America Can Survive and Thrive

    Our country is at a crossroads - our decisions in the next few months could affect the outcome of our economic strength for decades. The answers being presented around the Internet are time consuming, inconvenient and quite frankly ineffective. The efforts are there - people do care and that is what I have been looking for. It has presented to me that America is without hope - doomed to an economic depression beyond all imagination. There will be riots in the streets and starving children. All this because Americans are selfish and lazy. They no longer have the spirit or drive to take action. They have become a mass of followers and prefer to point their fingers and whine. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS.
  Our country was founded by our forefathers setting aside their differences and working for a common good. They carried in their hearts an unwavering sense of patriotism, compassion and brotherhood. They established a foundation for freedom and equality like no other country had ever had before on earth. This fire burns in the hearts of all Americans - it is witnessed when a threat to our country fans the embers and reignites the flames of passion that Americans feel for their country.  We are a country that does not give up - we fight for what is right - we are strong.
  Our attentions are being diverted from real issues that will make a difference in our lives - as the donkeys and elephants continue to trample on democracy in Washington  - we are watching and waiting for an outcome that will make little difference to us if we cannot change the public mindset of social and fiscal responsibility.  The power of the government is only as strong as the people it represents.  We define the government by our actions (not our words) They do not define us. We cannot wait until we are pushed to the brink of desperation before we take action. We cannot allow our situations to worsen while we wait on the red tape in Washington to unravel. The results of our combined actions will be bigger than any legislation passed in congress.  I am talking about the effect it will have on our everyday lives - long term change - for the people - by the people. 
  Think this doesn't apply to you - think again.  You may not be headed for unemployment or welfare but inflation will soon start eating into your stock pile of cash.  If the government can't pay for our military - are you really going to feel that safe living in a country that cannot defend itself from terrorists?  "United We Stand Divided We Fall" means a lot more than people realize.
   Our country needs a renewed sense of hope and pride - we need a united productive direction to prove that we are still cut from the same moral fiber as the great patriots that founded this great country of ours.  Our forefathers were asked to lay down their lives in the name of liberty and freedom and they did this without hesitation. What we can do for our country does not come with such a steep price but is just as important. Do not allow Lady Liberty to stumble and fall on our watch - let's prove that our generation of Americans can be as strong as the great generations of Americans before us.
Shop Local - Buy American - support your neighborhoods - quit listening to the negative banter about a dying cause - know where your money goes and keep it local if not in the country. Quit being a zombies and stay out of Walmart (70% Chinese products)  Start your Christmas shopping now and go to local vendors to fill your orders - Do you realize the run off of American dollars at Christmas time - never to return - Is it possible to have an "American Made" Christmas? Our country cannot survive the flow of money out anymore - what is more important - that silly piece of plastic for little Susie - or a country for her to grow up in.
We take our country back - We are REAL people with REAL values and our children are not spoiled brats that have to have these chinese toys - we can live without the junk until an American company comes along and makes it for us to buy from our local vendor - the % of $ that stays in your community will amaze you if you all get onboard.
I will be putting out the community plans to get started soon - all this is free - I do not get paid - it comes from my heart and what I feel for my country and my community and my family. It is what we are all supposed to do for mankind - help without expectation of payment. There will also be ways for you to get involved by forwarding ideas to local businesses - and how you can start to modify your spending habits in small ways that will make a difference.  I am here to answer questions - solve problems - and lend a hand. Everything that will be put forth in this "plan" has been thought out and easily adaptable to the busy working class American lifestyle. Ease and convenience are key to getting this to work and online ordering is good from some things, but not the answer to everything.  I am getting all the info a patriot needs into one spot - and this is information that will change your communities - for free - I will not be selling anything.
Get ready for our country to move towards recovery - we will survive and thrive!
God Bless America
Average American
Amanda Schalau
If you are interested in helping save the American Economy - please spread

