I have to say, I am a fan of charter schools. I’m sure most of you have heard the term, but you may not know what it means. I want to clear up a misconception or two right here, right now, so that when a debate on the issue comes up, everyone can know what is going on.

First off, a private school is a public school that operates under less strict regulatory guidelines that an ordinary public school. They are usually administered by a non-profit professional school administration company and control their own funds. A charter school is bound to perform by a document called a charter that effectively serves as a contract between a local Board of Education and the school. The charter also serves as a contract between the parents of the school and the educators. It effectively relinquishes the school from complying with many education regulations set forth by the State and local Board of Education. In doing so, the charter gives school leaders and instructors greater autonomy in how material is presented and in how the school is run. With this freedom comes responsibility. Outcome goals are set in the charter and if the school does not perform, it will be shut down, unlike a traditional public school. In essence, charter schools gain greater flexibility for greater accountability.

Currently in Georgia, 70-some public charter schools in Georgia. Overall, they produce results, involve parents, and those served by them love them. A few haven’t been so great and they have been shut down. I’m sure many urban parents wish that could happen to their local school after children in their community continuously fail to meet standards.

Now that everyone knows what a charter school is, it’s time to clear up some common misconceptions. First off, as mentioned above, a charter school is NOT a private school. It is a PUBLIC SCHOOL. I really want to push this point across so here it is again and again–

CHARTER SCHOOL = PUBLIC SCHOOL

CHARTER SCHOOL = PUBLIC SCHOOL

CHARTER SCHOOL = PUBLIC SCHOOL

CHARTER SCHOOL = PUBLIC SCHOOL

–ok, I think that six times in a couple of paragraphs is solid enough. The second and third points kind of piggy back on this public school notion. First, contrary to popular belief, charter schools do not have admissions policies. They can’t! Remember, it’s a public school! While some school may be geared more towards some groups (such as special needs, gifted, math and science, etc.), charters by law have to be able to take in and accommodate every child, just as a traditional public school does. What may be skewed as an admissions policy is really a waiting list. When you want to send you child to a charter school, there is limited space available, as the charter prescribes. This is a fact that will come into play a little later.

Second (or third, however you want to look at it), charter schools don’t charge tuition. Remember the public school thing? Yeah, comes into play here too.

OK, now that the background work is done, let’s talk legislation. YAY! House Bill 881, put forth by Rep. Jan Jones of Alpharetta. Here’s the gist of it: Charter schools are not getting their fair shake, either in authorization or funding once authorized. Numbers seem to back this up. This year alone, 17 charter schools have applied for authorization to local school boards, all but two have been denied. This really is no surprise. After all, this arrangement is like requiring the zoning for a Burger King being approved by McDonalds. HB 881 would change how authorization takes place. Charter schools would be able to go before an independent state level board for authorization. McDonalds would be circumvented. I like this idea. It takes politics out of the authorization process. It better allows for the fulfillment of a need, as wait lists at existing charter schools indicate there is, and it will inject the power of the market in the public school system. Traditional public schools will be forced to shape up or lose enrollment to charters that outperform in the same community.

The second aspect of HB 881 that I love is that of funding equalization. Right now, charter schools, a public school remember, inexplicably receive about 40% of the funding that traditional public schools receive. This is wrong, inexcusable, and a great example of politics in action. HB 881 would change that. State and local dollars would follow the children that they are intended for. Charter schools would receive 90% of the education dollars entitled to a child, with the other 10% being left to the local school district that previously educated the child to cover administrative costs associated with the transfer. The costs are thought to be about 3-5%, meaning the local school system would gain 5-7% of a child’s share of the cash without having to educate that child.

This is a bill that is good for not only charters and kids, but also for the taxpayers that fund the traditional public school system. Competition is not something to be feared, it is something to be embraced. Our education system can become leaner and meaner, producing kids with better educations and more marketable skills using less money if competition is injected.

If you like the sound of HB 881, let your representatives know!

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A lot of people have their own ideas about retirement and savings. There’s also plenty of discussion whether people are saving too much or too little for the future. My mind changes almost everyday on my view on retirement. Should people spend what they have and make the best of their present lives or should people scale back and try to have fun when their old and fragile? I know so many people my age that can’t even plan for their weekends let alone plan for their retirement. Are people that worry about retirement not living their lives to the fullest potential? Maybe a little, but forward thinkers usually plan for a reason. I think retirement is just a proper risk management tactic. People invest to gain wealth so they limit their possibility of having to work till the day they die and ultimately have the financial flexibility to do what they want.

