Unique Government Cost Savers

I was listening to the radio recently but as service drifts in and out here in the foothills, I didn't catch a reference to the program and after a thorough internet search I failed to find the show, but the concept sank in:

Washington State is releasing some of its handicapped prisoners and housing them elsewhere. It appears this relocation will save the State hundreds of thousands of dollars. The cost for housing in a handicapped facility is about 50% less than in prison.

Then I read that New York is jetlining the homeless out of town. It appears housing for a homeless family is approximated at $36,000 per annum while a one way ticket out of town is probably less than $1,500.

Peru, the Amazon and the Global Economy

Crossing Lake Titicaca (Peru)

Another scandal of social injustice, financial opportunism and racism is developing in Peru.

Generosity, Community Spirit...Everywhere or?

Boston Skyline

Is this a Boston or Massachusetts phenomenon, or are other communities coming to the rescue of, or contributing to, and offering up parts of their income to friends, colleagues and neighbours?

I hope it is contagious!

Infinite Debt

Harper's magazine writer, Thomas Geoghagan, talks truth, or at least the truth as I know it. Just last week I called a creditor who charged me a late surcharge. My bill $9.95; the surcharge $29.95. If I am correct their mail back time from receipt of the bill was under 7 days.

I blew my stack and demanded that they remove this charge.

After all, would I, their user, neglect to pay $9.95 on a $9,000 credit line because I was negligent, remiss or a credit scoffer. I believe I actually threatened them with a suit or a reprimand from some authority or another.

In the same week, my primary banker, one of those seeking government bail-outs, offered me an immediate $5,000. loan--no credit check. All I'd have to do is walk into their representative's office (they don't have local branches in my community) and pick up the cheque.

And as funny things are often not always self-evident, my primary bank owns the credit card company--something I've always suspected but only had confirmed during this conversation.

Irony in the world of banking!

Just short of serfdom

Britannica, and others define serfdom as:

condition in medieval Europe in which a tenant farmer was bound to a hereditary plot of land and to the will of his landlord.

While folks are tightening their already tight belt, suffering job losses and foreclosure, Wall Streeters in the Manor are giving out massive bonuses to their staff.