Posted by: Clayton Makepeace
March 4, 2009
Issue #624

Your Future Begins NOW!

We’re interrupting our regularly scheduled issue with
URGENT NEWS from Clayton Makepeace

Dear Business-Builder,

After eight years of condemning Bush for busting the budget with $400 billion deficits, Pelosi and her House of Representatives – Democrats and Republicans alike — have just made “the great decider” look like a rank amateur.

At a time when we’re supposed to believe that every available penny needs to be spent to stimulate the economy … and after electing a president who promised to eliminate earmarks from the budgeting process …

The Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives (with the help of 20 guilty Republicans) just passed an omnibus spending bill packed with a staggering 8,570 pork-laden earmarks.

The bill, which is expected to land on Obama’s desk next week, allocates 7,700 million dollars ($7.7 billion) for pure pork – including …

$2 million to promote astronomy in Hawaii …
$381,000 for music programs at Lincoln Center …
$6.6 million for termite research in New Orleans …
$300,000 for the Montana World Trade Center …
$2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York …
$1.7 million for a honeybee factory in Weslaco, Texas …
$143,000 for an online encyclopedia in Nevada …
$150,000 for a rodeo museum in South Dakota …
$238,000 for the Alaska PTA …
$333,000 for a school sidewalk in Franklin, Texas, and …
$1.7 million to research pig farts and poop in Iowa …

This $410 billion bill, plus the $787 billion Obama and Congress spent last week, adds up to a staggering $1.2 trillion spent in Obama’s first 43 days in office.

That’s $28.6 billion per day … $1.2 billion per hour … $19.9 million per minute … $330,688 per second — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you began spending $1 million every day right now, you’d still have millions left over in the year 5296.

If you had started spending that $1 million a day in 1279 BC — the year Troy was destroyed … when Ramses II became pharaoh in Egypt … and when Moses was still living in Pharaoh’s house — you’d still have millions left.

The Dirty Little Secret That Obama and Congress
Do NOT Want You to Know:

While they make a grand public show of oozing empathy for “the poor,” Obama and Congressional scoundrels running up these huge deficits are, in fact, the poor’s worst nightmare for four clear reasons:

Higher taxes on business mean THE WORKING POOR — the most expendable employees at most companies — are more likely to lose their jobs as this crisis intensifies.
Higher taxes on business caused by these deficits mean POOR CONSUMERS pay more for food, energy and many other things they buy.
Huge deficits mean interest rates businesses pay will soar and as always, those costs will be passed on to THE POOR, along with the rest of us.
Huge deficits also mean that THE POOR and the rest of us will be slammed by soaring inflation once this crisis ends and the trillions of dollars printed in the meantime inevitably destroy the buying power of our money.

But as the poor are, by definition, the least educated members of our society, they remain blissfully unaware that they are being played for suckers …

And therefore, they continue to vote for the very liberal and/or corrupt politicians – Democrats and Republicans alike — who are enslaving them; dooming them to eternal dependence on Washington.

The bottom line: Phony empathy that results in dependence is not compassionate. Only fiscal conservatism can free the poor to better their lives.

If you remain silent,
this abomination will be YOUR Fault.

In Monday’s issue, I begged you to tell Obama, your senator and your representative that you’re on to them:

I urged you to tell Obama what you think by going to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and sending him an e-mail.
I suggested that you point your browser to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm to get your senator’s e-mail and give him or her an earful every few days.
And I proposed you go to http://www.house.gov/ and share your opinion with Pelosi as well as your personal representative.

Tell them you know they’re welching on their promise to end earmarks and pork. Urge them to defeat this terrible bill. Threaten retaliation at the polls if they schlep this load of garbage through.

If you do, your conscience will be clear. If you don’t, you’ll have no excuse to complain when the pig poop hits the air conditioner.

Yours for Bigger Winners, More Often,
Clayton Makepeace Signature
Clayton Makepeace
Publisher & Editor
THE TOTAL PACKAGE

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133 Comments »

Comment by DK Fynn — March 4, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
I don’t think this politics game is going to help us much. Sure, contact your representative, but we have to think beyond that. Watch Zeitgeist Addendum to learn more of what I’m talking about.
Comment by Tuck — March 4, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
Clayton,

Thanks for sharing your beliefs about our elected representatives’ actions. I agree with you; their spending is irresponsible because it will damage the economy. The poor and the middle class will struggle to pay bills, boomers will delay retirement, and the young will be burdened by debt.

The foxes are in charge of the hen house, and whether it is ignorance or malice, they seem determined to kill the golden goose that is free enterprise.

I pray that our citizens wake up, contact their representatives, and vote for responsible politicians next time.
Comment by Ruth — March 4, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
For some time I have been sending faxes, signing petitions, writing letters, anything I can do to try to get the politicos to see the light of their mistakes. Numbers USA is very good to keep up with illegals and all the other terrible stuff going on. We’ve been able to shut down offices at times, due to the thousands of faxes, calls and such. Of course, they keep throwing the same trash back at us, but we still keep up with the things we can do.

MANY CAN DO WHAT A FEW CAN’T.
Comment by Frank — March 4, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
Where were you the last 8 years when Bush was contributing hugely into getting us into this mess? I didn’t hear your screams of outrage then. That trickle down crap never worked, never has, never will. Billions and billions of dollars spent on a war that he got us into through false pretenses–were you full of outrage, trying to start campaigns then? Do me a favor and keep your opinions to yourself and just teach us how to write copy.
Comment by Joseph Ratliff — March 4, 2009 @ 6:46 pm
Clayton,

Interesting views indeed…

I am curious (only curious) of how many (what percentage) of small businesses make over the amount of $250,000 that receive the increased tax amount?

This is going to be a wild ride for sure in the next 4 years.
Comment by David — March 4, 2009 @ 6:50 pm
Very fine essay.

May I add some additional thoughts from Bill Bonner?:

“Want to save Detroit? Here’s how:

Abolish all welfare of all sorts…no unemployment insurance…no child tax credits…no welfare…no foodstamps…no nothing, except privately-sponsored charities. Close the public schools. Kick out all the bureaucrats and all federal and state employees. Abolish all rules concerning employment – no minimum wages, no overtime, discriminate all you want. Require all residents to say please and thank you…dress properly…and sneer at people who don’t seem to be gainfully employed or polite. Declare the city an Open City and Free Trade Zone. In exchange for cutting all federal aid programs, eliminate federal and state taxes for people living in the city. Allow unlimited immigration into the city…giving all immigrants a U.S. passport after 5 years of residency. Levy a flat 10% tax to pay for basic services. Eliminate elections…have the city controlled by a town council composed of 10 citizens chosen at random.

Within five years, Detroit would be the most dynamic city in the nation”.

IMHO, if Bill’s program were extended nationwide, with a few additions like no taxes for non-residents and ceasing demonstrably inefficacious programs like the so-called “War on Drugs”, America would be an amazing, confident powerhouse, effortlessly accepting the cream of every nation worldwide, with a meaningful moral, commercial, and philosophical influence on all humanity, if I may make so bold.
Comment by John Gilger — March 4, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
Clayton,

Along with writing to senators and representatives, we ought to practice our writing skills with regular letters to the editors of our local papers.

Tip O’Neil always said, “All politics are local” and right now there is a growing number of Nevadans ready to tar and feather Harry Reid — at least on the good days — on normal days we’d sooner hang him like the good folks up in Montana did to his horse-theif uncle.

I hope your excellent rants are showing up in the papers in North Carolina and East Tennessee

John
Comment by Brian Brzoznowski — March 4, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
Hi Clayton,
Thanks for all the great business building tips. Yes I agree with you. I am a home builder in the UP of Michigan and build mostly retirement and vacation homes. I am trying to figure out what I have to change in my business and finances toweather this storm.
Comment by Rich Haslam — March 4, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
How much did your buddy Bush squander?????? Well, I’m waiting………….but don’t worry, I won’t hold my breath. After 8 years of fraud and deciept you’re now just talking about how our money will be spent?

Opps, I should have realized. It’s not about the money, to you it’s about WHO is spending it, not how much. Oh yeah, I forgot, you’re bitchen so much because now you’re going to have to pay your fair share instead of us middle class being stuck footin the bill.

Man, you really should be ashamed of yourself.
Comment by Rich — March 4, 2009 @ 7:13 pm
To #4 Frank:

So, to avenge your loathing of the prior administration, you think it’s ok for the current administration to pre-liquidate future assets on a wholesale basis? (Of course, the current administration will one day blame all the fallout on the previous administration.)

By the way, this is Clayton’s blog. That’s why his name is part of the URL. Thus, you are a guest in his house. His belief system is also part of who he is, and to some degree it has contributed to his success. Maybe you should put aside the spring trap liberalism and try to be open minded. Unless of course you have no problem spending $38 for your grandchildren’s hamburgers (and don’t go asking for fries with that).
Comment by Michael — March 4, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
and to think we went to war with England over a .02 tax on tea…..I am outraged…and as for those that wish to blame this on Bush…you couldn’t be more mistaken. This is Obama’s baby now….hook, line and sinker - or should I say SINKING!

We should all revolt and refuse to pay a dime in taxes. Every small business should shut down for a week in protest - that way the country will know what lies before them when they go out of business permanently due to Obama Madness…He, Pelosi, Harry Reid….fools and thieves in the maddening crowd.

I hope all who voted for this leftist clown are happy now.
Comment by Marcelino Latorre — March 4, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
This is insane!

It’s all strategically designed to keep the great majority of the population in check.

How money is created, the policies in which it is governed, and how it truly affects society are un-researched interests of the great majority of the people.

1% of the population owns 40% of the planet’s wealth..

34,000 children die EVERY SINGLE DAY from poverty and preventable diseases..

50% of the population lives on less than $2 a day.

Something is very wrong here.

97% of all money is digital.

Money is nothing more than a systematically designed instrument that keeps the ignorant in debt.

Money has always been created out of debt.

Pay attention, something is terribly wrong here.
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 4, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
TO RICH (POST #$) AND FRANK (POST #9): Hey, guys take a deep breath. If you like this bill, do nothing. If you believe in trickle UP economics — and love the idea of paying bureaucrats to whiff pig farts at your expense — you’ll get what you deserve.

The rest of us suspect that if you could defend this indefensible monstrosity, you would. Since you can’t, you are left with no alternative but to attack me.

Without, I must add, any knowledge whatsoever of all I have done and said in the past to trash Bush and the Republicans for their profligacy and idiotic economic measures.

Those who do know my position on EVERYBODY in BOTH PARTIES in Congress and BOTH PARTIES’ actions in the White House are groaning at your ignorance — and your blind infatuation with and kneejerk defense of politicians who are playing you for a sucker.

– Clayton
Comment by Christopher Colvin — March 4, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
Three Dead Bodies…

Three dead bodies turn up at the mortuary, all with very big smiles on their faces. The coroner calls the police to tell them what has happened.

The Coroner tells the Inspector: “First body is a 72 year old Frenchman. He died of heart failure while with his mistress. Hence the enormous smile.

“The second body is an Irishman, 25 years of age. He won a thousand dollars on the lottery and spent it all on whisky. Died of alcohol poisoning, hence the smile.”

The Inspector asked, “What of the third body?”

“Ah,” says the coroner, “This is the most unusual one. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, 66, struck by lightning. ”

“Why is she smiling then?” asks the Inspector.

“Thought she was having her picture taken.”

===
I’m a Bible hugging, gun owning, disgruntled conservative. Connect to me on LinkedIn
Comment by Eric Ruth — March 4, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
I’m committed to emailing the white house, my representatives and Pelosi three times a week for the rest of the year (or til my head explodes). I’ve created some basic templates and I just switch up the opening sentence in each one - takes me all of ten minutes. I’m not going to sit back and take this financial raping and pillaging of our economy and my hard earned money.

I hope all of you who feel strongly about this will also heed Clayton’s call to action.

Clayton, keep up the good fight. I’m with you brother.
Comment by Bruno — March 4, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Hey Frank & Rick Haslam

America was founded upon Conservative Judeo/Christian values.

I am an immigrant from eastern Europe… Socialism Sucks.

I rather have opportunity than security. I am going to do everything to preserve these principles.

Obama and many on the far-left represent socialism…

This country welcomes evrybody… but do NOT try and mess with the BASIC principles that this Great country was founded upon.

Bruno
Comment by thomas — March 4, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Spending ones way out of a recession makes about as much sense as a Democratic Government!!!
Comment by justin — March 4, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
the difference is the money being spent by obama is being spent largely in the usa, unlike bush that sent billions overseas. spending money in the usa puts more people to work and promotes a better economy.
Comment by Phyllis — March 4, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
Groan — can’t we stick to copywriting? Oh yeah, this is “The Total Packge.”
Comment by John Forde — March 4, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
I’m not as bold as Clayton… I steer clear of the politics. Partly because I don’t do debates unless I can guarantee there’s a beer in front of both sides of the argument… and partly because some of these things are larger than, I think, a lot of us can wrap our heads around.

If I say I agree with some things Clayton said and disagree with others (for instance, I would have loved to see some equal-opportunity thrashing… I don’t know from Obama yet, but I’m convinced Bush was still a scoundrel regardless)… I only do it to throw some different cred. behind what I’ll say next, which is simply this…

Not only should Clayton get to say what he wants (it’s his blog)… for all you who “wish [he] would stick to copywriting,” I just want to point out to you that he just gave you a brilliant example of exactly that!

Forget where the opinions land for just a second. Notice how he delivered them… sharp, uncompromising opinion (all good copy takes a position)… precise details delivered in a new way (how often do you get to talk about Ramses in a sales letter)… stinging metaphors and verbs… a precise call to action at the end.

Like it, hate it, agree with it or revile it… this is the trademark Clayton style that made a fortune for some of his clients. I know because I’ve studied that style hoping to glean something from it. And the times that I managed to get a little somethin’-somethin’ out of the experience proved very lucrative.

I’m just sayin’… after you’ve cooled off some, go back and read again. There are lessons between the lines worth absorbing.
Comment by Wendy Makepeace — March 4, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
Did someone forget to announce that Bush is no longer president? Is that the defense liberals are going to continue to take…Bush did it, so we have to do it even bigger…yeah…we’ll show him.

It wasn’t good when Bush did it, but, the scale in which Obama is spending is now life changing for all of us. It’s something that we’ll never be able to come back from. Entitlements, once they are given are very difficult to take away. And, the socialism policies that are going to be forced upon us whether we want them or not, because after all, it’s for our own good, will be forever. It’s a change in the American way of life that is so disturbing. And it’s disheartening to know that so many liberal Americans think this is the way to go. After all, this is what their leader is telling them. Go his way, or we are all doomed. Be damn the Constitution and OUR Amercian system of capitalism. We don’t want it so we’ll just make it go away. After all, those other capitlists/socialists nations are so successfull…and who do all these countries rely on to fight their fights. Take a big guess. Of course we’ll be so in debt and no longer able to keep spinning out the money, that our military and defense systems will just start to deteriorate. Then, who’s going to be able to fight for them then? I’m sure Iran is just chomping at the bit…

And what are they going to say when things continue to be crumbeling all around us two, three…five years from now? …”Well, you never said anything when Bush did it…”

Good luck with that…I’m sure it’ll help a great deal in solving our truly horrific problems.
Comment by Jon Gehris — March 4, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
Clayton,

Right on! BHO promised change, and he delivered in about 6 weeks, marginalizing free market capitalism while growing the size of the federal government and deficit like no other President. His comment about the “profits and earnings ratio” is a pure classic. And, several of our enemies are now emboldened because of his inaction or naivete. Let’s see, BHO campaigned as an outsider who could reform DC politics, engender bi-partisanship, and solve the myriad of problems facing us. Now we know he’s a fraud. But hark, there is a glimmer of hope … moderates in his own party are becoming increasingly wary of his plan to transform the country, and monied liberals are expressing their fear that his policies are anti-growth. Hmn, could this be push-back during the honeymoon period? Clayon’s plea to get involved, e-mail or fax your opinions to your elected representatives and senators is honest, and right-on. This fight will involve a whole lot more than the $$$ in any bill … they will attempt to take away your right to free speech before they are done. So, if not now, when will we stand-up?
Comment by Ken — March 4, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
Their is an accurate book that has sections written from 5, 3 and 2 thousand years ago. The BIBLE shows that these times are to come due to greed, selfishness and all to come.

