Did I strike a nerve with anyone yesterday? I know that many of you have or will have children in the same age bracket as my daughter so you to will be facing these decisions too. How do we encourage our children to be achievers and yet still be in touch with reality… It appears that as a society we have lengthen the time of low expectations and little accountability for our young people. We have taken to referring to college age people as “Kids”? I know we’ve all heard it, so and so is just a “college kid”… As if that would indicate we have a lower expectation of performance from the person in question… Last time I checked, unless the student in question was Doogey Houser (I thru that in for the children of the 80’s among us) a college student would at least be in the 19-25 age bracket. I believe that person would qualify to vote, own a gun and enter into legal contracts, not to mention be of the age to die for his or her country… Sounds like they could be of the age to accept some responsibility and yet many of us call them “Kids”?

   I know I’ve diverted from the main point that I wanted to wrap up with today but I guess you’ll just have to humor me… Is it possible that as parents we have gotten away from putting much expectation on our children when they were young? I’ve seen MANY high school students that have not had anything expected of them beyond their school work. Yes, I do appreciate the burden on the them as far as time commitment and homework, etc. However, I believe we do our children a dis-service to give them the old “school is your job” right now speach. Yes, they should be working to do the highest level of work they are capable of but at the same time, they are still a part of a family and need to be contributing to that as well.

   I’m sure I’ve tweeked the nose of a few readers by pointing out the fact that their children are capable of doing more then their school work… Don’t mind me this is just one man’s opinion and I struggle with how much to expect from Prepper Juniorette myself. This is more of a side frustration that I deal with! I venture to say that almost all of us had to work during our high school years, that is if we expected to be able to have the luxuries that we thought were important, like the ability to drive, etc.

   Anyway, back to the topic of higher education… I realize that there are those individuals and families around us that can and do send their children off to Universities all while paying the bill out of pocket. I would be willing to wager that this is no more than 1-2% of the population. I’ve told you all on several occasions that I know what you all are earning for income. Well, not specifically you but people in general around the State of Washington at least. Most families are earning less than 100K per year. Actually, most families are earning a lot less than 100K… This is gross income not net, so the take home is drastically lower.

   My point in bringing this topic up wasn’t really as a way to critique my readers parenting skills and strategies. It was really all coming down to the DEBT issue. As with so many other things that the government has encouraged us all to participate in Higher Education is no different. The government makes it very easy for just about anyone to go in to debt, whoops, I meant to say go to  school.

   Look at the campaigns that the government has undertaken to “help” all the good citizens buy homes and achieve the American dream. We see the actual politicians themselves come right out and say that they are going to help everyone buy a home. We see no child left behind implemented at the elementary school level and the trend sticks with us all the way up. Cradle to grave we are encouraged to lean on good ol Uncle Sam for help in reaching our goal… FHA home loans, Sally Mae government backed student loans, I have even begun to hear about government backed commercial loans? Don’t forget the auto industry and banks have come under the wing of good old government… Why are our government leaders so interested in helping my daughter get loans to go to college?

   If we ask ourselves these questions and then don’t really take the time to analyse the situation for an answer we’d miss it… They want their citizens in debt. There is no other answer, benevelance is something we as parents might partake in but it isn’t the role or intent of the government. Debt is the tool by which we are controlled. The sooner and deeper the American people are put into debt the easier we are to control. Simply put, debt is the tool by which we submit to their authority.

   Just like a boss that watches his employees buying new cars and timeshare condominiums in Mexico, the government knows we’re trapped. We will have no choice but keep working for the rest of our lives to pay off the loan, plus interest, plus more diversions along the way that will undoubtedly have to be put on credit. The cycle is so predictable, yet nothing short of sinister! I’m simply amazed that something so powerful has escaped the sight of 99% of the people.

   Higher education is great and I’m not saying it should be avoided. I’m just attempting to point out the fact that we have to be smarter than the system. The “College Experience” is a scam… If your future career is going to require a 4 year degree than by all means go get that degree… Just don’t go into debt to do it! Wait, I know you’re thinking how could a person possibly get the education without going into debt? Good question, since many American now pay for their morning coffee with a credit card. Be creative, start at that community college down the street. Those credits are a 1/4 to 1/3 of the price you pay at that fancy University. I know you’ve been told that the credits won’t transfer but it’s a state school and so are many of the Universities, the credits will transfer. Go look at all the options and shop for that degree as much as you would shop for any other big ticket item! By the time all the costs of the degree are figured in, it may cost more than a modest home would. Be smart and don’t take the easy road of instant gratification and sell out your future for an “Experience”, whether it’s a college experience or any other kind – use your head.