But in defense of the “present day thinkers,” they have the ability to go out one to two more times a week, have a few more drinks at the bar, buy the newest version of the iPod, and maybe order Grey Goose instead of Smirnoff. Having fun and living each day likes it’s your last is a motto most people try to live by, but saving for your retirement contradicts the very essence of the saying. If you save 15% of your paycheck, you are cutting your spending power by 15% too. For example- if you make $3000 dollars (after tax) a month, you are taking away $450 of spending power. That’s the price of two kick ass weekend with your friends. Why would anyone want to do that? Have less fun now to have more fun when you are sixty? That doesn’t sound appealing to me at all.

Is there a common ground on this discussion? Should people save more now or worry about it later? I mean we can’t really forecast the future. What if you saved up a million dollars by the time you were fifty then suddenly died? Was it a waste of money to live below your means? Would you regret living a life of frugality? These are probably some important questions that financial planners probably never talk about. What do you think?

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Back from a fine weekend and a 7 goal performance in pick-up hockey in Hiram. Cannot go wrong there. Our first item of the week comes from RedState.com. No matter your politics, put them aside for a moment and just enjoy a funny campaign ad from Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate.

http://www.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/insanely_good_huckabee_ad

Message to presidential candidates, make sure your ads are Chuck Norris Approved…or the fist behind the beard will take care of business.

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Let me ask you this: Is it entertaining and worrisome to any one else that Mexico gets the free pass in this whole illegal immigration fiasco? Two small bits of reading before an opine…

1) This is an article that reveals that, surprise surprise, while the Mexicans and their American supporters want us to give illegals in the US driver’s licenses, Mexico seems to have a tight policy against that. They require proof of citizenship to obtain a license. Makes sense, eh? Oh and to cut this argument off before it starts, the issues is not with preventing illegals from getting around, it is the fact that a driver’s license is really our only form of legal documentation outside of a Social Security card or passport.

2) Pork spending is still out of control, but it is better, one recent report is saying. Coming from Citizens Against Government Waste, one of my favorite groups, the new fiscal year will be welcomed in with nearly 8,000 “earmarks”, more commonly known as pork barrel projects. This looks to amount to $18-20 billion next year.

It is out of control, even if they did reduce it. For some people an apology isn’t enough to rid the bad taste of offensive words (haven’t mentioned Al Sharpton in a while…), for me, meager reductions in the amount of unnecessary spending isn’t enough. Every single one of those fat cats are to blame and it reeks of electoral grossness.

Don’t think it is a big deal? Let me lay a number on you. According to the IRS, last year there were about 135 million tax income tax returns filed, both individual (133 million) and corporate (2 million). That’s about $148 a return. While that is a good chunk of change for the average person, it’s not a deal breaker. But how about this. Now, take that $148 each year, put it into an IRA retirement account at with a return of 6% over 35-40 years, you are looking at $20,000.

Here’s another way to look at it. These elected officials are taking your power, in the form of your hard earned money, to preserve their own. They are using your dollars that you earn sitting in that factory or behind that desk every day in a job that many times consumes your life to fund projects most people will never see nor care about, all so they can come back to your hometown and stomp eight months before the polls open to keep their power.

Young people, people my age, you have to rise up. We can stop this pattern of fiscal abuse. We can reduce our deficit, we can call for responsibility, we can stop this madness. Each day as you try to get your careers off the ground and get your life going, the government stands with gun in hand to take the money you earn. It’s time to say no to the porkers. It’s time to make your voice heard next November.

While the Republicans were a joke of fiscal responsibility and the war is bleeding us dry, if you think it will be any better under Democrats, you are sorely mistaken.

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So, we are a little under a year from the 2008 presidential election and there are so many questions ahead of us. Do we have a real front runner (No)? Is Hillary electable (No)? Who will emerge from a crowded, undifferentiated GOP field (Who knows)? What will be the defining issue be (immigration)?

I think most of us can agree on one thing. It is definitely time for a change. Eight years of Bush has been about two too many. I know many of my more liberal friends will say that it has been eight years too many, but that is for another time. I was a supporter in the beginning, but the mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility has to come to an end. While his effort of good faith regarding spending have been nice to see lately, it’s too little too late. We need a new voice to hear and a new face to look at.

