UNCOMMON CENTS 66

WHAT TO DO? CONTRADICTIONS ABOUND. THE POOR ARE GETTING RICHER BUT LIBERALS CLAIM WORKERS NEED A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE. THIS WILL, HOWEVER, CAUSE JOB LOSSES DUE TO ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO EMPLOYERS. RECOGNIZING THIS, HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TRIED TO EXEMPT EMPLOYEES IN SAMOA FROM THE MINIMUM WAGE HIKE BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYER, STAR KIST , A COMPANY IN HER CALIFORNIA DISTRICT, WOULD SUFFER FROM THIS PROPOSAL.

ORGANIC PRODUCE MAKES NO ECONOMIC SENSE OR ADDS NO NUTRITIONAL ADVANTAGE YET 14 BILLION DOLLARS WAS PULLED IN BY THE ORGANIC FOOD INDUSTRY IN 2005 AT A GROWTH RATE OF 20%.

A STUDY SAYS WE EAT MORE IF WE LIKE A FOOD OR BEVERAGE. DUH. A NUTRITIONAL EXPERT SUGGESTS THAT WE EAT CHIPS, WHICH WE OBVIOUSLY LIKE, ONLY ON DAYS WE EXERCISE. DO WE LIKE TO EXERCISE?

A STUDY HAS JUST DETERMINED - PERHAPS IT TOO HAD AN AGENDA - THAT AMERICA IS THE MOST INNOVATIVE NATION, YET OTHER DATA CLAIMS THAT OUR INTELLECTUAL ABILITY, THE 'G' IS INNATE AND GENETICALLY LIMITED.

WHAT TO DO? WHY EDUCATE ONE'S SELF WITH THE LATEST OR GREATEST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION WHEN CONTRACTIONS NAME THE GAME?

AMERICA IS THE 4TH ‘MOST FREE’ COUNTRY ON THE GLOBE, YET HER GREATNESS APPARENTLY LIES WITHIN THE FREEDOM GRANTED HER CITIZENS TO SPEND, NOT SAVE MONEY. OUR SAVINGS RATE HAS GONE SOUTH, WHERE REPRESSION, IN SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA, HOLDS BACK FREEDOM, PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS.

IS MY CALL TO PRUDENT CHEAPNESS ATAVISTIC? IS MY PLEA TO ENGAGE IN FINANCIAL PLANNING AN ANACHRONISM? AM I OUT OF STEP? HAVE AMERICANS MOVED BEYOND THE MEANS TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES? WILL SOCIAL SECURITY, COMPANY PENSIONS, WELFARE, MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND 401K PLANS SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF RETIREES? DOES UNCONTROLLED SPENDING CONTRADICT THE CONCEPT OF SELF-RELIANCE?

HINT: SAVE AND INVEST.