Monday, August 25, 2008

Question from Anonymous

We got the following question from someone named Anonymous: Why did our website originally state $50,000 donation and we changed it to a $25,000 donation?

Yes, our real goal is $50,000 but we got a great taste of reality and it is very difficult to raise $50,000 as an unknown kid (kids). We are doing our best and no matter how much we sell...500 or 1 million The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation will get a large amount. The first $25,000 we make (if we make it) will go to them. Then we need to repay our parents for investing in us (so we could publish the book). Then we will work on our goal of $50,000 dollars.

So to answer your question, we are doing our best. Anyone who buys a book needs to know we are giving the money to a great foundation, we are doing this for the families and for our mother. If anything please understand we have no control over how much we raise but our intent is pure and we will let everyone know when we donate how much we gave!

With the purchase price of the book reducing that means our portion is reduced greatly, so we need to sell a tramendous amount of books.

Another question is the Amazon rankings. Moving from 580,000 to 5 does not mean we sold 579,995 books, it means we outsold all the books in front of us. So it could be that 500 books sold and that was enough to put us in the top 10. We don't know at this time how many have sold.

And lastly, not for a moment have we forgotten what has transpired here. Over the weekend we continuosly thought of Rush Limbaugh, our mother, and the many people who have written in support of us, they all have truly enriched our lives, it has been very humbling. We will never forget, not for a moment.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Thank you!

Yesterday David got the opportunity to speak with Rush Limbaugh. And thanks to the many listeners out there...... our book Pulling weeds to Picking Stocks jumped briefly to it highest Amazon ranking at #5!!!!

We have a long way to go to reach our goal for the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation but you all have done something that is beyond words. We cannot extend our thanks on paper and have it correctly reflect what we feel.

When we hear the words to America the Beautiful, the Star Spangled Banner, and understand what this great country was built upon - that is how we feel as we learn about you.

Thank you for your inspiration!
Respectfully,
David, Devin, and Deric

Total estimated Book sales: 600!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Let's punish the wealthy

In the last few months we've heard many things due to the presidential elections. Taxes and energy seem to be topping the cake right now. So we thought we'd show you what happens if some of these ideas are put into place.

Let us start at the bottom. The people with little or no money. They have become accustom to thinking the deserve financial help from our government. When historically (a long time ago) family was who they'd turn to.

In order for our government to help all these millions of people they need to have some sort of revenue. They use taxes for this revenue (like an income to the government).

This income then pays the people who work for the government program. These people then try to give what ever money is left over (after their pay and research ect) to the people "in need".

Now these "need" people may have low paying jobs and have taxes taken out of their check each month. At the end of the year the government returns this money to them plus a little extra if they have kids.

There are still the middle people who do not qualify as "need" but still have their taxes returned to them each year.

These two make up most of the United States.

But where does the government get this money?

There are people who make a "good" living and some who are very wealthy. These people have to pay taxes. The government keeps this tax money.

Now this is a very very basic example.

So this is what happens when good intentions aren't thought through:

When we start taking money from our "big" businesses and handing it out to those who didn't work for it - the business is not only going to do what it can to hold onto all it can but it won't hire as many people and quite possibly fire people, and it won't be inclined to make donations on it own.

When we over tax something or someone the instant response is to hold onto what you have hard.

If we lighten the tax load on these "big and wealthy" they are much much more inclined to share/donate, help, and hire. They are much more inclined to start businesses and hire employees.

By doing this it brings money into our economy. Strengthens the base because people are working.

But when we tax and "bail out" all those people who made poor choices by pumping in imaginary money and taxing we are not only weakening our base, we are creating inflation.

The government needs to step back and let things happen. We know this is a tough thing to do. But in the long run we will be a stronger nation. Our flag will hold value in more of our hearts because we did our own personal best whether or not be became millionaires.

There is something to be said about personally creating success and learning from our mistakes.

We know there are many more issues that surround what is happening, shipping jobs over seas... but we also know you can succeed. You can be proud of who you are and be proud to be part of our great nation - the United States of America.

Remember NO ONE can do it for you
YOU are who make you what you are.