   Hopefully, we will all start to wake-up and be more watchful of the tricks the enemy is using to distract us. Yes, many parts of our government should be considered the enemy. No, not an enemy that we would fight in a traditional sense but resisted at every possible chance they can legally be resisted!

Have a great weekend and keep your eye’s peeled for creative solutions to everyday problems!

Prepper

   Thanks to all the folks that offered their support to KC… I know he’ll appreciate hearing that we’re all behind him! On a similar subject, I wanted to do a little thinking on the related topic of higher education in general. As you have all heard, I have a daughter that is rapidly reaching the age that we will be helping her make a decision on which way to steer her adult life. Through the acknowledgment of this milestone in her life I am faced with a degree of frustration…

   The dilemma we face as parents is the fact we want to see our children achieve what ever dreams they have for themselves, countered by the fact that dreams don’t come cheap! Our society in the last decade or maybe even longer has told High School students that after they get their HS diploma, it’s off to University. Unfortunately, the popular way to achieve that goal is through government sponsored debt… It’s looked down upon to have a student choose something other than a 4 year school but it’s perfectly alright with everyone to saddle that student or more often their parents with debt (BIG DEBT) to make all this happen.

   I remember when I was in High School there were two distinct tracks for my peers and myself… College prep courses and then “Everyone Else”… I will proudly admit that I was in the “Everyone Else” category of students. I maintained decent grades but had no delusions that I would be going on to college. First off, I HATED school and wasn’t about to stick around for additional courses beyond what old man prepper was insisting on me completing. I actually did take a few college classes the summer after my junior year but this was done so I could gain the required credits I needed to skip 99% of my senior year. I had one course I had to attend senior year and then I was able to get the very few remaining credits for graduation through a work study program. My then current employer cooperated with the school and I earned money all through senior year and only went back for one last day to participate in the graduation ceremony.

   When I was contemplating my own future we had more than just the one viable choice of University or looking like some sort of slacker… Trade schools and apprenticeship programs were common and a respectable option… Oh yeah and Military service was certainly on the table as well. College was definitely looked upon favorably but it was assumed that you would be going with a specific direction in mind. Many of my peers that did go on to the universities had been planning it for several years and had a goal in mind that this additional schooling required.

   Today, I feel compelled to send my daughter to a university just because that’s what so many of her friends families are doing. I have no issue helping her get any education that will enable her to reach her goals but I resent the societal expectation of a college education.  I’d like to challenge the norm and ask what career paths genuinely require a diploma from a 4 year school. Oh, I thought of a few… Historian, Poetry major, art appreciation, women’s studies… Come-on, really? Why would anyone send their young adult to a 4 year school to study art unless they were going to become an art teacher. Nothing wrong with getting your credentials to teach any subject you want, I appreciate our need for teachers. Let me ask though, do we really want to spend up to 100K or beyond to help our children get a position paying 24-30,000 per year? I don’t see how that pencils out to well?

   I do appreciate the 10-12 years my doctor spends in school to achieve his license to practice medicine but is it real important that my electrician have college on his resume? What about our plumbers, carpenters, barbers, soldiers, mechanics, pilots, accountants, physical education teachers, secretaries or even our attorneys… Yes, I know that several of these actually require serious amounts of class room study in an environment such as a college or university but 4 years worth? I have been doing my homework and see that much of the first 2 years of any 4 year degree is spent on subject matter that has little or in many cases nothing to do with the major being sought?

   What would be wrong with nearly all of our professions taking the approach of a trade school… Is there some reason that my dentist needs to have several levels of advanced English literature to be competent to work on my teeth? Why wouldn’t we have dentists complete a course of study that focus on their actual profession? Wait, they already do this it’s called Dental school… So what does the required 4 year degree count for before he can enter dental school? I don’t ever remember having an in-depth conversation with my dentist and come to the realization of what a well rounded individual he was. I’m sure he is but why do I care about anything other than his competency in his chosen field?

   I guess that this train of thought begs the question – what exactly is my daughter or any other graduate going to be QUALIFIED to do with their 4 year degree. I understand that many employers supposedly want to see this on a resume, I remain skeptical on that point but does this degree actually help them to know how to DO anything with any proficiency? As an employer, I certainly wouldn’t penalize a person for having the degree but I’m far more interested in their ability to do the job I need done. Would we as a society even notice the difference if 99% of our population didn’t have a degree? How many of the people we deal with on a regular basis require that degree to do the job that we find them doing? Do I even care that my doctor received a passing grade on his college psychology exam? That is unless he’s my shrink… I think you get the idea I’m driving at!

