Today's Economy, as Explained by Candy Bars

For thirty-some years candy bars sold at a standard five cents each — but after President Nixon took the dollar off the gold standard in the early 70s, candy bars soared in price — incrementally — over the next 30 years.

In 1972 my then-$4 per hour wage earned me 80 candy bars an hour. Today's kids earning $8 an hour are lucky if they can buy 10 of these goodies.

In the late 1930s through the 1970s, comic books sold for 10-12 cents each.
Nowadays these things are going for $3-$5 each!
Whereas in 1972 I could buy 32 of these gems at my then-wage, today's kids working at comparable wages can only afford two.

Do the math, then apply this to today's necessities, such as homes, cars and essential services.
Economic recovery? The reality here is nuttier than the stories we've posted.

— Dick Kulpa, Publisher, Iudex Online

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Why This Economy Can't Be Fixed

Like that giant Venus Flytrap that just couldn't get enough in The Little Shop of Horrors, money continues to be thrown at the economy via so-called bailouts and stimulus packages as our $13.5 trillion national debt keeps on growing and growing (National Debt Clock)

What these Ivory-tower dwellers fail to grasp is this: costs — especially for essential services — have risen way beyond the means of most debt-laden wage-earners.

Disconcertingly, no "financial expert" I've spoken with during the past year disagrees, "This is definitely a 'War on the Middle Class,' " admitted one advisor.

Is 'Meltdown' the Biblical Beast? The monster flytrap cartoon got us to thinking. Is this gigantic economic crisis, fueled by greed, corruption excess — and evil — the Biblical "Beast" we've all heard about? Stay tuned. 2012 is right around the corner!

The only thing bailouts and stimulus infusions accomplish is to keep this skewed economic situation going, and sadly, the fat cats afloat. (Let's hope the latter wasn't their main purpose.)

Unless Americans suddenly get whopping raises — or if prices suddenly take a substantial nosedive — the economy cannot be fixed.

I have ideas as what should be done, but if I were that smart, I'd be rich and not having to sit here plunking a computer keyboard. However the economy gets turned around, it's going to take a great deal of resolve and effort. On everyone's part.

— Dick Kulpa, Publisher, IUDEXonline

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Today's New 'Red Menace' is Us!

According to House Banking Committee member Rep. Ron Paul (R) Texas, we're in hock to China to the tune of $2.5 TRILLION — and counting!

Concurrently, China is now testing a "Super carrier killer" missile designed to blow the U.S.S. Enterprise and other flattops to smithereens, enough to make "911" look like a cakewalk. In the face of this and other new threats, we're cutting our defense. Why? For one big reason, we owe too much to China!

Let's just hope the Chinese are using the same materials/manufacturing processes applied in all that defective home insulation they sold us.

Keep all this in mind next time you buy something "Made in China" — or outsource work to them. These folks are "bad noose!"

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Cartoons show how we are outsourcing ourselves into oblivion. Hit your browser's "back" button to return.

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We continue to deal with a country exporting leaded paint-laden merchandise, poisoned products, defective insulation and who knows what else. Our defense grid chronically endures Chinese cyber attacks, and the Chinese military continues to develop killer weaponry targeting "you-know-who." Our response? We willingly finance our "Chinese friends."

It's high time we stop doing business with the "still very much Communist" China. Common sense dictates this: If we cannot afford the defense againt their offensive weaponry, there is no sense in our continuing to finance their offensive weaponry.

Alas, the "New Red Menace" may well be our own "in the red" debt!

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'Bring Back Debtors' Prisons'

As consternation grows over rising unemployment, bankruptcies and foreclosures fueled by the ongoing Depression, an even bigger fear is emerging: Who's paying the bills?

"We're seeing lots more homeless people — as well as unemployed folks — wandering the streets," said a financial expert who declined to be identified.

"Obviously, some major financial institution is stacking up past due bills for many of these folks, and that needs to be addressed."

"The time has come for a return to 'debtors' prisons,'" he stated. "The way I see it, we should establish mini 'city-camps' around the country, throw all the riff-raff — er, distressed debtors — into them where they can work off their debts at minimum wage until they're paid in full. We'd build such a huge labor pool of talent and expertise that major companies would flock to us in droves looking for cheaper labor!

"Call it a 'mini-purgatory', he added, "it's better than living in bill-collection Hell!"

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New World Problem: American Immigrants

America isn't the only country dealing with an influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal. South America, Europe and Asia are all reporting upswings in immigration. The problem is, many of these immigrants are unemployed Americans fleeing the United States, looking for work with companies outsourced to by American firms!