Epic Cover letter as Retribution?

The Hoops they make us jump through!

I am sure you might have heard of that epic Cover letter that several of the big wallstreet banks recieved in the last couple months from the NYU student.

I understand what this guy is feeling.  As a fellow student in college, I have applied to 23 internships since December.  I have been denied by two, and have been processed by at least 2 others.

We are applying to so many companies, with the process supposed to show off our skills, talent, personality, and what makes us unique.  Through the process of applying, its completely automated, with logins, online forms, and immediate email confirmations.  It is not very personal and almost dispectiful in the lack of human contact, for a very real position.

Just the other day, I was applying to this popular paper manufacturer.  It had the typical long forms to place my address, phone, work history, education history, and stuff alike it.  Then at the bottom, they wanted four (4) references to contact.

I was not going to bother 4 references when I have yet to hear from them.  Coming from a smaller school and only a Junior, I think I only have 4 references that would be avialable.  I was not going to waste their time if I have yet to know that a human has put eyes on my name, let alone my application.

Reading all of the loops that these candiditas have to jump through is pretty rediculous.  I can see how he might be ready to play the extreme route.

China's Smoking

Smokin' away!

It seems that America is under a new Red Scare.  This time, it's about China.

Politicians from Obama to Bohner feel that China is getting ahead of America.  Just from last week's State of the Union address Obama incited this motivation that we need to do big things.

Now to calm those pessimists, China has a smoking problem.  Economist and health experts predict that an estimated of 2 million people will die each year from tobacco-related problems in China.  By 2030, that could rise to 3.5 million per year.

According to the article, there are more than 300 million smokers in China.  That's a lot of wasted productivity.  If each smoker wastes about an hour smoking each day, that would be over 101 billion man-hours lost of productivity each year.

Sorry China, but that's a lot of wasted time.

Washington Insiders

Apparently, Obama has elected more people with Washington Experience than Bush in the economic team. This is before every spot is filled.

This is very surprising to have run on promises to not run Washington as usual.

Well, that's another broken promise for the count!

Obama, Obama, Obama

Everytime that I get a chance to check the news, online, on the tely, or writen in the newspapers,
"Obama has a economic plan!"
"Massive Economic Recovery Eyed"
"Obama will 'do what's necessary' to fix economy"

All I got to say is,
Good luck fulfilling those expectations! I really do hope that Obama does get us out as soon as possible and safely, but I do not see it logically happening under his policies.

His policies of protectionism, isolationism, welfare, tax cuts for the people that don't pay taxes, and others, will not solve this crisis.

Bailout Detroit? Part III

Apparently, the government has decided to wait until December to vote on the bailout. They would like to have the Big 3 explain on where the funds would go towards.

This is after they heard that the three CEOs traveled from Detroit in Corporate jets costing quite a bit of money.

Bailout Detroit? Part II

After discussing this issue with others, I have come to the conclusion that this is not like bailing out the banks.

The banks are the focal points of this economy. They are the ones that allow people to loan money, make money, and make purchases of houses, cars, and boats. They stimulate and keep it chugging.

The auto industry on the other hand, does is only part of the economy. They might employ something like 1.5 million workers and keeping them at a job is important, but that isn't the issue.

The issue is that they have to rejuvenate, remodel, revolutionize, and retain their spot in the auto industry.

They should be able to sell green or efficient cars inside and outside the United States just as well as Honda, Toyota, VW, BMW, or Hyundai.

A load of cash can only do so much, and it definitely will not change the management or the unions.

Bailout Detroit?

Should the Government bailout package be used to help out GM, Ford, and Chrysler in Detroit?

They are having such a tough time because the buyers are uncomfortable in making a decision on a car and the lenders are not confident that there borrowed money will be paid back.

Given them billions of dollars would not solve that.

They are also having a problem in revolutionizing there models and cars to keep up with the international competition. They are disorganized and slow moving to change in their development processes.

A hunk of cash probably will not help them do that.

What I think is the biggest problem for the American Auto Industry, is the amount of control that the unions have in the workplace. They are hurting profitability of the few cars being sold. They are not able to set out competitive prices. Unions are not allowing the companies of downsizing in little steps, only in big ones.

By not giving them a piece of the bailout, the auto manufactures might have to file bankruptcy, but it would loosen the grip of the unions and be a prime example of why Unions cons outweigh their pros.

The money would just prolonging the inevitable.

Lowering the Bar

As you might have been hearing for a couple of months or two, Obama and Biden are wanting to raise the taxes of the people making $250,000 and redistribute it to the people below it.

News of Biden and Obama have lowered that mark down one hundred thousand to $150,000. That puts just about every single middle class American and all of the "Joe the Plumbers" also known as small business owners. That is so slimy of them to do that.

Virtually, anyone with a college degree will have to pay higher tax. This is scandalous! Something that only included a couple million will now encumbers nearly everyone that is not 'poor.'

McHealth vs O'care

Health care comparison,

They are statements about Obama's plan with make if more affordable, but McCain's will make it even more affordable by having the insurance companies compete over state lines.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122470511751259445.html#project%3DHEALTHY08%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive
This cool interactive shows, that well, McCains plan is cheaper for more of the poor, middle, and rich classes than Obama's.