Saving America is More Than A One Man Job

    I was tweeting the other day and ranting about the economy and how people should shop local and buy made in America products - when I got a reply from @NiceGent - his site promotes US made products. Go to it and click the link for a listing of where to find a variety of thing made in the USA.  Anyway - back to my point - he used the word "we" all have to do our part. I have been going about this project head strong that I was going to get this done. I, I, I - me, me, me. 
   How dare I look at this in that way - I did not come up with the concept of "buy Local" nor did I think up "Buy American" - what made me think that I could turn a nation's thinking around all by myself? Was I so arrogant that I thought I could do this single handily? Seriously - I was in for a reality check - people have been working for years to get this message out - why do Americans like myself and @NiceGent among countless others continue to have to remind fellow Americans WHY they should be more aware of where their money is going and how this is going to help their communities as well as their country survive?  What is it that we are doing wrong trying to get the message across and how can I make a difference in this large group of people with the same goals?
   What talents that have been given to me by God will further the cause? How can I make a difference doing the same thing that so many other are doing? Should I give up? Is this a lost cause? The answer of course is NO.
    The reason there are so many people trying to do this is because it is important. I was given the gift of gab by our dear Lord and I intend to use that talent to the fullest - I have also been blessed with common sense. My desire to see this thing through to the bitter end is fueled by human loss - a powerful incentive to say the least.  I have the ability to organize reasonable efforts that can be implemented immediately.  And the last thing I can bring to the table - I was in insurance marketing for 15 years - I was a head hunter of sorts - I can link up individuals and organizations that will benefit each other. I am not a threat because I sell nothing and I am doing this with pure intentions.
   So moving forward in America's quest to fix the economy - I will be finding better ways to utilize my talents - not just begging the American public to Shop Local and Buy American. If I intend to make a splash in this cause - I will have to start helping the others that already have begun this monumental task of spreading awareness. The impact of my work will not be seen in the number of my followers - but in the added success of those who are supporting the cause by offering American products. I am here at their service and the American public's to help make our country a better place.
Sincerely,
Amanda Schalau
Average American
The next blog will be on How YOU can help in small ways!

Flag Burners Beware -

The link below is of a guy who tried to burn the American Flag on the LSU campus - Yes he had the right to assemble - but the ones who stopped him had the right to assemble too - I for one am tired of these stupid protest - tha flag represents his freedom so why would he burn it ? - get the HELL out of the country if you hate it so much.     If you need that much attention then go get therapy - get a grip

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUb_qvHX_wc&feature=player_embedded

People need to think how their actions really make them look stupid - remember 9/11 - it's just not popular to burn flags anyone. Go hug a tree or something useful.  Or find a new crack dealer because whatever you are smoking is making you stupid

An American Hero - Real News

An American Hero -

You're a 19 year old kid  
You're critically wounded and dying in
the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam .
It's November 11, 1967.  LZ (landing zone) X-ray.
Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so  intense from 100 yards away, that  your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming  in.
You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.
You look up to see a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.
He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.  
Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.


And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board.
Then he  flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.
And, he kept coming back!! 13 more  times!! Until all  the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.

Medal  of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho
  May God Bless and Rest His Soul.

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing,  but we've sure seen a whole bunch  about Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods and the bickering of congress over Health Reform.
Medal of Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman

Shame on the American media !!!

Now... YOU pass this along to YOUR
mailing list. Honor this real American. 
Please.    

Repect the generations that built America and don't throw what they gave us away

Amanda Scahau


 

Shop Local - Does NOT mean Wal-mart

          Recently I have spent most of my time blogging the benefits of buying American made products - today I am going to spend a little time on something that is just as important to your local communities - Shopping LOCAL.  When I use the term "shop local" I am not talking about running down to your local Wal-mart and do your shopping.  When I say "shop local" - I am talking about the individually owned shops around your town. How will this little bit of time and effort on your part benefit you and your community? - Well it starts by keeping more of your spending dollars in your immediate communities. More $$$ in town means more jobs in town right?
         With Mother's Day upon us - I am truly disturbed by all the 1-800 numbers being advertised all over the internet and the television to order good old mom her spring bouquet. - When a person picks up the phone or goes online to order their flowers - they are a middle man taking a cut of the money and having your local florist doing the work and getting paid less. Why not just call your local florist directly and get a custom arrangement unlike all the 1,000s of ones being ordered by a picture online.  Shouldn't your local florist get to know you and what your budget and tastes are like? Wouldn't it be nice to have  relationship with someone in town who is there for you for special occasions?
         I have always used a local florist - always.  When I had my children - they sent me a stuffed animal to say congrats - when Christmas came around I was surprised with a card and a poinsettia - when my husband passed - they were there to hold my hand and the flowers were as special as anything you could imagine.
       Knowing that hundreds of thousands of people out there are missing out on a relationship like that saddens me.
      The average consumer is lost when it comes to communicating their needs with these hard working individually owned businesses - they are used to buying chain store prewrapped gifts that they forget that they call call these locally owned shops and get better gifts and service for the same price. And the gift means more when it doesn't have a Wal-mart sticker on the shrink wrap.
        Beauty shops are especially good at putting together special gifts and most offer gift certificates - also keeping money in your community. Also tell your local beauty shop what hair spray you use - or how much you want to spend on beauty products and let them fill your needs instead of the big box chains that are sending you money out of town.  These people will accomidate your needs - they want to - and your local community will thrive. 
      So to sum it up - using your local businesses - keeps money in your community, creates new jobs, better customer service, spices things up with unique products and added diversity, keeps character downtown with local storefronts, and the most valuable thing that cannot be bought - YOU will be bringing you community closer together as well as making friends that you can invite to your annual Christmas party - instead of emailing thanks yous to all those online stores.  
       By the way - when is the last time you got a invitation to a get together from Wal-mart or 1-800-Flowers?  I must have missed mine - (never)

