Heart Attack Grill Spokesperson Dies

Story at: sorry, the link to the story has been removed

I would like to take a moment to share my opinion about this story. After you have watched this video, you may be thinking that the restaurant owner is responsible for the person’s death, and that many other institutions, like McDonald’s, are responsible for obesity in America (although I am personally boycotting McDonald’s for my own personal reasons, I do not in any way blame them for the condition of obesity in America). I hope that is not what people believe. Just because someone has something to sell, does not mean that we have to buy it. Just because it’s ‘convenient’ doesn’t mean that we “have” to take the easy way out. That is what criminals do, that is what politicians do, that is what some community leaders do, and that is what most of us do.

I have said before that we, the people, have the power to effect change, but that we have to be of a like mind to do it. Regardless of your religious, ethnic, or political background, no matter you sexual orientation, or your place of residence, nor your income level, should have an effect on doing what is right. The problem is that we have become so unaware, and so uncaring of those around us, that we do not consider the effects, and sometimes, consequences of the choices that we make. Unfortunately, we are even, sometimes unaware of our own individual conditions (health, emotional, and mental). We have disconnected ourselves from so many things, I think, for one reason: Lack of accountability.

Accountability is what keeps bad people honest, what keeps the good people caring, and the criminals from running rampant. We do bad things when we feel like we can ‘get away with it’ (and I emphasize this part), “without consequence”. If you KNOW that you will get caught, you won’t do it. If you KNOW that you will be punished, you will refrain. And if you KNOW that God will judge you, you will prevent or repent. The problem, as I said, is that we have disconnected from accountability so much, that we no longer have concern of the consequences. We are not truly afraid of getting a ticket for speeding, and so at times, we find we have a lead foot. We are not truly afraid of God’s Judgment, and so we continue to fornicate, adulterate, etc.

We can point the finger at others (and some deserve the blame), but the question you should ask yourselves, before that happens is ‘at what point to we blame ourselves for the choices that we make?’, ‘at what point do we take responsibility for our own bodies and lives?’. We can continue to blame corporations (like I do), or the government (like I do), but when do we blame ourselves and take that responsibility (like I do). After all, no one is putting a gun to our heads and making us decide the things we do on a daily basis (apologies to anyone actually in that position).

Cash Flow

I would like to take the time to put my opinion out there regarding the actual flow of money, when it comes to subjects like ‘stimulus’ or ‘bail out’ money. I know that this subject has probably been beaten to death by all parties in politics, but I would still like to put my two cents out there. I would like to give a short summary of how the economy has been affected, and could have been affected, in my own perspective.

How things have been affected:

Money was given to the banks, several large corporations, and to government programs. Through this plan, the money that went to the banks was supposed to loosen the belts of this industry and encourage lending again. What in fact happened, is that the banks have relieved themselves of stress, and paid themselves large bonuses, and is holding the money for their own personal (bank business) investments, to make themselves even more money. The money that went to the large corporations, was supposed to allow the businesses to prevent bankruptcy, re-tool to expand operations, and in the end provide more jobs in an effort to stimulate the economy. What actually happened is that the corporations, got themselves out of debt, re-tooled, cut jobs, and paid themselves big bonuses. The money that went into the government programs, was supposed to provide more revenue to encourage job creation through repair of highways, and construction of new businesses. What actually happened is the bureaucrats have siphoned all the money for political agendas, cut jobs, cut spending, and have made little to no improvements in this economy.

How things should have been affected:

The ‘stimulus’ and/or ‘bail-out’ money, should have been given to the lower class of society, those who lost houses, and those with less than sufficient income. This would have; allowed people to remain in their houses, allowed people the chance to continue to live like normal people, with a sense of dignity, and most important of all, it would have allowed the average American to have money to spend, thus stimulating the economy. Why should it have gone to the people? People in general, spend. Money spent, reflects in corporate gains, which boosts economic confidence, which in turn allows banks to feel safe enough to lend, which in turn gives confidence to the people on wall street, which makes companies feel more comfortable, and become more willing to hire, thus, boosting the economy.

Summary:

Money will never boost the economy if it is not put into the hands of those willing to spend it. We have paid our share in taxes, so giving Americans the money, is only putting the money back where it came from. Corporations are always going to get their share from spending Americans. Whether it is because we have gone back to purchasing a bunch of frivolous crap, or because they are price gouging our money’s eye sockets, they will always get their share. What has happened is that the customers have been cut out of the equation. As we can all see, that really worked.