MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

What is a trillion? Until recently, we might have thought it was a pre-historic monster, or something from outer space.

Since coming into power, the Obama Administration has been tossing the word around in casual conversation to downplay its real significance. The word "trillion" has been interjected into our vocabulary by our new U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who tries to make it appear as though nothing has changed. For years, we Americans have only reached as high as millions or billions in our thinking. We have been brainwashed into believing that anything is acceptable, if the powers that be say so.

Let's put it into perspective:

What is one trillion in numbers? One trillion is a one followed by twelve (12) zeros: 1,000,000,000,000

How many millions does it take to make one trillion? It takes one million millions to make one trillion. WOW!

Now, think of it in terms of dollars -- a trillion dollars. We are talking about money that we have borrowed from ourselves – money that will have to be repaid. We are told consistently the economy is improving; people out of work are finding jobs; the housing market is picking up. Repayment of the borrowed money will not begin for several years and many of us may not be around. So, who do you think will have to repay all the money that was borrowed? Our children and grandchildren – for generations to come, that's who. What a terrible legacy to leave our children.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel. If we need more money after the trillions have been exhausted, we simply add new numbers to our vocabulary and extend our borrowing power to quadrillions, then quintillions, sextillions, septillions, octillions or whatever is needed.

President Obama promised us Hope and Change – remember? In just one year there has been more change than we could have imagined. One can only suspect the changes in the next three years. However, we still have Hope. Let's Hope for Change!

May your New Year be filled with good things