Well kiddies,
this guy got it right, and had to put it in the form of a bedtime story for most "amuhruhcains" to understand.
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTRmNTE2ZGMyY2UwOGVhZDczYTcxM2MxNDU1ZGNkNmE=
The mortgage meltdown is Clinton's fault.
Repeat after me:
It's Clinton's fault.
It's Clinton's fault.
It's CLINTON'S FAULT, FAULT, FAULT!!!.
This story is really so simple it is amazing.
1) Government (read - meddling) tells banks they must issue risky loans to create opportunitiy for poor people and minorities to own homes.
Now children, all this really says is: banks must provide mortgages to people that cannot hope to pay them back. If they fail to make payments, then the government promises to redistribute your and my wealth to pay off the loans.
2) Government (read - meddling) tells Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that they must BUY the risky loans that the banks have made. Government (read - meddling) tells Fannie and Freddie that there will be PUNISHMENT if they do not buy the loans.
3) The banks are happy. The housing market is on a roll. Ever-growing home prices hide the risky loans, and allow banks to a) make more loans, and b) show more assets and accounts receivable on their books. This makes banks look fabulously wealthy.
4) Fannie and Freddie are happy. They buy more loans and list them as "assets".
5) George Bush and select Republicans begin warning congress that this has gotten out of hand. When? Oh, 2004. They begin shouting at congress in 2005. Congress could care less. In fact, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) stated he "has no plans to hold even a single oversight hearing to look into special “VIP” housing perks that Countrywide gave powerful congressional Democrats [Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad] at the same time it was hiking mortgage rates on you and me. See:
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/surprise_democrats_block_investigation_into_countrywide_mortgage_scandal/
6) Nobody does nothing, not noway, not nohow.
7) House prices plunge, poor people and minorities default on their loans, and all those "assets" turn into "liabilities".
Can you spell "liabilities"?
I knew you could.
8) Banks and Fannie and Freddie run out of money to make loans because first they have to write down the new debt, and then their market capitalization falls dramatically because of it (i.e. their stock prices become nearly worthless).
Finally - when did all this start? Hmmm, let's see. Jamie Gorelick, Frank Raines, James Johnson, all Fannie execs. were advisors to Bill Clinton in the 90's, and basically drove Clinton's policy mentioned in item 1.
All of these, by the way, are now advising Barak Obama on economics. Holy Mother of God.
All of these, by the way, got fabulously wealthy from pay and bonuses as the mortgage giants racked (wrecked) up the books.
See: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=75586
Oh, and guess who was shouting loudest that we needed more oversight - especially with Fannie and Freddie? John McCain.
Who?
John McCain. 2005. He was calling for 'change' in 2005. He was ignored by: Barak Obama.
See: http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/09/17/obama-mccain-and-fnma-reform/
Who started the mess?
Well, all evidence points to Bill Clinton and the Democrats.
I always knew that scallywag was up to something! And we all thought it was just sex :)
James Jones
Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sh**t for brains
OK, I have tried to stay calm, but there are a few lines that have been crossed, and I simply must express my opinion. If this offends you, then we are so firmly entrenched in our separate beliefs that almost any political opinion I offer will offend you, and probably likewise.
That out of the way, here goes.
Matt Damon and Pamela Anderson must have mixed up the places where the intellect and the fecal matter go. In my mind these two are so hopelessly stupid, biased, and hate-filled that they are walking advertisements on why abortion should never be banned, even as late as the 117th trimester (Matt Damon) or the 126th trimester (Pamela Anderson).
Now have I lowered myself to their level? That is my intention.
Matt Damon is a college dropout that has turned looks and some acting ability into an outrageous fortune, which by liberal Democrat standards, he ought to be sharing copiously with the disenfranchised. Let's see it, Matt, before you open your substantial blowhole to impugn capable candidates with impressive resumes that participate in our political process (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk).
Pamela Anderson is a two-bit you-know-what that has been used and abused by the best of them and has been granted favorable consideration the country over in light of her good looks and acting(?) abilities. So what is the considered opinion of the Republican vice presidential candidate as offered by THIS mind-boggling intellect with the famous set of false...er...assets?
"She can suck it!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BU91ALzOak).
Let's match wits between, say Matt Damon: Harvard Dropout, Pamela Anderson: Street Educated, and the people they hate:
George Bush: Bachelors Degree from Yale, MBA from Harvard, F-102 pilot, Governor of Texas (reelected by landslide), and two-term President of the United States.
