Do Foreigners Care For the US Economy?

I've been working for an engineering firm for over 6 years. The original company has been bought out and is now owned by a foreign firm residing in Germany. I might add, it's owned by the Germans.

I came on board right when the whole transaction was taking place - 6 years ago. Since then, a very noticeable trend has been noticed by the employees hired before the transition - or what was left of them. As the American employees were leaving the company for one reason or another, they were being replaced by German employees. Also, as new positions were opened, most of the positions were filled with; who else but German individuals. 6 years after the buy-out of the American firm, the ratio of the American employees vs. German employees has increased to around 50/50. The total amount of people in the company didn't change much, but the ratio changed drastically.

Back in November of 2001 when the massive layoffs were happening around the country, over 100 people lost their jobs in one day. They were let go. The reason - bad economy. Well, the economy has picked up since then, at least for this company, but the people were never called back. Their positions were filled in with; yes you guessed it right - non American people for the most part.

Toward the end of 2004, a major change occurred in our department. All of the American "chiefs" were replaced by German "chiefs." And then, we had a group meeting where the "biggest German chief" addressed us. At the meeting we were told that, quote: "We have too many American Suppliers." Their goal was to outsource the work to foreign companies for cheaper labor. That meant getting rid of the "American Suppliers." More American people losing work and even their jobs. The term "We have too many American Suppliers," was mentioned several times by the biggest German "chief" at that meeting.

At the same meeting we were also notified that "they" were going to close an assembly plant providing incomes to several hundred American families. The work was going to be transferred to Mexico for cheaper labor. Well, the plant in Mexico was already built, and by the end of that year, around 400 people lost their jobs in one day.

The company is still experimenting with third world countries for outsourcing even more work. The company's stock has been soaring for the past 6 years. From what started out as $7 per share, it's now over $100 per share. The company is raking in tremendous profits each year.

And where does that money go?

Well, the mother company outside the US is accumulating all that wealth while boosting their economy.

And, what about the U.S. economy?

It has become a nationwide trend for foreign companies to come in and buy out American companies. But then, the foreign company has to pay the U.S. workers in U.S. dollars. That money converted to their native monetary ends up costing them much more than what they would pay their own people in their homeland. Or, the alternative would be to bring in their own people in place of the American workers. And the rest, well, ship the work to third world countries for cheaper labor.

The company now ends up generating an enormous profit since the expenses are significantly lower than what they were with the American Owned company. Low paid foreign employees working on U.S. soil and not paying taxes, supported by cheap labor from the third world countries. And what happens to the American families caught in the middle of this economic shift?

America is known to be providing relief to disaster areas and providing support to countries in trouble. But who is providing relief to the American Families in great need? Who is providing relief to the American families buried in financial debt? Who is providing relief to the American people who have lost their jobs because their work was shipped over to third world countries for cheaper labor?

Who is providing relief to the over-exhausted father that I bumped into while doing my grocery shopping? He was so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. We attend the same church. I said "Hi" to him as he tried to force a smile onto his face. He could hardly talk. I kept my conversation short. He was let go from his job several weeks ago. Now he works 14 hours a day at two odd jobs, while trying to bring in the same income that he used to bring to support his wife and two children.

Who is going to provide relief to the overworked parents that had to pull their 17 year-old daughter from school? They both worked at the same job and they both lost their jobs after their shift was completely eliminated. The work was transferred to Mexico. Now they both have to work for a measly $7 an hour while having their 17 year-old daughter watching her 2 younger siblings. The mom asked my sister to help her find a better paying job.

Who is going to provide relief to the father who has to work in a different state? He was let go from his job after it was bought out by - gues who - a foreign company. He couldn't find another job for 8 months. His family ran out of money and they came to ask us for some financial help. He finally did find another job, but in a different state. On Sunday evening, he leaves his wife and two little daughters, and drives away. On Friday, late in the evening, he comes back home to spend only two days of the week with his loved ones.

Who is going to provide relief to the cashier at the local food market that couldn't stop begging me to take his resume and pass it around? He lost his job because his position was eliminated and outsourced. Now he works as a cashier while passing his resume to as many customers as he can at the check out.

Who is going to provide relief to my friend who lost his job because the company that he worked for was bought out by - a foreign company? The reorganization did not include him as well as many of his coworkers. He never got his job back so now he has to work for half of what he used to make while trying to provide for his wife, two little girls and his elderly mother.

