"We Will Bury You" - Who Would Have Thunk It?

In 1956 during a speech to the United Nations by Harold Macmillan, Soviet President Nikita Khrushchev beat his shoe against his desk and shouted to the US representatives "We will bury you".

Khrushchev was not always polite. During the great Kitchen Debate on July 24, 1959, when Richard Nixon poked his finger in Khrushchev's face, Khrushchev said according to translators, "Go screw my grandmother". Nobody seems to know what Nixon said while pointing his finger, but the pic made big news and endured Tricky Dick to some Americans.

The Kitchen debate was a comparison of Democratic Systems and Communism. Khrushchev said that Communism would win out in the long run"

I never thought it would happen-that Communism would bury us. But that is now what is happening. The government has now taken over three huge financial organizations.

General Motors, you had better watch out.

Bill Moyer's Journal

Last evening (September 19, 2008), I watched Bill Moyer's Journal uninterrupted by commercials on Public Television. I just wanted to get away from the noise of television, the endless commercial tirade that destroys any possible enjoyment of watching a television program.

Every American should read the transcript of that program.

You will learn what created this mess and why we are not going to get out of it without more suffering. You can read the transcript at the PBS site.

Speaking of the greatest calamity since the Great Depression, Gretchen Morgenson said, "Because it affects everyone. It is now possibly bleeding into the economy. We've had a fairly strong economy up until now, which has been a godsend, while this incredible turmoil is taking place. If banks are stopping lending, which they appear to be doing, then that's going to affect the economy, to make the downturn. So it is affecting everyone.

"There was a lack of accountability where a banker didn't care whether the loan was repaid. And the Wall Street firm that sold the securitization trust didn't care if it ever got paid back, because they were happy with their commission. The broker making the loan didn't care, because he got, all the way up the ladder to the CEOs of these companies, who are allowed to walk away from a financial cataclysm with huge payments."

As for the Communist-style takeover of AIG, Bill Moyers said, "Let me ask you about one telling anecdote, at least, telling to me. The Secretary of the Treasury, Paulson, calls the CEO of AIG and says, "You've got to go. Pack your bags and leave." That's usually a decision for a board of directors."

That was not unusual for the Soviet Union.

Floyd Norris said, "The government is nationalizing companies. They nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And that made a little bit of sense, since we'd always thought Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had an implicit government guarantee, whatever that meant. And now they've nationalized AIG. They own eighty percent of the company. They have lent money to the company at very strict terms.

"For this company to somehow pay that loan back will require amazing competence in managing things. And I don't think anybody expects them to ever do that. They're probably going to liquidate AIG. It amazes me. I'm not sure it was unnecessary, as I said. But I can only envision what the right wing would be saying if a liberal Democrat had decided to nationalize the biggest insurance company in America. I don't think you'd be hearing a lot of praise for it."

On Alan Greenspan, Kevin Phillips said, "Turn on the spigots. He started in 1987 with a crash that was a wicked one in one day in 1987. And he turned on the spigots. And they had the huge growth of the tech bubble in the 1990s. And then right after the tech and the stock market bubble blew up in 2000, you had 9/11. So there was a need for more stimulus. And they ginned up the stimulus again hugely.

"And the upshot is that during Greenspan's tenure from 1987 to 2006, what they call total credit market debt in the United States quadrupled, quadrupled from about $11 trillion up to $44, $45, $46 trillion. And finance got the great bulk of it. And Greenspan would do nothing to disturb finance.

He wouldn't puncture a bubble. He wouldn't crack down on the exotic mortgages. He really wouldn't do much of anything except give obscure speeches in which, you know, he mumbled the different directions so nobody would know what he meant. But basically he gave finance what they wanted."

Later in the program, he said, "It's been a bipartisan phenomenon. You can go back to the 1980s and say Reagan and George Bush, Sr., got a bubble started. Clinton got in and got an even bigger bubble going. And then George W. Bush with the biggest bubble of all. But it's not that the Clintonites didn't play. They did. Bob Rubin as Secretary of the Treasury - I mean, if he was a Hindu and he was being reincarnated, he'd come back as a pail because this guy bailed out everything you can imagine. They had the Mexican loan bailout. They had the long-term capital management bailout, the Russian Southeast Asian currency bailouts."

