Multiple fractions?

The situation of at the Gaza Strip continues to build. I stumbled over this article.

---

Settler leaders say plebiscite only solution to prevent civil war

"Wake up, we are nearing civil war. A plebiscite is in order", Yesha Concil leaders tell Public Security Minister Ezra.

Uri Glickman

Leaders of the Settlers' Council have once again used the threat of civil war ahead of the expected withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria under the framework of the disengagement plan.

During a meeting with Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra held on Monday, the settlers told him, "Wake up, we are nearing civil war. A plebiscite is in order".

According to Ezra, "The meeting took place following a request of the council and I agreed, and will do so again in the future. We do not want things to get out of hand. We are one nation".

The settlers alerted the minister that the situation is nearing a boiling point, as incitement against Prime Minister Sharon and head of the Disengagement Authority Yonatan Basi is escalating. According to the council leaders, the only solution that would prevent a civil war is a national referendum to be carried out as soon as possible.

Council member Moshe Yogev said, "The king is naked, the prime minister is leading us down the path of civil war. If he is allowed to take a bulldozer and ruin the Torah study center, which was built in [the Gaza settlement of] Atzmona in the memory of my parents, I am allowed to take a bulldozer and head towards the Sycamore Ranch (Sharon's private residence)".

Another senior council member warned of a wave of violence if the idea of a plebiscite would not be implemented. "If the people aren't given the chance to decide, thousands would cut the Gush Katif fences. There would be a massive confrontation that would escalate to violence", he warned.

Council Chairman Bentzi Leiberman tried to cool tensions. "A group of people is sitting here that will not call for violence or lead the nation towards civil war, even if it is raped to do so. But open your eyes, a catastrophe could very well take place", he said.

---

The reason I am observing the Jewish side of the Gaza pullout is because they elected Sharon for his conservative policies, yet taking the liberal position of moving Gaza settlers out to the Oslo Accords position. There is two possibilities to this I have found.

The Conspiracy Theory (ha-ha): This is a part of a continuing plan from prime ministers Rabin to Sharon, no matter what party he is a member of.

The More Down-To-Earth Theory: Sharon want to physically separate the Jew and Palastinian via the wall...

The Jews will like to add that phrase, "... due to the homicidal suicide bombings" while Arabs/Muslims want to add "... to perform a holocaust". Sharon will be stupid to do so on the latter. To this outside observer, I hope that is just fear and anger speaking. For if it is true, that will actually back up the Conspiracy Theory, since that will lead the whole region into all out war.

Meanwhile I am also keeping an eye out for the third temple which, according to my faith, has to be built before the second coming. Read one article by a Jew taking the Arab position!

The Al-Aqsa Mosque Bombers

The Temple Mount Bombers

Interesting... same article, different headline. There is another stance however. Arafat was quoted in a CNN interview back in 2000, "We Palestinians our first targets is our land -- the land of the holy places". Alas I can't find the transcript of that interview, but there is a few websites with that quote. The point here being that Arafat might purposely bomb Al-Aqsa / Temple Mount to start a regional war that way.

Meanwhile I'll continue praying cooler heads will prevail. But I doubt it. Hey, am I sounding like Frank Herbert, author of the Dune novels and whose son is counting the Dune saga? Plot within plot within plot?

Something Interesting About Our Election

Two lesser known things that got my attention. First, our electoral college - which makes our voting process so darn interesting... and why Bush won with less votes! - is being challenged by Colorado. They are considering splitting its 9 electoral votes according to its own popular vote. So if one got 44% of the Colorado popular vote, he gets 4 electoral votes and the other 5, where now the latter will get all 9.

I consider this a good thing if and only if this process goes nationwide. Otherwise Colorado will become a glaring exception! 1) It makes Colorado overall weaker and 2) it helps the Democrats. If this was in place in 2000, Gore will be president with a margin of one single electoral vote! Florida wouldn't have mattered. Also, if this was in place in mostly Democrat states like California or my state of Illinois (Chicago), if will help the Republicans.

I don't want to get rid of the electoral college completely (i.e. use only the popular vote), since it gives all states a chance to participate instead of just the most populated ones. Otherwise rural, low populated states wouldn't be considered. Also our large nation has a variety of local cultures and concerns. But at least this makes the electoral votes more in proportion to the popular vote. Going to make the vote tallying harder though!

The second thing is quite sad, but unsurprising. A poll found people are more interested in fall leaves changing than our presidential election, 54 to 48 percent.

