No. 147 – September 13, 2012

MEA CULPA

For awhile now I have been accused of “harping” on the same thing, “beating a dead horse” and other overly used cliches.  After some careful thought, I have to admit, you readers have a point.

I remember, when in training – both in the US Army and in university – one of the best methods of instruction was repeat, repeat and repeat.  Then repeat some more.  They call it rote memorization.  That brand of training saved my life – more than once.

As an added variation of another cliche:

I was screaming at the choir. 

That being said, I plead guilty.  My fault – and I apologize.

MENTAL INCONTINENCE

I suppose that my frustration comes from the fact that I have a lot of conversations with Liberal “thinkers” who really don’t think – beyond their own selfish, immediate interests.

And as soon as I say that, my Liberal friends puff up, fold their arms across their chests and start to go nuts – in every way possible – citing all the main-stream media bias and contempt for Conservatives and their way of thinking.

I believe that I have finally figured out this dilemma.  It is a form of MENTAL INCONTINENCE.

Incontinent:

adjective

1.  unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces

2.  unable to restrain or retain temper

3.  lacking in moderation or self-control

4.  unceasing or unrestrained: an incontinent flow of talk

Notice, when Liberals are on talk shows, they just talk over everybody else.  They bully, coerce and just try to manage the whole conversation.

Of course, some on the Right do exactly the same thing, notably Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly.

But the Left seems to have a real monopoly on this type of approach.  Barney Frank, Pelosi, Axelrod, Rham, Wasserman-Shultz, et al, immediately come to mind.

But trying to talk “over” them really does no good – and only exacerbates the situation.  Believe me, I have tried, and it does not work.

So here is my plan from this point on – and I suggest that you try it – and see what happens.

But first, remember this little maxim:

“If you don’t own the land – then you are just renting.”

And in this maxim lies the crux of all human condition.  LAND.

So here is what I have been doing with my Liberal friends of late, and for the most part, it stops them in their tracks.  Some have actually thanked me for taking the time to “share” this information.

First off, don’t tell them what they should know.  Better to ask them.

A very good friend of mine once said, “It is better to lead your opponent with a smile into the trap, instead of forcing him.”  Thanks, John.

Here is the first question.

“Which would you rather have, your own home – paid for – or would you rather rent?”

Of course, they will say, “I would rather own my own home.”  If they don’t admit this, then change the subject to football or American Idol.  You are talking to a complete moron.

If they answer correctly, then you ask them, “Do you rent or is your house paid off?”

If they are still renting, then you have a captive audience.  I would venture an uneducated guess that more Liberals rent, than own, their own homes.  At least, that has been my experience.

And, as a side note, most people whose homes are paid off are Conservative in nature.  That, too, has been my observation.

Now, you ask them, “If you want to own, but are still renting, why is that?”

And here is where the mental incontinence  will raise its ugly head.

My suggestion?  Let them spew out all their hatred, venom, mental sickness and blame onto everybody else – except themselves.  Let them”vent” as the Politically Correct advocates love to say.

Once they are done, and make sure you have let them drain it all out, then ask them the following questions:

What kind of car do you drive?  Is it paid for?

Do you have a flat screen TV?  It is paid for?

Do you smoke?

Do you drink alcohol?

Do you buy bottled water?  (Only complete idiots do this).

Are you out of debt?

How many vacations do you take a year?

How often do you eat out at restaurants?  Drink coffee at Starbucks?  Go to the movies?  Take a Sunday drive?

Go shopping?  Get your nails done?  Go to the beauty parlor?

REMEMBER:

The person who is asking the questions (that’s you) – is in control.

And no, this is not a control freak exercise.  It is a learning process.

Once you get to the last question, any logical thinking person will start to see what you are driving at.

Maybe it really is “my” fault.  If they have not come to this conclusion, then you are not doing it correctly.