Now let’s get down to it. We know who is who on each side. Hillary is pretty much pre-ordained on the for the Donks, but the field is wide open on the Right. There is division in each party. The GOP cannot decide a) if the socons (social conservatives) or econs (economic conservatives) will win out, b) how far to distance themselves from Bush’s disasterous record on immigration and energy, or c) if they will select the best candidate or the one that can beat Hillary. The Dems cannot decide a) who hates George Bush most, b) who can provide the biggest, grandest entitlement program at the expense of the smallest number of people, or c) who can most effectively bring “universal” health care to America (excuse me…..barrrf!)

So my question is: with all this division, where the hell is the independent, where is the serious third party candidate? I think most Americans are tired of all this silliness from both sides. If most people are like me, they don’t give a rats-behind about gays having legal and adoption rights, think it is wrong to provide illegal aliens with services that legal taxpayers pay for, think that our time in Iraq is coming to a close and we need a sane exit strategy that doesn’t endanger our stategic positions, and think that it is time for the government to get a handle on spending (well, for the talk of some of my leftward friends, maybe not).

So where is the independent? Where is the person that can provide alternatives to the red and blue. Where is the green candidate, the one that blends laissez-faire social policy with demands for fiscal conservatism, a smaller, more efficient government, and a smarter State Department?

If an alternative candidate is to emerge, this year is the year. Will it happen (Feeling is no, hope is yes)? Who could it be (Michael Bloomberg anyone)?

What do you think? Is this the year that an serious independent capable of winning a state or two will finally emerge to set us on the path to a greater plurality of parties? Or will we be subjugated to another election cycle of politics as usual.

I would love to hear some thoughts…

Will he run? Is he electable? Can he save us?

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Seems Barak likes pizza. According to a little blurb that came across the wire today, the esteemed “progressive” from Illinois was interviewed by a 5-year old after a rally today. Let’s just copy/paste the article, eh?

“Crouching to the ground after a rally with 4,000 supporters, Obama briefly outlined for Hadassah his plan to provide health insurance for everyone and to improve schools. He also suggested to the first-grader that wealthier people should help those who are less fortunate.”

“‘We’ve got to make sure that people who have more money help the people who have less money,’ Obama said. ‘If you had a whole pizza, and your friend had no pizza, would you give him a slice?’”

I get you were talking to a kid, Senator, but I think it illustrates that you just don’t get it. What you describe to the young lady is called charity. Government is not charity. Government is a way to manage “donated” tax monies, not redistribute wealth.
For the record, I am the king of giving people a slice. I cook for people all the time. It’s great fun. But Mr. Obama’s delicious pizza pie reference doesn’t take one thing into account…your slice of pizza isn’t seized by force! The government doesn’t come to your house and take your damn pizza!

Yes, I want everyone to be insured, but not by threat of a government mandate and certainly not by having my money seized from me by a faceless Federal bureaucrat. Exhaust free market alternatives first. Don’t just jump into what is a “single payer” system, what will become a nightmare within ten years. Look towards Massachusetts, look towards Casey Cagle’s health insurance marketplace idea in Georgia. Look towards providing people choices in insurance instead of restricting who can offer what. There is your first step towards reform.

Instead of what Barak told that young lady, I would have gone with a different pizza analogy. How about instead of taking one slice and giving it to another, open up the choices of pizza parlors to choose from. This will help to lower the price of a slice. We need to open up the options. Everyone should be entitled to choose from a Wolfgang Puck slice, a slice of Dominos, a piece of the cheap $4.99 large pie from the hole-in-the-wall next to Office Depot, and everything in between. And let’s keep it basic–cheese as a base. You want some pepperoni, throw that topping surcharge into a pot with everyone else who wants pepperoni and pay for services that way, don’t charge the guy who just wants a plain slice. How fair is that, Senator?

Point is, let people choose, don’t restrict their ability to decide for themselves. That is the first step to reforming health insurance in the country. The last thing we need is another hand in the pot, especially when that hand has the gun of law enforcement.

Mr. Obama, I know that you are hungry. Campaigning against the Devil does that. Just keep your hands on your own plate…

Boy, look at all the delicious pizza! What if Pizza Hut said you can only have one type of pie? Think you would ever go back there again?

