I’m as pro-environmental as the next person, but when I start thinking about these electric cars and do just a little research, I begin to get a little suspicious. To begin with, allow me to give a short history lesson. Here in the U.S, we used to generate our electrical power using an abundant and one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels known to mankind. Our electric generation plants were fueled by natural gas. During the Carter (Jimmy) administration all of that changed. The electrical generation plants were mandated to change from natural gas to COAL fired operation. This use of coal has so many negative impacts that it just boggles the mind. To mine the coal, defaces our EARTH and to burn this coal, destroys our ATMOSPHERE!  No political or environmental group has ever once said, “let’s change back to natural gas for electrical generation and save our planet.” One 12 hour period of coal burning power generation produces more atmospheric pollutants than the operation of every vehicle in the U.S. for 7 days! Do I need to repeat that statement?

 Now the “experts” say we have to go to electrical vehicles to SAVE OUR PLANET! This is an absolute misconception! First, the electric vehicles are more expensive to manufacture and  purchase and that’s just the beginning! At the moment, the batteries being used in today’s electric cars are definitely NOT environmentally friendly. I might be stupid, but I view these batteries to the same degree as nuclear waste. Go ahead laugh! Now, think about it! What is done with these batteries at the end of their life span? How will they be properly disposed of and what will this disposal cost each of us in the long run? What is their pollution factor, now and in the future!?

 Remember our COAL fired generation plants? Let’s take a city the size of Houston, Texas. Let’s say half of the vehicles are electrically powered and need to be recharged each day. When everyone plugs their cars in at the end of a day, the power plants need to at the very least, triple power generation to cover the grid use! In one hour of increased power production with coal, the byproduct has polluted the atmosphere 4 times more than what was saved with one days use of those same electric vehicles!

 Does this make perfect sense to you? Ask yourself! Where does the money go and what does money BUY! We unfortunately have bought into the experts! I hope this article will make you think for just a minute! When the bell goes off, DO something about it. Speak up and be heard!!! The big push for electrical cars is the typical knee jerk reaction of our government and our experts! All it takes is just a few minutes of informed thought to see this is not the environmental fix that we need! Electric vehicles are not the great cure all for our environment! In fact they may cause more harm than good and in more ways than one.

What a year we had in 2010. Some good days and some bad days. I hope everyone reading this brought in the new year responsibly and awakened 01/01/2011 refreshed and ready to get started into the new year. What does the new year hold for each of us? Do you sometimes wish you knew? At times I wish I could foresee the future, but then I would miss all the unexpected surprises that arise. Through the years I have slowly changed my attitude for the future and how to prepare. Most people in my age group were taught to save and save for the future. In the last couple of years we have seen what can happen to all those savings. All the sacrifices to scrimp and save vanish overnight or in the blink of an eye. The economic down turn, a dishonest company or a catastrophic medical event with yourself or a loved one. All of a sudden its all gone. Nothing, nada, nicht, just gone. We hear that because the Mayan calendar ends in 2012 the world as we know it may be ending. Several religious zealots are saying the world will end this year, 2011. I take all of this as another Y2K prediction. Do you remember Y2K? To me all of this is about the same as global warming! How many people bought into Y2K? How many people, governments and corporations have bought into global warming? Now, how many are buying into the Mayan calendar?

Here’s what I think for what ever it means. My Father is 93 years old and has lived an incredible life. Dads outlook on life is that everyday is a good day when he opens his eyes from a nights sleep and can get up out of bed. He says, “The Lord has blessed me with another day and I will use that day to do the best I can.” Now that’s an outlook we can all live by, I truly believe. Take each day as it comes. Do the best we can with what we have. Plan for tomorrow, but tomorrow is the next day and not 5, 10 or 20 years down the road. Live each day as it comes and make the best out of that day we can. Reach out and help someone, a total stranger even. Do something good

At this time of year we are being asked to help those less fortunate! We are being contacted by phone, mail, personally, and with numerous email blasts!

I knew some of this information, but have had my eyes opened to some facts. I don’t usually cut and paste my blog, but I had to with all this information. If you have any doubts of these facts, do your own research and you will be amazed! All these figures are as of 2009. Several of the people mentioned have since stepped down from their positions. I believe it important to know what your charity dollars are actually doing to help others who are truly in need of our help. When I read these facts, it gives me a lump in my throat and a very sick feeling in my stomach!! I truly believe something needs to be done. Tell me what you think. Here’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!!

The worst offender was yet again for the 11th year in a row is, UNICEF – CEO, receives $1,200,000 per year, (plus use of a Royal Royce for his exclusive use where ever he goes, and an expense account that is rumored to be well over $150,000.) Only pennies from the actual donations goes to the UNICEF cause (less than $0.14 per dollar of income).

The second worst offender this year is Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross…for her salary for the year ending in 2009 was $651,957 plus expenses. Enjoys 6 weeks – fully paid holidays including all related expenses during the holiday trip for her and her husband and kids. including 100% fully paid health & dental plan for her and her family, for life. This means out of every dollar they bring in, about $0.39 goes to related charity causes.

