Archive for the 'Current Affairs' Category



Could Therapy Have Helped Michael Jackson?

Tuesday 7 July 2009 @ 6:56 pm

Michael Jackson must have been under tremendous emotional stress in recent years. He went through a difficult trial. He had a strained relationship with his father. Additionally, being in the spotlight 24/7 can put tension on your emotional state.

News reports imply that Michael may have had some chronic sleep problems. This would not be surprising, given his role of being one of the most famous entertainers in the world. It might be reasonable to expect that his earlier trial gave him some anxiety, as well. That could have also led to some depression. But the world always expected him to “put on a happy face.” What a strain that must have been. Strain of any kind can lead to distress. Distress can be followed by difficulty with sleep, mood and ability to cope with life.

There are many ways to deal with strain and cope with problems. Therapy can help any of these issues. Sometimes therapy and medication together are helpful. Some medications have more dangerous side effects than others. That is why they are only used in very serious situations where the benefits outweight the risks. It is important for us to learn from this that mental and physical health go hand in hand and treating one withpout the other can have disaterous outcomes.

Michael allegedly had powerful drugs in his house that could be used to alleviate difficulties with sleep or anxiety. Did any of his doctors recommend an evaluation, therapy or appropriate medications instead of dangerous drugs? We may never know. What can we learn from this and other similar tragedies, such as Elvis Presley and Anna Nicole Smith?

We live in a fast paced world. We want quick fixes for difficult problems. Got a headache? Take an aspirin. Can’t sleep? Take a sleeping pill. Nervous? Take a Xanax. In reality, maybe therapy, stress management or exercise would be a better solution for all of us.

Many people are so afraid to be labeled as emotionally unstable, temporarily over the edge, or beyond their ability to cope, that it is difficult for them to ask for help. They would rather take a pill. After all, everybody takes pills. There’s no shame in that. Therapy is hard work, embarrassing, time consuming and sometimes painful. There’s no time, money, or patience for therapy. (What was I thinking?)

We need to find ways to make it OK to seek help from a therapist, psychologist, counselor, or social worker. While a Quick Fix Pill may suit us in the immediacy of the moment, the long-term fixes (therapy, relaxation exercises, anger management classes, or parenting classes) may serve us best for a lifetime.

Dr. Kathryn Seifert has over 30 years experience in mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. She has authored the CARE and numerous relaxation CD’s and MP3’s. Dr. Seifert has lectured internationally on youth and family strengths and stressors. Dr. Kathy Seifert

[tags]Michael Jackson, therapy, mental health, counseling, drugs, wellness[/tags]




Mortgage Rates Fall Again

Tuesday 7 July 2009 @ 10:07 am

Mortgage Rates fell this week with the 30 year rate dropping from 5.42 to 5.32. They have fallen .27 points from their recent high of 5.59 reached on June 11, 2009. Rates are still up from the all time low of 4.78 they reached on April 30, 2009. Except for the 1 year arm the other major rates dropped as well. The 15 year fixed rate dropped from 4.87 to 4.77 and the 5 year arm dropped from 4.99 to 4.88. The one year arm rose slightly from 4.93 to 4.94. Below are rates for the last few weeks.

Jul 02, 2009
30-yr 5.32 15-yr 4.77 5-yr ARM 4.88 1-yr ARM 4.94

Jun 25, 2009
30-yr 5.42 15-yr 4.87 5-yr ARM 4.99 1-yr ARM 4.93

Jun 18, 2009
30-yr 5.38 15-yr 4.89 5-yr ARM 4.97 1-yr ARM 4.95

Jun 11, 2009
30-yr 5.59 15-yr 5.06 5-yr ARM 5.17 1-yr ARM 5.04

Jun 04, 2009
30-yr 5.29 15-yr 4.79 5-yr ARM 4.85 1-yr ARM 4.81

Dec 31, 2008
30-yr 5.10 15-yr 4.83 5-yr ARM 5.57 1-yr ARM 4.85

In addition to rates we also like to analyze mortgage payments. Using our free mortgage calculator we took today’s mortgage rates and translated them into a mortgage payment for a 200k loan. We did the same thing with rates from June 25, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (6 months ago).

