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G-Blog or What I Think About Things |
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Are Things Getting Better? Feb. 16: It is only February but already both parties are doing tremendous job of posturing. The Obama administration is touting lower unemployment numbers. The Republicans are still talking about just how bad things are. I’m really not sure how much is true on either side but in Southern California there seems to be at least more optimism. I spoke to a restaurateur friend of mine about his Valentine’s Day business. This is a family-owned restaurant, not a chain. He said he did 420 dinners. And this place is a fairly high-end establishment that has been around for a long time. That is a huge amount of romantic diners? It seems as, at least in this case, people are spending more. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Government Control and Your Life Feb. 13: Has the Obama administration over-reached again. Many feel that the mandate that all health insurance should cover contraceptives is drawing a lot of criticism. But the bigger question is just how much control over individual lives should the feds have? This is just the beginning of the Obamacare nightmare. If it fully goes into effect, the government will have virtual control of all of the health care industry. There really will be nothing to stop them. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Are Electric Cars In Our Future? Feb. 6- Will electric cars catch on? That depends on a couple of factors, cost of the car and can you charge them in enough places where you can drive with piece of mind. This week Michael Sarkis will discuss his company’s plans to put charging stations all over the country. He will also talk about new batteries that are being developed that will allow cars to travel 500 miles without a charge. Maybe alternative energy cars will become more popular sooner than many people think. Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Can We Age Better? Jan. 30-We all age but some in the medical community think we can manage it better. One of the is Dr. Stephanie Bien and she will give us some tips this week on the program. It reminds me of the days of Life Extension with Sandy Shaw and Dirk Pearson. Clint Eastwood was one of the proponents and their research continues. Anyway it makes for interesting listening. Tune in and learn! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Are Vitamins in Danger? Jan. 23- Dr. Ted Broer guests this week to talk about government efforts to limit vitamins and alternative health remedies. This fight goes back a long way and it seems as though every few years there is another effort to either limit labelling or cut back on medications that have been effective. It will be interesting to see just how effective this latest government effort is. A Fat Tax? Jan. 16-Mike Holman guests this week and talks about a proposed fat tax. He says it is time for those who are obese to pay. It brings some interesting questions, the main one being just who’s business is it what weight people are? And how decides who is obese? Believe me this is just the beginning. If government can regulate obesity, what else will they do. How about those who are near sighted should be taxed because eyeglasses are so expensive? There seems to be hypocrisy in the government. On the one hand they protect the disabled, but the obese are a blight on society. There are many who are obese that have valid reasons why they are the way they are. Where is the compassion? Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Are Unemployment Benefits Helpful to the Economy? Jan. 9- Interesting discussion on the show this week, Are unemployment benefits helping or hurting the economy? Economist Phil Cioppa will comment. There are strong opinions on both sides. One thing is sure, the economy will not get better until unemployment rates go down. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com What Will 2012 Bring? Jan. 2- What will the new year bring? One thing is for sure there will be more political ads this year than ever before. And we will hear the same voices objecting, saying that these ads should be curtailed. But they are free speech. The Supreme Court has affirmed them and like it or not they will be commonplace this political season. If you don’t like them, turn down the knob. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Holiday Greetings to You and Yours Dec. 26-Have a Wonderful Holiday Season! The Real Primary Season is Near Dec. 19-The Republican debates have been plentiful during this election season. In fact many have become tired of the process. But things will begin to come more into focus in January when the first of the primaries take place. We will then see if Romney can actually get votes or if Gingrich will take over. It does seem at this time that a lot of voters are un-decided and there really isn’t one candidate who excites everybody. But that is what the primary season is for, to pick someone who can go up against President Obama. And those who are upset about the current President, that election can’t come soon enough. