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> <channel><title>Consumer Boomer &#187; General</title> <atom:link href="http://consumerboomer.com/category/uncategorized/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://consumerboomer.com</link> <description>Blog For the Baby Boomer Generation</description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:11:15 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator> <item><title>Have you heard about Junior ISAs in the UK?</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/have-you-heard-about-junior-isas-in-the-uk/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/have-you-heard-about-junior-isas-in-the-uk/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:17:25 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Junior Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=10249</guid> <description><![CDATA[The following is a guest post. Saving money for the future is fundamentally important for everyone in the UK and the general rule is that it is never too early to start saving. Children can be taught about saving money from a young age by their parents. They will encourage them to put away a [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p><em>The following is a guest post.</em></p><p>Saving money for the future is fundamentally important for everyone in the UK and the general rule is that it is never too early to start saving. Children can be taught about saving money from a young age by their parents. They will encourage them to put away a portion of their babysitting money or other money earned so that they learn the value of saving for the future.</p><p>Parents, grandparents, relatives and friends can also start children off on the right path to financial solvency by starting a saving account for those kids.</p><p>For parents who are interested in investing for their children&#8217;s future, a new option has recently become available. This option is a junior ISA. It provides some significant benefits in terms of maximizing money saved and interest earned and opening one can be a great choice for the kids.</p><h3><strong>What is an ISA?</strong></h3><p>Simply put, a <a
href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/savings/junior-isas/">junior ISA</a> is an ISA account that is intended for minors. ISA accounts allow for people to place up to a set maximum amount of money in a special savings account each year, which grows tax-free. This means that when you are paid interest on the money in the account, you do not have to pay taxes on this interest, as you normally would for invested money or for gains and returns on investments.</p><p>Since you do not have to pay taxes on the interest earned in an ISA, you keep more of the money that your account earns for you. This helps the magic of compound interest to work, as the interest gets added to the principle and it in turn begins to earn interest.</p><h3><strong>How Do Junior ISAs Work?</strong></h3><p>A traditional ISA is opened for the adult who is contributing money, but junior ISAs work a little differently. They are opened by parents or relatives for the benefit of a child. Money can then be deposited into the account by those who want to give a gift to the child.</p><p>The maximum amount of money that can be deposited into this account for each child each year is £3,600 as of 2012, but this amount is subject to change and increases with annual cost of living adjustments determined by looking at the Consumer Prices Index.</p><p>When the money is deposited into the ISA, it can be invested in a cash account, or in a stocks and shares account that allows for investments to be made. Regardless of what particular type you choose, it will enjoy significant tax benefits, as the money earned from the growth of the account will not be subject to tax.</p><h3>Control of a Junior ISA</h3><p>Parents who open the account for their children will have control over the account. When a child turns 16 years of age, control of the account may be turned over to the child from the parents. However, in the vast majority of cases, kids probably won&#8217;t cash out or take control of their ISAs. Instead, the intent is for kids to convert the junior ISA into a traditional adult ISA upon their 18th birthday and then continue to contribute and save in the account. Of course, children can cash in the account when they turn 18 as well, but keeping the junior ISA and transferring it into an adult account where they continue to save is a better idea for their future.</p><div
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class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fhave-you-heard-about-junior-isas-in-the-uk%2F' data-shr_title='Have+you+heard+about+Junior+ISAs+in+the+UK%3F'></a><a
class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fhave-you-heard-about-junior-isas-in-the-uk%2F' data-shr_title='Have+you+heard+about+Junior+ISAs+in+the+UK%3F'></a></div><div
style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/have-you-heard-about-junior-isas-in-the-uk/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Green Thing!</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/the-green-thing/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/the-green-thing/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:03:48 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Papa Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Boomer Issues]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Boomer Stuff]]></category> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=9412</guid> <description><![CDATA[This was sent to me and I just had to share it with fellow Boomers!!! In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren&#8217;t good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, &#8220;We didn&#8217;t have the green [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"> <a
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/> </a></div><h2>This was sent to me and I just had to share it with fellow Boomers!!!</h2><p><a
title="Middlebury College: Architectural Exterior" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38890715@N08/6198015527/" target="_blank"><img
class="alignright" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/6198015527_78f10f42c3_m.jpg" alt="Middlebury College: Architectural Exterior" border="0" /></a><br
/> In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren&#8217;t good for the environment.</p><p>The woman apologized to him and explained, &#8220;We didn&#8217;t have the green thing back in my day.&#8221; The clerk responded, &#8220;That&#8217;s our problem today. Your generation didn’t care enough to save our environment.&#8221;</p><p>He was right &#8212; our generation didn&#8217;t have the green thing in its day.   <span
id="more-9412"></span></p><p>Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.</p><p>But we didn&#8217;t have the green thing back in our day.</p><p>We walked up stairs, because we didn&#8217;t have an escalator or elevator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn&#8217;t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.</p><p>But he was right. We didn&#8217;t have the green thing in our day.</p><p>Back then, we washed the baby&#8217;s diapers because we didn&#8217;t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts of electricity &#8212; wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.<br