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Did we just receive a market comeback or is it just an illusion? I’m guessing a little bit of both. Last week was a horrible week in the market with an accelerated loss in the Dow of over 600 points. Then Monday came around with more disappointing numbers which was provided by the financials. Today provided a cushion landing for a lot of the stocks that got hit hard by the massive amount of speculation surrounding a lot of retail and financial companies.

A shroud of darkness has plagued the financial markets because of the lack of proper forecasting in the banking, brokerage and mortgage sectors. E*Trade for instance, announced that their mortgage backed securities lost more value than originally expected. When I first bought shares of E*Trade, I knew there were going to be some ups and some downs, but nothing like what happened on Friday and Monday. The rally that happened with the market today was extremely beneficial to the people that purchased E*Trade (ETFC) earlier in the trading session. Around 3:00 P.M. E*Trade was up more than 50% then settled at 43%!

I am guessing you (the readers) probably have some other stocks that blew a tire last week, but did your stocks and funds ever recover? And should people view Tuesday as another good day or just another inflated trading day? Personally, I think that there’s going to be a lot more news about the mortgage mess in the upcoming weeks. As an investor, you need to find some stocks that will shake off all the market drama and sustain a good return. I’ve been very challenged by the current market because of all the severe ups and downs. It’s almost like you need to buy when you hear bad news and sell when you hear good news.  Taking a more conservative view point might be a good idea to prevent huge losses while the market stabilizes a little. The stocks I recommended earlier this week are still great long term investments that are less exotic and perform extremely well in recessionary type of times.

What are some other stocks that you’ve been eyeing in these desperate times? Financials? Bio Tech? Defense companies? I’m a huge believer in insurance companies if the price is right during times of uncertainty. Allstate (ALL) and Brown & Brown (BRO) are two companies that are extremely cheap and have a wonderful upside potential with great books. They have plenty of wiggle room from their 52-week high and both have a stable and growing dividend. I am a huge fan of dividends when the market is flying all over the place. They provide some sort of security for me that many growth stocks do not have.

What’s your view of the stock market and the overall economy? Do you think it will start chilling out or do you predict more rapids ahead? I would love to hear people’s investment ideas and opinions concerning the current market. Are you bullish or bearish? Whatever the case may be, there’s still a huge amount of money to make out there and hopefully we can make it together.

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What do you do when life brings you down? Is there a sure fire way of picking up the pieces after everything breaks? Well, it seems that the market doesn’t want you to move on without going through some rough times. Another down day after a dreadful week of trading can really be hard on people. Especially when you own E*Trade (ETFC) like I do. The stock went down almost 60% in one day after getting the boot from an analyst at Citi (C). I think it’s ironic that Citi can make E*Trade decrease in value by 60% because of a “sell” rating regarding their mortgage segment Yet, Citi only goes down 5% after losing 11 billion dollars!! The market is pretty damn weird.

This is a rough time for me right now, but I need to keep my little chin up. I finally land a job, but I had to relocate to Orlando. I also recently got the “we need space” conversation with my now ex-girlfriend of four years (two months ago now). Yes, the girlfriend that made the beautiful header for this website. E*Trade is down 70% since I purchased it and Nintendo is only returning 34% which is a drop from my 55% gain. After two weeks of living in Florida, I ended up having to relocate again because of roommate issues which I can’t really talk about on this site (lots of rated-R material). I also had to leave my dog with my parents because I couldn’t bring him along with me. My job is 50% travel so I can’t really take care of my son Deuce man.

I guess my new life is a mess, but sometimes being on the ground floor isn’t that bad. I now have the ability to wait everything out. Like the market, life fluctuates up and down. But in the long run you will usually end up on top. One thing that I’ve learned from my whole experience is time heals the damage, but people still need to persevere to win. You can’t always sit in the backseat and expect the car to drive itself. When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade. Make the best out of the situation that life gives to you and you will ultimately succeed.

Should I just complain that my life isn’t what it used to be or should I try to give life the best I got? I think I am going to start trying option two. Giving up and complaining admits defeat. I just need to pick up the pieces that are left and run full speed ahead. Because, as we all know, I will ultimately have a positive return on life and in the stock market.

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Pork spending in Washington is out of control. We all know that. What I didn’t know was how childish the men and women who represent us are. Check out this fun little diddy from today’s Washington Post.

