Gift Cards - Gifts to the Card Issuer!

Suppose you want to buy something.  You hand the correct amount of money over to the seller and you take your item.

Suppose you but something on an installment plan.  You hand a portion of the required amount of money and the item is held for you until your final payment.

Now suppose you buy a gift for someone you like.  You pay for the item and take it and wrap it and watch the happy, hopefully recipient open the package.

Finally suppose the gift you bought for your friend was a gift card.  You pay for the item and the store behind the card gets the money immediately but still has the item or items in stock.  The store has lost nothing but they get to keep your money until your gift is redeemed.

In this last scenario it appears to be a rare win-win-win situation.  Unfortunately appearances can be deceiving.

For a long time companies were selling gift cards with varying amounts encoded into them and quietly waiting for the hidden fees to take over.  These fees could range from a dollar charge for inactivity to a full loss of value due to an arbitrary expiration date.

When was the last time you noticed an expiration date on cash?  Oh yeah, Confederate money after the Civil War!

Enter the U S Government, or at least most of the Democratic side thereof.

The fraudulent practices of the gift card issuing companies were scrutinized and regulations proposed to stem the tide and protect the consumer.

Naturally the companies cried ‘Caveat Emptor’ and said if the customer is too stupid to read the fine print, F ’em.

The rules started to go into effect last month.  Unfortunately a couple of provisions were held off until the end of January next year as the gift card industry claimed they didn’t have enough time to make sure implementation could be done in a fair and inclusive manner.  One must assume they added, “wink – wink – say no more, say no more” after that last statement.

One of the delayed protections is the requirement that all cards have the small print right on the card that clearly states any fees and expiration dates.  These warnings will alert the consumer to potential loss of value and allow them to use the money the company has been quietly sitting with and collecting interest on for way too long.

Small sample of the
prolific gift cards
available for you

Of course now that some of the seedy ways these companies have made money on the public’s stupidity have been stopped they are hard at work devising more fees and rules in an effort to regain the loss.

There is no way to stop the gift card industry from proliferating as businesses are now issuing them in lieu of cash rebates.  But in this case it is truly caveat emptor as these cards are not covered by consumer protection laws.

So what’s a person to do?

How can you get around this latest attempt to silently defraud you?

The solution is simple but most people don’t wish to hear it or follow it for that matter.

Just say no!

Don’t buy a gift card!

I realize how easy it is to hand over a piece of plastic and put the onus of buying a physical gift on the receiver but you must understand that you are also causing stress and your gift may end up a far lesser value than intended.

If you really like the person you are buying something for get the gift at a store in which you know they shop.  Then in the off chance they don’t like it or need it they can return it at a later date.

The actual item purchased will show you gave some thought to your gift and they will sincerely thank you for thinking of them.

Of course if you really don’t like them…

Class? Really?

This is merely a quick afterthought to the post below that is essentially about class warfare.

The term suggests a fight between the poor or people with moderate amounts of money and the wealthy.  It is between  perceived alternate levels in society.

But the two groups at odds these days are different.

This class warfare is being fought between good hardworking or willing to be hard working Americans and a group of people WITH NO CLASS!

It is not only about money but humanity.

As I stated below and ask again, how much is enough?

The poverty level in America is now at 14%.  That's one out of seven people.

This war will not produce photo ops with bloody streets for the media to feed upon.

This war is more subtle.

The weapons being used are:

Advertisements funded by billionaires feeding lies to the masses about good times ahead if just continue the BUSH/CHENEY tax cuts for the wealthy!

Blocks of blockading Republicans stopping any possible legislation with a blitzkrieg of propaganda aimed at helping the not-so-wealthy.

Terrorist funded media organizations bombarding the airways with messages of hate and fear deflecting our view of the real problems.

As I said - the war is a subtle one and it is between the average citizen of America and those with no class!

