Another irritating fact is that banks are necessary for modern day living, making them a necessary evil that most people have no clue of their relationship with.  When we look at many bank lending practices over the last few years they have been anything but responsible. As banks are leveling out from merging and being bailed out we can only hope that in the future that they will be more careful with our money. And yes again, I stress our money.

There are many people, whose knowledge of banking is based on putting a check in the bank every payday for ease of access, basically making the bank a check cashing service.  Shame on you if this is the case.  The bank is making money off of you, in one form or another.  It might be fees, or they may be using your money to loan out.  It time you should let the banking industry work a little for you.

Now I want to clear things up I am not talking about getting rich off the bank but in today’s world we do need to know how to use the tools provided to us and banks are a tool.  So many of us are just trying today to stay ahead or just say afloat. Well, you start doing this by budgeting, keeping realistic expectations, developing healthy body and soul, living by a set of values, and becoming educated. Banking can help you meet part of these goals.   I will be doing a series of blogs that will be dealing with information and techniques that will help one survive in the community we live, starting with a basic lesson on our relationship with our local banks and how to make checking accounts work.

You are a consumer, businessperson, college student, household planner and basically a financial participant in this economy and need to understand how to use a bank.   I am not talking how to manipulate money to get rich.  If you have that ability and opportunity, great, take advantage of it.  The fact is many people in the United States just want to keep their boat afloat right now.  The first question one might ask is why do I need a banking account?  I can purchase what I need to live without a banking account.

The benefits of having a bank account far out-ways the negatives of having one.  Here is a short list of the benefits one gains with bank accounts.

• You have a chance to build your credit history.  And it is one of the first things creditors look at.  If you cannot manage a bank account why would they think you could manage a loan?
• One has a secure and insured place to put his/her money
• No charges for cashing checks
• Direct deposit
• Often one has debit/check cards available
• Often have access to your account online
• Frequently one can have automotive bill pay
• Frequently available is budgeting and retirement tools (Make use of these, have a banker explain them to you if you are not familiar with them.)
• Access to checks
• Do not have to carry cash on you.
• Some accounts are interest or award baring

So in essence a banking account is a tool for helping you get credit and manage your money. The answer is yes and no.  In the end banking accounts, unlike other money accounts, are for paying needed expenses.  They are not there to make money.  Although obviously one can make money with specialized banking accounts, it is not their primary purpose and one can usually do much better with investment accounts with their extra money.  So there is a balancing job of how much money you want in a checking account and what type of account you will want to use for checking depending on the balancing strategy you use.

There are a wide variety of checking accounts available to one nowadays but they basically boil down to free checking, interest checking, and reward checking.

Free Checking

This type of checking is made available to customers as a value savings product.  Usually to open one of these accounts all one needs to do is make a small deposit, and qualify for the checking account.   These accounts usually have no annual fee.  In my opinion there should be none, if it a true free checking.  Along with this there are no minimum balance requirements.

The advantages of these accounts are:

• No Low Balance Fees
• Free ATM and/or debit card
• No charge for ACH and direct deposits transactions
• Free online access to your account
• Unlimited monthly checkwriting
• No minimum checkwriting amount

Other advantages one might find are:

• On line bill pay
• Overdraft Protection (Do not get overconfident with this. It is an emergency protection.  Most of the time the fee associated with this is fairly high, and will add up fast if a domino effect of overdrafts happens.  Also remember if your account ever becomes in the negative you only have a certain amount of time to get it into the positive before the bank will close the account.  DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.  Also, they can close it if the balance becomes too far in the negative.  In other words practice proper balancing of the account.  Later in this article I will discuss the possible nightmare of trying to get this resolved if an account is closed by a bank.

The drawbacks of these accounts are:

• Typically does not pay interest (Though I read that one can link these accounts to high yield accounts to earn interest.)

These accounts are good values for those that are not going to have a large cushion in their account.  If this is the case I stress getting an account that will qualify for overdraft protection, and, as we all should, keep a close balance on the check book.  If you can, link it to a saving account for overdraft protection.  All though one is not earning interest with this account, you are still showing a credit history by using it and keeping it in good standing.  As you build this credit history, get a credit card with a Bank not a banc.  Preferably the one you are banking with.  Even if it is an introductory card, do it.  Before doing that open a saving account and put some into it every month.

