5/19/08
I’M MAD AS HELL at the decision by journalists to perform every live stand up from Crawford, Texas in front of an old, run down, ugly barn.  Whose bright idea was that?  I’M MAD AS HELL that the image of this now iconic barn is representing the President of our country.  Could that be a reason why his approval ratings are so low?

In politics, perception is everything and when I’m watching a news story about the President I want to see a visual that makes me proud or at the very least comfortable that my country is in capable hands.  A rustic barn that looks like it’s been taken over by vulchers just doesn’t do it for me.

As the US Economy spirals into a recession, why portray the person who is supposed to be pulling us out of it as the most deserving of a home make over?

I understand that Crawford, Texas probably does not have a long list of iconic images.  It’s a town with a little under a thousand residents which doubles in population every time the President decides to escape from the White House with Secret Service and journalists in tow.

What really makes me MAD AS HELL is the barn isn’t even part of Bush’s ranch!  It’s actually the maintenance shed at Crawford Middle School which is about 10 miles from Bush’s home.  I’m sure I could head down to Crawford and find something within 10 miles that is more appealing to stand in front of.  How about the road leading up to his ranch, purple mountain majesty, amber waves of grain or a towering oak tree?

President Bush isn’t the first President to spend a good portion of his time outside the White House.  Many former Presidents took advantage of staying at their own so called family compound.  Ronald Reagan famously spent nearly one eighth of his presidency at his California ranch.  Remember the images of Rancho del Cielo?  You didn’t see some old shed on the verge of collapse.  No, you saw horses and rolling hills.  All the things you would expect to see of a Presidential residence.  Eisenhower had Gettysburg, JFK had Hyannisport.  My favorite was Franklin Roosevelt who made the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu his home away from the White House.  Now there’s a backdrop.

So to the journalists that continue to stand outside the barn, get some creativity, think outside of the box and while you’re doing that, think about what image you’re portraying to the world.  To the White House Press team, why not lend a hand and set up a better location for journalists to report from.  Just because the housing market is in the dumps doesn’t mean the President’s vacation backdrop has to look like one.

MAD AS HELL - RETAIL:
5/12/08

Last time I was here I was Mad As Hell at being told how to spend my Economic Stimulus check.  Now I'm Mad As Hell at the people and companies I'm spending that money with.

When I walk into a store, whether it's to buy a new car or a new pair of socks, I expect to be treated in a certain way and I'm Mad As Hell that nowadays it seems customer service is a thing of the past.

For some reason prices continue to increase while politeness and common courtesies seem to decrease.

To all the young retail workers out there, a few simple rules:

Don't refer to me as "dude", "pops" or "old man".  Any situation where I'm handing over a portion of my hard-earned money merits me being referred to as "sir" or "Mr. Madison".  Especially when I'm old enough to be your father.

If I walk into your store, a simple hello goes a long way.  Acknowledge that I have taken the time to check out what you are selling and do your job by seeing if there's any way you can help out.  Don't just stand there behind the register with an occasional evil glare like I'm interrupting your coffee break.  Even if I am, act like I'm not.  Your job as a sales person is to make me want to purchase something from you, not your competitor. 

If I went into work and acted like many of the retail workers in America today, I would be fired.  It's as simple as that. 

And companies wonder why so many people are turning to online shopping.  No long lines, no sloppy fitting rooms where you barely want to take off your shoes, and most importantly no
disgruntled employees.

I'm not asking for the return of the Milk Man.  And I know working in the service industry is not an easy job.  There are a lot of selfish, rude people out there.  And sometimes the customer is NOT always right.  But as I walk into your store you have to assume that I'm not one of the few.  So treat me with the respect of a long-time valued customer.  Not like I'm an idiot off the street.

After all it is the customers that keep you in business.  Whether you own the place or work the register, your job depends on people like me coming in and spending their money.  And with competition at an all time high, all it takes is one foul attitude to make me walk out, go next door, and buy the exact same product from someone else.

5/6/08

I’M MAD AS HELL at the Economic Stimulus Payment!  This month more than 130 million mailboxes will be stuffed with checks from the IRS.  Ranging from $600 to $1200, depending on your marital status – possibly more if you have children – all yours just for filing a 2007 tax return.

Congress introduced this idea as a way to stimulate the American economy and divert it from that dirty 9-letter word…recession.  A noble idea, but it relies on the check-holders doing as their asked with this newfound money and quite honestly I’M MAD AS HELL at people telling me what I should do with MY money.

The government tells me to put the money back into the American economy.  But how exactly can I do that when so little is actually produced in this country? 

Say I want to put the money towards feeding my family.  With the cost of food quickly increasing this is the area where many families need the most help.  Well then my money is likely to wind up in Mexico where two thirds of the vegetables we consume are produced.  That’s not exactly stimulating the American economy.

How about upgrading to a hybrid car – save the economy while saving the environment?  Then I’m likely to boost the economy of Japan since Toyota has a strong lead in the hybrid car market.

And of course putting the money towards that steadily increasing fortune we all pay at the gas pump is not going to help our economy.  It’s going overseas to Saudi Arabia and the likes.

So I’M MAD AS HELL that I’m supposed to listen to the government tell me how to spend my money.  The same government that is holding onto a $9.5 trillion debt of it’s own.

When it comes to my finances I prefer to trust the professional money people and they are all saying the same thing.  First, pay off any debts.  Most Americans are drowning in credit card debt so take this windfall and pay down that high interest credit card bill.  No credit card debt?  Lucky you!  Then add to your savings.  If in fact the economy does fall into a recession you’ll be happier you have the cash than that flat-screen TV.  There’s always something you can save for – retirement, a child or grandchild’s education.

The moral of the story is to do what you wish with the money.  It’s your money.  You earned it by being an upstanding citizen and paying your taxes.

4/28/08

I’M MAD AS HELL that television news reporters, analysts and anchors are getting younger and younger.  Every time I turn on the nightly news or one of the cable news stations I see a young but attractive face explaining to ME the historical significance of today’s events when he or she isn’t old enough to have experienced any them first hand.  

When it come to news I’M MAD AS HELL that I have to listen to it from someone that isn’t old enough to remember what life was like during the Vietnam War.  I want to hear my nightly news from someone that has a few gray hairs...someone that has been around the block a few times…someone who can talk about escalating gas prices in context because they lived through the gas shortages of the 1970s.  

I’M MAD AS HELL that the likes of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite are no longer visable in television news.  Cronkite was well into his 40s when he first went on air at CBS News, and it would take several more years before he earned the title “the most trusted man in America”.  Trusted because he was there when man first landed on the moon and he was there where Kennedy and King were assassinated.  

I’M MAD AS HELL that I can’t find TV journalists today that are older than Britney Spears and who are old enough to know that the Beatles weren’t insects.  I want to hear about this election from someone who has voted in more than just a few.   

I have nothing against youth and as my daughter pointed out I am getting old so the journalist are bound to be younger than me.  The fact that Journalism continues to be a popular college major is a good sign for our nation.  Young people are getting involved and interested in the world around them.  But what happened to the days when the youngins had to earn their spurs by working a beat?  Maybe covering the school PTA meetings or reading the police blotter every night in some small market in Minnesota?  You have to pay your dues on the street for a few years before you can become the voice of a network.  Every current event has a historical context and it helps when you lived the history, not just read about it.