www.PlannedFinancial.com

July 15, 2010

Mr. LeBron James
4157 Idlebrook Drive

Bath, Ohio 44210  

When the Cleveland Cavaliers won the number one pick seven years ago and you declared entry into the NBA draft from Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, the most quintessential sports story was born. A local high school basketball star had the opportunity to write a sports story never quite seen before. Your Northeast Ohio community was starved for sports recognition. The region, like many other Rust Belt cities has seen its share of tough times beyond just sports. Economic downturns, demographic migrations and political crises have weighed heavy on all of us. Yet, the ethnic diversity, our perseverance and our hopeful nature created strength among us. Northeastern Ohio has always been one of the most generous cities in the country. With the Cleveland Cavaliers drafting you in the first round we felt a gift was given back to us.  

We watched you grow into a national sensation at Akron St. Vincent St. Mary. You seemed to carry yourself beyond your age and you sincerely seemed excited to accomplish something special in our hometown. All I could think about were the three L’s: LeBron, Legend, and Legacy. With LeBron we had a youthful child with seemingly endless determination, selflessness and talent to challenge the legends and legacies of past and present basketball greats such as Oscar Robinson, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant and even Michael Jordan. 

A legacy is what someone is remembered for or what they have left behind that is remembered, revered and has even influenced current events beyond the present day. 

A legend is someone who creates such a body of work that transcends all others and whose actions and stories are passed down in almost godlike form. 

Clearly you have the talent and you HAD the opportunity to do something no other basketball player had before. On your way to individual greatness you had an opportunity to bring a first ever NBA championship to a city that has not experienced a major sports championship since 1964. Hollywood could not have written a better script. A hometown boy, turned hero, turned savior. However, something happened, or should I say something changed. Many of us will be left to speculate but only you and your mind, heart and soul will know. 

One thing I can share with you about success at any level in any profession is that commitment and persistence are required characteristics. The late great John Wooden said, “It is in the journey that greater satisfaction is achieved.” 

I also know that every choice has a balance. Some may call it pros and cons, while the more spiritually oriented will call it the ying and yang. Every individual has a right to choose whatever makes him happy in life. You apparently have and I do not fault you for that. You want to play with your friends in Miami and you want to win as many championships as possible. Your decision has clearly put you in that position. One of my questions to you is will you achieve the legendary status and the legacy that you want? I don’t see how that’s possible anymore. 

If you decided to stay in Cleveland, it would have been more difficult to win a championship. I believe you would have. Michael Jordan took seven years and the addition of a few key players to bring a championship(s) to Chicago. He was determined, committed, and loyal and he persevered. He is now a basketball legend with a legacy in Chicago with no one to rival him. What legacy will you create in Miami? Will you be seen as Dwyane Wade’s, Scottie Pippen? Will Chris Bosh be seen as the team’s Horace Grant? 

It just seems that you have traded a chance at immortality for the quick fix of championships. And if you are okay with that, then that is all that matters. You have to live with that just like everyone has to live with his or her own choices in life. But understand it has cost you. 

You had godlike status in Ohio. You were adored like no other recent athlete has been. You had an organization that gave you everything you wanted. They catered to your every need: your family, your entourage and your friends. They built a state-of-the-art training facility that no other NBA team has purposely placed in a location convenient to your home. They considered your input in many operational aspects of the team at unheard of levels. Many of us “Johnny lunch buckets” only wish we had an employer willing to give 1% of what you had. 

However, what upsets me the most is how naïve you think we all are. Three years ago you, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh signed three year extensions keeping your options open. You hid your clear desire to play with your friends by stating you wanted to see if our organization was as committed to winning a championship as you seemed to be. If only your’s and your buddies’ cell phones could talk. You want us to believe that the three of you did not conspire to make this plan a reality? 

Many of us knew then, if the opportunity presented itself, you would leave Cleveland. Your body language and your choice of words clearly told us that you were not committed to our town, the organization, or the team. Sure you wanted to win, but it was merely to promote King James. If you were committed at any cost, you would have openly stated your intention and this would have totally changed the environment in which you, the team, and the organization would have had to operate. You would have signed a long term contract three years ago and the organization would not have had to operate in panic mode to please you. 

