The Way I See ItBy cj pollickRetail Credit Card Users, Beware - One financial expert recently wrote about credit card companies. The writer said, "If you have a credit card, chances are pretty good that your deal got worse in the past year." How bad are some credit cards? CardRatings.com and a few other rating companies were asked to rate credit card companies. Not surprising, retail store credit cards reflected some of the highest interest rates charged by companies. Like most all retailers, Macy's charges exorbitant interest rates on their credit card (23.99%.) However, not far behind is JC Penny, American Eagle, GAP, Dillard's and most other retail store credit card companies (all over 20% interest.) Interestingly enough, customers could obtain a store credit card associated with VISA, MasterCard or AMEX and obtain a 14.24% interest rate, opined the credit card expert, instead of the store rate of 21.9% ... and still be able to use store discounts. Bad credit? Be careful how some credit card companies might try to have you acquire their "special" credit card for annual fees of about $256 where the credit card limit is only $250. In most cases, retail store credit cards should be reviewed prior to renewal. You might find the interest rate is over 25% plus other fees. Best deal on a major credit card? Still likely to be the big three - - VISA, MasterCard and AMEX. Elections In Europe Sway To Conservatives, Not Liberals, But Who Cares - Just as European nations are moving away from years of socialism, the US is moving towards socialism. Conservatives and moderates are winning elections in Europe as liberal socialists are losing elections. Why is this important? Obama and his liberal friends in Congress are moving America towards socialism and away from free-market capitalism. England, where socialism is king, is arguably about five years ahead of the US as far as the recession is concerned, and still has not come out of their recession. "Socialism does not work," said one UK elected official. All of the social spending in Washington by the Obama administration is not stopping our recession. Unemployment is factually up; yet, the President says there are signs of improvement. Where? Real estate is still flat, new housing is still down, banks still have bad loans, commercial bad loans are growing, inflation will soon set in and we are deeper in debt than ever in history. Money is being printed in Washington as if we had a gold standard backing the paper money (which we do not.) Social Security is running out of IOU's and Medicare will explode in debt with millions of new people becoming eligible under Obama's so-called stimulus plan. Few, if any, Washington politicians are addressing illegal immigration, yet thousands of illegals cross our American border every day to gain access to our American benefits. Pregnant? Go to an American hospital for free and have the baby. The child is American and you could fight deportation. Ask the Brits how this manner of thinking has worked in the UK. As President Obama travels the world to portray himself as the "man for all nations" America goes deeper in debt with more federal/socialistic take-overs of large US corporations (like GM, Chrysler, AIG, etc.) Imagine, if you will, Obama plans to tax our health insurance premiums and provide universal healthcare (paid for by the government.) More big government, more socialism, more federal debt/expense, and fewer individual rights. Is this the change people want for America? Older Dads And Their Children - For many of us folks over age 55, the last thing we have in mind is having babies. In fact, and in most instances, we are helping with grandchildren. Which, in itself, can be considered a full plate of "happiness." Can you imagine, if you will, Lawrence Harvey Zeiger, aka Larry King of prime-time television fame who, at age 75, has three adult offspring and, in marriage number 8, two boys under age 10. King is not alone in having children after age 55. Tony Randall at age 77 had two children and Michael Douglass at age 58 had children. Paul McCartney was 61 when he fathered a child. Too old to have children? Tony Randall died at age 84 leaving behind two young children and the same is likely to occur to some of the other older fathers. Now comes a woman in England who, at age 66, had a baby. Is this the era when 60 is 30? ClearwaterGazette.com - The 5th anniversary of the Clearwater Gazette website is this month. Kudos to everyone who has helped make this website so popular. Wisdom is having a lot to say but not saying it. |