Cure for Cancer

Maybe the holidays makes me a little jaded....then again maybe it just makes you think. As I was bombarded this year with this charity and that non-profit wanting nothing more than to seperate me from my money it occurred to me. Nobody will ever find the cure for cancer. There's just too much money in looking for it.

Stop thinking about how great for the world it would be if someone foud the cure for a moment. Think about this... If someone said they'd pay you 120k per year to look for an alternative to the current sources of electricity. You also knew that once this was discovered this gig would be over. You might get a bonus (of maybe another 120k) but then you'd be done. However, as long as you kept looking you were going to get the 120k every year. How hard would you look? Just hard enough to keep hope alive. Admit it... at least to yourself.

Who in their right mind is going to find a way to make their lifes work no longer important? I'll grant you that their are in fact some truely alturistic people out their looking for the cure. but the others aren't and the ones who are most likey are supervised by those that are not. So when you are choosing which of the many "charities" to which to donate...please remember the ones that actually do something rather than those that want to "end" something. Because with the end of whatever they say it is of which they going to rid the world they would rid the world of their cash flow.

Higher Education-

It seems to me that institutions that provide post-secondary education have a strangle hold on the US economy. They have a never ending supply of customers and can throw in unnecessary "products" to consumers.
Somewhere along the line someone (or a group of someones I would assume) decided that a degree was necessary to get a job. It not even as though the degree is important. I was recently searching through various job postings and noticed that many positions just require a degree. No specification whatsoever what type of degree just some sort of degree.
Can someone please tell me how a degree in biology would make someone more qualified for a career in business?
Can someone please tell me how that chemistry class is needed for me to get a degree in business?
This is all propoganda further propelled by alumni and leaders of acedamia. This is not to say that for some careers degrees are not needed, but it definately isn't needed for ALL careers which is where this country is headed.

I pick on the sciences not because there is anything wrong with them but only becausethey are the easiest example because their necessity is so focused in any given area.

Just One of the Numbers...

Every day in this country we pay for a ton of services we do not use. When companies set prices for things they set the prices based upon the assumption that you will be doing certain things.

For example when you get phone or cable service you pay for them to staff (or outsource which is a whole different topic) a call center for you to call in and complain, even if you never do. When you get health insurance you pay for the health problems of everyone else in the same group that you are in.

One of these days I hope companies get smart and reward those of us that don't use these services with lower rates or rebates and let those that call in two or three times a month pay to do so.

To me that would just be good business.

If you have any suggestions for topic on which you'd like me to rant please feel free to let me know. If I know anything about it I'll be happy to share.

Roth 401(k)....Compounding the IRS's Mistake


In 1998 Congress enacted a law allowingthe Roth IRA to be born. This allowed people to put after tax money away to save for retirement. The benefit here is that if certain rules are followed investors can remove the money along with any earning completely tax-free!

While this was not the most prudent move there was very little potential for revenure loss because of the low contribution limits and therefore the low potential tax revenue.

Begining in 2006, in their great wisdom, they decided to allow Roth contributions into a 401(k). Roth 401(k) contributions can be made up to the 401(k) limits (currently $15,000).

Assuming they do not come to their senses and do away with this regulation in 2011 when they have the first opportunity, they stand to give americans millions in tax free income.

If a 25 year old contributes $15,000/year into a Roth 401(k) until they turn 65, assuming an annual return of 8% they would be able to take out just under $4 million tax free. If that same person is in the 35% tax bracket that would be $1.4 million in tax revenue.

While I'm not confident that this oversight will remain for the next 40 years, it must remain for at least 5. You should put as much money into this while the option is there.

Changes

He came out of the jungle and saw his home again.
He stood there for a moment just to take it all in.
Eight years of shear hell had brought him to this night,
And for just one fleeting moment all the world was right.
Then he spronted into the village with his mind set on home,
But he went into the shack to find he was alone.
He walked back outside and strolled down the narrow path,
To the center of his village, which contained the aftermath.
There, in the pale light of the moon, stood a blackened cross.
When he saw what was nailed upon it, he began to feel his loss.
The charred carcas of his chief dtared down at this man,
But thats not where it ended, it's where his pain began.
For while walking up to get a closer look at this hateful sight,
His foot happened upon something that filled him with grief and fright.
A charm he'd given his mother to hold 'til he returned
Glinted in the moonlight, amongst all which had burned.
He scooped up some ahes and wept from all the strife.
For seeping through his fingers were the ashes that were his life.