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Have you had a cold over the past few months? Lots of people where Clark works are sick right now. And many people are buying over the counter meds that are not real medicines. They are usually referred to as “alternative medicines” and they can be health supplements or herbal remedies. Companies are able to sell these products as miracle workers because there is no law against what companies say about them. And, consumers are clueless about what they’re buying, according to scientists at the University of Virginia who conducted a survey. Lots of people take these remedies, including Clark. He takes zinc lozenges, for example, when he feels a cold coming on. He’s willing to try that remedy, but he limits it to that. Many of these products have a USP label, which means they’ve been tested to make sure the dosage is correct. But they have not been tested or approved by the FDA. And many of them have byproducts that you need to know about. It’s possible that none of the claims on the container are accurate. Also, when you see a doctor, tell him or her what alternative medicines you are taking. They need to know for treatment purposes.

Clark is a member of lots of frequent renter and hotel stay programs. The loyalty programs have been very successful for the travel industry, but other industries haven’t jumped on board. One organization that has caught on is Upromise, which is designed to help people save money for their kids’ college education. As you buy things, you earn rebates toward your child’s education. And it’s working. So, other companies are now jumping on the bandwagon and are starting loyalty programs. Supermarkets, for example, are offering discounts to members of loyalty programs. But anyone can walk in, fill out an application and become an instant member. At Best Buy, you earn points when you purchase items and those points allow you to get discounts toward other purchases. Others may offer the opportunity to buy your way in to these programs. So, if you go into a store and purchase items, you’ll earn points or credits toward more purchases. Costco Wholesale has this kind of program for business owners and executive members. If you have the Costco credit card, you can always get cash back. The more you buy, the more you get back up to $500. There is a membership fee to join, but the cost on items is very good. So, keep your eye out for these kinds of deals.

Clark realized the other day how out of touch he sometimes is with what consumers feel. Would you believe that roughly 80 percent of people think it’s the role of the federal government? That is according to a poll by the New York Times. Almost four in five people think it’s the Feds’ job to play Santa Claus, which explains why there has been so much angst over privatizing social security. About 70 percent of Americans are opposed to private accounts if it means a reduction in “guaranteed benefits.” So, people want to have their cake and eat it too. Clark doesn’t know if people have really absorbed what it all means. But if he were in charge, he’d eliminate the system as it is. The power should not reside in D.C. It should reside with the people. The fact is that if we want the Feds to provide for our retirement, taxes are going to go up a lot. And that’s the trade off. For the long term economic health of our country, we need to start taking this responsibility on ourselves.