Also note that there is a lot of talk in the industry right now about moving away from free checking and going with packaged checking programs, where one will be given perhaps so many checks to use for a given price per a month, much like a business checking account.  If you use more than the allotted there will be an extra fee.  How it will actually work out is not clear.  What is clear is that free checking may become a dinosaur in the near future.  If you can get yourself into a free checking account now do so if it fit your needs.  It may not be an option much longer.  Many younger folks may not realize free checking is a relatively new advent in checking and with the new limitations on credit cards banks are now looking for other ways to make money.

Interest Checking

Interest Checking are checking accounts that offer many convenient checking features with interest on the money in the account.  This is a nice option for those that have a decent cushion in their banking account and are not reliant on overdraft protection for mistakes.  Be careful not to have too big of a cushion in these accounts.  Even though you earn interest, it is not great and you would be much better off investing your extra money.  I always thought of these accounts as staying even with inflation accounts.  They are not there to make you money, just to keep your money from losing value while sitting there.   As with all accounts, I recommend some sort of savings and the use of a bank card not a banc card.

The advantages of these accounts are:

• Unlimited check writing
• Use a debit/check card
• ACH Transfers
• Earn a competitive return on your cash.

Frequent drawbacks of these accounts:

• Limited number of transfers in an account a month
• Minimum balance required
• Bounce Check Fees (One might also look into linking one of these accounts to a Saving Account to give it additional cushion.  You can also look at overdraft on these accounts, but these accounts require a minimum balance.  If you do not think you can keep it, there is no use in using one of these accounts; because there will be a fee involved when you drop below that minimum balance even if your account is in the positive.  The interest you are getting will not mean a thing then.)

Reward Checking

Reward checking allows you to earn a good amount of money on what you have in your bank account.  Sometimes better than a long term CD while having ease of access to the money.  The catch is that everyone can automatically have a Reward Checking account.  You have to qualify for one.  Frequently these accounts are for businesses or people moving large amount of money. 

Some of the qualifications can be:

• Must have direct deposit
• Receive online statements vs mailed statements
• Must use you debit card a minimum times per month.
• Account must be opened in person
• One must log into their account at least once per month
• Each bank can add its own set of criteria to the list but the list must be met to have the account
• Also one often only earns interest on a certain amount of a deposit, for instance the first 20,000 dollars.

Federal Regulation D

There are other variations of these accounts but these are the three basics.  Now that you know them let turn our attention to Federal Regulation D – a.k.a. Federal Limit on Electronic Transfer.  You as a banker should find this an important regulation and be aware of it.  This regulation limits the number of electronic transfers on saving and money market accounts to six outgoing transfers a month.  Why did I bring this in when we are talking about checking accounts?  More and more people are linking accounts now days.  Especially saving accounts and banking accounts. On rare occasions this could become important.

What qualifies as an electronic transfer?

• Online, overdraft, telephone and preauthorized transfers
• Checks clearing each month from any savings or any money market account.
• Faxes, ACH Debits, money market checks.

What transfers are not affected?

• Any transactions that are in person or by mail are not affected.

Also note that your individual bank account may state a limit less than the law allows.  Often this is done to insure that you do not go over the limit, and keep you safe.  Basically one needs to keep this regulation in mind when they are making transfers from saving accounts to other accounts. In many instances it is not for say a physical limit, but one that might let you exceed the six limit only to pay the price for doing so later.  You could find your account suspended, closed or tacked with fees.  So it is up to you to be aware of this limit and not go over it.

Check 21 Act

Next we are going to discuss the Check 21 Act.  This is another one of those acts that all bankers should be aware of.  This is the act that allows for the manufacturing of digital checks.  Most of us probably have already experienced how these checks work, but how does it affect you?

Check 21 Act Effects you by:

• First you will not be able to get your original paper checks back because banks are not keeping them.  You may be able to pay to have them kept for further referencing, but they will not automatically do it for you.
• Checks, on general, will clear faster.  Oddly enough, banks do not have to clear deposits at the same speed.  So make sure your money has cleared before writing a check.
• If you need a copy of a check you can request one for a fee, a copy that is, not the check.  They do not have the check.  You may also be able to see an image of it on line as well
• In the case where there was an error.  Where a check was paid twice, you can have it reaccredited within 10 days receiving a refund up to 2,500 dollars.

EFT Act:

The last act we will mention is the EFT act.  The EFT Act – the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, defines the rights and responsibilities of those who participate in EFTs.  What is included as an EFT?  These are ATMs and point of sale transactions using your debit or check card, telephone and preauthorized transfers.