/> But that young man is right; we didn&#8217;t have the green thing back in our day.</p><p>Back then, we had one TV or radio, in the house &#8212; not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief &#8212; remember them?, not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn&#8217;t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.<br
/> But he was right. We didn&#8217;t have the green thing in our day.<br
/> Back then, we didn&#8217;t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn&#8217;t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.</p><p>But he&#8217;s right; we didn&#8217;t have the green thing back then.<br
/> We drank from a fountain or the garden hose when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.</p><p>But we didn&#8217;t have the green thing back then.</p><p>Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn&#8217;t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.</p><p>But isn&#8217;t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn&#8217;t have the green thing back then?</p><p>Please share this with another selfish older person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smarta#? young person.<br
/> <span
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/> </span></p><div
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style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/the-green-thing/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Ins and Outs of Hip and Knee Replacement</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/the-ins-and-outs-of-hip-and-knee-replacement/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/the-ins-and-outs-of-hip-and-knee-replacement/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:58:31 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Junior Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hip and knee replacement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hip and knee replacement surgery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[partial hip and knee replacement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[total hip and knee replacement]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=9311</guid> <description><![CDATA[When you know you need a hip or knee replacement, it can be a very scary prospect. Whether you need a full replacement, or just a partial, surgery of this type can make someone worry when they don’t know much about it in the first place. But, both are quite common surgeries and a qualified [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p><span
class="drop_cap">W</span>hen you know you need a hip or knee replacement, it can be a very scary prospect. Whether you need a full replacement, or just a partial, surgery of this type can make someone worry when they don’t know much about it in the first place. But, both are quite common surgeries and a qualified surgeon will be able to help you without any problems.<br
/> <span
id="more-9311"></span></p><h3>The Difference Between Total Replacement and Partial Replacement</h3><p>A total hip replacement or knee replacement as you might imagine replaces the arthritic hip joint or damaged knee joint with a synthetic replacement that is designed to give you as much mobility and stability as possible. These surgeries have a high success rate and have given many a good quality of life because of relief of pain in the joints and the increased mobility they now have. For knees, there are different total replacement options, depending on your individual situation, and there are even knee replacements for those of a smaller size than average or for those needing special variances.</p><p>There are also kinds designed to be used with or without cement. The cement- less knee replacements depend on bone growth, where new bone grows into the implant. To hold it in place in the meantime, screws are usually inserted into the implant. When needing a hip replacement, there are also options there as well, depending on your needs, and they also have the option of being attached by cement or by bone regrowth.</p><p>Partial resurfacing is available in both your knees and hips. In knees, this procedure is usually done in patients who only have osteoarthritis in one part of their knee. Designed to give you a quicker recovery, this surgery can be done without compromising the rest of the healthy bone and tissue that is left in the knee. For hips, partial resurfacing usually means the replacement of only the femoral head where the leg and hip join, so that the hip socket is left intact and you are left with as much of your own bone as possible, making it easier for future revisions if needed.</p><h3>How Long do the Replacements Last?</h3><p>Both replacements have been known to last up to 20 years, and in some patients it has been seen that their replacements have lasted them 30-40 years. Either surgery is usually not done on younger patients if avoidable because of the fact that a younger person who is more active will tend to wear out the replacement faster. The biggest problem with both is the loosening up of the replacement over time. Patients are encouraged to stay away from high impact activity such as running, and to try something low impact like swimming to stay active. Kneeling is also advised against with knee replacements. If you do however wind up needing a second replacement, your doctor can advise you in this and the surgery is not uncommon and is possible.</p><p>Knowing that hip and knee replacement surgeries are quite common and that you have a lot of different options depending on your situation should give you more peace of mind if you find yourself needing one of these replacements. They are common procedures that give many people a better quality of life after wards, and if you think you need one of these procedures you should talk with your doctor.</p><p><a
title="Attribution-NoDerivs License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://consumerboomer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-dropper/images/cc.png" alt="Creative Commons License" width="16" height="16" align="absmiddle" border="0" /></a> <a
href="http://www.photodropper.com/photos/" target="_blank">photo</a> credit: <a
title="timsamoff" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124439915@N01/4059353342/" target="_blank">timsamoff</a></p><div
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class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fthe-ins-and-outs-of-hip-and-knee-replacement%2F' data-shr_title='The+Ins+and+Outs+of+Hip+and+Knee+Replacement'></a><a
class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fthe-ins-and-outs-of-hip-and-knee-replacement%2F' data-shr_title='The+Ins+and+Outs+of+Hip+and+Knee+Replacement'></a></div><div
style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/the-ins-and-outs-of-hip-and-knee-replacement/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Can Retirees Get A Credit Card?</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/can-retirees-get-a-credit-card/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/can-retirees-get-a-credit-card/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 13:18:39 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Junior Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=9044</guid> <description><![CDATA[Of course, just about anyone can get a credit card if they have a good credit rating and are not carrying too much overall debt. Even on a fixed income retirees can qualify for a credit card, but there are some considerations unique to retirees that may not apply to the younger set. People who [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p><span