Who is going to provide relief to all the people who lost their jobs because their positions were transferred over to a third world country for cheaper labor? How are they going to feed their families? Can they find other jobs that pay the same money or maybe more?

As I drive around town, I continue to see foreign flags popping out in front of many local firms. What's the message? The firms have been bought out by the foreign company that the flag represents.

I continue to talk to local people who are telling me the same stories. They're losing their jobs because their positions are either being transferred to a third world country such as Mexico, India and China for cheaper labor, or they're being replaced with foreign workers on a working visa.

American people are continuing to lose their jobs or being forced to work for less money while getting deeper and deeper in debt. The foreign companies are continuing to buy out American companies, while doing anything to increase their profit - even if they have to get rid of the American Employees from what was previously an American Owned company on American soil.

The former American companies now owned by foreign companies are continuing to generate enormous profits because of the lower expenses (work force) combined with the profit from their sales. That money is continuing to boost the economy of the country that the mother company is from.

Meantime, the American economy is continuing to ride the roller coaster.

The cost of living is rising at a frightening rate, but the American people aren't getting any major adjustments to their salaries. The bankruptcies are at an all time high. The credit card debt is reaching alarming heights. The foreign flags are continuing to wave proudly next to the American flag; line-in-line; on American soil.

But how much do these foreigners really care for the American economy?

Retire Young, Rich and Happy

Wouldn't it be great to retire young? You would still have the energy and ability to travel the world and lay on Caribbean beaches without a worry in the world. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

The truth of the matter is that this is obtainable, and you don't have to hit the lottery or sign up for some get rich quick scheme in order to achieve your financial goals. That's no way to plan to retire young, rich and happy. The "secret" to making your dreams come true is actually not a secret at all. It's just a matter of knowing how to become a millionaire, developing a millionaire mindset and putting what you know into action.

Chances are you already know what it takes to become a millionaire, so that's out of the way. The only thing restricting you then is taking action. So what is it you need to do and how do you take action?

The first step is to develop a saving attitude. By regularly and automatically saving a part of your income, you can invest that money so it gets working hard for you and creating more money. When you develop the habit of saving money and then regularly investing it, the power of compound interest allows you to double your money in about 7 years, and then double it again in 7 more years. This is assuming just average investment returns from a plain old stock market index fund, not from high-risk investments that are sure to lose you money.

So start with developing a saving attitude and becoming a long term investors that regularly invests in a plain old diversified mutual fund, and your financial dreams will come true.

Where To Look For Mortgage Protection Insurance Quotes In Britain

Mortgage Protection insurance is a policy that is designed to help the borrower pay off the mortgage monthly payments in case of sickness, injury, accident, or death. There are several companies that offer mortgage protection insurance quotes in Britain. Most of these companies are online, and you can get the mortgage protection insurance quotes in Britain instantly online. Mortgage protection insurance is extremely important if you have other monthly expenses like water and gas. If it's a couple who has borrowed the money, then one partner can find it extremely difficult to pay off the mortgage money if the income earner falls sick.

Low Cost Policy

The Mortgage Protection Insurance policy has a low cost and is specially designed to keep in mind the critical situation that can occur in case of an accident or an illness. The mortgage protection insurance quotes in Britain can be obtained from the best and most reputed companies in Britain. The insurance offers the best protection against redundancy and sickness. There are many such policies that can be chosen according to the requirements of the borrower.

Even If You Lose Your Income

Now, even if you lose your income, you no longer have to worry about the mortgage payments being paid on time. There are certain policies that can protect you for income above the mortgage payments. If you have other mortgages that need to be covered, then you need to apply for special policies that offer cover. Benefits will be paid either directly to the lender or to you, depending on the policy chosen by you. So go ahead and get a mortgage protection insurance quotes in Britain now.

The Gods Must Be Crazy Movie Review - Starring N!Xau, Sandra Prisloo, Marius Weyers and Louw Verwey

"The Gods Must Be Crazy" is a very entertaining and educational film about the Kung Bushmen, an African tribe from the Kalahare Desert in Botswana in southern Africa. The film cleverly contrasts their lives to those of "civilized men".

The movie involves three subplots which come together by the end. The main plot involves a tribe of Kung Bushmen, who one day discover a Coke bottle, which had been dropped from a plane. Not knowing what it is, the tribe discover several uses for "the thing". They end up fighting over it, whence they decide that it is evil. Xi (N!Xau), a young member of the tribe, decides to throw it off the edge of the earth.

