>> Like I said in THE RANT , I just watched a news story about elderly people who had set up their retirement based on what they knew 30 years ago. When they first retired they were pretty well off. But no one told them 30 years ago that bread was going to be $3.50 a loaf, milk was going to be $4.00 a gallon, gas was going to be $5.00 a gallon, fuel oil to heat their houses was going to be $5.00 a gallon. The cost of everything keeps going up but their retirement doesn't.

Now, the comfortable retirement they set up isn't enough. Some have to go back to work. Some cut out going to visit friends because it costs too much.

>> We now have a new President. He seems sincere about changing things for the better. Maybe he and the congress will become real pals and work together to make it better. Maybe. But, so far, much to Mr. Obama's chagrin I'm sure, all they are doing is bickering just like they always do. Change in Washington? Bah, humbug! You and I are struggling and the economy is tanking and all they can ever do is play politics.

But, since this page is called In the News I have news for you. We were told this problem was caused by unscrupulous people and foreign investors and greedy speculators. So what do you think? Do you think that since the Bailout Package has gone into place they went away now?

And you know what they are doing right now? They are trying to figure out exactly how to get their hands on every cent of that $700 billion dollars. They are not just trying to live their little lives like you and me. They are planning how to get richer and richer and richer. They are planning how to do that by getting as much of your money as they can and hopefully getting away with it like they did before. YOU don't have as much power in the government as they do, I guarantee it. You don't have the ear of each congressman in Washington. THEY DO.

>>>> I watched all the Sunday shows a few weekends ago. All the people were talking about the new 'stimulus' package that went into effect. As I understood it the benefits are many. People under a certain income level will start seeing $13.00 a week in their paycheck from lower taxes. (Actually, the income level was $250 thousand a year. So the people making $30 thousand a year will now get an extra $52 a month. That should make them almost has happy as those who make $250 thousand a year.) People who have no jobs and, therefore, no paycheck .... they get nothing.

The second thing I heard was that people who buy a new car will be able to deduct the state and local taxes from their income taxes this year. Seems good except that with the economy the way it is I'm not sure many people will be able to buy new cars.

The third thing I heard was people who are buying their first house will be able to take a $1400.00 tax break this year. Good for them. Anyone who has already bought a house before, sorry, you get nothing.

I also heard that taxes for some businesses are going to be lowered. AND the unemployment benefits are going to be extended an extra 20 weeks. Now I know that unemployment benefits are paid, at least in part, buy the taxes levied on businesses. So, I wonder how they are going to pay for extended benefits if they are lowering the taxes.

In fact, the one thing I never heard even one person say is where they are going to get the money for all this. I wonder if they are going to borrow it from another country again.

I AM WATCHING THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS THIS TUESDAY NIGHT. THEY SAID THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO ASK JAPAN TO BUY MORE OF OUR DEBT. YES THEY ARE BORROWING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AGAIN. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! AND YOU THINK THIS WEBSITE IS SCARY?

>>>>> Tax day Americans went out and protested with Tea Parties. It would have been great if they were all protesting for the same thing. But some were protesting for lower taxes and some were protesting to keep the taxes so we wouldn't have to cut programs that help people. What the heck are our elected officials supposed to do? WE THE PEOPLE can't even agree on what we want, how is Congress supposed to?

So you know what they will really do? They will continue to listen to the special interest groups who are not out on the street protesting but are in the congressman's offices promoting their own agendas while agreeing to keep the guy in office. Make-a-List giving is not about special interests - it is about WE THE PEOPLE who can ALL agree that we need extra money to help us pay our bills - or buy food if we have lost our jobs.

>>>>> Another thing I keep hearing is not in the news. I keep hearing people say, "Why don't they just give the money to all the people and let us pay off our debts?" I think that is a great idea - AND - I believe it is exactly what we need to solve the economic crisis. BUT ... The fact is you know as well as I do that the government is NEVER going to do that. It is just a bunch of worthless talk for people to say it. BUT THIS WEBSITE IS ALL ABOUT DOING EXACTLY THAT....GIVING MONEY TO THE PEOPLE. Leave the government right out of it and do it ourselves. The question is...are YOU willing to do what little it would take to make that happen? Quit gripin' about it; quit yappin' about it; don't waste your protest on it; BE A GIVER AND PASS THE WORD.

When I opened the Giving Pool account at the bank last November I spoke to the teller about a news story I heard recently. It said that the State of Vermont had decided to double the heat benefit for low income families to help out with fuel bills. I told her I expected that my wife and I didn't qualify for that heat benefit because our incomes were too high. She said we didn't. Then I told her that the cost of our heat goes up too. Our budget doesn't provide for the extra cost of heat so it hits us hard too. I asked, "Who is out there to help US ? We are honest people, we work hard. We pay our taxes. Who is there to help people like US ?"

She said, "No one." I said, "That's right, no one. And THAT is why I have opened this account. To help the people who have no one there to help them."

The new President will talk to congress about how to help make the lives of Americans better. But he has a lot of other things to think about too; the economy, the wars, global warming, terrorism. I am only thinking about one thing; and that is putting extra money directly into your pocket -- just giving it to you -- HERE -- HAVE IT -- HOPE IT HELPS YOU.

IT HAS ALREADY BEGUN! THE QUESTION IS NOT WILL THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING, THE QUESTION IS WHEN WILL YOU BECOME A GIVER AND GO ON MY LIST?