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Tis the Season . 11-There seems to me more optimism in the air this holiday season. People seem to be spending more and 2012 may be better for most people. Even though the unemployment numbers have been manipulated by the government, those who are working seem to want to have a merry holiday season. Hopefully that optimism will rub off and affect the next few months. Is the Employment Rate Really Going Down? . 5-Is the government fudging unemployment figure. They say that the unemployment rate is going down, under 9%. But it looks as though fewer people are looking for work. In fact stats bare out that over 2 million jobs have been eliminated. So it looks as though the government is involved in double speak again. Just who can you believe? Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
Christmas Shopping Season Starting Too Soon? Nov. 28- The holiday shopping frenzy has begun. In fact it began, not on Black Friday, but late on Thanksgiving. Thank goodness some retailers decided to stay closed and let their employees enjoy the holiday. Hopefully this new trend toward earlier and earlier starting time for the holiday shopping season will decrease. It just doesn’t seem right to have people shopping on Thanksgiving. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Nov. 21- Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Dr. Carol Francis will Discuss Veterans’ Challenges Nov. 7- Many veterans are returning home from the mideast. Theyf face a myriad of problems with their personal lives. Dr. Carol Francis will guest this week on the program to discuss ways they can better deal with these challenges. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Why is Social Security Broke? Oct. 31- Dr. Allen Smith gives some great evidence of the 2.6 trillion dollar ripoff of the Social Security fund that has taken place in the last 20 years. He maintains that if that money had not been stolen, the fund would be solvent. He will guest this week on Issues Today. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Gadhafi’s Demise Oct. 24- The death of Libyan dictator Mohammar Gadhafi is certainly an important story in the world. But the circumstances of his death are still being questioned. At first there were reports that he was killed while wielding a gun. But now the details are murky. If he was captured and then executed, questions should be asked. Even though most think he deserved to die, a trial like the one that Saddam Hussein got, would have been the better way to go. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Eliminate the Primaries? Oct. 17-Is there going to be a primary season? It seems as though some in the Republican hiearchy want to eliminate the primary voting system and make Mitt Romney the nominee. They are talking about moving up primary dates to possibly December? Does anyone really want one that early? And what is the rush? There are several candidates who should be heard. We have more than a year until the election. Don’t rush things. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Occupy What? Oct. 10- The Occupy Wherever people are getting a lot of media coverage. It reminds me of the 60’s peace protests that were fueled primarily by the media. But this movement is different. First of all it is not a grass roots movement. The crowd is mostly white and doesn’t represent real America. Their demands are cloudy at best, and if it weren’t for excessive liberal media coverage there would be no movement at all. The Tea Party movement is genuine, because it sprung up without media coverage except for a few conservative pundits. Their goals are measurable, trying to cut down the size of government and reduce the deficit. Until the Occupy movement comes up with something concrete to talk about, they should be ignored as irelevant. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Important Ruling in California . 3- A very significant ruling took place by the Ninth District Court of Appeals last week. They basically threw out rules that the Port of Los Angels imposed on independent drivers who were doing business at the port. It would have made it mandatory for all truck drivers entering the port to work for larger companies, and therefore making it probable that they would have to join the Teamsters. Most of the rest of the Clean Energy Plan remains. Truckers have to buy newer trucks that pollute less. Port authorities say that more than 80% reductions in pollutants have taken place since the program began. All well and good and the American Trucking Assn., which brought the lawsuit against the employment plan, wasn’t disputing that. What was apparent to the court and even the liberal Los Angeles Times was that there was no connection between the environment and what workers could and should be charged. Thank goodness for that.
Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com The Early Campaign Season Sept. 26- I wonder how many people are really watching the Republican Presidential candidate debates? It is very early in the political season. The first primaries aren’t until the first part of 2021 and many views of voters could change many times until then. Even though I follow the political trends, I’m finding it hard to keep interested right. Here in California our primary won’t even be until June, and the candidate will be pretty much chosen by then. So I will be watching from the sidelines. But right now I find it hard to keep interested. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Is Recession II Coming Soon? Sept. 19- Is there a second recession? A lot of people think so although most financial experts say some growth is taking place. It really boils down to one thing..are people working? The unemployment rate continues to go up. Jobless claims continue to climb and for better and worse that is one of the biggest barometers of the state of the economy. Buzz words don’t mean much when people are collecting unemployment benefits. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com GREAT TEA FROM ADAGIO Sept. 5-As you may know I love to drink tea. In fact I rarely consumer coffee. I recently got a new tea machine that I have to tell you about. It is the Adagio Trinitea. It does everything it is supposed to do: It heats, steeps, and keeps tea hot for as long as you want it to. There are two temperature settings, perfect for black, green, or herb varieties. There is also an adjustment for steeping time, from 1 to 7 minutes. How does it work? Just add water to top, put tea leaves in the middle steeping chamber, turn it on and watch it work. After the water heats, it automatically drops the water into the steeping chamber. After that the completed tea drops into the glass container. Adagio is a small, internet tea company that not only sells tea pots and kettles but also has a nice selection of teas. Go to adagio.com for more information.
Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com What to Do About Medicare and Social Security Aug. 29- Author Bob Jennings discusses the future of medicare and social security this week on “Issues Today.” There are many who think we need to have a hands off approach to both. But people on both sides of the aisle say something will have to be done. But what? Obviously any tinkering will have to go through public scrutiny. That is the problem. As baby boomers get older, more and more of them will be getting benefits. And there will be a greater strain on the system. There are fixes but it is going to be a long road getting them implemented. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Campaign Season Begins Early Aug. 21- It is the time of year when republican candidates are announcing their intentions to run for president. The party who is not in power in the white house always has a large field and this year’s candidates fit the bill. What will be really interesting to see is if any Democratic candidate emerges to challenge President Obama. It is rare when any party member challenges an incumbent president, but it could happen next year. There seems to be more unrest than usual in the ranks of the Democrats. One of the reasons is the rapidly-falling poll numbers for Obama. He is currently under 40%. If they get much lower we may start hearing cries for Hillary Clinton. Along with the Republican parade, wouldn’t that be fun? Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Debt Debate Continues Aug. 15- The debt debate continues to heat up. And it seems as though our government leaders haven’t gotten the hint. A recent poll found that just 10% of people approve of the job congress is doing. That and the low poll numbers for President Obama pointo to unhappiness and frustration by the public. It seems as though the Washington establishment wants to keep their money and power. Lobbies continue to rule the roost and the 2012 election will be as important as any election every has been. On “Issues Today” this week we will get the comments from Gavin Major of Market Watch on the debt and the long-term ramifications. It is must listening! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Child Soldiers Aug. 7, 2011- Terrorists and militias that use children as soldiers is becoming a big problem worldwide. This week on “Issues Today” author Mark Van Name will talk about what happens to these kids that survive. He will also discuss a group that helps those kids, Falling Whistles. It is must listening! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Gridlock is in the Air Aug. 1, 2011- The word ‘gridlock’ is being said a lot these days. And I suppose it is a dirty word to many. Not me. I think that what is happening in Washington right now is exactly what are forefathers wanted. The three branches of government are all working the way they are supposed to, with checks and balances. The process was set up on purpose, so that laws would be difficult to pass. So whenever you hear people talk of gridlock, don’t be alarmed. America is working just the way it is supposed to. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com The Debt Debate July 18, 2011- The debt limit debate may seem complicated but it really isn’t. It boils down to one thing: spending. We are spending too much and don’t have the tax revenue to pay for it. And now matter how much you raise taxes, it won’t be enough to erase the deficit. So no matter what happens in the growing rhetoric, nothing is going to matter unless spending goes down. Raising taxes during a recession is ridiculous, and so is all of this spending. