Thanks Uncle Sam

I am a retiree living the good life at the expense of the government - of course I did contribute to the Social Security System for over 50 years, so I guess they owe me a few bucks. It was announced recently that the annual Social Security benefit for retirees would increase 2.3% next year. For the average retiree this amounts to a $24/month increase in 2008. Unfortunately, those of us that are fortunate and have our own retirement fund, must pay "income tax" on half of that. Thanks Uncle Sam.

Let's put this in perspective - at today's prices this amounts to an additional 8 gallons of gas each month next year, three movie tickets, or a good bottle of wine each month, for the average retiree (assuming we don't see any price increases in our groceries, utilities, etc.). I feel sorry for the smokers, it will not even buy an additional carton of cigarettes each month - of course, most of them are probably dead by the time they retire (and Uncle Sam thanks them for their lifetime contribution to the Social Security Fund).

As someone that earned a nice salary for several years before retirement, I am one of the lucky ones, and my retirement income increase will be a whopping $30 a month in 2008. So with this additional income, my wife and I are already looking at cruise brochures. With this huge increase we are contemplating several cruises - possibly the tour boat at Morro Bay, the Bahia Belle on Mission Bay, or maybe even a special trip to Catalina Island for the day.

Forty million baby boomers are scheduled to retire in the next 15 years and they look forward to their "free" monthly retirement income.

The Social Security Fund earns an interest rate of 2.5%, a "spectacular" return managed by our brilliant Congress. In addition, Social Security revenues were supposed to be kept in a Trust Fund...surprise everyone - Congress has spent the money! George Bush recently proposed a system which would include voluntary Social Security private accounts that could increase this return by two or three times, but the Congress felt it was too "risky". They certainly have our best interest in mind, don't they? Of course they ignore the fact that there is no way the Fund as it's now structured, can support forty million retirees.

But it is not the retirees worry - it is on the back of our kids and grand kids. Yes kids, you need to start thinking of 60 hour work weeks and a retirement age of 70, that's what it will take to support us. So the politicians just "kick the can" down the road, and rather than "face the music", will defer the problem to some Congress in the future. Why not, it's too difficult of a problem to face right now, and if they tell people how bad the financial situation in the Social Security System really is, they might not get re-elected, which of course is the most important thing to them.

Anyway, I want to thank Uncle Sam for this generous retirement increase and cannot wait until Hillary becomes President, so in addition, we can get free health care, a $5000 gift for new children, a $1000 contribution to the 401K for everyone, paid leave from work...hey, wait a minute, why is she not doing anything for us retirees? We already have "free" health care, and we have contributed to our 401K's for many years. I think this is age discrimination! If Hillary cannot promise us retirees something "free", I'm voting Republican.

It's the Fruit Stupid

I am a winemaker. Well...a home winemaker.

As we end the wine making season and put this years wines to bed, it reminds me that the unsung heroes in the wine business are the growers - the people that grow the fruit that allow us Californians to make world class wine. In retirement, my hobby is both viticulture and wine making so I straddle "both sides of the fence" (eight foot deer fence that is). We grow small amounts of both Pinot Noir and Viognier, and in addition to making these wines, from time to time we buy fruit or get free fruit from generous grower friends.

Those that are "into wine" know that the winemakers are the heroes - especially if their wine is rated a 90+ in the Wine Spectator. When that happens we celebrate the winemaker and put him on a pedestal. And quite often they deserve it.

I have been making wine for only five years, so admittedly I am a novice. But I have never forgotten something I read once: "It's impossible to make good wine from bad grapes, but easy to make bad wine from good grapes". I know many people will disagree, but in my opinion, the fruit represents 75% of the quality of the wine, and sometimes the winemakers job is not to screw it up. Wine making in many ways is an art and good winemakers deserve the accolades, but if the fruit they start with is not good...good luck!

The grape grower nurtures his vines all year, worrying about water in a drought year, mildew and bunch rot in a wet year. And then there are pests - birds, bees, gophers, squirrels, raccoons, grasshoppers.....and a few exotic ones that can wipe out a vineyard. Then the grower has to prune each year, fertilize, spray for mildew and other diseases, thin leaves, then worry about birds eating his fruit, and finally finding someone to pick...and oh yes, hopefully he has found someone too buy the fruit.

So I salute the grower.
In politics, the favorite saying is "It's the economy stupid".
In wine making it should be, "It's the fruit stupid"

I want to be a Democrat

I have been a Conservative Republican all of my life, but after watching Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail, I have decided to become a Democrat.

Throughout my life, I have paid for my own health insurance, saved for my own retirement, paid my way through college, and along comes this wonderful politician that offers much of it for free. If she had come along when I was in my 20's , I would be writing this as a life long Democrat.

Hillary is proposing that every newborn baby be given a free $5000 gift from the government to be used for college, upon reaching age 18...or the funds could also be used to buy a house. We have six children and six grandchildren, and have helped many of them buy a house, and most of them with their college expenses. Now along comes a politician that proposes that the government help, or in some cases, pay all of these expenses. If she had only come along when we were younger!

Hillary is also offering all Americans government subsidized health care. After all these years of paying large insurance premiums, finally someone has come up with a solution - have the government pay most of it. Where was she when we were paying $800 a month for health insurance (with a 30% deductible). I am amazed that no one has thought of this before.

Hillary's latest proposal is a $1000 contribution from the government to all Americans to insure they start their own pension plan. We worked all our lives and saved to insure that we could live through retirement using our own finances, and now along comes this presidential candidate that offers much of it for free. Again, where was she when I was young? At least she will take care of our six children and six grandchildren. The idea is simple...unless you are "rich", the government gives you whatever you need...brilliant.

I am 68 years old and have worked hard all my life, and thought I was somewhat intelligent. But I am amazed that it never occurred to me that the solution to the struggles we all face in life are simple, turn to the government and ask them to pay. I have now decided to be a Democrat, and Hillary has my vote.