class="drop_cap">O</span>f course, just about anyone can get a credit card if they have a good credit rating and are not carrying too much overall debt. Even on a fixed income retirees can qualify for a credit card, but there are some considerations unique to retirees that may not apply to the younger set. People who are living on a fixed income have to carefully consider their options, because they don&#8217;t have the advantage of increasing their income by working more hours or applying for a better paying job.<br
/> <span
id="more-9044"></span></p><h3>Cards For Retirees</h3><ol><li>Choose  a credit card which fits into your current lifestyle. It goes without      saying you want the lowest interest rate you can find – but if you opt for <a
href="http://www.mbna.co.uk/choose-credit-card/rewards-credit-cards/">any      credit cards with rewards,</a> determine your needs and choose      appropriately. For instance, if one of your biggest expenses is groceries,      choose a card that offers reward points or rebates on grocery purchases.      Then, make sure you pay the balance off monthly so you don&#8217;t pay a high      rate of interest on your purchases.</li><li>Be aware that the financial construction of the payment schedule, interest      rates and other considerations will change, sometimes rapidly. If you are      unable to keep up with the changes, you could end up being socked with a  lot more expense for your credit cards than you expected. Review any      changes carefully, and don&#8217;t be afraid to ask for help if you need it to      understand what&#8217;s going on.</li><li>Don&#8217;t      apply for a large number of credit cards at one time. Every time <a
href="http://www.mbna.co.uk/choose-credit-card/">you apply for credit      cards</a> it will count against your total credit rating and could      negatively impact your score, making it more difficult to qualify for      other loans or credit cards.</li><li>If you      travel a lot, a travel reward card could be a great choice for you.      However, keep in mind reward credit cards can carry a hefty interest rate      and it can be difficult to redeem the benefits. It might be a better idea      to stick with the cash rebate type of cards, because they seem to have an      easier redeemable policy.</li></ol><h3>Good Credit Score the Key</h3><p>Retirees with a good credit score are certainly able to get a credit card, but they will have a different set of challenges than other age groups. As long as you are aware of what is available and the concerns, a credit card can definitely be an asset to the retired lifestyle.</p><div
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class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fcan-retirees-get-a-credit-card%2F' data-shr_title='Can+Retirees+Get+A+Credit+Card%3F'></a></div><div
style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/can-retirees-get-a-credit-card/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>The Japanease Disaster!  Drill or Not to Drill, Nuclear Power vs. Oil and Coal.</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/the-japanease-disaster-drill-or-not-to-drill-nuclear-power-vs-oil-and-coal/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/the-japanease-disaster-drill-or-not-to-drill-nuclear-power-vs-oil-and-coal/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:43:07 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Papa Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=8764</guid> <description><![CDATA[I am intentionally going to keep this article very short and very simple. photo credit: USFWS/Southeast Here we sit in the good Ole&#8217; USA unable to to drill for oil in the Gulf or in remote Alaska as our gas prices climb towards 4 or 5 dollars per gallon.  The worst thinkable oil disaster in [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fthe-japanease-disaster-drill-or-not-to-drill-nuclear-power-vs-oil-and-coal%2F"><br
/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fthe-japanease-disaster-drill-or-not-to-drill-nuclear-power-vs-oil-and-coal%2F&amp;source=consumerboomer&amp;style=compact&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br
/> </a></div><p>I am intentionally going to keep this article very short and very simple.</p><p><a
title="Tar balls of weathered oil wash ashore Bon Secour NWR June 4, 2010" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41464593@N02/5014687695/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5014687695_596aacaa8f_m.jpg" border="0" alt="Tar balls of weathered oil wash ashore Bon Secour NWR June 4, 2010" /></a><br
/> <small><a
title="Attribution License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://consumerboomer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-dropper/images/cc.png" border="0" alt="Creative Commons License" width="16" height="16" align="absmiddle" /></a> <a
href="http://www.photodropper.com/photos/" target="_blank">photo</a> credit: <a
title="USFWS/Southeast" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41464593@N02/5014687695/" target="_blank">USFWS/Southeast</a></small></p><p><small><a
title="USFWS/Southeast" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41464593@N02/5014687695/" target="_blank"></a></small>Here we sit in the good Ole&#8217; USA unable to to drill for oil in the Gulf or in remote Alaska as our gas prices climb towards 4 or 5 dollars per gallon.  The worst thinkable oil disaster in U.S. History actually happened just last year in the Gulf.  Today, tar balls on the beach in Destin Fl. seem pretty <span
style="text-decoration: underline;">minor</span> compared to nuclear reactor melt downs in Japan.  Any idiot that believes we can fuel the US economy with Wind power is nothing more than an uninformed &#8220;blow hard&#8221; themselves.  Think about it &#8230; Drill Baby Drill!!!  Papa B.</p><div
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class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fthe-japanease-disaster-drill-or-not-to-drill-nuclear-power-vs-oil-and-coal%2F' data-shr_title='The+Japanease+Disaster%21++Drill+or+Not+to+Drill%2C+Nuclear+Power+vs.+Oil+and+Coal.++++'></a></div><div
style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/the-japanease-disaster-drill-or-not-to-drill-nuclear-power-vs-oil-and-coal/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>5 Essential Pre-retirement Investment and Planning Strategies</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/pre-retirement-investment-strategies/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/pre-retirement-investment-strategies/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:32:13 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Junior Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Early Retirement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pre retirement planning]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=8701</guid> <description><![CDATA[When you are in your 50s you will find yourself thinking more and more about your retirement. However, instead of thinking where you’ll travel to first in your caravan or which color the tiles in your remodeled bathroom should be, you’ll need to turn your mind back to financial matters for a little longer to [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fpre-retirement-investment-strategies%2F"><br