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com July 11, 2011- The current debate on the debt ceiling is becoming farcical. Everyone in this country knows that we can’t keep spending the amount of money that we are. We can’t keep printing money as if it is water. Yet pundits from all corners of the country are blaming Republicans for not raising taxes. Even if we taxed the so-called millionaires all of their wealth, it would have a very small effect on the deficit. There is only one thing we need to do, STOP THE SPENDING! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Interesting Summer Race July 4, 2011-There is a fascinating Congressional race taking place in Southern California that has so far stumped the experts. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Businessman Craig Huey are squaring off in a runoff for Jane Harman’s vacated 36th District seat. The final was supposed to be between Debra Bowen and Hahn but Huey came out of nowhere to capture the second runoff position. Internal Democratic polls in the heavily Democratic district say that Huey is just 5 points behind. What makes this race very interesting is that Huey is a Conservative Republican with ties to the Tea Party. If he can somehow win this race, it could mean the beginning of a new era in California. We’ll see on Tuesday, July 12. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
26, 2011-Independence Day is just a week away and I always begin to think every year whether most of the citizens of the country really know what is represents. American history education has been so changed over the years that certain facts about our founding are never even mentioned. Instead we get politically-correct rhetoric about social issues. There really isn’t anything wrong with that except that most students don’t get the whole picture. I remember that when I was in 7th grade all of us had to pass a Constitution test. It was challenging but we did it and took pride in knowing what our government was all about. Now very little is taught about it, because many in the academic world think the Constitution is an outdated document and isn’t relevant anymore. Not only is it still relevant, and it is imperative that we keep the values and principles of it intact. That to me is what the Fourth of July is all about. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
WEINERGATE AND MORALS June 19-2011-All of the revelations about Rep. Weiner have once again brought to light morals in society. It is very interesting that for so long many people in the Democratic have ignored morals when it comes to private and public lives. But it is refreshing that maybe it does matter. People who are elected officials should be held to a higher standard. Do we want people governing who don’t have a moral compass? I think not and at least for this incident it seems as though many others think the same. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com GO SEE SAN ANTONIO ROSE June 6, 2011-One of the fun shows you and your family will want to see when you visit San Antonio is the San Antonio Live Show at the newly-refurbished Aztec Theater on the Riverwalk. A live nine piece band including great singers entertain for 90 minutes. Country music classics from the 60’s to the present are performed and it definitely brings back memories of simpler times. Their version of Floyd Cramer’s Last Date was so good I thought Floyd was performing in person. Don’t miss the show when you visit! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com GOP AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE May 30, 2011-The GOP presidential field is both decreasing and expanding at the same time. Some important candidates have dropped out but some new ones look as though they are getting in. And the new crop seems to be more conservative than the ones who decided not to run. Sara Palin and Rick Perry are definitely more conservative than Mike Huckabee or even Donald Trump. The next few weeks will be very important to see who can challenge Mitt Romney who is the frontrunner at the moment, but seems to be slipping. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com DRIVING WITH THE ANIMALS May 23, 2011-About 20 miles north of San Antonio is a great stop for the family, the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. Here you get to drive through a wildlife refuge, watching wild animals graze in their natural habitat. You also get a bag of food as you enter and can feed the creatures as you go. They are so accustomed to cars that they will come right up to your window. It is a fun way to spend some time. After the drive your kids will enjoy the petting zoo that is located next to the gift shop. There is also a restaurant to recharge the batteries. It is a great stop and your kids will love it! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com REMEMBER THE ALAMO May 16, 2011-I had wanted to visit the Alamo since I was very young. I was always told that it was very small and not as imposing as you would think. After a recent visit I have some thoughts on it. The symbol that is represents is still very important. It was one of the first bastians of American independence and Commander Travis knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to stay. He and his cohorts including Davy Crockett could have evacuated, but they didn’t. When extra troops did not arrive the conclusion was inevitable. The Alamo today is a must visit when you go to San Antonio. The small church is surrounded by nice gardens and a museum/gift shop area. When you visit be sure and take in the Imax movie that is across the street at the Crockett Plaza. The 45 minute epic is well done and is purported to be the most historic film ever done on the subject. A visit to the Alamo will make you think about what America is all about. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com San Antonio-A Place Worth Visiting May 9, 2011-San Antonio, Texas is a great spot for a visit. In the next couple of weeks this blog will tell you about some of the must places to explore. First of all the Riverwalk is the center. It weaves throughout downtown and is not only a nice sight but is also a transportation system. You can walk and visit restaurants and shops along the way. If you want to take long stroll walk down to th King William historic district and make sure you eat at Guenther House. This old mill serves up some of the breakfast and lunch you will find. Fluffy waffles, delicious baked goods, and a nice atmosphere will guarantee that you will have a pleasant dining experience. More to come. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com The Gas Prices Go Up and Up Apr. 25, 2011-Isn’t it interesting that we are hearing very little about high gasoline prices in the U.S.? When Bush was in office, there were huge headlines everyday talking about the relationship between Bush and his “oil buddies”. But whenever the current high gasoline prices are mentioned now, there is only talk about Obama not being able to do too much about it. The situation in the middle east was causing the problem, not Obama. The reality is that an American President really can’t do too much about it. Tht was the case with Bush and it is the situation with Obama. The only difference here is the the media treats each differently. Busy never got a pass, and Obama almost always does. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Is Trump for Real? Apr. 18, 2011-Is Donald Trump serious? Is he really going to run for president? Who knows? I thought at first that he was milking this for all of the P.R. that he could. But then again he always gets a lot of publicity anyway. The question that comes to mind is why would he want it? It is a thankless job. You are more or less tied to the White House. Even though you are the most powerful man in the world, you really don’t have a lot of freedom. If he does run, maybe he is really a patriot. We will see. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com The Drought is Over Apr. 4, 2011-Spring is in the air, even in Southern California. We thin-blooded Californians have had a cool summer last year, a cold autumn, and a rainy winter. The natural water is needed and welcome. Reservoirs and lakes are full and Governor Brown declared the end of the drought since has been here since 2007. One good thing, even Californians haven’t said a word about glo bal warning for years. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Mission? Mar. 28, 2011-What is the mission in Libya? I’m not sure that anybody knows. The President hasn’t talked to the American people. He certainly hasn’t discussed it Congress. If NATO is going to take over operations, how long will it take? The world is looking for some kind of leadership from the United States. So far it hasn’t happened. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
LEADERS OF THE WORLD? Mar. 21, 2011- Is the United States still the leader of the world? According to President Obama it is doubtful. He has hesitated in getting us involved in Libya. And then his speech on Friday made it sound as if we are just a player. The rest of the world doesn’t think we are just a player. I hope that President Obama doesn’t spend the rest of his presidency thinking so or we will have more problems than we already do. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com FEARS OF THE QUAKE Mar. 14, 2011- The Friday earthquake in Japan brings different emotions. Living in earthquake-bound Southern California, I grew up experiencing earthquakes and actually began to expect them without too much fear. But a tremor the size of the one in Japan really makes one wonder. If something like a 8.9 hit Southern California, it would really be devastating. Experts say that the magnitude of this one was 3000 times the power of the Northridge quake that did extensive damage. I guess that no matter how much anyplace prepares, there is really not much anyone can do to plan. The building codes have changed and made buildings better, but in the end, you just have to hope you aren’t in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com SHARE THE WEALTH? Mar. 7, 2011- I find it comical that a couple of our millionaires think that they should share their wealth with everybody else. There is a underlying theme that the super wealthy got their money by exploiting everyone else. And yet these are the people who create thousand of jobs, thus helping the economy. Michael Moore recently said that it is the obligation for people to share their wealth. He seems to forget that all of us, not only the super rich, share our wealth with high taxes. I have a suggestion for Moore. Why doesn’t he donate the almost 20 million dollars he got for one of those worthless documentaries, to the government. Fat chance. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com A New Era? Feb. 28, 2011-I have never seen a time where people are more united on cutting government budgets. It seems that on levels, people are fed up with rampant spending. Hopefully new limits will bring on a new era. It is about time Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
