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Much of the current financial industry is in upheaval. There are banks deemed too big to fail, while major companies such as GM and Chrysler, are deemed able to fail, if the White House does not agree with their direction.

There are a number of aspects of failure that aid in eventual success, with a wide range of examples being sized just right to fail. Being too big to fail is a matter of perspective and direction, specifically with the arbitrary assignments of importance that exist in todays society. Lets examine the largest bank in the world, and then get larger from there and analyze what it means to be too big to fail.

Citigroup is the largest bank in the world, with a market cap of over $300 billion, and controlling over $2 trillion dollar in total assets.

If you work or are a vendor for Citigroup or a subsidiary, you probably have valid concerns about your job and a portion of your 401(k) if there was a failure in the organization. Most employees in Citigroup probably had little to do with the creation of some of the financial derivatives that are leading the organization toward failure. In fact most employees have attempted to make the company more successful through traditional routes of working hard and gaining customers.

People outside of Citigroup see a massive business, with plenty of assets that are ready for the taking. Private equity groups, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs would love to get a hold of a few of the productive assets within Citi. The malinvestment within the organization, and many like it, are unable to fail as a result of the governments intervention, allowing the employees to keep their jobs, but potentially reducing options for additional employment as a result of the number of other companies that would be created from the liquidation and separation of the productive and unproductive assets.

Citigroup is still too big to fail? How about something a bit larger?

Try the Roman Empire on for size; the empire was at one point the greatest force in known civilization. This empire at its height controlled over 20% of the worlds population. The empire was responsible for most of the ideal of western government, philosophy, art, currency, and military advancements. The citizens of the Roman Empire had more opportunities than most, but again depending on your perspective the demise of the Roman Empire was met with either exhilaration or disappointment.

Clearly those in charge of the Roman Empire had much more to lose than those that supported the vast empire. The incredible Roman army, documented for much of the success of the empire, probably enjoyed the opportunity to move back to their land and see their families again, after long tours, creating the empire.

Many of the conquered countries of the Roman Empire, most likely had a different perspective of the collapse of the empire. There ability to begin to operate autonomously without being persecuted by the Roman Empire, surely was met with a breath of fresh air.

So, the failure of the Roman Empire was massive for the hierarchy of the empire, but probably less so for the soldiers, the conquered countries, and the oppressed, which were spread well across the empire.

Was the Roman Empire too big to fail? Is Citi too big to fail? It always depends on perspective, the important question to ask, is why would something that is ready to fail be forcefully propped up? Surely there is a money trail heading to some of the key politicians making the call, and clearly like the Roman Empire those elitists would be more impacted by the failure of any large organization much more than the bulk of taxpayers bearing the load. Failures are simply pathways to success; it just depends on your direction and perspective.

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We in America do not have a government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate.

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Ive lived in 6 states since college, and having sampled some of the best America has to offer from sea to shining sea – I was drawn back home to Ohio. Those of you reading this (Im sure) are asking, why Ohio? What were you thinking?

I came back to Ohio because I wanted to raise my children near family and be surrounded by people who are grounded and honest. People who arent afraid to work for their living. People who have produced Presidents, astronauts, great thinkers and great athletes. People who understand adversity as well as innovation. People who showed us how to fly, but remained humble enough to serve. Ohio, as well as any other state in the Republic, embodies the American spirit.

And, what is the American Spirit?

I believe the American Spirit is simply this ” Dont tell me what cant be done. Allow me to show you what I will do.

Throughout the history of both Ohio and the United States, individuals have only asked for an opportunity to be great, but have never expected it be given to them. Nor, has the greatness of this country ever been achieved by a government institution or entitlement. It has been achieved by individuals who sought more than what they were born into. They dreamed, and were not inhibited in their journey by a system.

Neil Armstrong (born in Wapakoneta,OH) once said, I think we’re going to the moon because it’s in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It’s by the nature of his deep inner soul… we’re required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream.

He grasped what drives the human race forward. It is not handouts, nor management of our lives or provision for our well being. Our desire provides for us that light at the end of the tunnel.

What will happen when our own government removes that light? What will happen when they remove our desire?

Most of us just want the opportunity to work and support our families. We have no problem with a hard days work for a fair wage. What will happen when our government creates so many entitlements that a man can receive a fair wage ” without the hard days work?

Will it not follow that a great many people will lose their incentive to work? Apply this principle to any part of life. When the incentive is removed, the effort stops.

Some other things you may consider as you ponder these universal ideals:

What will happen when the government provides for every bit of your retirement? Wont you rely on them first ” relinquishing your independence?

What will happen when government controls your healthcare? Will you be able to secure that life saving procedure when a government cost assessment has told you, no?

What will happen when the government owns businesses in your city? Will your employment be determined by race or gender ” not qualification or resume?