/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fpre-retirement-investment-strategies%2F&amp;source=consumerboomer&amp;style=compact&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br
/> </a></div><p>When  you are in your 50s you will find yourself thinking more and more  about your retirement. However, instead of thinking where you’ll  travel to first in your caravan or which color the tiles in your  remodeled bathroom should be, you’ll need to turn your mind back  to financial matters for a little longer to make sure your travel and  decorating budgets are up to scratch.</p><p>While  you may have financial plans in place for your retirement, when you  are in your 50s it is the time to review these plans and take another  look at your expected expenses in your retirement. If you find that  changes need to be made, you’ll have the time to successfully make  them, and ensure that you will still be able to enjoy the retirement  you’re dreaming of. Therefore, make sure your pre-retirement  investment strategy includes these five steps.<br
/> <span
id="more-8701"></span></p><h3><strong>1  – Know what you can contribute and withdraw from retirement  funds</strong></h3><p>During  your working life it is easy to absentmindedly make contributions to  your retirement fund, hoping it will be enough. However, by the time  you reach your 50s you need to start looking more closely at your  contributions, to work out if you want or need to make extra  contributions, or you are ready to start withdrawing from your  retirement fund.</p><p>When  you reach fifty-nine and a half, you can start making withdrawals  from your 401K or IRA retirement funds, penalty free. However, from  the time you are 50 you also have the opportunity to make catch up  contributions which are more than the annual contribution limits.  Since you are likely to be in your peak earning years later in life,  with the highest salary of your life, this is the time to take  advantage of your experience.</p><p>If  you have found that you won’t have as much in your retirement fund  as you would have hoped, you can contribute up to $22,000 to a 401K  plan in 2011 and this includes a $5,500 catch up limit. In 2011 you  can also contribute up to $6,000 to IRA accounts, including a catch  up limit of $1,000. Contribution limits are adjusted each year and  you will need to check with your financial advisor for 2012 limits.</p><p>It  is also important you take the time to consolidate your retirement  plans in your 50s because all of the smaller plans you have with each  employer you’ve worked for throughout your life can be costing you  money. With a consolidated retirement plan you have an overall view  of your position heading into retirement and you can more easily  manage your portfolio.</p><h3><strong>2  – Assess your assets</strong></h3><p>In  your 50s you still have a number of years before you need to access  your retirement funds, so you can continue to take advantage of  assets such as stocks. Stocks are the only asset type which has  consistently outpaced inflation so your retirement nest egg will not  be eroded by the increasing cost of living. At the same time,  consider reducing some of your stock allocation and replacing it with  bonds which can generate an income into your retirement, and reduce  the volatility of your portfolio.</p><p>When  looking at your assets you will need to make sure you also have a  sufficient allocation of cash because if you have to sell long term  investments to free up cash for an unexpected expense, if you happen  to be in a market downturn at the same time the longevity and success  of your portfolio will suffer. While having ready cash available will  lower your investment returns, your long term investments will be  better placed to overcome market fluctuations.</p><p>Also  look at how you are protecting your retirement assets and products  such as long term care insurance which will ensure you won’t have  to dip into your retirement assets if you need expensive medical  assistance in the future. If you are planning to retire early, in  your 50s, you may also want to purchase an annuity which will  maintain an income stream for as long as the insurer is solvent. An  annuity guarantees that you won’t outlive your retirement assets  and can be helpful if you are not comfortable managing your own  assets into your retirement.</p><h3><strong>3  – Minimize your investment risks</strong></h3><p>As  you head into your 50s it is not the time to make high risk  investments in the hopes of a high return, as the chances are often  just as likely you’ll pay a high price. Therefore, minimize the  risks to your retirement investments by ensure your portfolio is a  mix of stocks, bonds and short term cash investments such as term  deposits.</p><p>You  will also need to make sure you have balanced the risks and rewards,  as you don’t want to diminish your retirement returns either. You  will also need to make sure you can access funds when you need them,  to avoid having to sell stocks when you need cash, and risk selling  at a low point.</p><h3><strong>4  – Reduce your debts</strong></h3><p>If  you have been paying just the minimum on your mortgage in order to  channel more funds towards investments, you could actually be better  off clearing your home loan and being mortgage free. In the later  years of a home loan term, very little of your repayment is going  towards interest charges, and so only a small amount of your mortgage  repayments are tax deductible. Therefore, you can get a better return  on your money by reducing your interest expenses and paying off your  home loan sooner, and there is no risk to the return of paying off  your loan.</p><p>It  is also important that you don’t have high interest debts such as  credit cards as the interest you are earning on your investments  won’t usually be higher than the rate of interest you are being  charged on these debts. Plus, the compounding effects of credit card  interest will quickly diminish the interest income from your  retirement investments so focus on clearing these high interest debts  to really let your retirement funds grow.</p><h3><strong>5  – Will you keep working?</strong></h3><p>As  you approach retirement age, you may need to keep working to bring in  an income, or you may want to keep working to stay active. No matter  what your reasons, there are a number of ways you can earn an income  in your retirement, and keep your retirement investments healthy. For  example, you may be able to switch your current position to a part  time position and continue your current role, or you may have a hobby  or skill you can turn into your own business.</p><p>The  social security rules have also been changed to make it more  financially attractive for you to keep working. Where your benefits  were reduced if you earned an income over a certain amount, you can  work as much as you like in your retirement and still receive the  full benefit.</p><p>Just  keep in mind that earning an income after retirement is not always a  viable contingency plan as you may see your skills and health  diminish, or find it hard to secure work as an older employee.  Instead, aim to secure your retirement investments with these steps,  and work because you want to, not because you have to.</p><p><em>Alban is personal finance writer at Home Loan Finder, <a
