Short Selling the Politicians

nospam@example.com (Terry Kinder) — 2010-05-19T05:03:14Z

Terry Kinder

If politicians could be traded like stocks (oh how I wish they could be) I would short the market. The older I get, the more bi-partisan I become - if bipartisan means holding both political parties in equal disdain. For that matter, although I lean libertarian, the big "L" party irritates me to no end. How can it be that with the public mood so soured on Washington politics, that the Libertarian Party has so little traction with voters?

But back to our politicians - the ones that actually "serve" us, and those that want to "serve" us. I have little to no faith that any of them are serious about restoring the Constitution and something akin to the rule of law. Even many who are serious, ultimately are bought off, co-opted or ignored.

How can it be that the banksters continue to receive backdoor bailouts, thwart financial reform and continue to gorge their appetite for cash at the public trough? I am sick of it. I am sick of endless campaigning. I am sick of politicians (good or bad) asking me for money, and more money, and even more money. I am sick of desperate appeals on a daily basis from politicians or political groups saying that I must act now.

Yes, despite the desperate appeals, the donations, and the newly minted last, best hope politicians, so little ever changes.

Where is the politician who will tell the elderly that they must retire later and receive less retirement benefits? Better yet, where is the politician who will say the gravy train is over and you should save money for your own retirement or depend on family, charity, church, etc. if need be?

Where is the politician who understands it is mathematically impossible to pay back government debt and will insist on default?

Where is the politician bold enough to heed Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex?

Where is the politician with the cajones to say a debt crisis can't be solved through more debt?

Where is the politician who will thrust a knife through the heart of our central bank - The Federal Reserve?

Where is the politician who will clearly state that we don't need government to make up for a "shortfall" in consumer demand?

Where is the politician who will prosecute the banksters who committed massive financial fraud?

Where is the politician who can't be bought?

Where is the politician who will eliminate the IRS and replace it with nothing?

Where is the politician with a clear understanding of economics?

Where is the politician who will dramatically cut the size of government, fire federal employees, and drive a stake through the heart of the union blood suckers who are never satisfied no matter how much they receive?

Where is the politician who will go to Washington for one or two terms to help clean up the mess and then leave?

Where is the politician who won't constantly beg me for campaign contributions?

Where is the politician who will return power to the states and the people?

Where is the politician with a moral compass that always points to true North?

If it sounds like I'm asking about a mythological figure, it's because such politicians rarely exist. We are in desperate need of some now.

Unfortunately, politicians merely play to our hopes and fears, collect their bribes and privileges and leave us worse off than ever.

If there were a market where politicians were bought and sold (oh, wait we have Washington, DC) I would be short selling them like crazy. I'm also short on patience. How much worse does the economic, political, and Constitutional crisis have to grow before our so-called elected leaders act in the best interest of the people? How much longer must we wait? I am losing faith. Like our rigged, gamed, hollow financial system, the words of politicians ring empty. The time for lies has ended. We need truth. We need it now. In financial markets, politicians can ban short selling, but the markets will ultimately head lower. Likewise, the time for empty political gestures has ended. Either fix the mess, or get out of the way. If you think our current, prolonged economic crisis has been bad, wait and see what happens when people completely withdraw their confidence and support from our current leadership. That will be one hell of a short sale.

Back in the Saddle Again

nospam@example.com (Terry Kinder) — 2010-05-17T05:25:50Z

Terry Kinder

Well it has been a while, but I'm going to put some more time in on the Liberty Stop site. I have been spending a good portion of my time since the beginning of this year learning about ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). I was diagnosed with it at the beginning of the year. Overall, being diagnosed and learning about ADD has been a good, but difficult, experience. It goes a long ways toward explaining many of the fits and starts in my life. I have been in the process of simplifying my life, getting things better (if not perfectly) organized, and reducing distractions. Have recently started taking medication, which has significantly helped my focus and given me a different perspective on life.

It is definitely a process, or a journey, because there isn't any cure for ADD. It's just something you learn about and develop strategies to make your life better. I'm very grateful for all of the support I have received from my wife. She has been through a lot through the years, and I am happy she has stuck with it.

I'm realistic. I'm not going to promise that this site will produce a steady stream of posts, but I'll do my best. I have been reducing my commitments significantly. While I admire the many folks who are fighting in the trenches - the Tea Party movement, activists, folks involved in the political process, etc., I don't have any plans currently to up my activity in those arenas. Thankfully, many choose to do so, but I have things here I need to tend to and I need to build a stronger foundation before thinking of making major time commitments.

I hope to be able to serve - in some small way - by framing the debate and presenting relevant information and arguments that can be used in the cause of liberty. I'm not a particular good activist. Imagine that - with ADD I over commit and under deliver. You do that a few times and your confidence flags. By nature I am a quiet person - that is until I get to know you, and then you'll beg me to shut up. I have lots of energy and passion, but it isn't always directed exactly where I intend it to go. That's part of the life I have lead for 42 years before being diagnosed with ADD.

With the diagnosis comes hope. Yes, that darn word hope that is used way too much - to the point it is easy to mock the word. However, I have come to realize that nobody owns hope - no political party, movement or person. So, I'm reclaiming hope for myself, and hope to direct some of it at the current issues of the day. Maybe I'll even make a difference.

If you're interested in following my ADD journey, please visit Me and ADD.

Thanks for spending a little of your valuable time with me. It means the world to me.