Furthermore, you insult us by saying you gave everything possible to the team and our town. You were compensated as one of the highest-paid athletes to perform and you did. Many, including me, will give you that. But that is no different than our employers expecting us to give 100% every day we show up to work. Why would we expect any less from you? 

Moreover, even with your iconic status you could play basketball for free with the amount of endorsement money you received. If you were willing to take the same pay cut as you are in Miami, our organization could have brought in even higher level talent to win in Cleveland. Unfortunately, with your three year signing, management was forced to make short-term decisions that were not in the long-term best interest of the team in order to supposedly keep you. This is even more of a fallacy because even if the team would have won, you would have left Cleveland. 

All you, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh needed was a team that could accommodate your combined salary requirements under the salary cap. Congratulations! You and your buddies are in a great position to win many championships over the next six years! Unfortunately, having everyone in the organization believing you would be returning and carrying on the self promoting side show, you embarrassed yourself and everyone that supported you since high school. This self promotion showed no respect to your hometown fans, our city, and the organization that catered to you. Now, the organization is left out on a limb with few options to better themselves through free agency or to make a trade to help the team. Why could you not just be honest and tell us you were unlikely to sign with Cleveland if you were able to have a team accommodate you, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh? 

We are thankful for the many thrills you provided us over the years. The only disappointment I had in watching you play was in the Boston series. Clearly, as the team leader you quit playing. Many of the greats have mentioned before to never quit a game. Winning in small market towns is possible. Teams in the past have done it! Tim Duncan who had a chance to land a big free agent contract with Orlando showed loyalty and commitment to San Antonio (small market town) and was rewarded with more championships. 

You will go down as one of the greatest players in NBA history, statistically speaking. Even so, the characteristics of greatness are not just measured in numbers or even championship rings; however, character, loyalty, commitment, integrity and perseverance are. Clearly, athletes, especially those who are at the top of their respective sports, are placed on a higher pedestal and thus, more is expected. But the truly great ones do not ever disappoint. There is a unique and special relationship between the players and the fans that goes beyond any business. The business of sports has made it much harder for fans to hold onto their players for as long as possible and that’s unfortunate. 

But many confuse the facts, saying that it is how business is done and that it’s not personal but simple business. That is so wrong. Any successful business owner will tell you that business is about relationships – personal relationships. We do business with people we trust. We do business with people we like and we do business to create mutual benefit – not just additive, but exponential. I really do not believe you and your business advisors fully understand that. Life is full of hard lessons and at 25 you are an adult. Only the future will allow us to look back and assess what this all means. 

If I had a crystal ball based on my years of business experience, I would say you will look back and regret that you quit. There might be greatness, but the legend died leaving no legacy. Art Modell was unfortunately pushed into the decision to leave Cleveland.  He never really wanted to make that decision and if he could change things, he would have never left Cleveland.  We have an incredible loyal fan base and he knew that. 

Bernie Kosar was an excellent quarterback in his heyday but never a superstar or a Hall of Fame quarterback, yet he is still revered in Cleveland. He arranged to play for Cleveland. He loved playing for this city and never wanted to play for anyone else. When he was ridden out of town by then coach Belichick, he landed with the Dallas Cowboys and won a Super Bowl ring. I am sure the ring felt good to Bernie, but if you asked him, he would rather have finished his career in Cleveland and done whatever he could to bring a championship to this town. 

Unfortunately there are few second chances and it is unlikely you will catch this magic in a bottle again. 

Sincerely,

Frank Fantozzi, President

CPA, MT, PFS, CDFA, AIF     

A business needs outstanding people to succeed, and people need successful companies who will hire. The reality is small to mid size businesses employ the most people and add more new jobs, not big business. Last time I checked, people are looking for high quality jobs. See the connection?  Barack Obama and his current administration do not see this relationship. They believe that government will ensure that people have jobs.

I believe in the potential that every human life offers. I believe that families and communities can be brought together and can serve as well at solve the problems we face. Together we can form the character of our children by giving them the tools they need to be successful not just economically but morally and socially. Those of us who believe in that success do so because we believe in the right to be free and to make our own way. These rights are our God given and are used by good and virtuous people who are shaped by faith to build a great nation; the greatest nation in the history of the world with the greatest economy formed under a capitalist system. Our system is one that rewards the fruits of your labor and your activities and does not get in the way with a big manipulative government. As a country we have always believed and embraced that. It’s a primary reason we fought the Revolutionary War against Great Britain.

