Look, this brainwashing was performed due to a group of certain individuals that are too numerous to mention. We as Americans have to ask ourselves Why? The answer I come up with is, it has made certain groups and individuals very wealthy! As I write this article in February of 2012 we are facing the biggest decision that we have to make as a nation. Not only is it an important presidential election, but we will be voting for many senatorial and congressional seats in Washington. We as American voters do not have the final say so in the presidential election, but we do with the Senate and Congress!

President Obama’s record is actually nothing but failure after failure in my estimation! He initially obtained the office of president because of his race in the beginning and Americans all over were awaiting great changes to the nation as well as government as we knew it! Unfortunately those changes came as to a style of government we were not accustomed to.

This president has shown me nothing more than a politician that wants to take OUR great country into a socialistic form of government! Our politicians have worked diligently for 60 years to a government that rules from within! They have worked so hard to bring the middle sector of this nation to its knees and they are almost there! Within a socialist government, you have two sectors of people! Those two sectors are the very RICH and the very POOR! The one failure to a socialistic government is that without the middle class sector, you have no group to pay for all your government and it will eventually fail!

It’s February 2012 and I believe come July we will be paying in the neighborhood of $5.00 to $6.00 per gallon of gas for our cars. We shouldn’t, but with several swipes of Obama’s executive pen we will be! We will be made to believe the economy is on the upswing and unemployment is at the lowest levels. Unfortunately, these will be lies and part of this administrations and the socialist news medias attempt to bring an end to Democracy from within; just as one communist, Joseph Stallin said, “is the only way to defeat AMERICA“! NOT ONE SHOT FIRED!

Sometime back I published an article about how before the elections of 2010, the gasoline prices in the U.S. had been held at a government orchestrated below market price. Just a few months after the elections were over the price at the pump began a gradual rise to where we are today. It just amazes me how when the price of a barrel of oil increases on the market, within 24 hours it is reflected at the pumps. Then on the other hand, when the price for a barrel of oil decreases on the open market, it takes several days for the decrease to be reflected at the pump. We each and everyone silently question this, but unfortunately we never speak out to be heard. Let’s face it, the way they are conducting business with oil and gas in our nation borders on criminality.

Just think of it this way. A small gas station usually has four 10,000 gallon tanks of fuel in the ground. The four tanks consist of regular, plus, premium and finally diesel. If the price of oil increases at the end of trading on the stock market, by that evening the night clerk is out changing the price per gallon on their signage. Now wait a minute, no new priced fuel has been put into the stations tanks. How does the fuel remaining in those huge tanks require a cost change. It was purchased at the cheaper price. RIGHT? Actually, before the new price can legally be charged, the higher priced fuel has to be in those tanks, but it is the fuel that was purchased at the old or cheaper price. How much profit is the retailer making selling the cheaper fuel at the new increased rate?

Now, like today the price has decreased considerably per barrel. But in most cases we will not see this reduction at the pump until the more expensive fuel is depleted and replenished with the lower priced fuel. Many stations will lower the price by just a few cents per gallon to make it appear good business practice, until the cheaper fuel is delivered into their tanks and then we see a real decrease per gallon. As far as a retailer, it can be a win, win situation with the ups and downs of the market.

Let’s discuss why the price per barrel has gone down. Mr. obama and our leaders allowed our strategic oil reserves to be released for the common peoples use. Very few Americans understand these oil reserves. These reserves are our back up fuel encase of an emergency and for military use encase of all out war. It’s kind of like your rainy day money savings account. But, if you decide to use it, you no longer have it, if and when you need it. Now what do you do if an emergency arises. I just pray the government does not have to cross this bridge.

We are in this mess because of the knee jerk reactions taken by obama with the Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. He single handedly shut down the drilling and production in the Gulf and also on the Alaskan North Slope! Most people do not realize that these two areas produce ¾ of the oil and gas we use in the United States. Most Americans also do not realize that just before these reserves were released for use, that OPEC had agreed and had told the world leaders that they were going to open the TAP and release to the world more oil. Now, the U.S. administration has upset the OPEC leaders with what they did and these are a group of individuals that you don’t want to piss off! The question I have to ask is why tap our reserves, knowing OPEC was going to release more production?