href="http://www.homeloanfinder.com.au">home loan</a> comparison  website.</em></p><div
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style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/pre-retirement-investment-strategies/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Valentine&#8217;s Roundup</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/valentines-roundup/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/valentines-roundup/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:17:34 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Junior Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=8599</guid> <description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s that time of the year to grab your honey and tell them how much you love them. Romantic dinners, red roses, and plenty of hugs and kisses should be in your forecast. Enjoy! photo credit: SimplyShutterbug Reads of The Week New 2011 Tax Rules for eBay Sellers: The 1099K Home Office Tax Deductions for [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fvalentines-roundup%2F"><br
/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fvalentines-roundup%2F&amp;source=consumerboomer&amp;style=compact&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br
/> </a></div><p>It&#8217;s that time of the year to grab your honey and tell them how much you love them.  Romantic dinners, red roses, and plenty of hugs and kisses should be in your forecast.   Enjoy!</p><p><a
title="Forty-Four - Love Appears in Many Forms" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49969107@N04/5441832507/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5441832507_3918bab33d.jpg" border="0" alt="Forty-Four - Love Appears in Many Forms" /></a><br
/> <small><a
title="Attribution-NonCommercial License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://consumerboomer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-dropper/images/cc.png" border="0" alt="Creative Commons License" width="16" height="16" align="absmiddle" /></a> <a
href="http://www.photodropper.com/photos/" target="_blank">photo</a> credit: <a
title="SimplyShutterbug" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49969107@N04/5441832507/" target="_blank">SimplyShutterbug</a></small></p><p><span
id="more-8599"></span></p><h3>Reads of The Week</h3><ul><li><a
href="http://www.mydollarplan.com/1099k-for-ebay/" target="_blank">New 2011 Tax Rules for eBay Sellers: The 1099K</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-home-office-tax-deductions/" target="_blank">Home Office Tax Deductions for 2011</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.financialsamurai.com/2011/02/08/examples-of-good-resumes/" target="_blank">Examples Of Good Resumes That Get Jobs</a></li><li><a
href="http://frugaldad.com/2011/02/09/the-war-on-debt-the-battle-begins-at-home/">The  War on Debt: The Battle Begins at Home</a></li><li><a
href="http://allfinancialmatters.com/2011/02/11/golds-2010-performance/" target="_blank">Gold’s 2010 Performance</a></li><li>7 Simple Solutions to Increasing Your Child’s Attention  Span</li><li><a
href="http://www.mydollarplan.com/1099k-for-ebay/" target="_blank">New 2011 Tax Rules for eBay Sellers: The 1099K</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.moolanomy.com/4367/7-money-traps-to-avoid-mmarquit01/" target="_blank">7 Money Traps to Avoid</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.fiscalgeek.com/2011/01/lifestyle-inflation-financial-disaster/">Lifestyle  Inflation – Where Financial Disaster Starts</a></li><li><a
href="http://soldieroffinance.com/crossing-financial-checkpoints/" target="_blank">Importance of Financial Checkpoints</a></li><li><a
href="http://genxfinance.com/how-does-getting-married-affect-my-taxes/" target="_blank">How does getting Married Affect My Taxes?</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.obliviousinvestor.com/do-it-yourself-investing/" target="_blank">How Much Work Is Do-It-Yourself Investing?</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.moneywithablog.com/how-i-make-money-from-blogging-my-top-income-sources/" target="_blank">How I Make Money From Blogging: My Top Income Sources</a></li><li><a
href="http://ptmoney.com/states-without-state-income-taxes/" target="_blank">States Without State Income Taxes</a></li><li><a
href="http://themilitarywallet.com/irs-federal-tax-refund-schedule/" target="_blank">IRS E-File Refund Schedule</a></li><li><a
href="http://studenomics.com/current-students/money-tips-college-students/" target="_blank">You’re In College? Tips To Get A Financial Head Start</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/roth-ira-conversion-rules/" target="_blank">Roth IRA Conversion Rules 2011</a></li><li><a
href="http://freefrombroke.com/changes-on-the-1040-irs-form-this-year-how-does-it-affect-you/" target="_blank">Changes on the 1040 IRS Tax Form this Year…How Does It  Affect You?</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/ontario-childrens-activity-tax-credit-new-for-2010-tax-year/" target="_blank">Ontario Children’s Activity Tax Credit – New For 2010  Tax Year </a></li><li><a
href="http://couplemoney.com/family-and-finances/bailing-out-family-and-in-laws/" target="_blank">Bailing Out Family and In-Laws</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/buying-vacation-retirement-home/">Buying  a Vacation/Retirement Home (Part 1 of ?)</a></li><li><a
href="http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/sticking-to-your-goals-when-life-gets-hectic/">Sticking  to Your Goals When Life Gets Hectic</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/what-are-my-chances-of-being-audited/">What are Your Chances of Being Audited</a></li></ul><div
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class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fvalentines-roundup%2F' data-shr_title='Valentine%27s+Roundup'></a><a
class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fvalentines-roundup%2F' data-shr_title='Valentine%27s+Roundup'></a></div><div
style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/valentines-roundup/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Links of The Week- Football baby!</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/links-of-the-week-football-baby/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/links-of-the-week-football-baby/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:14:06 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Junior Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=8512</guid> <description><![CDATA[Are you ready for some football? I know I am. Two great games are set for tomorrow and I&#8217;m sure who to root for. Aaron Rodgers has been a stud lately, and have a feeling that his studliness will continue. Sorry Bears Fans. Who you rooting for? Links of The Week Should You Own An [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Flinks-of-the-week-football-baby%2F"><br