How does the EFT act affect you?  (This one very important)

• What is important here is what happens when there is an error.  You have no more than 60 days from the date of the statement to report an error either verbally or in writing
• Financial institutions are given 45 days to investigate the error and resolve it. Errors that involve new accounts, POS and foreign transaction can take up to 90 days.
• Where an investigation takes longer than 10 days the financial institution must re-credit the amount in question while the remainder of the investigation is being resolved.  (If this happens do not spend this until the investigation is resolved.)
• The credit institution must report its findings to you (and make its credit final) or in the case where there is no error deduct the amount (if already been credited) and explain to you in writing their findings.
• This also covers the loss and theft of an ATM card.  If notifying an institution within 2 business days of it being lost you are limited to a maximum of 50 dollars of liability.  If not the liability can be raised up to 500 dollars, and if you do not notify them within 60 days the liability could be unlimited.

Just a note for credit card loss, the liability is 50 dollars under the Fair Credit Billing Act.  If the loss involves the credit card number not the card itself you are not liable for any unauthorized use.

A debit/check card often has addition protection that the bank will offer.  When getting a debit/check card make sure you know how it is protected and if the bank offers additional protection on them outside of the law, basically some type of card insurance.

Chexsystem:

Last, let’s discuss Chexsystems.  This is basically who the banks report our banking habits to.  For the most part it is a fairly good system but you do NOT want to be on the wrong side of this system, and it can happen because you did something and deserved it or because the banks were lazy in their coding.  The definitions of “Fraud”, “NSF”, and “Abuse” are vague in this system allowing the bank to make their interpretation of how they want to code it.  It appears from my research that more and more banks are using the “Fraud “ or “Suspected Fraud” codes to mean whatever the bank wants it to mean at the time.  Here are some examples that I was able to find but not verify.

• “Elderly person falls victim to a pigeon drop scheme and deposits a phony money order in her account for $5,000. This individual is 84 and has maintained the account in good standing for over 25 years without a single overdraft. Her account is closed and she is reported to Chexsystems for “fraud”, causing her monthly Social Security payment to be returned. What was aggravating is that she also had an investment account at the bank with over $11,000 in it. (Wells Fargo)”
• “Small auto dealer sells a car, depositing a cashier’s check for $6500. At the time of the deposit, he asks for $1000 back in cash. The dealer has owned the business for 22 years, and keeps a large average balance in the account. Because the cashier’s check was a forgery, he is arrested on the spot, the account is closed and reported to Chex as fraud. (Chase Bank – formerly Bank One)”
• “An employment dispute caused the account holder’s employer to issue a stop payment on a payroll check, resulting in over 400 of NSF charges. The account is closed and reported to Chex as fraud. (Compass Bank”

In all these cases the people were reported later as being victims themselves, but had long ongoing battle to get Chexsystems to clear the names.  The source I read said they were still trying to clear their names but no accurate dating was given to be able verify a timeline.

The bottom line is be aware of how important this Chexsytem rating is.  Once it is rated bad you will not get a bank account until it is cleared up, and getting it cleared up is very difficult.   This will not only affect your banking but your entire credit history.

Information on the Chexsytem was from Chexsystem Help Forum.  No information provided is intended to be given as professional legal counsel, but as helpful advice when dealing with personal banking.  If one has potential legal banking issue, seek professional advice, and all advice here should be taken as a beginning guideline to understanding a banking relationship.  Also, not that banking laws change and it is your responsibility to keep up with them.  This is part of the education factor of keeping your head above water and not being caught by surprise.  May this basic advice be helpful to you and always consult with your bank for the most update laws and help.  Use them for they use our money.

The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2008 project believes by 2030 that approximately 80% of the worlds energy will be driven by coal.  This is a slightly different message than the cry for alternative power sources that we here from the media and our president.  In fact that is what the Obama administration is about, pushing for a healthier world with cleaner energy sources.  That might be the calling, but when you start dissecting this issue we might want to stick with a senator’s cry, “You Lie.”

John Holdren, Obama’s Science advisor has been quoted saying that he is in favor of using the worlds abundant coal resources.  He does note that it needs to be done, “without intolerable impacts on regional air quality, acid rain, and global climate.”  The administration’s solution to this is Carbon Capture Sequestration, CCS.  This is an expensive process.  It is so expensive that the Bush administration halted research on it when it came time to build an experimental plant.  The cost of building one of these plants is expensive but it is also expensive to run.  These expenses will then have to be passed on to the consumer making your energy bill increase.

