tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.comments2010-08-22T08:56:53.967-07:00what I write for fun (and for free)Matt Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00036933223010265667noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-42737230489874446162009-09-26T10:32:54.259-07:002009-09-26T10:32:54.259-07:00Truly a work of genius. Thanks for calling it as ...Truly a work of genius. Thanks for calling it as it is - not an easy thing to do nowadays.<br /><br />CWKookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16938206553267591553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-10375870828069190112009-09-19T22:22:34.384-07:002009-09-19T22:22:34.384-07:00It's easy to get carried away sometimes and fo...It's easy to get carried away sometimes and forget why we care so much. Thanks for the great reminder! Those are pretty awesome reasons, btw. ;)Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17053510742314749043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-32626306053001463412009-09-18T09:16:52.905-07:002009-09-18T09:16:52.905-07:00Great take on this. I absolutely agree, especiall...Great take on this. I absolutely agree, especially with the high road being...uhm...obscured from view from some people. Clear the brush and take the high road people.Jared and Tara Phelpshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230272548415371016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-43419357213641741482009-09-03T21:37:44.794-07:002009-09-03T21:37:44.794-07:00I love this. I think people are freakin' out a...I love this. I think people are freakin' out a little. Settle down and get to work making changes instead of beating the dead horse. Well said, Matt.Wendy Phelpshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06228826133325643969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-74263094071974752502009-06-17T22:22:28.675-07:002009-06-17T22:22:28.675-07:00Those Boston Creme's are hard to resist! But s...Those Boston Creme's are hard to resist! But seriously those things weigh about 1/2 lb. each! I had one the other night and felt so sick afterwards. But it was worth it. :) Stan ate 2 no problem.Crissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112349786126193632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-26927045253696329622009-06-17T18:35:21.748-07:002009-06-17T18:35:21.748-07:00Wow, I didn't know you guys were doing that! ...Wow, I didn't know you guys were doing that! Good for you! James and Jolene should do a nutrition lesson with the whole family- we all could benefit from that! Great post Matt- I always enjoy reading your stuff! :)The Whatcott Famhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05707316550578536651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-27600397131373322622009-03-23T22:30:00.000-07:002009-03-23T22:30:00.000-07:00Very insightful Matt. Maybe you and the "Mayor" n...Very insightful Matt. Maybe you and the "Mayor" need to sit down and talk about it. He gets home from school at 3:15. :)<BR/><BR/>Very cool blog! I didn't even know you had one.Crissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112349786126193632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-71995855862938131182009-02-11T12:44:00.000-08:002009-02-11T12:44:00.000-08:00Hey Matt- I just discovered this blog of yours! I...Hey Matt- I just discovered this blog of yours! I love this post- very funny!The Whatcott Famhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05707316550578536651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-24523749235820599432009-01-30T08:32:00.000-08:002009-01-30T08:32:00.000-08:00Hi Matt. I tried to comment before but it didn't s...Hi Matt. I tried to comment before but it didn't seem to post. If it comes up again sorry. I just thought it was a good idea for the secret service agents to wear track suits. I read an article that said Mr. Obama is loosening the White House dress code on the weekends, so maybe he'll let them wear track suits on weekends when he's wearing business casual.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03011814276143769355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-80941260724834075002009-01-21T23:09:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:09:00.000-08:00hahaobama wondefulhaha<BR/>obama wondefuljackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08967219355563380544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4090314284789894336.post-10023025027326878502009-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:002009-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:00I agree that greed is the bottom-line cause of thi...I agree that greed is the bottom-line cause of this financial mess that seems to have enveloped the world "out of nowhere". One of the main symptoms of that cause, and was the actual catalyst to the eventual degradation of the economy is debt: federal deficits, state budgets, county and municipal spending, business (large and small) lines of credit, even churches, and yes, personal and family debt.<BR/>I love the fact that you mentioned the people as one of the ingredients of greed. In reality, it is the people (the individuals) who allowed all of this to happen. For, is not our federal, state, county, and municipal governments all made up of "We the People"? Is it not individuals who purchase stock in corporations whose bottom lines are always in the red but "they have potential" or their "fundamentals are good"? Is it not the individual's demand (greed) for the latest and greatest gadgets that push companies, small and large to produce product faster than they can pay for it? Is it not the individual who wanted to build the next "mega church" so badly that he or she ignored scripture that specifically warns against the use of debt? Is it not the individual and his or her desire to live like grandma and grandpa, or mom and dad NOW and not work for it like most grandmas an grandpas and moms and dads did? <BR/>Each of these ingredients put individuals, churches, businesses, and all levels of government in so much debt collectively and individually that there is now only one REAL way out of it. Finances are one area in which there is no "infinite redeemer". Contrary to what is going on right now, government is not a money tree and when they arbitrarily print money from nothing, it only causes more eventual pain. When entities make financial mistakes, they can't look to the omnipotent and omnipresent government to "forgive them their debts". Government cannot step in with "bailouts", stimulus packages and the like and provide any permanent fixes to this situation. All of these options only delay and magnify the pains of atonement for society's financial sins. <BR/>The only real fix is to do what we are taught by wise men from all ages. To stay out of all unnecessary consumer debt, and to pay off any "necessary" debt as quickly as humanly possible. This means that we will have to cut back on our spending (I agree that this is bad for the economy... in the short term, but this is a long-term problem with a long-term solution) and use that income to pay down and pay off our debts as individuals. We need to demand from our government officials that WE elect that they be fiscally responsible and balance their budgets and live as if there were always a recession around the corner. We need to purchase our goods wisely, buy high-quality goods that will last for years, then wear it out, fix it up, make it work, or do without. <BR/>This fix will be painful and will take a while to do. Things will get worse, in this situation, but they will then get better and the economy will then thrive. Real wealth will reappear and people will be able to choose to help others in need to get back on their feet again. <BR/>The current solutions that are being proposed and pushed through without public assent will make things a little better in the short run, but as in all things, the piper will eventually be paid, and boy will his wages be high. The answer does not lie in Washington, it lies within each and every one of us. <BR/>Here is to the great awakening of the American mind to the reality of economics. To the reality and necessity of personal and public fiscal responsibility.sickofdebthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06509780098005773712noreply@blogger.com