Catch This Phrase

There are certain catch phrases and words that are used with the intention of pushing all our wrong buttons these days.  Certain groups use them to gain power, others to keep it and still others for personal monetary gain.

Former Mayor of New York City Giuliani has been stuck on a three number phrase for nine years now and he shows no intention of changing.

Republicans love to throw words like Liberal or Socialist around as if they were terrible things.  Wasn’t Republican President Abraham Lincoln a liberal?

The funny thing is many people who benefit from liberal and socialist policies fall for the tactic.

We saw this disconnect when senior citizens gathered to protest against the health reform bill and warned about messing with their Medicare.

We saw this when they rallied with intentionally ignorant politicians claiming that privatizing or ‘personalizing’ Social Security was a good thing.  In other words we should reward Wall Street for their awful greedy behavior by handing them the billions in our retirement funds.  What could go wrong with that?

But there is a subtle fight going on now and it concerns millions of us across America.  The phrase ‘class warfare’ brings to mind a civil unrest and rioting and is meant to put fear into the minds of voters that we are headed for a bad place.

I have absolutely nothing against the wealthy people of our country and naturally wish I could be counted among them.  The American dream has always included the possibility of success for all.

But should my success in and of itself impede someone else from succeeding?

Unfortunately the wealthiest 2% of Americans are doing just that.  They wish to keep their club exclusive.  And they are spending large amounts of money to wine and dine our leaders in Congress and fund advertisements in order to stop a fair tax on their wealth and income.

Clearly the status quo does not offer enough status for them.
I won't call their gifts to Congress bribes but something about a duck walking comes to mind.

Their ads claim that if we tax the wealthy they won’t have enough money to hire more workers. Higher taxes will stop them from spending and thereby hurt the economy.

Yet the poor and middle class are still taxed and in many cases at a higher rate than those in that 2% group.  Ask Warren Buffett to talk about the fairness of taxes and he’ll explain and complain that his secretary pays more, percentage-wise than he does!

Taxing the wealthy is not the be-all and end-all to our countries economic woes but it is also not the hardship they make it out to be.

How much wealth is too much?

That is an absurd question because each of us has a different answer as to what will make us happy.  But I would submit that if you cannot live comfortably on a salary of one million dollars per year there may be something wrong with you.  And even that number is way too high for most.

The world has just come to an agreement on banking regulations that will attempt to reign in some of the bad practices of the near past.  That’s a good first step but more is needed.

Want an example of a disconnect between the wealthy and the rest of us?

Remember the woman who told President Bush she had to work 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet?  Remember him saying, “That’s what makes America great?”

I have always fantasized of the day I would owe a million dollars in taxes.  Sadly many of our billionaires do as well.  The difference is they are getting away with it whilst I still only dream.

Again I have no problem with someone striking it rich.  But shouldn’t that person continue to pay taxes at a fair rate?

This is after all a union of states.  It is a union of American states.  It is the United States of America.  We are all part of this great union and we keep it great by pulling our own weight and making sure that we are all taken care of in a united way! (Not a plug for that charity but…)

There is no “I” in team and no room for obscene personal greed in America.

When President Obama was elected to office the world took note.  America finally embraced the fact that all men are created equal and anyone can rise to the top in this country.

He took office at a time when our economy was coming face to face with an abyss of monumental proportions and he immediately made proposals to help us back away from the edge.

Immediately a plan was put into place to obstruct him and, by simple extrapolation us from succeeding.

The wealthiest 2% started backing the opposition.

THE OPPOSITION!!!

OPPOSITION TO WHAT?

TO PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK?

TO GIVING THE POOR AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE?

TO DOING THE RIGHT THING?

DAMN STRAIGHT!

Any and all of the policies proposed by the Obama administration would cost money!

And every penny was going to come out of the tax roll.  And since the wealthy don’t like paying taxes the catch phrases and ads started up in full bloom.
Look into a pair of billionaire known as the Koch brothers who had to work hard for their fortune.  They got it the old fashioned way - they outlived daddy and inherited it!  They are funding group after group hell bent on stopping taxes for the rich!