According to Source Watch, the final component of the CCS is a long term storage facility for CO2.  Which is about 100,000 wells.  This is about a 1.5 trillion dollar cost.  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Carbon_capture_and_storage I would expect that number to go up.  It always does.  The Department of Energy, DOE, concluded in a study,

“Whether, when, and how much carbon dioxide sequestration will ever occur on a commercial scale remains in question, and to achieve it will be expensive and problematic. The proposition has yet to be properly addressed in either a real or a practical context.”

In addition in a 2008 report issued by the Internal Energy Agency they warned that the resources and money that were being invested into the CCS where far less than what were needed to meet energy solutions.  In other words, we are throwing small amounts into research that will go nowhere.   The same study concluded,

“nuclear, and coal with CCS are all dirty, inefficient and wasteful compared to wind, solar, geothermal and ocean energy, and that these cleaner energy sources could eliminate global warming gases, create energy security, and meet the world’s ongoing energy needs entirely.”^[16][17]

Even with all of the experts’ conclusions no one is altering course from building more coal plants.  When all the information is added up it appears that these new plants will most likely be without the pollution guards due to cost.  Not to mention, they are not sure of the consequences of the technology.  They are storing the poison in the ground.  Did they not do that with radiation and discovered it leaks?  The fact is that the technology will not be in the United States any time soon because we are not invested in it, but we are going to invest in coal plants.  Even if we did invest in the technology there are no studies that show for a fact that this is a great option.  CCS is all dirty, concluded by the DOE.    With that said, there are other issues other than just the CO2 pollutants.  Remember the Tennessee Valley Authority facility in Kingston, TN.

Remember that toxic flood of sludge.  Have there been any safety changes for the sludge reservoirs?  The EPA has released 44 “high hazard potentials” that were previously kept a secret by the United States.  Pressure by numerous groups enticed the government to hand over the list.  Once receiving the list and reading how the plants were rated it raised many questions.  One of the largest questions posed was why over a hundred other facilities were not listed as potential health or environmental risks.  One would have expected among the 44 that there would have been some TVA facilities, but not even one was listed.  Also, out of these 44 facilities the government hesitates to acknowledge which of these are immediate dangers to civilians after accessing them.   One can only agree with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) when she says that, The Obama administration’s decision to withhold the information is concerning.   Take a few minutes a listen to her press conference.

As disturbing as all this is one never knows when one of these toxic poisons may be in their backyard.  Wait! What are you talking about, there is no coal factory near me.  Maybe not, but do not feel safe.  Even if you are one that not concerned about the greenhouse gases, do not feel comfortable because you will probably be concerned about this next issue.  It is nearly something out Batman, with the Joker putting his poisons in secret products throughout our market.  Except this time the Joker got the government backing to poison us.

The EPA does not have a clear mind on how they are handling this matter, nor do they have a united working plan within the agency to tackle the issue.  The fact is the EPA has become Two Face.  Flipping their coin on what side of the issue they are supporting when it comes to Coal Poison Control.  It is clear that parts of the agency is in conflict with others, leaving you and me not knowing if the EPA is our ally or enemy when dealing with this problem.

One of the programs the EPA has started is to market the combustible waste to consumers, agriculture, and industries in partnership with the Coal Industries.  This is because they have regulated this waste as non-toxic and in doing so there will be no warning of any potential risk.  This is according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, (PEER). http://www.peer.org/ One of the products that will be sold is fertilizer.  The EPA says coal ash can improve the texture and fertility of soil.  Environmental advocates have concerns about the toxicity within this ash which can include arsenic, lead and mercury.  http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/10/epa-usda-still-promoting-coal-ash-for-crops.html .

“The dangers of using Coal Combustion Waist, CCW, are illustrated by the Battlefield Golf Club in Chesapeake, Virginia where coal fly ash was applied to contour the course. In a March 30, 2009, report EPA’s consultant found that boron, lead, arsenic, barium and other heavy metals were in danger of leaching off the course and contaminating groundwater, including residential wells. The inspection report concluded that “future migration of metals contained in fly ash remains a potential risk to nearby wells.”  From the Public Employees of Environmental Responsibilities http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1260

Another arm of the EPA is now promoting coal ash and other combustion byproduct as hazardous waste, working directly against the above initiative.  While even another is trying to turn it into furniture and building materials for our houses.   Yes, we all should be concerned, very concerned.  The EPA seems to be trying to help the coal companies dump their reliability for a toxic substance onto others by selling it, and hiding it in a mixture of other products.  Perhaps none of these products will be toxic on their own, or maybe they will.  My guess is we could get saturated with enough of these products that we will be removing them like lead paint or asbestos creating another storage problem.  Not to mention an illegal dumping problem of these toxins on a scale that we never seen before because they will have be forced into the mass public, and the public will want them out of their houses.  Then they want to put these toxins in our food just like mercury in our fish.  Why should it be a concern to us?  Why should it be a concern to them?  We are just trying to live here.

