The REST of the story, etc

The REST of the story, etc was Originally Posted on March 25, 2005 by lavarock

There was a popular radio feature here called “The REST of the Story”. Paul Harvey would tell a story, usually omitting a fact or two, then telling you the REST of the story which would amaze the listener.

One such story tells of the first President of the US. It tells the story of George Washington being appointed President of the US and John Adams being appointed Vice President. They began their travel to the capiton of the country, Philadelphia. I seem to remember there was a snow storm or whatever and John Adams arrived first. He was duely sworn in as Vice President. The Constitution was in place at the time and it stated that if the President could not fulfil his job as President, the Vice President would be in charge. So, if the President has not yet been sworn in, he could not be in charge, so in essence, the Vice President was acting President for a few days until George showed up.

A technicality? Perhaps, but John Adams was the President for at least a few days. Now you know the REST of the story…

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September 10th, people around the world wait to see how bad the devastation will be. Many could die tomorrow. A land and its people may never be the same. Oh yes, the world knew in advance the horror of what was to come. They knew in advance. It was no secret. It was in the papers, on the news, all on September 10th. September 10th, 1992. Hurricane Iniki was scheduled to make landfall directly upon the Hawaiian island Kauai. It did, and the destruction was immense. Now you know the REST of the story…

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So now you see how it works.

Here are two news items that you may consider. I make no comment on my side of either issue, only that how you feel MAY be effected by the press reports you hear…

Item 1:

Feb 25, 1990, a woman named Terry Schiavo has a heart attack and both her husband and her parents are working to help and care for her. This type of news item would not get much press. Much later the husband says his wife did not want to be kept alive by mechanical means. The parents say not so! They fight back and forth.

Skip ahead to today and USA Today is reporting that this whole back and forth and lawsuits MAY be all related to how a $1 million malpractice settlement Schiavo won 13 years ago over Terri’s care should be spent.

I personally have not followed the case but can tell you that this information, if true, may explain quite a bit.

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Item 2:

Martha Stewart is accused of insider stock trading. Investigations ensue and a big deal is made out of whether she did this and/or covered it up.

Yes, many CEO’s of large companies have stolen, cheated and/or lied and if that is the case with Martha, her supporters said “Why make an example out of her…”

Well, I wondered the same thing. I wondered if there was a vendetta against her. Why spend so much time prosecuting her?

Then I read, in small print somewhere, the fact that Martha Stewart was on the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange. This means that she needed to be above reproach since she could make decisions that effected the whole stock market process, I’m sure.

In this case, it probably was prudent to completely investigate. It was the same as the investigation of House and Senate staff (who oversaw the US budget) to be investigated when they were tied into illegal banking procedures.

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Recently there has been a flurry of messages and news on whether the US should allow citizens to invest their own money for their retirement. SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE BANKRUPT! “WIDOWS AND ORPHANS WILL BE HOMELESS”… the fight goes on.

Let’s take a look at the issue.

1st, who ever said Social Security was a “retirement plan”. It was NOT meant to be a retirement account.

[b]SEC. 702. The Board shall perform the duties imposed upon it by this Act and shall also have the duty of studying and making recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance, and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy concerning old-age pensions, unemployment compensation, accident compensation, and related subjects.[/b]

It sound more like a catastrophic insurance policy.

So, the government comes up with a plan to help make sure that pensions are paid and accident benefits are directed properly, and over the years people begin to treat it as a savings account.

Who in their right mind would let the US Government manage their own bank account?

Then you begin to look at who wants to keep the process in place and why.

One reason to not give up on Social Security might be that it is a cash cow. It takes in money and pays it out, but there is no drawer or account where your money that you have paid in, is kept in. All the funds go into the general fund of the government, who then loans it to other countries, or pays it out in farm credits, or whatever. Later down the road, they pay benefits to recipients from the general fund. That sounds like a slush fund that they can borrow from. Now, maybe I’m wrong, but that is my opinion. I don’t fully understand the SS process, nor do I care. I am NOT assuming that any of that money will flow back to me in later years. I am managing my OWN retirement fund, thank you.

Another group who might benefit from keeping social secirity as it is, is any political group who keeps voiters on their side by saying the other side is taking this money away from them. People who would be worried are those who are not big wage earners and people who have no money saved for themselves.

Another group might be one who makes a lot of money off representing people who might be relying upon social security. I believe that groups like AARP HAVE to be against the privatation of social security. Think about it, what else does AARP do besides talk about Social Security? What would they do if Social Security was not an issue? I don’t know.

So, always take what news you hear, with a grain of salt. Sometimes you don’t get the whole message. Do your own research.

I may be completely wrong with every item in this blog., so do your own research.