Home Foreclosures: How To Protect Your Home During Foreclosures

America is going through a foreclosure meltdown which will only get worse in the short run. Tens of millions of loans are in default, and the lenders either have foreclosed or are in the process of foreclosure.

However, there are some very real issues that you need to deal with during a foreclosure. Failure to address these issues could result not only in you losing your house, but being caught uninsured at the time of a disastrous loss, like a house fire.

Stated another way…what would you do if you had a major fire, wind or water loss during a foreclosure? Are you sure you’re covered?

First, let’s look at homeowners insurance and your loan escrow account.

If your homeowners insurance is being paid by your lender through an escrow account, that’s fine. However, if your loan is in foreclosure, you cannot be sure that the premium is being paid by that lender. If you have stopped making loan payments, you have also stopped adding money to your escrow account. Your homeowners insurance could have lapsed for non-payment.

So, the lender will “force place” a policy covering your home, but only for the loan balance, and charging it against your loan amount. But that policy will only cover the dwelling, no contents or liability coverage. The lender is only interested in protecting their loan.

But, sometimes, lenders make errors and premiums don’t get paid. So, your strategy to protect yourself is to make sure that the premium on your homeowners insurance is paid, even during a foreclosure.

But I recommend that you keep the policy in place just a little while after the foreclosure has been completed. Why?

Because we’re now learning that many foreclosures are being done without proper documentation by the lenders. Some highly placed politicians have noticed this, and are starting to make waves.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D- Ohio) is the senior woman in the House of Representatives, and the longest serving Democratic woman in House history. Her district includes Toledo, which these days is looking more and more like a ghost town.

Kaptur has recently been seen on CNN, promoting the “Produce The Note” initiative. In a recent interview, she stated that many mortgages have been sold and re-sold numerous times by lenders. She said that a lender who is foreclosing may not even possess the original loan document with the borrower’s signature on it. The biggest problem is that because more than one lender has owned your loan, more than one lender could foreclose on you for the same loan. It’s already happened many times.

There’s a great website called Consumer Warning Network that shows borrowers how to fight back.

Go to: Consumer Warning Network

Don’t just willingly accept that your lender did the foreclosure correctly. Investigate and fight back! Your financial future could be at stake!

Insurance For Stupid People: The Top Ten Funniest Coverage Decisions of 2008

People regularly do stupid things that cause someone else an injury. Then the inevitable lawsuit gets filed, and then an insurance clam gets filed, too. But occasionally, the courts get it right in their decisions, and we get to make fun of the plaintiffs and defendants.

My friend Randy Maniloff is a genius attorney, a partner in the Business Insurance Practice Group at White & Williams in Philadelphia. He recently wrote an article that showcased these court decisions, and gave me permission to share them with you.

So, in order of dumbness (lowest to highest), here is the Top Ten Funniest Coverage Decisions of 2008:

10. A motivational speaker repeatedly urged a seminar participant to break a board with her bare hands. After she tried and was successful only in injuring her hand, she sued the speaker. In Reese v. Alea London Ltd., the Court decided that the speaker’s policy had a Professional Services exclusion that precluded coverage. I guess “mind over matter” doesn’t include lumber. I also guess you can be “board” to tears in this guy’s seminars.

9. The insured was playing around his backyard pool and tried to throw someone in the pool. However, he miscalculated the strength he’d need to complete the throw, and instead threw the victim onto the pool’s steps, seriously injuring the victim. State Farm denied coverage. In State Farm Fire & Casualty v. Superior Court, the Court decided that coverage was owed since the insured’s only intent was to get the victim wet. Note to the insured: next time you want to get a woman wet, take her out for dinner and dancing.

8. The insured got into a fight, and got his hand stuck in the glass of a sliding glass door. He shot the glass to free his hand and the bullet ricocheted into the chest of a woman inside the house. In Shelter Mutual Insurance v Wheat, the Court decided there was no coverage because the injury was not caused by an “accident.” In other news, Bob Vila will be hosting a memorial service for the door.

