Guest Blogger: Steve (on politics)

The following was written by my brother. (Guest Blogger: Steve Raushenberger) No matter what your vote is in November, you should consider all sides.  I found this thought provoking.


My 2 cents worth, (minus taxes of course)
This is not my attempt to become an internet blogger, but with the pending, and possibly historic election, I've noticed friends and family highly polarized and even at odds with one another, and so I felt compelled to weigh in. Recently our 12 year old granddaughter asked me who I would vote for, and why. It struck me that though she couldn't vote yet, she had a right to ask me since she'll surely experience the outcome of what we do now.
First of all, I've spent a fair amount of time reading about money and economics after the last election. Not on the internet, but actual books about how money works, so I wanted to share some of what I learned.
There can be no doubt, the current administration is conducting class warefare. It's written into almost every campaign add. "Millionaires pay a little more" "Romney cares more about big business" "tax breaks for the rich" What I wanted to know was, is this justified? The media creates an image of a heartless Bernie Madoff type character sitting in his 60th floor office, with the miniature pool table and box of cuban cigars, counting the profits from his illgotten gains. But is this right?
Here's some things I found. 93% of Millionaires are 1st generation rich. That means they weren't trust fund babies, or born with silverspoon, rather, they were regular folks who started with nothing and built wealth. On average it took them 17 plus years to achieve a million $ net worth. During those 17 years they worked an average of 60-80 hours a week. You won't know who most of them are, because they tended to live in a paid for house in a middle class neighborhood. Most were in a quality marriage, were people of faith, and tended to have high levels of integrity. The top 6% account for 62% of the charitable giving in this country.
A bit different from the "Bernie" image. Most of us have known some people with money who were great folks and would be eager to help others. Most of us have known folks who had wealth but were jerks. You will have also known people with very little who fit into either catagory. Point is, money will only make you more of what you already are. You're not good if you're wealthy, you're not bad if you're poor. For those of you who are people of faith, when did it become ok to steal someone's money rich or poor? Yes whether you use a gun, or a government, it is stealing, Robinhood was a thief no matter how much you like the story.
Author Dave Ramsey pointed out that money is amoral. That means it is neither good, nor bad, untill a human touches it, much like a brick. You can take the brick and throw it through a window, or you could use it to build a school, or a church. The brick doesn't care, it is amoral.
Obama wants us to believe that in order for someone to be wealthy, that someone else has to go without. What I've learned is that our economy is not like a pie with a fixed number of slices, but more like one of those candle lighting ceremonies at a wedding. If I light your candle, mine is not diminished, and the light in the room is increased. You prosper by serving others. When you provide goods or services that someone else needs, they give you certificates of appreciation in the form of money!
So as it turns out, these so called "evil rich people" are more a product of the American dream. Yes these are the kids who were studying in their dormroom while their buddies were at a frat party. Have you given thought to how many hours it takes to become a heart surgeon, or build a successful business from a card table in your living room? How many people support their families because of an invention of a nerdy college kid (Bill Gates) came up with? We should punish these people why again? Coveting, envy, are those good politics? Jealousy is "I want what you have" envy is "I don't think I can have what you have so I'll bring you down and take it from you.
Ramsey says, if you want something, get off the couch, leave the cave, kill it, drag it home, then it's yours. Is it possible we've become so "wussified" as parents, that we've created a generation where many 25yr old's only skill set is sitting in their parent's basement playing X-box and occasionally applying for a job online while still in their pajamas? Scripture tells us, "If you give a man a fish, he'll eat tonight, if you teach him to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime."
I believe there are good people in both parties who want to help others. Where we disagree is how to do it. How long can we afford to give fish before all the fishermen get tired of fishing?
As for the tax breaks for the rich. Clever wording. Turns out these are legal exemptions and shelters available to anyone. Wealthy people tend to use them, because like most of us, who wouldn't want to keep more of what they have earned. The rich get richer because they practice the habits that made them rich. No different than a diet & fitness routine. If you eat well, and exercise, you'll be more fit. If you lay on the couch & eat bon-bons, guess what? If you live on less than you make, save & invest you'll build wealth. If you spend a quarter every time you get dime? Not rocket science, and not evil either.
Are there people who really need help? You bet. But simple math tells us the ones who have an I-phone, multiple tattoes, a 52" TV, a $600 car payment, but no grocery money are gonna have to learn to fish! And no Romney won't take money away from seniors! Really AARP & Mr. President? I'm sorry but that just stinks!
I hope if you have kids, grandkids, or even just someone you're kinda fond of, I made you think. Those of you who had parents or grandparents that lived through the depression know they had some great core values as a result. Please don't forget them. Send this to anyone you want. Send me hate mail if you want, at least I'll know you read it, and I'm fine either way.
As you may have guessed by now, yes I'm sticking to my God and my guns. I hope you review your own core values, stand for something, agree to disagree, and treat each other well! God Bless
Steve
PS. The average millionaire reads on average 6 non-fiction books per year about something that interests them.
(Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey)
(Thou Shall Prosper by Rabi Daniel Lapin)
(Quitter by John Acuff)
(Boundries by Dr. Henry Cloud)
(Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki)
(The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason)
(Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill)
(The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J Stanley Ph.D/William D. Danko Ph.D)