Consider this: life expectancies 200 years ago were half of what they are today. No other nation in the last thousand years of history can say that. We have achieved something extraordinary. Even the poorest among us have seen great strides over counterparts from 50 years ago. This is the power of America and this is what we dream of. And we have accomplished a lot of this.  This is what makes us a shining city on a hill that beckons to the world. That is why everyone wants to be an American.

Barack Obama and his current administration do not see that in America. They don’t believe in the foundational documents that our forefathers created that attest to our inalienable rights, not granted by the government, but by some higher being. They believe in different foundational documents which are very much like the European constitutional foundational documents which are specifically secular, make no mention of God and are silent to their Christian heritage.  The rights in Europe are rights given to you by the government and he thinks and believes this is also the best vision for America.

What we are fighting for here is not what we are, but who we will be in the future. What has people so upset is they feel something big is changing the original fabric of America. It is not Barack Obama’s aspirations but his policies that are moving America in a direction at lightning speed towards dependency and entitlement. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no federal income tax today. That means many enjoy the benefits of our country for free. Another 40% receive money back in the form of tax credits on top of a refund. So not only do they receive money for free, we are paying them to live in America.

 Republicans are just as much to blame as Democrats. Every politician has a slogan aimed at appeasing the middle class most of which translate to providing the middle class with more income tax breaks. Pretty soon we cut taxes for everyone except the higher income folks and that is who is left to pay taxes. The government has no choice but to take a larger and larger share of taxes from higher income folks. How is this sustainable?  At some point the biggest tax payers have the ability to leave and who will pay?

At some point the 47% of Americans who pay no federal income taxes are going to figure out that it is not in their best interest to vote against bigger government. They pay no taxes and may get money back. They get something for nothing. They are figuring it out. Also, our biggest employer is the Federal, State and Local Governments who employ 17% of the entire work force. Barack Obama has just earmarked 50 billion dollars to State and Local to aide in keeping government jobs. If they are note needed why do we have them?

Traditionally government employees where paid a little less than market value for the tradeoff of job security. How many government workers do you know who have been fired or let go? Now Federal employees are making more than market value….is this long term logical? Yet will they vote for smaller government and then possibly vote against their own job security?

What we are discovering is that Americans love entitlements. Think of a drug dealer working a corner with a little dime bag. They just want to get you hooked. With a little taste of the entitlement narcotic, they have you. Getting high for nothing. Americans love getting something for nothing. They are getting hooked.

That is what is happening to America today and it is scaring people as well it should. We are developing policies that will turn us into a dependency culture, a culture of wealth redistribution and socialism.  If you look at countries have gone in the direction of social welfare, there is a very logical sequence. A hundred years ago the British Empire was the strongest empire in the world. The French were second. These countries dominated the world for multiple centuries not just 150 years like the United States. They were the biggest empires with the biggest militaries in the world. They enjoyed world domination with territories and colonies throughout all continents. Now they have no military to speak of in France and very little in Great Britain. They have no major economic presence. How did these powerful countries built through world conquest change? How did they become countries with huge welfare states? 

How did things get so bad that they stopped having children and each citizen became more worried about themselves? What is in it for me? What do I get out of it? Slowly over time these governments began to bankroll everything. Now, they can no longer afford. While the entire continent of Europe used to dominate the world, they are now fourth behind the United States, Asian Countries and Indian. Soon South America will drop them further down the list. And look at their moral condition and their quickly changing demographics—they became tired, complacent and grew too big. Their moral condition decayed. They just could no longer afford to sustain the practices and policies in place. 

The greater hope for America is our moral condition. We’re the most churched people in the Western Hemisphere. More go to church on Sunday than attend all sporting events combined in a year. That is not the case in Europe. The large governments focus on the here and now. They focus on the day-to-day needs and wants of humanity as they have lost the vision of a bigger picture and what it means to be free, to fight for liberty and for what is right and true—let alone sacrifice or even to die for it. They lost their faith and their populations continue to decline because they have also lost the hope of a better, brighter future for each successive generation. This vicious circle spirals them down. This is the dream of the ‘Left in America.’  This is nirvana in their world. This is what they seek and is what is at stake in the next election.

