A Stimulating Package We Can All Stand Behind

Americans can't afford much nowadays, but we can afford condoms. In fact, in this economy, we've been buying more of them. Customers aren't the only folks getting a rise of late. Trojan, Lifestyles, Durex and other major condom manufacturers are among the few makers of consumer goods that have experienced thrusting sales.

According to The Nielsen Co., condom sales in the U.S. increased 5% in late-2008 and by 6% in January 2009. Contraception is believed to be more popular among breeders now because families are stretching dollars and want to avoid having more mouths to feed.

Jim Daniels, vice president of marketing for Trojan brand condoms, explained this economic anomaly: "If people don't have the money to go out to a fancy dinner or are looking to cut back, Trojan gives them some real affordable ways to stay in and make some great memories together."

I'm totally 100% with Jim on this. If there's one silver lining to be found in this dark economic cloud it's that it gives guys a reason to be cheap and to go for what we're all after: dem drawls.

I can tell you from experience that in-home entertainment is soooooooo much cheaper and less fussy than the ole' dinner and a movie route. Just this past Sunday I got me some and didn't have to spend a dime outside the bedroom or wait 'til 1 or 2 in the morning to get it poppin'. Because we didn't go out, we were done at a decent hour and I was up by 7am on Monday preparing for work.

That's a good look in any economy.

Pres. Obama Wants To Stimulate You ASAP

YES WE CAN once again spend money like it's going out of style in the name of bringing America back from the brink of economic collapse. Or so says your president.

Barack Obama is asking the Senate to move quickly on passing a measure he thinks will fatten your pockets a bit and rescue the country from the doldrums of this very deep recession in one fell swoop. A very partisan U.S. House of Representative last week approved the President's $819 billion (yes, billion with a 'b') economic stimulus bill without a single Republican vote.

So what, you may ask, is included in this bill the President is so sure will save us?

$211 billion in tax cuts and $608 billion in government spending. The latter breaks down to "$43 billion for transportation projects, $19 billion in water projects, $21 billion for school modernization projects, $32 billion to fund a so-called smart electricity grid, $6 billion to bring high-speed Internet access to rural America." The President says the package will create 4 million jobs over the next two years.

I'm not so sure about that, nor am I sure this is the direction we need to be headed in. We saw this past Fall that spending billions and billions and billions of dollars does nothing to stimulate anything. But, what do I know?

Anywho, because we are a how-does-this-affect-me nation, I know you all are clamoring to know exactly how this will affect each of you. Here's the good stuff Obama is proposing:

• A $500-per-worker ($1,000 per couple) tax cut for two years for anyone making less than $100,000 a year ($200,000 per couple).


• A $1,000 per-child tax credit for workers who right now pay no income taxes.


• $2,500 in new tax credits to for couples making up to $160,000 a year, to pay for college in 2009 and 2010.


• Laid-off workers will qualify for Medicaid, no matter how high their previous incomes.

What say you?

Are you confident that the President's economic stimulus plan will work for you?

This is one expensive ass party I'm helping to pay for.

To folks from out-of-town, the pomp, circumstance and history going on in DC right now is cute and all, but those of use who live in the urrrea will probably be a little salty when we realize that Obama and friends are running thru BOTH our pockets to help pay for this celebration. We all knew that he was tapping into our federal piggy bank to pay, I read yesterday that taxpayers in DC, Maryland and Virginia are shelling out $75 million via their local governments to cover costs operational costs.

Estimates are the total costs for Obama's inauguration could reach $170 million. Obama has raised an estimated $40 million to help cover the costs of little things like the train ride from Philadelphia to Washington on Saturday and that star-studded concert with U2, Be-yawn-ce, Bruce Springsteen and others on Sunday, there's also the actual swearing in ceremony which is pretty cheap by comparison at about $1.25 million for that. There are 10 official inaugural balls, not to mention the cost of all the extra security. Oh, and those 5,000 port-a-potties lining the National Mall.

Four years ago democrats cautioned President Bush about an extravagant inauguration calling it inappropriate during a "time of war". Well, four years later the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, the unemployment rate is the worst we've seen since 1945, consumer confidence is down, the stock market is down, companies announcing daily they're laying off people, closing stores or going out of business all together, but not a peep out of the Democrats about the Obama inauguration. I'm fairly certain it's because he's one of theirs.

If you wanna lose your appetites for lunch consider this: the biggest donors for the inaugural festivities are the recently bailed out Wall Streeters.

So, here's the question: Given the US's sour economy, do you take issue with Obama’s extravagant inauguration celebration or think it sends the wrong message?

Uncle Sam, I like you my Mother's brother, but stay the hell out of my damn pockets!!!

I'm so sick of fucking paying taxes. I know that's one of the constants in life you'll never be able to avoid, but FUCK THAT!!! I'm mad as hell right now!

I just walked down to the mailroom at the office and noticed our pay stubs were distributed. Because I get paid the exact same amount every pay, I usually just grab mine, throw the unopened envelope in my top left drawer here and let them pile up. I opened it this time because I wanted to know how much personal, vacation and sick time I've accrued cus I'm thinking about getting away for a bit in a few. That was mistake #1.

I just realized that Uncle Sam's greedy ass takes $508.53 in federal and state taxes , Social Security (that I'll NEVER recoup a effing dime of) and Medicare...every fucking pay.

EVERY FUCKING PAY!!!!

I'm not sure why I did this cus all it did was piss me off even more, but I crunched some numbers. That was mistake #2

The government takes roughly 25% of what I make bi-weekly in taxes. In total -- and this is what REALLY grinded my gears -- $13,224.64 is snatched from me annually in taxes.

I now know what getting butt fucked against my will by some big nigga named 'Tiny' in cell block #8 at Comstock or Sing Sing feels like. :-(

Here's a thought, Federal (and State) Government, maybe Americans wouldn't need freaking stimulus package, handout bullshit every quarter if we were allowed to keep more of the damn money we actually earn!!!

**walks away maaaaaad salty and slams the door behind**

All Hail ObamALLAH!!!!!!!!

There are high hopes for big change when Barack Obama becomes president of the United States of America in about two months. The expectations for this man are approaching euphoria -- and deliria -- and that could set the stage for a big disappointment.

I’m sometimes amazed by people’s comments regarding this man: “Oh, I’m 7 months behind on my mortgage and am already into foreclosure, but it’s OK. Barack will take office soon. He’ll save me.”

No, ma’am, he won't save you. Although you may have gotten a chain email to the contrary, our President-elect doesn't walk on water or part red-colored seas.

Barack Obama will not save you from having to pay your bills. He will not absolve you from your delinquent Sprint bill, clear up your credit or make your baby daddy pay his child support on time. He won't clear up any outstanding warrants or make your kid perform better in math class. Having a black man as President does not mean you will no longer have to do jury duty or pay taxes. It just ain’t gonna happen. I’m just saying it so you’re prepared for the long haul.

Now, of course you'll have some people who oppose Mr. Obama's election (like our very own bitter and salty black Republican, Blaq-N-Mild) who will claim that my admonishment to all Americans is somehow tempering expectations for an inadaquate President-elect. That isn't the case at all.

Reality is, we've got huge problems in this country and no one is going to wave a magic wand and fix them in a matter of weeks or months. It's likely going to take several years, if, in fact, they're fixable.

Here's the question: Are expectations, particularly those of black people, too high for Barack Obama's presidency?