Jul 02
30-yr $1113.09
15-yr $1557.72
5-yr ARM $1059.02
1-yr ARM $1066.32

Jun 25
30-yr $1125.55
15-yr $1568.07
5-yr ARM $1072.42
1-yr ARM $1065.1

Dec 31
30-yr $1085.89
15-yr $1563.93
5-yr ARM $1144.37
1-yr ARM $1055.38

While a potential mortgage payment is down from last week it is up $27.20 (2.5 percent) from 6 months ago.

Although rates are low it’s important to note that loans are not freely available. Banks are still extremely strict on the properties and individuals that will receive loans. For instance loans for non warrantable condos (where 50% or more of the units are rented instead of owner occupied) have pretty much disappeared. The credit scores thresholds needed for a loan have increased as well. So although mortgage rates are near historic lows the lending industry continues to be the biggest negative factor dragging on the real estate market.
So what do we expect to see moving forward? There is a huge upward pressure on mortgage rates because of the amount of borrowing the US government has engaged in over the last year. So while it’s hard to know what is going to happen over the next month we should see higher mortgage rates in the next year. Since rates are going to be higher this is a good reason to avoid the 1 year arm since by the time the arm expires rates could be over 8 percent.

More importantly is whether the lending industry will ease up on some of the current mortgage restrictions. While when the market finally improves it’s assumed some lending restrictions will disappear but it’s doubtful that lending restrictions will ease up before then.

Ki lives in Austin Texas. His site provides a mortgage widget along with a free mortgage calculator. It also has a search for Austin Tx real estate.

[tags]mortgage interest rates, mortgage rates, free mortgage calculator, investment properties, FED, loans[/tags]




Mortgage Math : Financial Advice in an Uncertain Economy

Tuesday 7 July 2009 @ 9:48 am

The national savings rate is up to a 15-year high and more Americans are getting serious about getting out of debt, rather than spending beyond their means. When staring down a pile of debt that includes mortgage, credit cards and school loans, the question becomes: Where to begin?

One way to pay down debt that appeals to many people is making an extra mortgage payment. The math seems almost irresistible when looking at the amount of money that can be saved over the life of a mortgage loan by making extra payments. For example, paying an extra $100 a month on a $250,000 mortgage at 6 percent saves over $50,000 and pays the loan off a few years early. That’s a smart thing to do, right?

Not necessarily, says MSN financial analyst Liz Pulliam Weston. “Most people still have better things to do with their money, even in this economy, than to pay down a low-rate debt that’s often tax-deductable to boot.”

Weston points out that if someone is carrying credit card debt, say at 12 percent, every dollar put towards paying off that debt earns an instant 12 percent return. That is a great return considering the hit most retirement funds have taken over the last year and home values are shaky these days. Even a one-year certificate of deposit only averages around a 2 percent return.

A 2007 study found that an estimated 16 percent of American home owners pay extra on their mortgage. But that might not be the smartest use of funds. Financial planners all sing the same tune when it comes to paying off debt: tackle the debt with the highest interest rate first.

The debt with the highest interest rate is usually credit cards. Financial guru Dave Ramsey suggests trying a debt snowball. He instructs people who want to pay down their credit card debt to make a list of all credit card balances and then tackle the smallest balance first. Like the snowball that starts small and gains girth and speed as it rolls down hill, Ramsey touts the psychological benefits of watching the number of balances diminish along with the total dollar amount.

If credit card debt is not an issue, paying down the mortgage still may not be the smartest financial move. Unless retirement is right around the corner, using extra funds to invest in a retirement fund will give a greater return on that money. One study found that most people who make an extra mortgage payment each year would have gotten 11to 17 cents more on the dollar if they had invested in a 401k instead.

Should you pay down the mortgage or invest in the stock market? “Even with the recent turmoil, over the long term your money can earn better returns in the market compared with paying off low-rate debt. Based on historical returns, a mix of 60% stocks, 30% bonds and 10% cash would earn an average of more than 8% a year in most 20- to 30-year periods, according to market researcher Ibbotson Associates. You may doubt we’ll ever return to the days of positive returns in the stock market, but we will,” says Weston.