A second plot involves a bumbling microbiologist, who's asked to drive a dilapidated truck to meet a new schoolteacher. He's very uncomfortable around women and ends up making a fool of himself repeatedly around her.

The third plot involves a gang of political terrorists, who attempt to assassinate the president of their country in central Africa. They end up killing three member of the cabinet and fleeing to Botswana.

Eventually Xi encounters the microbiologist and his friend as well as the schoolteacher. He thinks they're gods at first and tries to return the Coke bottle to them, but they won't take it. Xi gets in trouble when he kills a goat with a bow and arrow without realizing the goat was the property of a boy. The police arrest him and sentence him to three months in jail, but the microbiologist and his friend manage to get him released into their custody.

One day, the gang of terrorists, while being pursued, end up kidnapping the class of the schoolteacher. The leader of the gang makes them march through the desert, signalling for the delivery of food every 20 miles. Eventually Xi spots the children and the biologist devises a clever plan to free them from the terrorists. He asks Xi to sting them with small pellets filled with a tranquilizing agent, which makes them fall asleep. He then rounds them up, including two Xi had missed because they were hiding in the bushes playing cards.

Having freed the hostages, Xi is allowed to leave. Eventually he comes to a big cliff with a thick layer of clouds below, which looks to him like the edge of the earth, and throws the bottle off.

Compiling A Property Inventory

When you plan to get a flood insurance policy to cover the contents of your home, you can not just walk in and announce your wish. The insurance company would require you to have a detailed list and thorough inventory of all the things and contents you want covered.

Compiling an inventory would not only enable you to have an idea how much you need to insure your contents for, but it will help you get the most of your UK flood zone insurance policy. This will also save you a lot of money to have somebody else do the inventory for you, and your flood insurance claims will be settled with greater speed.

So how is an inventory made? If you buy a new home or has just moved into a new one, it is better if you start to make an inventory right away and not wait until things pile and accumulate through the years. You may find yourself spending more time buried amidst a clutter of things you did not even know you have.

To start the inventory, you need to make a systematic plan where or in what room to start. Make a list of all the rooms in your house. For example you may start in the living room, moving on to the bedrooms, the kitchen, the garage, the attic, the basement, balcony, closets, and all the other rooms. Make a systematic method that is also convenient for you.

When you start on the first room, all you have to do is to make a list of every item and write a short description for each. You should include the serial number and the year model or date of the item as well as an estimation of the cost based on the present day prices.

This should be easy for you once you get the formula for estimating the value of contents in your property. You can get the original cost of an object based on the present market price. Then estimate its lifespan and how long you have had it, how long you expect to have that item around and you can get an almost accurate estimate to get the right content insurance. You can do this with all the other items in your house.

If you have valuable items like artworks, paintings, antiques and other valuables you will probably need the services of an expert. It is important to tell your flood insurance provider as much information as possible, whether you buy more items or sell anything for them to adjust your inventory.

Updating your insurance provider about your inventory would assure you that in case of emergencies or calamities, your contents are properly covered. One final advice, be sure to keep your inventory lists, receipts and other important documents which may be necessary when you make a flood insurance claim in a safe place. This could be a factor to speed up or delay getting your insurance claims when you need to.

One final tip - take pictures of everything you own and store them in a safe place. Having pictures will help you prove ownership and also remind you that you possessed the item in the first place! It's easy to sometime forget what you have!

New Boats Vs Used Ones

Cars are similar to boats. When you're shopping for one, there are advantages and disadvantages in choosing a new one over a used one, and vice versa. Many used boats are available; however, it would probably be wiser for you to shop for a new one first.

New Boats

Purchasing a new boat has many advantages. For example, you will know the entire history of both the boat and its motor. Also, if you have any problems, they will be covered by the warranty. You won't have to restore or repair any part of the boat either, and you'll be able to take it out on the water it as soon as the sale is complete.

Also, by shopping the latest models that the boating world has to offer, you'll develop an excellent idea of what vessel will best suit you and your family. Moreover, when you finance a new boat, you can ordinarily get a much better interest rate. Unfortunately, however-just like a new car-a new boat drastically depreciates in value the first year that you use it.

Used Boats

Are you on a tight budget? Do you love the idea of owning a boat but aren't sure that you will really use it? Then buying a used one is your best option. Even if you plan to buy used, however, shop new boats first to get a good idea of all the choices that are available.

Attending boat shows is one of the best ways you'll see the wide variety of boats to be had. At boat shows, both new and used boats are on display, and you'll be able to narrow down your list of those you prefer. You'll also be able to speak with experienced boaters and get an idea of the vessel that would be best for you and your family.

