Do you like paying for gas?  If you are like most people, everyone on the planet I hope, the answer to that question is “NO!”  Wouldn’t we all love to purchase a car, drive wherever we wanted to go and not worry about paying for gas?  Sure, gas has went way down lately, but don’t think for one minute it is a reason to relax and think we will not see $4 gas again.  When we can comfortably pay for it, or less uncomfortably pay for it, gas prices will go back up.

They Are Playing Us

First of all who, is the “they” I’m talking about?  I’m talking about the government, car companies and the oil companies.

• It is 2008.  Weren’t we supposed to be riding in flying vehicles by now?    We aren’t even close to doing anything like that.  Instead, American car companies have recently just started putting high-tech, high-feature motors into cars.  Do a quick Google search or look at cars with and without direct (fuel) injection.  Sure, it isn’t going to get you 5 more miles per gallon, but it will help.  Instead, we have automatic transmissions – another fuel hog – and interior gadgets we can see, touch and play with.  I’m all for gadgets, but I would like some technology in my engine too, thank you.
• I’m a firm believer that the technology is available to make cars run off of water – a slight exaggeration, but you should get my point.  Why are we still waiting for mass-produced electric vehicles?  Again, my opinion, but people value their lives.  Do you really think that 1) there are congressmen who want the oil companies to quit “donating” money to their campaigns and 2) if congress pushed technology that reduced oil reliance, do you really think they would live to see it happen?  Legalizing marijuana would probably be a safer bet.

They Are Playing Us

Have you seen the commercials from Exxon (or one of the big oil companies) where they are talking about their efforts to advance battery technology for electric and/or hybrid vehicles?  Oh, they really think we are stupid!  Let me get this straight.  A company that is seeing record profits is going to spend some of those profits to research technology that will reduce those profits?  Get out of here!

When I say they are playing us – something you probably already know or have thought about this – I mean things don’t have to be as bad as they are.  Let’s recap:

1. The car companies, American car companies specifically, could put more efficient gas engines in cars and could be doing more to move towards mass-produced electric vehicles.
2. The government could do things to impact this situation, but their wealth and health could suffer.
3. Oil companies are making record profits and have the nerve to make (some of us) believe they want to help by developing battery technology.

If you don’t believe what I’m saying look at the current gas prices as an example.  The current economic situation has caused the gas prices to go down.  If our economy rebounds the gas prices will go back up.  Along with gas prices, any goods delivered via a vehicle that uses gas – almost everything – will go up too.  It is sort of like, you have more money, you will pay more money.  You have less money, you will pay less money.  All the while, those in power will still see their profits increase year after year.

It doesn’t take an economic degree or any complex research to realize…

They Are Playing Us

So what can we do about this?

Hasn’t this been the longest, most drawn out, downright negative presidential campaign ever?  If not, it sure feels that way.  Anyhoo, as I wait patiently (wink) for this election to come to pass, I start to think about what each candidate has said about each other.  For example, McCain’s camp has accused Obama of associating with terrorists just because he knows William Ayers.  On the other hand, Obama says that McCain supports cutting Social Security in half, which basically twisted McCain’s words about deregulating the health insurance market.  I bet you’re wondering where I’m going with this.  Well, in looking at the antics of both candidates during this campaign, my question to you is:

Just because something is factual, does it make it completely truthful?

Before answering, think about it first.  When McCain says Obama is palling around with terrorists who target their own country, he is referring to William Ayers, a Chicago professor of education, who, in the 1960s, was part of a radical antiwar group that set off pipe bombs in bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon.  Keep in mind that when all of this was occurring, Obama was only a little boy!  While it is true that Obama knows Ayers, he and Ayers haven’t had an ongoing relationship in over three years – way before Obama’s run for presidency.

Of course this question can be applied to other situations -not just the current presidential campaign. So, without further ado, I turn the mike over to you as I would love you hear your thoughts on this topic.

I have to admit to being a little jealous right now.

I recently mentioned some comments from www.sodahead.com.  I think that site is pretty good, but I’ve found one I like better.  Jealousbrother is all about comparison and choosing sides.  The tag line is, “Disagreeing has never been so much fun.”  You had me at “Disagreeing!”

Political opinion is very popular right now since the election is coming up, but when the election is over we will still have debates, arguments and disagreements.  What will we do then?  You can go to Jealousbrother and see what others think.

An example of a “Rivalry” (that is what it is called on the site) is Sarah Palin versus Oprah Winfrey.  It is simple – if Palin becomes the vice-president, who will be the most powerful woman in the United states.  In my opinion, Palin will become the most powerful woman in the United States.  I think that would be true as sad as it may sound.

I could go on, but I think you get the drift.  Go check it out…but come back here too!

I say that with sarcasm – a lot of sarcasm.

Today I found a new site and I think I will frequent it often Sodahead.  The site asks questions and people chime in with their opinions.  It is really nothing more than a blog that has a lot of participation.  By the way, if you like what we do or hate what we do we would like to have your comments on this site.

The question that prompted the title of this post is “Who’s more trustworthy Obama or McCain?”  I’m going to copy and paste some of the answers because they really show how some people think.