In these times of economic uncertainty, building an emergency savings plan is also a smarter thing to do than making that extra mortgage payment. Most financial planners suggest having enough in savings to cover at least three-months’ expenses, and the smarter safety net is six months’ of expenses in savings. While the paying-down-the-mortgage math seems sound, double check the numbers before writing that check.

Ki works as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. His site has a search of Austin homes for sale It also provides information and statistics on Austin real estate and Pflugerville real estate.

[tags]motgage payments, financial planning, interst rates, debt reduction, austin real estate, real estate[/tags]




A Guide To Life After Foreclosure

Monday 29 June 2009 @ 12:45 pm

Okay. If your home was foreclosed on and sold on the courthouse steps, you feel like life’s dealt you a major blow. The devastation left by a foreclosure is overwhelming, and feels insurmountable.

You think life is over, you’ll never get to buy another home and you’ll be paying twice as much for rent as you ever did on your mortgage payments. There is, however, life after foreclosure.

You’ll need to put together a heavy-duty strategic plan to attack the financial dilemma you’ve gotten yourself into. Your credit is going to need an extreme makeover. It may take you a couple of years or so to get your credit back on track. After you do, though, you could be eligible to purchase a new home at a reasonable interest rate. You’ll need to complete the following steps in order to fight your way back to the American dream.

* First things first - Figure out why you went into foreclosure in the first place. Was it due to a job loss, unforeseeable situation - e.g., divorce or court proceedings, or life-threatening event? You can still remedy that in a relatively short amount of time, but, first, you have to get your income on track. Make sure you have a job that gives you an adequate income.

* Budget - You’ll need to put together a budget, and you’ll need a method to capture all the details - e.g., Quicken, Excel. Identify all your income and all of your expenses for an entire month. Consider how you can minimize your expenses. What you have leftover at the end of the month will be what you’ll use to pay off other debt and save for your mortgage loan.

* 80/20 Rule - Set aside 80% of what is leftover into a savings account to use for the down payment of a mortgage. As your savings account for your mortgage grows, put it into a higher yield CD. Put the other 20% into an account you will use to negotiate with your creditors. Don’t stop saving.

* If you are several months late paying your other creditors, then you’ll want to negotiate a settlement with them all, except for any secured debt - e.g., car loan.

* Annual Credit Report - Get a copy of your credit report. All three major credit reporting agencies are required by law to provide you with a free one annually. Note every creditor you owe and are late in paying. Make sure the information is accurate and start calling each creditor - the most recent debts first. Offer a settlement of 30% of the entire amount owed. Require that the creditor remove all negative notations on your credit report and note that the account was closed by you. Get all this in writing before you pay anything.

* Payment - Once you get it in writing, send a check noted on the memo line with, “Paid in full.” Note the signature area on the back of the check with, “By this signature, creditor acknowledges this account is paid in full.” If you do not, the creditor can legally continue attempts to collect the remainder of the debt.

* New Credit - While you are settling all your debts, open a credit card or two. There are innumerous ones available online. Some are very easy to get approved for. You may, however, have to opt for a secured credit card. Make sure you research all cards you are interested in before you apply for and accept any. You’ll need to understand all fees associated with the credit card - e.g., application fees, maintenance fees, late fees, over-the-limit fees. Once you receive your cards, write to each of your new creditors and request that all account activity be reported to the three major credit reporting agencies.

* Purchases - Make a purchase on each credit card and make sure you keep a balance for, at least, a year. After a year, request another free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. You may even want to pay for a credit score from one or more of them.

* Credit Reporting - When you get your credit reports, ensure that your recent account activities are being reported. If not, contact your credit card companies and request that they report it. You can also send your account information to the credit reporting agencies and request that they insert this information.

