Mr. President, I'm Going to Mexico

David M. Bresnahan
April 1, 2006
NewsWithViews.com

Dear President Bush:

I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.

I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here.

So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All government forms need to be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don’t enforce any labor laws or tax laws.

13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.

Thank you so much for your kind help.

Sincerely,
David M. Bresnahan

© 2006 David M. Bresnahan - All Rights Reserved
________________________________________

David M. Bresnahan has over 30 years of experience as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, radio station owner, talk show host, and business owner. David has been a prominent writer for many Internet newspapers.
Web Site www.ThatPRGuy.com
E-Mail: nwv@Bresnahan.org

On Being an American

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." -- Theodore Roosevelt (1907)

Better Business Bureau Alerts & News

BBB Warns Spring Time Brings Home Improvement Scams

For Immediate Release

[Arlington, VA – April 12, 2006]

With warm weather approaching, the Better Business Bureaus in the U.S. and Canada are warning homeowners to be on the lookout for home improvement scams. This is the time of year when less-than-reputable or unqualified contractors breeze into town promising a variety of services at cut-rate prices. They may show up at your door, advertise in local papers or deliver fliers to your home.

Complaints to the BBB concern a wide range of problems, including high-pressure sales tactics, confusion over contract terms, poor workmanship, incomplete job performance, over-charging and in some cases, home foreclosures.

“It’s not your lucky day when a contractor shows up on your doorstep offering a too-good-to-be-true deal on a project. The salesperson may claim he has materials left over from a recent job at your neighbor’s house or the ‘house down the street.’ This is a common ploy of fly-by-night contractors who are based out-of-state and use their pick-up trucks as their place of business,” said Steve Cole, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Complaints against home improvement/home repair contractors are among the most common consumer complaints received by the Better Business Bureau. And there is little wonder, considering how lucrative the business is. Americans spent over $200 billion in 2005 on home remodeling/repair projects, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

“There are thousands of reputable contractors who will deliver quality work, on time and within budget. Consumers can avoid costly mistakes and scams by doing some research before opening their wallets,” said Cole.

Comparing cost before making a financial commitment toward any home improvement project is very important. In doing so, you should solicit at least two or three bids from prospective contractors based on the same building specifications, materials, labor and time needed to complete the project.

When looking for a reliable contractor, consumers should employ a contractor with an established business in their area. Ask for references and check them out. Look into the contractor’s standard of work and his professional affiliations; verify his insurance; and check to see if he needs to be licensed. Check with the BBB for a report on the contractor.

Do not permit work to start without a signed written contract that includes all verbal promises that were made by the contractor. Be sure that the written contract includes a start and completion date, a breakdown of the cost and information about the contractor, including license number, street address and phone number.

If you need financing for your project, it may not be wise to agree to financing through your contractor or someone he suggests. “Consumers complain that they were pressured to sign a lot of papers and only later found out they had agreed to a home equity loan with a very high rate, points and fees. Carefully read every document before you give your consent. You can usually get a better deal on financing by shopping around on your own and comparing loan terms from several lenders,” Cole added.

If you are asked to pay for the entire job up-front, this should raise a red flag. Arrange for payments to be made as parts of the job are completed. Final payment should not be due until the job is done. And, homeowners should pay by check or credit card, never cash.

Bankruptcy Credit Counseling in Southern California

A well publicized requirement of the bankruptcy reform laws that went into effect in October 2005 is that most individual debtors must obtain credit counseling prior to filing for bankruptcy. All of the counseling agencies provide the services over the Internet or via telephone. Some provide services at a local office. Below is a list of the credit counseling agencies currently approved for debtors in the Southern District of California, which includes San Diego and Imperial County:

Alliance Credit Counseling, Inc.

15720 John J. Delaney Dr., Suite 100

Charlotte, NC 28277-2747

888-995-7856

www.knowdebt.org

Best Credit Service, Inc.

2400 Crestwood Road, Suite 203

North Little Rock, AR 72116

800-435-7227

www.bestcs.org

ByDesign Financial Solutions

5628 E. Slauson Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90040

800-750-2227

www.bydesignsolutions.org

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta Inc.

100 Edgewood Avenue, Suite 1800

Atlanta, GA 30303

800-251-2227

www.cccsinc.org

Consumer Credit Counseling Services of San Francisco

150 Post Street, 5th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94108

800-777-7526

www.cccssf.org

Consumer Credit Counselors of Kern County

5300 Lennox Avenue, Suite 200B

Bakersfield, CA 93309

800-272-2482

www.californiacccs.org

Consumer Credit Counselors of Orange County

1920 Old Tustin Avenue

Santa Ana, CA 92705

888-289-8230

www.cccsoc.org

Consumer Credit Management, Inc.

28124 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 102

Farmington Hills, MI 48334

888-821-4357

www.ccmcanhelp.com

Credit Advisors Foundation

1818 South 72nd Street

Omaha, NE 68124

800-942-9027

www.creditadvisors.org

Credit Counseling Centers of America

9330 LBJ Freeway, Suite 900

Dallas, TX 75379-8039

800-493-2222

www.cccamerica.org

Garden State Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc.

225 Willowbrook Road

Freehold, NJ 07728

877-892-4557

www.novadebt.org

GreenPath, Inc.

38505 Country Club Drive, Suite 210

Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3429

800-630-6718

www.greenpath.com

Hummingbird Credit Counseling and Education, Inc.

3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100-106

Raleigh, NC 27612

800-645-4959

www.hbcce.org

Institute for Financial Literacy, Inc.

449 Forest Avenue, Suite 12

Portland, ME 04101

866-662-4932

www.financiallit.org

Money Management International Inc.

9009 West Loop South, 7th Floor

Houston, TX 77096-1719

877-918-2227

www.moneymanagement.org

Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management Inc.

4351 Latham Street

Riverside, CA 92501

800-947-3752

www.credit.org

Discharged Debt Still On Credit Report

Question: I filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy two years ago and received a discharge of all my credit card debt. One credit card company still reports me as being past due every month. If it was discharged, can they still report me each month as late?

Answer: Assuming that you properly listed the debt in your bankruptcy, the credit card company should report the balance owed as zero and it should also correct your credit report to show that the debt was discharged in bankruptcy. You should send a certified, return receipt letter (keep a copy) to the credit card company and enclose a copy of your discharge. Demand that they correct this entry on your credit report. If they fail to do so, contact a local bankruptcy attorney for further assistance. Failing to correct a credit report can be a violation of the discharge order and the bankruptcy court could order the credit card company to pay you damages if they fail to correct the error.

You should also write a dispute to the three credit reporters: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, and have them insert it in your report, i.e. "This debt was discharged in bankruptcy on _____ (date)." For further information on how to get a free copy of your credit report and further assistance, please click here to read our previous article on disputed inaccurate information on your credit report.

This publication is NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. Please consult with a licensed attorney if you require legal advice.

About the Author: Carl H. Starrett II, has been a licensed attorney since 1993 and is a member in good standing with the California State Bar and the San Diego County Bar Association. Mr. Starrett practices in the areas of bankruptcy, business litigation, construction, corporate planning and debt collection.