UNCOMMON CENTS

IT'S TIME TO TALK UNCOMMON CENTS. TO 'KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID,' K.I.S.S. ABOUT MONEY. DON'T GIVE YOURS AWAY! I HEARD THAT A LOCAL BUSINESS, PACAR (KENILWORTH TRUCKING) DONATED $250,000 TO THE UNITED WAY. WHAT WITH LIBERALS AND DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS CAMPAIGNING OR PONTIFICATING ABOUT THE 'ECONOMY GOING SOUTH," APPARENTLY REFERRING TO MEXICO, YOU WOULD THINK THAT BUSINESSES ARE BANKRUPT HERE IN THE NORTH. THEY ARE NOT. AT THE SAME TIME, NOW THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE HOUSE AND SENATE, LIBERALS AND DEMOCRATS TALK ABOUT HOW "EMPLOYMENT FIGURES BRIGHTEN," AS IF THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS. SO MUCH FOR HYPOCRISY. EVEN THOUGH PACAR CAN CLAIM THEIR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION ON THEIR TAX RETURN, THEIR COMPANY MUST BE SOLVENT AND PROFITABLE. AMERICA'S HOUSEHOLDS OUGHT TO PRACTICE SOLVENCY TOO. THEY OUGHT TO 'RUN IN THE BLACK,' AND NOT THE RED AS THEY PROJECT CURRENT, IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS INTO THE UNPREPARED-FOR FUTURE. FEELING GOOD IS HAVING MONEY IN THE BANK, NOT SPENDING MORE THAN ONE EARNS.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNITED WAY, USED LOCALLY FOR SEVERAL, DIVERSE PROGRAMS SUPPOSEDLY REDUCE OUR DEPENDANCE UPON WASHINGTON. DO THEY? OR SHOULD WE REJECT DEPENDANCE UPON WASHINGTON PER SE? TWO GRANTS, FOR INSTANCES, FUND SPECIAL NEEDS AND ANTI-BULLING PROGRAMS. WHY WASTE HARD-EARNED MONEY DONATING TO SUCH ‘CAUSES’, WHEN IT HAS NOT FIRST BEEN PUT TO PROPER PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? SOLICITORS FOR UNITED WAY ARE REFERRED TO AS "UNSUNG HEROES, " THE TRUE 'UNSUNG HEROES' ARE THOSE WHO SACRIFICE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR FUTURES WITHOUT DEPENDING UPON WASHINGTON OR COMPLAINING THAT 'ENDS CAN'T MEET.'

THE CONCEPT OF CHARITY MUST BE RE-EXAMINED. UNITED WAY MIGHT BE A POPULIST IDEA, BUT CHARITY SHOULD BEGIN AT HOME. I SAY IT IS BETTER FOR CITIZENS TO NOT ASSUAGE THEIR GUILT OR CATER TO THEIR NEED TO FEEL GOOD BY GIVING AWAY MONEY TO CHARITY UNLESS THEY HAVE TAKEN CARE TO RESPONSIBLY ALLOCATE THEIR INCOMES TO AREAS THAT 1ST MUST BE ADDRESSED: DUTY TO CHURCH, DUTIFUL SAVING FOR RETIREMENT, DUTIFUL ATTEMPTS TO AVOID WASTING NATURAL RESOURCES, DUTIFUL AVOIDANCE OF THROWING MONEY AWAY ON EXPENDITURES THAT CONTRADICT COMMON SENSE AND DULY CHOOSING NOT LIVE BEYOND YOUR MEANS. THESE CHOICES MAKE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS PROUD.

'CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.' RE-STATED, THIS MEANS 'RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS AT HOME.' AMERICANS WHO OVER-INDULGE AND UNDER- CONSERVE DISSERVE THEMSELVES, THEIR FELLOW MAN AND GOD’S NATURAL GIFTS. DON’T GIVE TO CHARITY UNTIL YOU DO YOUR DUTY TO YOURSELF FIRST. K.I.S.S.