Dick Cheney: B.A. political scince, M.A. political science, Congressman, Senator, and two-term Vice President of the United States.
Sarah Palin: B.S. communications-journalism, Mayorof Wasilla, AK, Governor of Alaska, Chair of the National Governors Association, Vice-Presidential nominee.
Let's see a reality show where Matt and Pamela are locked in a room with George, Dick, and Sarah for about 2 hours, talking about everything they want to get off their (ample) chests. Let's see the whole thing recorded, with no edits, and viewed and reviewed by the couch-potato(e) public on evening TV.
A run-through of that one time is about all anyone would need to see the depth and breadth of the intelligence, compassion, and cognitive ability of two of Hollywood's "finest".
Wanna know what I think about Matt and Pamela?
"They can suck it!"
That out of the way, here goes.
Matt Damon and Pamela Anderson must have mixed up the places where the intellect and the fecal matter go. In my mind these two are so hopelessly stupid, biased, and hate-filled that they are walking advertisements on why abortion should never be banned, even as late as the 117th trimester (Matt Damon) or the 126th trimester (Pamela Anderson).
Now have I lowered myself to their level? That is my intention.
Matt Damon is a college dropout that has turned looks and some acting ability into an outrageous fortune, which by liberal Democrat standards, he ought to be sharing copiously with the disenfranchised. Let's see it, Matt, before you open your substantial blowhole to impugn capable candidates with impressive resumes that participate in our political process (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk).
Pamela Anderson is a two-bit you-know-what that has been used and abused by the best of them and has been granted favorable consideration the country over in light of her good looks and acting(?) abilities. So what is the considered opinion of the Republican vice presidential candidate as offered by THIS mind-boggling intellect with the famous set of false...er...assets?
"She can suck it!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BU91ALzOak).
Let's match wits between, say Matt Damon: Harvard Dropout, Pamela Anderson: Street Educated, and the people they hate:
George Bush: Bachelors Degree from Yale, MBA from Harvard, F-102 pilot, Governor of Texas (reelected by landslide), and two-term President of the United States.
Dick Cheney: B.A. political scince, M.A. political science, Congressman, Senator, and two-term Vice President of the United States.
Sarah Palin: B.S. communications-journalism, Mayorof Wasilla, AK, Governor of Alaska, Chair of the National Governors Association, Vice-Presidential nominee.
Let's see a reality show where Matt and Pamela are locked in a room with George, Dick, and Sarah for about 2 hours, talking about everything they want to get off their (ample) chests. Let's see the whole thing recorded, with no edits, and viewed and reviewed by the couch-potato(e) public on evening TV.
A run-through of that one time is about all anyone would need to see the depth and breadth of the intelligence, compassion, and cognitive ability of two of Hollywood's "finest".
Wanna know what I think about Matt and Pamela?
"They can suck it!"
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
All-in for Palin
Well, yep - I'll enter the ante.
Who'd a thunk the punk-boy had the cojones for this selection?
Now let me say I wish no harm on the maverick, but how I wish there were some way we could flip the ticket. Oh, how I wish.
Democrats are stunned and a bit frustrated. No matter what mud they throw, it doesn't seem to stick. Anybody remember 8 years of Clinton? Welcome to our frustration.
If the teflon gal holds up through it she'll carry Mr. McCain into the White House, I believe. It's refreshing to see how many people actually do hold more conservative beliefs than we are led to believe by all the tongues sitting at news anchor desks. Gee, to listen to the lot of them there are only 6 real conservatives in the whole United States.
But with Palin on the ticket, suddenly it seems conservatives outnumber liberals. It is pleasant to behold, if a bit amazing.
I'm not completely naive. A lot happens in the last 2 months of a presidential campaign. One thing is for sure - if the race stays within 4 points either way, the networks definitely won't be trying to call the election early as they have so many times before.
Remember that I am NOT voting for McCain. There is no political death-bed conversion that will enable me to do that after all the wounds he dealt conservatism over the years.
However, I will be happier if he gets in than I would be if the other side and all their hope for change because it is something to believe in change we can hope for if we just believe that we can change so that we can again have hope.
