Economics & Racing Beyond Our Means

[Dick Butler]

Being a physician trained in the 60s I have had my share of ups and downs financially. I graduated without a single course in " how to make money" How to keep money" or what to do with money. I was lucky I only did what I could pay for when it came to everything including racing.I had financed all my education so it took a while to repay.I learned about business of money as I went.
Yesterday I visited a Opthmology school with our son. I was impressed, oh yes they had equipment, they had personel but the big impressive point was they started first year of the four year school with personal finance, business investing, how to evaluate a medical practice, and how to create a financially secure future with stock and investing. These classes are part of the required courses for four years. What an improvement. WE ALL NEED EDUCATION on money issues.
I know many people are in the same boat. No education on how to save wisely, understand medical costs, how to get better educations.It should be required to leave highschool even if you are quitting school.
It does start at home. My parents were wonderful but my Grandparents and uncles personally discussed the future goals for me and what I wanted to be in the future and encouraged me to move up the ladder in education for my family and the future.I am extremely lucky to have had encouragement but I pushed for opportunities also.
It is then dependent on the education system to provide open doors for us to attain these goals. In many states people vote against money for education, allow their children to give up school, roam the streets. That becomes a cultural issue.We need to take responsibility. We need to encourage our families to excell, to move ahead. It has been said our generation is the great generation and unless we encourage greatness from our families our country will not continue to be the greatest country on the planet.Other countries are hungrier for money, food and EDUCATION>
Greatness of our country is at stake now. We need to work together to educate ourselves on good practices and reasonable expectations and motivation of our children for tomorrow. These are the "changes" we need . Personal changes and family changes which will translate to national changes and recapturing the greatness of our country.

[Dave Cook]

By the way, it took me 27 years to get my "race car", I collected the first part for it in 1967 or so.....
It was almost totally built from dumpster meat, but I had no payments, on anything, before I went racing. The car itself was my $38 invested daily driver for over 5 years. Once it started getting used for a shop loaner/parts chaser, I started in on it for a Saturday night beater.

[sc321]

I have had the pleasure of working for a Japanense auto transplant company for 18 years, know before many of you start hating me please take a few minutes to read my view. For many decades we as Americans have been living high on the hog without much effort. Workiing for a Japanense company for this amount of time I have seen very big changes and not for the good. When I started their were many Japanense visuable at the plant, with their decrease so has the majority of our work ethic. The Japanense people have a much higher work ethic then we do ( I have seen this during a trip to Japan). I have seen our company become westernized just like so many others, work force wants more and more without giving anything back. What has happened to an honest 8 hours work for and good pay. We pay associates $160 extra a month to show up for work each day, but still people use the system of family leave or bogus medical leave to get out of work. We as a society need to wake up, like someone pointed out others around the world are more willing to bust their *** then we are.

[Jack McCarthy]

observations from this post...

first of all ive raced same car for 28 years, tow with a 91 suburban open trailer and a tent...

1. jeff's right everyone should be responsible for thier own debt...however we will see your and my tax dollars used by our government to bail them all out here soon... BS
2. sign me up for the revolution to overthrow the government...i dont mind the taxes... it is how they spend it that kills me each and every day.
3. fuel costs have affected my schedule already, missed my 1st ever patscajunnationals
4. economics should be a prequisite for high school diploma

with two kids one in college one in private high school and NO CHILD SUPPORT...
i can barely afford to do anything... but a few times a year i get to race !!!

good news... i own 53% of my house and total credit card (& other debts) is currently under $200

jack

and the indexes are so easy i can still go -1.00 ( just had to get that in )

Jack,

You hit the nail on the head. Thank you for such an outstanding reflection on what we "all" need to be taking care of.

Vote Ron Paul this year for the Revolution you want to sign up for.

[Bruce Noland]

Very early in life I learned that cash makes no enemies; or bill collectors. Yes, we still need credit for our homes and other big ticket items.

Drag racers are not the only crazies out there. I have a friend who has loaded his plastic by taking high dollar golf trips. He's spending tens of thousands of dollars each year on these trips. I think he's out of his mind. Another friend has gone crazy over Harley Davidson bikes. He has three of them and "thinking" about buying another one. And don't forget the high dollar fishing and hunting camps. The list is endless. To each his own - but be careful.

Our economy is swirling around the edge of a black hole and I really hope that we can turn this thing around before we are sucked in.

[63corvette]

Government Regulation is NEVER THE ANSWER TO ANY PROBLEM!!!!!!!
If the Government Local, State and Federal was a business they would be out of business in a short period of time. Too inefficient!!!!!!
One of the other posts has it right on Politicians also. Most are only interested in election or re-election.
It should not be whether it is Republician or Democratic issue it should whether it is the right thing to do for the COUNTRY AS A WHOLE!!!
It should never be a Red or Blue State Issue it should be a Right Thing Issue.
That is why Congress can't get anything done.
Far To Many Full Time Politicians Who Just Don't Get It!!!
The US really does need a 3rd Political Party. The Party Of The People and THEIR BUSINESS.
Far To Much Money Being Handed Over To Politicians UNDER THE TABLE.
Just take a look at how much money Bill Clinton made for doing not much of anything since leaving the White House. Bush will be doing the same thing soon. Taking money for any influence he might have after leaving the White House.
This Presidental election is the first one I may not vote in for over 40 years. I just do not see a canidate worthy of my vote. I would vote if there was a box for NONE OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!!
Just My 2 Cents

Bruce,
All you need to understand in our economy is the origin of the "Federal Reserve". Search it, and then research it. Please,for the sake of all that is still good, understand the beast we are all fighting against.

The Federal Reserve.. KNOW YOUR ENEMY!

[Lynn A McCarty]

The top 4% wage earners pays 96% of all taxes collected. 4% total for the rest of us.(until the 2001 tax cut) So your vote depends almost as much as your personal finances do this time around towards racing expenditures. Most of us will get hit very hard if the alternative tax is re initiated like in the 1990's.

Lynn

[Bruce Noland]

Jason,

I know the deal about the Federal Reserve.

When we break down our current economic problems we will find the route causes to be greed and abuse of power. Nothing new! Painful lessons are never etched in stone. Humans have been repeating these errors since the beginning of time. Sex came first, then physical control came second, gold/resources was third, spiritual control was fourth and now we have all four at the same time; also known as the megamutha. We may go down but we will eventually get back up to complete the cycle.

Ain't nuth'n blow'n in the wind cept for cold hard cash. Dylan's truth.