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Ben Stein's Diary
Amid the Collapse
(Page 2 of 3)
So, I talked to these nice people and then we had some long talks afterwards. We actually had some long talks before, too. I spent a long, long time visiting with a man who had been three years ahead of me at Yale Law School. He's a lawyer and investment advisor in Birmingham. He told me how badly many of the city's most prominent families are being hit by the collapse of the regional banking sector. It was deeply upsetting.
I also spoke to him and his very smart son about their impressions of George Corley Wallace, former governor of Alabama. They did not like him at all. Since I think he actually paved the way for modern political life in America, we have deeply different impressions. Obviously, I hate and loathe his racism and the violence that racism engendered. I really believe he was in cahoots with some deeply evil men. But he also gave the white working class a voice they had been denied more or less forever, and I think that was a good thing. Plus, he relented and repented of his racism and I think that was a great thing, too.
Truth to tell, I really miss him.
Wednesday
Off to Indianapolis. The city is abuzz. First, they are having the annual meetings of the Future Farmers of America. The town is just jammed with teenagers in dark jackets that say where they're from. The kids have a solid, beefy look to them and many of the girls are really pretty. Then, everyone is all atwitter because the Obama juggernaut is rolling into town tomorrow. The story is that Obama might win Indiana, typically a GOP state. So, Obama is coming here to stake his claim.
Well, none of this is up to me.
I checked into my modest suite at the Canterbury Hotel and went out for food at P.F. Chang's. As usual, it was a barely edible meal, but a very comfortable seat.
Thursday
I survived a difficult night at the Canterbury. I think I had some future farmers next to me making noise. They finally quieted down, though, and I fell asleep. Then I had a very poor lunch of poorly prepared steak, watched Senator Obama give his usual nonsense speech, and went off to West Lafayette to speak at the business school at Purdue. Now, there is a pleasant bunch of people. I especially loved a family named Frist. They are a Gold Star family. Their son was killed in Iraq. The mom, dad, and two sisters were just glorious people. I talked to them for a long time, mentioned them at length in my speech, and just fell in love with them.
What would we do without the Frists and the people like them?
By the way, my driver stopped on the way up to West Lafayette at a Starbucks. I met and flirted with a beautiful clerk there named "Destiny." Wow, was she cute. Eighteen years old. I took some photos of her on my phone. What a beauty she is. I told her she should move to L.A. and become a star, but that was probably not good advice. I stopped at the same Starbucks on the way back and she was there. I took more photos. Wow, is she beautiful. Better than a movie star. That's the way it is in middle America: just studded with beautiful girls like stars in the sky.
I also stopped at a Chick-fil-A. As I was eating my sandwich, a beautiful red-headed young woman came over and asked me how I was with the Lord. I said I prayed constantly and hoped I was all right. I asked her how often she prayed. "All day," she said.
But I started to feel sort of angry. The young woman worked at Chick-fil-A. She was overstepping her boundaries by asking me how I was with the Lord. The real answer is, "It's none of your damned business. It's between The Lord and me."
Anyway, I had a very good time in West Lafayette. I wonder if little Destiny is in my destiny. Frankly, I doubt it.
Friday
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malm| 1.19.09 @ 8:22AM
Hi Ben, I am 61. Me and my super wife, a great RN, hoped to retire in 4-5 years. We were gonna go to Maine and live in the slow lane, and decided our volunteer work would involve helping out veterans. Maine has a a lot of poor rural counties, and more than a few vets in tough shape. But, with this crash we may not retire so soon. I do not not feel bad for us. We'll gut it out. I feel bad for the vets. My wife has the magic, and would have been able to help a few deserving people sooner. I get from you that traveling to big time destinations, and staying at hip places and eating at big time restaurants is not the ultimate deal. Meeting nice people along the way seems to be what you enjoy most. Very few celebrities or well off people talk like you. They gush about things like food, and name drop, or go on about golf or the this or that they did that is so hip and cool. I guess the rich and famous are different. The man who is the voice of the republicans today will soon be on, and showoff about the great time he had in his luxury box watching a football game. I don't begrudge, but the tone and content seem so off. I know this guy does a lot of good things for vets, as well. But, the boasting and showing off even as jest seems wrong, wrong , wrong. You should run for president. Do it, jump in and say what you write. It needs to be heard, the way you say it. If the republicans are ever to be a viable second party in our lifetimes somebody like you must stir up the pot. I can see you on that stage with all the candidates not uttering the usual blather the others must according to their handlers. We all have bad things in our past. You are not a coward for not wanting stuff public. I have my own baggage. Anyhow, you saw a pretty girl working at Starbucks ? Not true out here in Providence or Boston. However, women have taken over as bartenders, and then it is something else altogether. Like Tony Bennent sings, " beautiful girls walk a little slower when you walk by me". My wife doesn't mind this. She watches her one soap opera, and all the young actors in their underwear. Who cares ?
Jerry Dale| 1.19.09 @ 8:35AM
Greetings Ben,
Just read your itinerary noted in the Mon Jan 19 Spectator. It's always a pleasure reading your articles, I appreciate your wit, your knowledge, and your dedication as to what's right and good for, and about, the United States of America. Continue your good works, stay healthy, and God Bless!!!