Freedomflex Presentation

I already did this on my Business Blog, and posting it here for those interested in what it is like. It is some notes I took on the Freedomflex presentation I have to do.

Pre-presentation

Walk in, do a little small talk, and start presentation preferably at the dinner table.

Read PS letter out loud, asking the five questions and circling the answers.

Do pre-presentation letter, your time clock. Verify and date.

Presentation

1) The American Dream - review the page, say "Who could put together a program to keep you out of these sad statistics?"

2) Star Page - review this page, starting with AAGE/AAPE, then ISM, and then clockwise, explaining what each do

3) Five Reasons People Fail Financially - review, "Wouldn't you agree these are five challenges we all face?"

4) #1, Financial Procrastination - (Review page) "How many years have you worked so far?" (Rows) "Of those years, which of these figures comes the closest to your average monthly income?" (Cols) "That means you made somewhere in the neighborhood of $_____" (Take out sheet, put in the past earnings) "Those who are financially independent say that a certain percentage should be set aside for our future. Do you know what that is?" (10%, fill in that part) "That means you should be able to write yourself a check for $_____ RIGHT NOW!"

5) #2, A Financial Goal - Review page. Ask for age and yearly income. Write in age and future earnings from chart, yearly income and 10% savings on first line below goals. Write in big numbers 10% of future earnings as financial goal. "If you have that much money by the time you retire?" Check off goals. "My job is to help people like you accumulate money so someday you can live your dreams!"

If I can show you how to set aside a lot less than 10% or _____ a year and come close to, meet, or exceed your financial goal of _____, you would take advantage of the program, right?

6) Where will you be at 65? - "Based on 100 average Americans starting life at age 25, here is what will happen when they reach 65. Silly question: Where would you want to be? Top 5%, right! Serious question: What are you doing to put yourself in the top 5%? People who are financially independent tell us we should have at least 7 different investments." Start on remaining part of the worksheet, from the bottom up. Have the client list each investment and what the projected earnings are. Congrats on what they have done. Ask "Do you have a checking account that earns interest or a plan checking account" and "Do you have a savings account". Qualify questions hidden as normal questions.

7) A Financial Plan - Review

8) Foresight, not hindsight - "That is why it is foresight and not hindsight that creates wealth. We all have hindsight. But it is only the people who can recognize a good opportunity and take advantage of it... and most importantly... stick to it who will ever create wealth. It is sad that many people use the excuse "I want to think about it" as a reason not to take advantage of this opportunity? They use all there time thinking of reasons why they can't take advantage of an opportunity instead of reasons they should. And they find themselves in the back of the line. Wouldn't you agree? For the rest of the presentation, keep an open mind. If you like what we are doing for people, make the decision and get involved. If your mind takes you in a different direction, that's fine too. Just a simple yes or no. That's fair enough, isn't it?

9) Power of Compound Interest - A puts in 2,000 monthly at 21 for ten years and then just let it set to 65. He put in a total of 20,000 and got 315,677 in return. B put in 2,000 monthly at 31 up till age 65. He put in a total of 70,000 and got 295,827 in return. Individual A has 20,000 more and put in 50,000 less!

10) Six Figures of a Sound Plan - Review

11) Eight Ways to Accumulate Wealth - "I would like to demonstrate how time and compounding works using a 30 year old, setting aside 1,000/year, for 10 years, to age 65" Then just review this chart, noting that 4% is guaranteed, 8.14% is our average, and 12 and 15% is not guaranteed since it involves stocks.

Post-presentation

"Lets see how close we can target your financial goal. Tell me, how much per month can you set aside?"

Fill in name, age, assuming, and yearly.

Total Premium Deposits = 10 year cost of living chart total for monthly amount

Find chart with yearly on bottom, matching gender on top.

Completion benefit = Face amount on right.

Total Premium Deposits till age 65 = (65 - Age) x 900

Write 8.14% above Total Premium Deposits

Next three blanks = 8.14% column numbers

Next three blanks = 8.14% column on reverse side

Write 4.0% value next to 5th blank... our guarantee.

Rate of return = 8.14% Benefit factor

Example, John Doe age 25 puts in $75/month, or $900 yearly.

Completion benefit is 72,588 with total premium deposits equal to 36,000 at age 65.

If he discontinue after 10 years, his total premium deposits will be only 14,344. He will have 124,424 at age 65, providing a monthly income of 845. This will provide him a total income of 428,267 over the next 30 years.

If he continues payments till he is 65, he will have 364,796. (146,783 guaranteed) This will provide a monthly income of 2,475 and a total income of 1,255,628 over the next 30 years.