   I actually have enough to say on this topic that it will take me a second post to get it all out of my head so stick around and I promise to wrap this tirade up tomorrow!

Prepper

   Hello everybody, I want to take break from the DOOM today and talk about an area where I do feel some hope for the future! I am proud to say I know a young man that stepped onto an airplane early this AM to head for basic training. Contrary to what we hear from our politicians, this young man is very bright and will achieve in any arena he chooses to pursue. I’m proud to know him.

   Just because I know your wondering, yes, “KC” really is the name this young guy goes by but my publishing it doesn’t hurt his OPSEC as it isn’t his legal name. KC if you ever have the opportunity to read this – “I got your back – man”. Now that we have that cleared up, on with the show…

   My sense of hope comes from a few of the young people that I have been meeting lately. It’s not so much that I’m hanging out with people so much younger than myself but that they are friends of my daughter. Hopefully, I’ve convied my sense of pride in her and the choices she has been making, like befriending quality people, as just one example. In addition to KC, who has chosen to serve his country, she has 2 other friends that have chosen to enter the mission field. I really don’t care how anyone feels about religion or what church you do or don’t attend… Service of others in almost any fashion is to be commended.

   Typically, we see far to many self centered and indulged young people. Unfortunately, they often come from well meaning parents but their indulgence has ruined these kids. They seldom have any kind of work ethic and frequently can’t even be expected to arrive at a designated on time much less appropriately dressed for whatever the occasion may be. This has caused me much frustration as these are our leaders of tomorrow, we think we have a shortage of quality leaders now… Oh yeah, this is suppose to be an uplifting topic today – hold that thought for tomorrows post!

   I’m sure that most generations of adults have been reluctant to see the good qualities in the group following themselves. These youngsters are our future and just like Crosby, Stills and Nash sung so many years ago- “Teach them well and let them lead the way”… It is that teaching them part that I think has been sadly lacking. These kids are our greatest asset and our legacy to the world. Just like the saying  “behind every good man is a good woman”, I think the same could be said of every good kid having good parents teaching them.

   I can honestly say that I had good parents that stood behind and did there best to teach me! Of course being the hard head, I didn’t listen to them but on retrospect, they were  brilliant! I in turn have done my best to raise my daughter to be a self supporting, productive member of society. As she hasn’t entered the world with both feet quite yet, we will have to wait just a little while longer to judge how her Mother and I did… However, I have no doubt that she will do fine and impact many more people than I will ever have the opportunity too… She is both ours and her Grandparents legacy…

   It’s tempting to only see the slack jawed droolers that are running the streets these days and feel hopeless! Fear not we have KC and the other quality young people that will carry on the better traditions of our generation. I know that they’ll have their hands full cleaning up the messes of far to many years of OUR generations complacency. Maybe we’ll have time to get the politicians back on the straight and narrow before we make our exit but if not please except our apology.

   The world that we will soon be handing off to these guys is hardly in good shape… Massive debts that will be payable in some fashion will come do at some time in the future. A crippled housing market that these folks will have to try to work with and “Peak” everything from oil to food and water. I have said on many occasions that I thank God for the blessing of living in interesting times… I’m afraid that my interesting times will be the adventure these young people call life. We will watch our Grandchildren grow up in a different world than we or our children had to… I again have spent many hours thinking on this subject. It has only recently came into clearer view, as we have spent time talking with KC as he prepared to go off to start his military training, that this next generation will have their challenges but they will certainly have their victories as well!

   As our generation ages and we become the “Old Ones”, I will look forward to watching these up and coming HERO’s like my daughter, KC and all the nameless others take back ground that we lost in this ongoing experiment called America!

   Here’s to you KC! Until we meet again – go far and stand tall! We have you in our prayers and send you off with our blessing and blessings for your future!

Prepper

   Happy Monday! Everybody get a little something knocked off the list these last coupla days? I only saw a couple hands go up so I’ll assume the rest of you were slacking… Get busy, this ain’t the 90’s when we all had a lot of time left to get our Prepping house in order…

   I’ve mentioned in the past that I held a government job in the earlier part of my working career. It was for the local county government and I was forced at gun point to join the union on top of that… Alright, it wasn’t at gun point but I was forced to join since it wasn’t optional. Don’t get me wrong the pay was good and the benefits were even better…

   Just for clarification this will sound like I’m bashing unions and I kind of am but that isn’t the point of today’s post. If a little union bashing is going to get your panties in a wad, to bad… I doubt any of my readers would fall into the “Union Slacker” role but take a look around and I guarantee you will find plenty at your work site!