How Qualified are Our Presidential Candidates to Handle This Mess?

Moyers asked about the presidential candidates: "What do you think when you hear John McCain and Secretary Paulson say that the fundamentals, however, are solid?"

Kevin Phillips replied, "Well, John McCain once said he didn't know anything about economics. And half the time what he says, you know, proves that on a day-by-day basis. I don't think we have a sound economy at all. Not remotely at this point. I mean, there are, like, ten yardsticks I could use. Paulson is your typical Treasury Secretary guy that has to deal with it. And everybody knows he has to exaggerate. He has to say all the Hoover type stuff about how strong the economy is and the recession's going to be over in three months and that sort of stuff. I don't really credit these people very much. But, frankly, I don't credit the Democrats either.

Bill Moyers said, "No, I was going to say Obama's trademark rhetoric of inspiration seems to desert him when he talks about economic affairs.

Phillips replied, "He doesn't seem to have anything very specific to say. That's part of the problem. A second problem is, for me at least, you know, just as I can't believe that John McCain ever wanted to get his economic advice from Phil Gramm. I mean, Phil Gramm, a former Texas Senator, appalling. He and his wife were known as Mr. and Mrs. Enron because they were so flagrant, that's McCain.

"But then you've got Obama with Bob Rubin and he doesn't have any problem with the hedge fund types. I mean, one of the Chicago people was a major financier of his. He gets a guy to pick his vice-president. Turns out to be somebody who was part of the Fannie and Freddie mess.

"So I don't exactly see Obama as this fellow riding in on a horse who represents all kinds of reformism. It's an important thing probably to have to change from the Republicans but I don't see that he is free of the ties to finance and Democratic Party financial types."

Conclusion

We are not going to pull out of this mess easily.

There is no quick fix.

We will suffer for many years to come because of greed, dishonesty and incompetence.

Those that created this mess are taking their multi-million dollar pensions to a life of luxury. Some are probably scared that the government will grab some of that money. I'm sure they are stashing some of it away in Bermuda Banks.

The solution to this problem is for the Towers of Education to look at the corruption they are producing. Those former Boy Scouts who are running some of our corporations have forgotten the Scout Law.

They are not honest.

They are not truthful.

They are a corrupt gang of gamblers.

When some young persons graduates from our great MBA schools, he or she has only one thing in mind.

GREED!

Our government has been feeding that GREED for years.

They will continue to do so until the people get angry and do something about it.

If action had been taken when it was needed, we could have avoided this financial mess. Soon, the manufacturing sector may suffer from this financial debacle.

If that happens, we are going to our second Great Depression. That is the reason for the current communistic takeovers.

Being confident and having the pipe dream that all will be okay is folly.

Things are not okay.

Until GREED is replaced with HONESTY and RESPONSIBILITY, we will continue to drift into the rocks of total disaster.

The government had better build a lighthouse and keep that light burning for a long time.

Fly Old Glory!

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com - a retired college professor and business executive, Former editor of an international engineering magazine. Novelist and prolific article writer.

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The High Costs of Being Overweight

Do you know that the high costs of being overweight are affecting your pocketbook and health? If you do not lower your body fat, not only will the extra weight continue to cost you more, but your life may in danger. It is estimated that six out of ten Americans are overweight, and the numbers continue to grow. Even the number of overweight children is growing. In children ages six to ten, 19% are overweight.

The weight loss industry thrives as people go from one diet program to another. This yo-yo effect of weight loss and weight gain is not only unhealthy, but costly as well. The diet industry takes in over $160 billion a year. Life expectancy is also being affected. Premature deaths, due to obesity, are on the rise.

High Costs

The direct medical costs to this nation are estimated by the Centers for Disease Control to be $147 billion a year. As Americans consume more calories, costs rise. Medical costs associated with rising obesity have nearly doubled in the last decade.