Their is no wonder why the world bank stated, Obama’s plan is the BEST plan.

Every other country in the world has been waiting for the moment when the vaults would open and US power would rush throughout the world as a wave of water. The water will dissipate and …

Welcome to the revolution(change) that sets the stage for America to slip into third world status(if you shall judge). A level that will point to a ONE WORLD currency, as yet another fallacy created by men.

You can already hear Obama state, ‘globalization’ is the ‘key’ to resolve this crisis, facing the world. Many think globalization got us to this point.

It does not matter - as four years will be plenty of time to uproot the remaining pillars of the US support structure.

Earmarks will be the further est concerns we have, once a war with Iran is waged(third world war) and the oil crisis stops all traffic on the highways. The earmarks will exacerbate the issues we all feel, creating perplex insanity and chaos(as if that is not already ensuing).

Cut right through the false leaders on TV and hear the truths. The best minds in the world, in a new power, to find the answers and save the masses. Develop plans to prevail as we are about to go through the most exciting times on earth! Embrace and race or suffer, kicking and screaming all the way.

See a house built in a cave/old mine shaft, on Ebay. The owner’s financing was an adjustable arm loan and it’s flexing the family out to the streets.

God Bless and Peace to all.
Comment by Frank — March 4, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
Clayton, like it would do ANY good to try to defend any position you’re against. You are so firmly entrenched in your viewpoint, I don’t have the time, energy, or inclination to even try. You flaunt your own brand of ignorance in your assumptions about me as I am not infatuated with any politicians of either party.
Comment by Copywriting Sense — March 4, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
This administration will take away your CHANGE…

I pity those clueless celebs, citizens and africans
celebrating Mr.O-Bummer’s presidential speech.

Little did they know this first black guy would steal
more money from them than anyone in history ever
will.

Obama is going to be worse than Bush. Why?
Because he has the support of those who have “hope” AND
he works for the bankers.
Comment by Allan — March 4, 2009 @ 9:27 pm
Makepeace for Prez… The Nug for Vice Prez
Comment by Johan — March 4, 2009 @ 9:41 pm
If you think sending a couple hundred or thousand emails to some form will do it. Then you have to wake up.

Politics is all about getting the majority of the people to think they have a “voice” when they have none.

You need to resarch more, if you want to get the message out, you must take on your marketing hat. And get to where you want, slowly.. without bringing too much attention.

In the mean time, there are tons of incomepetent people in the world. That’s the root of all evil.

When you let opinions rule, instead of logics and science. So I’m with you, but not a million messages will get you in contac with Obama and get him to change your mind.

You have to be smarter than this, if you want to bring change.

I did some research yesterday, and came up with this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger_effect

Have a good day Clayton, you’re still the best copywriting blogger out there.

Johan
Comment by Jim Walsh — March 4, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
Dear Clayton,
Thankfully I found found your forum exposing your radical
ideologies B E F O R E I sent you $600 of my hard earned $.
I don’t support right wing apologists.
Comment by Rudi — March 4, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
Clayton

as always, excellent analysis delivered succinctly and with passion. Looking at global developments I am struck by the implicit assumption everyone (no matter which political party they belong to or support), everywhere (no matter which part of the world) makes is that the government needs to do something. That is what is wrong with the whole approach to this crisis. The fact that the world’s economies have been micromanaged for the better part of 50 years has left the impression that governments are in charge. This crisis proves that they are not! This downturn, as bad as it is (and it is likely to get worse), will be over much quicker if we let the market correct itself. Involving politicians is the worst thing to do, as Clayton’s post proves.
Clayton, please keep up the good work of pointing these things out in a way that helps us learn more about how to improve our copywriting!
Comment by Glen Kohlenberg — March 4, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
Wow! Clayton it sounds like you have a few that would rather see a rope around your neck about now! But…

See I blame you for some of this because if you remember I had ask you to show us how Obama got elected in the first place.But I never received your answer.And it did surprise me with you be the marketing guru and all.

So here is a couple of things to ponder? I would say that he got the most votes from Americans in the under $249,000 income bracket.

The other thing that has Obama going nuts over is that he assumed that the Americans that is holding onto there 7-8 trillon $$$$ under the bed would start investing again.

So here’s to you Mr. Obama thinking that all Americans are that stupid. We have your number and the money will stay under the bed until the lying and cheating and stealing stops.

As for Clayton and Wendy just keep telling it like it is but you may need to raise your rates to help cover some of that tax burden!

P.S. For the whiners and crybabies you made the choice to come to this site if you don’t like it then leave it.Oh and by the way the soup kitchen closes at 8pm so you better get a move on.

Thanks Clayton

Glen Kohlenberg
Comment by brett — March 4, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
I’m truly amazed that more people ARE NOT OUTRAGED about what is going on.

It’s amazing that so many people are either hypnotized, stupefied, lazy or just plain stupid to realize what is going on in this country.

Wheres the outrage? Where’s the Tea Party? There should be people surrounding the white house refusing to take this crap. Yet 90% of the population is at home watching CNN, thumb stuck in mouth, too stupid to realize what is happening or too lazy to do anything about it.

Of course this IS the Socialist master plan. Take away the individuals feeling of being able to affect change. When everyone feels like they can’t do anything, they don’t act.

They hand over their rights, money, property, and country to the corruption that brainwashed them into believing they couldn’t make a change.

I’m not willing to let that happen without at least doing my part.
Thanks Clayton.

PS. Bush and his war was entirely designed to line the pockets of the defense contractors who did the work over there. Most Washington politicians are in on it. Not just bush. They all have back room deals with Haliburton, Caci, defense contractors etc. to get a slice of the billions poured into the war.

I don’t think anyway would defend the wasteful spending on the war, but why in the world would ANYONE in their right mind want the Osama plan, which takes bush’s spending times 50!
Comment by steve — March 4, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
Clayton,

Thank You for your commentary.

Your analysis is right on.

Having run my own business and been involved with small business owners for over 25 years, what is coming downstream will hurt the average worker far more than anyone else.
Its all about the establishment of political power not what’s best for the people.
The politicians that had oversight over the greed that created this should be thrown out, but remain in their positions- in a business this would never happen. Our major media has NOT told us the whole truth on this, keeping the majority of the people in the dark.
Its not about right or left, its about right and wrong- our only recourse is to hold the politicians responsible (letting them know we are going to do it)if they vote to waste our money, they HAVE TO GO.
We have to make our voices heard NOW before its too late.
I’ve never been politically active before, but I am now, what’s happening is wrong and being done for the wrong reasons… at all of our expense.
Comment by Mike — March 4, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
I don’t like the situation either. Way too much money is literally flying away, to where again? Who believes there is little consequence to this panic style governing?

Still, setting aside the blame for a moment, remember that as individuals, at some point as more US structures and institutions fail, and as satisfaction can no longer be delivered via the usual channels, as pay isn’t there for police and military, we literally will be able to do anything we want. And rather than see this as an opportunity for bad guys and blood in the streets, see it as the liberation of an increasingly enslaved nation.

It takes only handfuls of people here and there wanting to build a better life to bring about disproportionate positive change. Regardless of what happens, we won’t get any dumber, we won’t be much different in our skills than we are now, but with the clarity that comes from the shattering of the illusion of what government is good for, individuals will focus with new energy on their goals and those of their small groups of family, friends, and neighbors, and things will be ok.

Combining with like minded people in your neighborhood, when the time is right–and you’ll know when it is–works.

Is this paranoia too far-fetched? I hope so. But if it isn’t, let’s not forget our own good, and that of our friends and neighbors to do what is right and to accomplish whatever needs to be done.

Allow yourself to openly accept the reality of what so many people rail about: the fools in government. If they’re so foolish, what do YOU need them for? Do you think you’re somehow helpless without them? Awaken from the dream and take a look at reality. Take a look at yourself. You’re not as bad as you think–not as helpless as you think either. And neither are the majority of your neighbors, friends and relatives.

If a tiny part of “your piece of the county” falls. Pick it up.

Sorry Clayton, I had to get that out. Thank you for starting this discussion.
Comment by David Phillips — March 4, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Folks,
Listen to yourselves. I have followed Clayton’s blog for a while and he has spoken out about President Bush’s policies as well. Listen to what John Forde Wrote about the copy lessons to be learned from this post. Has he gotten you emotionally involved or not. Agree or disagree with his position he definately pushed a lot of hot buttons. To make myself clear.
I am a registered Republican who has been saying for years that President Bush needed to curtail the spendthrift ways and use the veto to stop some of the bleeding. I fault the Republicans for the situation we are in as well for their willingness to embrace the spending habits of their opponents. The party took their spanking and hopefully learned from it. I am e-mailing my senators and congressperson regularly to speak out against this folly. I did it during the previous administration and will be doing it again.
Now as to the folly being put out now. Read “Atlas Shrugged” and you will have an idea where we are headed. Read Milton Friedman’s works on economics and learn how a free market economy works. Before you start making snap judgments about comments educate yourself about the situation.
Read and study our history and learn from Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and John Adams et. al. Our country was blessed with some of the greatest minds in history at it’s forming and they forsaw a lot of potential problems which are occuring now.
Remember the people who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it.
Then decide if you want to mortgage your future, your children’s future and your grandchildren’s future to pay for these programs. I for one am not.
Comment by Johan — March 4, 2009 @ 11:17 pm
Okay, I see posts are coming in, so I have to take a stand. Clayton certainly have value in this political post. There has to be some stamina somewhere, were the sun still shines, otherwise the western countries will collapse in the coming years. In some African countries, the criminals has taken over the prisons, and I mean Lliterally.

They sit outside on the roofs buildings and smoke weed.

That’s what’s going to happen if none, ever point us in to the end goal, to fill well mentally and financially. So let each one of us take some responsibility for our own actions.

Why do we have to debate stuff, just look at the numbers instead. Like in copywritning. And study your swipe file more than everything else, because there’s plenty of countries not bugged by this incompente leaders and collapsing economics.

It’s partly some western european countries, along with all of eastern europe (with a few exceptions) and USA. These are leaking coutnries, this countries are doing fine:

Country Preformance this year(+%)
China(Shenzen) 21,8
China(Shanghai) 13,8
Sri Lanka 9,3
Tunisia 6,1
Venezuela 4,9
Russia(Micex) 4,4
Jamaica 3,1
Chile 2,9
Marocko 1,4
Colombia 0,7

Now, there has to be something done. We need to straighten out the laws, In singapore for example, bubble gums were illegal during the 90s. Today you can buy them in pharmacy stores.

Just because there is 1 and 2, then it don’t means we can do 1,4 or 1,7.

It seems as some countries can have strict rules and still have free speech. One thing doesn’t always lead to another, I don’t see why so many (specifically in my country) think it has to go that route.

This is just one example, there are plenty out there. But econimcs, but also in healthcare and school systems.

Here is a study on competence in teens knowledge:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PISA_(student_assessment)

So much can be done, but plenty wants to close their eyes instead, and wait for the next one to lead them.

Johan
Comment by ChooChoo — March 4, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
Clayton
You are a believer; you understand freedom, and how it is imperiled. And, you are a superb communicator; you see inside the feelings and understand the cause.

What this nation is faced with will not be conquered by emotional rhetoric or traditional action. It will take marketing and action unlike that we have experienced or driven in the past. Letters to congress or the editor are a waste of electrons or trees.

I for one believe that the Internet and its tools could lead us to move enough cognoscenti to in turn move a fair part of the citizens, but just as important, the influencers.

Perhaps such an effort could be successful. Are you willing to possibly participate to that end?
Comment by John — March 4, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
It just goes to prove what I’ve been saying for 30 years: a liberal will ALWAYS do the wrong thing, every time. Like a disease, liberalism should be resisted, lest it spread. I voted for Carter because I was young and foolish, thinking that he’d be OK because he seemed like a good, decent Christian fellow. I lived to regret my folly. Never again! BTW, I wonder why BHO is so consistent with those grape popsicles….
Comment by Clarke Echols (Resident scientist and rabble-rouser) — March 5, 2009 @ 12:23 am
To understand what’s going on:

Over 2/3 of Americans are so busy watching Oprah or Who
wants to be a star or reading some moronic “News” paper,
sipping beer and watching football — no, more likely
washing their Saab or some other imported car — and
eating “organic” vegetarian food that they dare not bother
to study history or the founding of this country, or what
happened at Plymouth in 1620 and ensuing years when they
tried Obama’s approach and nearly starved…

Nor did they study Lenin and Marx, Hitler, and Chairman Mao.

And they didn’t exercise a single neuron to figure out if
the high-brow PhD that taught their college basket-weaving
classes had a clue when he was touting the virtues of
Castro in Cuba or Pol Pot in Asia and castigating Washington, Franklin, and others (including some of my
ancestors) who risked or lost their lives so these sorry
bastards (illegitimate children of questionable canine
ancestry is what that word means) can vote for a Marxist
as if he’s saving us all.

They’ll get exactly what they deserve. Maybe the others
who have a modicum of intelligence will band together,
secede, succeed, and let the rest starve as they so surely
deserve.

As for the illustrious Mr. Walsh, good luck with your $600.
may it serve you well as you live your life of perpetual
servitude to King Obama who’ll keep you on the plantation as
long as you allow it.

The people aren’t hypnotized, nor stupefied. They are
stupidized by an educational system that was set up in the 1950s and 1960s to accomplish EXACTLY what you see going on
today. This scheme was warned against when I was in high school in the 1950s, for cryin’ out loud! And people thought those concerned about the coming catastrophe back then were out of their minds with needless worry.

History is filled with the carcasses of societies and nations that succumbed to the siren song of something for nothing.

How much better the world would be if people were allowed to
own property, businesses, and make their own path through life without interference by government, other than having a
consistent set of reasonable rules that all must follow with
opportunity to fail.

You can’t succeed if you can’t fail. And you don’t learn if
someone prevents you from falling. Then people can be generous with others out of their own free will, not by
coercion.

What’s “THE MESSIAH” going to do *when* bin Laden pulls off
his next super attack on the US and kills 4,000,000 Americans on our own soil, half of them women and children
as he has announced he intends to do? He’s a patient man.

How soon we forget. The world’s a dangerous place. But what were the Romans doing when they were invaded by
Huns and others from the North? They were so lazy and
stupefied from dependence on government they couldn’t
defend themselves.

History repeats. Those who don’t learn its lessons get
to repeat them.
Comment by David Markov — March 5, 2009 @ 1:45 am
I don’t get some of the posters here.

How can someone claim to be an entrepreneur AND be in favor of Obama and his blood-sucking taxes?

It’s like getting married and then deciding to become abstinate. They want to put up with all the crap — but don’t want to enjoy any of the goodies.

Dave
Comment by David Markov — March 5, 2009 @ 1:57 am
Re: Post 27

Jim,

Feel free to find a different copywriting instructor who is more to your political liking. I hear Ben Dover offers a good course.

Dave
Comment by Yoav — March 5, 2009 @ 4:11 am
It’s very surprising that all the republican business owners hate Obama so much.

Obama is embodiment of the entrepreneur, he has vision, is dedicated to the business (the US), works very hard to inspire the employees (US Citizens) into taking action and invests all his extra cash (that’s actually your cash) on expanding the business’s capacity.

