Innovation and Power Meet Passion
Mary Kathryn Johnson
  • Home
  • Mary's Blog
  • Books
    • Say Bump
    • The Ones We Carry
  • Writers I Follow
  • About
  • Contact

You Made Your Bed Now Lie In It

10/14/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
Living in California, I have an advantage...a crystal ball of sorts...in seeing the direction this ship called The U.S.A. is headed.
  
Let me look into my crystal ball, and tell the future for you.

California has the highest income tax rate of all the 50 states.  


California is also the largest employer in the state.  Yes, the state government employs more people than any private or publicly traded business in the Golden State.


California has two cities so far that have declared bankruptcy.  The main obligations the cities of Stockton and San Bernadino are failing to meet are government employee pension and benefits programs.


Unfortunately, there are not enough people paying California's highest tax rates to supply the union negotiated contracts for public employees to receive their guaranteed retirement benefits.


Let me be more specific.  


Every union represented employee of the State of California, and every union represented employee of each city in California receives a guaranteed lifelong retirement pension if he/she completes the contract negotiated time filling the chair in the job, no matter how well he/she performed it.  


This pension is not tied to any Mutual Fund or Stock Market Investment.  

It is 100% GUARANTEED. 


Don't you wish your IRA or 401K didn't fluctuate with the market? 


Consequently, CalPERS (Public Employee Retirement System) is $87Billion (yes that's with a "B") underfunded, because the funds collected and invested are nowhere near the $225Billion guaranteed in the union contracts.

Some teachers in my local school district are a perfect example.
  • One Kindergarten teacher receives over $80,000 in pension PLUS over $25,000 in fully paid medical, dental and vision benefits each year.  
  • Two other married retired school teachers received over $170,000 a year in their combined pension. Unfortunately, the wife recently passed away, but her husband continues to receive her full share of the pension - still $170,000 a year total.  

Gee, I wonder why the husband is currently looking for some tax breaks, because he now is in the upper-middle class - the very socio-economic class his angry, anti-CEO union reps have fought against. 

This pensioner is now trying to find ways around the very taxes that continue to pay his pension.  


Taxes in the state of California have had to increase to try and catch up to the bleeding that is uncontrolled spending.


Consequently, large and small businesses are leaving the Golden State in droves - actually they are being enticed to move by other states like Texas and Arizona.


How does this relate to my crystal ball, you ask?


California is the golden canary in the economic underground mine shaft, and that canary is suffocating, because the mine is quickly spreading the toxic fumes of government overspending dictated by lobbyists and unions.


The Federal Government is going the way of California.


The foggy mist in my crystal ball whispers the following in my year:
  • The Federal Income Tax Rates must increase for everyone (not just those making over $250,000/year) in order to keep up with the raising of our debt limit.
  • The Federal Government will become the largest employer in the country.  How many jobs did Obamacare create in order to double my personal healthcare insurance?  Yes, my coverage stayed the same, but doubled in premiums and yearly cap, but my Federal Government can give me a handout to bring them back down to the same affordable level prior to The Affordable Care Act.  (Thanks for your willingness to help me pay for my healthcare increases with your taxes.)
  • Taxes will continue to increase, but won't be able to keep pace with spending and pensions.
  • Large and small businesses will flee to other countries (wait, isn't that already happening?)  Can you say "苹果"?  That's "Apple" in Chinese.
  • The U.S.A. will go the way of the Roman Empire, and implode under it's own weight.

