Demographic Woes and the Symphony

This week’s rant isn’t so much a rant as much as expression of concern. Last Saturday night, my wife and I attended the Symphony Ball, one of the lead benefit events for the Youngstown Symphony Society. Over the years, it has been one of the must-do charitable events in Mahoning County. Others on the list were the Charity Ball, for the benefit of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and the Angels for Easter Seals Christmas event involving the auctioning off of fully decorated Christmas trees. These were the “see and be seen” events of the year, with guys in tuxedos and women in full regalia.

Unfortunately, the attendance at the Symphony Ball this year was light, not that it wasn’t a great event with an exquisite dinner and great music. It looked like there were about a 100 in attendance this year. Over the years, I have seen the event attended by 350 if not more. Perhaps the Roaring Twenties theme seemed out of place in this wretched economy in which we found ourselves. I heard a few complaints that the tab was a tad pricey this year compared to other years. But I suspect something more.

My wife and I have belonged to numerous organizations over the years, including service organizations, quilt clubs, and music organizations. There is one theme that is consistent in all of these types of activities…the membership is demographically getting older with scant “new blood” coming in to replace those who are leaving by choice or by more “mortal” reasons. Maybe it’s because young folks today, defined by me as people under the age of 35, have different interests. In a digital world, the get-gussied up affairs just don’t cut it anymore. And who wants to sing moldy oldie songs in choral societies? Or just maybe, and I think this is the case, this area is in demographic trouble.

One thing my son noticed living in Columbus this past year is just how young Franklin County is, and how old we look up here. I look around in my various organizations, and the gap seems to start at those under the age of 50. This has always been a trend in any organization's life. Folks are busy raising their families and putting their kids through school. But there have always been those who work for themselves, looking to drum up business, who find their way into various community groups…and I am not seeing it as much anymore.

This demographic trend is reaching down into the school systems. I remember when I graduated from high school in 1968, my class had about 400 graduates, and Cardinal Mooney High School was graduating over 500 with Ursuline High School not far behind. Not anymore. Graduation rates and school enrollments are way down across the board except in very specific areas, forcing consolidation much to the dismay of the alumni groups. Youngstown State University has actually increased its enrollment to about where it was when I went there from 1968-70, but it has taken a lot of effort on the part of the powers that be. Unfortunately, they leave when they graduate.

The Mahoning Valley is a great place to live or I wouldn’t be here. It offers many big city amenities without population overload. But it offers very little incentive to our young people to stay. The area leaders, to their credit, continually make note of the problem, but I have seen very little concrete activity to address the problem. Given the general economic climate of the country, the best bet for the area would be to encourage and assist in entrepreneurship type activities. The Youngstown Business Incubator is an example. That is the type of activity that needs a shot of steroids to give it a major boost.

Our population is aging and dying. Until this area takes demographic Armageddon seriously, I fear that attendance at the Symphony Ball in the year 2020 will be down to…well…20. And that will be a sad day. Let’s quit hoping for the best and get to work.

How They Think

I always thought it was interesting that left wingers, who supposedly are the guardian of free speech and the exchange of ideas, are the most intolerant group of people around. Here is a sample of some of the comments made from those tolerant folks who only tolerate those who agree with them. Don't forget that "teabagging" is urban slang for oral sex. Note the vulgarity. Nice touch.

"I think any time you have severe economic conditions there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that's unhealthy…" David Axelrod, Sr. Obama Advisor on Tea Parties.

“She lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage. Miss California lost because she is a dumb bitch.” Perez Hilton, judge for the Miss USA pageant, after asking Miss California if she supports gay marriage in a politically charged, possibly set up question, in the pageant finals.

“…they don't know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks. And there is no way around that. And you know, you can tell these type of right wingers anything and they'll believe it, except the truth. You tell them the truth and they become -- it's like showing Frankenstein's monster fire.” Janeane Garofalo commenting about the Tea Party protests on Keith Olbermann’s MSNBC Countdown.

“It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging…they’ve got teabagging.” Anderson Cooper responding to CNN’s senior political analyst David Gergen’s comment about Republicans trying to find their voice.