When we look back at how historic events came about, people often say they were not aware at the time of how pivotal a certain event or statement was; they did not recognize the full importance of what was happening when they were going through it.  This is a different kind of time. I think we realize how significant this moment is and how important this is to our collective futures. We desperately need to roll back what has been recently done and move forward with an agenda that believes that free people are not dependent.

 My father was part of the greatest generation. When they came to the United States it was not to join a union or be guaranteed a government handout. It was an opportunity to create one’s own financial security through hard work and sacrifice. Capitalism gave my parents and millions like them this opportunity, not the Democrats or the Republicans. When they arrived in this country, they did not even know what either was!

The greatest generation is revered in this country. A local hero Bob Feller at the height of his career, which most likely cost him being number one in many pitcher categories, stepped away from professional baseball as an all-star and went to war. We were not anxious to become involved in World War II and, in fact, this country sat for quite a while after June of 1940 when France fell. All of Europe was black with Nazis, fascism and communism — the Pacific was falling under Japanese control. What people in America do with Churchill when he pleaded for us to come to his aid? We did nothing.

We went on with our lives and were hoping it would get better and it somehow would exempt us from this war happening around us. We were separated by oceans and were determined that the War would not encroach on our soil.  In the summer of 1941 congress came within one vote of repealing the draft.  We would have been even further behind and more unprepared when we entered the War if this occurred.  We just wanted people to leave us alone so we could just live our lives. However, the fateful bombing of Pearl Harbor roused an entire nation to stand up and sacrifice everything worth saving…our liberties, our families, our country and our God given rights.

While no one has dropped the equivalent of a bomb on Pearl Harbor today what the Obama administration is doing is the domestic equivalent of an attack on the very soul of America. The question is what are you going to do about it? Not collectively, but you individually. I think if you really reflect on what is happening in America you may agree with what I am saying. One of my favorite quotes is from a Mr. Lasch who says, “Every day we get up we tell ourselves lies so we can live.”

Many of us make the mistake of keeping our heads down and hoping this all goes away. Whatever is going on today can’t possibly affect us because it cannot happen here. But when it does who will you blame? Who will you hold accountable? Will we blame special-interest groups? Will we blame all the people with money and influence?

Closer to home, we are particularly blessed. We live in Ohio. We elect presidents! We elect our senators and governors who could be huge players in the national political scene. We are at the epicenter. What we do sounds louder than anyone else in this country. Furthermore, in Ohio congressional apportionment is the process which will occur this year due to the combined races for governor, secretary of state and state auditor. This is where seats in the State House of Representatives are redistributed amongst the 88 counties. This apportionment will play a huge role in future elections and what direction this state of Ohio will take in the future. 

There is an old saying…Too whom much is given, much is expected. To whom more is given, more is required. We need to engage in this mission together to save America.

Small-market towns have difficulty luring high quality free agents too. Obviously money is probably the number one reason since TV and Cable revenues are much lower. Look at the New York Yankees. The main reason they can outspend everyone is because their cable network subscription values in New York dwarf all others. Professional sports have evolved from pastime hobbies for their rich and famous owners to true businesses.

With loyalties on both sides generally lacking, and small towns unable to financially compete or offer the glitz and glamour star athletes have come to expect, when we do experience the great fortune of having a homegrown player become a star we try to hold on to them for dear life. And when we are spurned, it hurts not only the fan base but the emotional feeling the city has about itself, not to mention the economic impact.

I have been asked frequently by friends outside of Northeast Ohio how I feel. First, it does take a team to win not just one player. LeBron and all this publicity have put the “I” back in Team. However, almost every team that has won a championship, especially basketball, has had at least two perennial All-Stars on the team.