If we have class warfare then it is not the poor and middle class who fired the first shot.

We need the wealthy but they in turn need the rest of us.  Unfortunately they are not acting like they realize that fact.  Once they fire or lay off all their workers who’s going to continue to make them rich?  From whom are they going to get more money?

The Bush tax gift is supposed to end this year.  The Republicans wrote that into the bill but now they wish to renege.  We cannot allow that.

A parasite lives off the host but dies if the host dies.

Catch this phrase: America’s middle class is dying and the parasitic 2% are to blame.

Voters' Aid

In order to find the best leaders for America we must find every available factoid at our fingertips.  But while editorials with tremendous amounts of content may inform those of us willing to read too many others only listen to sound bites and quick hitting slogans.  These voters are swayed by catchy phrases that belie their meaning or intent.

Just as a foul pole in baseball is also a fair pole so too can a slogan that ‘hits it out of the park’ be a bold faced lie!

With that in mind I give you a few random thoughts to help you decide which Political Party you’d like to see hold the majority of power in Congress come this November.

To my Democratic friends I hope you enjoy this silly diversion and will even add a few slogans and one-liners of your own.

To my Republican friends and acquaintances I apologize for the length of some of the items below.  If you find yourself drifting off while trying to get through the long sentences pour some Red Bull in your Starbucks.

When the going gets tough the Republicans get going - By blaming illegal aliens.

But is the grass is always greener on a wealthy person’s lawn?  Si!

The only sure things in life are death and the Republicans’ desire to cut taxes for the rich.

As long as you have your health Republicans will try to take it away.

There once was a woman who lived in a shoe – There’s about to be a lot more!

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and get ready to leave in November.

Let a smile be your umbrella because you’re about to be too poor to own a real one.

Roses are red violets are blue Republicans don’t give a rat’s ass for you!

Little miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey

The Right called her lazy and probably crazy and took all her benefits away.

Capitalism redefined:

Jack & Jill went up the hill

Each with a buck and a quarter

Jill came down with two and a half

They didn’t go up for water!

Capitalism redefined for Republican family values people:

Jack & Bill went up the hill

Each with a buck and a quarter

Bill came down with two and a half

And a new job patrolling the border!

If the wealthy find their profits limp and PALIN the FOX will RUSH to their aid, be at their BECK and call until a new ANGLE can help their BONER return.

Finally and seriously - When it comes time to pull the curtain and the lever in that voting booth try not to be fooled by the Republican rhetoric on the 'right.'  Vote with your brain.  98% of the country keeps the wealthiest 2% on way too high a pedestal.  Don't allow their ad dollars YOUR AD DOLLARS to sway you away from doing the right thing.  They may not all be good or be all good but the Democrats are far better for the 98% than any other choice we have!