I get a little sensitive when the government does not step forward and do the right thing after a disaster, especially when it is something that they should have prevented in the first place.  Back in the 1980s the government acknowledged that coal plants where nothing but pure poison, but was too expensive of a problem to solve.  So they have continued to put it on the next administration desk while entrenching our reliability on its use. We all know it is a problem, but we have a bigger problem, we cannot make the tough choices.  We chose to live with the poison versus solving the issues.  We know the poison existed since the 80s and it was too expensive to live without.  Well graves are too expensive when they come prematurely to one’s life due to neglect and greed.  My wife and I have suffered from three years of exposure of radiation that was contaminating the water supply were we once lived.  I thought I was moving to the country to live healthy.  The fact is it had already been contaminated.  As I reported in the beginning of this article the government has no intention of backing off on coal.  It appears they are only going to make some good reports and a few tests on cleaning it up.   If we choose to be apathetic on this matter this will be the largest environmental issue for us, our kids and our existence.  If you cannot get behind anything, start doing your research on this issue and see how the government is not putting anyone first with this issue.  They are just giving a decent magic act.

And That’s The Way I See It

© Jonathan S. Brooks

With acknowledgement to prior sources and ownership of to those portions of articles that are quoted as listed above.

As citizens of our state we are doing what we are supposed to do and we are waiting patiently for the vaccine to arrive.  I do not expect it to arrive any faster than it is available.  What I do expect is for state officials in charge of ordering the vaccine to realize the emergency and request maximum doses allotted for this state.

One might say, Jon don’t be greedy.  There are other states out there that need it.   I do not argue with you on that point on need.  My argument is the allotments and the distribution of that need.  There are states that have more vaccine than the outcry is for it.  Then you have Texas that has a terrible need for it and can’t even get started with its vaccine program because we still trying to vaccinate the emergency responders.

One might ask, what is our need for the vaccine?  The total number of cases in the US of H1N1 virus is 44555 officially.  Texas has 5,151 of those cases.  The only state to surpass it is Wisconsin with 6,222 cases.

Texas has had 69 deaths from this virus.  The only states with higher death totals are California 219, Florida 121, and New York 74.  The states that follow these top 4 are at half the level of Texas or much less.

Common sense would say that there would be a prioritization of the vaccine.  One thing that these states have in common is large cities with ports.  I willing to go out on a limb here and say that the normal flu hits harder in these states on a normal basis due to size of the cities in those states and the amount of travel through those cities.

Even though this is a pandemic, nearly one fifth of the official deaths are from the U.S.  There probably multiple reason, for that, one of the reasons being that we have a better way of tracking than some other countries.  Even with that said, it is a huge number.   We have to get our major cities and ports immunized.  People travel out and through the regions.

I always thought we had level headed planners when it came to emergency management.   Now with the mishandling of Hurricane Katrina, seeing firefighters pulled of a California Fire just last week “supposedly” due to finances leaving neighborhoods to burn, and so many other questionable practices it only comes painfully clear that emergency management is ran by bean counters and politicians.

Well get the hell out of the way and let those that know how to run an emergency program do their job.   There will be a time for you to do yours after the crisis.  Politicians are very rarely good crisis managers, that’s why others are put in charge.  Your job is to make sure they have what they need to put a working plan in action.  I also realize that the government reaction to emergency plans normally comes from the state requesting assistance.  When you have a national crisis such as this virus I believe not being a politician, a national emergency can be declared for better organization and distributing of a vaccine.  So a government is not dealing with each individual state’s protocols on distributing a needed drug.   We had over 1,000 deaths now in the United States.  States that need the vaccine are not getting it and again ones that are not in high need are sitting with overstock.  Part of this is the state’s fault.  As a Texan, I want to know who dropped the ball in this state.  As an American I know the US is dropping the ball on distribution of a drug because it could have been handled and distributed according highest risk and hardiest hit first.  But that could only be done if it was a national distribution plan that could have rerouted as needed.   Not leaving the distribution up to individual states and their expertise and running at emergency plan such as this.