Dealing with a megastar is different than dealing with an All-Star. There is so much more baggage that comes with managing such a player. To Lebron’s credit he has done a solid job in managing his high profile. However the handling of his free agency has been frustrating because as a fan, and I imagine the Cleveland Cavalier’s management would agree, that we have been held hostage. It’s been difficult hiring a coach. It’s also difficult planning for free-agent acquisitions because a lot revolves around what LeBron will ultimately do. While it is his right to explore free agency I have to admit it’s puzzling that this decision has not come out of the blue. One would think that with all his talks with his entourage, his other friends in basketball and what he intimately knows about the NBA, there is little the free-agent process is going to really tell him that he doesn’t already know.  Maybe wants the attention and maybe he wants to create a spectacle to elevate his status even more internationally on his quest to become a billionaire athlete.

LeBron knows that he will receive the maximum money in Cleveland and no one else can match this. I don’t buy into these organizations outside Cleveland saying that he will earn more money in other cities than he could in Cleveland. He is already an international figure. He could base himself up Peoria, Illinois and still generate the kind of endorsements and revenue he wants. Look at all the tennis players and golf stars. They don’t all reside in New York, Miami or LA.

If he wants to win he has just as good a chance of winning here in Cleveland as he does in Chicago or Miami. New York and New Jersey are years away. Miami will always be Wade’s team.  Now it would help Cleveland if LeBron gave them a feeling that he is coming here because I think they could pull off some major moves to bring in one other perennial All-Star to get us over the hump. Let’s face it, the last two years we have won more games than any other NBA team. We understand that going into the playoffs is a whole new season. Coaching, injuries and hitting stride all impact how a team plays through the second season. In losing to the Celtics this year the Cavaliers coach and the players including LeBron James were outplayed. LeBron has an owner who will outspend most too. Lastly, no other city will revere him as much as Cleveland.

What hurt us in winning the championship was LeBron’s signing a short term contract a few years ago. That greatly changed the approach in acquiring the players we needed to create a dynasty. The motto was more to win today at all costs to keep LeBron. It did not work. There is no short cut to building and sustaining any successful organization.

As a Cleveland fan I do hope LeBron James stays. It will keep our city in the spotlight but more importantly his name and presence here will have a huge economic impact, keeping many people who make pennies in comparison to LeBron employed.

It still amazes me how much emphasis we as fans place on our athletes. The podium we place them on and the amount of money they make in comparison to other professionals such as attorneys, CPAs, doctors, teachers and even our President can be mind-boggling. When Babe Ruth was asked how it felt to be paid more than the President, he responded by saying “I had a better year.” Despite Cleveland’s loss in the playoffs, it’s highly likely the King would echo the Babe’s sentiments.

While wars, conflicts and skirmishes are never wanted they have unfortunately been necessary in many instances to provide for and maintain the freedoms we enjoy every day. We don’t have to agree with certain decisions made by our government and some may not understand why volunteered to go into the service. Regardless, we should be thankful for the bravery these men and women have shown in supporting our flag under all circumstances.

In the past month I have been introduced to two gentlemen that work for two different nonprofit organizations: Veterans First and the Cleveland American Veterans Association. Both these organizations share a common goal to provide homeless veterans with a roof over their heads. It is very sad to learn to what extent homelessness exists among our veterans. I’m working with both of these gentlemen to provide Kolbe House as a possible location for their use in meeting this severe need.

I also became aware that many veterans from the Gulf War as well as our latest conflicts suffer from severe head trauma injuries. While the equipment provided soldiers is far superior to equipment in the past in terms of saving lives, they still do not protect against all injuries. If you can imagine a boxer who consistently gets battered in the head, only later in life to find that his ability to accomplish simple tasks is greatly diminished because his brain has been scrambled so often. Soldiers are fighting today to avoid being killed or maimed not only as a result of artillery fire but also as a result of the percussion from nearby explosions that physically rattle their heads causing untold damage which will only come out in later years.

I wanted to share some of the information I learned from these gentlemen as well as my own feelings because despite all the difficulties and ups and downs our country experiences we still live in the greatest country on this planet. I am always acutely aware of this on the occasions I have had the pleasure of traveling overseas. While trips abroad are at times exciting and even intoxicating, I am always thankful to return to the USA. Please remember those who provided the freedoms we all enjoy on this Memorial Day.  I wish you and your family a wonderful weekend.

 Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.    

  I’m 63.  Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.  

I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.  

I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.”  Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.  

I’m tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of   Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of   China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Christian people of    Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela.

I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’s law tells them to.  

I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.  

I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.  

I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News?  Get a clue. I didn’t vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.  

I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let   Saudi Arabia   use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.  

I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.  

I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.  

I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next?  Calling drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”?  And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military…. Those are the citizens we need.  

I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war?  You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave?  Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are?  Not even close.  So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.  

I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois, where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet.  

I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.  

Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.  

I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.  

Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.  

How can this be good when most of the electoral vote do understand and are not privy to the many backroom deals taking place being behind the scenes? 

Our founding fathers believed it was an honor and a privilege to serve the American People. Once they served–and for measly compensation in most cases—they returned to their farms, trades or careers. Now it is increasingly fashionable to be a career politician with a health plan that is superior to any available to the American public, a Pension superior to any available to the American public and numerous other perks lavished by special interest and corporate lobbyists.

The only way to eliminate many of the conflicts of interest associated with lifelong politicians is to establish term limits. I suggest the following:

President – Three 4-year terms for a maximum of 12 years

Senator – Two 6-year terms for a maximum of 12 years

House of Representatives – Three 4-year terms for a maximum of 12 years

Ancient history

Term limits have a long history. Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, two early civilizations which had elected offices, both imposed limits on certain positions. In ancient Athenian democracy, no citizen could serve on the council of 500, or boule, for two consecutive annual terms, nor for more than two terms in his lifetime, nor be head of the boule more than once. In the Roman Republic, a law was passed imposing a limit of a single term on the office of censor. The annual magistrates—tribune of the plebs, aedile, quaestor, praetor, and consul—were forbidden reelection until a number of years had passed.

 List of Arguments in Favor of Term Limits

Term limits:
 1. Are overwhelmingly preferred by voters.. (It’s innate commonsense!)
  2. Downgrade seniority and favor meritocracy.
  3. Increase competition and encourage new challengers.
  4. Build a ‘citizen’ Congress, driving out career politicians.
  5. Break the ties to special interest groups.
  6. Improve the tendency to vote on principle.
  7. Introduce fresh thinking, new ideas, and eliminate ‘old bulls’.
  8. Reduce the power of staff, bureaucracy, and lobbies.
  9. Will create a natural reduction in wasteful federal spending.
10. Encourage lower taxes, smaller government, and greater voter          participation in elections.
12. Gets reelection rates back to near 50%, versus the current 99%. (Founders called it “rotation in office”)

List of Arguments in Opposition to Term Limits

Term limits:

1. Would terminate the good politicians along with the bad (although once a politician is done with the house he or she can run for the Senate and then the Presidency).  
2. Reduce the range of voter choice (but that assumes lack of talent in the wings).
3. Result in loss of knowledge and experience.
4. Should be considered after tackling some of the systemic issues in Washington, including campaign fundraising and lobbyist influence.
5. Increase the power of staff, lobbies, and bureaucracy if there is not corresponding reform dealing with lobbyists and their financial support. (Staff can be rotated when a new politician is elected.)

Clearly, there are more reasons in favor of term limits than reasons against term limits. That tells us a lot right there!

The remaining question is simple…who does this country really belong to…Congress?… or us—the American public?

When times were good—arguably a short 18 months ago—outbound calls to individuals and businesses from their banks and banks they had never even heard of kept phones ringing off the hook. You remember the drill—easy money, easy credit, easy rates for the taking: “We value your business…we want to help you grow your business…how we can help you earn more on your checking/savings/deposit accounts? May we lend you 100%-125% of your home’s value through an uncollateralized, interest-only loan?” 

According to a majority of my clients in recent months the only thing off the hook now is their banker’s phone when they happen to be the one placing the call!

But read on my friends because this is far more than a rant about the sudden demise of credit, liquidity and customer service in the banking arena. I want to provide you with some practical steps you can take now to avoid the type of adverse situations that some of my clients have faced recently in their banking relationships. 

