Rick Warren, Pizza and Theocracy

Rick Warren's pizza comment may be valid for him but not for everyone. I don't think Rick has been appointed God or elected President of the United States and I doubt he ever could be. Being asked to give the Invocation at the Inaugural of Barack Obama's ascent to the Presidency may be appropriate since the Invocation is one of the last acts of the former intolerant administration and the Benediction by Joseph Lowery a civil rights leader is the first act under the new Obama administration.

I cannot and will never understand the acts of the self righteous who not only have personal beliefs but try to take away other peoples beliefs. This magnificent country was maybe the first to not only recognize individuality but to legitimize all beliefs and the underlying need for laws that are based on the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people who are equal under the law - no exceptions.

I see as much goodness in gay couples as I do heterosexual couples. We are not talking about just the religious aspects but also the civil aspects of gay marriage. How can the government negate a marriage performed by an ordained religious leader? Some pastors see no problem so why is the government involved? Why do some pastors like Warren or others feel the obligation to block what others do. Should the LDS Church oppose the sale of Caffeine in the United States? Should all people be baptized in the Catholic Church as they once believed was the only way to heaven?

Perhaps Barack Obama had the right idea by defining for all to see it's time for the old intolerance of Rick Warren to give way and open up to the tolerance of Joseph Lowery and begin a dialogue.

Should we start to see the intolerance of otherwise good people like Rick Warren as Corned Beef Hash something I can definitely do without because that is my choice - I don't like it, won't eat it and definitely will not marry it - but then I won't stop others from loving their Corned Beef Hash.

What are we buying - Where was it made

What are we buying - Where was it made?

Do an inventory around the house. I may be a little slow but eventually it is all sinking in to my feeble brain. Oh I have complained about all the products from China at Walmart. Our problem is we are not terrific with the whole "Cause and Effect" concept.

We tend to try and find the best buy for the buck. We may all think the folks running the companies/corporations are looking for better and better production methods. I have news for you, they really don't.

We tend to believe the Economists have all the answers. They really do but the problem is they have all the answers both good and bad and rely too much on macro-economics and miss the reality of day-to-day life. They always tend to have pet theories on what works and what doesn't based on the past, based on statistics and, unfortunately, based on information gathered from 20,000 feet up.

We tend to believe the government can fix anything. They can't and often only mimic the views of those who have access to their brains.

The economy today is failing, in my opinion, because we have forgotten what made our country great - self reliance.

To keep our economy strong we need to produce goods.

I looked at the top 20 US companies in 1950 and 2005. Of course we all understand that there needed to be a drop in Buggy Whip production and Covered Wagon production over time but lets look at what happened since 1950

1950 Oil (7), Foods (3), Auto (2), Chemical (2), Steel (2), Communications (1), Television (1) Aircract Mfg (1), Electronics (1),

2005 Financial (3), Insurance (3), Oil (3), Auto (2), Computers (2), Electronics (1), Healthcare (1), Home Repair (1), Communications (1), Tobbaco&Food (1)

It became apparent to me we have over time curtailed production in the US, Oil Companies consolidated, Financial institutions and Insurance Companies grew and produced debt and poorer and poorer coverage. Auto builders drove their businesses into the ground. The home repair business grew as did Walmart (The #1 corporation) selling for the most part foreign goods.

As our auto industry and steel plants are failing or have failed in the states foreign competition has taken over.

I don't mean to bitter or ignorant of the need for global business but it would be nice if we kept our own citizens working.

Perhaps the time has come for management and labor to both bite the bullet and for once "get real."

* Executives of businesses do NOT need millions for heading their companies.

* Union workers do NOT need to make ten times more than the rest of the workforce.
* People who work should make enough to eventually own a home, car, take a vacation and not worry about health care.

* People who want to work should be able to find a decent, stable job.

* Some effort needs to be made to assure energy efficiency.

* "Green" technology needs to be funded based on immediate economic impact.

* Let us all start by buying local, regional and country before we buy foreign when possible

* please add your ideas with a comment