Steve Hoffacker's Active Rain Blog

Tell Us How This Is Possible

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:28:38 -0600

We need specifics not rhetoric. I don't like the health care bills being discussed in Congress, don't want them (along with the majority of Americans if we are to believe polling data), and feel they are quite injurious to the country's economy. But that's me.

Harry Reid feels and says otherwise. According to his speech on the Senate floor today, the health care bill is a virtual pancea for many of our country's issues, and he closed with "it will reduce the debt." I think we need some specifics here.

How can we spend over a trillion dollars on this massive program, raise taxes on most Americans to partially fund it (in direct contradiction to Obama's campaign promise), and borrow a half-trillion from an already failing pre-bankrupt Medicare program and say that this program will reduce the debt?

I have a much better, more economically sound way to reduce the debt - don't enact any of this. That will definitely have a deficit-neutral impact on the budget. It won't actually reduce it, but it won't allow it to grow either. In government terms that is a huge savings.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Motivational Monday - "Multi-Tasking"

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:45:40 -0600

As we see in this beautiful milkweed plant, there are blossoms ready to open, some in full bloom, an open seed pod ready to dispatch its silky seeds, and ants looking for food. Quite a productive plant. Nevermind that this is a favorite of monarch butterflies.

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Photography displayed is original composition and artistic expression of Steve Hoffacker, and as such is copyrighted. Photos are in their original digital image state and have not been cropped, edited, or enhanced in anyway.

Everything We Never Wanted , But May Get Anyway

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:54:16 -0600

The Senate is now debating a lousy health care bill. It has nothing that people want and plenty that we don't.

Don't just take my word for it. A recent Gallup poll reports more Americans (all Americans - not just registered or likely voters) are now opposed to the health care bill than ever were for it at the height of it popularity.

Here's some of what the bill promises: higher taxes, higher premiums, and less choice.

It still leaves somewhere between 12-30 million people uninsured. It will result in rationed care and in government restrictions on what's covered (remember the mammogram study released last week).

Most of all, it does nothing to stimulate competition. If we were free to choose any of the 1,500 companies offering health insurance, it would look like Black Friday with advertised specials constantly flooding our inboxes.

This bill has been bad from the start - the entire concept, regardless of which of the many versions you look at. Now, it's getting even more onerous.

We never wanted this, it's bad for America, and it does nothing to solve what it purports to do. This is simply an attempted power grab of colossal proportions by the Congress and the President.

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Not Enough To Go Around

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:06:17 -0600

Take the recent Black Friday shopping experience - good for some, disappointing for most.

Many people camped out for hours - in the chilly temperatures - in lawn chairs and sleeping bags just to be one of the hundreds in line for the 4:00 or 5:00 store opening.

And for what? To be able to save substantially on that one "must have" item that the store had maybe one or two of - and hundreds of people thinking they would be lucky enough to get it? Most of those items were long gone before much of the crowd even got through the door.

In fact, the people standing near the back of the line would probably done just asa well to have gone home and save the time it would have taken to finally get into the store and then realize their disappointment at everything being gone that was a featured sale item.

As a marketing ploy to draw traffic, this is classic. However, for the shooppers who planned on getting the great bargains, it's more like the lottery or getting the golden ticket.

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Speechless Sunday - "Late Afternoon Visitor"

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:34:43 -0600

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Silent Saturday - "Pretty Purple"

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:04:36 -0600

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Friday's Fotos - "Christmas Cactus To Kickoff The Season"

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:18:05 -0600

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There Oughta Be A Law

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:30:59 -0600

There oughta be a law banning this or that - and many times there is.

As more and more jurisdictions are passing laws banning the use of cellphones (or at least holding in your hand while using on it) for calls, texting, or emailing while driving, we need to ask ourselves if they have gone far enough.

There are so many other unregulated activites that could cause a driver's attention to wander.

We should prohibit listening to the radio, adjusting stations, playing CDs on the built-in player or portable device, talking with passengers, daydreaming, singing, putting on lipstick, using an electric razor, playing the guitar, eating a hamburger, drinking a softdrink or coffee, chewing gum, looking at billboards, thinking about the appointment we are driving to, and anything else that distracts us from our driving.

Now that I think about it, we probably should ban driving altogether.

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Black Friday Has Morphed

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:37:08 -0600

No need to camp out all night to be first in line at your favorite retailer for their Black Friday doorbuster sale that starts at 4:00, 4:30 or 5:00 am. Your can if you want, but there's no need.

