AP: Earthquake footage

And the Clock keeps ticking...

In a few month the United States could be in really big trouble. We are a county that is seen to be the richest, but in fact, if countries, such as China, were to collect on the debt that we owe, we would become the worlds poorest country.

At this point in time the US debt is at $14,229,117,***,*** and rising almost $10,000 a second.

"The US may reach its congressionally-mandated debt limit of $14.3 trillion in a few months, which could lead to a default, Yu Yongding ,former Chinese central bank advise states. said on Thursday. If the US were a euro-zone nation, a default or bailout would have happened long ago, said Yu, who is president of the China Society of World Economics and a former adviser to the People's Bank of China." (China Daily)

A default occurs when a debtor has not met his or her legal obligations according to the debt contract, e.g. has not made a scheduled payment, or has violated a loan covenant (condition) of the debt contract. A default is the failure to pay back a loan, and China is even contemplating if it makes more scene to diversify its spendings rather than invest in the United States as much as it had previously. Would you invest in a person who doesn't pay you back?

 The United States of America is not the richest country in the world (7th in the world), we have a growing poverty rate (9.6% unemployment), with problems in congress that threaten to slow our Federal Government and a debt way into the trillions. With a GDP per Capita of about $47,400, American families make on average about $130 a day (rounded).....wait are we really as bad off as the government makes us sound???? No doubt that unemployment and poverty in the US is not something to take lightly and needs to be taken care of. But with the amount the average person makes along with the millions spent by companies, why are people here and global not being helped? in the poorest countries in the world people have to survive of $500 a year.

 

When the rich and those who complain about losing a buck or two think of it this way for Super Bowl XLV Fox Business states:

"Headed to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV?

Bring a credit card -- heck, bring a deck of them -- because everything in Texas is supersized this weekend, including the prices.

First and foremost, you're going to need a ticket. Good news: the NFL Ticket Exchange lists 21,032 seats still available as of Tuesday afternoon in the new $1.2 billion, 105,000-capacity Cowboys Stadium.

The bad news? They run between $2,400 and $23,730. Yes, apiece. Which might at least push your card'scredit limit.

On the other hand, if you recently sold the ranch, you might want to consider an XLV offer on ebay for a private, 25-person luxury suite on the 40-yard line just two doors down from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, complete with catering, attendant and private loo, for just $599,000." (Fox Business Feb 3 2011)

Not to put a damper on the fact that there really are starving and poor families in the US the do require a help, because they do exist and really should be the ones to complain and get a great chuck of the wasted money the government AND other US citizens blow every day.

You want examples of Wasted money?
Fox Business High lights some of the bets made for the Super Bowl: 

• Coin toss: heads or tails?
• How long will it take Christina Aguilera to sing the national anthem? Over/under 1:50 minutes.
• How long will she hold the word "brave?" Over/under 6 seconds.
• Will her hair be any color other than blond?
• Will she wear a cowboy hat?
• How many times will controversial former Packers quarterback Brett Favre be mentioned? Over/under 2.5
• How many times will the word "lockout" be mentioned? (Why "lockout"? Owners have mentioned that they will likely lock players out in the offseason as the two sides continue contentious labor negotiations. Some believe that the lockout could continue for months, even putting next season in peril.) Over/under 1.5
• What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning head coach? According to Pregame.com, a $100 bet returns $150 for yellow, $300 for clear or orange, $400 for red, $500 for lime green and $1,500 for blue.

To the rich, blowing their cash on crap, take a look at the 2010 Poorest Countries in the WORLD. Then complain when you lose $1.00 or two (give or take) per hour at work in pay.

As a Christian it makes it hard to look at our Mega-Churches with millions (billions in some areas) and see how the could literally fix whole economies, if we cut back a lot.... but of course... we wont...

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*Countries Based on Family financial assets and current rate of exchange in country
Stats from The Huffington Post

Poorest Countries of 2010                                           

10: Sierra Leone                                                          
    81.5% Living In Poverty                                        
    53.4% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                
    52.3% Deprived Of Drinking Water

9: Guinea                                                                              
      82.4% Living In Poverty                                                          
      70.1% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                                
      54.2% Deprived Of Adequate Schooling

8: Liberia                                                                              
      83.9% Living In Poverty                                                        
      83.7% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                                
      83.9% Deprived Of Cooking Fuel

7: Central African Republic                                                    
      86.4% Living In Poverty                                                        
      62.4% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                                
      82% Deprived Of Electricity                                                           

6: Somalia                                                                            
      81.2% Living In Poverty                                                      
      69.1% Deprived Of Sanitation                                              
      70% Deprived Of Drinking Water

5: Burundi                                                                            
      84.5% Living In Poverty                                                        
      81.3% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day  
                             
4: Burkina Faso                                                                    
      56.5% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                                
      35.4% Deprived Of Nutrition                                                
      55.1% Deprived Of Adequate Schooling

3: Mali                                                                                
      87.1% Living In Poverty                                                      
      51.4% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                                
      36.2% Deprived Of Electricity

2: Ethiopia                                                                            
      90% Living In Poverty                                                          
      39% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                                  
      61.5% Deprived Of Adequate Schooling

1: Niger                                                                              
      92.7% Living In Poverty                                                      
      65.9% Living On At Least $1.25 A Day                              
      89.5% Deprived Of Sanitation

Brought Closer to Home... (Leave the Maze)

As I sat in my office, leather chair, air conditioner, desktop PC to the front of me, laptop to my right,Ray Ban sunglasses to the left, as I listen to music on my iPod speakers and text people on my (simi) expensive phone, drinking designer tea (any tea w/ a label not made out of a simple bag) staring out the window, it hit me "Where are we as Americans going?" we are like mice, give us a treat, or in my case all my material stuff, then I am fine, I am happy. I can survive in my maze not even looking to see whats on the other side of the wall, or even truly think about why do i do the same damn rat maze everyday? There is more to this world then the cars we drive, our circle of friends, our houses, or even school. We as humans period (not only Americans) tend to neglect the bad and only want the good, or whatever is right in front of us, that which is normal and "safe"... We put ourselves in our cages and same old rat mazes... Are we ever going to get out?

Come with me, lets take a peek at what is outside our box of comforts, lets look at what we are missing. even if its from our homes.

"Brought Closer to Home" takes a look at whats going on in the world outside the United States or M'erica as some people tend to call it with great blind pride. News that is important, good, bad, happy, sad, etc. News that is in mainstream media, and also hopefully  news outside Fox, or CNN, or NBC.. to name a few.

America is our "rat maze" the rest of the world is.....Who really knows until we get out. And this fact goes to those in other countries who feel that they are the best as well, without feeling like they need to know about the world outside their window... For my purpose I am looking at the world the only way I honestly can... An American.