Almost makes me feel sorry for Hillary. Oh, wait. Not. Can't give much credit to 147 "I don't recall"s during the Whitewater hearings about her 60 hours of booked time for the Rose Law Firm.
And for the encore, how about Joe B? All excited at a rally mentions a guy in a wheel chair, and shouts "Stand up Chuck! Let everybody see you! Stand Up! Oh my, what amd I talkin' about? Well, everybody here is standing up for you, Chuck!"
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Funnier than Bob Dole falling off the stage in '96.
Who'd a thunk the punk-boy had the cojones for this selection?
Now let me say I wish no harm on the maverick, but how I wish there were some way we could flip the ticket. Oh, how I wish.
Democrats are stunned and a bit frustrated. No matter what mud they throw, it doesn't seem to stick. Anybody remember 8 years of Clinton? Welcome to our frustration.
If the teflon gal holds up through it she'll carry Mr. McCain into the White House, I believe. It's refreshing to see how many people actually do hold more conservative beliefs than we are led to believe by all the tongues sitting at news anchor desks. Gee, to listen to the lot of them there are only 6 real conservatives in the whole United States.
But with Palin on the ticket, suddenly it seems conservatives outnumber liberals. It is pleasant to behold, if a bit amazing.
I'm not completely naive. A lot happens in the last 2 months of a presidential campaign. One thing is for sure - if the race stays within 4 points either way, the networks definitely won't be trying to call the election early as they have so many times before.
Remember that I am NOT voting for McCain. There is no political death-bed conversion that will enable me to do that after all the wounds he dealt conservatism over the years.
However, I will be happier if he gets in than I would be if the other side and all their hope for change because it is something to believe in change we can hope for if we just believe that we can change so that we can again have hope.
Almost makes me feel sorry for Hillary. Oh, wait. Not. Can't give much credit to 147 "I don't recall"s during the Whitewater hearings about her 60 hours of booked time for the Rose Law Firm.
And for the encore, how about Joe B? All excited at a rally mentions a guy in a wheel chair, and shouts "Stand up Chuck! Let everybody see you! Stand Up! Oh my, what amd I talkin' about? Well, everybody here is standing up for you, Chuck!"
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Funnier than Bob Dole falling off the stage in '96.
Monday, August 25, 2008
She Loves You Yeh Yeh Yeh
On Saturday August 25, 2008 I had one of those sublime moments (few hours, really) where everything came together into a day of fun, fun, fun.
A good friend and fellow musician wanted to celebrate his **th birthday by throwing a bash at a public place, featuring a band made up of himself and friends, and playing all Beatles music. I joined the band by invitation, and after brief planning last Spring, we held 3 Summer rehearsals and amassed 40-odd Beatles tunes.
An invitation was sent. Responses came back. The weather was perfect! Over 100 people came to the Eagles Nest restaurant at the Prince William Marina in Occoquan, VA. The indoor/outdoor restaurant catered the event and served a buffet of great food, and drinks, including beer and wine to all guests for over 6 hours, on my friend's tab. (Good friend, eh?).
The band had 5 members, amazingly:
John (my friend),
George (his brother),
Paul (another friend),
Glenn (Paul's brother), and
Jimmy (me!).
We couldn't come up with anything good to combine Glenn's and my names, so we settled on: John, Paul, George, and "Gringos".
John and George played marvelous guitar and sang.
Glenn played in-the-pocket drums and sang.
Paul played superb bass and sang. Paul had a vintage Beatles Bass guitar on hand (Hofner 1962 4-string)
and I played keyboards and sang a little bit. The Beatles didn't use a lot of keyboard, but when they did the parts were memorable, like in Yello Submarine or Lady Madonna.
The music was, well, Beatles music. We performed it well enough to do it justice, with all harmonies and vocal inflections.
Simply put I had the best time and built a memory that I'll keep forever. Thanks to everyone who participated, and everyone who showed up for the fun.
Now we have to figure out a way to surpass this event. It will be difficult, indeed!
A good friend and fellow musician wanted to celebrate his **th birthday by throwing a bash at a public place, featuring a band made up of himself and friends, and playing all Beatles music. I joined the band by invitation, and after brief planning last Spring, we held 3 Summer rehearsals and amassed 40-odd Beatles tunes.
An invitation was sent. Responses came back. The weather was perfect! Over 100 people came to the Eagles Nest restaurant at the Prince William Marina in Occoquan, VA. The indoor/outdoor restaurant catered the event and served a buffet of great food, and drinks, including beer and wine to all guests for over 6 hours, on my friend's tab. (Good friend, eh?).