* After about two years, you will be ready to apply for a mortgage. Keep in mind, there are some companies who will not even consider you with a foreclosure on record. There are other options, though. The VA considers mortgages for those who can prove they have experienced unforeseeable hardship - e.g., divorce, medical emergency; however, you must show evidence that you are not at risk of falling back into a similar situation. In other words, you must prove that you are past the crisis and are now in an area of financial stability. Of course, there will be other companies you’ll want to consider. Just make sure you verify their reputation before you apply for a mortgage at any institution. Check their website to see if you find the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) seal on it. That is a fairly good indicator that they are reputable. There are plenty of scammers out there, and you don’t want to fall prey to their tactics.

After you’ve followed all the steps necessary to repair your credit and save enough for a down payment, you should cautiously pursue one with a reputable lender. Be ready to explain any discrepancies on your credit report. In a down economy there are still opportunities to obtain a mortgage loan … even for someone who has been through a foreclosure!

Inside Realty operates in Houston Texas. Their website has information on Houston neighborhoods along with a real estate blog and general info on real estate in Houston.

[tags]foreclosure, mortgage, loan, credit, neighborhood, real estate in houston, va, home loan,[/tags]




What Actually Happened To Air France Flight 447?

Sunday 21 June 2009 @ 8:46 pm

The recent disappearance and subsequent crash of Air France 447 has quickly become one of the 21st century’s first great mysteries. The modern world furnishes a great many of us with more communication mediums than we can shake a stick at; and while this is one of the great wonders of the modern world, it can also cause a lot of mysteries to snowball.

There are many theories as to what actually happened to Air France flight 447, and as is the way with the internet, these theories get built upon in a kind of virtual Chinese Whispers between forums, blogs and video hosting sites and it doesn’t take long before cries of conspiracy are flying.

The facts as they have been reported are: the flight departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 31st of May bound for Paris, France. Forty minutes after passing out of Brazilian airspace, the plane transmitted a four minute burst of automated error messages and was then not heard from again until debris and bodies were discovered on June 6th 2009 in the Atlantic Ocean. Autopsies performed on the recovered bodies have discovered that many of them have fractures consistent with the plane breaking apart in mid-air. The official investigation into the causes of the crash is still ongoing and as such, there has been no definitive statement from the airline as to the cause, which has only served to fan the flames of conspiracy theories.

There are several inconsistencies in the reported facts which have been picked up on by much of the internet’s public and have lots of people smelling a rat. Firstly is the official claim that the plane was lost in bad weather, possibly an electrical storm. Though many people will agree that this claim is plausible, there is the counterpoint that apparently twelve other planes flew a similar route within the same timeframe and did not report any issues with the weather. There have also been numerous experts going on record stating that the plane would easily withstand a direct hit from lightning, deepening the mystery of the broken limbs - if lightning didn’t cause the plane to break apart in mid-air, what did?

A terrorist bombing is the common answer to this question, but Air France flight 447’s circumstances differ in two vital ways compared to most terrorist bombings - firstly, no group has come forwards and claimed responsibility for it, which is usually the first thing that happens in the wake of a terrorist attack. Secondly, a bomb is a sudden, almost instant destruction; it is unlikely that the plane would transmit a four-minute stream of automated error messages.

The error messages are another source of conspiracy theories, leading people to think that the largely computerised plane had a computer virus which caused the system - and thus the plane - to crash, others have taken this to another level insinuating that the vehicle had been hacked.

There are several other theories floating around about the causes of the downing of Air France 447, and just as many logical answers debunking them. Ultimately, regardless of the findings of the official investigation and the inevitable subsequent work by the law and lawyers when the families of victims claim for compensation, the answers will most likely never be good enough and the mystery will live on through blogs, forums and YouTube for many years to come.

Anna Stenning is a sociologist with many years of experience investigating the phenomenon of internet conspiracy theories. Find out more about Air France 447 at http://www.stewartslaw.com/

[tags]Air France 447[/tags]




Mortgage Interest Rates Skyrocket

Friday 19 June 2009 @ 4:41 pm

Last week mortgage rates moved up rapidly, moving up from 4.91 to 5.29. This week mortgage rates again jumped up .3 points going from 5.29 to 5.59. On May 21st rates were sitting at 4.82 which was a 40 year low. Now just a few weeks later rates are at 5.59. This is the highest we have seen rates since November 26, 2008. Unlike last week this week all the other major mortgage products went up as well. The 15 year rate jumped from 4.79 to 5.06. The 5 year arm moved from 4.85 to 5.17 and the 1 year arm moved from 4.81 to 5.04.