/> <img
src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Flinks-of-the-week-football-baby%2F&amp;source=consumerboomer&amp;style=compact&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br
/> </a></div><p>Are you ready for some football?   I know I am.  Two great games are set for tomorrow and I&#8217;m sure who to root for.   Aaron Rodgers has been a stud lately, and have a feeling that his studliness will continue.  Sorry Bears Fans.   Who you rooting for?</p><h3>Links of The Week</h3><ul><li><a
href="http://amateurassetallocator.com/2011/01/18/should-you-own-an-international-real-estate-fund/">Should  You Own An International Real Estate Fund?</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.obliviousinvestor.com/retirement-income/">How  Much Income Will You Need in Retirement?</a></li><li><a
href="http://frugaldad.com/2011/01/13/5-lessons-dave-ramsey-taught-me-about-healthy-living/">5  Lessons Dave Ramsey Taught Me About Healthy Living</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.financialsamurai.com/2011/01/21/who-pays-the-bill/" target="_blank">Who Pays The Bill?</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/fsa-changes-flexible-spending-accounts-plans-2011/">Flexible  Spending Accounts (FSA) Changes for 2011</a></li><li><a
href="http://ptmoney.com/minimum-income-to-file-taxes/">Minimum  Income to File Taxes</a></li><li>Creating a Financial Plan for Free</li><li><a
href="http://www.moolanomy.com/462/30-alternative-income-ideas-and-resources/">15  Ways to Make Money</a></li><li><a
href="http://freefrombroke.com/turbotax-online-tax-preparation-software-2010-review/">TurboTax  Online Tax Software 2010 Review</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.moolanomy.com/462/30-alternative-income-ideas-and-resources/">The  Internship Experience– Reflections From a College Intern</a></li><li><a
href="http://allfinancialmatters.com/2011/01/21/should-i-sell-my-house-now-or-wait/">Should  I Sell My House Now or Wait?”</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/mint-com-canada-review-online-free-budgeting-website/">Mint.com  Canadian Review</a></li><li><a
href="http://genxfinance.com/scottrade-review/">Scottrade  Review: $7 Trades and Local Offices</a></li><li><a
href="http://beingfrugal.net/2011/01/08/learning-the-frugal-ropes-from-mom/">Learning  the Frugal Ropes from Mom</a></li><li><a
href="http://prairieecothrifter.com/2011/01/10-easy-ways-to-save-money.html">10  Easy Ways to Save Money</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/should-you-pay-off-debt-or-save-for-retirement/">Should  You Pay Off Debt Or Save For Retirement?</a></li><li><a
href="http://cashmoneylife.com/will-your-tax-return-be-flagged-for-audit/">Will  Your Tax Return Be Flagged for an Audit?</a></li><li><a
href="http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1501-100-words-on-why-youre-better-off-buying-a-used-car.html">100  Words On: Why You’re Better Off Buying A Used Car</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.plantingdollars.com/personal-finance-books/best-personal-finance-books/">The  Best Personal Finance Books – According to 38 Personal Finance Bloggers</a></li><li><a
href="http://simpledebtfreefinance.com/tax-time-the-difference-between-tax-deduction-and-tax-credit/">Tax  Time: The Difference Between Tax Deduction And Tax Credit</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.popeconomics.com/2011/01/21/why-youre-lazy-and-cant-break-bad-habits/">Why  you’re lazy and can’t break bad habits</a></li><li><a
href="http://ownthedollar.com/2011/01/book-review-168-hours-by-laura-vanderkam/">Book  Review – 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think By Laura  Vanderkam</a></li><li> <a
href="http://www.thewisdomjournal.com/Blog/a-resolution-worth-keeping-set-up-investment-account-online-brokerage/">A Resolution Worth Keeping: Set Up An Investment Account With An Online Brokerage</a></li><li><a
href="http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/new-federal-tax-rates-income-2011/">2011 Federal Tax Rate Schedule</a></li></ul><div
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class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Flinks-of-the-week-football-baby%2F' data-shr_title='Links+of+The+Week-+Football+baby%21'></a></div><div
style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/links-of-the-week-football-baby/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Dhimmitude and Healthcare Reform &#8211; Is Dhimmitude Really a Word?</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/dhimmitude-and-healthcare-reform-is-dhimmitude-really-a-word/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/dhimmitude-and-healthcare-reform-is-dhimmitude-really-a-word/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:30:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Papa Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Boomer Issues]]></category> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Medical Insurance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category> <category><![CDATA[PB]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Cordoba House]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dhimmitude]]></category> <category><![CDATA[health care costs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform Cost]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Obamacare]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=8276</guid> <description><![CDATA[Could &#8220;Dhimmitude&#8221; and &#8220;ObamaCare&#8221; help &#8220;Cordoba House&#8221; gain more support in the future? photo credit: wstera2 ANYONE HEARD THIS? Remember when the moron, Speaker of the House, (soon to be x-Speaker, not x-Moron of the house), Nancy Pelosi, made that incredibly stupid statement, “we have to pass the healthcare bill in order to see what’s in it”? [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"> <a
href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fdhimmitude-and-healthcare-reform-is-dhimmitude-really-a-word%2F"><br
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src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerboomer.com%2Fdhimmitude-and-healthcare-reform-is-dhimmitude-really-a-word%2F&amp;source=consumerboomer&amp;style=compact&amp;service=bit.ly&amp;b=2" height="61" width="50" /><br
/> </a></div><p>Could &#8220;Dhimmitude&#8221; and &#8220;ObamaCare&#8221; help &#8220;Cordoba House&#8221; gain more support in the future?</p><p><strong><a
title="Nancy explains about the Ground Zero mega-mosque - AKA the Cordoba House" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13836188@N04/4915735634/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4915735634_b1779902f1.jpg" border="0" alt="Nancy explains about the Ground Zero mega-mosque - AKA the Cordoba House" /></a><br
/> <small><a
title="Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/" target="_blank"><img
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title="wstera2" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13836188@N04/4915735634/" target="_blank">wstera2</a></small></strong></p><p><strong><small><a