Ich Bin There Done That

Imagine someone blaming others for his problems.
Imagine this man is a prominent leader or someone high up in government or at least important to government.
Now imagine this man writing a book and getting many people worked up over his allegations.
Well this man could be a fictitious villager in Mary Shelley's of Frankenstein or a real Senator named McCarthy in the U S Congress.
Unfortunately these days he could also be a she and running for office right here in immigrant fearing America.
But this time it is a German banker who has sparked the controversy by voicing his opinion on all people not like him.
Thilo Sarrazin is a board member of Germany's central bank and his opinions are naturally important to the business community.  Thilo wrote a book blaming all of his country's woes on a familiar foe, none other than those hated Jews!  He claims that all Jews have specific genes that make them unique.
Thilo believes that immigrants are making Germany dumber and it is only a matter of time before they outnumber the, uh original master race?
He is not alone in his delusion that is not bounded by man's made up political borders.  And his statements couldn't come at a more interesting time given the political firestorm centered around a currently vacant building in lower Manhattan.
The difference between the two groups of bogeymen however should not be ignored.  The Jews have long been persecuted and make up a relatively small group compared to the world's Muslim population.  But coming from a German they must surely be noted and cataloged and watched for metastasis.
Some will argue that Thilo has a point about Jews having different genes.  After all there are diseases that appear to attack them and not others.  Those individuals are obviously only using the data they need to prove a point while ignoring all the facts.  Diseases such as Tay Sachs do not discriminate and will gladly attack any host willing to let them in.  Many non-Jews are susceptible to this deadly disease.
But the point that peoples of different regions or race or background have developed differently through the eons of Earth's history merely means that they have grown different immunities and allergies.
In a perfect world people in authority would be working together to find cures for all diseases that affect humans or animals for that matter.
In that perfect world people would realize the true worth of peacefully working together toward common goals.
When I stub my toe it would be as idiotic to blame the leg of the guilty table for being immovable as it would to place the blame on the people being killed in Darfur.
With great power comes great responsibility (Original quote not from Spiderman's Uncle Ben but Socrates.)
People such as Messr. Sarrazin should know better and given Germany's and the World's misconception of the Jewish population vis a vie money a central banker is the last person we need to hear complaining about Judaism.
In a civilized world we should not punish a man for his opinions but we also should not allow him to yell fire in a theater without consequences.
So who do I blame for all this hate and fear of minorities?
Who is at fault?
"The fault... is not in our stars but in ourselves..."
So I guess I cannot blame anyone else.
It's my fault.
It's all of our faults.
But while I am not the first person to say that wouldn't it be great if some time soon no one had to?

The Law is a Ass!

Charles Dickens wrote that famous (infamous) line in his book, "Oliver Twist."
His basic feeling was that the law should be logical.  It along with a dedicated police force should serve and protect the people.  Because as we all know, in the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate but equal... (Is there anyone in the world who has not heard this?)
So when the law does the opposite of those simple principles it should be changed.
In America we tend to review the law constantly with a general eye toward improvement.  Naturally the winds of the political world blow our legal sails in many directions and often we must tack against them to follow our own rules.  A prime example is the ongoing fight over Roe V Wade.
Presidents who are fortunate enough to appoint life term justices to the Supreme Court can have their views supported for many years to come.  This can create a dilemma when the majority of the public wants one policy but the court leans the other way.
But luckily we don't have too many horrible rulings that have to be walked back at a later date and our laws are dynamic and manageable.
But that is not the case in many other countries of the World.
Take Iran for instance.
In the news this week is the ongoing case of a young woman who faces the thrilling prospect of 99 lashes and the death by stoning.  This unbelievably brutal sentence was delivered under Sharia Law and is the punishment for her awful crime.
What terrible act did this evil woman commit?
She was photographed without her head being covered.  This after it was reported that she committed adultery.
In case anyone is wondering even though it generally takes two to tango if there was a man involved in the adultery he faces no punishment.  But he will now have more funny stories to tell his buddies when they meet up at the local hangout or armory.
In the guilty woman's defense the attorney is claiming, not that the law is a ass but rather that it was a different woman and not his client.
In other words the lawyer realizes that he must work within the system even though the system is terribly broken.
Frankly if anyone deserves to be stoned to death for showing his face in public without being totally covered it should really be that disgusting piece of camel turd known as Achmadinejad but that's a different story.
Unfortunately nobody outside the Iranian legal system is allowed to tell them how to run their country but protests in her defense have sprung up in many places around the World.  One such gathering took place in Paris not long ago.
A short time ago a Fatwa  was issued in Iran stating that it is illegal to own dogs as pets.  One reason given for this absurd ruling was that the animal is dirty.  I wonder if the people who proposed this ruling ever looked at themselves in the mirror.  But many people feel that the real reason for the edict was that Americans own dogs as pets and the ruling religious class is afraid Iranians are starting to emulate Western habits.
If too many people continue their march toward the freedom found under a Western style of government the Islamic leaders fear loss of control.  They may become obsolete.
I have often railed against religion as one of the greatest causes of Worldwide anguish if not out and out war and destruction.  It doesn't take a genius to know this is so, merely a person who reads about history.
And I do not mean to say that Islam is the only religion that has fanatics in power but they are the current one.
Can you say Papal Wars?
But the Catholic Church has mellowed to some degree and does not pose the threat to humanity it did during the Dark Ages.
Genocide has existed throughout our history and there has always been some group hell bent on killing off someone else.  Civilization has endured but in this day and age we must really expect, no demand better of ourselves.
Sharia Law is an offshoot of the dominant religion in Iran.   And when it comes to religion people tend to get a bit worked up.  But when an entire group of people must live under fear of death for having their picture taken perhaps not just the law is a ass but the religion is as well.