While Bush was the bureaucrat that the ‘man’ that bought the company put in-charge. He didn’t know what he was doing at all, he invested all the cash into things that looked good and made his ego bigger (If I put my money into bombs instead of paying this nerd to figure out how to make an extra cent on the dollar from pig manure then I must be Important, heck, I’m saving the world). And was a blubbering idiot.

Honestly, you guys need to stop being so pissy and whiney and get to work. And try to help instead of passing criticism.

Don’t ask what Obama can do for you. Ask what you can do to help Obama save your country.

But what do I know, I’m not even a citizen of the US.

Although I would have loved to be one. Even in the middle of this “horrible crises”.
Comment by Doug — March 5, 2009 @ 4:34 am
Hey Bruno (post #16)
Exactly which founding “Conservative Judeo/Christian” values were you refering to? The ones where we built up this nations economy through the brutal slavery of the African people?…or perhaps the devestating genocide of indiginous Americans in an all out land-grab? If the definition of Conservative Judeo/Christian values is spelled out g-r-e-e-d I would certainly agree that that’s our single most founding principle as a nation. For goodness sake, we’d better not let that go. But at least we ought to call it for what it is. One thing it is not, it is not Christian. Nations are not Christian, people are…or they are not. How much we are willing to hoard to ourselves while others around us suffer is a good guage we can measure ourselves by as to how closely we truly adhere to Judeo/Christian values. The sky is not falling and the world is not going to come to an end over this “stimulous.”
The [u]only[/u] reason people are so upset over this is because we all want to hoard it to ourselves and we don’t really care about the less fortunite. No matter what a person’s station in life, the montra is the same, “Take it from them, but not from me.” We can all agree that there are currently many social ills which need attention. For instance, who would deny that an unemployed diabetic who cannot afford insuline shots is a situation that shouldn’t happen in such a wealthy nation? But which reader of this blog is willing to step up and cover such a cost out of their own abundance? No matter how much we have as a people, it is never enough. While Socialism saps people of their drive and will to produce, Capitalism is a parasite which insatiably gorges itself upon the meager resources of the many. I am glad we have a Capitalistic system with Socialistic programs. Together they balance out the evils found in both systems when either is left unchecked.
Comment by Markus Trauernicht — March 5, 2009 @ 5:42 am
From 1929 (79% fall) it took 3 decades for the S&P 500 to reach old highs.
After 1969 (60% fall) ist took 2 decades for the S&P 500 to reach old highs.

Right now the S&P 500 is down by about 60%. With deflationary forces prevailing it will go further down.
If history is a measure for the future - reaching old highs could take between 20 and 40 years.
And the babyboomers have not even started going into pension.
The derivative bubbles have not really come tumbling down.
And credit default swaps have not been regulated or been abolished and declared illegal as of NOW!

Best wishes
Markus Trauernicht from Berlin
Comment by Markus Trauernicht — March 5, 2009 @ 5:55 am
By the way. It looks like some lifeinsurers have similar portfolios like the rotten banks because of their heavy “investments” into derivatives. But it may take a few years until that bubble bursts as that secret remains with the other hidden corpses in their cellars. It certainly seems to be a problem in Germany. And that bubble will only burst when the babyboomers get paid their monthly pensions from their life savings.

So buy and hold may be the perfect strategy for someone who is about 5 years old.

Regards
Markus Trauernicht
Comment by Bernie — March 5, 2009 @ 8:22 am
Mr. Makepeace,

To paraphrase the late Gary Halbert, “Find a starving crowd, and feed it.”

To paraphrase Dan Kennedy, “Find a herd.”

It reminds me of David and Goliath.

A well placed pebble in a sling (or an argument in a blog) when aimed appropriately can bring down giants.

You have definitely touched some emotional hot buttons, and as of this writing have inspired 43 of us to respond.

I tip my hat to you!

Bernie
Comment by John C. A. Manley — March 5, 2009 @ 8:23 am
I’m in Canada here.

Farther’s going on 90. He was born before socialism invaded our country. Before the wars. Before people relied on the government to take care of themselves and their neighbor.

Don’t know what to say. People are so blinded. Thank God the internet is here. It’s really the only hope. People need to hear the truth.

Thank you Clayton.
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 5, 2009 @ 8:39 am
TO WENDY RE: POST #27 FROM JIM WALSH!!!

Uh-oh … My article opposing Congress’ scheme to spend $1.7 million researching pig farts has Jim Walsh so mad, he’s decided NOT to spend $600 on one of our copywriting products.

Does this mean I’m not rich anymore?

And what if he gets really mad, cancels his subscription and stops paying me ZERO DOLLARS for our daily response-boosting ideas?

Maybe I should just shut up … abandon my right to free speech … give up trying to influence my elected representatives … and allow events that make success harder for all of us pass by without comment.

Maybe I should respect the fact that maybe 3% or 4% of our file love Obama and the Democrats so much that they’re perfectly willing to surrender the values and principles that made America the richest nation on Earth.

Maybe I should be more sensitive to people who sincerely love pig farts and are incensed that Obama and Congress aren’t spending MORE to research them.

…

Naw … that’d never work.

– Clayton
Comment by MattV — March 5, 2009 @ 8:46 am
Clayton -

You rock, man!

Keep singing your tune. You’ve got a customer for life…

(And hopefully a new Copy Apprentice)

Matt
Comment by Andrew L. Foss — March 5, 2009 @ 8:53 am
Clayton -

I just Dugg this article so that more people can get in on this discussion - and maybe wake up.

A few weeks ago you questioned one of my posts - and whether you knew if Obama were a Socialist. My heart was Warmed when Wendy used it in her post.

WAKE UP AMERICA. Obama and most of the Washington Illuminati are Nuts. They look reality and the past in the face, and say maybe Marx had the right thing going for him.

They look at you, the American Public, and say Wow - You are way too stupid to do it on your own. You need more government in your life.

Get ready. If you do nothing there here it comes.
Comment by Sandi Krakowski — March 5, 2009 @ 9:09 am
The PROPHETIC rises up and speaks again thru a business platform! Bless you Clayton for putting your reputation on the line for the good of others!

I like a man who can speak the TRUTH without drama, without emotion and without delusion! You are being used MIGHTILY! Do not be silent.. please keep it coming!

Blessings on all you do! And all you stand for!
Sandi
Comment by Dan White — March 5, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Nice post Clayton!

I find it funny that none of he normally rabid conservatives on this forum have commented on Clayton’s actual article.

Yes, you’ve commented on his secondary themes like pork spending and taxing the rich.

But the article is about how this stimulus package is being passed under false premises… that it’s for the poor when it’s not.

A few days ago Clayton posted a pdf of the actual stimulus package. Please go search the word “welfare.” You’ll get one hit.

There’s nothing in that stimulus bill about welfare, or about expanding it etc.

So except for emergency unemployment benefits which we’ve all heard about–6 months of extended benefits and $100/month in additional money–this trillion dollars has very little to do with poor people.

And really unemployment benefits don’t either. You can’t get unemployment unless you’ve worked A LOT in the last two years, and been let go through no fault of your own.

So before you throw all your venom at poor people, be the “hardworking” person you say you are and at least skim the pdf.

You’ll see $550+ billion is for military stuff. And that’s not counting intelligence and homeland security etc.

The rest of the bill is largely pork programs that provide jobs to people who want to work in government. That’s it!

So folks don’t go spitting on some homeless guy because he inspired this stimulus package. He’s not getting free treatment for mental illness under this bill. He’s not getting welfare (unless he has custody of a kid). He’s not getting jack unless he’s been working recently. i.e: JUST READ THE DAMN THING.

Yes, this bill puts $1 trillion dollars into the economy through government checks–to employees. Not to citizens.

So Clayton’s post is on point. It stimulates the economy by expanding the goverment. It’s a bit like an ad agency. If the account division gets an extra 10 million dollars, where do you think they’ll spend it? Even if the creative department is woefully understaffed, they won’t see a cent of it. Well, beauracrats are like them. They spent money in their division–government.

If the poor and lower-middle class think Obama is throwing them a rope, please realize it’s a very small one. You have to go get it by applying for a government job.

This rest is mostly middle class to upper class spending through tax credits and the military–poor people really aren’t afraid of terrorists. They’re afraid of their landlord.

-Dan White
Comment by Belinda B. — March 5, 2009 @ 10:01 am
Clayton and Wendy-

Great discussion. You certainly have whipped it up here. Thanks for speaking your mind and caring enough about our country to use your tools to speak your mind and persuade people to think a different way. Isn’t that what we do as copywriters, persuade people? It still amazes me that people who disagree with you simply scream, “what about Bush?” I think that rallying cry will fade within the year. Yet when you’ve suffered from BDS for 8 years, it must be like withdrawal and all teh poor sufferers can do is shake tehir fists and scream, horrified at teh realization Bish is no longer important. I almost feel sorry for them. It’s going to be hard in the coming months for them to admit that Obama will be — yes I’ll be bold enough to say it — a failure. All their hopes for a utopian Democrat society dashed amid the ruins of the smoldering stock market and realizing that change never came to America. Just death and taxes.

Loved John Forde’s comments too, so wonderfully him, diplomatic, levelheaded and as always, it’s all about what we can learn about the copy.

I’d like to leave you with Thomas Jefferson: A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.

Oh and C.S. Lewis too. . .
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

For those of you don’t know, cupidity means greed. I had to look it up.

Keep stirring it up CLayton. The country is better for it.
Comment by Ryan Ireland — March 5, 2009 @ 10:19 am
I love it. What’s the real lesson here? Not politics at all…

It doesn’t matter WHAT your company does for a living–when you know your customers like Clayton does, you can leave your traditional brand for a while to build buy-in and boost engagement and response over the long term.

Heck–if you have the demographic of your audience down pat, you can even do stuff like post #13 and blast some of your own audience! Pretty wild.

You all might not buy everything Makepeace sells…but I GUARANTEE you read it! This is an excellent lesson in branding, something he never writes about, but always develops just a little more with each post.

Side note–any email marketers out there want to start a roundtable? If you’re in an industry that is NOT language learning, shoot me an email at rireland at internetorderllc dot com—-this invitation is especially open to makepeace’s email marketer!
Comment by Sharon B. — March 5, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Thanks, Dan (#51)–you are right on.
The Obamanifesto has nothing in it for the average working person. For all his talk about helping the foreclosure “victims”, that part of the program only applies to the people who got mortgages from Fannie and Freddie. The rest of us need not even apply, no matter what the situation.
My husband and I are looking for a home the old-fashioned way–we are SAVING MONEY for a down payment. Thanks to this sorry excuse for a budget, we will probably be penalized for doing it right.It’s a good thing we’re used to living on very little!
You got any of those pot-laced bonbons left? After reading that piece of work, I’ve got one hell of a headache.
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 5, 2009 @ 10:44 am
Dan … Welfare by any other name stinks just as much. Take another look at the Obama budget. You’e being seduced by superior copywriting.
Comment by Dan White — March 5, 2009 @ 10:50 am
Clayton,

That thing is 140 pages. More like I’m being seduced by boredom.

Can you give an example of welfare in disguise?
Comment by Jeff — March 5, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Let’s take a good look at where our Prez’s political roots come from. He was taught by the very best. The Land of Lincoln and the City of “Big Shoulders”. Three out of our last six governors are convicted felons; with a forth on the way.David Axelrod, a Daley Machine confidant, was the Prez’s campaign advisor and now acts as his “special advisor”.
Being a Chicago native for the last 50 years, I have experienced corruption on a local and state level all my life. The Prez has learned his lessons well. Tell the masses what they want to here, because once in the White House there will be nothing anyone can do to stop me.
As the song goes,”the large print giveth and the small print taketh away”.
Comment by Dan White — March 5, 2009 @ 11:51 am
Hi Sharon,

OMFG! I thought only rabid conservatives posted here when not wiping the foam from their mouths.

I have a friend! Sigh…

Unfortunately I had to give up the pot bon bons when I discovered they’re not actually provided for in these stimulus bills, as Clayton promised.

Can we talk about copywriting for a second?

Clayton uses two techniques very effectively: common anger and common enemy.

As a copywriter I know that he knows that this bill doesn’t steal from the rich (anger) to give to the couch-locked Oprah watching bon bon addicts (enemy).

If you had to characterize it, which is hard to do because it’s just too huge… it steals from the rich to give to newly hired government employees and the military.

So while I can still partake in this trickle up scheme, I do have to get off my arse and apply for a job smelling pig poo, or waiting anxiously to get blown up by roadside bombs. Or a thousand other jobs this plan calls for.

Which is to say, the above parargraph isn’t too sexy. So instead Clayton spins it as stealing from the rich to give to that creep on cops. I’m not referring to the cop. Put down the reefer Sharon.

When in truth the cop will benefit more from the plan than any of the residents of 400 Trailer Trash Blvd.

Kind Regards,
Dan “Yes We Might” White
P.S. Are you or your husband first-time home buyers? There’s supposed to be a $15,000 tax rebate coming. So basically your 2008 tax liability, or 2009, (or both) can be wiped out if you buy a home (before July, I think). Don’t quote me on that. But it’s worth looking into.
Comment by Paul — March 5, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
I am horrified as to how the President I happily voted for and his mindless actions (on the economy)

Any time you try to move that fast there is something wrong.

I contacted all the above to let them know how I feel. If nothing else at least I said something.
Comment by Ron — March 5, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
Dear Clayton and Wendy,

There’s an old adage from where I don’t know that goes something like this “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

Another strikes me right now which goes something like: “How do you know when a politician is lying? He or she is opening his/her mouth.”

It’s very obvious that politicians in this country (especially the liberal democrats) are continually tyring to sell us a “social bill of goods” for which we much all pay and destroy the initiatives and freedoms that made this country great.

Lord, help us first focus on saving the country you have blessed for all of these years by saying and believing that - In God We Trust.

Not the government, not the beaureacracies, not the institutions, and certainly not the politicians.

To Wendy and Clayton, be abundantly blessed.

Keep up the great work!

Ron Schmidt
Comment by David Edwards — March 5, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
To #41 (Comment by Yoav

How can you say that ‘Obama is embodiment of the entrepreneur’. There is NO tax break or assistance for the self employed or small business owner.

You say he ‘invests all his extra cash (that’s actually your cash) on expanding the business’s capacity’. Would you let someone you don’t even know spend your hard earned money on what they want and not what you need? From that comment, you must work for someone and not own your business.And you’re telling people to ‘get to work’

The fact that you are not even a ‘citizen of the US’ and you make comments about a country you aren’t even a part off makes you sound like ‘a blubbering idiot’.

I hope you aren’t living in the US illegally…
Comment by Miche DuBil — March 5, 2009 @ 3:25 pm
Wow! Look at all these comments.

And I thought all these subscribers were Britts.
Comment by David — March 5, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
I knew it! After our CRA shebang last summer - it was only a matter of time until Clayton came out with both guns blazing again and - “the dems (common enemy) will destroy the world!” But to those who have stooped to personal attacks - I say take a hike and start your own blog. I don’t agree with some of his politics but I see Clayton’s writing and political rants as part of the wonderful character he is.

You have to the define the problems before you can solve them. What we are seeing is an entire political and monetary system that has become a total fraud.

Spend 25 years in the gambling biz on the Vegas strip and you’ll have a front row seat in observing human nature - like no other. And your BS and scam detectors will have a hard earned PHD. I’ve seen scams so diabolical that they redefine creativity as it is commonly understood. But nothing compares to the outright fraud that our government has become.

Here’s something that people in the gambling biz know - that apparently never occurred to the Dofus who masqueraded as a president for the last 8 years - or to the GOP de-regulation cheerleaders …

“IF money CAN be stolen, it will be 100% of the time. IF a system CAN be gamed, it will be 100% of the time.”

