Want to help fire efforts? Here's the best way.

We can't escape either the Colorado wildfires or the coverage of the fires. It's horrific and so many of us want to help, to make a difference because we're saddened by what we see, and the smoke we smell all over the state. It's our families and friends impacted by this natural disaster.

Living here for 13 years, both in the South Metro area and in South-Central Colorado I'm all too aware of the dangers this summer, unlike anything any of us  can remember.

Good people want to help out. Lots of folks are just driving up to shelters and other areas with food, blankets, water and all sorts of stuff. While your hearts are in the right place, your efforts aren't.

As a journalist I've covered everything from forest fires, to hurricanes to floods. No matter how quick we'd be to the scene, the Red Cross was always there first. They'd be set-up and ready to feed, clothe and shelter folks along with being a great conduit of information for all those impacted.

The Red Cross is good at this sort of thing and have the communication pipelines in place with authorities to do the best job. They know the needs and provide them.

The brave crews on the front lines are taken care of, they have what they need to do their job, to eat and a place to sleep. Many of the victims of course, don't.

What can we do? Donate money. It's simple, easy and the most effective way for the Red Cross to get what's needed to those in need and where they need it. Donating money also keeps us out of the way. Disaster scenes are chaotic, but those on the scene are trained professionals. To pull up in the family car with a load of stuff doesn't help. You're simply in the way of people trying to do their jobs.

So grab your credit card or checkbook and donate. It's the best thing we can do.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

"Fast and Furious" turning into "Dumb and Dumber."

"Fast and Furious" turning into "Dumb and Dumber."

I wish I has some remote understanding of a government operation called "Fast and Furious." As near as I can figure out it involved sending assault rifles and the like to Mexico for use my drug dealers. Some dimwits, in government, apparently the ATF thought we could track the guns, then track down the bad guys who got them and bust them. This all started around 2006 and continues through today.

What happened is a US Border Patrol Agent ended up getting murdered by one of the guns. One of OUR guns. Fired by one of the BAD guys.

This sort of thing attracts the attention of Congress, which never passes up on the chance to hold hearings and get every one's name in the papers. Along with blogs, tweets and other Social Media and of course blogs like this one.

Records have been asked for, some have been turned over and as I write this some haven't which has ended up with the possibility of Attorney General Holder being held in contempt of Congress.

Which begs the question: If an operation started by a previous administration, was an operation so impossibly stupid, why is the current administration withholding information about it? The White House is invoking "Executive Privilege." A common practice going back to every White House since there was a White House.

Meanwhile the family of the murdered agent is left wondering just what the heck happened and why.

To recap, we send dangerous guns to bad people in Mexico, one of our own charged with defending our border is murdered and the folks in Washington are trying to make political hay out of it all.

Actually it's more like what's left of hay when it's been eaten by horses and "digested."

Fast and Furious? Nope. Dumb and incredibly dumber and we deserve better. Of course, everyone in Washington has long since cared about what "We the people" not only deserve, but are entitled too.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Buffett Rule? We need a Buffet Rule!

Warren Buffet says he should pay more taxes than his secretary. Truth be known is, he does. Actually he meant a bigger percentage of taxes than she does. It's ironic that Mr. Buffet, who I greatly admire has a foundation set up to distribute money to non-profits and other organizations when he leaves this world.

You'll note he's not donating his fortune to the Federal Government directly. Warren isn't stupid. Look at the great work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They're controlling every dollar of foundation money, how it's used and where it's spent. Again, no blank check to Uncle Sam.

Folks like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are successful because they demand accountability.

That hasn't stopped a lot of folks saying we should have a "Buffett Rule" and that wealthy people need to pay their "fair share" of taxes. Fair-Schmair. (I just invented a word!)

What we really need is a "Buffet Rule." Remember that GSA conference in Las Vegas? The one place they didn't eat was at the buffet. Buffets in 'Vegas ain't as cheap as they used to be but they're still cheaper than the main dining rooms. It's funny how easy it is to spend other people's money.

As Al Simpson points out, often with great humor, the problem is SPENDING. Taxing a few more millionaires won't make a dent in a National Deficit over 16 Trillion bucks. Cutting spending will.

I don't know about you, but we have this economic plan at our house. Spend less than we take in. We invest the rest. It's a good system and our CPA appreciates it. I do know it's a concept lost on the government.

Both parties are to blame. They blather about each other but they aren't making the hard choices to make the, yes, unpopular decisions they'll need to make to dig us out of a hole so deep you can't see the bottom. Government is Thelma and Louise heading for the Grand Canyon and we're along for the ride.

So, let's have less talk about a Buffett Rule, and focus more on a Buffet rule.

It's a start.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations