Sunday, January 1, 2012

The Best of BeeLine 2011

BeeLine is exactly one year old.  It launched on January 1, 2011 and in the last year there have been 188 posts and 8,510 views during the year.  85% of the visits were from the United States but 15% were foreign readers.  Germany, Russia, UK, Singapore, Canada, France, India, Slovenia and Romania were other countries in the Top 10.

When you have written 188 posts during the year it is hard to pick a favorite.  Trying to pick a favorite is like trying to pick a favorite child.  However, these 15 posts might be worth a look if you missed them the first time around.  They are some of my personal favorites.  If you only have time for five, I have put an asterisk on those where I thought I put a perspective on an issue that you will not likely find somewhere else.

Happy New Year!  2012 promises to be one of the most important years in our country's history.  There is  a fork in the road ahead of us.  The path ahead looks challenging.  Important decisions must be made.   It will not be easy but I have great faith.  May God bless us to make the right decisions for ourselves and our country.

What Exactly Is The Purpose of Public Sector Unions?
On January 3 of last year I made the prediction that increased scrutiny was coming to public sector unions.  This was before most anyone had ever heard of Governor Scott Walker and the looming battle with public sector unions in Wisconsin.  I correctly predicted that public sector unions are so firmly entrenched they will not go easily into the night.  The recall battles in Wisconsin and the repeal of SB 5 in Ohio showed how accurate that prediction was.

Perspectives On Poverty
What country in the world has these characteristics for those living in poverty?  43% own their own home.  80% have air conditioning.  Almost 75% own a car.  97% have a color television.  62% have cable or satellite tv.  99% have a refrigerator.  91% have a telephone.  The United States of America.

Ronald Reagan-A Great American
The parallels between 1980 and 2012 are interesting.  Read this and you will see why we need another Ronald Reagan in the White House.  That is why I maintain a lot of faith.  I have seen what the right man can do.  Unfortunately, we also seen what the wrong man can do.

Egyptian Irony*
Facebook and social media were credited with being the critical enabling instruments for the "Arab Spring".  The ultimate irony is looking who were the people behind this technology who changed the world.  Let's just say it this was...I don't think they are going to be invited to Cairo anytime soon especially with the Muslim Brotherhood now in charge.

Employed or Unemployed?
It is not the unemployment rate we should be looking at, it is the employment rate.  There are a lot of sobering statistics if you look at the labor participation rate rather than the unemployment rate in better understanding the jobs market today.

Does The Government Have The Ability To Manage Disability?
7,000 federal employees are receiving Social Security disability payments but are also full-time employees of the federal government. In several zip codes in Puerto Rico, about 15% of all citizens are on SSDI.  Read about a federal government program that is in deep, deep trouble and and a lot of the trouble is obviously being caused by fraud.

A Factoid About A City On Steroids*
Average income per person in the District of Columbia is $71,044.  The income of the average American is $40,584.  What is wrong with this picture?  Who is paying the tab?  You are!

My Mother Solves The Budget Deficit
I was suggesting spending cut triggers long before Harry Reid and John Boehner did on the debt limit deal.  I was also saying we need to eat our peas long before President Obama suggested it.

The Wagon Is Getting Heavy
How much can we ask the rich to pay before it all begins to break down?  What is a fair share for the rich to pay of the tax burden?  I don't know but I do know the wagon is getting heavy.

Women's Rights?
If you think liberals are protecting women's rights think again.  Read this on the most basic of women's rights.

The Fourth Turning*
A book was written in 1997 that accurately forecasted the tumultuous times we now live in.  The Fourth Turning is one of the most consequential books of our times.  Learn what it can teach us of the way forward.

Improper and Wicked Projects*
Our Founding Fathers were particularly concerned about three "Improper and Wicked Projects" that could be perpetrated by dangerous factions in a society.  What were they?  Paper Money, Abolition of Debt and Equal Distribution of Property.  I kid you not.  What is going on in this country today?

Have You Been Framed?
Learn one of the most important principles of neuroeconomics and how minor changes in context or description can make a big difference in decision making.

Do Illegal Immigrants Deserve This Much Credit?*
$4.2 billion was paid to illegal immigrants in refundable child tax credits.   Even more unbelievable is that these credits were claimed on tax returns with addresses of the illegal immigrants.  And yet the federal government doesn't know where they are?

Mixing Oil and Water
How much water is needed to nurture a corn crop to maturity?  How much energy is needed to put food to your table?

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