months to start a blog and put some of my life experience and lessons "out there" to help someone through a tough spot in life.



I am a male, nearly 50, and in the 9th year of my 2nd marriage. A very good and personally satisfying marriage. I am a Christian, having found Jesus 6 years ago after a lifetime of failing to understand Jesus' saving Grace is available to us all for the asking. For any religious skeptics - I've been there and been a denier in my lifetime. At this point, it is this simple to me - when you explain the magnificent design of human DNA, RNA or reproduction, the dizzying variety of life on this planet, the weather, seasons, gravity and a multitude of other things we encounter in everyday life in terms other than a perfect Creator, I will listen. If you have no explanation FOR EVERYTHING, then I consider mine better and settled. I have one answer for everything - God did it. When you can give me such a powerful, yet simple explanation, I will listen.



Being a Christian, I know how flawed I am. We are imperfect beings and must try every day to get better. I do, but I fail and take steps back before moving forward again. I am a better person now than I ever have been and I know it is because the Lord shines through the old me.



I am a southerner, recipient of bachelors and post baccalaureate degrees. Husband, father, servant, teacher. Proud to have a job and work with the people I work with.



I have 4 wonderful kids - two I was blessed to father, and two I am proud to call step or "bonus" children. Man, I have lots of thoughts and lessons in the realm of parenting and step-parenting. That is one of the primary reasons for putting some of these thoughts "out there". Just like having kids, there is no manual for step-parenting or 2nd marriages. We have learned lots of lessons in our 9 years and if I can help someone through a situation with their kids or marriage, I will have done something. Two of the kids just finished their first year of college, the other two are in high school. They are all great kids, very different and all with their own strengths and weaknesses. I love 'em all!



Holiday weekend is coming up. We are having friends over to celebrate with us. Gonna be hot! More to come......