So where have all the banks gone…and the money? My clients are wondering so I imagine many of you are as well. Unless you are part of a work-out group—not a good thing these days—it seems bankers have either become an endangered species or have taken a page from Osama Bin-Hidin’ and are holed-up in a cave somewhere. Our federal government has stated on many occasions that there is money available to lend and it clearly understands the need for banks to infuse needed liquidity to help the American economy recover. 

We all know that the days of easy credit are over. That’s old news. What’s making news today is the manner in which banks are turning the tables on their clients and changing the terms of loan agreements and other business arrangements without seeking or apparently requiring the consent of their customers. 

I have been engaged in discussions with a large number of my clients in recent months who are seriously concerned about their banking relationships—or should I say lack thereof. Maybe banks define the term relationship differently than the rest of us…kind of like that fair weather friend relationship.  As a financial advisor, I know a little something about relationship businesses. In any long-term relationship there will inevitably be ups and downs, but a commitment to be a solid “business partner” means consistently stepping up not just during the good times but when the going gets tough. It seems now that times have become tough; banks are folding up their proverbial three-ring circus tents and heading out of town. 

Their excuse? They blame the regulators. The same regulators that made it possible for banks to experience record growth, expand into questionable and hi-risk endeavors and earn record revenues over the past 20 or so years. History notwithstanding, they are now using the regulators as their escape goat to lower the risk on their business books. 

In the meantime clients representing long and profitable histories for the banks they do business with are more and more frequently facing little notice when it comes to losing access to money or lines of credit. In many cases lines of credit are being dramatically reduced and clients are being told to find a “new business partner” with little or no transition time. 

What is startling to me when I hear these stories is the fact that in so many cases these things are happening to profitable businesses and individuals with good or excellent credit histories and a positive net worth—or dare I say it: money in the bank! 

Without financing, companies who normally use banks to create leverage in their operations have limited capital to invest in growth-oriented activities, including job creation. In other cases, companies need help to get through a tough time. But banks, instead of working with their clients to turn lending into a win-win opportunity for both parties, are now choosing to abandon clients. Is this the kind of business partner you need? 

Banks have long-held a privileged position in our Monetary System. They are a vital link to the health of our economy and exercise tremendous power when it comes to economic expansion and contraction. However, with this power comes equally tremendous responsibility and accountability. Without these, chaos and abuse is allowed to reign and good, hard-working Americans end up paying the price.  

In one egregious case, a client of mine with a 10-year history as a private banking client with Dollar Bank, who was also a strong referral source for the bank and a commercial property client, was promptly given her walking papers in a less than ceremonious manner.  With her permission, here is her story followed by tips on how you can avoid being blindsided by your banking institutions. 

In the previous 8 years of her relationship with Dollar Bank, my client had no personal debt of any kind. The mortgage on her home had been paid off many years prior. Two months ago she and her spouse purchased a new home with a 70% down payment. They have never been late on any of their loans. Their two commercial properties maintain 95% and 82% occupancy respectively, and generate positive cash flow. They maintain 50% equity in one property and 35% in the other. 

This is where the story gets interesting. While neither she nor her spouse had any personal debt, my client had two business lines of credit with Cognovit provisions. This is a type of note whereby automatic judgment is for the bank with no trial or arbitration period to learn the facts should you default on the note. There is an immediate presumption of guilt since the bank is the judge and jury if you are deemed by them to be in default. 

The one note was a $100,000 line of credit which was used for a business venture two years ago. No principle was ever paid to date because of the startup nature of the one business. The other note was a business line that was used over the last 5 year period to help my client build and market her business which resulted in her business receiving   coveted awards for business growth from a local business leadership organization for several consecutive years. The business line of credit fluctuated from zero to $100,000 throughout the 5 year period. 

Last quarter she paid $40,000 on that line which is now at $60,000.  She also took a significant pay reduction in 2009 to prevent laying off any employees. Instead of taking this excess profit as salary recoupment, she paid 40% of her business indebtedness to Dollar Bank. 

Several weeks ago, she was asked to attend a “relationship meeting” with her relationship manager and the head of private banking for Dollar Bank in Cleveland. Dollar Bank was concerned about the outstanding $100,000 line that had never received a principle payment. The client agreed to term it out over 20 years (making principal and interest payments). However, the head of private banking refused these terms and demanded an immediate $35,000 payment plus collateral in the client’s new home. 