Retailers have gotten the internet marketing bug and have been sending out emails with many of their specials all during this week. I've already succumbed to some pretty special deals. You can either buy online for delivery or you could have visited the store yesterday or today (for those that are open).

When retailers need to generate business, where do they turn? Obviously, the internet. Oh, the newspapers still got some ad business, but I'm betting the emails are going to save this holiday shopping season - if anything is.

Another reason to be active online.

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Thankful Thursdays - "Talents"

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:33:28 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving! Among our many blessings, we should be thankful for our God-given abilities and talents and how we use them in our own special way to make a significant difference in the world around us.

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Wordless Wednesday - "Looking For A Home"

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:35:19 -0600

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Partway Is Not Acceptable

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:41:32 -0600

In many things that we do, a half-hearted or partial effort just doesn't get it done. We don't almost make a sale and get paid for it, we don't almost stop at the traffic light and not expect that someone might hit us, we don't almost keep our cars under the speed limit and not expect a ticket, we don't almost show up on time for an appointment by not allowing sufficient time to get there, and we don't win a war by not being all-in.

In Texas Hold-Em, there is "all-in" where you put everything you have into the game in an attempt to win. You either win the hand or you lose the game, but you committed everything on the belief that your hand was good enough to win or that you could bluff your opponent into thinking so.

Today a lot of the country is going to the airport and flying someplace to be with family. Do you think that the pilots are sitting up there in the cockpit on takeoff saying to themselves "I wonder what is the least amount of throttle we can use and still manage to takeoff"? Or do you think they are using full, maximum power?

Now, we are embroiled in the war in Afghanistan (little "w" because it is not a decalred war). We are in danger of losing and coming home. McChyrstal, under a direct order from the Commander-in-Chief and his superior officer, prepared an assessment of what it would take to pursue the war to a succcessful outcome. McChrystal reported - back in August - that he needed 40,000 troops within a year to do it.

So, what does the President do? We don't know for sure other than the foot-dragging-procrasnitating-putting-our troops-at-unnnecessary-risk strategy, but it has been leaked and speculated that the President will finally announce next Tuesday - 90 days after he originally received McChystal's report - that he intends to hold back and not go "all-in." He wants to see what 32-35,000 troops (not 40,000) phased in over two years (rather than one) will do. By the way, he says he is committed to the effort and will not accept defeat. Funny way of showing it.

Mr. President, it's time to go all-in. The enemy just might be bluffing.

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There's Gold In Them There Commercials

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:07:52 -0600

OK, so there's a huge unemployment in this country, housing prices have declined, new numbers just today on how many people are under water in their homes, and threats of increased taxation everywhere we turn. So we're supposed to speculate in the gold market?

Commercials for gold have now seized the television airwaves. I've seen so many in an hour - even repeats - that I've lost count, and there have to be more than 10 different people pitching the gold investment. They make it seem that it's a sure thing. Obviously it isn't or they wouldn't be tag-teaming us.

Talk about your bad timing.

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Motivational Monday - "Bountiful"

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:32:55 -0600

Just like this gorgeous tropical fountain, our lives are rich to the point of overflowing and we should be thankful for those opportunities. Happy Thanksgiving.

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Congratulations Team 48

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:27:21 -0600

Jimmie Johnson drove his Lowe's Chevrolet into the NASCAR history books tonight by winning his 4th consecutive series championship. This was a first. No other driver in the 61-year history of NASCAR has ever done this before tonight.

There have been many notable drivers in the sport's history. However, they never accomplished this feat.

Chad Knaus, Rick Hendrick, Jimmie, and the entire team have accomplished the phenomenal.

By the way, Jimmie just completed his 8th season - meaning he has been the champion for half of his career.

They have figured out how to win in a sport that is extremely competitive and full of excellent drivers.

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Speechless Sundays - "Survivors"

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:28:00 -0600

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What This Country Needs

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:02:24 -0600

What this country needs right now is men and women of conscience, integrity, and conviction - in the Congress of the United States.

When Nancy Polosi and her warriors approach you and threaten you - or conversely promise you and your district the world if you vote her way - it's time to stand your ground and say "no." If you don't like her leadership, vote her out. You are not beholding to her. You should maintain your integrity and vote the will of your constituents.

