Abunai's Blog

One of our favorite bloggers at it again!  Taken to task for her antics, and unable to control herself.  Once again the delete button for editing as she continues to try to run her own blog inside a free/public myfox blog.  I myself have made my own blog, and paid for my own space where I am free to make my own rules,  some however continue to try to "freeload" off myfox and thats fine.  I'm also free to expose it.

Has your wage increases kept up with inflation/cost of living increases?

Many are starting to understand what people are talking about when they hear the term "Middle Class Squeeze."   Take for example, most businesses today has adopted the "cost of living" increase as a form of "pay raise" instead of the old $ 1.00 to $ 2.00 per hour raises that were given way back when for hard work, continued education, and continued growth in skills that benefit the company.  So for many who have stayed in a company for 5 to 10 years, are they truly bringing home the pay level that is deserved?

Take for instance an individual who stays in the same company for many years, not really moving around, staying in the same position, but the skills have increased from continuous education and training.  Each year, a cost of living raise is given, ranging anywhere from 2.3 to 3.9%. 

The inflation rate is about 4%, but realistically most people know the real inflation rate is closer to probably 6% or 7%. So each year the individual that receives the cost of living increase as a raise has around 3% to 4% less buying power then they did the year before or in prior years as well.

A couple of things to think about, more companies require degrees for certain areas. If one chooses per say to have a career with the City, State, or Government, over period of time one could possibly loose 20% - 45% of their standard living.  How will this affect our children coming out of college in the next few years? Can a student afford to repay a student loan, and be able to afford the cost of living that we are at right now? And, how long do you think it will be before the "Middle Class" is stomped down to the level of being considered among the poor, leaving us with only two classes, either being rich or poor?

Inflation getting 'uglier and uglier'

Surging energy prices help drive annual cost-of-living rate rise to 4.2%.

By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writer Last Updated: June 13, 2008: 10:21 AM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The cost of living rose in May as consumers were belted by energy costs, the government said Friday.  The Consumer Price Index, a key inflation reading, rose 4.2% through the 12 months ended in May, according to the Labor Department. This compared to an increase of 3.9% during the 12 months ended in April.  For the month of May, overall CPI rose 0.6%, compared to an increase of 0.2% in April. That's the biggest increase since last November, when the overall CPI surged 0.9%. A consensus of analysts interviewed by Briefing.com had projected an increase of 0.5% for May.

The dramatic increase in energy costs were largely responsible for the overall inflation. Energy costs rose 4.4% in May, and surged 17.4% over the 12 months ending in May, the Labor Department said  "These (CPI) numbers are nowhere near to what we're seeing in the real world," said Peter Beutel, energy analyst for Cameron Hanover, who believed the "real" cost of living has increased at a higher rate than the index shows. "But even these diluted numbers are showing that inflation is getting uglier and uglier and uglier."   Beutel said this puts more pressure on the Federal Reserve to increase the federal funds rate, which he thinks could happen in August or September. The rate is currently at 2%.  The higher that inflation is, the sooner the Fed has to raise rates to help keep a lid on prices," said Beutel.  The index for fuel oil rose 10.4% in May and soared 64% over the 12 months. The gasoline index rose 5.7% in May and surged 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. The index for natural gas rose 5.6% in May, and was up 16.5% over the last year.

Electricity costs also increased, but less dramatically, edging up 0.9% in May, and rising 5.8% over the last 12 months.  As a result, transportation costs increased 2% in May, and jumped 8.1% over the 12 months ending in May. The index for household energy costs climbed 2.8% in May, its fourth consecutive jump, the Labor Department said.  The price of food also pushed up overall costs. Food costs increased 0.3% in May, and jumped 5.1% during the 12 months ending in May. The price of milk was a big influence on the overall price, increasing 10.2% over the 12 months, despite slipping 0.7% in May. The cost of clothing was the one area where consumers got some relief. Apparel costs deflated 0.2% in May, and decreased 0.4% over the 12 months.  The core CPI, which excludes the cost of food and energy, rose 0.2% in May, compared to an increase of 0.1% in April. A consensus of analysts interviewed by Briefing.com had projected an increase of 0.2% for May.

The core CPI rose 2.3% during the 12 months ending in May. 

http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/13/news/economy/CPI/i
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dex.htm?cnn=yes

(Posted MyFoxTampaBay)

Responses are next:

So now I thought that it was politics that stopped at the waters edge, but evidently saving the planet from pollution, C02 emissions, greenhouse gasses, etc is only to happen at home!  All those who swore to Kyoto now are getting a chance to see just how fantastic those efforts have rewarded mother earth with air pollution so thick in China you can cut it with a knife!  Yesterday it actually rained, washing out some outdoor events, but for the FIRST TIME the air quality actually got within safe limits for olympic athletes.   Where is Greenpeace, Sierria, Gore and little Kennedy?    Who will expose the fact that alot of that ugly air comes from European nations that pay China will to have their industry and manufacturing over there away from enviromental regulations?  Who will make a point that all the old Dupont freon gasses illegal in the US now are hanging out of every window in China!