The band had 5 members, amazingly:
John (my friend),
George (his brother),
Paul (another friend),
Glenn (Paul's brother), and
Jimmy (me!).
We couldn't come up with anything good to combine Glenn's and my names, so we settled on: John, Paul, George, and "Gringos".
John and George played marvelous guitar and sang.
Glenn played in-the-pocket drums and sang.
Paul played superb bass and sang. Paul had a vintage Beatles Bass guitar on hand (Hofner 1962 4-string)
and I played keyboards and sang a little bit. The Beatles didn't use a lot of keyboard, but when they did the parts were memorable, like in Yello Submarine or Lady Madonna.
The music was, well, Beatles music. We performed it well enough to do it justice, with all harmonies and vocal inflections.
Simply put I had the best time and built a memory that I'll keep forever. Thanks to everyone who participated, and everyone who showed up for the fun.
Now we have to figure out a way to surpass this event. It will be difficult, indeed!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
School 'scool
Wow - I'm bushed. I mean physically and mentally tired, and the reason is, I think, that I may be trying to educate myself beyond reasonable limits.
In an effort to "find money" to ward off the IRS who were hounding me for some strong disagreements about positions on taxable income, I decided to go back to school. I know - you are probably a little confused. Really, it is simpler than it sounds.
I sign up for school - in this case an MBA program offered by the main on-line university 'round here. I apply for Student Loans. I get the money up front. Tuition is deferred - I will pay it later. I give the money to the IRS and they are off my back.
Friends - it is this kind of thinking that got me in trouble in the first place. Nothing works like I think it will. The money does not come to me. It stays in a "holding tank" until needed. I borrow from my Mother to pay Uncle Sam, and then I am still enrolled in school. Sheeeeesh.
Well school is tough. It is a lot of work. I am a perfectionist - must get all 'A's. I do. Seems like it will take forever. It doesn't. Exactly 21 months later as advertised, I am walking across the stage at Constitution Hall in Washington DC and collecting my diploma for a Masters in Business Administration. How cool is that?
So cool, that I immediately enroll for a doctorate in organizational management. I have completed 1 of 3 years for this degree, and the really hard work is yet in front of me. I wake up tired. Go through the day tired. Go to bed tired. You see, I manage dynamic family relationships, life activities, a full time job, and a 2.5 hour one-way commute to work each and every day. (That's right - 5 hours commuting every day).
So I have a right to be tired. But one thing I recognize is that the degree will come, and the sense of achievement, and the increased self and marketplace value. I will have accomplished another goal in this journey of life, and will rub my eyes in disbelief that this late-bloomer has been able to do it once again.
I keep saying to anyone that will listen that once done with this I "will never go back to school. Not no how, not no way." But the reality is that as long as I want to learn of something or how to do something, I will continue to seek education. I think that I am simply a perpetual student.
And that's OK. School's cool.
In an effort to "find money" to ward off the IRS who were hounding me for some strong disagreements about positions on taxable income, I decided to go back to school. I know - you are probably a little confused. Really, it is simpler than it sounds.
I sign up for school - in this case an MBA program offered by the main on-line university 'round here. I apply for Student Loans. I get the money up front. Tuition is deferred - I will pay it later. I give the money to the IRS and they are off my back.
Friends - it is this kind of thinking that got me in trouble in the first place. Nothing works like I think it will. The money does not come to me. It stays in a "holding tank" until needed. I borrow from my Mother to pay Uncle Sam, and then I am still enrolled in school. Sheeeeesh.
Well school is tough. It is a lot of work. I am a perfectionist - must get all 'A's. I do. Seems like it will take forever. It doesn't. Exactly 21 months later as advertised, I am walking across the stage at Constitution Hall in Washington DC and collecting my diploma for a Masters in Business Administration. How cool is that?
So cool, that I immediately enroll for a doctorate in organizational management. I have completed 1 of 3 years for this degree, and the really hard work is yet in front of me. I wake up tired. Go through the day tired. Go to bed tired. You see, I manage dynamic family relationships, life activities, a full time job, and a 2.5 hour one-way commute to work each and every day. (That's right - 5 hours commuting every day).
