While I was canning tomato juice today, as usual, I get thinking. So, when I finished, I started doing a bit of research.
If it wasn’t depressing enough before, it sure is now...
156,255,000 WORKFORCE (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
141,055,000 EMPLOYED (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
52 weeks at 40 hours per week (forgetting vacations) is 2,080 hours a year.
So, if we look at what is being spent by the Gov’t. for each hour you work:
$787,000,000,000 Stimulous $2.68 per hour you work.
$1,300,000,000,000 Health Care $4.43 per hour you work.
$1,200,000,000,000 Cap & Trade $4.09 per hour you work.
Just these new items total $11.20 per hour you work.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Interest on National Debt $1.40 per hour you work. (U.S. Treasury)
2009 Budget ($3.11 trillion) $10.60 per hour you work. (U.S. Treasury)
So, buckle your seat belts -
The Gov’t. spent more than - $23.20 for each and every hour YOU will work this year.
But, but - according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the average hourly wage nationwide is only $17.81.
Why aren’t you spending on consumer goods to help
boost the economy?
Can you spell B A N K R U P T ?
If the above isn’t demoralizing enough,
don’t forget that you need to add State,
County and Local Gov’t. spending but since
it varies so much by locale, I’ll let you
figure what applies to you.
T E A Party time!!! (Taxed Enough Already!)
Part of what got me thinking about this was
when our 13 year old daughter asked - ‘Daddy,
what will happen to me if something happened
to you and Mom. I wouldn’t know what to do.’
It made me stop and think about all my kids,
grandchildren and great grandchildren.
My parents and grandparents all tried to leave
a better world for me - I always thought I was
trying to do the same for my kids.
Where did I fail?
Thanks for the info. Here is what is on my mind:
Does anyone know what the best way is to carry water to stay hydrated during the day? I have recently heard that bottled water can leach calcium from the bones. What alternatives are there? Please let me know what you think.
Thanks,
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http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1813.pdf
Some consumers like the convenience of carrying bottled water with them when they travel or go about their daily routines. Others are concerned about the safety and quality of tap water. Whatever the reason, the use of bottled water has increased.
...
WATER
*is a valuable nutrient essential for survival
*is the most abundant substance in the body
*is present in all tissues in varying proportions: blood is 92 percent water, muscles are 75 percent water, and bones are about 25 percent water
*is required to carry nutrients and oxygen to the cells
*is required to remove waste from the cells
*helps regulate body temperature
*helps absorb food nutrients and convert them into energy
*is crucial for the many life-supporting chemical reactions that constantly occur throughout the human body
Water’s role in the body
Water, pure and calorie-free, is the best beverage to quench thirst. But, water is much more than just a refreshing beverage.
Water cannot be stored in the body. That’s why recommendations are to drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. This amount is necessary—even when you don’t feel thirsty—to replenish water losses and maintain healthy kidney function.
Bottled water (pros)
• Bottled water may have a better smell and taste because of the blend of minerals and method of processing. In addition, plastic bottles are light and convenient to carry.
• Chlorine is not used as a disinfectant. Instead, bottled water is treated by ultraviolet irradiation, filtration, and ozonation. These methods effectively kill most waterborne bacteria and leave no aftertaste.
• Some brands of bottled water (particularly those imported from Europe) contain relatively high concentrations of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Calcium is essential for strong bones, nerve impulse transmission, control of muscle contraction, and secretion of hormones and digestive enzymes. Magnesium helps strengthen immune system and regulate blood pressure. Although dairy products are major sources of calcium, and fruit and vegetables provide magnesium, bottled water also can help to meet the daily requirements for these minerals.
• Bottled water is classified as food and, therefore, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA standards for bottled water quality are similar to those established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for tap water. Some bottlers are members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) and, thus, must pass an annual inspection of their products as well as their bottling facilities by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF International) that has stricter requirements than FDA. Bottled water imported from Europe is subject to additional regulations set by the European Union.
Bottled water (cons)
• Fluoride content of most bottled waters is low. Fluoride is an important nutrient, especially in early childhood, for strong tooth and bone development. On average, children (1-3 years old) require 0.7 mg of fluoride per day, and adults need about 3.4 mg/day. A few bottled waters have fluoride content that exceeds children’s recommended daily intake and could cause mottling of the teeth.
• Bottled water sources are vulnerable to agricultural or industrial pollutants.
• The safety and quality of bottled water produced in the U.S. are largely regulated by state governments with widely varying standards. In contrast, municipal water supplies have nationally uniform regulations and are monitored daily for pesticides and many other contaminants.
• Some brands of bottled water have high sodium content. Many Americans consume on average 1.5 to 3 times the recommended daily sodium intake (2,400 milligrams). Bottled water that has more than 10 mg/liter of sodium is not a good choice for people suffering from hypertension or heart or kidney ailments.
• Packaging may be a potential health risk. The types of packaging material are indicated on each bottle. Plastic bottles made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PET, HDPE, PE) are widely used for all types of water in many countries. Research has shown that the leeching of components from plastic bottles into the water increases with storage time at or above room temperature. Some of these components may be carcinogenic, for example vinyl chloride in PVC bottles. Research in this area is limited.
• Bottlers are not required to put manufacturing dates on their products. Thus, consumers cannot determine how long bottled water has been on the supermarket shelf.
• Bottled water is not sterile (an exception is baby drinking water) and contains trace amounts of bacteria naturally present or introduced during processing.
• Bottled water is more expensive than drinking water from municipal sources.
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Tips for buying and storing bottled water
• Read the label carefully. It should say, “bottled at the source,” and specify a location of the source. Unless a location is indicated on the label, “spring water” could be tap water with minerals added to improve taste.
• Check the mineral content. The ideal water is high in magnesium (at least 90mg/liter) and calcium (twice the amount of magnesium) and low in sodium (less than 10 mg/liter). Some manufacturers do not list mineral content on the label, especially if only negligible amounts of minerals are present. For water low in sodium, look for label claims such as “sodium free” or “low sodium.”
• Parents who rely on bottled water to prepare infant formula should check the water’s fluoride content. If the amount is low, as it is in distilled water, dietary fluoride supplementation is necessary to ensure normal tooth development.
• Whenever possible, buy refrigerated bottled water and keep it refrigerated. Storage at or above room temperature promotes bacterial growth and increases leeching of plastic contaminants from the container into water.
• Carbonated (sparkling) water contains fewer bacteria. Carbonation increases the acidity of water which, in turn, has a bactericidal effect. If you are reusing a bottle, make sure it is thoroughly washed, especially its rim.
Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
Prepared by Oksana Matvienko, extension graduate assistant; Elisabeth Schafer, Ph.D., extension nutritionist; and Diane Nelson, extension communication specialist.
But, but - according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the average hourly wage nationwide is only $17.81.<<<
A very high wage for this area, as Arizona and Nevada are “Right to work States”, that is the right to work for any wage that the worker will accept.
This leaves us more than twice as far in debt as the high wage areas.
Oil the wheels on the wagons, for they will be needed to tote all that paper money that is so worthless.