7. The insured business hired violent offenders to go door-to-door and sell magazines. Their aggressive sales tactics caused.injuries and at least one death. In Nautilus Insurance Company v. Reuter, the parties are waiting to see which way the Court interprets the policy term “occurrence” to figure out if there’s coverage. The Girl Scouts need to hire these guys for next year’s cookie drive.

6. A middle school student caused injuries to a teacher’s aide when, in the middle of a cafeteria food fight, he struck the aide with a garbage can. In Medrano v. State Farm Insurance Company, the Court decided that the insurer had to provide defense under the Homeowners policy because the Complaint implied that the injuries were unintentional. In the student’s defense, he couldn’t tell the difference in the garbage or school cafeteria food.

5. A karaoke singer was waving around an ice cream scoop (her microphone?) when it flew out of her hand and hit someone, causing injuries. In Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance v. Kim, the Court decided that the insurance company had to provide defense for the singer under her Homeowners liability coverage, since the Court didn’t buy the argument that the injuries weren’t because of negligence. I wonder if she was singing “Tutti Fruiti” at the time of the incident.

4. An insured restaurant had a gas grille at a tailgate party at a Jimmy Buffet concert. The gas grille wouldn’t light, so they poured gasoline on it, and the explosion caused injuries. In United States Liability Insurance Co. v. Harbor Club, the Court denied coverage to the restaurant because the incident was not on the insured’s premises. Yummy…toasted Parrotheads. I wonder if the smoke from this explosion could be distinguished from the marijuana cloud at the concert.

3. The insured caused injuries to an old friend by saying hello with his “signature greeting,” which was putting the old friend in a headlock and squeezing his head while asking him how he was doing. In Sanford v. Century Surety Co., the Court denied coverage because the injury was not caused by an accident and the “assault and battery” exclusion applied. Imagine how the insured must greet those who are not his friends.

2. The homeowner caused injuries and one death to party guests when the host used gunpowder as a propellant to shoot his potato gun. In Kiser v. Coffee, coverage was denied because injury was reasonably expected from this intentional act. The potato in question is now in a low earth orbit, visible in a clear night sky.

And the Number One Funniest Coverage Decision of 2008 is….

1. The insured’s minor son injured his friend by kicking him twice in the groin after learning that his friend’s sister did not like him. In American National Property & Casualty v. Hanna, coverage was denied because the injury was not caused by an accident. Love hurts…..

A big “thank you” to Deborah Richards, Geri Lumsden and Jarrett Smith for their smart-assed assistance with the one-liners in this article.

Stay tuned. I’m sure there will be plenty of court cases in 2009 for our next Top Ten List!

The Presidential Oath of Office: When Is An Oath Not An Oath?

The Presidential Oath of Office was ceremoniously misquoted Tuesday as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John G. Roberts pronounced the Oath in complete error, and Mr. Obama recited it back to him, somewhat sheepishly. They screwed it up so badly that on Wednesday evening they did a “do-over” in the Map Room of the White House.

In Article II, Section I of the Constitution, the President’s Oath of Office is written as follows: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Thirty seven words. How hard could this be?

Article VI, Section 4, states that the other elected officials, such as Representatives, Senators, the Vice President and Federal judges must swear an oath, but it does not list a particular oath or affirmation. I guess they can just make one up.

So, I watched Tuesday with great amusement as Joseph Biden swore an oath to be Vice President. But the Oath of Office that he swore was lifted from the Oath of Office for Military Officers, which is:

“I, Joseph Biden, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.”

Why do I bring this up…other than for the entertainment value it held?

Because it serves to prove that the Oaths of Office sworn in the Congress, Senate, by Supreme Court justices, the Vice President and President ARE MEANINGLESS!! If the Oath truly mattered, they would take care to get it right.