These dumb asses want you to believe that letting “Colonial Sanders babysit your chicken” is what capitalism and free markets are all about. Trusting any bank or the people on Wall St not to steal or rob the system blind is as moronic as it gets.

BUT - they are PAID-OFF to be stupid and dead at the switch. Anyone see 60 Minutes last Sun? Harry Markopolos detailed the Madoff scam for the SEC 5 times since 2000 - and they still didn’t have a f’n clue and did NOTHING! Bush appointed the dumbest asses imaginable - as his SEC policy was hands off while the RNC and his de-reg cronies in congress were collecting HUGE payoffs. Harry proved that these people couldn’t recognize a fraud if were tattooed on their forehead.

FRAUD through payoffs are at the root of all this. Remember that wall of regulation that was put between conventional and investment banks after the great depression? TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN! Go back to x-chairman of the Senate Banking Committee Phil Gramm and his UBS paymaster’s bill. Clinton signed it, and that paved the way for this economic disaster. Now lenders didn’t have to give a crap whether a homeowner could pay a mortgage - because Wall St banks were buying them faster than they could write. Selling off mortgage backed securities like hot cakes created a huge market for lenders that “had no skin in the game.” But nothing compares to what was coming.

How attractive does this investment sound? You can buy mortgage backed securities and insure them too! It would be like betting black on roulette and winning even when red showed. But if the WS banks used the word insurance in the instrument, they would be subjected to regulations and capitol requirements, so they named the investment a “Credit Default Swap.” The housing scam was US local, but when CDS’s hit the market - they went world wide and spread like wildfire. People on WS were buying mansions and yachts like candy bars. CDS’s created a demand for mortgage paper unlike anything ever seen - flooding the market with buyers and bogus run-ups on home prices.

AIG and all the banks jumped in the Credit Default Swap game. As reported on 60 Minutes several weeks ago, they are now legally on the hook for over *$55 Trillion* in Credit Default Swaps. And that is why this country is headed for nowhere land and why these scammers are broke. This is what is sitting on the table as Obama pulls up a chair.

Hey Clayton, fiscal conservatism - small gov and lower taxes sound great. But how many times are you going to be conned before you realize that those words are nothing more than the bait before the switch. The GOP and Dems are nothing but opposite wings of the same K-Street bird.

You can track every ill that we have in this country back to political payoffs and corruption - all done under the guise of the constitutional right to petition. Banks and corporations have gamed the people through that right - and have bought congress and the US government long ago. Until this is mitigated and the Supreme Court stops calling bribery free speech, America is doomed - we are seeing it happen right now as a system based on fraud can’t sustain itself and eventually crumbles from it’s own weight.

We are getting screwed in ways that never occurred to most people. Just one example: How do you like the US Chamber Of Commerce Taxes?

What’s that you say? They are the “briber in chief” that kept the borders open for the Mexican invasion. Seen any houses that weren’t built by illegal aliens lately? These cos profited and now you can pay for new schools and an education system that has been decimated by this. Millions of people paid directly as they lost their construction and factory jobs. Indigent care has forced thousands of hospitals to close - adding further demise and expense to an already defunct medical system. Emergency rooms are being used for illegal alien primary care in every hospital in America. If you need emergency treatment, you’ll take a # and wait behind them. They are bankrupting medicaid and all state human services including prisons. And you are getting the bill NOW!

Millions of citizens have had their social security #’s ripped off and the estimated # of gang members is in the millions - and they have settled organized drug operations into over 250 cities.

I’m using this to illustrate that when you have over 200 million citizens in outrage for years on end and still nothing gets done, what does that tell you? It shows me that The People’s will and The Founders intentions under the constitution mean nothing today.

We’ve been ripped off and sold out. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than emails to get our country back. Special interests have even rigged the courts so we’ll have to take it back.
Comment by Dan White — March 5, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
Great balls of fire… Clayton your venom is honeysuckle compared to David’s!
Comment by Aspassia Arvanitis — March 5, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
Dear Clayton,
Voice our opinion is a freedom we all have in this country and is a great gift to all of us.
America for years gives money , our money, to other countries and the only thing we get,we the people,not the politicians, is hatred from all over the world.Most of us we try to keep our jobs and our families safe and secure and they, the government and the politicians, ask us for our hard earned money to go to Palestine or Israel or Turkey or any other country in the map of Earth, but not for our elderly and our kids education and our homes to be saved.
When America and Americans will start understand that their money , our money goes where ever the Government wants to go , surely not back to us. They give money like it belongs to them. Is our money, our tax money , our kids money that they spend and giving away , when they ask us to be patient and try to cope with hard economy. Is hard for us but not foe them.
Yes we are going to wright to every politician we know and when election comes they promise and promise and lye and we believe them and let them do that every year, every 4 years, and so on.
We will never end up paying off all that dept, because they will find something else to put us on and we will keep doing that again and again.
I think we all have to let them know that we want our money in our Country spend and not giving to other countries. If they do that I think no one will be poor or homeless or with out secure future. How we can do that, I do not know yet.But hopefully we, the people, will find a way.
Thank you for the article, was great and voicing our opinion is steel a privilege we all have, at list for now.

Thank you
Aspassia
Comment by Gary Raimo — March 5, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
Thanks Clayton,
I am glad that people are speaking up. When President Bush was screwing things over i used to think to myself “maybe he’s trying to move the populace to become involved even if he has to burn down his own house to do it.”

I was naive.

You are completely correct in that everyone needs to open their eyes, prick up their ears and use the faculty that sets us apart from the animals. To take action, to get involved in what is happening. The alternative is The United Socialist States Of America. The process is slow, like boiling a Frog. The you wake up one day and what you knew as freedom is now controlled by the Government. Speech, Movement, Family, Press, all gone. Once the bear is out of the cage it will be nearly impossible to cram it back in. Anyway thanks for being a voice in these harsh times. That in itself may be risky.
Comment by Bogdan — March 6, 2009 @ 2:47 am
That’s funny. you think all of them are stupid. Remember they still have business school, marketing , copywriting as we have seen and the best economists to help them. You think all of this is because their stupid?

All of this is done with a purpose , the question is with what purpose. If you think their stupid that’s because they want you to think that.

Take care, Bogdan
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 6, 2009 @ 7:09 am
David, I think it’s hilarious and more than a little bit ridiculous how partisan Democrats react to every criticism of their messiah and his idiotic party as a “republican” diatribe — or even more idiotically, try to paint me as some kind of partisan.

I’m simply stating views that should be common sense to any sentient human being. Seems to me, anyone thinking that common sense is a uniquely Repbulican virtue — and that therefore I must be a Republican — seems to be slandering their own party.

So once again, let me say this as loudly and as clearly as possible: I HAVE BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE UNALTERABLY OPPOSED TO EVERYTHING BOTH PARTIES HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS CRISIS AND EVERYTHING BOTH PARTIES ARE NOW DOING UNDER THE GUISE OF TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THEY CREATED.

My mantra: “A pox on BOTH their houses!”

When both parties have lost their minds, it’s time for intelligent people to explore a third alternative.

– Clayton
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 6, 2009 @ 7:22 am
P.S. The SEC has been worthless since they unionized it.

Funding and regulating the traffic cops at SEC, CFTC FTC, is NOT a big-government scheme; it’s law enforcement … a perfectly reasonable role for government.

Funding and regulating the entire economy … saving stupid companies and consumers who got their own arses into hot water … is NOT a valid function of government.

Not only is it immoral to reward self-destructive companies and consumers, it is physically impossible to save 300 million Americans from the consequences of every dumb mistake they make.

If Government stuck to what it can and should do — providing for our common defense and enforcing the law — and STOPPED meddling in every other aspect of our lives, there would be no deficits … no debt crisis … no Great Depression II.

– Clayton
Comment by Raymond Merz — March 6, 2009 @ 11:17 am
Hey folks.. anyone that is a Democrat is a horrible hypocrite. As is anyone that’s a Republican.

Really, the only people that have any congruity about them are Libertarians and their ilk (like Clayton). Let’s examine it rationally:

Dems: You may do what you like socially (gay rights, etc), but we’re going to take all your money and do what *we* want with it.

GOP: You may do what you like with your money, but you’re going to live your lives the way *we* want you to.

Libertarian: *You* may do what you want, as long as it doesn’t impinge on my ability to do what *I* want.

Can you come up with a coherent argument that makes the libertarian position seem bad?

In reality, Obama should shine some light on the fact we only really have one party here in the US. It’s the “take your stuff and use it for our own devices” party.

Government is the ENEMY. It always has been. It always will be. It’s a necessary evil, one which we the people must control tightly. Letting someone spend $1.2 trillion of our money is not a good first step.

Examine your philosophy. Why, oh why would you trust a career Chicago politician?

-Ray

By the way.. all of you who are yelling for the folks who disagree to run off elsewhere.. bad move. If anything is going to change, they need to *hear* these messages.

There needs to be discussion. We cannot divide into camps and shake our fists at one another. We must exchange ideas, be persuasive, *show* people the truth, rather than tell them to go find it themselves.

Good luck everyone.
Comment by Beau Smith — March 6, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
Clayton,

I see why you’re top dog in the direct response industry. You get RESPONSE. Your article was 3 pages long on my screen, and the responses were about 39 1/2. I think I’ll go study all your stuff that I’ve got and apply for a position with Response, Inc. You’re the guy I want to learn from.

David (post #63): That was an intelligent and well-written post. Your views on fraud and corruption are quite accurate as far as I can tell. But those who think bigger government is the solution need to remember what a Libertarian once told me. Fraud is already illegal. We don’t need another government agency to combat it. We need to arrest and prosecute those who commit it. Even if they are gov’t officials.

And to those who will think I’m on the side of the rich, I’m not. I have a larger than average family, and lower than average income. But I’m improving my situation, and will continue to. I also realize that resorting to class warfare and/or villifying “the rich” is NOT a good way to join them!

BTW, with all the political arguments going around, I wonder how many people got an actual marketing lesson here? If you didn’t, read what John Ford said in post #20.

Keep writing, Clayton. I’ll keep reading.

Beau Smith
Comment by Michael — March 6, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
#51 - Obama an Entrepreneur????

Obama has never started a business, never employed a single soul, only has lived as a politician or as one working for an organization on the government dole…he showed how entrepreneurial he was with his profits-earnings statement.

He’s nothing but a hack politician from Chicago…be serious.

And as for this bailout…who is it helping…THE UNIONS!!!

That’s it - money going to the car companies, or cities and municipalities who by law have to hire UNION employees for all this Infrastructure work.

Doesn’t it seem amazing to you that Union workers only make up 7% of the nation’s workforce but they are getting over 90% of the “stimulus” package…let’s talk political payoff for “gettin’ out the vote”…that’s all it is..politics at it’s dirty worst…plain and simple. Lessons learned in Chicago….

Our Government deserves to be shut down, in fact we should lock the doors on the legislative chambers and send them on a permanent vacation where they can harm us no more.

I just love Harry Reid’s Whorehouse express…just what I want to do..take my kids to Disneyland and catch a train to Carson City to be let off in front of a whorehouse…

There is something wrong when citizens of this country vote against expenditures on a local level and the scumbags we send to office use the federal government as a hammer to get the funds anyway…

Disgusting
Comment by Lawrence — March 6, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Love the discussion here. It’s high time we put the love of Freedom above petty politics and blame…and be willing to call a spade a spade. Clayton articulated this wonderfully several months ago when he called out the Carter administration for helping to start this financial snowball rolling. Mandating that minorities and the disadvantaged be given access to low-cost loans that they couldn’t afford was a real smooth move by the dems…and if we the people are not careful, we’ll end up with a one party state with left leaning socialist leaning dems at the helm…reminiscent of Ancient Rome…not a very happy ending down that road! These are not fiscally conservative or fiscally responsible people! Seems to me that they’d just as soon become “Imperious Senators” living off the sweat and labor of hard working Americans, all the while claiming to be “serving them”. Good to remember what one of our greatest of patriots once said, “The price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance.” Let’s be vigilant my friends, and I believe that’s part of what Clayton had in mind when writing this latest post…
Comment by Sacramento Steve — March 6, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
Great information Clayton. Keep it coming. As long as Americans keep voting one of two ways — Republican or Democratic — we are doomed. All it takes is enough voters to vote for a third party candidate to get the attention needed for change to possibly occur. I say possibly because with rampant vote fraud, it’s likely that if 80% of the voters voted for the Libetarian candidate, he or she would get only 38% of the vote. But, it’s important to remember, you are NOT throwing away your vote just becuase you vote other than Republican or Democratic. That’s just typical political brainwashing. The folks in charge are terrified of a growing movement of third party voters.

Sacramento Steve
Comment by Fred — March 6, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Time for more change because:
politicans are like dirty diapers, their full of s**t and need to be changed frequently.
Comment by Brandon — March 6, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
DAMN!

Clayton Makepeace - “World-Class Copywriter”
Got Killed On His Own Blog

See David’s post (#63).

Clayton, nice try at a comeback, but you got
owned, brother.
Comment by Sharon B. — March 6, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
Hi Dan–
Yes, we’re first-time homebuyers. I’ll definitely check into the tax liability end—thanks for the tip.
Too bad about the bonbons….Actually I haven’t touched that stuff since my college days a million years ago. Don’t worry–I don’t miss it much.
You are right about the copywriting, of course–Clayton is a master. Every time he does a political rant I make sure I have a fire extinguisher by the computer. My screen is still smoking from this one.
Pig’s butt or roadside bomb—hmmm. I choose the pig’s butt. Actually, now that I think more about it, it’s probably a toss-up.
Have a good day!:-)
Comment by Yoav — March 6, 2009 @ 6:16 pm
To #61 David,

Wow, a little angry there aren’t we.

let me address your comments

1. I do own a business. A business I built with sweat and blood.

My business survival and growth depends on the quality of the people I hire.And I can say with 100% certainty that I would rather hire Obama over old George any day.

The man is smart, energetic and believes in the cause. While George was non of those things.

Obama might make some mistakes but since no one really knows what to do to fix this economic catastrophe (Not even Mr. Makepeace) then I would rather have someone who really gives a damn at the helm.

2. I did tell people to get to work because that is the only way I can see that we can get out of this situation.

Also I’ve been working my butt of for the last 10 years and my business is now paying salaries to 14 people. So I know that working and not whining is the way to create jobs.

By the way David, how many people are you employing?Just so we know.

3. While calling me a blubbering idiot is within your rights since you live in a democratic country, shutting me up because I am not a citizen of the US is not your right.

I am entitled to have an opinion even if I live outside the US and…

Accusing me of being an illegal immigrant was very redneck of you.

Now, if you want to say something intelligent as a response, I’ll be happy to hear it, but if you are going to call me names again, please come up with something original instead of using my words.
Comment by Dave — March 6, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
So Obama lied about what he’d do once in office and instead of being a bridge-building moderate he’s really a wolf in sheep’s clothing radical Marxist?

Gee, if only somebody would’ve warned us.
Comment by Clarke Echols (Resident scientist and rabble-rouser) — March 6, 2009 @ 6:50 pm
Those foolish enough to believe ***ANY*** Democrat politician
deserve what they’re going to end up with.

And any Republican foolish enough to ally with those criminal
swine deserves to be shot.

And any Democrat who talks about “bipartisanship” deserves
clubbing up side the head with a baseball bat.

And I hope we’ve seen the last of McCain and is idiotic trips
to the other side to make stupid deals.

I agree 1000% with what we did in Iraq. A surge sooner would
have been better, but who has 20-20 foresight? But I’m
incensed that Bush wasn’t bright enough to know that when he
came to town promising a kinder dialogue with Democrats on
the Hill that they’d use that to dice and slice him.

