Good Vs Bad Politicians

A good politician is someone who went through great injustices and fight to improve the living situation of future generations.

"He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.”

-Aristotle

Those that have committed great injustices, and become Leaders of countries, are bound to make things worse for future generation. After all, how could they make any meaningful improvement when their personal lives were filled with injustices?

There are no country where citizens are better under a tyrannical regime than in democracies where people have a voice and rights. Only those that have never read about, or experienced tyrannical governments first hand, can believe otherwise.

“History shows that almost all tyrants have been demagogues who gained the favour of the people by their accusations of the notables.”

-Aristotle

Why The Secrecy?

"I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP all sitting members of congress are ineligible for reelection."

-Warren Buffet

When it comes to personal finances, the government has taken steps to dirty the waters. While we do have access to all the information we need, it's not easily understood nor focused on by the general population. Some areas of concerns are:

• Income tax used to be taken from people's paycheque AFTER the employee had received them. This allowed the person to see first hand how much the government was removing but it created an uproar which is why now income taxes are taken BEFORE the employee receives his paycheque - many don't even notice it.
• Inflation, at 2%/year on average, is a hidden tax on citizens' savings. While it's shared, the impact of it isn't clearly understood.
• While we know our country is in debt how we got there isn't that clear. Repaying the debt doesn't seem to be a priority.
• Currencies not based on the gold standard. What is the currency even based on now if not on something as tangible as the amount of Gold a country as?

While we haven't actually seen a tax raise in years all the above items are negatively impacting our finances in ways that are not easily understood. The information is available but the responsibility of connecting the dots has been given to the citizens knowing full well that most won't bother which allows the government to do as they please.

How many people could retire if half of their paycheque wasn't going to the Government? What's the point of saving money if it looses value every year at a rate of 2%? These are some of the frustrations from learning about these hidden, not so hidden, concepts impacting our finances.

You've Got To Find Ways To Save Money

"You've got to be old with money because to be old without it is just too awful... you can't be old and without it."

-Tennessee Williams

While its been said that if you do something that you love you'll never work a day of your life you can't do what you love if what you love doesn't generate enough money. You either need to find a way to make your passion profitable or find something else to do that will pay your bills. 

There's nothing wrong with doing something that you don't necessarily love, to pay the bills, and then make a side business of your passion until such time it becomes profitable. 

Working without the ability to save part of the income earned means that you're surrendering your life to production. Those that have enough income, and don't save, are not better off than those that can't save.

We also need to keep in mind that life is unpredictable and can get in the way of the best financial plans just as much as the worse ones. There are no full proof plans but you'll always be better off with some savings as money will give you options that you wouldn't otherwise have.

Education Is Your Responsibility

"A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read."

-Mark Twain

According to abclifeliteracy.ca, 49% of Canadians adults have literacy skills below Highschool level. Reading is a lost art. We should never underestimate the power of a good book. In the words of Spencer W. Kimball "Man alone, of all creatures of earth, can change his thought pattern and become the architect of his destiny." 

The making of a man isn't determined by the school he attended as much as what he's learning on his own accord. To paraphrase Oliver Demille, from his book "A Thomas Jefferson Education", schools are responsible to train people to do specific/productive tasks in the society they operate in while it's the responsibility of the individual to educate themselves to become thinkers and leaders.

You don't have enough of a lifetime to become as wise as you can be relying solely on your own experience. Reading allows you to acquire part of someone else's life experience. Start reading for 15 min a day and go from there.

Depression - Seek Professional Help

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."

-John Milton

Depression is a black hole that sucks the life out of an otherwise healthy individual and his entourage. The sufferer knows that his mind is in darkness but is powerless to change. If left untreated, he may fall into addictions that will provide temporary relief while while also becoming its own problem.

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

-Winston Churchill

If life has become nothing more than a burden, day in and day out, to you then seek professional help. Therapy, medication and lifestyle changes can help heal your mind. While life has its dark moments it's not supposed to be all black all the time. There's sadness but there's also joy and you're meant to feel both not just one.

Fight it, conquer it and inspire others to do the same.