Even when the Presidential Oath of Office is done correctly, think about these questions:

1. To whom is the Oath sworn? Answer: no one specifically.
2. Does the Constitution mandate a spoken or written Oath? Answer: neither.
3. Does the President sign an Oath? Answer: not to my knowledge.
4. Is there a contract between any two parties for specific performance for any President? Answer: none
5. Does the President execute an employment contract between himself and any other party? Answer: no
6. Is there any person or group of persons who could enforce the Presidential Oath? Answer: The Senate. In Article II, Section 4, the President shall be removed upon Impeachment and Conviction for Treason, Bribery or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors. However, the Senators have no stomach for impeachment and will likely never impeach and remove another seated President, no matter what he does. Clinton and GW Bush were grateful for this lack of Senatorial backbone.
7. If the Oath was spoken on the Capitol steps, and then again in the Map Room, then who was it recited to…and does it matter? Answers: no one and no.

For additional information about the Constitution, read Lysander Spooner’s book, “No Treason,” written in 1870.

So, why does anyone bother with this charade?

Answer: for appearance’s sake. The American people love entertainment, and eschew knowledge. This theatrical performance makes Americans feel like their government works, and that their votes count for something.

Insurance Claims Adjusters: Five Secrets of Getting Your Way With Claims Adjusters

Insurance claims adjusters are, for the most part, very nice people in a tough job. They are caught in between the insurance company that wants them to control the claim settlement amount, and you, the policyholder or claimant, who wants the very highest settlement amount possible.

But I’m not nearly as concerned about them. If they don’t like their job, they can quit. Nobody is forcing them to be claims adjusters.

I’m mostly concerned about you, the policyholder.

The book that I wrote, “Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!” shows consumers all the ways that they can take control of their insurance claims, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to their claim settlements. Many of the strategies in the book are confrontational. But you can learn to confront honestly without unpleasantness.

Insurance companies have games and scams that they use to delay claims and minimize settlements. Policyholders and claimants are usually placed under financial hardship when they have an insured loss. Few of the people I’ve ever met who had a claim could afford to repair or replace their damaged goods out of their bank account. Most of the time, people depend upon the restitution they receive from the insurance company.

Insurance companies know this, and rely upon it. They know that delays will place pressure on policyholders and claimants, and that makes them more willing to accept lower settlements.

Back in September 2008 I wrote and posted an article about “Dealing with Adjusters.” It has been one of my most popular articles. Thousands of people have read it. But today I want to put a spin on that article and make an even more obvious point.

When you are dealing with claims adjusters, make sure that you are ALWAYS pleasant, well-mannered, and polite. You can’t control them, but you CAN control YOU.

You need to “nice them to death!” Make sure you are doing the following:

1. Speak calmly whether in person or by phone, no matter what your level of frustration may be.

2. Make your requests for payment, documents or any other requests politely, and make them in writing.

3. Be firm but respectful when you are using a claim strategy. Being demanding will only make the adjuster feel threatened, and he will want to resist your demand to prove he cannot be controlled by you.

4. When you write a letter, be sure that you are polite and respectful. Simply state what you want them to do and remember to say “please” and “thank you”…just like your mother taught you.

5. Do not, under any circumstances, lose your temper! Words said in anger are impossible to retract. You can apologize as much as you want, but better to say things for which you will not have to apologize. Be in control. If you feel like blowing up at your adjuster, end the meeting or phone conversation and come back another time to finish your business.

I promise you that you will never regret maintaining your composure when you are immersed in the claims process.

Car Insurance Claims: Does Your Insurer Owe You Sales Tax?

More than half of the states in the USA require that the insurance company pay state sales tax when you replace your total loss vehicle. What those states do not mandate is that the insurance company has to tell you about the tax issue. You probably won’t get the sales tax unless you ask for it.

To find out if your state requires the extra sales tax payment, contact your state’s Department of Insurance.

