March 16, 2005

Memo: Karaoke to Congress: Bankruptcy Bill is Bad Legislation for Many Reasons, Send This Bill Singing Back to the Senate

Rollover Mr. Speaker!
(Tune: Rollover Beethoven, Chuck Berry, BMI-Isalee Music Corp Arc Music)

I’m gonna write a little letter,
Gonna mail it to my congress today.
There’s a rockin’ little bill
I want my rep’ to slay.
Roll over Mr. Speaker, ‘n let me hear it again today.

You know, my anxieties risin’
And C-N-N is blowin’ a fuse.
Common sense is gettin’ beat up
And my checkbook is singin’ the blues.
Roll over Mr. Speaker and turn those creditor screws.

My consumption gland is swollen,
My creditors a turnin’ the screws.
We’re rollin’ up debt
Spendin’ money like fools
But they keep lendin’ it, SO what we gonna do?.

Well, if you feel you like it
You can go Bankrupt
If you hurry up
Just a trifle longer—discharge it,
Roll it over,
Roll over Mr. Speaker and turn those creditor screws.

Well, it’s early in the mornin’ I’m a-givin’ you a warnin’
Don’t you step on my Master Charged shoes.
Hey diddle diddle, I got nothin’ left to whittle,
But soon, I’ll have somethin’ to lose.
Roll over Mr. Speaker and tell Chuck Shummer the news.

You know Shummer wiggles like a glow worm,
Legislates like a spinnin’ cop.
He’s got a crazy partner,
Him and Teddy really rock.
Long as they got time the debate will never stop.

Roll over Denny Hastert,
Roll over Ted Kennedy,
Roll over Chuck Shumer,
Roll over Bill Frist,
Roll over Mr. Speaker and dig these big creditor screws.

Jon Hanson
© 2005 Lyrics only

Have fun at the karaoke Bar, Send a Singing Telegram to Congress!

Posted by Jon Hanson at 10:26 PM | Comments (1)

March 05, 2005

Who Is Jon Hanson? Never heard of him says a post.

Into my (e)mail box today came a google news alert. It was from someone that probably seen one of my posts on the Motley Fool, I have posted 3 messages in 3 years.

It wasn't really unkind, and Michael did spell my name right and put a link to my site and the pdf excerpt. So all in all very good. Michael took exception with my publisher comparing my book with Rich Dad Poor Dad, (he obviously doesn't care for Kiyosaki or Bach). He ended by saying he would find a used copy and that it couldn't be any worse than Bach's books. I didn’t comment on Bach’s or Kiyosaki’s books, but here is what I wrote in reply:

Nice site Michael.

Thanks for posting information about Good Debt, Bad Debt. I really started writing a few years ago to purge my sarcasm gland. I suppose in my late forties I was starting to feel mortal, and I wanted a guide to leave my children. I can see from some of your posts about debt and the “New Affluent” you may enjoy Good Debt, Bad Debt a bit more than you are expecting.

Yes, my publisher compared it to Rich Dad, Poor Dad but that is because we want sales like RDPD, not that the book is “like it” at all.

I wrote every single character of Good Debt, Bad Debt on my lap top at Panera Bread in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Aside from 10 or 15,000 people in America that heard me speaking on real estate in the mid 1980’s few will have heard of me. Truly, the message I would like to get through to America and the world is how debt takes more than just your money. I also cover houses, spouses, and cars.

It is a call to personal responsibility and total stewardship. We sold the Taiwanese rights last month and the book will be printed in Mandarin in a month or two. The accolades from People Magazine, USAToday and the Chicago Tribune in the last two months were great, but what really does my heart good is the emails I am getting from all over the world. From Singapore to Hornbeak, Tennessee these are people that really have never gave much thought about where their actions and choices will ultimately take them. If I can be the guy that helps wake them up, all the better. Many confuse income with wealth and develop what I have termed “Debtabetes®” or the inability (because of lack of cash flow or ‘financial insulin’) to break down and eliminate their debt. This is the financial equivalent of diabetes.

All the fun and sarcasm aside, US consumers are surfin’ a Tsunami of debt to what will be financial death for many. Bad Debt or consumer debt has doubled in the past five years. When I say Good Debt, I mean good uses of debt. I don’t think bad debt needs much explanation. If I can do for Good and Bad debt what Kiyosaki has done for assets and liabilities that would be good. That’s a comparison I don’t mind.

I think the reason Good Debt, Bad Debt is selling so well is that the book arises from my experience and pain. I don’t beat people up (except me) in the book I just lay out the choices and people recognize that. It is great to get emails from people that have recommended it to their friends.

Remember, the past is the past unless you still owe for it. Debt for consumption is the worst. It is a no win situation. You have granted a claim on your future for something that is gone. Debt for consumption is like financing ice in hell…

I also wrote the sarcastic songs and comedy you may access from the site. http://www.gooddebt.com/multimedia.htm

Jon Hanson
jon@gooddebt.com
www.gooddebt.com

"The Past is The Past, Unless You Still Owe For It."
A Best Bet Self-Improvement Book
Good Debt, Bad Debt by Jon Hanson. Deep down, you know the difference...But Hanson’s bracing, snappily written manual (“credit cards are the crack cocaine of the credit industry”) just might help you live like you do.— People Magazine (January 10th issue)

Posted by Jon Hanson at 03:55 PM | Comments (1)