How Dumb Can We Get?

For a while I felt as though the more I read the less I knew.
That was because when I delved into a subject and listened to all sides and then analyzed what I heard I made an informed decision.  But for a couple of years, and actually longer, it seemed as though every decision I made was wrong.
For example I learned everything I could about the proposed health care reform bill President Obama wanted to get into law and realized it was fairly good for the people of America.  When I say people I mean the average citizen; the person on the street; the voter regardless of political affiliation.
But then we went through a summer of "death panels" and "killing old people" talk coming from elected officials who should know better.
So I did what any intelligent creature should do in a situation like that, I went back to the facts.
Again it appeared as though the thing was good!  But Democrats saw the lies becoming a rallying cry among the Republicans and they gave in on far too many points to get the bill moving.
The above scenario happened again and again over the period of time that President Obama has been in office so I figured I better change my point of view.
Oh I am not going to be against health care reform or small business stimuli programs that for some reason Republicans, who once again should know better, are blocking.  But rather I am going to widen my search of the facts to find out why America is about to punish the Democratic Party for trying to help the average citizen.  Why do these people want to put the same people who started the economic collapse in the first place back into power!
It didn't take long to find out what was going on but it took a bit longer to understand why the simple facts were not stemming the tide.
The reason is simply Americans are not only dumbing down they are reveling in their abject ignorance.  The majority of Americans for lack of a better term are just plain stupid and seem to be proud of it!  Even Roger Ebert noticed this and took time from his movie schedule to post it on his blog!
I believe it started during the 2000 Presidential election when an 'almost majority' of people voted for a man with whom they wanted to have a beer.
Not exactly the criteria one would expect from a learned electorate.
You may also view the intelligence of the average American voter on the Pew Research page where the numbers are staggering.
But we would have survived the storm of stupid and stemmed the tide if not for the terrible events of 9-11.
The rallying cry throughout the land was one of solidarity with a tinge of revenge that allowed the evil and purposely misguided policies of Bush and his then lord and master Dick Cheney to move us into a war against the wrong country.
Well it was the wrong country for most of us but not for the millionaires who doubled, tripled, quadrupled and more their wealth as a result.
The sign signifying "Mission Accomplished" flying high behind President Bush on that commandeered aircraft carrier that we all felt was wrong was not!  We just didn't realize what the mission was at the time.
But finally 2008 came and a wave of "change" oriented feelings spread throughout the country.  The Republicans who had failed tremendously in holding onto record surpluses instead turning them into unprecedented deficits were kicked out of power.
But rather than 'change' their ways in light of their losses they instead immediately plotted their revenge and return to power.
That brings us to the day after the Barack Obama inauguration and just about every day since.
With the lone exception being the day that Obama agreed to allow more drilling for oil in the gulf and elsewhere the Republican Party and their benefactors have been doing anything they can to bring down his presidency.
Lobbyists in big business, big oil, Murdoch's Fox and his partner Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal who has been linked to terror organizations BY FOX NEWS have donated millions and millions of dollars to the Republican cause.
With all that affluence and influence behind them I'm surprised the Republicans haven't just taken over the government in a "Seven Days In May" type coup.
But now to the people of America.  The ones who have been searching for a beer drinking partner ever since Bush left office.
Along comes Sarah Palin, a charismatic woman who appears to be too dumb to even open a beer can.  And she along with her cohorts, a list way too long to reprint here, have taken the battle to the people.
Using catch phrases and one-liners and speaking in sound bites she has captured the small minded who don't have a clue about what's wrong with the country.
All these simple former hard working people know is the country is in trouble and the Democrats must be at fault, because simple Sarah says so!
I hate to stoop to the level of our evil opponents but if we are to get this country moving forward again we must stop the bleeding.  We must speak in a language the masses will understand.
President Obama is far too intelligent and passionate about his BIRTH COUNTRY of America to just give up.  So unfortunately he must dummy up!  Or rather DUMB UP so he can be understood.
For his next speech I propose he start off,
"Yo America, wassup?  I been you president fo 2 yeah now and I say it be time to start workin agin y'all.  So I'm gonna open my place up fo beer to each and all of yas. My woman & I wantcha to come ovah foh a beer or three.  Let's put some serious hurtin on this here unemployment thingy."
I apologize if the above offends anyone.  I know it's a bit awful and he has never spoken like that nor could he but sadly it would work.
Then again he'd probably get a cease and desist letter from the Republicans for stealing their stupidity.