Being overweight is costly to the individual and the nation. Overweight leads to:

Higher life insurance costs
Higer health insurance premiums
Airlines charging more for those they determine are obese, because added weight leads to higher fuel costs
Ambulance services now charge extra for those weighing over 350 pounds

Research at the University of Alabama revealed that people who are overweight are less like to be hired for jobs, wait longer at restaurants for service and are less likely to be able to rent an apartment. Overweight people tend to miss more work which is costly to employers.

Health Problems

One of the biggest problems of being overweight is the impact on health. Not only is diabetes on the rise among adults who do not lower body fat, it is a growing problem among children. Type 2 diabetes, which has been known as "adult onset diabetes" is now affecting children and teenagers. Forerunners of heart disease are showing up in children as young as twelve.

In addition to an increase in diabetes.being overweight can lead to:

High blood pressure
Strokes
Depression
certain forms of cancer

These increases cross all ethnic and social groups. The hugh increase in prescription drugs to control these diseases has also contributed to the increase in medical costs.

Gain Control

It is easy to blame TV and fast food restaurants. In fact, it is personal behavior. No one forces anyone to order double cheese burgers, large fries and milkshakes. Buffets are popular because you can go back and pile on a second portion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that American do not eat enough produce because of temptations of fast food. Eating more fruits and vegetables will lower health care costs and obesity according to the Center. Except where a medical condition is present, people are responsible for their own weight gain.

Now is the time to look at how the high costs of being overweight are affecting you. Gain control of your eating habits and health. You have nothing to lose except the excess weight. Not only will you save money, but more importantly, you will save your health and your life. The longer you wait, the more you are at risk. Start today to improve your health and lower your costs.

Lois Bernstein is a former master teacher, adjunct professor, student teacher supervisor, curriculum developer and researcher. She is currently tutoring in reading, writing, study skills and math.

Peak Oil, Energy Wars and Powering Your Home in the 21st Century

What is peak oil and why worry?

About 20 years ago, a well respected geologist by the name of Hubbert proposed a radical new theory now known as 'peak oil' which basically says that at a certain point in the late 20th or early 21st century or thereabouts, the amount of easily recoverable oil on earth which had been used by humans was greater than 50% of ALL the oil on earth. He theorized that after this so-called 'Hubbert's Peak' the availability of oil would decrease dramatically. Not because there was no oil, but simply because we got all the easy stuff FIRST. What would be left would be the very difficult and expensive to extract deep sea oil, oil derivatives mined from shale and other hither to unprofitable deposits.

Whilst this does not sound too bad think about it like this: If we assume the first motor car appeared around the dawn of the 20th century then we used half the available oil in about 80 years. However, it must be remembered that for the major part of that 80 years, most of the people on earth had little or no access to motor vehicles. China for example was barely a developed nation for most of that time. THE United States uses about 25% of all the oil produced on earth and yet has little reserves of its own. It is almost entirely dependent on imported oil. China's extraordinary growth in the last ten years has seen an explosion of domestic wealth with the demand for motor vehicles increasing at an astonishing rate. With a population of over twice the U.S. there is no way that China has access to 50% of the worlds oil!

Energy Wars

Many eminent petroleum experts have debated Hubbert's theory however, many others agree with him. Some experts say we reached peak oil in 1985, some 2005. However, the debate over whether or not we have reached 'peak oil' rages and is mostly denied by the global oil companies. In any event, the fact is that the price of oil is steadily increasing and along with that so is the price of petroleum and almost every other product we use. Many see the problem as manifesting itself in the fight for the remaining major oil reserves in the Middle East. To the consumer like you and I, it will mean ever increasing prices with the cost of running a motor vehicle being just too high to contemplate. Another major cost for us these days, is the cost of power for your home or business. Imagine a world where the power is only available on certain days or at certain hours. Some poorer nations live with this reality right now. Its not science fiction!