No insurance company, whether it is your insurer, or another insurer who insures an at-fault driver, wants to pay you one dollar more than the lowest Actual Cash Value (ACV) that they can find. When the insurance company declares your car a total loss is when the strenuous negotiations begin.

Your mission…should you accept it…is to prove that your car is worth its absolute highest value.

State sales tax percentages vary widely from state to state. Here in Georgia, sales tax is calculated on a county-by-county basis. In Cobb County, where I live, the sales tax is 5%. However, just across the county line in Fulton County, the sales tax is 7%. But in the City of Atlanta, sales tax is 8%.

Look at the numbers on a $30,000 automobile. If you lived in Cobb County at 5%, the insurance company would owe you an additional $1,500.00. If you lived in Atlanta at 8%, the amount would be $2,400.00.

If you do not demand the extra sales tax payment, you’re leaving thousands of dollars on the table that you are likely entitled to collect.

Don’t allow the insurance companies to mislead you. The Actual Cash Value of the car must include the state sales tax.

Insurance Applications: 6 Ways To Make Sure Your Claim is Not Denied

Insurance applications are the first forms you’ll see when buying insurance. But if you’re not careful, that application could get your claim denied.

One of the first things that a claims adjuster will do when he receives your claim is ask the Underwriting Department to send him a copy of your application. Why? Because part of his investigation of your claim is to verify the information found on your application. Lots of times, adjusters find incorrect information on applications that allow the insurance company to deny the claim and even void the policy like it never occurred.

Let me give you a couple examples of denial that actually happened:

Example #1. A man bought car insurance in 2002. At the time their application was accepted, the only drivers were himself and his wife. They had a 10 year old daughter. In 2008, they had an automobile accident. The daughter is now 16 but does not drive. After the adjuster did his investigation, they received a letter from the insurance company that denied their claim. The letter said that the insured had failed to disclose a potential driver in the household. Even though they disclosed their daughters name and age in 2002, and the policy had renewed six times, the insurance company used a misinterpretation of policy language to deny a claim.

Example #2. A man applies for car insurance while married but separated. The application asks marital status, married or single. The man checks the box for “married.” He lists both himself and his wife as drivers. A few months later, he has an at-fault car wreck. His car is a total loss, he is being sued for negligence, and has medical bills of $5,000. The investigation finds that he was separated at the time of the acceptance of the application. The insurance company sends him a check for $525, which is his returned premium, and denies the claim, stating that the company would not have given the policyholder the “marriage discount” had they known he was separated.

So, how can you protect yourself from application errors? Here are six ways.

1. Fill out the application completely. Do not leave any boxes or lines blank

2. Do not sign the application until all of the information is completed.

3. Do not sign an application and allow the agent to complete it after you leave.

4. Once you sign the application, have the agent make you a copy of the application right then.

5. Once you receive your new policy, compare the information on your application with the terms and conditions of the policy.

6. Report changes in your policy promptly to your agent, like added drivers, deleted cars, or address changes.

If you will be very careful to do these six things, you can be confident that you will not have problems with your insurance company at claims time over your application.

Nerobama: Fiddling While America Burns

Historical fable says that the Roman Emperor Nero played a fiddle while the city of Rome burned. In AD 64, a fire erupted in the southern end of the Circus Maximus section of Rome and burned for five days, destroying a large portion of the city. While we don’t know if Nero fiddled, we do know that he chose to blame a new group…Christians…for the fire. Hundreds were executed, and Tacitus wrote that their crucified immolated bodies lit the night sky in the city of Rome.

Today is Inauguration Day in Washington, DC. Millions of Americans have choked every street in Washington DC to celebrate the crowning of the new American emperor.

Tens of thousands of police, a brigade of active military, and thousands of volunteers and government workers are putting on this party today. We will likely never know the cost of the Inauguration, but it comes at a moment in American history when the Federal Government is bankrupt.

