<<The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent in October. All told, 15.7 million Americans are out of work. Add in workers forced to settle for part-time work or those who have simply given up looking, and the rate is 17.5 percent.>>

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Looks like its time to totally hammer the wealthy with taxes because they can afford it. Right Mr. Obama?

Oh.... wait a second. The wealthy are the people creating what few jobs are left in this country. Looks like you (and the average American worker) have a little bit of a problem there.

To those readers who remember my tears on Obama(ism) and the new political trend of Robin Hood tax legislation prior to the election: If you will recall, I stated that the wealthy were not going to sit still, put themselves through all the stress, grief, long hours, hard work and financial risks of running a business and employing people only to have socialists take their hard earned money away and "re-distribute" the wealth.

I tried to warn you but, the average American has this bizarre, arrogant entitlment mentality going on. Now I can personally see the chickens coming home to roost.

My long time friend and hunting buddy just informed me that he has entered into negotiations to sell his business. The new buyers are Chinese nationals and have no interest in his business; only the land for future real estate development.

I was told that the land value is worth several million free and clear and with the current business and tax environment, it makes no sense for my buddy to continue killing himself for everybody else. He employs nearly 150 workers; all of which will lose their jobs over night once this deal is inked.

I have another friend who's brother did the same thing and moved to Idaho to retire at age 50. I spent time with he and his family when I flew up there last year to look at the area for possible investments. He *USED* to employ close to 100 workers.

I actually feel very, very bad about all of this. Why everybody wants to call me a bastard for thinking along the same lines as my business friends and associates is a mystery to me. I have no idea why everybody else in the world thinks that I have to be the one to sacrifice in order to support them. If I even consider closing shop (which I am seriously considering) *I* am the aszhole, selfish bastard. For some strange reason, few average workers seem to understand this.

Somebody once asked me if I was afraid that I would not be able to retire someday. I responded that I was actually afraid that I *would* retire. I actually love working and I enjoy providing good paying jobs with benifits to my employees. Why then, would so many of you demand that the government ensure that I (and many like me) just can no longer afford (emotionally and financially) to continue to do so?

It really is a mystery to me. Perhaps one of you social luminaries can enlighten me?