Global Warming In The Age Of Oil

I have read various reports that predict that the age of oil will be a very small blip on the timeline of human history. It may last for 200 years, probably not even that long. However, the debate on the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels rages almost every day in newspapers and on television around the globe. Whilst it seems that for every expert proclaiming the effects of global warming, there is another equally qualified expert who loudly decries the very same effects. It does appear however that most of us now recognize that a century of pumping hydrocarbon emissions into our atmosphere has had some sort of derogatory effect on our natural environment. We cannot continue to spew effluent into the air and hope it will not impact us. This is another reason why alternative sources of energy need to be developed which are renewable and have little or no environmental impact. The most obvious sources of clean green renewable energy are solar and wind power.

Well What Can I Do?

Firstly, the only thing we can do about our dwindling oil supply is to use less of it both as individuals and for the whole human race across the board! The other solution is to find much more efficient means of converting oil to energy for our cars and power stations.

On a personal level, it would be prudent to take some steps to provide your family with some energy 'insurance'. What I mean by this, is think about generating your own power. The basis of solar and wind power generation has been around for many years. There are commercially available solar power systems and wind turbine power systems which work very well, are well designed and will provide years of free green power. For most of us however, the initial cost of commercially manufactured and installed systems will be prohibitive. But that need not put you off. There are lots of do it yourself manuals, guides and videos on the internet which offer a much more cost effective way of insuring your family's energy future. Shop around and if you're keen, you'll find that the solutions are pretty simple. It just needs motivation, a bit of handyman skill and not only can you save yourself some money but you can do your bit for a greener, more energy efficient world.

My name is Col Herbertson and I am an electronics technician working for a mining company in the field of Exploration Geophysics. I am interested in renewable energy generation due to the growing shortage of oil and energy. I believe that the solution to this problem is that we can all take small steps to become energy efficient. If you would like to find out more about renewable energy systems for your home, visit my website at DIY green energy [http://magnetic-ocean.com/].

Copyright Col Herbertson 2009

Do Red-Light Cameras Work?

There are few issues as controversial as photographic traffic signal enforcement systems, more commonly known as "red-light cameras". This is a technology which reeks of "Big Brother" surveillance. The impact of the technology on the rate of accidents is ambiguous, and the motivation of city leaders is often questioned since the cameras can be a significant revenue producer for municipalities.

The level of cynicism in general is very high right now because of the corruption found in so many of our institutions. When researching red-light cameras, this is apparent not only with comments in blogs from the public, but also with state officials lack of trust in local authorities, and everyone's seeming distrust of the data from the insurance industry.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), funded by automobile insurance companies, is the strongest advocate for red-light cameras. The studies from IIHS appear to be inconsistent with studies by virtually everyone else. For example, the IIHS claims that "using techniques of meta-analysis, the ... review did not find a statistically significant change in rear-end crashes." This conclusion is clearly inconsistent with most other studies. Some news articles, and some lawmakers, accuse insurers of mixed motivations since their revenues may increase when higher premiums are charged due to crash and citation increases. But accusing the insurance industry of wishing for more traffic accidents is amazingly cynical.

It is surprising that a definitive answer on the effect of red-light cameras is so unavailable. One of the problems is the technology tends to reduce one type of wreck, the "T-Bone", a collision between cars traveling at 90 degrees from one another, but increase rear-end collisions. This is because of panicked drivers over-reacting to the presence of the cameras. This was the finding of the Federal Highway Administration in 2005. They concluded that right-angle crashes decreased by 25 percent and resulting injuries decreased by 16 percent. However, the number of rear-end crashes increased by 15 percent and injuries from those accidents increased by 24 percent. It should be noted that the T-Bone collision is frequently the more severe of the two types of accident.

Studies by the states of Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia have reported that red-light cameras are responsible for an increase in the number of accidents, as well as crashes involving injuries. "Cameras were associated with an increase of between 31 percent and 54 percent for rear-end crashes overall," the 2007 Virginia DOT Report Shows report found. "The association of the cameras with angle crashes differed among jurisdictions, although a preponderance of test results suggested an increase."