So I have a right to be tired. But one thing I recognize is that the degree will come, and the sense of achievement, and the increased self and marketplace value. I will have accomplished another goal in this journey of life, and will rub my eyes in disbelief that this late-bloomer has been able to do it once again.
I keep saying to anyone that will listen that once done with this I "will never go back to school. Not no how, not no way." But the reality is that as long as I want to learn of something or how to do something, I will continue to seek education. I think that I am simply a perpetual student.
And that's OK. School's cool.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Getting Gas Over Gas
What is this new indigestion? Good LORD, I have never been denied cash on my ATM card before, and yesterday while trying to fill up my gas-hog Dodge Ram pickup, the card "quit" at $75, but I had not yet topped out.
Now, I'll freely admit that driving a 12-mpg vehicle in today's climate is not exactly Harvard-quality thinking, but let's be friends and say that if I have the money and want to spend it that way, then I should not be artificially constrained by the bank!
You know what? I have my ideas about what is causing the high price of gasoline, as you, no doubt have yours. To avoid an argument, I will only stipulate that "It is NOT Bush's fault".
Beyond that, you may conjecture what you wish. Speculation, demand/supply, refining limitations, gas-guzzlers, conspiracy, etc. Maybe they are all true. The end result is painful, nonetheless, and appears to be severely holding back our economic growth.
I have noticed that our area restaurants are sparcely populated, and some have even closed. A very popular pizza parlor near me has been open in my county for over 15 years. Yesterday while I ordered a couple large, delicious, fat-loaded pies (before they are banned) the waitress told me that she didn't think they could survive a year with current business. She said everyone says the same thing: "gas is eating up all the spending money".
I would like to see movement on all fronts to try and reduce the price of gas. I will not be partisan here - this is what I hope for:
1 - open ANWR ASAP
2 - invest in alternative energy R&D ASAP
3 - build 10 new nuclear plants - buy them from France and install them - French technology has surpassed our own, and is well tested - we just need to determine geographic location
4 - build 2 new mega-refineries ASAP
5 - Give the owner of every car that will agree to switch to partial hydrogen conversion or alternative diesel conversion (i.e. restaurant waste oil) $400 immediately - ensure that they DO convert
6 - offer a $1 million prize to the first person that demonstrates total-efficiency fuel-cell technology
7 - open ethenol production to use beets and cane sugar as well as corn - let's help these food prices a little!
8 - Issue a 1-year federal and state moratorium on gas taxes (Hey - this is an immediate reduction of $0.50 to $1 per gallon)
Start all these today. I bet gas would be around $2 per gallon within the year, even though most of these actions would take much longer to generate any concrete results. The idea that we were taking fast and forceful action itself would drive speculation lower, in my opinion.
Instead, if we sit around with our thumbs up our rears and whine and cry, then we deserve what we get - higher prices, and a resulting change in our way of life.
Many people doubless welcome this change, and would be quite happy if we all had to walk, ride bicycles, or use mass transit.
All respect due to each preference, I enjoy an energy-abundant, independent, and mobile way of life. In my mind there is little if any reason to believe that the current astronomical fuel prices are sustainable.
That is, unless we will it so.
Now, I'll freely admit that driving a 12-mpg vehicle in today's climate is not exactly Harvard-quality thinking, but let's be friends and say that if I have the money and want to spend it that way, then I should not be artificially constrained by the bank!
You know what? I have my ideas about what is causing the high price of gasoline, as you, no doubt have yours. To avoid an argument, I will only stipulate that "It is NOT Bush's fault".
Beyond that, you may conjecture what you wish. Speculation, demand/supply, refining limitations, gas-guzzlers, conspiracy, etc. Maybe they are all true. The end result is painful, nonetheless, and appears to be severely holding back our economic growth.
I have noticed that our area restaurants are sparcely populated, and some have even closed. A very popular pizza parlor near me has been open in my county for over 15 years. Yesterday while I ordered a couple large, delicious, fat-loaded pies (before they are banned) the waitress told me that she didn't think they could survive a year with current business. She said everyone says the same thing: "gas is eating up all the spending money".