We can't drill oil off our own shores but China, Cuba, and Russia can!  We say business is outsourced because of cheap labor, but don't bring up the hyper regulation and shakedown of business that chases them out of this country!   We go after "big oil" not remembering that Democrats (Hillary) ran "big drug company" out of town in Bill's first term, and we had vaccine shortages as a result of it that even killed people!

Well shoot!  The 2nd Qtr figures our out and it seems the GDP is up about 1.8 in growth, and unemployment suprised all the "experts" again by being better than expected.

All through the Bush administration we continued to hear the term "better than the experts estimated."   Now either we have "experts" that are simply working off of liberal wishful thinking, or they can't estimate their way out of a wet paper bag!  I think its time to find us a new batch of "experts!"

However, you know the Democrats and liberals are fit to be tied that the economy continues to prosper!  The MARKET is correcting itself!  Starbucks has pulled back, resturant chains are scaling back. Oil is starting to come to its senses, etc.

Almost silent in the last couple weeks is the military transporting 550 metric tons of yellowcake from Iraq to Canada.  I guess this is filed in the liberal media box of "never report!"  While CNN and others did have a flash on it, they are doing everything they can to stay away from the timeline of this event.

It would seem to me that this would likely be some of the material that Joe Wilson was supposed to report on.  If this is NOT the same yellow cake that he failed to report, then I think its time to switch our focus on impeaching someone on the basis that apparently we were not lied to after all.  After all..... If you can buy into EVERY intel agency on the globe getting it wrong once..... how about twice then.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/07/iraq.uranium/<
/p>

Russia now illeged to be making plans to put offensive bombers and missiles in Cuba in response to American defensive missiles in Poland and Chek region.   Ah yes!  The good ole days of the 60s all over again!  Lets also put Hugo Chavez into the picture now as he is arming up his (as Obama would put it) little country as well.  So now with Russians power, on Cuban soil and friends to the south, we have a powder keg issue right in our back yard again!  Better start looking at this election REAL close folks!  Democrats in the 90s took our military and defense down to almost half, and the liberals have made sure the entire planet understands that we struggle to even effect deterence in two regions at the same time.  We also have let the world know that we have oil here larger than anything the middle east can get, and just sitting on it!  Russia is already tapping it just 30 miles off of Florida, and the Chinese are about to join them!

Call me an alarmist all you like, but then you tell me if we are in a "healthy" position right now.....

According to the ladies on the View and even after we buried the "N" word in New Orleans, it seems to be OK for anyone of Black or African descent to use the word in any form they choose exclusively.  Anyone Other Than Black (OTB) is banned from its use. 

My question then, if we are going to have a second standard of such, then is it only OK for Whites to use the term(s) "Cracker,".."Honkey,".."White Bread," etc?  Spanish folks can only use terms of their own, Italians, Polish, Germans, etc all have very specific titles as well.

When a city counsel meeting discusses things falling into a "black hole" ( missing or gone from view.. a scientific term EVERYONE understands) and a Black member asks for an apology for such a term because of outright race baiting.  Just who is it that is trying to bring back segregation these days...

Is it just me or is anyone else seeing issues with posting on the blogs now?  I have seen where I had comments being reviewed prior to being posted, and others where that message didn't even go up, and its as if I didn't even write anything.

I would think if the webmaster here is suddenly taking a more focused look at posters here we might see some sort of message.  I continue to see people posting false information, and twisting facts to fit agendas. 

The age old debate on if 55MPH is a good idea for the reasons suggested.  Fuel savings and safer roads are the top given reasons.

The debate for it is defended using the issue of drag.  The resistance of your car as it travels and the amount of it that is reduced thus saving fuel.  I say HOG WASH! If you want to discuss drag, then we should also discuss inertia of motion.  The more momentum your car has, the less fuel required to maintain that speed on an even surface. But saving that for another day. 

Speed is not what burns fuel, its Revolutions of your engine measured in minutes (RPM)  Today's cars are designed and transmissions geared to be turning about 1500 to 1700 RPMs at 65MPH.  My Durango and the wife's Lexis at 55MPH has not gone into its tallest gear yet, and actually doing over 2000 RPMs at that speed.  At 65MPH the overdrive gear had kicked in and we are back to well below 2000RPMs.

If we REALLY were trying to save fuel, then we would be mandating taller gears by American cars.  We already have vehicles that actually drop half its cylinders on the freeway saving half the fuel it would burn. 

Food for thought (made me laugh and think at the same time)  Heard on the radio the comment, " I don't hear anyone demanding the airlines drop speeds of aircraft to only 300MPH."   Hmmmmm...  Maybe we should tax Water recreational craft and all terrain vehicles not used in a work capacity then.

The Democrats now scared that the military might turn around and start reporting good news on the war in Iraq or other aspects on the war on terror now are trying to silence the Pentagon by saying their words are propaganda.