These things are all happening in front of our eyes. The elected Left is quickly building a world they hope to be free from pain. But, pain cant be avoided in life. While well intended, attempting to avoid all lifes hardships as a principle rallying call is naive and stupid. A world free of hardships does not exist, and maybe it shouldnt.

The government cannot make your life better by giving everything to you. For each loan provided, the lender asks for payment plus interest ” in this case, much more interest. This is not a debt we can afford to owe, because we will pay the bill with our freedoms. This is the price of socialism.

Cleveland raised Bob Hope once said, I love to go to Washington – if only to be near my money.

If he only knew how true this would become. Each day Washington removes more and more of our future through loans which cant be repaid or printed dollars which cant be supported. They are set on a course to destroy the very fabric of the American Spirit. What have we gained if we have indebted ourselves and future generations to a lifetime of servitude? Will this provide opportunity for the next Thomas Edison or Charles Kettering (both born in Ohio)? I say, no!

I propose that each brick of entitlement we add to this wall of socialism makes it less and less possible for the great American Dream to grow with another generation. Each layer of spending provides the mortar to solidify an impregnable fortress of European style government.

Ohioans, I appeal to your history and your conscience. Can you not see that for each dollar we take from the government, the more we are enslaved by them? With each program they give to us, the less free we are to make our own way. The accomplishments of great Ohioans werent built on the backs of others. We must seek policies which protect our future and our freedoms. There is no other way.

I know many feel this way, but for family, friends or unions, they have supported politicians from the Left.

The socialist path of this nation is set by the leaders who want to avoid the pains and rewards of life. However, those of us willing to take a stand against that path, should cast our votes with those who will allow you to stand on your own, not keep you down as they build their ideal society on your back.

As one of our Ohio born Presidents (Taft) stated, “Socialism proposes no adequate substitute for the motive of enlightened selfishness that today is at the basis of all human labor and effort, enterprise and new activity.”

Be enlightenedly selfish. Have a voice. Make a difference.

www.americanjunto.org

We in America do not have a government by the majority. We have a government by the majority who participate.

The size of government is truly huge. When one thinks of government, most look just at the Federal government workers which number 11,028,000 jobs. They include grantee jobs, uniformed military personnel, Federal civil servants, contractor jobs and postal jobs. Counting the unemployed, those collecting social security benefit checks, collecting welfare payment checks, local and state hourly workers, cops teachers, firemen, librarians, road departments and state legislature, those figures mushroom into a huge personalized income tax bill supported by taxpayers personalized checks!

All evidence shows that reducing taxes, regulations, reducing the size of government creates more jobs in the long run. Most reputable studies have shown that Government spending below 25% of GDP spurs economic growth. The only sane way to rescue a business or household that is in trouble is when they check unnecessary expenses and become more productive.

Government size has mushroomed over the last fifty years. Not only the size but the scope of executive branch involvement has shifted significantly with the Woodrow Wilson presidency and every follow up president. Most ingenuously point to FDR as the tax and spend president, but they all have been guilty since Wilson.

Getting the government spending into perspective, by 1900 government spending was just 5% of Americas gross domestic production (GDP). Jumping ahead to 1950, the amount of total output of America’s production consumed by government was upped to 15%. In 1999 it was around 19%. Today, many feel it is out of control.

The scope and size of government metastasize to its present state creates a fascist type republic in that decisions become regulated and individual freedom dissipates. The ordinary citizen taxpayer becomes a slave paying for big government and is left with a reduced paycheck.

Heavily unionized, job secure government workers gets to retire after only 20 years service. They are eligible for pension checks, annuity checks and other lavish perks. Their counterpart non-government worker generally has to work 45 years before they are eligible for retirement and social security benefits. They have no job security. Many private sector jobs are much more dangerous than those faced by police, fireman and the military, yet they have to put in their 45 sweat before eligibility rolls around.

March 2009 total number of jobs lost since the recession began is 5.1 million with unemployment at 8.5%. However the total of those unemployed is 13.16 million. These numbers, however, reflect the official unemployment data. What is rarely reported is the U-6 data, which includes those that no longer receive unemployment benefits or are no longer looking for work. The unofficial U-6 data show that real unemployment has now reached 15.6%. Couple the 15.6% with unemployed workers discouraged for more than a year, suddenly and magically, the government drops them off the role and says they are not “discouraged” any more and you have real unemployment approaching the 20% range. That is a depression.

It is easy to lose track of the total picture. The size and scope of government includes everyone getting a paycheck from federal, state and local government. You need to count all the numbers.

“Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship.” – Harry Truman, 33rd U.S. president. Even the wrong-sided economist, John Maynard Keynes said: “The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward.” So when will you ever see a box on the ballot where you can vote for the size of government? Write-up supplied by Personalized Checks