I know I sound as doomsday as Professor Trelawney, but I don't just whine.  There are a few ideas I have to pump fresh air down this mine shaft, and they are all centered around what I learned raising my kids - People rise to whatever expectations you set, and are more confident when they are more self-reliant:
  • Ban all unions from any public employment organization.  We have a choice to shop at companies whose union employees contribute to their products.  We don't have a choice to pay the taxes that support the salaries, and union dues that give a guaranteed pension even beyond death to someone who also can't be fired for poor performance.
  • Ban all lobbyists (retired politicians will then be forced to get real jobs at normal salaries.)
  • Transfer all government pension plans to IRA's, 401K's or Social Security like every other American.
  • Transfer all medical, dental and vision plans held by government employees to the same private payer insurance plans held by every other American before Obamacare became the "UnAffordable Care Act."
  • Fundamentally change the welfare and disability systems to include temporary benefits that are paid during an equally paid re-training program to get individuals with able bodies and minds to work, and on the road to self sufficiency.  Every part of the government that relates to government assistance, welfare and disability must talk to every other part, so they all work toward the same good for people in need.
  • Workers whose unions have negotiated them out of a job, and sent their jobs oversees can ask those unions for some of their dues back for re-training.
  • No government employee, from the President on down to the last Federal/State Project Manager has a guaranteed pension.  I'm sure a good book deal can be had, but I would self-publish if I were you.
  • Politicians are required to have worked a "real job" in the private sector for a minimum of 10 years prior to holding any public office.  Hopefully, this will give them some idea what kind of life their constituents live.

When the State of California goes bankrupt, I'll know the nation is not far behind, but I won't say I told you so. 

I'll just start learning Chinese.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
4 Comments

05 Things I'll Do Before Turning 50. If I'm Not Dead, I'm Not Done.

6/17/2013

2 Comments

 
PictureRight before chopping off 10 inches!
2013 is the culmination of my 50th year of life.  All my over 50 Pixel Pals are nodding their heads saying, "Been there, Done that."  Of course, they know I'm only half way through this journey, and can understand my taking stock to see what's coming around the bend.

I, like all others before me, am feeling the clock ticking faster, and am responding with trying to do more by this mid-century mark.  So, here is my 05 by 50 list for your reading and laughing pleasure.

  1. Go Skydiving
  2. Appreciate my curves enough so that I can walk on a beach in a bathing suit without sucking in my stomach
  3. Chop off my long hair and donate it  (DONE!)
  4. Finish one of my novels
  5. Pay my monthly mortgage from writing




I'll keep you posted as time goes by.  I have until September 2013 to do these five things!


Here's to the next 50 years!


What did you do, or will you do by the time you turn 50?


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left





Picture
All that is left! LOVE IT!
2 Comments

Hope Faith Courage

3/18/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
Hope is wishing you could change your life.

Faith is believing you could change your life.

Courage is changing your life.

The ONLY requirement for change is Courage.  All else is pavement of the path to courage. 

What in your life do you have the courage to change?



Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

6 Comments

Attitude - Marriage

2/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Here is the second installment of my blog series for Venture Galleries, and I hope it saves a few well-meaning, but typical men from countless hours of torture from their wonderful, hardworking wives.




One touch is all it took.

A hand on the shoulder would have done it.

She had all the power, and all the anger, and she just couldn’t do it.  She couldn’t give him the satisfaction of being the one to make up first.


Walking into Starbucks for her morning Soy, Nonfat Mocha after Kindergarten drop-off, Jude was so engrossed in the events of last night, and the search for her debit card in her purse that she bumped into the person holding the door open for her.

Jude was surprised to see she had run into another Kindergartener mother – the one with the long salt-and-pepper hair.

“Oh, I’m sorry, how silly of me.  I wasn’t paying attention.  Thank you.” Jude said as both women walked to the back of the line.

“No worries,” replied the woman. “Having one of those mornings?”

“Yes!” was Jude’s exasperated response.

“Sorry to hear it,” the woman said. “Maybe the firefighters coming to school later this morning will take your mind off your troubles.”

“Oh My Gosh, I forgot all about that!” said Jude, sighing heavily.

The front of the line reached, they both ordered their respective drinks, and headed for the only available table, and with smiles, agreed to share it.

“How could you forget about the firefighters, most of the moms have been looking forward to their visit all week,”  the other mother said with a sly smile.

“I know, right,” Jude replied. “It’s just my stupid husband.”

“Uh-oh”

Bursting at the seems to commiserate with a comrade, Jude explained, “You know, is it too much to ask for him to help with the chaos at bedtime by clearing the table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher? But, getting him to do just that one little thing is like pulling teeth! He just plops down on the couch after dinner, watching ‘Pawn Stars', 
while I have to get baths done, and get the girls in bed,” Jude spewed in one breath, then sighed.  “Last night, I was tired, and asked again if he could just help me out this one time while I got the girls ready for bed, and we got into a fight, because he wouldn’t do it.”