title="wstera2" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13836188@N04/4663468990/" target="_blank"></a></small>ANYONE HEARD THIS?</strong></p><p>Remember when the moron, Speaker of the House, (soon to be x-Speaker, not x-Moron of the house), Nancy Pelosi, made that incredibly stupid statement, “we have to pass the healthcare bill in order to see what’s in it”?  Well, here is just another little tidbit of what is actually in it!!</p><h2><em>Dhimmitude</em> &#8211; What does it mean?</h2><p>Obama used it in the health care bill.  How interesting is this?  It is actually used in the health care law.</p><p>Every day there&#8217;s another revelation of what Obama and his healthcare folly really includes.</p><h2><em>Dhimmitude</em> ???</h2><p>I had never heard the word until now.  Type it into Google<br
/> and start reading.  Pretty interesting.  It&#8217;s on page 107 of the healthcare<br
/> bill.  I looked this up on Google and yep, it exists.  It is a REAL word.<br
/> Amish and others are excluded, including muslims.  I think I could become<br
/> Amish a whole lot easier than muslim.  <span
id="more-8276"></span></p><h2>Word of the Day: <em>Dhimmitude</em></h2><p>Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-muslim populations<br
/> conquered through jihad. Specifically, it is the <strong><span
style="text-decoration: underline;">TAXING</span> of <span
style="text-decoration: underline;">non-muslims</span> in<br
/> exchange for <span
style="text-decoration: underline;">tolerating their presence</span></strong> AND <strong>as a c<span
style="text-decoration: underline;">oercive means of</span><br
/> <span
style="text-decoration: underline;"> converting</span></strong> conquered remnants to Islam.</p><p>ObamaCare <strong>allows</strong> the establishment of <em>Dhimmitude</em> and Sharia muslim diktat<br
/> in the United States.  Muslims are specifically exempted from the<br
/> government mandate to purchase insurance, and also from the penalty tax<br
/> for being uninsured.  Islam considers insurance to be &#8220;gambling&#8221;,<br
/> &#8220;risk-taking&#8221;, and &#8220;usury&#8221; and is thus banned.  Muslims are specifically<br
/> granted exemption based on this.</p><p>How convenient.  So I, as a Christian, will have crippling IRS liens placed<br
/> against all of my assets, including real estate, cattle, and even accounts<br
/> receivables, and will face hard prison time because I refuse to buy<br
/> insurance or pay the penalty tax. Meanwhile, Louis Farrakhan will have no<br
/> such penalty and will have 100% of his health needs paid for by the de<br
/> facto government insurance.  Non-muslims will be paying a tax to subsidize<br
/> muslims.  Period.  This is <em>Dhimmitude</em>.</p><p><em>Dhimmitude</em> serves two purposes:  It enriches the muslim masters AND serves<br
/> to drive conversions to Islam.  In this case, the incentive to convert to<br
/> Islam will be taken up by those in the inner-cities as well as the godless<br
/> Generation X, Y, and Z types who have no moral anchor. If you don&#8217;t<br
/> believe in Christ to begin with, it is no problem whatsoever to sell Him<br
/> for 30 pieces of silver.</p><p>I never really considered being a Muslim, however, if it means free health<br
/> insurance and no taxes.  Where do I sign, bro?&#8221;</p><h2>What does &#8220;Snopes&#8221; have to say?</h2><p>Snopes answer &#8230; mixed.</p><ol><li>It is a word and does mean exactly that decscribed above.</li><li>It is included as an exemption in the healthcare reform bill on page #107.</li><li>It depends on how the exemptions are administered as to how many Muslims and other &#8220;<span
style="text-decoration: underline;">non</span>-Christian&#8221; religious groups will actually be exempted.</li></ol><h2>Check out <em>Dhimmitude</em> and the Healthcare Reform  for yourself:</h2><p>First here ! &#8230; <a
href="http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=59232">http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=59232</a></p><p>Next here! &#8230; <a
href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp">http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp</a></p><div
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style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://consumerboomer.com/dhimmitude-and-healthcare-reform-is-dhimmitude-really-a-word/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>ICE Receives &#8220;Vote of NO Confidence&#8221; Is Amnesty Coming?</title><link>http://consumerboomer.com/ice-receives-vote-of-no-confidence-amnesty/</link> <comments>http://consumerboomer.com/ice-receives-vote-of-no-confidence-amnesty/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:35:05 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Papa Boomer</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Boomer Issues]]></category> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <category><![CDATA[In The News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category> <category><![CDATA[PB]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://consumerboomer.com/?p=7865</guid> <description><![CDATA[The union that represents the field agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has unanimously passed a &#8220;vote of no confidence&#8221; for the agency&#8217;s leadership, saying ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has &#8220;abandoned&#8221; its core mission of protecting the public to support a political agenda favoring amnesty. Border photo credit: t3hWIT The resolution says [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div
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/> </a></div><p><span
class="drop_cap">T</span>he union that represents the field agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has unanimously passed a &#8220;<span
style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>vote of no confidence</strong></span>&#8221; for the agency&#8217;s leadership, saying ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has &#8220;abandoned&#8221; its core mission of protecting the public to support a political agenda favoring amnesty.</p><p>Border<a
title="DSC00148" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15763073@N04/3952069927/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3952069927_e907686d0d.jpg" border="0" alt="DSC00148" /></a><br
/> <small><a
title="Attribution-NonCommercial License" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://consumerboomer.com/wp-content/plugins/photo-dropper/images/cc.png" border="0" alt="Creative Commons License" width="16" height="16" align="absmiddle" /></a> <a
href="http://www.photodropper.com/photos/" target="_blank">photo</a> credit: <a
title="t3hWIT" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15763073@N04/3952069927/" target="_blank">t3hWIT</a></small></p><p>The resolution says that the leadership of ICE had &#8220;<span