I would like to see movement on all fronts to try and reduce the price of gas. I will not be partisan here - this is what I hope for:
1 - open ANWR ASAP
2 - invest in alternative energy R&D ASAP
3 - build 10 new nuclear plants - buy them from France and install them - French technology has surpassed our own, and is well tested - we just need to determine geographic location
4 - build 2 new mega-refineries ASAP
5 - Give the owner of every car that will agree to switch to partial hydrogen conversion or alternative diesel conversion (i.e. restaurant waste oil) $400 immediately - ensure that they DO convert
6 - offer a $1 million prize to the first person that demonstrates total-efficiency fuel-cell technology
7 - open ethenol production to use beets and cane sugar as well as corn - let's help these food prices a little!
8 - Issue a 1-year federal and state moratorium on gas taxes (Hey - this is an immediate reduction of $0.50 to $1 per gallon)
Start all these today. I bet gas would be around $2 per gallon within the year, even though most of these actions would take much longer to generate any concrete results. The idea that we were taking fast and forceful action itself would drive speculation lower, in my opinion.
Instead, if we sit around with our thumbs up our rears and whine and cry, then we deserve what we get - higher prices, and a resulting change in our way of life.
Many people doubless welcome this change, and would be quite happy if we all had to walk, ride bicycles, or use mass transit.
All respect due to each preference, I enjoy an energy-abundant, independent, and mobile way of life. In my mind there is little if any reason to believe that the current astronomical fuel prices are sustainable.
That is, unless we will it so.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The old car
Ahhh - I have had a faithful friend in my Honda minivan. It's not considered a "man's" car, the minivan, but it has really been my favorite vehicle of all. Fun to drive, comfortable on long trips, incredibly nimble - more so than any car I've owned, great utility - carries people or belongings in a multitude of configurations, and relatively easy on gas at over 20 mpg. Oh, did I mention reliable? Yes - amazingly reliable. That is, until recently. At 9 years old and with 278,000 miles, that reliability is, I'm afraid, coming to an end.
Things are wearing out, and I am entering the struggle that a lot of us go through. When is "enough enough?"
Dropping $1500 or $2000 a year to keep a car rolling is now forcing me to consider picking up a car payment. Trouble is, I don't want to pick up the $500 or $600 a month a new car will cost. So I look at recent used cars, in the $12-$15000 range.
This is how I picked up the Honda. 3 years old, one owner, available on Ebay, close enough to go look a it and drive it. What a great find. Good enough that I will probably do the same thing and head for Ebay motors. [Disclaimer: I do not work for, or have any vested interest in EBay - it is simply a service that I have used with much success]
Now here's the trouble. The van just sucked out another $1500. Do I replace it now, or try to recoup some of my money by driving it longer. What happens if the motor dies? The transmission falls out? The brakes fail? All of these are real worries, and I must weigh them against picking up another monthly payment of $200-$300 for a late model used vehicle. That is $2400-$3600 per year (without interest) for hopefully trouble-free driving for a few years.
BUT - if I'm willing to spend $2400-$3600 per year, why don't I just keep spending $1500 on the OLD van? I mean I like it! It still looks good, inside and out. It has been my favorite car. And I AM on a pretty tight budget.
Still - the attraction of something new and different...
See?
Something that should be simple, is a dilema after all.
What would you do?
Things are wearing out, and I am entering the struggle that a lot of us go through. When is "enough enough?"
Dropping $1500 or $2000 a year to keep a car rolling is now forcing me to consider picking up a car payment. Trouble is, I don't want to pick up the $500 or $600 a month a new car will cost. So I look at recent used cars, in the $12-$15000 range.
This is how I picked up the Honda. 3 years old, one owner, available on Ebay, close enough to go look a it and drive it. What a great find. Good enough that I will probably do the same thing and head for Ebay motors. [Disclaimer: I do not work for, or have any vested interest in EBay - it is simply a service that I have used with much success]
Now here's the trouble. The van just sucked out another $1500. Do I replace it now, or try to recoup some of my money by driving it longer. What happens if the motor dies? The transmission falls out? The brakes fail? All of these are real worries, and I must weigh them against picking up another monthly payment of $200-$300 for a late model used vehicle. That is $2400-$3600 per year (without interest) for hopefully trouble-free driving for a few years.
BUT - if I'm willing to spend $2400-$3600 per year, why don't I just keep spending $1500 on the OLD van? I mean I like it! It still looks good, inside and out. It has been my favorite car. And I AM on a pretty tight budget.
Still - the attraction of something new and different...
See?
Something that should be simple, is a dilema after all.
What would you do?
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