Speaking of Hogs

By: Debra L. Morrison
Submitted: 2009-02-17 14:44:59
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I also read yesterday that one in five Americans aged 18-34 is obese!  Yes, I have noticed the spread widening on Americans as we sidle up to yet our next buffet or super-sized fast food meal.

I personally was in the Las Vegas audience last week when Karl Rove could hardly contain his chortling as he belittled the obesity epidemic we have in America.  His slick one-liners rolled easily off his tongue mocking the attention and funds that President Obama’s stimulus plan allots to addressing one of America’s costliest and most debilitating ills.  It surely didn't surprise me that Karl apparently doesn’t care that this generation is the first that is scheduled to live less years than their parents, principally because of obesity.

I say arrest this obesity epidemic now, and yes, earmark funds for public awareness programs and treatments.  We need to lead by example, as adults and as a nation.  We do want our bodies to last as long as our hearts keep pumping, and we do hope to remain vibrant in our golden years.  We do want to be able to move with, and play with, our grandchildren or nieces and nephews.  There is hope!  The TV blockbuster, Biggest Losers is key evidence that with personal will power and the support of others we can win the fight against obesity.  We Can Do It Women! and men too, of course. 

Apparently the State of New York heard me and others calling for a healthy America, in recently instituting an obesity tax on certain sugared soft drinks.

Even the military is weighted down with ineffectiveness these days, rendering our very national security more vulnerable.  The number of service people diagnosed as obese has more than doubled since the 2003 invasion of Baghdad, Iraq.

At the end of the day, we are talking about a slippery slope with regard to so much of America’s and the globe’s appetite, greed, addiction and/or depression.

I listened to a reformed, yet once-convicted securities representative give an ethics lecture last Friday.  He carefully explained that he went step-by-step deeper into oblivion believing he would give only this one kickback; and then never again.  Further, how he never figured he’d get caught.  His was an addictive game of greed and egotism.

He admitted that the beloved women in his life—both his mother and his wife—warned him of his errant ways, yet he willfully broke their hearts, as well as that of his young sons, by continuing his slide into the grips of greed, eventually losing his family relationships and his possessions, and being imprisoned.  

Time will tell the full story of Bernie Madoff, and the myriad other Ponzi scheme architects, yet I suspect that decisions became more and more laced with optimism about add-water-and-stir wealth. 

Little attention was paid to the prospect of getting caught.  The aire of being above the law permeates a crook's decision making, and in Madoff's case, nary a care about the individual’s and foundation’s throats he stomped on.

For the record, I’ve never been bankrupt, never committed a felony (or even a misdemeanor) never accepted kickbacks, consistently voted in local and national elections, always worked at least one job (often 2-3) have an exceptional FICO score, great employment history, and haven’t cheated employees or family members.   Not sure that’ll make headlines, nor could I be a wildly successful public speaker in the opinion of some yet I do know right from wrong, and I attempt to live by the Golden Rule.  Boring yet beautiful.  Simple and proud of it.

Values still remain, and a majority of American’s still uphold them.  The media needs to search out those who would balance out the negative headlines and showcase the many ball players, military, and business people that play by the rules and enjoy a lifestyle befitting them and their labor/contributions.

So, hearty congratulations to all my readers who achieve greatness in their fields, in their families in their communities and in this fragile global network  It all starts in our heads, you know.  If we believe we can do it, we can.  With the continued commitment towards personal excellence, and with the support of our loved ones we can achieve massive victories.

Congratulations to all my mature women readers who are pushing past their personal fears to begin to understand money and the role it plays in their lives.  I am eager to throw a life preserver to you in the form of education and cheer leading regarding your money.  With over 30 years of experience investing client's money, I can help you sift through the mountains of financial information to cull what's important to your financial future.  Your past accomplishments are fodder for your money successes. We'll use a combination of common sense, history, and future thinking to forge ahead and ultimately ensure that your money will last your lifetimes.

No, we will not succumb to paralysis about our money any longer.  We'll say no to our Bag Lady fears that otherwise rob us of rich moments of our lives when we could be creating memories with our loved ones.  We will face our challenges head on, step by step with a winning plan.  We will resort to our resolve and discipline and reap the rich rewards, all without ever needing to cheat.

Congratulations on reintroducing the word NO back into our language, and meaning it.  No to unlimited buffets, no to unlimited profits, no to drugs, no to unfair business practices, no to dog-eat-dog greed, no to becoming addicted, and no to staying addicted.

In essence then, once our NO is taken seriously—principally by us—then our YES begins to have much more meaning.  Yes to HOPE, yes to continued hard work, yes to pitching in, yes to opportunity, yes to education, yes to studying something new, yes to mastering our money, yes to health, yes to living our lives fully, yes to giving back.  Yes, yes, yes, We Can Do It Women!™

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