When this is over it very well may be another Katrina, because lives could have been saved.  It is not because you can control a disease but it because you do not have the balls or the people in power to run an effective emergency management program.  We Americans should be very worried.

And That’s The Way I See It

© Jonathan S. Brooks

In his interview he said that he is not prejudiced.  Well, he obviously does not want to acknowledge that ugly word with himself.  Shame on you because that is what you are, prejudiced.  He continues to say that his concerns for denying the license were not based out of hate but for the welfare of any child they may have.  That from his experience that children from biracial marriages are not treated equally in this world, and have a harder time.  Mr. Bardwell, J.P., maybe if people like you did notice the race but more importantly that we are all humans that would not be a problem.

Also Mr. Bardwell, I have known plenty of children from interracial marriages and they seem to be doing just fine.   Another thing is that we do not discriminate against people due to hardships.  Your argument could be made for most any foreigner wanting residency in the United States.  Will it be harder for him/her and their children versus someone born in the United States?  It probably will be, but people have the right to weather the challenges of raising their children in any environment they see fit as long as it not abusive.  A multiple race marriage is not abusive, and as far as I know we are all humans.  Just some of us have a better tan than others.

Your way of thinking cannot be tolerated with the responsibilities of your job.  Keith Bardwell, you are practicing prejudice, if you realize it or not.  Maybe we cannot change your thinking.  I pray someone does.  But you need to step down.   When Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal and Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu are calling for your ousting, they are looking out for the welfare of your State, and the people that live there.   You have openly admitted your feeling on the matter.   Save us all time and money and take early retirement, and get some counseling.  I ask all those that read this encourage those that control his license to review it and revoke it.  Show that this attitude is not tolerated in the United States of America any more.

And That’s the Way I See It,

© Jonathan S. Brooks

You would think that little changes in towns such as this; and maybe that’s partially the reasons why my wife and I have settled down here, to slow down change just little.  We have both done our share of roaming.    This has given us the luxury of staying for a squat, or passing through towns throughout the country.  My wife has even had the privilege of living overseas.   In our first 13 years marriage alone we have moved 8 times, and I do not know how many places we visited.   The fact is that we are now slowing down and want a home, and our combined living experiences have given us values that we want in our town, because we already expect those values in our lives.

Since we moved here we have seen big changes in our nation.  A new president been elected.  There is a pandemic flu that affects the decisions of many Americans as they wait for vaccines with the hopes that it is safe and works.   We have gone through a huge financial crisis. The danger of violence overseas has escalated bringing that stress home to us on a daily basis.  We seen some of the biggest companies in our nations be exposed for either corruption or arrogance adding to the financial crisis and mistrust.  It seems that politicians are in the news everyday now with their hands where they should not be.  In addition we have to question our legal system when we see the rich get chastised for crimes but walk away.  All of this has helped contribute to uncertainty in this country.  Causing many to ask where are we going and how should we behave?  This uncertainty has trickled down into small towns affecting them like a storm.  Many times it’s these small towns that are hardest hit, sometimes becoming ghost towns overnight, and as their mood changes so does the footing of the country.

There is a transition into the unknown in many of these small towns as they not only battle for their identity against larger towns but in many cases survival itself.  This transition is happening during a time where securities of the past are becoming unsecure or have just left.  Nevertheless the tensions test the values of these once proud towns.  Many of them have given up on government help or promises for why should they trust what has not been earned?  They, as with everyone else, have watched these storms come in and the government fall short of its promises, integrity, and capabilities.  That is also part of the problem; we have watched and those that have yelled out warnings were reactionaries and now everyone is caught up in this cyclone.  Now even when we are told things are getting better, why should we trust the news?  For years as this cyclone evolved we were told, if you wanted to listen, that there was no problem or it was under control.  So that means that either we have liars or fools in leadership.   But don’t be too hard on them because it is the apathetic American that leaves them in power and has grown fat in the past on the security of such propaganda.

The propaganda machine, most of our local media, is a fast deadline oriented tool just like most big cities.  If someone understands how the information machine works and feeds their “news” to it then they can constantly feed a fast pace tired public about any story they want them to hear, especially if it is in the governments interest.   Because small towns do run at a slower pace they often are able to take a second look and put the brakes on a crisis.  This makes them the footholds of our nation.  Maybe because of this slower pace they are sometimes a little behind progressive thinking, but they are far enough away from the whirlpool of metropolitan life to ask what is happening and if need be put on moral breaks.  If for nothing more to make sure the nation takes a second look at itself.