Are You Qualified?

Want to know why nearly 10% of America is unemployed?

According to business owners who are loving this buyers' market the reasons range from lazy work force to uncertainty about the future.

These phony excuses are being used to keep the numbers in the workforce low, the level of work per worker high and the owners' profits higher.

But one excuse an interviewer may use as a reason not to hire a prospective worker is partially true and used over and over again.

"You’re overqualified."

What a delightful term and one I am tired of hearing.

Businesses have the luxury of choosing to hire, or not from the most diverse worker pool since the 1930s.  But just like a child in a well-stocked candy store they are overwhelmed by the abundance of choice and unable to act.  That is a terrible tragedy for those of us quite qualified for so many different jobs especially on Long Island.

As for the overqualified label what business would hire someone who's under-qualified?  It would seem that the position being filled by that type of worker would have no future or room  to grow.  So why do so many interviews end with the old, ‘don’t call us, we’ll call you’ blow off?

After so many nibbles without a bite I feel like a teenager dialing the number of someone I met at a singles bar only to hear a recorded weather report from Akron, Ohio.  Hey, if you really didn’t want to hurt my feelings then why did you give me the number in the first place?

When an unemployed person visits a job fair or goes on an interview they are not doing so to boost their morale.  They are hopeful of gaining gainful employment.  They are seeking positions with challenges and growth potential that will benefit both themselves and their employer.  And given the current economic climate these workers will be among the most loyal ever hired.

Unless the gap between the talent and skill of the interviewee and the job for which they are applying is the size of that between a brain surgeon and a supermarket cashier then telling them they are overqualified is foolish.  If I owned a business I would hire people who were more qualified than what the available job needed in the hopes they would lift those around them and help the company in other areas.

For my first job years ago I was in fact overqualified.  As a result I finished my daily required work by early afternoon.  Some co-workers were upset as my abilities seemed to reflect poorly on them.  But rather than flaunt my free time I used it to help them become more efficient.  As a result we all finished our days with less stress and felt better about ourselves.  In the end I rose through the organization and was in a small but key way responsible for its growth.

My fellow unemployed Americans and I are looking for just that type of opportunity once again.  We do not want to hear that we are overqualified just that our skills are needed and welcome.  Put us to work and let us make your companies better.

Being told you’re overqualified is troublesome.  How or why should we become less so?  

If being overqualified means:

You can do the job;

The business secured a quality worker;

The company got more than it bargained for!

Then it's a win-win for all involved.

What we in America need to start hearing is, “Gee, you’re overqualified. When can you start?”