Another complication with the measurement of the rate of auto accidents in general, is that our society in the U.S. is aging, and older drivers tend to be more conservative drivers. In Florida, the injury rate from red-light running crashes has dropped by about a third in the last 10 years without red-light cameras.

Many people question the motivation of local leaders who advocate red-light cameras. Dallas officials reviewed the statistics for red-light camera generated citations, and decided that about a quarter of the cameras they had installed had resulted in a dramatic reduction in the rate of citations, so they turned them off. They were no longer sufficiently profitable.

Texas is the most recent state to consider a ban on red-light cameras.

Red-light cameras are effective in reducing total casualty crashes, but the evidence is less conclusive on total collisions. Nationally, more than 7,000 fatal crashes and more than 500,000 injury crashes occur within intersections every year. This should be reduced. Larger and better controlled studies are needed, performed by entities that have sufficient independence and credibility.

Brian Bradshaw's work incorporates more than 25 years working with advanced instrumentation and information technology. He specializes in implementing Security Camera Systems for homes and businesses in the Southwestern United States with offices in Dallas and Phoenix. For additional information, please visit us at B.V.Technology Video Analytics and Surveillance Cameras.

The Union of European Football Associations

The U.E.F.A. is the governing body for the European football league. This group of people is responsible for setting the rules and standards for the European football league at all levels of football playing. The people in this group take their jobs very seriously. The association was formed so that the integrity of football would not be lost in the European countries, as it is believed to have been lost in other countries around the world.

Each year there is a convention held to discuss the rules and regulations that should followed by the league. Each year the convention is held in a different country that participates in the football league. This year, the U.E.F.A. set a list of value that they intend to instill in the league to safeguard the sport.

The first value that they feel needs to be instilled is to keep football first. Football is about the sport of playing the game, not the merchandize that is produced and sold because of the game. They also believe players sponsoring other products should be kept to a minimum.

The second value they implemented is pyramiding the structure of football. The purpose is of this is to keep the players and the coaches involved in the decision making processes of the league. The U.E.F.A. feels that if the coaches and players help in the decisions it will help keep them honest and passionate about the game.

Unity and leadership is considered the third value that they have implemented. With unity and leadership the sport can be protected and the players stay role models for the younger people in the nations. This is a big concern for the leaders of the sport.

The leaders also feel that keeping football as a grassroots sport will help preserve it's presence in Europe for years to come. Although they put that youth protection and education is a separate value to maintain, it actually falls in to this category as well. The U.E.F.A. feels that the protection and education of Europe's youth is vital to maintaining a respectable football league.

Sporting integrity and betting is another value that the association hopes to instill in the league. While betting revenue helps support the football league, leaders are concerned about coaches and players rigging games for the profits of betting. Maintaining integrity and limiting the betting is a sure way to help insure the league's standings for years to come.

The other values that were set by the association are just as important as the ones listed. Financial fairness to the players and regularity of competitions helps to further keep the integrity and success of the sport. Discrimination of any type is not tolerated in the European league. National teams and clubs are also regulated to insure fairness and structure. Respect is a must for all players, coaches, and fans. No violence of any type is tolerated.

Maintaining the European sports model is the ultimate goal for the U.E.F.A. For more information regarding their rules and regulations, as well as season scheduling check out their website.

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Myth of Man Made Climate Change & Other Draconian Legislation

There is a strong link between an increase in number and intensity of solar flares and global warming. This can largely discredit and override any influence humans may have on the changes in temperature on our planet in recent history. Research tends to suggest that major variations in global temperatures are beyond humanities control; and instead tend to be at the mercy of the sun's activity. Moreover, every couple of million years there is a slight tilt to the planets axis, causing major changes to the climate and structure of the earth. Volcanoes erupt, hurricanes happen and tornadoes take place either more or less frequently. These are natural phenomenon, definitely not man made. Man has not been an inhabitant of this planet long enough to be able to take such arrogant credit for all the wrongs of the world. Not to mention the globe changes: animals become extinct, new species become plentiful, the climate varies, the seas rise, the seas fall, tsunamis happen and the land structures morph. So what else is new?