Jude took a sip from her Mocha, and asked, “Does your husband help with the dishes?”

The woman took her time with a sip of her French Roast before she replied calmly...
(Read on)





Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

0 Comments

Attitude - Age

2/10/2013

6 Comments

 
I was asked by Caleb Pirtle III to write a blog series on his widely popular site Venture Galleries, and I am very honored to accept.  Here is the first installment, and while you are on the Venture Galleries site, browse around...the photos are amazing!



Jude froze, standing in the dirt parking lot, and looked around to see if anyone heard her daughter’s comment.

“What, honey?” she whispered.

“I saw it sticking straight up, mommy, it looked like a white hair,” Alicia said while carefully navigating the wide chasm every five year old must brave getting out of a Ford Expedition.

A few other late arrivals to Kindergarten were jogging with kids in tow, but no one was paying them any attention in their haste.

With Alicia standing in the dirt, Jude opened the passenger door, jumped in and flipped the visor to reveal the mirror.

“Shit!” she breathed while smoothing the hair at the back of her part.

The bell rang.

“Come on, Mommy, we’re late!” yelled Alicia.

Jude slammed the visor up, jumped down from the seat, slammed the door, and pushed the lock button on her key fob.

She grabbed Alicia’s hand, and said, “Mommy’s going to go potty when we get in class, okay, honey?” while pulling her across the street and up the steps.

“But, Mommy, you promised to read with me!” Alicia whined, running to keep up.

“I will, honey, I just need to go the bathroom first, okay?”

All the students were sitting on the alphabet rug with their little red paper books, reading to their respective partners when Jude and Alicia entered the classroom.

Jude ushered Alicia past the teacher with an apologetic, exasperated roll of her eyes, and pulled her daughter to an empty space on the rug.

Smoothing the hair on the top of her head, she glanced around the room and assessed which adults were present.  The same few moms she saw during the daily drop off of kindergarteners – all in their mom uniforms of t-shirts and jeans or sweat pants, and one rather good looking father obviously on his way to work, looking uncomfortable sitting on the rug in his grey suit.

One adult and child were off to the side near the hallway to the bathroom, the little girl crying, while the adult, who Jude could only assume was her grandmother with long salt and pepper hair hanging over her face, bent low and spoke in soft, comforting tones.  There was at least one student almost every day with separation anxiety, and this one looked like she didn’t want grandma to leave.

Jude thought the women’s healthy thick hair would be beautiful if she would just dye it, for Christ’s sake!

“Mommy will be right back, Alicia, so go get your book, and start practicing your reading, okay?!”  And, without waiting for an answer, she was walking toward the restroom sign.

Safely inside with the door locked, she took her nail clippers out of her makeup bag...(Read on)



Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

6 Comments

You

2/4/2013

6 Comments

 
Jenny Craig Scale
Are you getting discouraged with your goal to lose weight or get healthy in 2013, just like every other year?  Well, I have a secret that could just be the magic pill!

Ready?



This isn't a call to...follow this particular weight loss technique, and you, too, could look like me!  If you looked like me, there would be two of us, and you would have to be the evil twin.

Find what is right for YOU!

How?  Start by sitting down, taking a deep breath, and shutting up!  That includes your thoughts, don't let them shout at you that you should be vacuuming, or fixing dinner, or writing that blogpost, or finding out what your silent toddler is up to...well, that one you better listen to.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

When you sit and listen, you just might see where you need to put the most energy to make yourself a better version of yourself.

  • Is it what you eat?
  • Is it how fast you eat?
  • Is it how often you eat?
  • Is it your activity level? (or lack thereof)
  • Is it your activity frequency? (or lack thereof)
  • Is it your triggers to eat, like stress, boredom, TV watching, picking off the kids' plates, tasting while cooking?
  • Is it your late night snacking?
  • Is it that you DON'T eating breakfast?

I guarantee that if you sit quietly for a few minutes a day, and focus on just one change you want to make in your life, you will start acting toward that change.  It takes 21 days of daily focus to change a habit.  We have passed that date in the New Year, and will pass it again next month, and next year.