So what caused the sudden spike in mortgage rates? Basically the government had a few recent auctions of government debt that went poorly. With less interest in government debt, t-bills and mortgage rates have started to increase.

Below are rates for the major mortgage products for the last few weeks.

Jun 11, 2009
30-yr 5.59 15-yr 5.06 5-yr ARM 5.17 1-yr ARM 5.04

Jun 04, 2009
30-yr 5.29 15-yr 4.79 5-yr ARM 4.85 1-yr ARM 4.81

May 28, 2009
30-yr 4.91 15-yr 4.53 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.69

May 21, 2009
30-yr 4.82 15-yr 4.50 5-yr ARM 4.79 1-yr ARM 4.82

May 14, 2009
30-yr 4.86 15-yr 4.52 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.71

Dec 11, 2008
30-yr 5.47 15-yr 5.20 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.09

In addition to rates we like to look at mortgage payments. Using a mortgage calculator we took rates from this week and translated them into a mortgage payment for a 200k loan. We also did the same thing with rates from June 4th, May 28th and from December 11, 2008 (6 months ago)

Jun 11
30-yr $1146.89
15-yr $1587.84
5-yr ARM $1094.51
1-yr ARM $1078.53

Jun 04
30-yr $1109.36
15-yr $1559.79
5-yr ARM $1055.38
1-yr ARM $1050.53

May 28
30-yr $1062.66
15-yr $1533.05
5-yr ARM $1051.74
1-yr ARM $1036.07

Dec 11
30-yr $1131.81
15-yr $1602.5
5-yr ARM $1176.05
1-yr ARM $1084.67

So as we can see mortgage payments have jumped drastically. Compared to 2 weeks ago the mortgage for a 200k loan has increased by $84.23 or 7.3 percent.

One point is that although rates have jumped rapidly historically speaking rates are still very low.

So what do we expect moving forward? There is some speculation that rates will fall after the recent rise. I am not sure if this will happen or not there are some powerful forces moving mortgage rates. And regardless of what happens in the next few weeks with the massive government borrowing its expected that in 6 months rates will be significantly higher than what we are seeing today.

So what is our advice to people looking for a home? First of all I would lock in immediately. While rates might go down there is a significant chance will continue to rise. If rates fall you can always relock at the lower rate. Additionally, I would avoid arms. Although the difference between 30 year rates and arm’s has increased I would expect rates to be much higher in a year.

Ki lives in Austin Texas. His website provides information on Austin Texas real estate. It also provides a mortgage widget and a free mortgage calculator.

[tags]mortgage rates, loans, lenders, government, free mortgage calculator, austin texas real estate[/tags]




The Many Possible Causes Of The Air France Crash

Friday 19 June 2009 @ 1:34 pm

The Air France crash remains unsolved although recent autopsy results have made for interesting reading.

Many passengers received limb fractures mid-air which suggests that the plane defragmented whilst airborne. Also, many of the bodies were found with a lack of clothing on and had not suffered any burns, which forensic scientists and aviation safety experts say could be a significant factor as it also points towards the likelihood of the Air France crash actually being caused by the plane breaking up in mid-air.

Since the Air France crash was first reported, there have been many theories regarding the cause of the tragic crash, from terrorist attacks to excessive turbulence, yet nothing has yet been proven. Despite various newspapers running with the terrorist attack theory there is absolutely no proof to suggest that this could have been the case.

Another theory is simply that the Air France crash was caused by lightening striking the Airbus A330 plane. This is a more plausible cause, but has not been found to be the reason as to how the plane broke up mid-flight, especially as the Airbus A330 is designed to withstand lightening strikes as it uses an electric computer based operating system rather than being controlled mechanically.

