Petey's Pipeline E-zine

Issue #15

September 19, 2005

Contents

Business First Editorial Fringe Benefits
Random Ramblings and Miscellaneous Musings Muddling Along
Write Thinking Transforming Thoughts

Business First (Editorial)

Fringe Benefits

It's no surprise that wage-slaves are the big losers in today's global economy. How else could Fortune 500 companies afford to pay their top executives multimillion-dollar annual salaries topped by multimillion-dollar fringe benefits packages, except by denying their rank-and-file workers a fair, living wage and—you guessed it—fringe benefits?

According to a report issued jointly by the Institute of Policy Studies (Washington, D.C.) and United for a Fair Economy (Boston), average CEO pay rose from 301 times the average worker's pay, in 2003, to 431 times the average worker's pay, in 2004.

Average CEO pay rose 319 percent since 1990, while inflation-adjusted average worker's wages rose just 4.5 percent. The federal minimum wage rate hasn't increased in 8 years, yet prices for everything have gone up.

To make a bad situation worse, the number of Americans living in poverty rose from its 2000 level of 11.3 percent to 12.7 percent. That the unemployment rate is going down even as the poverty rate goes up is a sad testament to the sorry state of the U.S. economy.

More people are working their asses off in minimum-wage jobs. Ironically, minimum-wage employment won't help these people escape going broke. It only delays the inevitable, and wears them out in the process.

If all of the authority figures that jumped on the deniability bandwagon regarding FEMA's and the federal government's winter molasses-like response to Katrina had lined up along the Gulf Coast before Katrina's arrival, there wouldn't have been an aftermath to contend with. The hot air would have blown Katrina back out into the Gulf.

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Back in January I predicted that gasoline prices would top $3 per gallon before the end of this year. That prophecy was fulfilled by mid-summer in the Bay Area and in most other areas of the country post-Katrina. What's next? When pumping and refining capacity comes back on-line in the Gulf region, look for gas prices to decline slightly, but don't be surprised if they don't get down to where they were before Katrina's rampage. Then, in the spring of next year (2006), look for prices to start climbing again, hitting $3.50 per gallon by Labor Day. Expect $4 per gallon gasoline by mid-to-late summer of 2007, $6 per gallon by late summer of 2010.

Brace yourself! It just keeps getting worse. As Eastern economies heat up, particularly those of China and India, they'll exert upward demand on energy resources, driving prices even higher. The result? $12 per gallon gasoline by 2020.

Don't like those prices? Fortunately, there are some options. Walk more; drive less. Ride a bike; drive less. Use public transportation; drive less. Move closer to work; drive less. Move work closer to you; drive less. (Maybe now you see the wisdom behind starting a home-based business.)

Can't break your car addiction? Get a hybrid or flex-fuel vehicle. Consider biodiesel or ethanol as alternative fuels. As demand for these fuels increases, they'll become more readily available. Unlike gasoline, biofuels are renewable and environment friendly. Eventually, they'll cost less than gasoline. In terms of the environment, they already cost less.

Sell that Hummer you bought just before gas prices took a big leap. You know— the one that eats like an elephant on steroids, the one that proved to the world, once and for all, that you've got more money than brains. What do you mean you can't sell it? Oh, you've already tried. No takers, eh? In that case, why not make a tax-deductible donation to the Smithsonian? Better yet, give it to someone you really hate and let him go broke feeding the beast.

Copyright © 2005 by Phil Hanson
All rights reserved.

Transforming Thoughts

Good writing is much more than the sum of its parts. Good writing is all about a writer's ability to transform thoughts into visual symbols and to arrange those symbols in ways that others can understand them.

Writing has two purposes:

To best accomplish these goals, a writer harnesses the power of descriptive words that paint the most accurate picture of the writer's vision. Strong (active) verbs, colorful adjectives and a repertoire of creative devices are among the essential tools found in every writer's toolbox.

Spelling, grammar and punctuation are signature elements of professional writing. Good writing depends on rules and conventions to help maintain clarity and coherence. Writers risk destroying their credibility when they fail to grasp the importance of writing conventions.

A misspelled word, a disagreement between subject and verb, or a comma either omitted or put in the wrong place can leave readers so confused they have no clear understanding of what the writer is trying to say. The message may be clear in the writer's mind, but the reader hasn't got a clue.

Serious writers—those who are seriously dedicated to their craft—also rely on a few essential reference books to help keep their work fresh, original and error free. Desktop references like a dictionary, thesaurus, style manual, writer's handbook, and English usage book round out the top five writer's resources. If you haven't got them, get them, and keep them within easy reach. You'll find yourself using them often and, as you do, you'll see your writing improve.

Copyright © 2005 by Phil Hanson
All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

The articles appearing in Petey's Pipeline E-zine are based on information believed to be true at the time of publication. Neither Perfecttext.com, Petey's Pipeline E-zine nor their publisher assume any liability or responsibility as to the accuracy or efficacy of any information, products or services that are submitted, advertised or rendered by contributors to Petey's Pipeline E-zine. While we make every effort to screen out scam artists and bogus offers, you should still do your homework. Caveat emptor!

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