One of the laws of Nature and Physics is that nothing stays the same, and would we really want it to? For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. Matter may change from ice to liquid to gas; but it is never totally destroyed. Organic matter eventually decomposes. The atoms and molecules become further apart as it decays, then are absorbed in the earth, used as nutrients for plant life, which are eaten by animals, and the cycle goes on and on in perpetuity.

However, one digresses. The point is, Nature takes care of herself. No matter how far advanced humanity is now, we cannot make more than an infinitesimal bit of difference to the landscape of this vast Earth we currently call Home. Should we be good stewards of the earth? Absolutely we should; but let us not confuse responsibly disposing of our litter, waste, and oil byproducts as well as keeping endangered plants and animal life off the extinction list with what is currently being proposed by our illustrious leaders in Congress and the Executive office, this being the Cap and Trade bill.

This bill is nothing more than a power grab accomplished through exorbitantly high taxation of energy usage by individuals and big companies alike. This bill if passed will destroy our way of life, as we know it. It will stifle future and present innovations and technological advancements. It will discourage any use of energy and encourage global "spreading of the wealth", or in other words moving nations down to the lowest common denominator in technology, inventions and innovation. What our Government will glean from this is a vastly enlarged government comprised of enlarged bureaucracies and increased tax revenues allowing even more entitlements to be created. This in turn furthers the long arm of Power these self-defined elite in the Government already have. For with every entitlement come more taxes and less money for the individual citizens and states to spend. With every entitlement come more regulations, each monitored and enforced by the Government or delegates of. On a global scale, one might even begin to imagine a one-world order managed by super elite heads of Nations. Why one might wonder was it so necessary to have an international summit to discuss 'Global Man Made Warming', when it has been debunked so recently?

This is even after the massive Health Care Insurance Bill, another massive power grab that will cause increased taxation, bureaucracies and lower quality of health care due fewer resources, increased waiting time and restricted opportunity to see ones physician. Let us not even mention the cuts in Medicare.

However, to return to the subject of Cap and Trade, which lists as a poison, of all things - CO2. CO2 is an element necessary for all types of life to flourish. Its existence is vital in keeping the Earth from becoming a rotating globe of cold rock; for without plants to use the sun's rays to photosynthesize carbon dioxide to oxygen, which in turn promotes a green house effect, the earth would be un-inhabitable. Thus, through plant life the bi-product of CO2 is Oxygen, which all animal-life to one extent or another need to survive.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) describes only the first year of taxes that ultimately will build upon itself in perpetuity under the Cap and Tax bill. Under this Cap and Trade system, the government sets a limit or cap on the total amount of carbon, which will be emitted nationally. Companies will be forced to buy or sell permits to emit carbon dioxide. As time goes down, the cap is cranked down to reduce total carbon emissions and companies will be forced to comply and ultimately die.

The gross domestic product (GDP) is manipulated downward. The sinister premeditated point of Cap and Trade is to hike the price of electricity and gas so that each American uses less. Unfortunately, these higher prices will not be limited to the price of electricity or gas. It will show up in every manufactured good, from plastics, food and cars. Plastic is composed of a bi-product of oil. How many things can you think of that are composed of or wrapped in plastic? Consumers will have no choice but to cut back on spending, resulting in fewer products produced which in turn, results in even higher unemployment as no new jobs will be created, and staff cutbacks on existing ones are made. Companies will eventually move their products over seas, but the result will be the same. Low-income Americans, through necessity tend to devote more of their day-to-day income to energy bi-products such as food, gas to get to work and money for electricity. Thus, they really will be hit the hardest as they have more to lose.