Unfortunately the last few years, as with the rest of the nation, there have been record droughts or flooding.  Creating a sense of foreboding about what this global weather change will bring for different regions.  Neither of these conditions is good for farming.  As the farmer’s productions come to a grinding halt, many of the supporting business do as well and it starts a very quick domino effect that is truly devastating to many small regions of this nation.  Add the other crises to the mix and we have in many of these areas a hornet’s nest under attack not knowing who or what to sting, but they are going to get something.

Just like a mad, scared nest that is constantly being disturbed by a dangerous intruder some towns have gone into attack mode to defeat their enemy and start rebuilding.  The problem is they are all too often stinging themselves.   As this battle begins; it begins with communities having low employment, sons and daughters fighting wars away from home who may not come back, multiple families living in homes designed for single family living, male and female finding themselves in role reversals as the bread winners, and people not being able to pay for medical service.   What can be summed up is that the mood of the battle is surrounded by the insecurity of the roles that had to change due to the environment.  Not all these changes are bad.  Some of them are quite noble, but all of them can be stressful if not overbearing, and as our environments changes we need to be careful of values that we know to be right are upheld.  Especially if we were letting them slip beforehand.

What happens when it is not just a household feeling the pressure but a community?  Well history tells us that many things can happen including looking for quick fixes to these issues.  Many times it seems the quicker the better since you do not know how long you can hold on to your current situation.  This can be a huge problem because if we are not careful we allow government officials and politicians that say they have a solution free reign.  Growing up my parents and their parents always said that tragedies define great people.  I fully believe that.  I also believe that these same tragedies can define the moral values of a community.   That is what worries me. Where or what direction are our morals and values going in these communities?

Now do not get me wrong, I not talking about individuals pushing their morality on anyone.  I am not talking about taking away freedoms, the government does that well enough on their own but that is for another blog.  No I have been worried because there are certain values that as a functioning society we need to enforce.  Those values need to be enforced with logic and equality throughout our nation.  Lately I have seen little of either.  What I have seen and experienced are communities in their fight to survive waving their moral common sense and replacing it with “the one that enforces the laws writes the laws.”

Just like anywhere else small towns have suffered corruption or corrosion within their city halls.  Maybe it’s crooked business or bad business planning based on a better time.  Maybe it’s just the combined stress that overwrites a group’s consciousness to conclude that they have the right to take a short cut in morality to ease the sacrifice before them.  Before you say that it is hard to judge such decisions find someone that lived through the depression and let them tell you how spoiled our asses are today.

Many times these crooked figures swam in like sharks in a feeding frenzy to take advantage of these hard times, unfortunately all too often only a few are caught while the rest wait to resurface later.    These sharks surface in the community often offering solutions, all too often after a former problem had been removed.  Depending on the stress level of the community bigger and bigger sharks can take control offering an answer that seems to move the community forward with less hardship and less morality.

I have seen some of these towns using their police forces as revenue makers, not for protection of the peace.  With ticket writing that is questionable if not just illegal in itself that brings money into the town.  I seen larger towns allow transit police system to monitor and self enforces their tickets and arrest with their own judges, not giving a person any access to an outside court system as you would have for any other crime.  When we start seeing wide spread corruption from first responders of enforcing the law, the corruption has filtered down to them from the highest place in that community.  Sharks take care of themselves and devour that around them which is weaker or a threat.

When city heads look to stealing from the community it devours the will and the morals of those towns.  We must demand integrity when these sharks swarm to a town.   Instead of acting like a hornet we need to protect what we know is right.  Have no doubt, these beasts will eat your family while they are weak.  Look at your children and decide what environment they are going to grow up in.  That integrity starts at home and from there you demand it in your town.  When you town has integrity it will demand it of the next level up, and so forth.

If the footing of this country becomes corrupt do not expect the body and the head to be well.  Nor should you expect there to be any change when one does not clean up their own backyard.  The country was built on the idea that power was supported from the feet up.  Right now this country does not know if it stumbling or standing through a strong storm.  Well we better discover it quickly, and define our leadership with moral values as our founders did.  We start the process by being responsible for our actions again and expecting strong morals at home.   That means parents step forth and be parents.  Than a family comes forward supporting the whole family.  When you find someone doing that right you make them your leader.  Then that leader extends him/herself to the community to make them part of his/her greater family.   If it does not happen this way, then you get a shark.  Maybe not on the first cast, but he/she will show up because you are using the right bait.  One that is injured and bleeding.

