I am amazed when I ask certain people why they think the way they do and they can’t answer me other than recite what they have heard on the news or TV talk show entertainment news program on the left or right. You know what I’m talking about so why name them?

Instead of digging to see if what is being spouted is true, many of us swallow hook, line and sinker to believe what are sometimes ball-faced lies designed for us to roll over and let the powers that be simply fillet us! And it is much deserved since we don’t ask questions and challenge much in our world anymore.

Well, you might like getting filleted but I don’t. I am a bit cantankerous and skeptical about just about everything. I wasn’t raised to be this way when it came to my country but from what I have observed over the past 20 years there’s not much I believe that comes out of anyone’s mouth that holds an elected office. I have been teased and hammered a few times by friends and family because of this and it’s okay because I can take it.

However, I feel somewhat vindicated at last after reading Mike Lofgren’s article Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult.

For all my Democrat friends and family members that think Mr. Lofgren’s information is all about the Republican party, I assure you it is not. This has enough rot to go around to all parties including the one with the label Tea.

Here’s how the article starts just to give you a taste.

Barbara Stanwyck: “We’re both rotten!”

Fred MacMurray: “Yeah – only you’re a little more rotten.” -”Double Indemnity” (1944)

Another favorite passage with regard to the so called “debt ceiling” is below.

“The debt ceiling extension is not the only example of this sort of political terrorism. Republicans were willing to lay off 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, 70,000 private construction workers and let FAA safety inspectors work without pay, in fact, forcing them to pay for their own work-related travel – how prudent is that? – in order to strong arm some union-busting provisions into the FAA reauthorization.

Everyone knows that in a hostage situation, the reckless and amoral actor has the negotiating upper hand over the cautious and responsible actor because the latter is actually concerned about the life of the hostage, while the former does not care. This fact, which ought to be obvious, has nevertheless caused confusion among the professional pundit class, which is mostly still stuck in the Bob Dole era in terms of its orientation. For instance, Ezra Klein wrote of his puzzlement over the fact that while House Republicans essentially won the debt ceiling fight, enough of them were sufficiently dissatisfied that they might still scuttle the deal. Of course they might – the attitude of many freshman Republicans to national default was “bring it on!”

It should have been evident to clear-eyed observers that the Republican Party is becoming less and less like a traditional political party in a representative democracy and becoming more like an apocalyptic cult, or one of the intensely ideological authoritarian parties of 20th century Europe. This trend has several implications, none of them pleasant.”

If you don’t like getting filleted you might want to read it. It’s long and worth every word.

The federal housing tax credit was worth up to $8,000 for first time homebuyers. For repeat homebuyers, the tax credit was worth $6,500. The tax credit has since expired, but if you filed for the extension before May 1, 2010 you may qualify for an extension lasting one year. Also, homebuyers whose homes were in contract by April 30, 2010, had until September 30, 2010 to complete the sale of their home in order to receive the federal housing tax credit. Those in the military have been granted further extensions for this housing tax credit, as long as the home is closed by June 30, 2011. If you believe you and your family are entitled to the federal housing tax credit, wish to file for an extension, or would like to learn more about the tax credit visit FederalHousingTaxCredit.com.

For some homeowners, it makes more sense to remodel their homes. Avoiding extra closing costs, lender fees and other home buying expenses saves many existing homeowners money. If you’re already paying off a mortgage at a moderate interest rate, decide if it’s reasonably cost effective to adjust your mortgage to buy a new house, or if it’s more cost conscious for you to stay in your home. On the other hand, if your family is growing and you need more space in your home, talk with your mortgage lender about your best options for upgrading your home. Outweigh the costs of moving and buying a new home, to remodeling and make the best decision for you.

I just wanted to wish all of you, whether you are staying in town or traveling a very safe and happy vacation. I hope you get to see family and friends who you have not seen in a while and have the time of your life. As you get older, and you can tell by my picture that I have done that, you realize how quickly time goes by and how often you have to spend time with those you would rather not and how much you long to spend time with those you have a blast with. This year, I hope you spend time with the blast people as much as possible and just enjoy your summer vacation to the hilt and have a great time!

Employment numbers coupled with other fiscal factors impact interest rates, and while most would think that keeping interest rates as low as possible is the goal, ultimately, it is not. When the economy is rocking at a healthy pace, interest rates are around 8%. Currently, the Fed is doing quite a few things to keep rates low to get the housing market moving along because a healthy housing market, most of the time, is also needed to have a healthy economy. We will all have to wait and see if everything that has been done will actually work to restore jobs and a health economy.

What you are left with is market information, your situation and decision making. With these three things you should be able to forge ahead without feeling like you are out at sea without a paddle. If you need the latest information on the housing market and mortgages, I will be glad to share all that I know; if you would like someone to help you talk through your particular financial situation, I am happy to listen and help as I can and when you are ready to decide I will respect whatever decision you make. Just know that all markets go up and down and the rest is up to you!

While there has been much talk about bank owned properties and foreclosures and the great deals you can get, most of these homes need some much needed updating or tender loving care to get them to a good livable place. For those who either can’t afford the additional money for updating and repairs or just don’t want to go through the hassles, there are brand new homes and recently updated homes that are coming on the market every day. I know it because they are on my street.

I’m in the mortgage business and I can tell you that we see changes almost everyday in regulations, programs or underwriting requirements so I’m sure there are changes everyday in the banking and investment world as well.  With so many things moving at once it has to be a job to get your head around it all.

Both our candidates have been in positions to make laws, not study economies.  In fact, most of congress is made up of attorney’s.  There are very few businessmen and fewer, if any, economists.  As someone close to me said last night, “I certainly hope they (the people in charge of making the decisions) know what they’re doing”.  Let’s all hope so.