Why? Only time will tell and I’m afraid the answer will not be what we want to hear as a NATION. If your old enough to remember the gasoline crisis we had in this country as well as the world back in the 80’s then you will realize that the only reason it was not worse than it was is because of our strategic oil reserves. These reserves saw us through a very tough time. Are we fixing to have an emergency need for these reserves? If so, WE as a nation are in serious trouble and my friends that is spelled with a capital T.

 If you have just now found this web page – WELCOME. If you have been following my page you will know that sometimes I have to blow off some steam. I call it VENTING! You also know that I follow the web and keep up with my competition.  It never fails, when I start doing something several people follow suit. They always have more ready cash to exploit their endeavors to you the public or consumer. I just pulled up a website that claims to be #1 on Google and Bing for car buying tips and negotiating. I will not print the name of the site here, but it is easy enough to find. If these jokers are number one, which actually they are, I can’t believe it. Their capture page is the poorest written hack I have ever read. This is the worst and best example of what lots of money can do for an idiot and a web page.

 I have written about it before and will do it again! The funniest thing I see on the web; car dealers that have web pages giving instruction in price negotiations and how to deal with a dealership. Lord knows, they have lots of money to get their page in the top ten of all search engines. Just so you have an idea of what I mean by money to work the web, here’s an example: When you search a key word with any search engine, you will be taken to a page showing the top ten websites for those keywords or phrases. The cost of this top ten listing can cost as much as $500.00 or more each month, to keep that position. Well, I guess my page will never be number one!!!

 The best bullshit I have seen is the #2 listing of almost every first page search engine directory for anything tagged about automobiles . “CarMax”

 CarMax is a national chain car dealership and growing every day. They are known as the no haggle car price dealer. Now, they have auto buying and negotiating tips for the average consumer on the web? BULLSHIT! They are a dealership and I’m soon to publish an article about the “GREAT “no haggle dealerships. But with deep pockets, they dominate search engine space, keeping you from finding real information pages such as this one! It’s a hard row to hoe, but I keep digging. Look, when it comes to car buying someone has to be on your side! It’s just gotten to be so difficult to determine who that is. I’m real, I’m every day and I’ve been in the trenches. I’m sorry about ranting and raving, but you need to know. To find out how real I am, email me at jim@askthecarbuyguy.com .  The response you will receive will be from me, not some set up auto responder email. In fact, what a great way to check out a web sites credentials; email them and see what you get in return. Let’s call it the email litmus test!

 The car salesman or salesperson to be politically correct, has such a stigma to work through, just to earn your trust! You arrive at the dealership and there he or she is to greet you. Are you afraid now and have you already thrown up your defenses? REALLY, there is no need. Today’s car salesmen are not of yesteryear! The sales people of today are usually mid twenties to thirties and just trying to make a living within a market that comes with many skeletons in the closet. Are there still DIRTBAGS out there? YES! But, most are just like you and I; just doing their best to put a roof over their families head and food on the table and pay the electric bill.

 Remember, these people are usually commission paid and how scary is this! If they do not produce sales, their income is a big fat zero!! If a sales person does not produce 10 car sales per month, the dealership will usually terminate their employment. Day by day, month by month is how these individuals live their lives. Let’s talk about stress!

 You probably do not realize the pay scale for these people. Usually the salesman will make a “mini” when they close a car deal. The mini in most cases is $100.00 total income and they just spent 3 to 5 hours, maybe days working with a customer to close the deal. I once calculated total time spent with a customer to close their car deal and put it into a dollar per hour rate. Unbelievable as it may be, I made $1.29 an hour. A $1.29, what happened to minimum wage? It’s called commission sales.

 Most sales people put in 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. Holidays really don’t mean anything except the dealership is going to run some stupid sales gimmick and they will be stuck working BELL to BELL!