1. McCain

   Because, Obama’s “gift of the gab” still does not knowledge, 1. his job as lawyer, money 
   disburshment, & Communite “Job- Experience”, etc., with …ACORN!!!! 
   2. His..”ADULT RELATIONSHIP” with AYERS!!! Let’s not continue, but, ask ourself… 
   It’s… ALL… About,,, #1… INTEGRITY, HONESTY, JUDGEMENT… TRUST. 
   #2. This… ELECTION… IS… NOT ABOUT… AFRICAN-AMERICAN… HISTORY!!!
   

2. Obama

   There’s no question that I would trust Obama over McCain. Who 
   wants to be called “the Maverick?” which is exactly what I don’t 
   want, I want a person with a brain who thinks things through and 
   doesn’t make hasty “maverick” decisions, like picking that airhead 
   Palen as a running mate! She’s not even trusted by her own state! 
   Can you imagine the disaster it would be if she became President? 
   The fact is we should have picked Hillary – she would be ready on 
   day one. But as for trusting someone, I pick Obama.
   

3. Obama

   McCain is in Cahoots w/Bush Do we want to continue what Bush has started and ruined? He ruined our economy used all the Schools money for a useless war that only put money in his pockets and a few of his cohorts.
   

4. McCain

   McCain because Obama wants to destory Ameria and make it a Marxist government….Look at his history…look at his connection to Odinga of Kenya. AND I don’t mean his relative connection.
   

5. McCain

   Obama looks like a terrorist in disguise to me
   

6. McCain

   It bothers me at no one i concerned about Obamas charater i think that is just as important…But of corse soon as Gov.Palin is getting judged for her charater is everywhere the media is sooooo one sided
   

7. Obama

   McCain has offended all Americans who want unity and an end to fighting in America over racial issues. He gold is to divide this country and I now believe he is a complete racist, lacks judgment in choosing the airhead Sarah Palin and this is a very dangerous ticked. By refusing to release his health records, he is hiding his cancer risk and Palin in the Whitehouse would set America back at least 100 years.

This man wants you to know he could also benefit from a change in Washington.

Yes He Can!

People who know me, really know me, know my (Honda) Accord has been special to me for many years – since 1996.  LA, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Washington DC, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Mississippi, South Carolina – I have literally been coast to coast in this car and many places in between.  I have got the most value out of this purchase more than any – except maybe one house – by a long shot.  But you know there is a reason I’m talking about this.

The AC went out recently and I wanted to get it fixed.  I called the Honda Dealer and of course their prices were outrageous.  The service guy actually told me to call another shop ran by someone who used to work for Honda.  So I’m thinking this sounds good and all.  Not so fast.

I believe in being a good consumer, willing to pay, but wanting the service I pay for.  When I took the car to get it fixed I told the guy I wanted the AC fixed and some other things.  The bill came out to be a little more than $1400 and I barely paused.  After all, this is my Accord we are talking about, and at approximately 190,000 miles I think it is just getting broke in good. 

To my surprise, I mean utter shock, the AC stopped working a couple of days after I picked the car up.  I took it back and was told the part was defective/leaking – I was made to believe this was a rarity.  OK, no problem since I wouldn’t have to pay for it to get fixed.  I pick the car up again and the AC goes out the next day!!  This is getting ridiculous right?  I took him the car on a Tuesday and didn’t hear a single word from him until Friday morning – remember, I want to be a good consumer and at this point I didn’t want to rush him although I would have thought he would let me know what is going on.

I get a call and he tells me another part is not working and it will cost me $703 to get it fixed.  Do you smell something?  I do too.

Unfortunately, this story will be continued.  I really can’t go for this after taking the car in on three different occasions.  It just seems like he is trying to get over on me and I hate that.  He was unwilling to cut me any kind of deal and I had another one of my cars ready to take to him.  I think as a business man he could have took a hit now to make more money later, but it is his business to run.

Did you know that auto repairs are the second most common consumer complaint filed against a business, according to the Better Business Bureau?  It makes sense since a car is the second largest purchase (for normal folk) and it will eventually need repairs.  So the question is, how do you keep from getting taken advantage of when you take your car in for repairs?  If we really knew everything wrong with our cars when we took them in we would just fix them ourselves right?  He are some possibilities.

• Plan ahead.  Get to know a mechanic before you need one.
• Check out the repair shop’s record.
• Look for a mechanic and shop that has updated knowledge and skills with recognized credentials.
• Get a written estimate in advance clearly stating all parts, labor and the cost of repairs for your car.
• Describe the “symptoms” of your problem as you’ve noticed them.
• If it’s not an emergency, get a second opinion.

I say all that after the fact though.  Even if a consumer follows all those steps, an auto repair shop can take you to the bank unnecessarily.  I guess I need to take an auto mechanic class.

Are there any honest auto mechanics?

At the debate, John McCain promised that, if elected, he would direct the government to buy up bad home mortgages, allowing strapped people to keep their property.  He called this plan the American Homeownership Resurgence Plan.  McCain said his plan would allow homeowners to basically refinance their home at the current value, with the financial institutions eating the loss.   Well, on Wednesday, he published documentation on how his plan would work and guess what?  McCain’s plan would actually be more generous to financial institutions and more costly for taxpayer!  When confronted with this obvious lie, McCain’s camp said that making financial institutions accept refinances at a loss was not “the intentions of the initiative.”  The way I see it, his camp is really telling Americans that they are really stupid if they honestly believe McCain would help them save their home!  According to McCain’s camp, it was just a simple mistake on McCain’s part to say this.