My client responded, stating that she would never use personal assets to secure business assets.  Hence, she had a $100,000 personal line she never used even when times were tough on her business. 

Apparently, this enraged the private bank head and he told my client that she was not making wise decisions with her money. Instead of getting into a heated discussion—or listening to any additional unfounded insults that might be flung her way—my client abruptly ended the meeting. According to my client, her relationship manager sat there for the duration of the meeting, never speaking a word.

In a recent segment of the “Glen Beck Show” on FOX (Fox Cable News) was the following:  

“Today, even though President Obama is against off shore drilling for our country, he signed an executive order to loan 2 Billion of our taxpayers dollars to a Brazilian Oil Exploration Company (which is the 8th largest company in the entire world) to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil! The oil that comes from this operation is for the sole purpose and use of China   and NOT THE USA! Now here’s the real clincher…the Chinese government is under contract to purchase all the oil that this oil field will produce, which is hundreds of millions of barrels of oil”. 

What do we have to gain from this transaction? Wait, it gets more interesting. 

Guess who is the largest individual stockholder of this Brazilian Oil Company? It is American BILLIONAIRE, George Soros, who was one of President Obama’s most generous financial supporters during his campaign. 

Can you now begin to connect the dots and follow the money?  Not a word of this transaction was broadcast on any of the other news networks!  Maybe there is some truth that the Press (TV, Radio, Internet and Newspapers) can help elect a President.

So, to support their ferocious appetite for spending, the government has, through the years, quickly implemented numerous “stealth taxes” or hidden taxes that quietly empty your pocketbooks. The following poem reminds me of our plight:

The Tax Foundation estimates Tax Freedom Day for the average American will be April 13th. What is yours? 

    Tax his land, tax his bed,
    Tax the table at which he’s fed.

    Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
    Teach him taxes are the rule.

    Tax his cow, tax his goat,
    Tax his pants, tax his coat.

    Tax his ties, tax his shirt,
    Tax his work, tax his dirt.

    Tax his tobacco, tax his drink,
    Tax him if he tries to think.

    Tax his cigars, tax his beers,
    If he cries, then tax his tears.

    Tax his car, tax his gas,
    Find other ways to tax his ass.

    Tax all he has, then let him know,
    That you won’t be done till he has no dough.

    When he screams and hollers, then tax him some more,
    Tax him till He’s good and sore.

    Then tax his coffin, tax his grave,
    Tax the sod in which he’s laid.

    Put these words upon his tomb,
    “Taxes drove me to my doom…”

    When he’s gone, do not relax,
    It’s time to apply the inheritance tax. 

I challenge each one of you hard working Americans to figure out how much of the year you have to work just to live in this country before each dollar you make you can actually keep?  

    Accounts Receivable Tax 

    Alternative Minimum Tax
    Building Permit Tax
    CDL license Tax
    Cigarette Tax
    Corporate Income Tax
    Dog License Tax
    Estate tax
    Excise Taxes
    Federal Income Tax
    Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
    Fishing License Tax
    Food License Tax
    Fuel Permit Tax
    Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
    Gross Receipts Tax
    Hunting License Tax
    Inheritance Tax
    Inventory Tax
    IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
    Liquor Tax
    Luxury Taxes
    Marriage License Tax
    Medicare Tax
    Personal Property Tax
    Probate Tax
    Property Tax
    Real Estate Tax
    Sales Tax
    Service Charge Tax
    Social Security Tax
    State Income Tax
    Road Usage Tax
    Sales Tax
    Recreational Vehicle Tax
    School Tax
    State Income Tax
    State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
    Telephone Federal Excise Tax
    Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
    Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
    Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
    Telephone Recurring and Non-Recurring Charges Tax
    Telephone State and Local Tax
    Telephone Usage Charge Tax
    Utility Taxes
    Vehicle License Registration Tax
    Vehicle Sales Tax
    Watercraft Registration Tax
    Well Permit Tax
    Workers Compensation Tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. The cost of complacency is very high.

Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what theirjourney is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment.13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously.. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her
mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problemsare simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebraclass but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change…
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.37. The best is yet to come…
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

40. Sew the seeds you choose to reap