Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 to 2005

Its all talk, the normal American family is struggling more this week than last and I am sure it will continue to get worse. The news of the stimulus arriving early has Americans anxious to get some extra money in their pockets probably to just pay their bills. On Monday Boiled Over had a large amount of traffic from people searching when they would get their check.

Gas is now at $3.75 a gallon and groceries went up again this week. We feel like we are working only to eat and put gas in the car to get to work. “Working for Nothing”

I found this from an article on Ajc.com

McCain and Democratic hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton have said they favor suspending the federal excise tax on gasoline through the summer driving season.

Clinton’s Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, has said suspending the tax – 18.4 cents per gallon – would save consumers barely enough to buy half a tank of gas, belittling the idea as a band-aid approach to the larger issue of energy security.

This may only be a band-aid approach, but every little bit counts at this point. We all know that something must be done about our dependence on oil, but realistically it will take many years to enact any energy plan. We need help NOW, TODAY! If all you have is a band-aid, as long as its free I’ll take it!

As the American people take two steps back a day, the politicians are playing the blame game and getting nothing done.

A headline this week that about made me fall out of my chair:

Bush Calls on Congress to Help the American People

Yeah ok weren’t you the jerk that got us in this mess in the first place? Eight years of his administration running this country and people are loosing their homes, can’t pay for a tank of gas and now there’s talk of a possible food crisis……oh boy we’re in for the long haul.

So for a little humor and to put a smile on everyone’s face I am posting an email I received from a friend. I wish I knew who wrote it so I could give them the proper credit…Enjoy!

Dear Internal Revenue Service:

Enclosed you will find my 2008 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes.

Please note the attached article from the USA Today newspaper; dated 12 November, wherein you will see the Pentagon (Department of Defense) is paying $171.50 per hammer and NASA has paid $600.00 per toilet seat.

I am enclosing four (4) toilet seats (valued @ $2,400) and six (6) hammers valued @ $1,029), which I secured at Home Depot, bringing my total remittance to $3,429.00.

Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the “Presidential Election Fund,” as noted on my return.

You can do this inexpensively by sending them one 1.5″ Phillips Head screw (see aforementioned article from USA Today newspaper detailing how H.U.D. pays $22.00 each for 1.5″ Phillips Head Screws).

One screw is enclosed for your convenience.

It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely,

A Satisfied Taxpayer

Then when he is asked about the prospect of the price of gas reaching $4 a gallon 

Bush says

“That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that. … I know it’s high now.”

OK so where has this guy been while he is presumably running this country? He obviously has no idea about the increased cost to live on a DAILY basis as our American jobs continue to be outsourced to other countries.

Like I have said before the unemployment rate in our state is over 7%, the price of gas this week is $3.17 a gallon, and industrial plants are closing left and right. If our President thinks that any person in this state is going to be able to spend their “stimulus rebate” on fun stuff, HE’S CRAZY! The people of Michigan will be trying to save themselves from foreclosure, try to keep their cars so they can get to work, and if there is any money left over it will go to our local utility company for our extremely high heating bills this year.

CNN just ran a story about the astronomical rise in food prices this year. It stated that the average price of milk has rose 17.7%, eggs 34.7%, bread 5.7% and wheat is up over $12 a bushel.

Let’s break that down in real terms…

In the past year milk is $1 more a gallon, we purchase 6 gallons a week (growing boys), that’s an additional $312 a year.

Eggs are up approximately $1 also, we only purchase 1 dozen a week (thankfully), that’s an additional $52 a year.

Instead of bread I am going to use cereal, which I know has risen at least $1 this year. We purchase 5 boxes a week, that’s an additional $260 a year.

Add that up and it is an additional $624 on just milk, eggs and cereal!

I guess I should mention that my husband is an Ironworker and commutes to work everyday, which depending on the gas price is anywhere between $150 – $200 a week! (average $9000 a year) So how is $1200 going to help us? It was our money to begin with!

This is happening to Americans across the country, and it is absurd for our President to try to pull the wool over our eyes by calling this a “slowdown”.

With the candidates running in the upcoming election ….it doesn’t look like it is going to get much better anytime soon.

UPDATE:

This picture was posted on The Fox News home page this morning!

George Bush will be eating crow for breakfast!

Drivers in San Mateo, Calif., shell out more than $4 a gallon for gasoline, as crude oil prices extend their march into record territory, hitting $103 a barrel.

Read About It - Oil Surges to Record Above $103 as Dollar Weakens