This big government, high taxes, a stimulus bill that did anything but stimulate the economy, the incongruous and blatant disregard for the People's wishes when passing the new Health Care bill behind closed doors through thinly veiled bribery, threats, and an unconstitutional usage of Reconciliation to enact a Bill they otherwise did not have the votes for -- these are some of the things Tea Party people are concerned about. Also, our decreased national security under this current administration: Obama's constant bowing to and apologizing for America to our enemies, snubbing our allies, and signing a contract to disarm our nuclear warheads; while our enemies maintain their own nuclear arm heads, all these things will just be a byline if we pass Cap and Trade and sign the treaty into international and national law. Tea Party protesters have the facts, know their history and are justifiably alarmed at the swiftness and direction our country is being hijacked.

Self appointed policy and trend setters have vilified, and in the process implemented political correctness in our speech and even in our behavior, even as far as in the armed forces to the extent that the Fort Hood massacre prosecuted by a self admitted Muslim extremist and the Christmas Day underwear bomber both are swept under the rug as criminal acts, rather than the first terrorist acts they were, committed on the American homeland since 9/11. The Pentagons answer to the Fort Hood massacre was more political correctness and encouraging more Muslims to enter the armed forces, ostensibly as translators, without profiling or background check, as a show of continued goodwill. Intimidation of Americans through vilification, political correctness and slander appear to be the phrase of the day, especially against Tea Party members and conservatives.

During the initial phase of debate in the House Energy Committee, Republicans offered three amendments to the bill, to be used as a safety net in the quest of not destroying our economy further by initiating a yet untried but potentially devastating change that once implemented would be all but impossible to repeal: the first amendment was to suspend the program while in the implementation phase if gas hit $5.00 a gallon; the second was to suspend the program if electricity prices rose 10% over the year 2009; and the third was to suspend the program if unemployment hit 15%. The Democrats defeated all three, tending to indicate they already had inside knowledge that all these would happen if the bill passed and became law of the land. Britain is already experiencing these effects and they have had the Green program in effect only a few years. This climate bill is likely to be the biggest tax bill in American history. This is unfortunately, saying a lot considering the past 15 months. Americans should be wary.

With Congress solidly Progressive and willing to pass any legislation the President wants, the time has come to protect your future and find a good home-based alternative to make money. Check out my website and get instant access to my secret self-employment options.

Jimmy Mack
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10 Things You Must Know Before Choosing Your Copier Vendor

Before making your final choice when choosing a copier vendor there are 10 things that you must know.

1)    Are they an authorized dealer?

Ask if they are an authorized dealer for the brand copier they are recommending to your business. Besides hearing the answer, you will need some type of proof. A certificate from the manufacturer or being listed on the manufacturer's web site are adequate proof. An authorized dealer has the advantage of having the full support of the manufacturer which includes product training, replacement parts and supplies as well as warranty support (i.e. replacing defective machines).

2)    Guarantees?

The second item you need to know is their guarantees. Most vendors have good intentions to provide good service. You need to find out what the vendor guarantees, in writing, to provide when things don't go smoothly. You are exchanging cash for the ability to produce documents. You need the assurance that you can produce those documents no matter what. Find out how the vendor guarantees to respond to service requests and what happens if there are repetitive problems with your equipment. A key point is not just finding out what the vendor intends to do, you also need to get an answer to the question "or what?". For example, you need to find out what the vendor's service response time is and then find out what the consequence is to the vendor if they don't perform.

3)    Hidden fees?

Next find out what hidden fees exist besides the cost of acquiring the copier and its operating costs (service and supplies). Hidden fees can include filing fees, insurance charges or interim rent paid to a leasing company and delivery charges for supplies. Hidden fees can add significant expense to your total cost of ownership.

4)    Who is the leasing company?

Most companies tend to lease when they acquire new copiers. You will want to find out who "funds" the vendor's leases. You need to understand the relationship between the equipment vendor and the leasing company. The closer the business relationship, the more likely it is that the vendor can help with issues that may arise with the equipment lease. Late fees, insurance charges, billing errors can be annoying and time consuming problems that can be tough to correct on your own. You want to know up-front what leverage the equipment vendor has to be able to help you.

5)    Who is the vendor owner?