The Airbus A330 is insulated in such a way that any excess current passed through the plane - as with a lightning strike - is filtered out. This does not mean that a lightning strike can be discounted as the cause of the Air France crash though as it is also a possibility that the Airbus may have had a faulty computer system that could well have made the plane susceptible to electromagnetic interference, thus causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.

The other likelihood could have been a failure with the on board weather system which would have left the pilot with no guidance when trying to navigate a storm, and could therefore have headed into the worst of the storm unknowingly.

And as for the turbulence theory, this cannot be totally ruled out but aircrafts are extensively tested against extreme conditions and whilst adverse weather can be extremely powerful, this remains unlikely to be the sole cause.

Despite there remaining many possible causes of the Air France crash, sufficient evidence has not yet been found, but the forensic results at least give those investigating this tragic disaster, along with lawyers involved with compensation cases for the bereaved families some more evidence with which to work with.

Anna Stenning is an aviation lawyer with many years of experience winning compensation cases. Find out more about the Air France crash at http://www.stewartslaw.com/Air-France-AF447.aspx

[tags]Air France crash,[/tags]




Are We Really In A Recession?

Friday 19 June 2009 @ 8:15 am

There is no doubt that we are in a recession. What you have to answer for yourself now is what are you going to do about it? On your own, you can change it but you can adapt to the situation until things blow over.

Now how do we do that? Well the best thing to do is tighten your belt because the credit market is frozen so you won’t be able to get a loan for personal or for business purposes.

With the money you have, it is best to use it wisely by buying only the important items when you go to the grocery. If there are other items you want to go get, you have to sacrifice in order to get it by buying different brand that is more affordable. Since most supermarkets have special offers, give out free vouchers or samples, you should also avail of it.

Do you drive yourself to work? If you do, has it ever occurred to you how much you spend on gas everyday? If you drive an SUV, chances are you spend a lot on gas just to go to and from work. Part of tightening that belt means trading in your SUV or a smaller car. If it is possible, go for a hybrid because you save on gas and get a tax break from the government.

Most people eat out during their lunch break. Instead of buying food, why don’t prepare it at home and then bring it to the office. That way, you don’t have to spend your hard earned dollars for lunch so you can use this elsewhere.

Your employer is aware of the current financial crisis. You can help him or her by suggesting if it will be possible to do some of the work at home. Some companies allow their employees to do this so just have to check if this scenario can work for you. Just be sure that you are as productive at home like you are in the office.

But because you spend more time at home instead of the office, your electricity bill will surely go up. To try and resolve that, the best thing to do will be to replace your lighting fixtures with those that consume less wattage. Since you have a landline and mobile phone, you should change this with a provider that offers better rates than what you are currently paying for. The same goes for other bills that pay monthly.

With all the money you are able to save, you should use it to pay any outstanding debts that you may have with the bank to ensure you have a good credit rating. You can also use this to take up a training course so you or go back to school so you will be able to shift to another career if the current one you are in right now is not working out.

The current recession isn’t going to end by Christmas since it is forcasted to last until next year. For you to survive, you have to tighten your belt. If you don’t know how to do this or want to learn more, it is best to hire a financial adviser who can come up with a plan so you can just follow it.

The author works as an agent for one of the best Philippine call centers. She also is a freelance writer. She writes about entertainment, showbiz actors and actress at pinoynets.

[tags]recession, surviving the recession, cheap living, cost cutting[/tags]




Terrorism and War - Decoding Difference Between Terrorism and War

Wednesday 17 June 2009 @ 7:17 pm

To the citizens of the U.S., the religious militants who are inciting hatred against the U.S. and hatching plots to kill Americans are terrorists. But to the citizens of countries like Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iran the U.S. and Israeli soldiers are the terrorists.

They are the ones who are invading countries, using chemical weapons on civilians, and killing and torturing innocent citizens. When trying to find the line between terrorism and war minute distinctions are very important and perspective is often the deciding factor.

An American might look at every foreign national from a Muslim country that is living or studying in the U.S. as a potential terrorist. A Muslim who has been the victim of a hate crime might look at every American the same way.