The secret is:  Let them speak until they are completely FINISHED with every question.  Don’t interrupt.  Let them fully partake in the mental incontinence that they are so desperately laboring under.

WHAT DO I DO AFTER THAT?

Good question.

Then you can say, “Would you like to learn a good way to change your life?”  (Don’t worry, I am not selling Amway).

What I am trying to sell them on, is the Capitalist way of living.

But that way of living is the most difficult – yet provides for the MOST INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.

And now we come to the hard part – one that took me a long time to realize.

The best person to teach you – is yourself.

If the person that you are talking to is still receptive – and you have not blown up in their “blaming of others for their pitiful lot in life,” then you can actually HELP them see the LIGHT.

But first, you have to convince them to educate themselves.

BUT HOW DO I DO THAT?

By suggesting that they read the following publications:

The Wall Street Journal

Investor’s Business Daily

Barron’s Magazine (The weekend edition)

Yes, a yearly subscription on all three of these comes to about $500 combined.  (No, I am not selling subscriptions, only sharing some very important information).

At this point they will renege and say, “No way.  I can’t afford it.”

That is precisely what I said when a good friend suggested that I do the same thing.  And, at that time, I was 40 years old, still renting, teaching in Japan – and getting nowhere FAST.

The trick is, to convince the person that once they read these publications, start to take notes and understand the market – the subscription costs will come back to them ten-fold when they make their first trade.

FIRST TRADE?  YOU MEAN THE STOCK MARKET?

That is exactly what I mean.

And here is where you are going to get the most resistance.  I know.  I did the same thing.  It is a natural reaction.

The stock market is a “fool’s game.”  It is “rigged.”  Only “chumps” play the market.

Yes, I said all of the above.

That is how stupid and naive I was.

Remember, the first set of questions?  If you were able to get past them – and convince the person to start to save, instead of spend money on stupid things – then, by the time they are ready to make their initial investment – they will be fully prepared to make the first move – that will forever change the rest of their life.

That is what good friends do – they help others – to help themselves.  That is the essence of, what I like to refer to as FRIENDLY CAPITALISM.

If you have read this edition of The American Telegraph up to this point – without freaking out, or making up all sorts of excuses – then you have a chance to partake in the real Capitalist Beauty of the Stock Market.

And, as in the example above, you don’t have to be talking to a Liberal friend.  You just might be talking to yourself.

However, if you wave your arms, resort to complaining – and continue to live in the same rut that you perhaps find yourself in – then, my friend, you have no one else to blame – but YOURSELF.

I ask my readers for help all the time.  If you are interested, please let me know in the blog section as to whether I should continue this information and how it has affected my own life.  If you don’t think it is worthwhile for me to continue, I will stop this trend of thinking – and move on to more mundane, political commentary.

BUT, if you REALLY want to, at least, get a different perspective on how to make some reliable income, then please let me know.

One caveat:

I am not a business consultant.  I have no formal training in the investment field.  I am not advocating any type of stocks, bonds or securities to buy, sell or trade.  I am merely sharing a few thoughts that were passed on to me – by friends whose investment ideas have given me the opportunity to do what I have done in my life up to this point

Please let me know if this is a good subject.  If so, I will continue.  It only gets better from here.

I have a large number of stocks for you to consider, a couple of conservative option strategies, and some reliable, long range dividend stocks that have produced yearly payments – some for over 30 years.

And all of the information is FREE.  All you have to do is listen – and learn how to protect yourself – if, and when – Obama wins a second term.  Remember, there is 51% of the population that wants Conservatives to pay for their well-being.  This is one way to arm yourself for that, if it happens.  Prepare yourself now.

However, if you are not interested in this type of thinking – then please let me know – and I will change the subject.

Far be it for me to force anybody to live free – and retire in comfort.

THAT is a choice that you will have to make for yourself.

Hope to hear from you readers in the near future.

Best wishes,

Lawrence Klepinger
Editor / Publisher
THE AMERICAN TELEGRAPH