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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> >If the train goes off the track, let's assume for a minute that one day
> >it will, and our country is in debt up to and over its eyeballs (more
> >than it is now), the pensions that previous gov't politicians rely on
> >come from which source?  Is this money banked away in an untouchable
> >place (safe) that continues to average 10%++ on average?
> 
> I don't know but I have confidence that those who make the laws will take 
> care of themselves first.

At first glance, Gene's proposal would seem to be illogical.  If inflation 
takes away our buying power, won't it take away the buying power of the 
congressional retirees?  But alas, it isn't illogical at all.  In fact in 
recent 
history we have at least one example of that having happened.  Recall that 
some 
years ago Brazil had an inflation so bad it was triple digits a month for a 
while.  An interview that stuck in my mind was with a vegetable vendor.  The 
vendor 
took a single cucumber and held it up and the reporter asked through the 
interpretor, "How much was this yesterday?"  "Five for a cruzeiro."  "And how 
much 
is it today?"  "Three cruzeiros."  "Who can afford to buy it, then?"  The 
vendor, a very tall striking black fellow, who had been very gregarious up to 
this point, threw the cucumber back into the basket with a look of total 
anger 
and desperation on his face and said, "Ninguém!"   "No one."  Stories were 
told 
of how people would get their pay and speed to the grocery store because 
twenty minutes made a crushing difference in what the prices would be.

Now during all this the wealthy and the leaders were inflation proof.  How?!  
 Through a series of manipulations, such as putting their retirements and 
assets in foreign currency, they used the inflation that was killing the 
people 
to make more money for themselves.

I'm afraid it can be done, let the country be consumed by inflation but 
protect one's own assets if one is making the rules,. 
    




> 
> How many of us have the power to grant ourselves pay raises?
> 

Oh, being self-employed I can give myself a raise any time I please.  Only 
thing is, no one is obliged to pay it.  I don't have the police power of the 
state to enforce my raise.


James