It’s not easy to decide the difference between justified war and terrorism, even though the Bush Administration tried to simplify the complex problem the same way they tried to simplify everything by using sound bites. Based on the actions of the Bush Administration, terrorism was violence against you, and war was violence you committed against others.

War, to the Bush Administration, is justified whereas terrorism is evil. But they were never able to make a logical leap to the other side of the argument and understand that the militants determined to bring down the U.S. also believed that war was justified. To them, the U.S. is the terrorist and they are the ones who are waging a just war.

But for Americans, the real terror transcends all of these issues. The real threat to our freedom and national security is not external; the threat comes from within, and from our own government.

Simply, the continued disregard for our constitution is creating an environment unlike any we have seen in hundreds of years. Our own government is ignoring one of the most important documents ever created, for our constitution provides a distinct recipe for less government and more freedom. The opposite seems to be prevailing.

Indeed, the government’s allowance of our liberty to be squandered by socialism and one-world agenda is essentially a form of domestic terrorism. And this situation is by far more dangerous, more threatening than any so-called foreign threats.

So what is the solution? The government must once again fear the citizens, and not vice versa. Concerned citizens need to wage a ‘war’ against our ill-equipped, ill-prepared, and aloof political leaders and their ill-advised policies.

This 21st century ‘war’ will be carried out via constant peaceful protests, grassroots movements, and via a deliberate boycott of goods and services that are by-products of corporations that represent fascism, socialism, and a one-world agenda. A concentrated effort will lead to the demise of this damaging domestic terrorism, therefore allowing America to regain its freedom.

Read more revealing online articles from Truth-it!

[tags]terrorism and war[/tags]




Why Do Banks Know Your Credit Score

Wednesday 17 June 2009 @ 12:17 am

If you are like most Americans then your score is probably much lower than you’d like. In fact, very few of us are happy with our credit score.

Have you ever wondered why our credit scores are always low? Did you know that just about everything you do affects your score and this effect is nearly always negative?

In fact, whether you are opening a new bank account, closing an account, applying for a new credit card, or even canceling a card you no longer use - your score invariable goes down. This is because the banks want to know your credit score so they can decide how much interest to charge you.

The truth is, our credit score exists only to give these banks a reason or justification for charging you higher interest than the next guy. In fact, the credit reporting agencies that give you your score compete with one another to give the lowest scores to consumers.

This is because they know the banks want to know your credit score is as low as possible so they can charge you as much as possible. Now you know your credit score is nothing more than a way for the banks to maximize the profit they can make off of you.

BUT CREDIT SCORES ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING

The real crime is that our government not only allows this to happen but is practically powerless to in stopping it. The truth is that the banking elite take advantage of our government too. Nearly a hundred years ago, the banking elite successfully lobbied the Federal Reserve Act through congress.

Do you know what the Federal Reserve Act did? It gave the authority to print and regulate US currency to the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve Bank is named to mislead us into thinking it is part of our government - but it is a private bank just like any other except it has immense power over our economy.

The Federal Reserve prints our currency and forces our government to pay interest on this new currency. This system ensures our government is perpetually in debt to the Federal Reserve. The private banks control our country’s financial future.

THE BANKING ELITE SEEK EVEN MORE POWER

It is not enough that the banking elite influence our government and can change our economy at a moment’s notice. They want even more power and they are attempting to get it by creating a North American Union.

THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION - MORE POWER FOR BANKING ELITE

The NAU would combine Canada, Mexico, and the US into a single superstate. This new superstate would be controlled by a single bank-run government with a new currency and new laws. Our Bill of Rights and US Constitution would no longer have any effect.

Our borders would disintegrate and our nation’s sovereignty would be dissolved. The USA would no longer exist. Instead we would become part of a great Orwellian state ruled by the banking elite.

Knowing this, should we not be concerned about our freedom instead of credit situation? If we have no freedoms our credit situation will not even matter.

Read more revealing truth sources from Truth-it!

[tags]know your credit score[/tags]




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