 These web pages giving knowledge and advice to “BEAT the SALESMAN” or anything to that effect are STUPID! The problem is, these experts have either never been in car sales or they just forgot what a hard and stressful life it really can be!

 If you decide to do your own car negotiations, remember your salesman. He’s usually just a hard working individual, trying to just make a living. If he or she ends up being an asshole, say “BYE BYE “ to the idiot and find someone who is willing to work for you.

 I recently went to visit my 92 year old father. When we get together, we discuss all the pertinent issues of the year. I was discussing with him my future thoughts for my business and what I had planned for the future. Dad said something that made me stop and think. What he said: “ I wish when I bought my last car, you would have been in business. I could have used your help to put my last deal together for me. Those of us in our 70’s and 80’s need help to make sure we are not taken advantage of, when dealing with large ticket items!”

 I began to think, you know, he’s right. As a salesman, I always enjoyed dealing with my retired customers. They were easy to deal with and they had great credit or they could pay cash. Unfortunately, some sales people see this generation as easy suckers. In the grasp of a certified con man they can be an easy target. This is so sad! Unfortunately, this age group is still trusting of the human race. I believe the trust factor begins to breakdown in the generations from age 60 and younger.

 I’m attempting to find a marketing media to reach these people and let them know there is someone out here with their better interest at heart. If anyone out there knows a good way to reach this age group to make them aware of my business, let me know. I just need to get the word out.

 Honesty is not something that is paid for, it is a characteristic that is earned through dedication and perseverance.

 I just had an eye opening experience concerning DWI and our laws. Every now and then we hear about someone who has numerous DWI offenses and convictions and in the end we hear about all of this due to a fatality accident.

 Two years ago, I was on my way home from a 12 hour day at the dealership. It was about 10:30 PM and the evening was clear and cool. I was passed by a car that almost sideswiped my car as it passed. We were about the only vehicles on this stretch of road and I began observing the driver’s inability to drive. This driver was having great difficulty keeping his vehicle between the painted lines of the road, almost hitting the curb several times. Of course, I kept what I thought was a safe distance from him. We came to a light and I couldn’t help but catch up to him. As we left the light I attempted to get safely ahead of him, hoping he would turn into one of the numerous subdivisions and just go home. Fortunately we were on a one way highway or it would have been disastrous. Unfortunately, I followed him for about 14 miles and we were coming into a high traffic area of town. I felt a need to do something, so I called 911 and gave a description of the vehicle and license plate number. Very soon the driver was pulled over and I later found out arrested for DWI. The arresting officer later that evening contacted me to thank me for doing my civic duty. He informed me that this individual had several prior arrests for the same offense.

 I decided to write this article because of a recent development in this case. Two years later this individual was finally headed to trial. ( Two years later!? ) The way I found out is the prosecutor had asked if I would serve as a witness if needed. I had accepted rather reluctantly because of obvious reasons. But, as it turned out the individual plead guilty to this offense and a prior offense to the same charge and there would be no court case. Here is the part that floored me! For a guilty plea to both charges, he received nothing but a small slap on the hand. His sentence was 18 months probation; a few dollars in court cost, a $1,800.00 fine and mandatory AA meetings and finally meetings with people who have lost loved ones due to alcohol related accidents.

 I’m sorry, I just don’t agree with the law. This is not someone who occasionally stops and has a couple of drinks with the boys after work, gets stopped and blows .02 on the breath test. This is a person that stops and gets blitzed to the gills, almost daily after work and then gets behind the wheel of an automobile. With behavior such as this, we are all at risk. All I will say is; I don’t believe this slap on the hand, will stop this dangerous habit and I will not be surprised when the time comes when it finally ends. It ends with a fatality! Will it involve you, me or a loved one? I pray not!

 Let me hear from you on this! Tell us what you think.

1. The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
2. The trees are whistling for the dogs…
3. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
4. Hot water now comes out of both taps.
5. You can make sun tea instantly.
6. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
7. The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
8. You discover that in August it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.
9. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
10. You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
11. You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
12. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, ‘What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?’
13. You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
14. The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
15. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.
16. The cows are giving evaporated milk.
Ah, what a place to call home. . 