When I was in high school (back about the time Clayton was
in 1st grade), my parents were up in arms about communists
inflitrating our universities so they could indoctrinate the
next generation of teachers and take over. People thought
they were nuts.

That’s about the time that Saul Alinsky was making known his
intent to be the radical of radicals, basing his doctrines
on doctrines originating with Lucifer himself (just what my
parents were saying).

Of course those who know the facts are acutely aware that
Alinsky mentored Bill Ayers of Weather Underground infamy,
and he mentored “The Messiah” whose associations most of
his life were with Marxists. Obama started his campaigns
in Ayers’ living room. They were friends. Ayers was a
***LOT*** more than “just a guy in the neighborhood”.

Now we see coming to pass what my parents were warning about
in the 1950s, and what I’ve been concerned about ever since.
I lived in Denmark from 1963-65. I’ve seen socialism up
close and personal. It isn’t pretty.

Wait until you see your income above a certain level taxed
at 110% or 120% federal income tax plus state and local
taxes as they did in Denmark in 1964.

Fools mock people of a more conservative bent, but they will
mourn when they discover they’ve squandered precious
freedoms won by hard sacrifice on laziness and foolishness.
But *****NONE***** will escape accountability — both the
liars who got elected and the lazy morons who elected them
when they, like all mortals, leave this frail probation and
stand before their Creator and account for their incompetence and corruption. They will repay — even if it
takes all eternity to pay the debt.

Raines got his $millions$ from Fannie. Barney Frank has his
liasons with his boyfriends. Dodd has his payola too. But
the whole lot of them cannot escape Judgment, and there will
be no question about the meaing of the word “is”.

Meanwhile, freedom lovers must get on the phones and raise
Hell with their senators and congresspeople until somebody
gets some sense. Meanwhile, you better figure out what
you’re going to do for self-protection against these fools
and the goons that are sure to follow.

CE
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 6, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
So what do you guys think? Did I get OWNED on my own blog? Let’s take a vote. Is Brandon right?
Comment by Rudi — March 6, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Clayton

David makes an excellent case but as an independent piece of copy I still think yours wins hands down.

Rudi
Comment by Bill — March 6, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
Clayton,

Don’t worry, big guy. The time is coming. Faster by the day, in fact. You know what’s happening:

Exploding unemployment…

Moutains of foreclosures and homelessness…

Stock markets (and soon US Treasuries) crashing…

What is this a recipe for?

Chaos.

Here’s the deal…I’m also a die-hard libertarian. I was talking recently with some like-minded friends about what we need to do to advance the cause and change the course we’re on as a nation. Here’s what I heard:

Go door to door winning hearts and minds!

Run for office!

Call every senator and let the voice be heard!

Move to New Hampshire to join the liberty cause!

I listened for a while to all the good ideas (in theory). But then reality struck. Here’s the God’s-honest, no-BS, awful truth:

Nothing is going to change for the better without a total collapse. And I’m not a tinfoil-hat wearing, UFO-chasing, 9/11 truther who lives in my mother’s basement hiding under the bed.

I’m a realist.

Jefferson said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

No truer words were ever spoken.

Tell me a time in history when great liberties were won from oppressive rulers without immense suffering or paid for without blood….I can’t list one.

Greed, corruption and complacency are hallmarks of dying empires–AND their citizens. The endgame, dear Clayton, is the last choice we as a society must make:

Do we sell our last remaining liberties, our wealth and our souls to an increasingly hostile regime who govern under the auspices of democracy? One that promises “security” in exchange for endentured servitude on our knees?

Or do we stand up and fight for our freedoms, our futures and our dignity for the chance to build a better, more prosperous tomorrow for ourselves and our children?

Those WILL be the options on the table. No more, no less.

Make no mistake–I don’t want violence. I’d rather do this peacefully and diplomatically. But that’s not how human nature (or history) operates.

When times get horrific–as they no doubt will in the not so distant future–we will decide together which road we’ll take.

The proverbial pot is boiling and will eventually run over. That is when you’ll see what this country is made of from the inside out.

We might just see a great re-birth of the most amazing system of governance ever created. But it won’t be easy or without sacrifice.

I know which side I’ll be on. And I suspect I know where you’ll be as well.
Comment by Johan — March 6, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
With all respect for Clayton, I have to give it to David, because he have done his research, on the underlying factors. And these are the true burdens.

#67, Bogdan.

He made a good statement, too, you can call them dumb, stupid what ever you like them to be called, but that will not change a thing for the better.

If someone wants to get a better view on what’s going on, send me a message here and I send you a pdf report:

fluke1983/A*T/gmaildotcom
Comment by Rick Rakauskas — March 6, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
Nice to see Clayton spells “arse” correctly …

Live long. Live Free.
Rick

PS I think Bill (#83) is close to the truth with his prognosis, unhappy as it may seem.

According to conspiracy theorists, it is why our Government in Australia disarmed us in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre back in the early 90’s. It is only recently that our military have been trained in the control of civilian riots.

Mind you Australian soldiers shooting at unarmed Australian civilians is not easy to envisage in light of their refusal to follow idiotic orders in conflicts long past.

In the end we will have to rely on ourselves to survive and prosper one way or another. To those who want to rely on Government to “save” them from personal responsibility - you deserve the shitty little life you are going to get.

God save the Queen!!!
Comment by David Phillips — March 6, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Once more into the fray. Don’t you realize that the people sitting in both houses of congress are interested in only one thing. Protect their power abd keep their jobs. They like being referred to as Senator Or Congressperxon and want to keep the perks and benefits.
To start with if they were limited to two terms of even one then the entrenched people there now who have been there in some cases 30 years or more. They have never in a lot of cases run a business or met a payroll. All they managed to do is get elected and start living off the people while telling them what they could or couldn’t do. I am of the opinion at times the only way to improve our country is to throw the whole lot out and start over.
As to what is going on right now I am fearful for my children and grandchildren and what they will face in the future.
I leave you with two quotes from Robert A Heinlein:
“I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
“I never learned from a man who agreed with me.”
And one more that is the anthem for me:
TANSTAAFL whic means “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”
Comment by David Phillips — March 6, 2009 @ 11:34 pm
“When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, “This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know,” the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives. Mighty little force is needed to control a man whose mind has been hoodwinked; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, - not anything - you can’t conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.”
Comment by Shane — March 6, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
Clayton,

Obama is a joke… this economy is going down the toilet and Obama has his hand on the flusher. I’m so ticked off about this its not even funny. I’m glad to see that a person I repsect like yourself has brains enough to see what is going on.

To those people that want Clayton to shut up and teach copy…

First… Maybe you should open your eyes to what is really happening here.

Second, take this as a lesson: The more you can piss off certain people, the more you bring loyal fans in those that agree with you.

Third… if you dont like it, don’t read it.

I wonder when all those Obama voters will finally figure out that the “Change” they voted for isn’t quite the “Change” they were “Hoping” for! My guess is, its going to be a long, long time. They have too much invested in this guy… and besides, their lazy-asses will still be looking for more freebies and handouts from this administration.

Welcome to the Nanny State, where Freedom and Liberty are being stolen from us daily, and Incentive for Achievers is being torn away from us with every socialist action taken by Obama.
Comment by Susan Connors — March 7, 2009 @ 12:33 am
Hi there

This makes for interesting reading folks. What the opinions show is that you love your country and people passionately. You want and deserve to be happy, secure and prosperous no matter what walk of life you come from..

For all its worth, my thoughts and well wished to you all..

Susan
Comment by Sharon Quinn — March 7, 2009 @ 12:43 am
Dear Clayton,
Thank you for your research and verve to speak blatantly about issues a free people need to pay attention AND be responsive about.

I’m asking you this, because I feel you will shoot me a straight answer. Let us suppose the dollar is inflated to the point that you need ($1×200) 200 dollars to buy a bottle of drinking water. Your mortgage is at $500. Can you send in $500 fed notes to make your payment and satisfy your mortgage payment or will you be required to send in ($500X200) $$100,000 worthless fed notes to satisfy your mortgage and prevent foreclosure? Do you know how this plays out?

Thank you for your fine site and sharing your wisdom. I appreciate your frankness and quality.

All to Love, Sharon
Comment by Bill — March 7, 2009 @ 12:55 am
Whoever posted the diaper bit is right.

We need TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS.

Only question is should any of them get more than one term? OK, maybe 2 for representatives (4 years), one for Senators (6 years).

Yes, but we’ll have a less experienced legislative branch! Good, I say, since
most of what they do is wasteful, ill-advised, counterproductive, if not downright evil. Laws of Unintended Consequences.

If that’s too hard to pass, a slight extension might be allowed.

And no, let’s NOT buy the current effort to remove the 2-term limit for Presidents, which I understand is already in the works.

PS- We should have a law that requires every Congressperson voting on a bill to swear under oath that s/he has read it cover to cover, and maybe even pass a test on it before voting. And stringently enforce the lying-under-oath part. We’ll have fewer, simpler laws. And no phony “Cries of Crisis-Sign Here!”
Comment by Chris McMorrow — March 7, 2009 @ 1:39 am
John Ford, you’re a good man, but I think you’re wrong when you say, “Some of these things are … larger than a lot of us can wrap our heads around.”

Not true. In fact, America is slowly dying … going the way of all once-great civilizations. The reason can be traced to one athiestic creed and the insanity it’s come to represent: Liberalism.

In post #69, Clayton made the following statement: “If government stuck to what it can and should do - providing for our common defense and enforcing the law - and stopped meddling in every other aspect of our lives, there would be no deficits … no debt crisis … no Great Depression 2.

The above statement, I think, goes straight to the heart of the matter. The question is, “Is Clayton’s statement true?” Answer: It is absolutely true.

By what authority can we be certain it’s true? Answer: Supernatural revelation, i.e. God’s Word, the Bible.

In 1st Peter 4:13-14 we read: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto govenors, as unto them who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” Verses could be multiplied, but a strong case is made from Scripture that the primary purpose of government is to uphold law and order and punish evil doers.

God did not ordain governments to redistribute wealth, provide health care programs, social services, gay rights, money for abortion clinics, or any of the pork barrel projects listed above. In fact, government mandated redistribution schemes are a form of theft in violation of His eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” (Militant unionism is another form of theft because it undermines the institution of private property.)

As further proof, we need only read what the inspired apostle Paul wrote to God’s church in Thessalonica: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

The logical implications from this verse are enormous. It teaches, for example, that the Great Society experiments that cost billions to implement were sinful, illogical, and devastating to individuals … families … entire neighborhoods … in fact, all of American society.

The failure of the Great Society programs brought about by degenerate Democrats and effeminate Republicans is but one more example of the insanity of liberalism.

As a secondary source to validate the truth of Clayton’s statement, we need only refer to the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or the people.”

We see inherent in the 10th Amendment the notion of limited government, which was the vision of our Founding Fathers, nearly all of whom were Protestant and familiar with the Calvinist biblical teaching of the natural sinfulness and depravity of mankind.

“President” Barack Obama is said to admire Abraham Lincoln. I don’t believe it. How could this empty suit politician admire that giant who made the following statement: “The religion that sets men to rebel and fight against their Government because, as they think, that Government does not sufficiently help some men to eat their bread in the sweat of other men’s faces, is not the sort of religion upon which people can get to Heaven.”

“President” Obama is the Pied Piper of Washington D.C. and he’ll have a hand in leading millions of people to Hell. (There’s no such thing as Purgatory, a Roman Catholic lie.)

I would entertain the idea of “President” Obama as being a traitor, but it’s hard to do so because I can’t think of him as a real American. (If I had to bet my life, I would wager he’s not even a naturalized born citizen, and therefore unqualified to be president as required in Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution.) Real Americans DON’T steal from other Americans … foster class warfare … or envy others’ success.

Obama’s socialistic schemes are antithetical to true Americanism, radically clash with the U.S. Constitution, are divisive, and represent nothing short of legalized theft. That word ‘American’ means something to me, and Obama doesn’t meet the requirements of that definition.

George Bush and the Republicans owe the american people a HUGE APOLOGY. It was their profligate spending … socialistic policies … do-gooder global ambitions … and serious dereliction of duty in upholding law and order and guarding of our borders … that set the stage for the abomination that is the dawn of an Obama nation.

In short, it was the liberalism of George Bush that helped to destroy his own presidency and our country. (If I ever again hear the phrase “compassionate conservatism,” mouthed by a “Republican”, I think I’m going to puke.)

John, you may not like the language I’ve used to describe “President” Obama, but Clayton is right in concluding that he is an enemy of what is supposed to be a limited constitutional Republic.

Chris McMorrow

PS: Regarding David’s comments (#63): David, much of what you say is true, but, in spite of your years of observing the gaming tables, “If money CAN be stolen, it WON’T be stolen 100% of the time.” No. Not if there is an honest man in the room; a man whose fear of God, and of going to Hell, is greater than his desire for dishonest gain. And that is what we need in government - honest, God-fearing INDIVIDUALS.

The flaw in your argument is that you broad brush institutions and groups, implying that the fault lies in the “system.” The fault is NOT to be found in our once-great capitalistic system, but rather the moral depravity of the INDIVIDUALS who make up that system.

If our politicians were virtuous, our government would, in fact, be LIMITED. If the majority of our citizenry were God-fearing, and virtuous, rather than lazy, and irresponsible, they would look to God, and then themselves, to solve their own problems. Big Government is the new religion of America, and “President” Obama is America’a new high priest.

The great Daniel Webster said …
“If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country, I do not know what is going to become of us as a nation. If truth be not diffused, error will be; if God and His Word are not known and received, the Devil and his works will gain the ascendancy; if the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet, the pages of a corrupt and licentious literature will; if the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness, will reign without mitigation or end.”

What Daniel Webster said applies to YOU, and it applies to ME … as INDIVIDUALS.

New government regulations and mandated changes to “the system” will NOT save the Republic. They will only harm it. Individuals must repent of their own sin and fear the Triune God of the Bible (the only God) rather than men. When INDIVIDUALS are willing to stand and fight for TRUTH … no matter what it may cost them … men like the Lord Jesus Christ … and later Martin Luther … only then will we get our country back.

“President” Obama’s only opportunity for doing good lies in seeking the will of the Lord as revealed in holy writ … and … in returning to the principles of limited government as found in the U.S. Constitution.

I commend Clayton Makepeace for having the GUTS to speak the truth about the evil policies being perpetrated by evil, degenerate men. (Don’t like the word, degenerate? Look it up.)

Clayton is a patriot. He knows there’s more at stake here than all the marketing lessons under the sun.
Comment by David (63) — March 7, 2009 @ 5:00 am
Hey - Brandon & Johan. Thanks for the compliments guys - but I really wasn’t going after Clayton’s argument … tempting though as I think he’s a sitting duck on a couple of points. I just slipped in a little jab to get him going (the dems will destroy the world) as we have gone at it before. Someone should remind me of the old saying: “choose your battles wisely” when debating Clayton. I’m not a writer and who’s the best on the planet with words?

I’m an Independent and I think Clayton has Libertarian views. In many respects, we are in the same philosophical place - especially when exploring a third alternative. My “common enemy” is the “Con Job” perpetrated by congress, the judiciary and a bait and switch political system. Where I part company with Clayton is - if I wanted to illustrate the most damage done to America by a president and a congress - I’d give Obama and his “few weeks” in office a pass - as nothing compares to the 6 years of epic harm inflicted by Bush and his republican K-Street talking parrots. And that’s where today’s conditions came from.