You might as well focus now for long term change, because no "diet" will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle once you lose weight.  Only your daily focus will do that.

If, after listening quietly, you find that you are just fine the way you are, then Fantastic!  I bet you have more to learn in life, because you are human, by the way, and that means decidedly not perfect.  There must be something you need to do to improve upon that amazing package?  Internal and external change have their roots in your mind and attitude every time.

So sit and listen at least once a day.  Call it whatever you want...taking a breath...me time...meditation...finding your smile...calming down so you don't spew at someone...whatever!  We all need a moment, and if that moment moves us forward toward our goals, 



THAT'S THE POINT!


Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left


6 Comments

Beauty, not Pretty

9/18/2012

4 Comments

 
Western Redbud Flowers in my garden
They are the pretty ones.  Their makeup is flawless, hair shiny and coiffed.  Their look is arranged right down to the bulging biceps or slim waist.

They are admired by the masses, and the masses monitor themselves by the pretty mirror.

Son, I know you are attracted to pretty.  We all are at first.  True beauty, however, goes much deeper and reveals itself through many layers.


Beauty is created through depth of experience.

Crocus Flowers in my garden



Beauty sometimes blossoms in the smallest, most fragile form, and may only reveal itself in that
fleeting, delightful moment.

Naked Lady Flowers in my garden



A colorful display is not necessary to experience the deep sweetness of beauty.  We may need to close our eyes sometimes to sense it.

Cactus Flowers in Firey Furnace, Arches National Park


However, when beauty unfolds in the harshest, most difficult conditions you know it has reached it's
truest depth and strength.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA



To find beauty, son, tend your own garden, and the beauty will find you.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
4 Comments

Depth and Beauty

9/16/2012

6 Comments

 
Crater Lake Depth and Beauty
Yes, Crater Lake in Oregon holds the Guinness World Record title for the deepest Lake in the U.S., and the clearest lake in the world!  I took this picture in July, 2012 while on a trip to Crater Lake National Park with my family.  Wizard Island beckoned to us, and we took the boat tour around the lake in the early morning light.  We were dropped off on the island with 12 other people, hiked to the top amidst the trees, rocks and Bald Eagles, and breathed in the freshest, most beautifully deep perspective.  Almost as beautifully deep as you.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
6 Comments

Opinions are Like...

8/13/2012

4 Comments

 
...you fill in that statement.
Respect
Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
4 Comments

88 iPhones?

7/10/2012

4 Comments

 
I'm already starting to worry about my firstborn going to college, and he's just starting high school this fall.  Am I nuts?  I don't think so.  Check this out! 

Look at the savings on getting Pell Grants (I got those when I went to UC Berkeley in the 80's) for only the amount needed for expenses for a Graduate Degree - it's under "FA Comparisons" - I agonized over buying him one iPhone this summer, and he could save enough for 88 more...

That's it, he's getting a job.

Navigating the financial aid system infographic by Southern New Hampshire University, SNHU.EDU
Brought to You by SNHU.EDU Online College Programs
Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left
4 Comments
<<Previous

    Download my Most Powerful Tool to Get it ALL Done as a Parent & Author!

    Author

    Hi, I'm Mary, a woman constantly working toward becoming a Master of herself and all things named Duane, Evan, Riley, Seren, Linus and Katie ~ that's why it's so messy around here.


    Archives

    January 2016
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    9 11
    Choices
    Communication
    Creativity
    Dad
    Do What You Love
    Dream
    Dust
    Empower
    Entrepreneur
    Every Mom
    Follow Your Bliss
    Grandparents
    Growing Up
    Growth
    Help Me Self Publish
    Holiday
    Learning From Mistakes
    Loss
    Love
    Mary Kathryn Johnson
    Michelangelo
    Mommyloves
    Mompreneur
    Mother Theresa
    Omelets
    Parenting
    Political Correctness
    Politics
    Regret
    Rhythm
    Say Bump And Take A Left
    Search Engine Optimization
    Selfish
    Self Publish
    September 11
    Summer Vacation
    Take Action
    Therapy
    Tragedy
    Triberr
    Twitter
    Wordless Wednesday
    Writing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.