The complete overhaul is what's needed, and no one in our government is willing to tackle it. GW's PSA's were a band aid, and an pinky size one at that.

Personally I have no intention to retire. I have the advantage of owning my own business. (Yes, oxymoron, business owner that's not republican). Social Security won't and cannot exist as we know it 20-25 years from now. I'll just cut to a couple of days a week, and hire and pay good people to help me in with my walker.

As I was counting the drawer tonite I was reminded of when I was working in my Dad's hdwe store. I gave a man his change, and he said "Give me two nickels for that dime, I won't carry Roosevelt in my pocket". I thought that was odd, but now I understand how you can dislike an administration so much.

I'm in the equipment and party rental business. Construction, tents, tables, chairs. Babybeds to backhoes.

I wish. You know how they talk about retailers making their year in December, that's us in apr, may, june. Covering up the red ink from Dec, Jan, Feb. But in a little over a year the bank no longer owns me. There's gonna be a big party. It's been 50-70 hour weeks for 12 yrs. Should have been 9, but the late 2000 tank really crimped business up until the middle of last year. Maybe that's why I don't believe they're pro business, at least small business. I've been through 4 administrations in business for myself. Reagan, Bush (Hardware Store),Clinton (Rental Store and Hardware Store), BushII. I made money with Clinton, added 2 locations and paid debt. Under the others I struggled like hell just to pay the debt and keep the doors open.

Mr. Vinyl is correct that the president does not directly affect the economy, but what he does with the pulpit influences it. I have a relative who has made a fortune in the market. He learned very quickly to short the market whenever George gave a speech. EVERY time until last fall, whenever George spoke, the market dropped. The results are statisically significant. The graph is pretty funny actually.

You know it's not just the pulpit. Remmember the pres appoints the cabinet; thats Sec. Of/Education/State/Labor/Defense/Interior blah blah. They are all appointed by him and they all submitt budgetary requests that reflect his wishes. Thats why you always hear of the veto if the Congress doesn't pass the funding programs he wants. Take the No Child Left Behind Act. Thats his baby and it cost us taxpayers a lot of money.
He is not the passive actor that Mr V says; he is the man who sets the budgetary priorities and they had better follow his wishes. Ask any Poly-Sci major who is most responsible for determining spending in the govt.

Hardware; boy I miss the local hardware guys. I hate Home Depot.

I have made it a point not to shop the big boxes. We have another really good hdwe store here, he's too high, but I don't care. I refuse to shop at the boxes unless there's no choice.

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