Regards,
Jerry Dale
National League
Baseball Umpire (Ret)
A WORLD DECEIVED| 1.19.09 @ 10:17AM
Sorry again folks, all those planning to retire, you will have absolutely nothing to retire on.
Some will try and blame Obama, Obama has nothing what so ever to do with it. Try going back in time, Regagan, Bush the 1st, Clinton, Bush the 2nd. To be truthfull to those who want to know what the Hell is going on could trace this crime against the people to the 60's This plot is being put in place via each successive government. President Kennedy knew about this, and that is one of the reason he was assissinated, Bobby Kennedy knew also so he was assissinated.
His speech about secret societies, where what is going on cannot be revield to the people, well welcome to reality folks, what you saved for is not yours.
Even Tax payers money is being used to bailout these fraudsters, it's American wide, it's Europe wide. If you think you will ever get what you vote for only dreamers, who are dreaming themselves into poverty in their old age.
While every one was watching the BALL GAME, and reading about what BRITNEY was doing, and wondering about HOLLYWOOD, and who is doing what you should have had your eye on your own life. While The Newyork Times was telling you all was well, and the WASHINGTON POST, and Fox News, and CNN, and CBS, and all the rest of the crooked criminal ferternity, was stealing your pension, and your investments, all Americans was being hoodwinked by the American fantasy, trillions of dollars of debts.
Rev Wright said the Chickens have come home to roost. While Americans was getting excited about which illfated nation thewy can invade, and how many old women old men and children they can drop bombs on, calling them terrorist, because they have no self defence. Your house was being burgled by the government they put their trust in instead of GOD. When you get your two cents on the dollar you will know if you can retire, because the New AMERO is coming. If every time America elect another crook, the amount of people who goes out to hail them as God, took the time to find out what is happening to America, and held these common crooks accountable, America would be in a better shape today. They spend billions to gain the Presidency, ask your self why. One thisg is true, it has nothing to do with the people of America but more to do with thew masters they serve.
Phil Hoey| 1.19.09 @ 10:18AM
Happy New Year Ben: General Comments on retirement for the boomers: I am 62. Retired from Verizon a couple of years ago. I went to work for the former Bell Atlantic in 1988, really happy I got the job. I was every happier when I lifted by middle finger the to thugs that ran Verizon, took all my money out and ran like hell. They seriously 'worked' over the mid and first level managemet of the company. I was very lucky - my financial advisor put all the funds in bonds and Treasury notes. It has gone down but not as much as if I had left it in securities (ha - bad choice of words). I continued working after leaving Verizon - now working in the Federal Govt. I had originally planned on only working for 2 or 3 years but since I have lost over "$100k in equity on my home and could not sell it any way I will most likely work until ?????? My wife and I will be able to take care of ourselves but what is very very troublesom is the lack of opportunity I see for younger people. Rather than taking care of ourselves will the current crop of college grads be completly dependent on Uncle Sugar for their 'golden years? OUCH.
Retirement in the meaning of 'go to Florida and enjoy the land of no snow is a reality for people who left the work force in the time period from 1955 until perhaps 2000. I am not a gloom and doom person but I am concerned about the future. There will be a day when the piper will have to be paid.
All the best - Go Blazers - class of 64.
Terry O| 1.19.09 @ 12:48PM
I wholeheartedly agree that Hank Paulson is an 'imbecile.' He may not be the worst Treasury Secretary in our history, but there's no one in his league for doing damage to the republic.
Social Security was designed as a Ponzi scheme, so all of us that have paid in hoping (if you planned on it, maybe you're an imbecile) to receive a public pension. Assigning blame to any single politician or even any string of politicians is ridiculous. Every politician in federal government for the last sixty plus years knew this scheme would eventually collapse. The fact that the government has run it outside the possibility of criminal prosecution was the ONLY way it has continued to exist. Bernie Madoff's funds lasted thirty plus years, Social Security in 70 plus and still the political elite continue to put off the reckoning. It absolutely MUST come.
Marc Jeric| 1.19.09 @ 7:50PM
I had to retire in 1965 after 33 years of working in this country, having been "riffed" out(Clinton's "Reduction In Force" in defense industries). At that time I calculated the amounts I paid in social security taxes, income taxes I paid on those, plus what the company paid for me - year by year; then I calculated what these combined amounts would have been if I had been permitted to invest at 4%/year above inflation. The amount was the staggering $1.8 million. Since my forced retirement in 1995 I have been receiving about $1,200/month in Social Security payments. Well, I would have preferred to start out my retirement with that $1.8 million instead!
Osamas Pajamas| 1.19.09 @ 9:59PM
Retirement in the tank ---- I'd hoped to volunteer daily at the Reagan Library upon retirement until the day I croaked, but it looks like I'll work 'til I drop --- if I don't get laid-off and fail to find work again. Blessed are they who are struck by lighning and felled in a single stroke.
G| 1.28.09 @ 7:49PM
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