Maybe it's too soon but I'm shocked at how few political bumper stickers I see out there. What's even more interesting is how few Obama-Biden bumper stickers I'm seeing on my daily commute between New York and New Jersey. In fact I've seen more 2008 stickers than the newer and harder to read 2012 version. I haven't seen any for Romney, although I wouldn't expect many in the part of the country I live, but there are a lot of anti-Obama stickers like the one that reads "Sorry Yet?"

I know it’s anal retentive, but it’s the curse of being an analyst. I analyze everything and everybody, which isn’t good for relationships. It is, however, good for finding trends and making observations that many would be oblivious to, and others would find trivial.

In my roundtrip commute, I saw few bumper stickers, but there were a few that stood out because they spoke of pride and determination to continue to be great.

I saw parents that were proud of their children for excelling in school and for protecting the nation. There are days when these kinds of bumper stickers should move the needle on the market. These things should resonate as much the skyrocketing needs and abuse of food stamps. Nobody is embracing blame but, instead, embracing pride and determination. Often I'll pull up next to an old Saab or some kind of plug-in car and grind my teeth at the assortment of bumper stickers that amount to a traveling pity party.

Presidents can wreck economies, and presidents can spark optimism and provide the emotion and policy underpinnings for widespread prosperity, but in the end individual commitment to being the best, competing, learning, and improving make the nation great. Moreover, I want us to take pride for excellence as well. I suspect the ride itself is a monetary statement even for those Hollywood types with a Prius in the driveway, but a couple of Bentleys in the garage. We shouldn't swallow success as if it's something not to be proud of but instead wear it as badge of honor. At the very least, let’s slap it on the bumper.

OECD

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) posted a report on the U.S. economy that was very interesting. The OECD isn't going to put out anything that would hurt a liberal Democrat, so their report tried to look at the bright side, but there are distinct problems that must be recognized.

The U.S. should do more to fix its educational system, including moving away from local property-tax based funding. According to OECD, the United States is one of only three developed countries that spend less on students from disadvantaged backgrounds than on other students. Moreover, they point out the best teachers rarely work with students that need the most help.

Americans on unemployment benefits too long could stop "aggressively" looking for work and it would be smart (and I assume fair and honest) to pare back jobless benefits to the pre-recession baseline of 26-weeks. (It is noted the 99 week extension has pulled back to 73 weeks recently).

Labor participation rate among working age Americans (20 to 64) is at a 30-year low—something I've pointed out many times.

The decline in the labor force is happening, partly, as a result of the ease in getting disability checks, or as abusers of the system call them "crazy checks," which has seen enrollment climb to 6.6% in 2010 from 6.1% in 2007. I guarantee the number has exploded significantly higher since then.

The thing about the work of the OECD is it should spur action not just gaping yawns.

Today's Session

All quiet on the western front. European markets are edging higher, and our markets will open in the green, but the word of the day is caution. Tomorrow the Supremes take center stage, and that should impact the stock market unless it’s a ruling that’s as ambivalent as the Arizona ruling. The big news comes Friday when Europe wraps up its summit. Speaking of cautious, take a look at Wall Street ratings on Facebook:

Comments

I don't like democrats I don't like republicans I don't like liberals I don't like conservatives I do like Realists I do like Truth PO in Louisiana on 6/27/2012 10:01:01 AM

Maybe there should be a bumper sticker expressing pride in parents who raises a child who joins the military, or even excels in school. I fear there will be fewer proud military parents as more bumper stickers for gay pride appear on military bases. GodsavethePeasants on 6/27/2012 10:14:15 AM

There is only way way to solve our school problem and that is "Charter" schools...some real competition for public schools , it is the only way to beat the unions before they beat us.....especially in the inner cities.... Tom Wayne on 6/27/2012 10:51:06 AM

More pabulum for the masses that prefer symbolism over substance. This type of propaganda is geared toward ears that want to hear what they want to believe and somehow this magically becomes reality. Jason Harvey on 6/27/2012 11:09:13 AM

A name is more than a name, if properly looked at, it can be a scope into the validity of an operation. Some names are chosen to clearly state the objectives of the organization, such as IBM. Anyone have a problem figuring out where they want to do business? Other names have that ring of ambiguity and inconsistency. OECD falls into that group. These days, an organization that stresses cooperation is rarely ever looking for truth or real cooperation. They are pushing an agenda and the cooperation is supposed to be everyone aligning with their agenda. That is exactly how Obama uses that word, and why he has the respect of no thinking beings. So the short of it is that I have a strong disposition to distrust anything OECD writes. That said, I can only comment on the parts that you mentioned since I have not yet read the report. And, the biggest glaring error is the conclusion that spending more money on education will create any significant improvement. The real problem with the education system in this country is with social policies pushed into place by crooked judges working for liberal social reformers. (Note: the word reformer does not include any essential element of improvement, only change). Kids with 2 parents in lousy, underfunded schools do better than kids with one parent in much better schools. That is a FACT, whether the divorce on demand and sex outside marriage proponents like it or not. The overwhelming factor in educational success is family, not school. As long as we have a welfare system that favors unwed mothers and a court system that denies the right of the people to establish and enforce a moral code backed by truth and proven success (scripture), then we will continue to have an educational problem stemming from the problem of family breakdown. I have one further comment on today's article. It seems that your bumper sticker observations mirror my own thoughts on this coming election. It is not a contest between two great candidates like we really need, or even a contest between a great candidate and a bum. It is simply a referendum on Obama. Or better yet, it is a referendum on the people in this country. Will the people use their votes with brains in gear to support the good of the country, or will more people vote with brains turned off to either support either their own lazy greed or a lie that they are voting for a black man because he is black (even though his gene pool is less than 10% black). PS: I agree with PO from Louisiana; and would add "I don't like Racists". Bob G on 6/27/2012 1:43:17 PM

The US economy is improving? Compared to what? Income inequality is just another of those commandeered expressions designed to trigger a certain response. Whenever we see 'inequality' we're supposed to think it's a bad thing. Well, the Thunder didn't equal the Heat, and nobody is asking Miami to give Oklahoma half of its trophy. Patricia Flynn on 6/27/2012 4:16:52 PM

The super court is unbelievable. Taxes, Taxes and more taxes? Where does it all end? I guess I'd better learn french, spanish and mandarin. Larry LaDue on 6/28/2012 10:49:55 AM

Charles Your idea about Roberts being crazy as a fox is right on the money. I had the same thought today! Paul Hosford on 6/28/2012 4:25:55 PM

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