By Henri D. Kahn

Consumer spending, exports, residential construction, and business investment grew in the third quarter of this year. Economists are interpolating this into an 11% annual rate. This is akin to starving for six months, then eating a six-ounce steak every day for one quarter and saying, "By golly, I've eaten three ounces of steak every day this year." Sounds a whole lot better than saying I couldn't even afford a little piece of meat for the first six months of this year and now I will "definitely" continue to get my six-ounce daily ration of steak for the rest of this year. You go figure!
I am interested to know, who is enjoying this highly publicized economic bonanza? It dern sure ain't Joe Worker, or his wife and kids!
I guess it's the same old Bush-push. The rich keep getting richer, because 41,000 more jobs were lost during this bonanza quarter. Add these lost jobs to the whopping 2.7 million jobs lost since Dubya took office and you have to wonder: Who is really benefiting from the GDP growth spurt?
Let's see, I will venture a guess. Upper echelon executives of banks and megacorps, institutional investors, potentates of oil-rich countries, CEOs of big companies who enjoy lavish stock options, and the substantial cadre of wealthy folks with plenty of cash to spare.
What about the families who are having really hard times due to the current administration's elitism and disregard for the welfare of our country's working class?
I hear from die-hard supporters of George W. Bush, "The President has little or no control over the economy or job market of this country." Well, then; who the h*** does have the greatest impact on jobs and the economy?
Who the h*** represents and cares for the working families of this country?
I read a political adviser's quote in the Wall Street Journal, to wit: "We have yet to see if any of this will hit Main Street instead of just Wall Street." I hope we see it, but with this current bunch of politicians running our country, don't hold your breath.
The only thing I have seen, since the current administration took over, is a huge and continuing loss of jobs, increased bankruptcies, a surge in family debt, the unwarranted invasion of a foreign country spurred on by false information disseminated by the executive branch, an enormous and mounting government deficit, sanctioned giveaways of federal funds to programs and foreign elements that should be used to help our own people -- yes, "our own people," not some middle easterners 7,000 miles from our shores that hate our guts! U.S. soldiers dying daily for a virtually lost and falsified cause. All of this just makes me sick. For goodness sake, send Bush to Crawford in 2005!
Now to your consideration of Long-Term Care Insurance.
A Long-Term Care Insurance policy will help ensure those care-giving costs for the elderly so that they can decide where and how they will live their final years.
My BW (beautiful wife) and I own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy that gives us peace of mind so that neither she nor I will have to burden our son with the expense of nursing home care, if it becomes necessary.
Baby Boomers are facing less family care-giving support, because they are having fewer children and high divorce rates. This translates into fewer people who will provide care for elderly parents.
A considerable number of families have been left flat broke by nursing home expenses.
Think about it. From $35,000 to $40,000 per year to receive care in a nursing home.
Medicare only provides a nursing home benefit for 100 days, and from then on, zero.
If you are in your 60s, a $125-$200 per month insurance premium, depending on your exact age and health status, will provide you with sufficient benefits to keep you and your loved ones out of financial trouble.
Long-Term Care Insurance is for people who have assets to lose -- a pension plan, property, money in the bank, investment income. You can protect these assets with Long-Term Care Insurance.
Call me for information.

(Contact Henri D. Kahn with your insurance questions at (956) 725-3936, by fax at (956) 791-0627, or by e-mail at hkahn@kahnins.com.)