The third worst offender was again for the 7th time was, Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary (U.S. funds), plus so many numerous expense benefits it’s hard to keep track as to what it is all worth, including a fully paid lifetime membership for 2 golf courses (1 in Canada, and 1 in the U.S.A.), 2 luxury vehicles, a yacht club membership, 3 major company gold credit cards for his personal expenses…and so on. This equates to about $0.51 per dollar of income goes to charity causes.

Fourth worst offender who was also again in the fourth spot, for every year since this information has been made available from the start 1998 is amazingly yet again, World Vision President (Canada) receives $300,000 base salary, (plus supplied – a home valued in the $700,000 – $800,000 dollar value range, completely furnished, completely paid all housing expenses, including taxes, water/sewer, telephone/fax, HD/high speed cable, weekly maid service and pool/yard maintenance, fully paid private schooling for his children, upscale automobile and an $55,000 personal expense account for clothing/food, with a $125,000 business expense account). Get this, because it is a “religious based” charity, it pays, little to no taxes, can receive government assistance and does not have to declare where the money goes. Only about $0.52 of earned income per dollar is available for charity causes.

Of the sixty some odd “charities” we looked at, the lowest paid (President/C.E.O/Commissioner) was heading up a charity group right here in Canada. We found, believe it or not, it was……

Ready for this…

I think you might be surprised…

It is, none other than…

The Salvation Army’s Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 Billion dollar organization. Which means about $0.93 per dollar earned, is readily available and goes back out to local charity causes…truly amazing

No further comment is necessary…”Think Twice” before you give to your Charity of choice. Find out who is doing the most with your donation. Decide whether they are actually helping people in need or are they just helping themselves.  

The problem is it doesn’t stop here. These CEO’s have complete staffs under them that actually run the everday business. You know they are not paid minimum wage! I can’t help but wonder what the true dollar figure that is available for those in need. Once all these salaries are deducted it can’t be much!

Thank you!  Seven months ago when I first began askthecarbuyguy.com, I never figured it would gain such a following in such a short amount of time! It goes to prove one thing! When you write from the heart, people will read and understand.

 I’m going to attempt to address several comments from readers in this blog. If you have been following me for awhile you know I don’t post any comments pertaining to any other websites or anything that does not pertain to the blog content! Yes, I  read every comment that the page receives. Yes, I have stories!

 For all of you that have commented on the page design; I’m attempting to get my IT designer to agree to let me advertise his business. Without Shareff, this page would just be a universal design, generic blog page. He and I worked together to make the appearance what it is today! Obviously it holds some appeal to readers and I’m very proud of that feature!

 So many readers want to contact me and that’s a great thing! First, I can be contacted directly through the contact tab at the top of the home page!  If you require other means of contact, I can be reached by email at jim@askthecarbuyguy.com If you email me with a good proposition or good comment, I will personally get back to you!

 SORRY! If your comments mean nothing to the material, I will not publish! To those of you who have commented about an article (whether GOOD or BAD ) I have published and also thank you!  There are times I get a little chocked up when I read some of these comments.  Let me tell you why and also answer some people’s questions.

 I’m the only writer of these articles; I hire no outside sources. (hell I can’t afford it) The articles are my own concept from beginning to end. I do not, nor will not, cut and paste information like others do. I believe the personal concept of content, is the drawing factor to readers. Yes, a lot of the content is the way I believe and think. Isn’t this what a blog is supposed to be??? To all that have commented that they would like to debate me on any subject; please come forth now!!  As above I can be reached at jim@askthecarbuyguy.com  Trust me, I will not do this for free!  But, I will gladly debate you on just about any subject!!!!!!!

 I have had numerous comments of “because I have read your blog, it has inspired me to write again”. This is one of those choke up moments for me! OMG!! I rekindled an inner desire with my blog? How fantastic is this?!?!? I have readers that say, “please don’t quit with the informative info”. Well, I don’t plan on it anytime soon.  I’m here to stay! All of my articles may not pertain to car buying, I’m getting in a mode of life experience with the page and I hope I don’t lose readers with the new concept!

 To those that have commented about me saying a lot about nothing, well here I go again! To those who have commented about how to write the way I do???  Write from the heart. Keep your word count below 700 words. If the content is important to you, then it will be important to others!! And by all means the most important factor in writing is to be HONEST and TRUTHFUL!

I wanted to take a moment and wish a happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers. 

As the close of another year soon approaches, I believe we should all take a moment and consider what we have all been blessed with this past year! The Thanksgiving traditions in America have changed so much over time! I believe today we celebrate this time of the year giving thanks for another year under our belts and enjoying time spent with our families and friends. As I write this, the wife and I have been very busy in the kitchen, preparing today’s meal. What a meal this will be with all the flavors and tastes ; some of these dishes from the past as well as some new recipes that will carry on for years to come.

Our youngest child is calling about every hour to ask questions about dishes he is cooking to share with military friends. Oh, how I wish we could spend this time with them, but we’ll be there during Christmas.  With each dish we prepare, I can’t help but  think about my Mom who I lost at the beginning of this year!   Because of her, I am the chef I am today, able to cook like no body’s business!  Hello Bobby Flay, let’s get together!!

Seriously though! Happy Thanksgiving to all and enjoy the time spent with friends and family! Please remember to be safe when traveling to and from your locations and arrive alive. Party responsibly and enjoy this time together! Life is short and we never know what tomorrow may bring!