“Forget about bringing the troops home from Iraq. We need to get the troops home from World War II. Can anybody tell me why, in 2009, we still have more than 50,000 troops in Germany and 30,000 in Japan? At some point, these people are going to have to learn to rape themselves.” Bill Maher commenting on troops coming home from Iraq on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher”.

"Who wouldn't want to tea bag John McCain?" Air America’s Ana Marie Cox on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show.

THE DREADED, RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS

I came to the conclusion when I was in high school that the threat to our freedom would come from the intolerant left rather than the right. Left wingers believe that they have a moral superiority to the rest of us, who are incapable of thinking for ourselves. My fears have been reinforced this week with the issuance of a Homeland Security Advisory warning about the radicalization of the political right…translate: me.

The scariest thing I read was reported in the Washington Times: “A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines ‘rightwing extremism in the United States’ as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.” It goes on to say that military personnel returning from the mid-east are prone to “recruitment” and “radicalization.”

While I am sure there is some concern about white supremacist groups ala Timothy McVeigh who blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City year sago, I don’t think that this is what this edict is. In my opinion, this is a blatant effort to marginalize and stifle any dissent to the current administration’s domestic and economic policies.

I don’t know about you, but I have seen very little violent, right wing radical political activity. In fact, most of the violence over the past few years has been generated by the radical left. Code Pink comes to mind. The resurgence of the Black Panthers is another. How about gays attacking Catholic churches in San Francisco? And look at what happens at any economic summit meeting no matter where in the world. There is bloodshed in the streets.

What is the government afraid of? This is Richard Nixon on steroids. Even this past week, the thugery of left wing whackos manifested itself at the University of North Carolina. Former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Or) was invited to speak about his strong stance against illegal immigrants coming into the United States. ABC News reported what happened:

“Protesters who weren't allowed into the room where the speech was being given gathered outside the door and chanted, "There's no debate, no space for hate. In video from Tuesday night's incident, things clearly grow more tense with campus police. There is pushing and shoving on both sides... Other video shows what was happening inside the classroom with Tancredo. The former congressman once ran for president on a platform firmly against illegal immigration. He was invited to UNC to deliver a speech opposing in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants. Protesters interrupted his speech, stretching out a banner in front of him that read, "No one is illegal." Tancredo grabbed the banner and confronted one of the people holding it.Then there was the sound of glass shattering. A window was broken by more opponents outside. As the situation escalated, Tancredo left.”

Once again, violence from the left usurped the principle of free speech. Once again, the radical left showed its complete willingness to use violence to silence those it opposes. Secretary Napolitano reiterated her pronouncement on right wing violence again today, after protests from Veteran Groups about the reports comments on returning war heroes. (She issued a semi-apology on Fox News Thursday morning).

If Homeland Security wants to be concerned about violence, why doesn’t it investigate radical Muslim recruiting in America’s prisons? Why doesn’t it investigate the drug lords and terrorists that may be entering our country across the Mexican border? Why doesn’t it investigate the left wing organizations which defile churches or storm our international financial meetings? Why doesn’t it investigate Muslim madrassas teaching jihad here in the United States?

This is political intimidation at its worse, issued on the eve of the Tea Parties protesting current government financial policies. But what else would one expect from Janet Napolitano? So at least I am not disappointed.

Picture Courtesty Flickr Creative Commons:Dom Dada; Some Rights Reserved

California Wants to Ban Big Screen Televisions

In the category of I told you so, intrusive government is making its move to control the type of television set you watch. California, that wonderful state that spews out its spawn such as Nancy Pelosi on the rest of us, is considering banning energy hogging big screens televisions. They are concerned that your 60” flat screen puts too much of a strain on the electric grid. If it weren’t so sad and scary, it would be funny.

The California Energy Commission is in the process of setting energy use standards for flat screen televisions by summer of 2011. If the TV uses too much energy, retailers will be prohibited from selling them. Of course, a short drive to Nevada would take care of that. But nevertheless, it is a harbinger of very bad things to come by a government hell bent on controlling you life: from the time you get up in the morning until the time you go to bed; from the time you are born, until the time you die.