So as my concern may at first seem to be with the smaller town it is actually a flood of concern for all.  Most of us have heard these warnings before.  All I can say is look around and take notice.  Do not accept apathy as your answer.   If you do there will be another storm and it will be a disaster.  It will be worse than what we already have because we did not remove the sharks from feeding on the victims of the previous storms, and all that the sharks will leave us with when they are done is carnage.

And That’s The Way I see it!

© Jonathan S. Brooks

And That’s The Way I See It!

Jonathan S. Brooks

The theme of this particular episode had an old issue that has been kicked around the internet before, and it seems to get a favorable response from the majority of people.  That is a universal sarcasm font, or the lack of not having one.  When people talk in these communities it is just too easy not to know when someone is being sarcastic or talking/typing in jest.

So, at least designate a sarcasm font for use in these large social communities.  This would stop some of this above confusion and add an easy level of expression to one’s conversation.  Now, I have been informed that if you are a good writer such font is not needed, HUM-BUG.   Most people are not trying to be creative geniuses when communicating their ramblings on the net.  They just want to quickly convey a message with the fewest keystrokes.  They are not trying to be writers,   just social. The internet is a communication service that should adapt to desires of its clients, especially, a desire that makes communication more open.

Some say it is simply an emotional font and what other emotions would you want to address as a font.  Well,that is just not true.  Sarcasm changes the interpretation of a sentence or word.  I can say, “I love your soup,” but if I put a sarcastic font on it the meaning changes to the opposite of what I just said.  So we will take this argument out to the shooting range…  Oh… never mind there already a hole blown in it.

I personally like creative reading but I do not want to misunderstand what my wife is typing to me because I cannot hear a tone in her voice from what she wrote.  Also, I may not be able to go back immediately and clarify my interpretation of that tone.  The couch is comfortable but it not that comfortable.  So help me out and other husbands, boyfriends and vice-versa give us the sarcasm font.

One final note, people frequently use words now a days that have double meaning even when they shouldn’t.   Such phrase would include, “That is really bad.”  So did you mean that is bad as in it is good, or it is horrible?  Yes, Face Book, My Space and many other communities out there could use sarcastic fonts.  They have ignored petitions to add such a font for way too long.  Well I am adding my call for a sarcastic font to be developed.  Hopefully it will not interfere with my reality reading program.  In fact, maybe it will just add to it.

And That’s The Way I See It

Jonathan S. Brooks

As I was getting out of the car today I saw someone carrying a gun on his side when he got out of his car today, and I thought about that receiver in New York.  I feel sorry that he felt the need to carry a gun to protect himself and that it accidently went off and shot himself at that nightclub.  Also I would have to say to Plaxico, learn gun safety, registration, and gun handling.   Next when you’re done doing time come to Dallas were we have the right to carry.   Unfortunately, you been stupidly convicted of a felony in your state so you may never be able to carry again.   I apologize that the lawyers had to make an example out of your bad judgment that night.  I think you attorney Benjamin Brafman said it well,

“I think what just happened in the court room…is terribly sad and very tragic.”

“You can violate the law, be subject to severe punishment and not be a criminal,” Brafman added Tuesday. “Mr. Burress used bad judgment and violated a law that has no flexibility.

When did we get to the point that we are letting the lawyers and judges of this land protect us from hardened criminals such as this.  There use to be such a thing as common sense.  This is another waste of our tax dollars.  We will be paying to reform this hardened criminal for the next two years so that the state of New York could make a point.  We are the losers, and these lawyers should be barred for wasting your dollar, because legally we can’t hang them.

Now do not get me wrong, he broke the law of that state, which I may or may not completely agree with; but we do not have a dangerous criminal here.  You fine him, but put him in jail and waste my tax dollar.  By the way we must first thank Mayor Bloomberg for asking for fullest extent of the law for this hardened criminal.  Remember that New York when it comes to re-electing him and how he spends your dollar.

Possession of a gun in the city of New York is is a felony, with a 3 ½  year sentence, and Mr. Burress got a slightly modified sentence pleading guilty to a slightly lesser charge.   But I ask the Mayor does he ask this penalty of everyone that is found with a gun in New York?  And if he does not I scream prejudice and bias in your actions.  Because I am willing to bet there are gang bangers every day that are found with guns on them that may or may not be given such a sentence, but I could be wrong.   I still say you are wasting our taxes with one football player.

And That is The Way I See It

And That is The Way I See It:

Jonathan S. Brooks

And That is The Way I See It By:

Jonathan S. Brooks