By purchasing a used boat, you'll also be able choose from a variety of sellers. Some individuals and businesses sell online, others through the newspapers and still others through dealerships. No matter where you purchase your boat, however, order a marine survey.

A marine survey is comparable to a home inspection. A marine surveyor thoroughly inspects a boat, scrutinizing every inch, from the engine and the electrical system to the hull and the steering wheel.

Although it's rather expensive, having a survey done is well worth the money. Used boats that haven't properly been maintained can develop mechanical problems as well as structural defects, and a good surveyor will discover not only those serious deal breakers but also minor flaws you can use to negotiate a lower price.

Having a survey done before you buy is the wisest course and will save you time and money in the long run. If the boat passes the inspection to your satisfaction, you'll be able to make the deal and start enjoying your new purchase immediately rather than dealing with problems you didn't expect.

Why Get Travel Insurance?

Whenever you plan for a trip abroad, does travel insurance instantly come into your mind? If it does, then this article is perfect for you. At the end of this write-up, I am sure that you will be able to decide for yourself whether or not travel insurance is required. Now, first all, what is travel insurance? Well, travel insurance is a kind of investment for protection against any misfortunes that may happen to you during your trip overseas.

There are many types of travel insurance policies and the more common ones are coverage for health as in medical, loss of luggage or personal belongings, delayed and cancellation of flights. Many people feel that the likelihood of any mishaps happening to them is almost zero percentage and therefore insurance is really an extra cost spent on nothing. In other words, it is actually wastage of money. If you think alike, then do think twice because it is worth allocating a small amount of money for insurance as it may come as a life savior.

Let me share with you a story of a simple accident that has happened to others and the next time it could happen to you. A man named Rob left the country to go for a holiday to take his mind off work, commitments and away from the daily stress. As he was enjoying his holiday, something unexpected struck him. Out of the blue, he suffered a heart attack. How could it happen when he was always in the pink of health...? As soon as he collapsed, he was rushed to the nearest hospital to obtain urgent treatment. Needless to say, he was hospitalized and returned home a poorer man as the cost of medical treatment and hospitalization overseas is extremely expensive.

Can you imagine what would happen to him if he had insufficient funds? Instead of a relaxing holiday, Rob got himself even more worked up. If only he had bought insurance, he would not have to worry over his financial situation as he would then be covered under medical insurance. This is just an example of the necessity of travel insurance. No one would want to be in Rob's shoes but life is unpredictable and that is why travel insurance is much needed as it protects the assured from the hassles, worries and stress of unexpected mishaps.

How to Tag Your Friends on Facebook So They Will Love You, Not Loathe You!

Should you tag your friends on Facebook is a question and debate that has gone on for many years. While some people don't mind it others will hate it. This why you have to be very careful about tagging friends on Facebook.

In today's post I am going to share with you a little tip so you can tag friends and your friends will love and thank you for doing.

This is something that will help them out so they will be grateful for you doing it and it will also build a great relationship with that person. Relationships are key when marketing online of course.

But first I want to go through some of the items you should never tag your friends on Facebook with. Some of these have happened to me and it can be very annoying.

What Not To Tag Your Friends on Facebook With.

· Pictures that they are not in are always the top one everybody hates. Why would they be interested in seeing something they were not involved with? I have had people tag me in a complete business presentation from PowerPoint in the past. The new way that Facebook profiles are setup are that any tagged pictures will be placed in your image bar at the top of your profile. Imagine to my horror when I logged in to find the pictures of my son opening his presents at Christmas had been replaced by a business presentation.

· Tagging people in videos, now this one is something that I used to do a while back. I used to tag a new friend in a welcome message in a video. Now this I think this OK to do as long as you don't add links to websites or are trying and sell them something. Don't tag friends with videos about tools or different programs no matter how much you may think it may help them.

· And finally tagging people in anything that is not of any relevance to them. You may find a video funny on YouTube but not all your friends will see it that way. You may find something of interest and be able to tag your friends but don't tag them just to be on the safe side. You don't want to get banned from using Facebook.

Some Cool Things To Tag Your Friends On Facebook.

Tagging is a good thing as long as you follow these simple guides. If one of your friends writes a great blog post then share it on Facebook.Do the same for any articles and videos they have made.

You can tag them by clicking the Facebook share button and use the @ key before you type their name. If you are connected through Facebook their name will appear below the box, so just click that and it will come up in the box.