   OK, enough direct bashing… It’s one of the union practices/tactics that I witnessed during my years at the county that I want to bring to everyone’s attention today. This tactic might be called something different elsewhere but in my experience it is referred to as a “Work Slowdown”.

   The “Work Slowdown” is where all of the union employees would do EVERYTHING in their job description to the letter of the company policy. Since many company policies are ludicrous and time consuming, a typical work day would find most if not all employees skipping the needless BS, in favor of more efficient work conditions.

   While these slowdowns weren’t common, they were effective. Usually a couple times a year there would be some “Message” that needed to be sent to the appropriate managers and policy setters. The message was that the Union had the clout to make the wheels on the bus move very slowly, if they didn’t get whatever the flavor of the day was for their members. Word of the slowdown was spread through the typical grapevine or possibly even through a formal union meeting at the job site.

   These slowdowns never failed to accomplish their intended purpose. They were a passive aggressive way of communicating a loud message. The lynch pin to the entire plan was that since none of the workers was doing anything but follow the needless policies and procedures, the management had nothing to say about it. No punishments or coercion could be applied back against the union. It usually would only take a one day slowdown to get the point across and it would be back to business as usual. I can look myself in the mirror and honestly say I never participated in any of these shenanigans but hey I have to give credit where it’s due, the tactic did work!

   I need to clarify that yes I do despise the union and the mentality that went with it. I have spoken to other union members over the years and they have me questioning if my opinion of the unions is accurate across the board or maybe just in my limited experience. You don’t need to email and tell me you’re a member of one of the “Good” unions. Maybe you are but I encourage you to take a look around, see any dead-weight taking up space and resources? We had a name for those union members – “Uncle Deadwood”, he had been there forever and even might have been paid more than you but did nearly nothing and couldn’t be fired because of the union…

   Rant off… It really isn’t of any consequence how I feel about your precious Union but I wouldn’t be above using their tactics if it would serve my purposes. I believe that it will and that’s what I want to propose a Tax “Slow Down”… Just like the union, we need to send a message further up the food chain that we are unhappy and that we will be heard one way or the other…

   Do understand that the critical point in the story about union slowdowns was the fact that there was no broken laws or even broken rules. The implementation of following the letter of the law was all that was needed to make the desired impact. We live in a land that has far to many laws and a creative mind may be able to discover additional applications to this slowdown theme.

   The slowdown I am going to encourage everyone to participate in is a tax slowdown… Don’t break any laws or creative an opening for a punitive action to be brought against you. I will make several suggestions here that almost any of us can implement immediately. First, make the proper adjustments to your W4 form with your employer… If you receive an income tax return each year than this one is for you… As I know you are aware, the money you get back each April is already yours! If you make the adjustment in your payroll withholding, you can have the money in your pocket all year instead of giving it to Uncle Deadwood, whoops, I mean Uncle Sam.

   Is this to much trouble or make you nervous that you may have to actually write the IRS a check instead of receiving one? It will be far more inconvenient later, if we have to go in and physically take control back from our out of control federal and state politically elected employees… How about denying them the ability to even collect a tax from you in the first place?

   Depending which state you live in this may or may not apply to you… How about going out of your way to deny the sales tax being charged on as many items as possible… Pretty revolutionary don’t you think? It’s really that simple too, every tax that the government is denied has a big effect on their bottom line. Is there a question in anyone’s mind why the IRS is hiring more auditors? It would appear that our brothers in arms have already implemented their own tax slowdowns…

   How far can each of us take this idea? Remember you’re not breaking any laws but only be taking full advantage of any and every tax loophole you might be able to discover. I encourage each of you to think through all of the places that you’re being taxed, I can only imagine your list will be as long as mine! If we all make this a point in our daily lives, we WILL have an effect and it will be far larger than you might imagine.

   Our government at every level is spending far more money each year than what they bring in the form of taxes. What happens in our families when we run the budget so tight that we have nothing left over for savings? Now think about if we were using the old credit card to make ends meet, like the government is doing and has been fro a good many years. What’s that one additional unexpected monthly expense going to do to all those balls so carefully being juggled? This has the same effect whether it’s an unexpected expense or a few hours of pay being cut from the bottom line… Now multiply that out over all of the people in our union… The union of free thinkers and freedom seekers…

   Sounds good doesn’t it, sending a financial message to our keepers that we are watching and not going to stand idly by any longer… All using nothing more than the loop holes that they allow in the tax code. Think it over and start looking for ways to be a tax deny-er! Unite with your brothers to make a positive change to the environment that we are all forced to work within! A simple small step in the right direction that could have great benefits politically and will reap you great benefits financially either way!

Prepper