style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>abandoned the agency&#8217;s core mission of enforcing U.S. immigration laws and providing for public safety,</strong></span>&#8221; instead it is directing its attention &#8220;<strong>to campaigning for programs and policies related to amnesty</strong>&#8220;and the creation of a special detention system for foreign nationals that exceeds the care and services provided to most U.S. citizens similarly incarcerated.</p><p>The National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council of the American Federation of Government Employees represents over 7,000 ICE agents and employees.   With a vote of 259-0 for a resolution saying there was &#8220;<strong>growing dissatisfaction and concern</strong>&#8221; over the leadership of Assistant Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE, and Phyllis Coven, assistant director for the agency&#8217;s office of detention policy and planning.</p><p>&#8220;It is the desire of our union … to publicly separate ourselves from the actions of Director Morton and Assistant Director Coven and publicly state that ICE officers and employees do not support Morton or Coven or their misguided and reckless initiatives, which could ultimately put many in America at risk,&#8221; the union said.</p><p>In a strongly worded statement, the union and its affiliated local councils said the integrity of the agency &#8220;as well as the public safety &#8220;would be&#8221; better provided for in the absence of Director Morton and Assistant Director Coven.&#8221;    <span
id="more-7865"></span></p><h2>More about the Statement:</h2><p>The statement also noted that:</p><ul><li>The majority of ICE&#8217;s enforcement and removal officers are prohibited from making street arrests or enforcing U.S. immigration laws outside of the jail setting.</li><li>Hundreds of ICE officers nationwide perform no law enforcement duties whatsoever because of resource mismanagement within the agency.</li><li>ICE detention reforms have transformed into a detention system aimed at providing resort like living conditions to criminal aliens based on recommendations not from ICE officers and field managers, but from &#8220;special-interest groups.&#8221;</li><li>The lack of technical expertise and field experience has resulted in a priority of providing bingo nights, dance lessons and hanging plants to criminals, instead of addressing safe and responsible detention reforms for noncriminal individuals and families.</li><li>Unlike any other agency in the nation, ICE officers will be prevented from searching detainees housed in ICE facilities, allowing weapons, drugs and other contraband into detention centers — putting detainees, ICE officers and contract guards at risk.</li><li>Senior leadership ignores reports that ICE internal investigations by the office of professional responsibility conceal agency and supervisor misconduct and are used to retaliate against employees who make whistleblower-type disclosures or question inappropriate policies and procedures.</li></ul><p>ICE documents show that during the first nine months of fiscal 2010, a total of 279,035 noncitizens were removed from the U.S. as a result of ICE enforcement.</p><h2>Union Claims:</h2><p>According to the union, illegal immigrants now being held in state and local jails seek out ICE agents for deportation to avoid prosecution, conviction and prison terms. They also say criminal aliens &#8220;<strong>openly brag</strong>&#8221; that they are taking advantage of a broken immigration system and <strong>will be back in the United States within days to commit crimes</strong> — while U.S. citizens arrested for the same offenses serve prison sentences.</p><p>The no-confidence vote, taken in June and made public last week in a letter by the union, said the agency&#8217;s senior leadership dedicated &#8220;more time to campaigning for immigration reforms aimed at large-scale amnesty legislation than advising the American public and federal lawmakers on the severity of the illegal-immigration problems.&#8221;</p><h2>What do others say?</h2><p>Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security said that the Obama administration is &#8220;simply not serious about enforcing all of our immigration laws.&#8221;  He said ICE doesn&#8217;t have the resources because it didn&#8217;t ask for them, adding that &#8220;the Obama administration did not request a single new detention bed in their most recent budget request.&#8221;</p><p>Rep. Smith claims that the limits on detention capacity that they now claim hold them back from further enforcement are of their own making, he said. ICE is running under its average daily detention capacity and that the Obama administration is not even using all the resources it has.</p><p>Michael W. Cutler, a retired 31-year U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) senior criminal investigator and intelligence specialist, said that it is clear that the marching orders coming from the administration have <span
style="text-decoration: underline;">nothing to do with securing our nation&#8217;s borders or enforcing the immigration laws</span>.  According to him &#8221;It is an absolute absurdity to believe that our nation can successfully wage a war against terrorists who are determined to enter our nation and then embed themselves in our nation with virtually no fear of being identified, arrested or removed from our country&#8221;.</p><p>Janice Kephart, director of national security policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, described the no-confidence vote in a statement last week as an example of how ICE&#8217;s mission was being &#8220;skewed towards supporting an unflinching goal of amnesty by refusing to allow agents to do their job.&#8221;</p><p>Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE recently announced new guidelines telling his agents to focus on &#8220;apprehending terrorists and criminals&#8221;, causing many of agency&#8217;s rank-and-file agents to wonder who, then, is responsible for tracking down and detaining the millions of other illegal border-crossers and fugitive aliens now in the country.</p><p>The new guidelines note that ICE only has resources to remove approximately 400,000 aliens per year, less than 4 percent of the estimated illegal-alien population in the United States, and that as a result, it needed to focus wisely on the limited resources Congress had provided the agency.</p><p>He said the agency would prioritize the apprehension and removal of aliens who &#8220;<span
style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>only pose a threat to national security and/or public safety, such as criminals and terrorists.</strong></span>&#8221;  Lesser priorities were given to foreign nationals caught crossing the border illegally or using phony immigration documents to gain entry, and those identified as fugitives after failing to show up for immigration or deportation hearings.</p><h2>More on Fox News &#8211; Neil Cavuto interviews Director Morton</h2><p>I watched Neil Cavuto discussing this issue with Director of ICE John Morton today.  It became obvious that Mr. Morton was sticking to his talking points, defending the administrations position, defending all the work ICE has done and denying <span
style="text-decoration: underline;">any</span> fault.  Time and time again, he dodged the question of granting amnesty &#8230; simply repeating that he nor the administration support amnesty to &#8220;<span
style="text-decoration: underline;">EVERYONE</span>&#8220;.   (I don&#8217;t think anyone is suggesting it for &#8230; &#8220;EVERYONE&#8221;.)  Neil Cavuto continued to rephrase the question trying to get a straight answer.  Mr. Morton continued to dodge the real question by rephrasing his talking point and not answering the real question.</p><p><strong>What do you say???  Papa B.</strong></p><div
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