There’s more Bush damage than I have time for but here’s a taste …

With 47,000,000 suffering without health care and all else that ails us, Bush’s chief domestic policy was fund raising. Former WH press Secretary Scott McClellan referred to the Bush presidency as an 8 year political campaign. Surprise - surprise. When Bush took office there were 14,000 lobbyist on K-Street - soon thereafter, 35,000 and the fire sale was on. With healthcare as the leading cause of bankruptcy and the credit card cos. turning in a record $35 billion net profit in 05, Bush’s choice of business was “Bank Christmas” - The Bankruptcy Bill - penned by the bankers and giving them more license to screw everybody with a credit card. Did anyone notice the usury laws disappearing?

Bush’s prescription drug bill was penned by big pharma who got authority to fleece every senior on medicare. Shortly after signing it, 17 house republicans who led Bush’s agenda were awarded with $million dollar jobs on K-Street - working for the drug cos. The bill was such a scam that they waited until C-Span went off the air on the weekend before they brought it to the floor.

See anything missing when Clayton said: “After eight years of condemning Bush for busting the budget with $400 billion deficits … both parties make “the great decider” look like a rank amateur.”

Oops, Clayton forgot to mention the $5.5 Trillion in DEBT that Bush just gave us. Take off a Trillion for the war that he lied us into - where in the hell is $4.5 Trillion Dollars?! Corporate crony welfare - tax loopholes - pork - kickbacks - insider appropriations … then money had to be borrowed to run the Gov. Bush did more than sell out our geographical sovereignty and standard of living with open borders, he also handed over our financial sovereignty to China. They hold the power to dump us into financial oblivion - and they can do it by calling in their treasury notes with a finger snap. Bush was dead at the switch while China manipulated it’s currency and screwed us for $100’s of Billions annually in trade deficits. That damage is going to continue as “you can’t argue with your banker!” We are going to help build China’s military and superior global position with $100’s of Billions in interest. Luckily, Bush was stopped from selling off all our sea port operations to the Arabs. After 9/11, can you imagine it?

Appointing one third of The Three Stooges to protect our money on Wall St is only the tip of the iceberg. Bush has hundreds of “good job Brownies” that have run other federal agencies into disaster - not the least is the FDA, EPA and Food and Drug Administration. Stay tuned to the news and get the facts about Bush’s use of the DOJ for prosecuting political opponents. Karl may be living at the crowbar hotel - I hope! Another WH crony was caught paying off media (Armstrong Williams) to peddle outright lies about Iraq. Other acts meet the standard for treason - like doctoring the National Intelligence Estimate to get a war vote from congress - and the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity. Then there’s illegal wiretapping and torture that’s still under investigation. And because of Bush, for the first time in history, people the world over hate America and americans.

Ya, Omaba has been in office for 6 weeks, so let’s get amnesia and jump on him for all the damage he’s caused this country. Common sense - right?

Sure, when you apply the standard - “a gov of, by and for the people*- congress is a fraud - but folks, what in the hell is Obama suppose to do. I’d love to let all the scam banks and corps swim in chapter 7. Take AIG, they are holding up 1000’s of ins cos and pensions. What would happen if they disappeared? These are times of peril - states are broke and don’t have money for police, teachers and fire fighters. GM and Chrysler are going down with millions of more jobs - unemployment creates more unemployment - we are in a free-fall and Obama is doing his best to prevent the unthinkable from happening.

(71) Beau Smith - Hey Beau, thanks for the compliment. You make some great points but I have to disagree with one. Fraud is legal in congress and throughout as a different standard is applied. If we handled money like they do, we would be in prison.

(92) Chris - You made a good point: “America is slowly dying” - but it has nothing to do with Liberalism. America is dying because corrupt institutions and people are killing it. And Clayton is right on the money in post 69. But Chris, if you think that if money can be stolen - and it won’t be. Look west for the sunrise tomorrow and if it comes up, you’re right. I hate to be a pessimist but thieves fear poverty more than God.

I better be careful - after reading (81) Clayton has something brewed up.
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 7, 2009 @ 7:35 am
Good news, Sharon: Payments on any debt contracts you have (including your mortgage) that have a fixed interest rate remain unchanged.

Inflation means you pay your existing contracts including your mortgage with cheaper dollars. They’re cheaper because in inflationary spirals, wage increases are usually tied to inflation. However everything else you buy will be more expensive.

Right now, there’s also good news — kinda. Because we’re currently in a deflationary spiral, your mortgage remains the same while everything else you buy is going to be cheaper. The danger is that employers are already cutting salaries, hours worked and of course firing record numbers of employees.

And of course either way, there’s a huge tax bill awaiting us to offset these record deficits PLUS sky-high interest rates on any new debt you might take on as well as higher payments on debt with variable interest rates like credit cards and adjustable rate mortgages.

Hope this helps …
Comment by Randy — March 7, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Whatever happened to Taking Personal Responsibility for our own Actions? The government is not a SOURCE of goods. Everything produced is produced by the people (rich, poor, and middle class), and everything the government gives to the people, it must first take from the people.
Comment by MARKEAUX — March 7, 2009 @ 9:15 am
THE BOTTOM LINE! It always comes down to the bottom line. The sores that are festering in AMERICA have been long festering. They are now too large for any BAND-AID to cover. It is too late to apply antibiotic cream or even stitches. THE BOTTOM LINE….it cometh down the turnpike. Can’t happen here? Brace yourself-IT WILL SOON HAPPEN HERE! As in the case of BILL (#83) I would have preferred a peaceful solution. The chance for that has long since passed. It is all very simple: I am not moving to another country, I am not living HERE under socialism or without the freedoms guaranteed me by the CONSTITUTION and paid for with blood, I will not live as a subject to anyone. There are others like me. Quite a few, indeed! One might think we have precious little to lose, what with so much of our money and materiel things gone, in actuality we have everything to lose….OUR COUNTRY! Without that we will indeed have nothing. I am not willing to settle for that! Dollars wont fix this one….
Comment by Larry Hughes Sr — March 7, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Hey Clayton, do you have a net to keep the bee stings from affecting your ambition? I hope so. One point has been missed in all these posts about who is to blame.

BOTH PARTIES ARE - the government has gotten so big and over-protective for every little thing and all people’s rights, it has overlooked it’s basic responsibilities.

A reminder - both houses of congress have been Democratic
controlled since 2006 - before the start of the new problems facing America - both parties are responsible.

Good Luck, Clayton and the “Red Head”
Larry
Comment by Stefan Wisniewski — March 7, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
I subscribed to the Total Package a couple of years ago. I am not a copywriter, just a business owner downunder here in Sydney. I enjoy your articles Clayton, thank you for your insights.
At around the same time, I discovered another website, that of Lyndon Larouche jr. No one seems to have mentioned this guy in any of these posts (or other forums for that matter), and yet he is the only person who predicted all of this current mess. If you check out his archived webcast from June 2005 at http://www.larouchepac.com/node/322 then you will see that he mapped out acurately the economic disaster that is happening across the world right now. Over subsequent years, he has continued to publish numerous papers and webcasts. Why did this guy’s message not get through to the US public and policymakers? If it did and everyone just ignored it, then that’s really a pity. Clayton and Wendy (and copywriters everywhere), if there is one message that should be marketed across the USA right now, it is Lyndon’s message and plan to turn this around - I just hope it is not too late.
Comment by Dave — March 7, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
** Quoted Comment by Chris McMorrow #92 **

“The fault is NOT to be found in our once-great capitalistic system, but rather the moral depravity of the INDIVIDUALS who make up that system.”

Amen to that!
Comment by Tom — March 8, 2009 @ 3:12 am
Clayton

You have snuck up on us!! You have used the “once sentence persuasion” on everybody and very few caught it. Sweet spot par excellence.

You got the common enemy right down pat here, and rattled many cages with this copywriting lesson!

Either you are setting yourself up to run for prez of the USA next time around, or you are going to release a course or some training using the “one sentence persuasion” technique.

Hmmm.

Who knows what is happening in that brain of yours?

Maybe it is just a test to see how well the method still works on people that know something about copywriting? And to prove to us diehard MTP readers that it is a very valuable tool in copywriting?

It is great copywriting lesson. I loved it.

Watching out for more responses!!! I almost fell off my chair reading some of them.
Comment by Harry — March 8, 2009 @ 4:36 am
Well, there’s no way to deny Clayton’s mighty sword. But a piece for a piece, David’s got it. First of all, the dead-on fact, it’s all about robbing the money, not the politics per se. Look at them, usually men and women who simply cannot survive with the rest of us. They must have more money and power, and yet, no special skills, other than their mouth. So you either have to be a lawyer or a politician. And to no surprise, often they are both. Second; David puts out a lot of factual details, names and places, so it seems he REALLY knows his stuff. Makes his stuff very believable. Not that Clayton is mission on that point, but sounds a bit more general.

But, at the end of the day, Clayton started the whole thing, and so gets the overall credit. And that is what counts. So, David, I challenge you, you say you are not a writer, well, you could fool me…….how about it?!
Comment by Harry — March 8, 2009 @ 4:38 am
Hey, I made the 100th response, do I get a prize? Heh…heh…
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 8, 2009 @ 7:01 am
MY ULTERIOR MOTIVE …

Every time I write an article, someone says he or she suspects it’s part of some kind of product launch.

Or that there MUST be some devious, selfish, secret, maybe even brilliant marketing reason why I’m saying things that cause some people to cancel orders, cancel subscriptions, and call me a scoundrel.

Here’s the shocking truth: We’re not doing this to get rich. It’s far too late for that!

Wendy and I publish this blog to give back to an industry that has been extremely good to me for four decades, now.

That’s why The Total Package gives you better free ideas and guidance than others charge for. And it’s why our products are created, priced and offered for a fraction of what some online gurus charge for far less helpful things.

The rules of the game have been clear from the outset: If we sell enough of these products to pay the good people who maintain this blog for us — our employees — we will continue to try to help you. If not, no problem: We’ll happily focus our energies elsewhere.

At a time like this, “helping you” means I feel compelled to write the occasional “political” article — to try to help you insulate your family and your business from a government that I believe is doing its dead-level best to destroy your liberty, your individuality, your wealth and your prospects for success.

Judging from the comments on this blog, at least 90% of our readers appreciate these occasional pot-boilers and benefit from them. The other 10% will probably only figure it out when they’re in mile-long lines to get their “free” crust of bread.

As for my family, company and clients — and anyone else who has taken our warnings and advice to heart — we’re not the least bit worried about joining you on that breadline.

Because our world view — our political and economic religion — is based on Churchill’s assertion that “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

And studying the history of past crises has taught us that:

1) When a government has encouraged, even mandated the creation of a massive consumer debt bubble, economic depression has always followed.

2) Politicians nearly always exacerbate the debt crisis they created by creating an even larger government debt bubble.

3) Next, they make it even worse by printing mountains of money when investors balk at lending the government good money after bad …

4) When tens of millions of angry, hungry people become a threat to those in power, they invariably declare a war — give those angry men and women a job, a tent, three square meals a day and a gun to fight “the common enemy.”

5) And finally, with world capitals in ruins and with hundreds of millions of fresh graves dug, the leaders who caused or deepened the crisis — criminals with the blood of millions on their hands — are proclaimed heroes.

Of course, history also teaches that in the years and months preceding the crisis, few people believe it could ever happen to them. And, those without historical basis for their optimism merely ridicule or impugn the motives of those who sound the alarm.

It’s all part of the storyline: Without that kind of naivety, this kind of crisis would not be possible in the first place.

That’s why most of our parents were so surprised by the crash of 1929 … the depression of the 1930s … and by the inevitable World War that followed.

And because they learned these lessons first-hand, it’s also why their generation had to pass before it would happen again.

Because even a fool learns from his own mistakes.

I’m hoping that just once, we’ll be wise enough to learn from the mistakes of others.

Maybe this time, the people will revolt before we reach the point of no return.

Maybe the people will force our leaders to abandon their idiotic policy of punishing the innocent and rewarding the guilty — or better yet, to abandon Washington.

Here again, though, history suggests that will probably not happen. So Wendy and I have done everything we could think of to insulate our family and our company and we have urged you to do the same.

Since we saw this coming a few years ago, we have intentionally lived below our means: Far less well than we could afford to — less well, even, than people who earn far less than we do.

We avoided stocks like the plague. We scrimped, saved and paid off debt. We carefully selected clients that would likely survive or even grow as this crisis worsened.

And, of course, we founded this blog in an effort to see as many of our fellow entrepreneurs though this crisis as would listen.

For those of you who won’t listen; who still trust either party to bail you out, I can only wish you well. What you tell your spouse and kids when they ask why you let this happen to them is your problem.

I do often wonder, however, if the liberals in our midst will think about what you’ve read and written on this blog when your beloved politicians zip by your breadline in their limos or over your heads in their private jets.

But then again, that’s YOUR problem — not mine.

– Clayton
Comment by Bogdan — March 8, 2009 @ 8:00 am
I like your last comment Clayton , but it’s not like they don’t know that it’s just they DON’T WANT TO do it any other way.
Comment by Beau Smith — March 8, 2009 @ 11:30 am
Misplaced blame:

I know I’m violating the one sentence persuasion rule, but here goes.

The American people are to blame for this. That’s right. The general public.

We are the ones who elected these crooked politicians. We are the ones who let them get away with fraud, corruption etc. We are the ones who let them respond to a bubble of private debt with a bubble of public debt.

We are the ones who ran up the bubble of private debt in the first place. The government’s attempts to force banks to give loans to people who can’t afford them amount to nothing if people don’t apply for loans they can’t afford.

The majority of people in our society have been so busy keeping up with the Jonses that they didn’t see the problems they were causing. Or at least allowing.

By the way, the Jonses are going bankrupt trying to keep up with everyone else. I once read (wish I could remember where) that you’re wasting your time worrying about what other people think. Most other people don’t think most of the time. They’re too busy worrying about what you think. STOP THE MADNESS!!!

Clayton, living below your means is probably the best idea I’ve read in here yet. If we all did that, we could end this crisis. Being in better financial shape would even help disarm the politicians. They couldn’t convince people that we need them to solve our problems if we already solved them ourselves.

Avoiding the stock market is also a good idea, but only because of what it’s become. I remember being taught that buying stock is buying part ownership in a company. In light of that, shouldn’t we approach investing with the same diligence as starting a business? Simply dumping money into the market because everybody else is doing it is foolish. Sure, it inflates the market for a while. But that “growth” isn’t sustainable. The money that is made that way comes from the “investments” of those who came after you. Sound familliar?

It amazes me that Ponzi schemes are illegal, the stock market is legal and Social Security is mandatory. What’s the difference? I wish I could avoid Social Security like the stock market.

Clayton, I still say you should write ads for the Libertarian Party. They probably don’t have a chance of getting into the white house. But the more Libertarians and independents there are in local and state offices, the better chance they have of getting into the national ones. Start small if necessary, but start.

Thanks for the great newsletter. As always, keep on writing!

Beau Smith
Comment by David (63) — March 8, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
(100) Harry - thanks for the compliments, but there’s 2 things in life that I would never do: 1/ Duel with Zorro 2/ Get into a writing contest with Clayton.

When I first saw Clayton’s post - I didn’t want to take the time to get involved so I passed, then I recalled the fun I had last summer with the CRA debate and jumped into the fray.

True, I’m not a writer but I have a lot of past experience in creating advertising as a commercial artist. I’m a boomer - in the 70’s I was creative director for an ad agency and wrote some ad copy for display ads, but nothing like Clayton’s long masterpieces. One of my clients was Witkin’s Homes - at the time they were one of the nation’s largest home builders. I had a full page (4 colors) in the Denver Post every Sun - and a full page in the Rocky Mtn News (2 colors). Did everything from concept to press setup - and those ads won a national award for best advertising of the year in newspaper real estate advertising. Did a lot of other work for fortune 500 cos - 3M, Pillsbury to name a couple. Still have the ads in storage.