This is not a popularity contest. She didn't elect you. Sure, peer pressure can make your day-to-day activities on the Hill a little less pleasant than just going along, but by maintaining a personal code and standing your ground, you may well outserve her and the others who cave to her every wish.

In the Senate, it is no different except that there are fewer of you. That's why you need to maintain your own standards. It's easier for us to track 100 than it is 435.

We need people to stand up not stand down. Why vote against what you really believe just to look like a team player or to scratch someone else's itch? If you don't agree with a bill, if you don't like the way the leadership is handling something, if you think the American people are getting a raw deal, speak out.

That we will respect - and even applaud.

Don't count on Americans forgetting the way they used to and just reelecting you anyway. With social media being what it is, we will remember and discuss your mis-steps.

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I Don't Get It

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:55:58 -0600

Here's what I don't get. I don't get how the US Senate can be bullied into taking action on a measure that the public doesn't want just because Harry Reid wants them to.

They just voted to begin debate on the health care bill - the Senate's version, that is. Make that Harry Reid's version. To come to this point, 60 members of the 100 had to vote to begin debate. Otherwise it would have failed. To me it should have been allowed to fail.

This is not about health care reform or health care insurance reform. It is about the the current bill and the way we are being manipulated.

Harry Reid - following Nancy Peolsi's example - armtwisted, threatened, cajoled, and who knows what else to get his 60 votes.

Blanche Lincoln who ended up being one of the 60 votes said that her vote doesn't necessarily mean that she will support final passage but that she thought the bill should be debated rather than allowed to die. How's that again? If it's not good enough to pass, it's certainly not good enough to waste your time debating it.

Oh, and what about all the talk that it would be next year before they got around to considering it? Now, Reid promises a vote before the end of the year. Can't let it carry over into an election year.

Included in this bill is the provision that people must carry health insurance or be fined. Are we going to do away with freedom of choice because Uncle Harry won't let us have it anymore? It's not his call.

I know 60 Senators who need to be replaced. Not all are up for election next year, but many of htem are.

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Silent Saturday - "Late Season Blaze"

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:46:02 -0600

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Friday's Fotos - "Eagle Mansion"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:33:50 -0600

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Another Blow To Newspapers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:28:39 -0600

Can you believe it? The competition for the holiday shopping season is heating up - and there's still a week to go before it officially launches.

I have received numerous emails - even from stores I don't frequent - announcing their Black Friday sales. Other stores have been handing out in-store flyers announcing their specials.

In this very competitive retail market where every additional dollar may mean the difference between staying in business or closing down, it is amazing to see all of the early publicity and oneupmanship.

Announcing all of the Black Friday specials used to be reserved for Thanksgiving Day - typically the largest newspaper of the year. Flyer after flyer, tabloids, and full page ads.

With print advertising being what it is in terms of cost and reach, and the need to get the word out as early as possible, retailers are in a take-no-prisoners mode concerning advance publicity.

We have entered a new era of promotion. Add another point to the internet column. No score for the papers.

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Two Wrongs Make It Even Worse

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:41:43 -0600

As if it's not bad enough that we are transporting 5 terrorists to New York City to be tried in a civilian court for attrocities on the battlefield, we now are being hit with a huge finiancial request for it.

These criminals terrorists are going to receive access to US courts and be afforded Constitutional rights even though they are not citizens. Kind of diminishes our rights as citizens, would't you say?

KSM has admitted guilt and said he would plead guilty in a military tribunal and accept execution - that was until he found out he could go to New York and plead not guilty and maybe not even get the death penalty - or even go free.

Now Chuck Schumer wants between $75-100 to help New York pay for this. I have a better idea, put it on Eric Holder's tab - he is responsible for this. it's only right he pay for it. Maybe he could put up the gang at his house during the trial.

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Thankful Thursdays - "Tropical Breezes"

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:21:40 -0600

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New, Dangerous Phish

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:07:10 -0600

Every week I see one or two new phishing schemes. Most are obvious and occasionally are even humorous.

A new one surfaced yesterday that could be dangerous. Watch out.

Similar to the invoice you might get in the mail for something you didn't order or use, this email comes as a request to verify a charge that you didn't make. Of course you want to dispute the charge, so you are susceptible to falling for their scam and opening their link.

They don't stop at one and they vary the amount and the company each time.

Just ignore them and delete them. Stay safe and protect your data and moeny.

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Wordless Wednesday - "More Florida Sun"

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:12:48 -0600

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