But, the new emperor, Nerobama, is going to “fiddle with” the economy, going down the same road as his predecessors. Unfortunately for him, blame for the firestorm that has already begun will be laid at his feet. Knowing the character of all politicians, though, tells us that the blame will certainly not stay at his feet.

It appears that Nerobama is embarking on a Keynesian fantasy trip in which he and his government plan to spend America back into prosperity. They are planning nearly a trillion dollars in bailouts, tax cuts and stimulus payments to American taxpayers, fashioned out of thin air. Yet, they already know that the Bush stimulus checks did little or nothing to jump start the American economy.

And what will happen when that doesn’t work? More of the same?

Eventually, some financial cataclysm will occur that will cause the house of cards to topple. You can be sure that those at the head of our government will not take responsibility for this collapse. Emperor Nerobama will surely choose another group or nation to blame for the worldwide economic collapse that is certain to arrive soon.

But you need to be clear in your understanding of economics about just who is to blame for the coming economic wildfire. The United States Federal Government has spent too much money….borrowed too much money…printed too much money. They have disconnected our national currency from gold and silver, causing inflation and devaluation simultaneously.

“Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7). If you flooded your neighborhood with bad checks, eventually the police would come to your home and arrest you for fraud and forgery. Natural law says that you many not commit fraud or force against other persons without an eventual consequence.

Natural law is soon going to be knocking down the Federal door in Washington to bring justice to bear. May God help us all when this day comes.

Casino Gambling in Georgia: Should Casino Gambling Be Made Legal In Georgia?

The State of Georgia is facing a budget shortfall for fiscal 2009 of over $2 Billion. And states do not have the luxury of running deficit spending, and printing up paper money to cover the shortfall. State budgets must be balanced each year. So, Georgia needs to give serious consideration to a new revenue stream.

State Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) has announced his intention to introduce a bill in the 2009 legislative session to allow voters to decide if they want gaming in Georgia. His bill would allow voters of each Georgia county to decide whether or not they wanted gaming in their county. The Georgia Assembly and recent governors have been cool to the idea of casinos in Georgia. But the legislature has never allowed any gaming proposal to be voted on in a general referendum or any other popular vote.

The big question is: Should gambling be made legal in the state of Georgia?

Answer Number One: In a free society, individuals are free to use their income and assets whichever way they choose. There should be no moral, ethical, or even Biblical sanction against gambling. Some people believe that gambling is a sin, but a sin should not be made illegal when it does not initiate force or fraud against another individual. Said another way, if I use my money to gamble with, it’s my business.

Answer Number Two: The State legislators have already settled any moral trepidations they may have ever had over gambling. It is already legal here in Georgia in one form. Fifteen years ago, lottery gambling became legal in Georgia, and to date, has generated over $15 Billion in tax revenue. Sales for fiscal year 2008 climbed to a record-breaking $3.5 billion, exceeding the revenue generated during fiscal year 2007. So, the State of Georgia has already been in the gaming business for over 15 years. Casino gambling is simply another form of gambling. However, with casino gambling, the state will not have the monopoly, but private enterprise will own and operate the casinos.

With a 15-year history of successful gaming under its belt, it is going to be pretty hard for the Georgia General Assembly to refuse casino gambling without exhibiting massive hypocrisy. But massive hypocrisy has not stopped them in the past.

But, what about other states where gaming is legal? What has their experience been?

To find out, I went to the website of the American Gaming Association in Washington, DC.

In Nevada, the granddaddy of them all, where gaming began in 1931, tax revenues from gaming have been a large part of the state budget. In 2006, Nevada gaming had 201,000 employees and tax revenues were $1.034 Billion. Nevada’s budget for 2009 is set at $6 Billion, so gaming revenue comprises about 17% of that state’s total income each year.

Mississippi legalized gaming in 1990, passed by legislation and local option vote. There are 30,500 gaming employees, and tax revenue for 2006 was $350.44 Million.