As if we didn’t already know the political elite were a bunch of vote buying, self-serving jackels, now we know that when they don’t want to hear opposition to something that, heaven forbid, will benefit their constituents while at the same time reduce their political power and vote obtaining ability, they just chatter like a bunch of 4th graders at an assembly when the principal is talking about not running in the halls.

Folks, these kinds of activity, both the childish chatter and ridiculous earmarks, are unacceptable. What is even more offensive is the fact that this pork is stuck into bills that must and need to be passed to theoretically make peoples lives better, and done so in a manner that the appropriations are almost impossible to find. Liberal God of Anti-War John Murtha (D-PA) takes this condescending attitude towards journalists and his constituents trying to find Congressional earmarks in bills: “So, you have to work. Tough sh*t.”

That makes a louder statement than pages and pages of my writing can. These people, by and large, are in it not for the good of their communities, but for their own power. It is time to take back our power as citizens. It is time to put their jobs on the line. Demand fiscal responsibility and behaviorally excellence from our Congressional “leaders”. If they don’t comply, throw them out of office.

Usually I am not one to call these folks elitists and what not, but let me tell you why the rhetoric. This is YOUR MONEY! It’s not the government’s money, they do not have a right to it. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (among others) said that government is a social compact among citizens. I believe it was Locke who said that when government breaks that compact, we as citizens have a right to retake our power. Well, it’s time to retake. Instead of YOUR MONEY, that has been taken from you by force (i.e. taxes), being used for things such as national defense, transportation systems, and judicial due process, things that benefit all of us, we have let this system of governance descend into one that takes money from all to give to some (welfare, local allocations, “pork” spending). Where I come from, this is income redistribution and this is not the role of the Federal government (I’m not saying don’t do it at all –temporary welfare for the truly needy is a good thing–but it needs to be done locally, not by the always blind Feds).

The social contract has been broken when it comes to spending. It’s time to send these little 4th graders home to their mommies.

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I know it’s been stated many times this week, but holy crap the market is freaking out. Companies can hit their expected/required earnings, surpass them, have an excellent opportunity for future growth, and still get the b*tch slap from the market. I recently purchased some shares of Hologic (HOLX) at $66.00 and now it’s down to $62.09 after a great PROFITABLE quarter. As you know, I also purchased some shares of E*Trade (ETFC) which is down like 35%. My portfolio return for this year is still going to be good, but I am still hoping for a huge push-up.

What should you do when the market is throwing everything at you? Play some hardcore defense. You need to purchase shares of companies that will offer a steady return even in a down market. Coke (KO), P&G (PG), Cadbury (CSG), Unilever (UN), and Kroger (KR) are my defensive picks. A lot of them are at their 52 week highs, but after doing some research I’m sure you can find some good deals on a moderate market pullback. All of the companies I recommended have dividends so you’re at least guaranteed a return. Remember to reinvest those dividends and watch your investments grow.

Growth companies in the technology area are also a good bet because they are much safer than most other sectors in this crazy credit crunch market. After some pretty bad news involving Cisco (CSCO) the whole tech sector dropped 3%. Does this mean every company in the tech sector will be stagnant for the rest of the year? Doubtful… Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) will probably bounce back next week. Just look at the pullback as a great buying opportunity.

I know the market seems like a huge bonfire for your money right now, but sometimes you have to put your feet in the fire. The market is very crazy right now, so make sure you time and research your investments correctly. There are still plenty of areas to make some good money. Just slow down, think and then pounce when everyone seems like they are selling.  You need to be conservative when everyone is buying and the market is super-saturated. Then you need to switch your strategy to Mr. or Mrs. Aggressive and buy, buy, buy when the market seems to be real crappy. Right now, the market seems pretty crappy (Hint, Hint).

In theory, you want to be an investor that takes multiple swings instead of always trying to hit a homerun. Have some ammo in your arsenal (meaning multiple stock picks) and fire big time when the time feels right. Make a game plan and find out the ways to accomplish your goal. If you want a 25% yearly return, then buying bonds won’t get you there. Find profitable companies that you like and do some research. Luckily, Yahoo Finance provides you with almost all your study materials and it’s free! Remember, have fun, make money and keep your eye on the ball. Eventually, your portfolio will turn into a huge home run!

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