"You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think." ~ Milton Berle

Hello and welcome. It's Tuesday, December 3, 2013, and we are up and at 'em once again. Thanks for showing up here at the old blogger ranch where I attempt to share a little of this, that, or the other. I know. The emphasis on little is appropriate, not necessarily in the length of the sharing, but perhaps in the substance. I was reading some posted quotes about the Black Friday experience and folks can be amusing in their assessments. One opined how that on Thursday everyone is in a thankful mood and wish only the best for their fellow citizens. Friday, however, it becomes a better-not-get-in-my-way attitude where only the strongest get the goodies. One fellow said he muscled his way into the store and bought himself a new TV. It was, however, hard to feel good about it knowing that he hadn't paid his power bill. I suppose if they turn his power off the new TV may not be that good of a deal. It obviously takes all kinds and we all know that many of them choose to be out and about on that particular day.

The people who do the selling forecasts are about as wishy-washy as the weather prognosticators. The news was blaring during Thanksgiving, the Friday after, and over the weekend about how brilliant it was for the stores to open Thursday because of the great sales numbers that were accomplished. But, alas, there has to be a Monday when all the tallies are checked and rechecked and it appears the actual spending is down nearly 3% compared to last year, subject I'm sure to even more reworking as we move forward. Just 3%. That doesn't sound like much. When you are talking billions with a 'b', it doesn't take long before you are talking the difference between success and failure. Meanwhile, the government run healthcare website has been worked on around the clock and it is now better than it was before. How much better seems to be in the eye of the beholder or the one trying to use it. The Administration is touting it as working now essentially how it should have all along. There does not seem to be much in the way of independent confirmation of that pronouncement, but, we've learned over the years we can trust our government. Right? .......My thoughts exactly.

I suppose this might be a positive thing as they tell us there was more shopper foot traffic this year. You know. More warm bodies. More folks out and about, just not in a mood to spend money. Most likely it was the lack of funds driving the mood. Yesterday I heard a fellow call in on a radio show that said he was barely making ends meet but he doesn't qualify for subsidies under the new healthcare law. He can't afford the insurance he is being forced to purchase but he also can't afford the penalty that will be imposed on those who fail to get coverage. He sounded very stressed out about this dilemma. That's a pretty sad testimony if you ask me, and, my guess is there's literally millions in the same boat. I did read, however, that based on new comparisons The Congress will continue to enjoy much better healthcare than the rest of us. I know that's a big surprise, but after all is said and done, they voted to do it that way because they are special, and I guess that means we aren't. Or something to that affect. Sounds sarcastic? Sometimes the truth has a way of making noises like that. Take care and we will journey on. May God bless each one. Amen.   ....More later.