Well, now if they seriously intend on going down this path, which is nothing more than outright sensorship, then I say lets just do it!

The President should pick up the red phone, and tell the Joint Chiefs that he wants ALL media credentials pulled and to have the Marines escort every last member of the media out of the Pentagon, cut all electronic media, and communications.  Then send out FLASH message traffic to the armed forces around the globe instructing them to put any and all inbedded reporters, and others on the next plane out, or drop them off at the nearest embassy!

I know Roosevelt during WWII made sure the media was sensored, and ran his own news reels!  I suggest then that we do exactly that!  Let the military do its job, and then lets see what happens when the family and friends of all the military serving overseas end up loosing all communications other than sensored snail mail as Roosevelt also opened all the mail as well!

Hey, if the Liberals REALLY want to repeat history... then lets just do that then! 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/04/sunspot
s_and_a_possible_new_ic.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352241,00.html<
/a>

St. Cloud enjoys one of the newest medical facilities in central Fl, and yet they are worried about another hospital's construction in central Fl actually snatching away patients, Doctors, nurses, and medical staff.  WHAT?

A Judge today will be hearing arguments on this case?  Why!  The call for more medical care, and affordable care scream across the land, and now when that call is answered, someone comes along to stop it?  We stopped AT&T's monopoly decades ago, and have cheaper/better/competing companies now.  If I see a CVS drug store I know I can look across the street and Walgreens will be right there!  Home Depot has a Lowes almost sharing parking lots!

Evidently we have a mentality in the medical world that needs adjusting!  I watch nursing students have to retake courses because the waiting list for a good nursing program can be 3 years or better, and the studies actually get too old because we don't have enough hospital space to teach and train them!

Either its a competition issue, OR Govt. is working in the back room, trying to keep medical care as rare as they can so people will support Govt healthcare!  Time to get to the bottom of this one....

Today a Florida Judge threw out a case brought before the court that demanded the voters voice be heard.  Hats off to this Judge!  The CORRECT judgement was made!

That there is no fundemental right to vote in a PRIVATE party's election. (i.e. party primary) and that instead the voters should vote for people that will respect their wishes at this level. 

YES!  Remembe that Republicans are standing behind their party and its rules and punishment for breaking them because Republicans understand the issue of accountability and accept it.

Democrats on the other hand who NEVER operate for a CORE position, are trying to wiggle out of their own obligation, and agreements.  That you would try to change the rulesbecause you don't like a candidate, means you never agreed to the DNC/Florida date change in the beginning on its own merrits to begin with!  Once again the arterial motive raises its ugly head, and Democrats not liking the outcome of something are running to the Judicial Branch seeking litigation from the bench!

Same old tricks, different day!

Someone else has tried to post this topic, and it was selected for the main page, but nothing is there!....

This bill is a PERFECT example of why I won't vote for John McCain.  There was a better bill, that offered more money as you served more time, and it was also available to the direct family of military members as well, but it was blocked by Democrats, and the media refused to even bring it up!  Instead they tried to spin McCain not supporting the Webb bill without giving a reason!

McCain didn't follow-up, he let it go, and the media hid it from the general public.  The general public NEVER took the information of McCain not supporting Webb's bill a step further and asked "Why?"

I tell ya, our leadership these days, it the same as letting the inmates run the asylum!!

Orlando Sentinel Sunday front page  discussing the "bold marketing campaign" to require patients to be seen within one hour of arrival.  The articles continues to state that  hospitals are still not meeting this time table, and suggests its because of the rising number of "Uninsured  Americans."

As an EMT working in the field, AND time working strictly in the ER, this"problem" with waiting NEVER gets the attention that it actually needs.  In Europe they tried to mandate the wait time for their ERs and in order to meet the rules, Ambulances and EMS simply waited with patients in the parking lot and kept them stable until the actual ER was ready to meet the time constraint.  Now instead of a wait at the ER we have a delay in EMS and Advanced Life Support (ALS) out in the field.  All so the hospital's numbers look good!

Americans (and those who use the system that are NOT citizens) flood the ERs with non-critical, and hardly Acute cases.  Teething children, muscle aches and pains, and splinters in your thumb hold up a system never designed for such purposes, and many of the uninsured (American or otherwise) will actually wait until Acute Care centers close before seeking medical attention and go to the ER where now they can't be sent back.

Not to mention that Doctors walk around with targets on their backs with a Tort system waiting in the wings to file suit against them for not dotting that I or crossing that T.  I've seen first hand people who upon having their very lives saved, end up retaining laywers because of the scar left behind from not wearing their seatbelt and then eating a windshield!

If Capital Hill has time to investigate Baseball for juicing players, or football for filming the other team, MAYBE we might have time to start working on our medical system.  Currently their answer is to socialize the system, and then your waits will truely be longer, and the dirty little secret.... you won't be able to sue a single Govt. furnished doctor...