If you do this then the link will appear on their profile and on their wall so all their friends will see it. It will also appear on your profile and your wall so all your friends can see it.

But only tag them, do not tag other people as it's not for them. This will show up on your wall and profile. It will also show up in their wall and on their profile.

Tristram Lodge

What You Need to Know About Selling Your Condominium in Today's Market

In today's California condominium market not only should the seller prepare the unit for sale, but the seller should be prepared with certain information about the homeowner's association--prior to listing. Do you as a seller know how many owners live in the association? Are you familiar with your association's Conditions, Covenants & Restrictions (CC&R's)? What about upcoming assessments for planned maintenance work on the common areas?

You've worked hard repainting your unit, cleaning the carpeting and possibly upgrading the countertops in your kitchen and bathroom, and you're ready to have buyers take a look. Then perhaps you obtain an offer from a motivated and excited buyer and you open escrow and plan to close in 30 days. But wait, have you considered other issues that could impact your sale?

For instance, did you know that having less than a 50% owner occupancy ratio means you may need to obtain an offer from an all cash buyer? Unfortunately, many condo owners do not realize that with a higher number of rental units comes a lower probability of buyer mortgage financing. Many lending sources have a higher criteria than required under FNMA loan rules, and may require 70-75% owner occupancy before agreeing to your new buyer's loan. At a minimum, 50% owner occupancy is required for FHA loans (this applies only if your building is FHA approved, by the way). In a 32 unit building for example, 16 renters will be too much. Lest you think otherwise, this situation is not unheard of and in fact exists in a very upscale area where the owners don't want to let go of their units after they have moved on to a single family house. It has presented a lot of difficulties for those owners who wanted to sell. If you wait until you are in escrow for the buyer/buyer's lender to find this out, much time will have been wasted and the transaction may end up cancelling. Wouldn't it be wise to bring this issue up to your Board of Directors so that the general membership could review the policy for handling rentals?

Property owners should not be living in oblivion while allowing their association's owner ratio to decline year after year. This could mean the difference between selling a unit while it still has equity or as a successful short sale, or forcing one into foreclosure because the owner has no other way out of their situation because no lender would grant financing and no all cash buyer could be found. A foreclosed unit in an association means a drop in collected owner's dues and a possible increase for remaining members, or at the least a lack of contribution to normal operating costs. Plus, the market value of all units in that association may be impacted if it now becomes impossible to obtain financing, or cash buyers bring in "lowball" offers to a desperate seller. Typically, a lender's HOA Certification submitted to the Board or property manager may ask how many owners, how many renters, and how many vacant units. You can circumvent wasted time by contacting your Board or property manager beforehand to obtain this information.

Let's say the owner occupancy ratio is still fine, but there are delinquent owners in the building, possibly due to loss of employment, or units already in foreclosure. Did you know that if an association has over 15% of its owners 30 days (or more) behind in their association payments, the lenders will probably not make a loan until that number is decreased to less than 15%. In a smaller building of 30 units, that would take only 5 units. What if those particular owners are foreclosures held by a bank which is not paying dues until the unit sells, or owners who have abandoned their units and are unreachable? Has your Board of Directors suggested a remedy to assist current sellers in good standing? This is information you the seller should look into before you list your property. Why wait until you're in escrow and then find out the lender won't go forward due to this issue? Again, your Board of Directors (possibly the Treasurer) or your property manager representative should be able to quickly provide you with this information.

These are two of the biggest issues that a seller may confront, but others may include whether or not your association has a reserve study--how much money is set aside in your annual budget for reserves? Ideally it would be about 10%. Does your association have CC&R's updated in the last 5 years, or are you still operating on your original documents that are probably very out of date with today's laws? What is the pet policy in your building? Many buyers have pets and will need to know in advance what to expect, i.e., two dogs may not be allowed, but one dog under 35 lbs is allowed. Are you aware of any litigation within the association? This is a disclosure asked of California sellers in which lenders have a direct interest in the risk of lending there, depending on the particular issue.

In a homeowner association, the concept of "the greater good" is very close to the surface. Members of an HOA are bound together by a particular legal umbrella found in the California Civil Code that does not exist in a non-association neighborhood. Condominium living was and is really meant for the owners who plan on living there, and it may not work well for long-term absentee landlords, because now more than ever, the transfer of these units is greatly controlled for the first time by mortgage lending criteria.

For more real estate information please visit my websites. I would be happy to respond to any questions concerning this article, or condo selling in general.

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