(102) Clayton - Indeed you did forecast this disaster long ago - and thanks for lighting the fire that got me stirred up enough to move out of the market.

You are what we call a “Super George” in the gambling biz. That labels someone who is a generous person who takes care of the dealers and cocktail waitresses. The opposite is a “Stiff.” That way, the incoming dealer can hear just 1 or 2 words and he’ll know how to service you. Your generosity with “hands on money making content” is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. I have a library of web archives - probably worth more than a $2,000 course. “I owe you big time.”

Regarding what to do about this mess, I have to plead stupid - as I don’t have a clue. But I do know how it happened - just like in the gambling biz - follow the money and the culprits pop up. The depravity of a palm greasing partnership between a lobbyist like Phil Gramm and a “sell out” like Dick Lugar opened the doors for ALL that has happened. They ensured that neither the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission could regulate credit default swaps - and that oil market manipulation was a “sitting duck” for out beloved scam banks. That bribery event was like putting a hole into a toxic sewage system. $55 Trillion in bogus waste flowed out. Voting almost becomes a moot point as It doesn’t matter which party in is office when we can get gamed like this.

You got me stirred up and thinking about this stuff again. Last night I had an idea that was driving me nuts, so I wrote it out. It’s outrageous so I’ll re-read for a sanity check before I post it. Can we actually do something or are we powerless?

(104) Hey Beau - Brilliant and insightful post. I hope you, Harry and others give me some feedback or criticism on my next post. I’m sure some will think I’ve lost it.
Comment by Michael — March 9, 2009 @ 4:00 am
There are obviously many reasons why our great country is in this mess and many people to blame in the private sector and both political parties. But, I refuse to go down without a fight! I appreciate everything Clayton has written and I agree with almost everything in his post. I think there is more that can be done.
It seems third party candidates always run for President and get blown away (or not taken seriously). Why not get a group of like-minded people and run for the upcoming 2010 elections. You could make a “contract with America” (sorry Newt for borrowing the phrase) and lay everything out on the table.
The first thing to pass would have to be massive tax reform (fair tax, flat tax, but just simplify the code) which would make it more friendly to small business, bring back the manufacturing sector to America and let people keep more of what they make so that they SPEND WISELY. Second, and easiest to pass, would be a term limit provision for Senators (1 term) and Representatives (2 terms). We should examine each trade agreement we have with other countries and let them know that the days of America getting the short end of the stick are over. We carry too many counties with outdated policies. If we thrive, other countries will also. Make a rational and organized budget too pay off our debt like you would in your own house.
Some people are not going to like this, but the government should not be in the business of taking care of you. We are simply not going to be able to continue Social security, Medicare and Medicaid (at least not in their current forms and most likely not at all for future generations).
Government should also not be in the business of education. They have made a complete disaster of our educational system.
Next we have to address the illegal immigrant problem. You cannot give away money you do not have to people who are not citizens of this country. 18 billion dollars a year being sent by illegals to their families plus the cost of healtcare, education, social security and incarceration are helping to cripple the economy. Plus most of these people do not want to adopt American culture, but vice versa (press the space bar for translation into Spanish).
The government should also not be in the business of bailing out failed businesses. They should fail and strong companies will buy up the assests. People should not be bailed out of their bad mortgages. If you made a bad mortgage deal and cannot pay the government should encourage you and the mortgage lender to work something out so that you stay in your home and the bank continues to receive some sort of payment which is better than sitting on a foreclose home that nobody will buy right now. The courts should not be asked or made to arbitrate the home mortgage crisis.
No pork in bills or attempts to slide healthcare reform in a bill that has nothing to do with healthcare. Most bill would probably only one or two pages instead of the 1097 pages of the spendulus bill.
I could go on forever but, it is 4am and I am tired, so I will wrap up this post and just say that the government has to lead by example and then the average Joe will have no excuse and must get his own financial house in order.
Comment by Claire — March 9, 2009 @ 4:08 am
Clayton, enough already. I draw your attention to your house rules…

The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.

Hang on, didn’t your first post on this topic last week refer to Obama as the Lucifer and Pelosi as a woman of ill repute?

Talk about hypocracy.

I’m off for good, voluntarily - POOF!

Claire
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 9, 2009 @ 7:23 am
Bye, Claire … sorry you won’t be snarking up on the free stuff any longer.

Let me clarify the rules:

It’s OK to call anyone else anything (so long it’s not too graphcially obscene) — but it is NOT OK, however to insult each other.

Politicians, bureaucrats and lawyers are always fair game.
Comment by lawton chiles — March 9, 2009 @ 9:46 am
Clayton, I hate to interrupt the political bar fight, but I wanted to ask your advice on market research.

I have been going to forums and looking there as far as digging into different markets but now i have to do some health care/advocacy/educational research and figure out how people think and feel on certain issues.

Any advice? Any kind of step by step directions would be fantastic.

Sorry to interrupt.

-The only Democrat left on your list,

Lawton Chiles
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 9, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Hi, Lawton … you’re young — plenty of time to wean you away from the dark side later on.

Sorry, but I do not have any polling sites for health issues. I just have my clients do their own polls.

Any chance your client will do that for you? It’s easy with SurveyMonkey.

Failing that, get a list of the lists or sites your client intends to use and then check out the sales materials that got them on those lists in the first place. Should give you a lot of ideas.

– Clayton
Comment by lawton chiles — March 9, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Thanks C, u the man!

P.S- would love to see a target market research post/rant on here soon.

Best,

Lawton Chiles

@lawtonchiles1
Comment by Kurt — March 9, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
Clayton, you are very disrespectful to people who don’t agree with your opinions. It appears you think there’s no need to understand them or try and accommodate their views. Just put them through the wringer of Makepeace’s perpetual judgment. Accords can’t be reached when you demonize the other side.
Comment by keith — March 9, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
Faxes, letters, phone calls are pretty much useless.
Until you actually take time out of making money and run for Congress Clayton, you just don’t have a real right to whine.
You’re like radio personality Neal Boortz..you like to talk about how bad it is..but you don’t dare get in the game.
At least I tried this past election. I knew before I got in the race I couldn’t win but with all of your money and experience there really is no excuse for you to not run this next election.
Comment by David (63) — March 9, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
Could direct response marketing wreak total havoc in DC? Damn right it could and the results could be an unstoppable Amendment to The Constitution.

Ever had an idea that keeps nagging and won’t let you alone? I think I see a way to stir up boo-coo trouble in scamland. Chime in and let your imagination take a random walk.

I can see where a totally different type of group or PAC (political action committee) and a totally different type of petition would have the power to FORCE results.

First some background so it makes sense …

Individuals and groups use the 1st Amendment to petition the G all the time. Filing a petition for redress or “remedy” is a complaint that G violated rights and a demand that it stop. You can get details from 1st Amendment scholars here - ( http://www.constitution.org/abus/wolfgram/ptnright.htm ) It’s a brutal and long winded legal read but here’s some gist of it …

The Constitution contains its own terms and citizen rights for amendment and forbids congress from abridging those rights. But they have done it anyway! - and have turned our 1st Amendment rights and Petitions into an useless exercise. The reality is that “The People” are illegally obstructed and powerless - with no means to right a wrong and there are no peaceful means available to hold G accountable - other than voting and we’ve all seen how effective that is. First comes the bait with elections - then the K-Street switch and the same game always plays.

But what if the FACE of our petition was a *Branded Product* with a catchy name and graphics - instead of the standard pile of legal mumbo jumbo that people won’t read. What if someone could look at it and become outraged in a matter of seconds! What if every response was something like: “They are doing that too! - I can’t and won’t take it anymore! - damn right I’ll opt-in to your list! And what if they were mad enough to spread the word. And what if our *Branded Product* caught on like wildfire and the media started picking it up … Done right, this could explode.

This plan is a 2-step with another *Branded Product* in the sales funnel. It’s a Vote Pledge. Designed in concert with the Branded FACE of the petition.

Here’s the real design kicker - the *Branded Product* (petition) is a dynamic - living - breathing - evolving Document - a *Product Of The People* - marketed as written by the people until the DAY it is filed. Here’s what I mean …

We can have some fundamental *Demands Of The People* in the initial marketing campaigns. Designed as such where people will opt-in to our list. But what can make this Petition powerful like no other would be having people participate and submit their own demands! - e.g. Harry Smith, a factory worker from PA says: Current studies say that no bid G contracts are costing us $50,000,000,000 a year in taxes (true) and I want it stopped! We adopt Harry’s idea and give him all the credit. Harry - his picture and background get published in our newsletter - along with the names and comments of others who chimed in behind the idea. “These people will be elated as they are empowered to change their country!” And let’s send the newsletter to their home town papers.

Can you imagine sending an email blast and asking for an opinion and vote on an issue like: Currently, there are 350 X- members of congress working at lobbyist firms on K-Street. We need your help - as it’s our position that these people used your vote of trust to enrich themselves. They did not get these jobs by working for you while in congress and this should be against the law. Should we ad this to “FORBID” on YOUR (Brand)Petition?” Please take the poll and send us your comments. Again, we can put human faces and back stories behind every issue in the petition.

The message that this Product belongs to them can be enforced throughout - and should be part of the branding. Email campaigns can bring up one issue after another that keep the conversation going - with everything designed to be viral with a full blown social media blitz. All funneling into an opt-in list and a step by step back end strategy. Marketing 101. Did you know that Facebook has 175,000,000 users! And here’s something even more astounding. Marketers can target 300,000,000 portable media devices - I-Phones, Blackberries, cell phones … people are using them daily for social media. Never in history was there an opportunity to communicate on this scale and do something like this.

The numbers behind the *Branded Petition* could grow into 200,000,000 people - who have signed on to a *Vote Pledge* that has the power to remove every member of congress who won’t sign our Petition.

With cunning anticipation while framing our content, congressman can be consigned to an indefensible position. Making it impossible to find an argument against our Petition. Here’s what those who refuse to sign are saying and how we can use it in press releases and social media ads …

Headline: Senator Lugar Favors Higher Credit Card Rates And Fees For Consumers - Copy: By not signing on to the (Brand)Vote Pledge, Senator Lugar has indicated that he wants no part in stopping credit card cos from fleecing consumers with 45% interest rates and higher fees. Bank X contributed $95,000 to his last election … He has not responded to our inquiry and frankly we want to know why he approves of banks doing this to consumers in these troubled times.

We can use ad messages like that on every issue for every congressman who won’t sign. It’s what people THINK they are FOR or AGAINST that counts. The takeaway from the ad is that Senator Lugar is saying: “I’m for my Credit Card Co paymasters and their ability to screw you with higher interest rates and fees.” Here’s a taste of what people will think the “Congress No Signs” are saying to their constituents on some other issues:

I want taxpayers to keep losing $50 billion/year in my crony no bid contracts. I’m all for continuing all the proxy charity fronts we have set up - so we can have family members on lobbyists payrolls. And I still want my pension if I’m convicted of a felony too! I want my $million dollar K-Street job when I leave congress because I’ve worked years for it. And I’m all for taking payoffs from bankers so I can vote against usury laws that prevent credit card cos from fleecing consumers. And Pay Day Loans should still be able to make $3,500 on a $500 loan! And I still want my money from ins cos so I can vote for loopholes that scam policy holders. I want to keep the “Enron Loophole” so Wall St banks and my other paymasters can manipulate oil prices up to $147 a barrel like they did last summer. And I want my payoffs and K-Street career for voting for open borders so drug smugglers have less problems and more hospitals close - and I want states raising your property taxes for more schools and human services too.

Those are the messages that people will be getting from their representatives in DC. The truth! On and on it goes as they give us great content to work with. Here’s another ad:

Headline: Why Does Senator Shelby Want You To Pay Pensions To Congress Convicts? Copy: By not signing on to the (Brand)Vote Pledge, Senator Shelby has indicated that he wants no part in changing the law that would prevent members of congress from collecting pensions after being convicted of a felony. Does he have something to hide? Current members of congress in prison whom taxpayers are paying are … Why does Senator Shelby want this to continue when he can stop it?

Still refuse to sign? Next press release: Senator Shelby Favors K-Street Jobs For Congress And Pension Pay Raises For Congress Convicts

This is what I mean about cunning anticipation. The story is on the wires and they have to answer questions and explain a ludicrous choice. And keep explaining every issue we attack with from an indefensible position. “Here’s why I won’t stop banks from screwing you!” Whatever the issue is, we can set it up for consumption so that it appears ludicrous to oppose it. Likewise, when marketing for signups it can appear ludicrous to not join us. “No! Don’t stop them from scamming me!” As a marketer thinking about the resistance when attempting something like this, I looked for an angle whereby our argument or story theme could be framed as irrefutable throughout. And how that angle could be used as a media weapon because here’s a given fact. They won’t respond to anything or do anything unless forced.

To get their attention, all it will take is one senator becoming a famous pariah on social media with his Tweeters turning into killer bees. And take notice how social media is coming into CNN and MSNBC every day. Think Countdown’s Keith Olbermann wouldn’t run with a story about republican senators wanting to keep the “Enron Loophole” open for their K-Street cronies. Fox will nail the dems. Think big. Momentum can be leveraged to create more momentum.

The filing DATE could be built (product launch style) into a national media event with people parading in their home towns and the Capitol. This Document could be crafted to become so powerful - perhaps over a couple years - that when it lands in scamville, it will be like TNT going off up their keesters. As opposed to getting stuffed into a black hole like every other petition for accountability.

By design, this is the only methodology I can see that will address the obstructions in place to preserve status quo power and to turn the people’s grievance into an exercise in futility. Believe me, socialism is a lesser concern - as what is really happening is far more ominous. Fascism and authoritarian rule have been trending for a long time under the radar.

Don’t believe me? Research the cases where the G is putting people in prison for speaking out and filing petitions - going unnoticed without news coverage. Even the damn courts are rigged as federally appointed judges know which rulings are career busters. They are using DOJ attack dogs and trumped up ambiguous crap charges - like “making false statements that harm G activities.” Huh? Judicial precedent is quietly being crafted that eliminates our 1st Amendment Rights to free speech under just about any asinine BS construct they can come up with. And they are using the IRS against people who oppose them. Piece by piece over time - our freedoms, the things that solders died for - are being stripped away.

Where does all this come from? I believe this oppression and force for controlling us originates from a camouflaged power that has much control over the G in the background. And under the guise of a false public persona - almost as if it were a ghost without the people having a clue of it’s activities. It hides in plain sight. Presidents and congress members come and go - and neither go deep into the bowls of G’s monetary and the judicial activities. Some places are a “no-no” where decades of sinister intentions progress. Nailing them is too tough and beyond the scope of this petition. But if we can use the easy corruption stuff to unite enough people, “anything is possible” and they could be up for reckoning in the future. If we went after them with 200 million people, Ron Paul would lead the way and need plastic surgery to remove the smile.

I believe that many influential people will sign the Vote Pledge once it hits momentum. Volunteers with professional skills in all areas - celebrities who drive media and people from all walks of life could sign on. There could be a Facebook team - Digg team - Video & Press teams, research team ect. And of course free speech and libel savvy lawyers and constitutional legal counsel. Fundraising to keep things going could work beautifully when it comes in. I can see our store on Cafe Press selling t-shirts, bumper stickers and coffee mugs.

It would take one hell of an operation to pull this off. I think it’s doable because, if done right, resistance will find that moving out of the way is the easier path. The *KEY* that will drive this is researching the crap they are doing and digging up the stuff that can be marketed and framed as ludicrous. That will get people madder than hell and drive viral marketing and list building like gangbusters. There are “Tell Friends” scripts that will dump their entire address book on our list. That “button click” will sell on autopilot. The marketing material (scams) they supply is bullet perfect to employ the best marketing strategy of all time for grabbing eyeballs and getting a reaction in seconds. Nothing compares to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Hilarious graphics, headlines, lead copy and BOOM! Got it in seconds! And they’ll be motivated to read the long copy and be sold on joining us.