My name is Joe the Plumber

I am insulted by Obama and Biden when they shoot down the Joe the plumber and his dreams, they are killing and stopping on millions of Americans Dreams. My dream is one of them. Bringing in socialism to America will be proof that Russia/Soviet Union won. What is Putin going to say now?

The Bailout Brain Rant

This one is my personal thoughts,
I am not siding with the way that McCain or Obama voted on the bailout. I thought that it was going to work better, faster, but now, their are some more squeaky broken wheels (squeaky wheel gets the WD40).

This economic downturn is disastrous and we might not excel as fast in the next couple of years as we have done in the past three decades. I understand the some of the reasons why the bailout passed, except, a small business that is already up and running does not have to deal with loans very often. It would be the ones that are to be made in the next year or two. Without the wealthy VC, there would be a shut down of growth. That is why you have to not increase, but decrease the capital gains tax and corporate taxes. America has the second highest corporate taxes. Why should their be tax cuts for companies who do not decide to ship jobs overseas or ship them back? They are doing the smart move. The chances are there are lower taxes to where ever they decide to go. How about you just cut the damn tax? Then more companies will move back and others companies will come.
If the government did not get the initial billions of dollars that it is trying to divide, then we would be better off. A significant amount of people would be able to pay up on their loans. Now, it is too late. If you give back the money, they are just going to think of it as a gift and spend it as a gift, on non-necessities like cigarettes, a boat, gifts for christmas. Apparently, there are a tons of other people who could have used the help earlier, when they did default on their mortgages, credit cards, and other loans.

Should Students get paid for good grades?

Students are students, and they should not get paid for their grades. This will put a price on cheating techniques and increases the reward for doing it. It also replaces the motivation of creating your future to greed. Peer tutoring, private tutoring, after school programs and other low cost student services will want a cut from the student since they are getting paid for it. It will create a stressful environment for the teachers by having to handle with more complaints on grading.
It will now be reasonable to cheat since now it will be rewarded. More people will start cheating to get better grades and more money. Students will think that the money is more valuable than a good education and higher pay later. Test answers will now have a value to the students, along with other cheating techniques.
This will also increase the stress on the teacher. There is already students that do discuss their grade with the teacher. With money at stake, they will complain more and more to change their grade. Teachers will be afraid of that or try to prevent the ambush of them, so they will grade easier. This inflation will cause the students to not learn from their mistakes or bad decisions as they would be a bad grade.
If getting good grades was financially rewarded, tutoring services would be in high demand. Just a asking a simple question or help from a friend will now be worth something and can now be legitimately charged. They are helping you achieve profit. It is only fair to share it with those who help you get their.
Students are getting more than their share out of schooling. They are getting a future. By paying them for their grades, you give them the wrong motivations early on and can increase materialism. Cheating would be more of an issue, since this would be a price for it. Tutoring and other help would not be free and the price for them would increase. Students should not get paid for their grades.

State Income Tax abolish? Part 2

The state legislature, and Gov. might not know how to deal with it at first. Apparently we are already in debt as a state, so budgeting has already begun to happen and planing.

This piece of legislation might cause some jobs to be cut, but ultimately and down the road (like 5 years), more jobs will be created. Businesses and people will see that this state has a low tax rate compared to any other state. They might then move or create their company in the state.

Most people and businesses will not move here because its MA. Their needs to be a reason why! This is a reason why! It's not because of the good schools in a state, that is criteria for the cities and towns to compete against. That might be why, our own money goes to our schools.

State Income Tax abolish?

November 4th is a big day. We get to vote for president and if we like to abolish the state income tax among other things.

Hey, the municipalities pay a decent part for police, firefighters, and schools!

O no, maybe we will suffer for the first couple years, (years that we will be in college), but people will be keeping there own money and more money will be flowing!

We will have to downsize, but it will cause us to streamline the state budget. And be competative with the other states!

Get rid of programs that aren't working, get rid of the toll workers kind of things that get paid a ridiculous amount of money for their job (they get paid more than our teachers).

Maybe we can get the state population growing again instead of declining!

3 Steps for a better Economy!

According to this article, Dr. Merrill Matthews claims that there are three ingredents to make this economic situation a whole lot better.

Step 1 - Free Trade
McCain for it.
Obama against it.

Step 2 - Low and simple taxes
McCain for it.
Obama picking and choosing tax cuts.

Step 3 - Reduce government spending.
McCain for it.
Obama against it.

I hope you see which one will be better in the economy.

Warren Buffet

The billion dollar machine, Warren Buffet believes that the American economy is the way to invest for long term. He wrote this opinion in an article in the NYTimes.

I agree with him. I do not agree with him in supporting Obama though, but that is a different story.

The market is down a lot in the past month, but the question is when will it go back up. It is obvious that it will be over time. The market has always rebounded from dips and the great depression.

Why would you invest?

Invest to put aside money for the future and manage its growth. You can choose to invest in certain stocks during this time and in 5 years or more, you will definitely see some gains in your favor.

Now, if you were to keep this money in the bank account, you are guaranteed that you will not lose your money, but you might be more likely to spend it on things that are not worth it.

I am going to start investing within a month.

Now is the time to get in on those deals of stock.