Louisiana legalized gambling in 1993, passed by legislation and local option vote. Tax revenue last year was $559 million, another $68 million from racetrack casinos, with 20,300 gaming employees.

Michigan legalized gambling in 1996 by statewide referendum, local option vote and legislation. Michigan has 3 casinos that generated 2006 tax revenue of $365 million.

So we see here that other states have long histories of success with casino gambling.

Casino gambling would be a welcome addition to the convention business in Atlanta and other Georgia cities. Las Vegas has been stealing away convention business for years now with their gaming and entertainment attractions. The Georgia hospitality and restaurant industries would also get an infusion of business as they support gaming tourism.

Atlanta has another competitive advantage as a gaming destination…Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the busiest airport in the world. It’s been said that you can’t even get to heaven without connecting through Atlanta. Our presence as a Southern regional transportation hub makes Atlanta an easy gaming destination for the two thirds of the population of the US that lives east of the Mississippi River.

Casino gambling can be a valuable addition to the economy of Georgia. I hope that the Georgia General Assembly can find its courage and conscience and votes in favor of casino gambling in the 2009 Legislative Session.

Owner’s Manuals: The First Few Pages Tell the Funniest Stories

Owner’s manuals tell the stories of just how stupid people can be. In the first few pages of any owner’s manual, you will find warnings of ways to NOT use the product you’ve bought.

I am an insurance claims adjuster. I have handled hundreds of Product Liability insurance claims and lawsuits over the years. In many cases, someone will buy a product and then misuse it. Then, they file suit against the manufacturer, alleging that the manufacturer is somehow at fault for their stupidity.

Don’t misunderstand me here. Sometimes products are built shoddily or designed wrong. But I’m talking about human stupidity here, not corporate liability for a bad product.

As a general rule, if you see a warning in the first few page of an owner’s manual, you can be sure that the manufacturer has been sued by a customer when the customer misused the product. A little imagination can illustrate how stupid some folks can be.

Let’s look at a few warnings from a few owner’s manuals I have at home.

1. From a gun manual.
a. “Wear approved ear protection when firing the unit.” Someone sued the gunmaker because the gun made a loud noise when they pulled the trigger. That noise must have come as a big surprise…never sounds loud on TV.

2. From a vacuum cleaner manual.
a. “Do not use to pick up gasoline.” Kaboom!
b. “Do not allow to be used as a toy.” Here, little Timmy. See if you can vacuum the cat.
c. “Keep hair, loose clothing, fingers and all body parts away from openings.” I understand the first three, but what other body parts would you use a vacuum on? Wait…nevermind.
d. “Keep openings free of dust, lint, hair and anything that may reduce airflow.” I always thought that dust, lint and hair was the point of having a vacuum cleaner.

3. Skil™ Power Jigsaw Manual
a. “Secure material before cutting. Never hold it in your hand or across leg.” The though of jigsawing my thigh caused my anus to pucker.

4. Cordless 12-volt Tire Inflator
a. “CAUTION: This unit is not intended for recharging a car battery.” Here, Ethyl. I’ll just hook the hose to this here car battery. Now, where is the nozzle on this battery?

Stihl™ Chain Saw
a. “Do not operate a chainsaw in a tree unless you have been specifically trained to do so.” The things that could go wrong in this scenario boggle the mind.
b. “Avoid scarfs, neckties, jewelry or unconfined long hair when operating a chain saw.” Here…that scarf will stay tight just fine. Hand me that chainsaw. No, my pony tail will stay behind me just fine too.

Electric Massage Pillow with Heat
a. “Do not use this device when you are submerged in a bathtub.” Sounds like someone got more than just heat when they tried using this pillow in the tub. I wonder if the person or his heirs sued the manufacturer.

This article should provide you with continuous laughs as you buy new products, and read the owner’s manuals. Let your imagination run wild as you read the warnings. I promise you that there’s a lawsuit behind each one.