When the opposition starts, they’ll be “set up” (conned) into an indefensible position. Essentially, we con the con.

Politicians know when to flip or flop - so they’ll do their thing when the #’s hit critical mass. The idea is so simple. People are already pissed off - if not outraged. Our mission - shall we accept it - is tapping into what is already there and channeling it into results; a scam-buster Amendment to The Constitution.

drumroll …

We need a Leader. Does anyone know of someone who can brilliantly frame the common enemy - get people madder than hell - and help create the Products? Someone who is influential - has “juice” and knows other communicators? And has the courage and political passion?

C’mon Clayton! You can rock the world with a pencil!
Comment by James — March 9, 2009 @ 11:21 pm
Hi,
American voters are to blame and not politicians.
Here why:
1. The abduct responsibility and expect and want Government to to every thing for them.
2.The are lazy and hardly scrutinize the figures
3.The somehow believe most of what the politicians tell them.
4.Human beings are self centered and as long a policy seems beneficial to them they care less about others.
5. People don’t believe in themselves. Your problems financial or otherwise will only be solved by you. No body else.Period.

I’m not bashing Americans. These same things are happening here in Kenya, Obama’s root country and indeed world over.

James Abugah
Nairobi
Kenya
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 10, 2009 @ 6:45 am
WARREN BUFFETT — WORLD’S GREATEST INVESTOR — SAYS “MAKEPEACE IS RIGHT!”

Well, not exactly. He didn’t mention me by name … but in his CNBC interview yesterday, he agreed with my premise that dying banks should be allowed to fail.

And Buffett also said that the trillions being printed in a (so far) failed attempt to fight this financial crisis would cause a wave of inflation far worse than anything we saw in the 1970s.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank just released a report that says that “well over $50 trillion” of financial assets were wiped out in 2008.

And yesterday, the World Bank has become the first major institution on the planet to warn that the global economy is about to collapse.

The Senate is expected to vote on a omnibus spending bill with nearly 9,000 pork-laden earmarks today. Still short of the 60 votes needed to end debate, Majority Leader Harry Reid is attempting to woo corrupt Republicans by adding MORE pork for their states.

If you haven’t written your senator in opposition to this terrible bill, do it this morning!
Comment by Beau Smith — March 10, 2009 @ 7:07 am
David (63),

I’ve been saying for a while that Clayton should write ads for the Libertarian party. Your idea may be better.

Beau Smith
Comment by Beau Smith — March 10, 2009 @ 7:26 am
Clayton,

Done. I sent a message using the contact forms at all 3 sites. Thanks again for the links.

Beau Smith
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — March 10, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
Well said, James Abugah! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Comment by David (63) — March 10, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
The sheep mentality and complacency of citizens is astounding when you look at how we are being gamed. Would they take to the streets in protest if a group of “anonymous” bankers hijacked the constitution? - And took control of their money and government - creating a scam fiat monetary system that only they control? Hell, they don’t even know it! Nope - no objection as most people have resigned to the fact that they are powerless - reflected by half the population throwing in the towel and not even bothering to vote.

Those of us that do vote, complain and debate are undertaking an exercise in futility as no elected official has the power or will to remove the tumors that are killing this country. For those that subscribe to blaming voters for electing the wrong party or president, I have 2 questions.

When did elections stop the disastrous fiscal policies of anonymous bankers behind The Fed and all the damage therefrom? Through what election did bank lobbyists loose control of the House and Senate so credit card divisions couldn’t pay off congress to screw everybody with a credit card?

There is only ONE peaceful way to “Again” have a government that operates for the better good of the people - and only ONE. They must unite behind their 1st Amendment Rights and force the changes they want. If not, the future is inevitable.
Comment by Ryan DeGraw — March 10, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
It’s my opinion that the people to blame are the one’s who continually vote Dem or Rep and actually expect anything truly significant to change. While I’m not sure of the origin, there’s a saying that goes along the lines of:

“The definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over while expecting a different result.”

I think that’s what the majority of Americans have done for far too long. It’s amazing to me that the politicians that hold the constitution itself close to heart are repeatedly shunned by the public, and more importantly the media.

People can sit here debating and arguing back and forth for days on end, but it won’t change the fact that a bill is in the process of being passed that spits in the face of not only fiscal conservatism, but fiscal responsibility itself. When you take the time to scrutinize the statistics (which far too many people fail to do as was pointed out earlier) you realize that this administration along with the last FEW all made horrible mistakes, relapsed on promises, and either directly or in a contributing role helped put us into the situation we’re currently in.

I think that it’s obvious, or at least that it should be obvious, that it’s time for a major and drastic change. While I agree that emails and letters probably won’t do the trick, I feel strongly that something needs to be done. I’m shocked that news like this is only chattered about in dark corners of the internet, when it should be making headlines and “breaking news” on a very regular basis. While I don’t personally have any SOLID answers (nor does anyone else despite what they might claim) I just thoroughly hope that people wake up to the point that the realize that not only is change needed, but it’s dire at this point.

Clayton, I’d like to thank you for posting an off-topic, but truly thought provoking article. We need more people with your level of credibility to step outside of their comfort zone and take a PUBLIC stand on what they believe in. You just gained a lot of respect from one of your readers.

To better times,
Ryan D.
Comment by David (63) — March 10, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Hey Ryan - You hit the bulls-eye using one of Einstein’s best quotes - arguably a great description of our election cycles.

You’re right, it is time for a major and drastic change. Read post (115) and tell us how that won’t work. It’s long but only takes 3-4 minutes. I had other uses in mind when I wrote it but thought I’d post it here and see if any marketers we’re interested in using their skills to make a difference.
Comment by MARKEAUX — March 11, 2009 @ 7:34 am
Meanwhile the major ammunition suppliers in this country are running behind around twelve days filling orders. Wonder what is up with that? Gee, I can’t imagine! John Cougar Mellencamp himself said it best….”Plastic FEMA coffins for you and me” Oops, no that was “Little Pink Houses For You And Me”….what the heck was I thinking!?
Pingback by Jimmy Dean must be Jealous! | Tell Me the Secrets — March 11, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
[...] left speechless after our Democratic-controlled House of Representatives pushed through the biggest stimulus package pork products [...]
Comment by David (63) — March 11, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
Beau Smith & Advisors & Potential Doers

Hey Beau - This is for you and anyone who might consider using their marketing skills or “juice” to have some fun and maybe, just maybe make a difference. A lot of sharp marketers like yourself read Clayton so maybe someone will be interested before this thread kicks the bucket.

Some friends are encouraging me so I might take for a ride but just go for a Bill. They cracked up over the ads and concept and that’s the initial response I was looking for. The copy and graphics (cartoons) could be outrageous and hilarious. What could be more fun than making an ass out of congress members who oppose a Bill that stops their scams.

Building from grass roots is beyond monumental and unthinkable. What about the idea of finding a political organization already in place - and getting them to go for a Bill? People like Ralph Nader and Ron Paul are scam busters - nothing ventured nothing gained. Recruitment #’s mean political currency so maybe that angle will get their attention? Intelligent opinions and feedback appreciated - but please! - no morons chiming in! Just kidding!

Perhaps this type of sales pitch would work? …

Ever ask yourself why 3rd parties fail or why the Libertarian Party isn’t in office? After all, who could present a reasonable argument against smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom? Maybe the problem is not the principals or philosophy at all, but something else entirely unrelated. Perhaps the problem is just selling it.

Introducing Party principals or philosophy means asking people for their time and energy to think. Then there are grey areas for debate when principals can be seen differently as issues are addressed. All considered, it’s a tough sales job requiring interruption with some demands on people’s time and attention - say nothing of how the 2 parties have rigged the election process.

But what if there were another way to get people UNITED. And not just united but passionately united. And without reckoning with personal beliefs. And without requiring their time, energy or thought - no principals or philosophy to sell, learn, compare or debate. What if people could see a Choice as simple as Black or White and decide within seconds - “I see, I’m in!” And what if that Choice was ludicrous - like FOR or AGAINST getting screwed.

Will people be FOR or AGAINST “The Dirty Dozen Bill” that stops the top 12 ways they are getting fleeced by congress, banks and lobbyists? It’s brain dead simple - and the marketing can make them madder than hell at the villains.

What’s going to sell? New parties, principals, philosophies or something like “The Dirty Dozen Bill” or “The BS Bill.” By picking the issues that are the most ludicrous to oppose, we rig the game - so opposition has no defensible position.

Just imagine the potential of having a message that will awaken a sleeping Giant - the entire US population segment that has given up on political blather and voting. They are being gamed like everyone else and their distain for the system is waiting for an opportunity to fight back. “One mouse click and they are empowered to take on the villains!”

Instead of a Party building a member base - flip it - and the member base will build a Party.
Comment by David (63) — March 11, 2009 @ 8:02 pm
PS: Correction - I’m referring to taking post 115 for a ride
Comment by Steve Gunn — March 12, 2009 @ 12:16 am
So, maybe I’m naive (and don’t have a special character keyboard so I can’t correctly spell naive) But it occurs to me, that I have no F^&$ing idea what to believe anymore.

I don’t think it’s the Democrats fault; nor do I think the blame lies with the Republicans. Maybe it’s Democracy itself that is to blame.

I became a writer only after studying mathematics(my first love) and it occurs to me that any system of governance that is determined by a ‘majority rule’ is doomed to failure.

IQ (which is admittedly a flawed system for measuring intelligence, though the best we have to date) is actually measured along a bell-curve. This means, that every year, the sampled results are weighted so that the ‘average score’ is 100 +/- the standard deviation of I think 1.2 (please don’t quote me on that part) This means that 100 is the ‘mode’ Which as we all remember from jr high math is the most commonly repeated number in any given series or sample. And bell curves being what they are, half of the remaining data falls above 100(smarter) and half falls below(dumber)

By definition the “MAJORITY” of any population will be of average to BELOW_AVERAGE intelligence. (This is the same majority that makes our decisions by virtue of a group vote)

This system all but guarantees that the most marketable solution will inevitably prevail, not the best. And we are all marketers here. We know how easy it is to persuade suggestible people. (It is even EASIER if you don’t mind lieing to them)

So what are we to do? I honestly don’t know.. I wish I had even the shred of a solution. Maybe that’s why conspiracy theories are so comforting to most people, because then your enemy is EVIL and GREEDY instead of just flawed and human like the rest of us.

All I have are gnawing questions and doubts that one go away.

But then again, I’m a persuader, a manipulator and I know that in the fall of the U.S.S.R, more billionaires were created than at any other time in modern (or pre-modern history) Destabilization, deregulation, chaos and fear create wealth on an unimaginable scale.

I for one will be preparing to take advantage of the situation. When the time comes and brings with it the crisis and uncertainty that everyone else was unwilling to prepare for, I will take what is yours and make it mine.

Goodnight Everyone

Altruists are liars, fools or both.

-Gunn
Comment by Tom — March 12, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Clayton

Sorry for the prod. Just saw a leg and pulled.

I believe that this is the time for everybody to start out fending for themselves and getting rid of the begging bowl mentality that has taken hold all over the world.

I heard on the news this morning that the Unemployment Insurance Fund in S. Africa has reserves, but if many more people lose their jobs, the fund will be in a deficit.

Now take this, “employment has grown”, but all households were required by law to register maids, gardeners etc. temporary or not, for the UIF. Most of these have been employed for years, and now suddenly the government says employment has risen. And you thought you had fools governing your country!

The poliminals are going to screw us all. That is their style. Liars and thieves every one of them. They cannot help it. Part of their DNA.

The governments are taking from the earners and giving to the other lot.

Granted there are some that are totally dependent on others, the lame, sick and very frail, but I have seen people in S. Africa (dirt poor because of major job cuts, 2500 jobs lost in the mining industry in one week in our town )pick up pieces of wire,some shoe polish tins and fashion some toy or gadget, sell it and feed their family for the day. Some even sell vegetables on commission right in front of the vegetable stores, and they feed their families for the day.

These people are the future success stories, because they did not turn to crime or begging, but became self sustaining. They removed their digit from their rectum and are making a go of it.

And if a business cannot pay it’s way, let it die. A better one will soon rise to take its place, and the owners will get things done until the next crash, when once again only the tough and wise will survive.

People must, as you have said so many times, live well below your means, save and stay out of debt. Then when it hits the fan, survival is assured.
Comment by Dan White — March 12, 2009 @ 10:28 pm
Haha. Clayton whether you got “owned” by David (63) is now moot.

He just filibustered us all into a coma with that diatribe. Good God David. Hire Brandon as your editor.
Comment by David (63) — March 13, 2009 @ 2:16 am
Hey Dan - How about I agree with you and support your moot point. Maybe if you came out of your coma - posts like those copied below would be easier to recognize. It might even occur to you that I already said I’m not a writer and never claimed to be …
—————
True, I’m not a writer but I have a lot of past experience in creating advertising as a commercial artist.

(100) Harry - thanks for the compliments, but there’s 2 things in life that I would never do: 1/ Duel with Zorro 2/ Get into a writing contest with Clayton.

Hey - Brandon & Johan. Thanks for the compliments guys - but I really wasn’t going after Clayton’s argument
————–
I flipped my employer “the birdie” in 2000 but unfortunately have never read a book or taken a course in copyrighting. I’m flattered that several people chimed in with compliments - but a comparison with Clayton is still beyond my imagination. Maybe Brandon, Johan and Harry were looking at what I was saying and forgot to play the condescending copywriter professor?

Dan, who’s here and reads Clayton? Creative people - copywriters and marketers would be a fair assessment. Obviously, I tried to illustrate how those skills could impact elections instead of continuing on with tit-for-tat political blather. Let’s hear why my ideas won’t work. Or is just being an armchair critique and calling them a diatribe all you have to offer? You’re a professional writer, so let’s see the courage to put your own ideas out here for criticism like I did. Step up and show us what you got.
Comment by Sharon Quinn — March 16, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
Thank you Clayton for your direct and useful answer. Yes, it does help me.

Have you heard about the atrocious bill up at the congress (I can’t bring myself to capitalize the word anymore because they do NOT deserve that much respect.) HR 875? This bill attempts to make it illegal to grow your own food ON YOUR OWN PRIVATE LAND!!!!??

They’ve got balls, don’t they? I am attempting to alert as many people as I can to this because it is insane, so unbelievable as to be “pooh-poohed as impossible”, and it is so very DANGEROUS to our well being and freedom.

We must call up to our legislature in numbers large enough to have this ejected, and ASAP! To make food gardening a crime makes me wonder if they are trying to exterminate the citizens. It is sick & insane, and proposed by a Connecticut democratic woman representative named, Delauro, whose husband is a consultant for Monsanto, and she accepted somewhere around $180,000 PAC money from these lobbyist of Hitler-like control freaky dominating scary people.

Well, you get my point. I know this sounds so far fetched as to be made up, so, please dear readers, do some homework and be informed and shocked, and horrified when you discover the absurdity and arrogance sitting up there at the capital is actually entertaining this bill. We have to decry and demand that this bill WILL NOT BE tolerated. We cannot be paralyzed and dumbfounded because they count on our disbelief.

All to Love, Sharon
Comment by mike — July 13, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
love to enter in this discussion

Join the Discussion!

Let us know what you think. Or ask us anything. Or offer your own sage advice.

The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.

– Clayton

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The Dirty Little Secret That Obama and Congress
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If you remain silent,
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The Dirty Little Secret That Obama and Congress Do NOT Want You to Know:

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The Dirty Little Secret That Obama and Congress
Do NOT Want You to Know:

If you remain silent,
this abomination will be YOUR Fault.