The fifth thing you need to know is who owns the vendor. Is the vendor locally owned or is it a division of an international company? Depending on the structure of your business, each type of vendor can have an advantage to your business. For instance, if you are a local business and operate primarily in a single location, a local vendor may be the best choice. Although not a rule, local vendors (or dealerships) many times outshine national distributors in their ability to customize aspects of their support. On the other hand, if you operate in multiple locations, it may be easier for you to work with a vendor that can personally control the quality of service delivery for all your locations.

6)    Supply replenishment?

A sixth item to determine is how the vendor replenishes supplies used by the equipment. Toner is the most frequently replaced component and without it, your equipment will not produce the documents your company needs to operate. You'll want to find out if the vendor has systems in place to keep you stocked at all times with the supplies necessary to operate your equipment. It's recommended to have your own backup plan but you are first asking the vendor about their systems that will prevent disaster on your end.  You also want to ask about a worst case scenario when you do run out of toner. What systems do they have in place to get you back up and running again quickly?

7)    Meter readings?

Although not critical to your equipment operating, a seventh item you want to find out about is how the vendor collects usage information or meter readings. Most vendors charge for service on a usage basis usually stated as a cost per copy. Service can be packaged in different ways but the vendor will always want to track your usage. Find out how meter readings are collected by the vendor. Your best case is where the vendors have an automated system where the equipment communicates directly with them (and doesn't violate any of your network security policies) so as to not disturb your employees.

8)    Billing errors?

The eighth item to evaluate is who can help you with billing errors. Most often there are two entities you are dealing with. The first is the equipment vendor who is placing and supporting your copier equipment. You will receive operating cost service and included supplies) and supply (i.e. staples, paper) invoices from them. The second entity is the leasing company the vendor used to fund the copier lease. They will send lease invoices for the equipment. There are variations where the leasing company will invoice for the equipment as well as operating costs. Whatever your program type, you want to find out how many invoices you will receive and who is invoicing each component. Will you have one local point of contact that is close to the invoicing process or are there multiple contacts located far from your location. The fewer contacts you have to work with and the closer they are to the process, the faster and easier you will be able to resolve billing errors.

9)    The "lemon".

In the 23 years that I was an equipment salesperson as well as a dealer principal, I never saw any equipment labeled as a "lemon" when it was delivered to our dock. Although not a frequent occurrence, some of the equipment unboxed as brand new had demons that showed themselves fairly quickly after installation. The ninth item that you want to find out about is the process the vendor uses to resolve equipment reliability issues. Ask who is involved and how long each step described takes. Your best case is the fewest people involved and a short time line. Keep in mind you need to find out how the vendor handles replacing a machine that is within 90 days of installation as well as equipment that has been in use longer. These 2 categories are usually handled differently.

10) What do you want to change?

Unless you are a start-up business, you probably are currently using a copier and have a current vendor. During your relationship there are issues that have likely surfaced.  The tenth item you need to find out before choosing your copier vendor is can the vendor(s) you are considering  serve you in a way that eliminates or minimizes the issues that you are currently experiencing. Pretending you have a magic wand, describe on paper the perfect equipment vendor. Have your wish list close at hand when discussing how you want to work with a potential (or current) vendor. Have the vendor put in writing your expectations and how they will deliver them. Remember item 2 above and make sure get an answer to the question "or what?" for each area of concern. Promises or guarantees without "teeth" will not deliver the support you are seeking.

Researching these ten questions will help you choose the best vendor for your business. 

If you have any questions, you can e-mail them to help@bottomlineadv.com

David Cantliffe is the President and Founder of BottomLine Advantage LLC located in Superior, Colorado. BottomLine Advantage is a performance-based, client advocacy consulting group that specializes in reducing hard dollar costs for copy, print, and fax expenses, as well as facilities management agreements while simultaneously enhancing vendor service support levels.

David's experience spans over 18 years as a sales representative within the copier industry combined with 5 years experience as a dealership principal. You can download free articles and templates containing additional cost reduction ideas at http://www.bottomlineadv.com inside the resources tab, send an e-mail with questions or contact David at 888.400.3600.

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