The ban will affect mostly plasma televisions, and televisions with screens larger than 40 inches. Estimates range between 20% - 40%, depending on the article one reads, as to how many flat screens would fall within the state mandated danger zone. LCD’s will have some problems, but not near as much. Regulators claim that it will help the consumer by saving him/her a whopping $18.00 - $30.00 per year on energy costs. Whoopee!!!!

Folks, this is just a sample of what is coming down the pike with these control freak energy environmental whackos. They are already telling you the kind of toilet you have to use. I have an illegal one that my plumber purchased in Canada. It’s a flusher gusher. I will promise you that they will be hooking monitors onto your home thermostats regulating how much energy you use to heat or cool your house. They will be installing monitors in your cars to check how many miles you drive. They will be monitoring what you eat, and deny you medical attention if you are overweight. And forget about the summer barbeque. That is next on the list, seriously. The desire of all bureaucrats is to tell you what you can do, and when you can do it, in every facet of your life.

Big government is insidious. It creeps into your life slowly. What sounds perfectly sane and plausible when Big Brother explains those wonderful plans for you will gradually, and inevitably, turn into a nightmare. It happens every time. And once implemented, it is difficult to reverse. Big government consumes everything around it, growing geometrically as its various components try to justify their existence.

The answer to California’s problem is to provide more energy and build out the electric grid, perhaps using some of that stimulus money the Feds are bandying about. Of course, that makes too much sense. People of that ilk never think of expanding the pie, only cutting smaller and smaller pieces.

They are comin’ for you, folks.

The Better Late Than Never Mark to Market Revision: What the Delay Cost Us...and the U. S.

Finally the FASB has voted to modify the “mark to market” rules which have decimated our financial institutions. Couple that with Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Board announcing a plan to handle the so-called “toxic” assets, we should finally start to see some stabilization in the banking industry, and a thaw in the credit freeze which has been harpooning our economy.

We should be outraged as a nation at the bungled handling of the financial fiasco of the past 6 months. No one has ever accused the Federal government of being competent, but the total ineptness of people who should know what they are doing is beyond all comprehension. It makes me think that it was done on purpose.

The root cause of the financial difficulties was a credit freeze. When Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, it froze the credit markets as people lumped all securitized debt instruments together: good, bad or otherwise. Banks loan money based on their capitalization, usually lending $10.00 for every $1.00 of capitalization. The amount of their capitalization is determined by their book assets. They have to value the book assets by rules established by the FDIC and the FSAB, which included the mark to market rule, recently modified from a mark to model rule.

The result was the banks having to write down assets as the market for their book asset bonds froze up, notwithstanding whether or not the assets were performing. That reduced their capitalization, which in turn prevented them from loaning money. The problem grew geometrically until it was totally out of control.

Instead of addressing the main issue, the Bush and Obama administrations decided to do everything else but…and we will be paying the price for the next 20 years.

Obama’s stimulus package was a sham. This was not a normal recession. It was a credit freeze. The government can spend money from now until the cows come home, and it would make no difference if business cannot borrow money. He knew it. His advisors knew it. And he seized the opportunity to spend us into oblivion while his Treasury Secretary fiddled as Rome burned. Obama used the crisis for social engineering and a massive increase in the power of the Federal government. Only then, was the root problem addressed.

Sound complicated? It is. That is why he could get away with it. But the collateral damage is stunning, including General Motors.

Government under Clinton and Bush forced these financial institutions to loan money to non credit worthy borrowers. As early as 2006, and as late as this past July, the alarm bells were ringing about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and Barney Frank and his cohorts said there wasn’t a damn thing wrong. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised at the collapse of governmental intelligence in dealing with the issues.

So, here is where we are now. The banking system will start to heal itself. If nothing else was done, the recovery would be rapid and strong. Instead, we have massive unemployment that could have been curtailed had the response been proper. We have massive debt totaling nine trillion dollars within the next 8 years. The US government will sopping up all the available credit world- wide for the foreseeable future. There will be no robust recovery for the United States. What we are going to get is high interest rates and inflation. And a new generation will learn what those older and wiser among us have already experienced under Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter, stagflation. Don’t know what that is? You’ll learn. As I said, we should be outraged.