Public Employees Vs. Private Citizens Feb. 21, 2011-The battle public employees and those who pay their salaries continues. I think the real question is money. Where are the state and local governments going to find funding? Many state coffers are empty, and yet we still hear demands from public employees. It seems as though people are fed up. They have had enough. It will be interesting to see how the public reacts if governments shut down. The Democrats used a shut down of government to further their political efforts. But this time I don’t think it will work. Real change is needed and everybody has to sacrifice some. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com MANY QUESTIONS, FEW ANSWERS Feb. 14, 2011: Events in Egypt are astonishing. After 30 years, a dictator was deposed. But what is next? Is this movement really democratic? Will stability take over? Will the military keep things peaceful? All of this will unfold in the next few weeks. What is clear is that the Egyptian constitution was not followed. And because of that, there really is only military rule there now. What will happen with Israel? Will Egypt become another Iran? Did President Obama blow it by supporting the protestors? So many questions, and so far few answers. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com IS AMERICA ADDICTED? Feb. 7, 2011: People have been talking about how America is addicted to just about everything. TLN Host Jane-Valez Mitchell will discuss her new book “Addict Nation” this week on “Issues Today”. She will give some insight about why kids are getting fat, and why prescription drugs are being given out in huge doses. Don’t miss it. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HOMELESSNESS DISCUSSED THIS WEEK Jan. 31, 2011-Dr. Ralph Nunez guests this week. He has been involved with homelessness for many years, both in New York and now nationally. He says that we should be focusing on long-term shelters for families instead of building permanent housing. It is an interesting idea. He says that so many people are now in shelters that better programs to support them area needed. I guess it comes down to which communities want housing. It seems as though the more shelters are proposed, the more opposition there is. It also seems that certain cities have concentrated areas where shelterS are, and other parts of the city don’t have any. That is especially true in Los Angeles, where certain places, San Pedro for instance, have many and other parts don’t. I guess the answer is to get as many people out of the homeless situation as soon as possible. An improving economy would do more to help than anything else. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
THIS TRAGEDY IS PURE EVIL Jan. 17, 2011-There has been much said about the tragic Tucson shooting last weekend. There has also been a lot of comment coming from many sides. The bottom line is this, we must never forget the victims. The Congress woman, the 9 year old girl, and the other innocent people who were just trying to participate in government on a nice Saturday day in the desert should remain in our prayers. The deed was committed by a deranged person. It is tragic that nobody saw this coming, but sometimes in society there is evil, pure evil. It really isn’t any complicated than that. Whether he was influenced by the media is not important, only that he is locked up where he can’t do any other damage to anyone else. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
CONGRESS DOESN’T NEED ANY ADVICE Jan. 10, 2011-The new congress has convened. Already the press is trying to define what they should do. I find it fascinating that the media always tells Republicans what to do. But they never tell the Democrats what to do. They obviously believe that Democrats have led so long that they really don’t need advice. I have some advice for the media, don’t bother to give advice. The newly-elected members of Congress know what they need to do, and it probably won’t be what you want them to do. They won the election. Let them lead. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HOPES FOR 2011 Jan. 3, 2011-I hope you all had a great holiday season. The new year usually brings positive things to come for the new year. Here is my wish list: 2. I hope the economy will really begin to get better. And that mens that unemployment needs to lessen as well. 3. I hope the FCC keeps their hands off of the internet. Let the free enterprise system take care of itself. Things have been working well for the last decade. We don’t need government to muck it up. Have a wonderful 2011! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com THE TWO WEEKS OF REST Dec. 20, 2010-This week is traditionally one of the slowest as far as people getting work done. Since Christmas Eve falls on a Friday, people will start celebrating on Wednesday, or possibly Tuesday. I suppose it is the one time of year when people can take a break and not get into too much trouble. Then there is the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. A lot of businesses close or give so many employees the week off that they may as well cease to operate. I think it gives everyone a chance to get ready for January, which can be a busy time. Whatever you are doing this holiday season, enjoy it and be safe! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com NEW CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AREN’T TOO BAD Dec. 6, 2010- I have always liked putting lights up on the house for the Christmas season. And until last year I always put up the incandescent lights. Last year I bought new LED lights. At first I hated them but after using them for the second year I think they are great. Not only do they last longer, you can put up long strings without using anymore energy. In fact you can save a lot. They don’t glow quite as bright as the old ones, but they look good, especially when you put them together with icicle lights. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: HERE WE GO Nov. 29, 2010- As the Thanksgiving holiday ends, the actual beginning of the Christmas shopping season begins. I say “Begins” because it has actually been going on for a long time. I have never seen more sales on Black Friday ever. But this year the Black Friday extended to Green Thursday and who knows what color day will be next. I just hope that the actual meaning of Christmas isn’t lost too much. We need that message more than ever. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com GRIDLOCK: BRING IT ON Nov. 22, 2010- I may have discussed this before but I think it bears repeating. Everywhere in the media I hear about how we just can’t have 2 years of gridlock in federal government. I maintain that gridlock is good. The founding fathers thought so too. The Constitution, which many people seem to think is irrelevant these days, set up checks and balances in government. That is why we have the judicial, executive, and legislative chambers. They didn’t want a lot of regulation coming from the federal government. State’s rights were supposed to be king. So if our legislative bodies can’t agree of things that is great. That will allow state governments to do what they should be doing, regulating locally. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HOLIDAY SEASON SPENDING Nov. 15, 2010-This is time of year when we start hearing predictions from industry pundits about just how successful the holiday season will be for the retail trade. There will be percentages bandied around and lots of opinions expressed. Retailers will either be spending in the early part of the season of late. What is really important is the consumer. If they are feeling optimistic, they will spend and spend some more. If they feel they have to cut back because of the economy, they will. One thing that will continue to be important will be bargains. Everyone loves them whether there is a recession or not. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com ELECTION DAYS ARE SPECIAL Nov. 8, 2010- I always feel something special on election day. Maybe it is the freedom of expression that you feel when you vote. Perhaps it is the notion that everyone who is qualified can vote, not just the rich or elitists. Even though my candidates don’t always win, I feel that the exercise of learning about ballot initiatives and candidates is worth the trip to the ballot box. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com ELECTION SEASON ENDS Nov. 1, 2010- The long political season is over. I’m writing this before the election, but if polls are correct, there will be a large movement toward the GOP. It is interesting that just 4 years ago the democratics took back congress. There was a lot of dissension then and that same dissension exists today. It doesn’t seem to make too much difference who is in power. It seems as though the special interests control governments on all levels, national, state, and local. Hopefully in the next few years there will be emphasis on what people want. After all they are the ones paying the freight. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com THE WEATHER ON EVERYBODY’S MIND Oct. 25, 2010- Weather has always fascinated me. I tend to follow trends and there is something unusual happening in Southern California. We had a very cool summer. The average temperature was several degrees lower than it usually is. This fall the trend has continued. We are finishing up a solid week of clouds and rain. The October temperatures remind me of January. It makes you wonder if this is a one time occurence or a trend. It certainly begs the question, “Is there global warming?”. All I know is that trends should be looked at in terms of hundreds of years, not months. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com THE ELECTION GRIND CONTINUES Oct. 18, 2010- There are two more weeks until the election. The political ad season is in full swing and voters are beginning to make their decisions. What is interesting about this election season is that a lot of people have already cast their votes, and that means election campaign ads won’t make a difference. I find myself turning down the sound when I hear ads, and I suspect many other people do as well. I’m actually looking forward to silence...a lot of it after November 2. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com More Views, More News Oct. 11, 2010- It amuses when I hear people say that we as a society have become too polarized. People say we should have more civility in our debates. I say “Hogwash” to that. What is happening now is a good thing. There are more viewpoints being expressed now than ever before. With the internet and alternative media leading the way, people can now express themselves more than ever. Back in the 60’s there were basically four or five places to get information, and it was filtered for the most part. The three networks, New York Times, AP, and UPI ruled the roost then. There were gatekeepers who managed information very well, because they could. If they didn’t want a particular viewpoint expressed, it didn’t get out at all. Conservatives were branded as kooks and laughed at. Their particular viewpoint never got traction. But today anyone who wants to can start a blog, put up a website, and start expounding. You may not agree with them but one thing is sure, more points of view are being expressed than ever before. And that is a good thing because it makes people think. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.comAAFFFFMMaTheThe dd |
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