Petty Annoyances: Random Things That Annoy Me, Part 1

I’ve decided to begin a series about life’s little annoyances. These are things that crop up in daily existence that tighten my colon. There is no particular order to these things…they are just the unexpected lumps in my gravy.

The phrase “To be honest…” or “I’ll be honest with you.” Every time I hear someone use this in conversation, I want to interrupt them instantly and ask, “So, is this honesty to be a departure from your normal habit of telling lies?”

Phone calls from machines. The phone rings and I answer it. I hear a recorded voice say, “Please hold for an important message about (fill in the blank). What ever happened to good customer service? I guess I’m just barely important enough to contact with a machine, but not important enough to have a real person speak with me. Anytime I get one of these calls, I hang up immediately. I figure if the message is important enough, the company will either send me a letter or have a human call me.

Voicemail instructions. Every time I make a phone call and get routed to someone’s voicemail, the person leaves their own message (which is OK) and then the machine will spend another 30 seconds telling me how to leave the message. This wastes my time and costs me extra money for the extra 30 seconds of cell phone time I have to pay for. Just once, I’d like to get someone’s voicemail that said, “This is Joe. Please leave a message when you hear the tone”…and then just get the tone. Five seconds, tops.

Christians that are pro-government and pro-war. I could write two articles about each of these…in fact, I have! But, this situation comes up so often that I’m constantly irritated. The government stands diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Old and New Testaments.
And, last time I checked, the Commandment of “thou shalt not kill” (murder) didn’t come with a disclaimer that said it was OK to murder others when you wear an army uniform.

People who say that America is a “democracy.” The LAST thing that the Founders of our nation wanted was a democracy. Our national government was designed to be a Constitutional Republic. People who call America a democracy…including the politicians all the way up to the President…prove that they‘ve never spent even one hour studying the Constitution.

Foreign technical support operators. When I need tech support for something, like my computer, or my internet service, or my new washing machine, I dial the number for Customer Support and get a person in a foreign country, usually in India or the Phillippines. While their knowledge might be good, their English is so bad that I cannot understand what they are saying. I did find a way around this, however. When you call in, you’ll usually get the choice of hearing the messages in English or Spanish. If you choose Spanish, you’ll usually get an American who can speak Spanish. Just talk to him or her in English.

Familiarity and the lack of manners. People used to have good manners. When you met someone new, you would either wait to be introduced, or introduce yourself. “How do you do” was an appropriate greeting. Calling the person by their first name was not done unless someone invited you to do so. Respect was shown by using a salutation like “Mr.,” “Mrs.” Or “Miss” with their last name. These days, manners are passe. People want to be instantly familiar with me, and it grinds me. Etiquette is the oil that lubricates society, and society sure needs the oilcan today.

Tipping waiters. This is one of the most widespread scams I’ve ever witnessed. When I look at a menu, I see food prices listed plainly. Part of the food cost is labor, both to prepare and to serve the food. Now, if I’m in a fast food joint, there’s no serving. They hand me my food and I either sit down and eat or leave the restaurant. But, it was a brilliant maneuver for restaurant owners to foist part of the labor cost for serving food off onto the customer.

Same thing with barbers, or car valets, or bartenders.

In what other retail transactions do you tip? When you buy a car, and pay $10,000 for the car, do you tip the salesman an extra 15%, or $1,500.00? When you visit your doctor, do you tip the nurse 15%? Is there a tip jar at your favorite gun shop, or Home Depot, or grocery store, or gas station? No…that would be absurd. In my opinion, it’s also absurd to tip anybody for serving me food or a drink. And the most annoying thing about tipping is that it is expected, and if you don’t tip, you the customer are thought of negatively. No one ever thinks of the restaurant owner negatively for not paying his waiters more than a minimum wage.

There will be more petty annoyances to come in subsequent articles. Stay tuned.

If you have something that annoys you, send me a comment about it.