God Bless The State of Texas!!!

 The new school year is just around the corner. I still remember the first day of school each and every year. The new clothes, some new friends and now that I look back, a new adventure. Actually, as I got older it began to be a pain in the ass; now in my mid fifty’s, I find myself wanting that same feeling of new and unknown. Sorry, back on task!

 Many states have recently passed laws banning the use of cell phones in school zones. Many cities and communities have passed these laws even though their states have not. Be aware of the laws governing your local cities and communities concerning this issue. If you happen to live in an area with no regulations concerning the use of cell phones in school zones, become pro-active within your community.  

 Accidents that occur during the use of cell phones or any other electronic device is on the rise. Some say, vehicular accidents that occur during the use of these devices will soon out number accidents occurring due to DUI or DWI within the next 2 years!!! Actually the same goes for us as pedestrians. Let’s face it, when you are talking to someone on your phone or even texting, your mind is not on what you are doing at that moment or even your surroundings. The number of pedestrian accidents in large cities is actually on the rise. WHY? Cell phone use, that’s why!

 Tell me what you think! Let me hear ya! Let’s all be safe out there!!!!!

Looking to the internet for answers has become nothing short of stupid. I get so tired of the hook and reel in syndrome. I have a question and find something that looks promising to have the answer and all of a sudden, I’m asked for money to get the final answer. This is why I started www.askthecarbuyguy !

 I attempt to provide answers to your car buying questions and never have I or will I ask for a bloody dime. I do hope you take a second to look at “Your Market Place”, before leaving the page and feel free to return at your leisure. Every ad I run in this section has been researched personally and I endorse each and every one of the products offered.

 Since putting this page on the net, I have done research to find others out there providing the same product. Yes, I’m checking out my competition. I have found articles written by car mechanics, car salesmen, and pissed off car sales managers. Some of the articles and pages out there are written by people of unknown credentials. The one thing I notice is their pages sit dormant without any new information being added, but if you want new stuff you have to purchase their e-book, video or other gimmicks. I have actually seen info pages written by actual car dealerships, giving YOU tips on how to buy your next car. Now how funny is this!

 I have designed www.askthecarbuyguy.com to be your one stop source to use before, during and after your car buying process. Let’s face it; just because you’ve purchased your car, your adventure is not over. Responsible ownership of your automobile is next and an ongoing process.

 When you link to this page, you will be kept up on what’s happening in the auto industry. The information will be fresh and up to date and added almost daily. The most important thing is it’s FREE!

 I really am a real person and if you would like to receive a personal answer to any question, feel free to email me and I will get back to you within 24 hours. Your input is always welcome.

 I get asked this question so often I decided to write an article about it. What is your cars retail value? I provide several links on this page to help you answer your question. Your first step is to obtain the correct information about your vehicle. The exact year and model information can be found on a permanent I.D. tag and the tag can be found on the left side front door jam or in some foreign models on the left passenger rear door jam. Next you will need the accurate mileage from the odometer and finally take a look at your vehicle as if you were going to buy it. Buyers notice every little blemish, scuff and scrape. In fact, used car buyers used to BLOW me away with all the nit picking they would do. I do understand, but it is a used car, Right?

 Click the links provided, either Kelly Blue Book or Edmund’s or both and input your information making sure to use your correct zip code and research retail values. These are just guidelines for price value and if selling yourself, you must be prepared to be flexible with your price.

 If your vehicle has 100k miles or more, a bank will not finance the purchase, so any deal you make will have to be a cash deal and if you’re thinking of a trade in, dealerships do not want it. If all you are wanting out of your used car is $500 to $1,000, then trade it in to a dealership, otherwise you must sell it out right.

 Please refer to past articles I have written on the subject of “driveway sale”, “selling your car” and many more found in the “Catagories” area of this page.

 Be Careful and Good Luck! If I can be of further assistance, please contact me and I will respond A.S.A.P. jim@askthecarbuyguy.com