Well, this economy has been tough, and I’ll admit it. Last May, the company that I worked for, had a major reduction in workforce and put 2,000 of us on the street. I’m not talking about clerks or hourly employees. I’m talking about people with multiple college degrees. Some actually have a PhD in their respective field.

In order to reduce costs and not open themselves up to labor related legal actions, the reduction “recipients” were as random as could be statistically defined. They actually dumped some people who were high contributors with several patents and proven track records for generating revenue for the company. I know, it sounds crazy. Folks, this is the world that we now live in. Peoples’ employment is no longer protected by being good at what they do, or how profitable they are for the company, because companies are so worried about being sued for discrimination in some category or another, for simply unloading dead wood.

I’ve got over twelve years of college education that I paid for myself over the years of working many different jobs. Nobody paid for my education except me. I wanted it, so I worked for it. After all, isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Contrary to what some people may belief, I’m not a blithering idiot. I’m actually highly regarded nationally as an expert in my field.

Although I’m still looking for a job in my local area, I’ve been doing consulting work nationally, wherever it’s available. (I’ve never collected unemployment, ever) Over the last five months, I’ve been away from home about 75 to 80% of the time.

Sure, as a consultant I earn a hansom rate. I’ve been averaging $6.800 a week but it’s not worth being away from my family for three or four weeks a month and my Wife and Sons will agree with me. As a consultant, I have to take every job that comes available for fear that I may hit a dry spell in the future. I have to keep quite a large buffer. I also must pay my own taxes and insurance. Even after paying taxes and insurance, it’s still a very good wage, I will admit, until one factors in the time spent away from home. I truly miss my family. Believe it or not, they miss me too. I’d be more than willing to accept a local, regular job for less than half of what I’m currently earning.

Just because I’m still earning a living doesn’t mean that this economy isn’t hard on me, and my family life. I’ve done well in my local area for the last 25 years, and believe that I’ll do well again if the economy picks up. I’m just making do, until then.

So, I ask, how much do you want to allow Obama to diddle with something he has no clue about, the economy? He’s never really had a job where he was held accountable for output or earnings. How can he possibly know what it’s like to be economically productive? Maybe he needs to know, first-hand, what it’s like to make do.

Does any politician know what it’s like to have to make do? I’m not defending anyone, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a politician that is doing the things the rest of us are having to do to make ends-meet. Just my two-cents. Off to host the radio show … .

The economy and budgets are something most politicians, and this administration especially, have no clue how to run. I saw a classic news report from Jake Tapper of ABC, and a similar analysis by John Stossel on O’Reilly, comparing Obama’s “budget” to a normal household budget (just remove about 8 zeroes). It’s the equivalent of planning to spend about $38,000 this year when you make about $27,000 in wages, meaning you’ll have to put about $11,000 on your credit card. Oh, and you already have $153,000 on that credit card.

Can any household or business run like this and survive? Of course not. What makes anyone think it will work for the country?

You know, I’ve never been a huge fan of Shannon Grove, but along those lines, her push in the assembly for a part time legislature in California has merit. Let them EARN their living elsewhere and have elected office be a call of duty rather than a 9 to 5.