Spelled Out Again in Black and White

Someone else thinks like me !!!  I am not alone!!!!

Did y’all see  Diane Sawyer's special report. They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .   There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..   It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs! I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA ’ FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA ' I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF. Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think while the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets? 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !! Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.   The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own. THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on May 1st and continue it until June 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it. Remember, May 1 thru June 1!!!!!! START NOW. Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET! Pass it on, America .

What THEY Want You to Believe

       I know that I have been focusing most of my blogs about manufacturing jobs being lost to overseas, but people need to understand it's no longer only manufacturing jobs that are moving overseas. Technology today has made it easier for most all  types of jobs to be located almost anywhere. This means that  thousands of software development and call-center jobs that used to be located in the USA  have outsourced their business overseas. So our service based economy is suffering and beginning to collapse.                                  Many economists would have us believe that globalization benefits Americans by lowering prices on goods and services.  You can pretty much get an everyday low price on anything these days at your local super centers that make it impossible for the local small businesses to compete. The economists say that this allows these BIG businesses to use the money they save from outsourcing to create other higher-skilled, better-paying jobs in the United States. But if they are outsourcing the manufacturing and NOW outsourcing the service parts of their companies - HOW exactly are we benefiting again? ;In the same breath, they say, 'the countries gaining jobs benefit from stronger economic growth and greater stability'.  So isn't that the answer to our country's problems right now?
    If the answer to a stronger economy and more stability lies in having more jobs - manufacturing and service oriented alike - then why again do we allow things to get outsourced overseas?  If we have no jobs how are we going to buy all these discounted goods from overseas? If we had jobs - couldn't we just pay a few cents more for the American made products?  
     And why did we pass the Buy American Act if BIG companies get to apply for waivers and not follow it at all.  Obama said last year in Feb or May I believe that we had to increase our exports to balance the import/export trade - Why can't we just start making our own things here in the USA?
    The answer is so obvious - the security and economic health of our country depends on us demanding American made products - and our government needs to make it easier for this to happen. But we have got to do our part too - BUY American - from a local business - keep your money in your local community.
That was your Wednesday Rant
I have a plan - stay tuned!
Sincerely, Amanda Schalau

Short and to the Point - Common Sense Again

John Smith started the day early,
having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 am.
 
While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, 
he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG),
and put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA),  
designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and  
tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).  
 
After cooking his breakfast in his new
electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA),  
he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO),
to see how much he could spend today. 
 
After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN)  
to the radio (MADE IN INDIA),
he got in his car (MADE IN JAPAN),
filled it with GAS (from SAUDIA ARABIA)
to continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.
 
At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day  
checking his Computer (made in MALAYSIA),  
John decided to relax for a while.  
 
He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL),  
poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE)
and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), 
 
and then wondered why he can't find 
a good paying job in AMERICA.  

http://www.w3f.com/patriots/

Confused for now

So I started this blog about 11 or 12 days ago - and I never figured out exactly how to publish it or whatever - I am such a goof when it comes to computers and such. I have spent the last few hours trying to set up stuff that I do not understand - the obvious solution at this point is to go ask the teenagers how to do it.  I mean URL addresses and all that jazz - redirecting feeds and such - and then pings out the wahoo - All these different names of places that do it - then they want keywords?  and do you set it up everytime you post? Ugh  I just want to write and press one button - I am spreading a message - not trying to sell stuff so why would I need a backlink - right?  I picked a bad weekend to stop caffiene - any help out there would be appreciated - but also might confuse me - lol
As Always very Sincerely,
Amanda Schalau
Will be back on the job blogging when this is sorted out - : )