"We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it."

The speech given by the President last night was a pivotal event in our political discourse and important to the developing legacy of Obama's presidency. As expected, the speech made his position a bit clearer, but still not clear enough for some. The content of the speech provided some details to what Obama wants to see in a comprehensive health care reform bill, while leaving some wanting more. It also amplified some distinct issues of a general nature that seemed to reveal a lot about the character of Washington politics and the nation.

But before I wade into the vast ocean of political dialogue, dear reader, please indulge me a bit of housekeeping. Those of you that have read my few posts know that the origin of this blog is directly the result of being one of the millions affected by the recession in the form of job loss. I am pleased to report that after seven months of diligent searching, interviewing and resume rewrites, I have been fortunate enough to find a job. With that said, I must also give the disclaimer that any opinions expressed are clearly my own and not of any company, organization or movement that I have been associated with in the past, present or future.

There is a tremendous amount of ground to cover and perhaps too much for me to tackle in one blog post. However, I will attempt to summarize my views on a few subjects that I hope will help convey my thoughts on the current political landscape and a couple of the pressing issues of the day. So let's get started, shall we? :-)

Representative Joe Wilson

Not a lot to say here that has not already been said. The interruption and calling the POTUS a liar on national television in his face may have seemed like a good idea at the time...but I'm sure he wishes that he would have kept himself in check. I'd be interested to see how his political career fairs after this. I hear his opponent raised over $100K overnight.

The Games People Play

Those of you who follow me on Twitter and Facebook know that I was a bit put off with the way the Republican side of the house was acting during the speech, Joe Wilson's outburst was just the most outlandish. The collective waving of copies of Republican ideas and the intern-made signs is not new to any candidate on the campaign trail. I just had not seen that kind of behavior out of the distinguished members of congress during a joint session during a speech by the Commander in Chief. Thanks to my quick fingers on the remote and channel surfing abilities, I saw this spectacle a little better than if I had just stuck to CNN or MSNBC. I'm used to one side of the house sitting or being non-responsive to a president of the opposite party...but I can't remember seeing this kind of blatant disrespect for any presidential speech before congress. But I am also not the oldest leaf on the tree, so maybe it did happen. I'd love to see pictures or video if someone has it. What struck me as funny is that one conservative pundit remarked that it is a tradition in the British Parliament for speakers to be heckled. And all this time, I thought we were in America...

OK, I admit it! I want health care reform NOW!

If you've been keeping up, you know that I am a cancer survivor. I will reach four years post diagnosis in December of this year. My wife and I would possibly also have recovered from the serious financial hit that we took from the costs related to keeping me on the planet had I not been laid off. Mind you, I don't blame the company for the layoff...the leaders and board of directors did what they needed to do to keep the company viable (yes, it may be debatable...but it is what it is).

I am one of the fortunate ones. When I was employed, my wife and I both covered our family with company sponsored insurance. Yet, we still almost went into financial ruin behind my health care expenses related to my illness! So yeah, this is a bit more personal for me. If you have been blessed with good health up to now, you don't quiet get what I am saying. Treating my illness almost took away everything. I am so very happy that I am alive and kicking still...but the cost was pretty steep. I am thankful for the angels that came in and helped on a few occasions when I knew that I was going to have to look at my family and tell them that we were going to have to move because we can't afford to live in our house anymore. I am thankful that we always managed to find a way to survive...but it wasn't easy and by no means an experience I care to repeat.

When my insurance ended, I stopped going to the doctor. Not that I have really needed to, but I have skipped at least three check-ups and a couple of procedures designed to check my recovery. I pray that I am doing well, but we simply can't afford for me to go to my appointments on just one income and one insurance. Now that I am about to start my new job, I am almost certain that the new insurance will not cover anything in relation to my "pre-existing condition" and that because of this, I may have to justify every office or hospital visit in order to receive the care I am supposed to receive. Here I agree with the POTUS...the status quo is no longer sustainable and something needs to be done.

And to those of you in those higher tax brackets that fear that your taxes are going to go up because of any reform...what do you think has been happening all these years and what do you think is going to happen if nothing happens? Maybe your taxes won't go up, but the cost of paying for going to the doctor will continue to increase. We all pay for people who can't afford health care. It's built into the cost structure. I know people personally that only see a doctor in an emergency room and they only go when it is absolutely necessary, more because of the wait than the cost! And what is the stunner is that they probably could have prevented or treated what ails them with a simple office visit and a prescription. Instead, they get the same thing, maybe with more tests and meds thrown in...for free. All they had to do is wait until they were near death to go to the emergency room and we get to pay for their care! Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this picture?

But the biggest complaint I've seen about this whole debate is about the so-called "public option". Now don't get me wrong, I'm not sold on the idea either. I think that the reason that we have one of the best, if not the best health care in the world is because of competition and the money that can be made by specialists. Why else would people come from all parts of the globe to the US for treatment? Because our research and development, medical innovations and technology are among the best in the world. The fear is that this would all go away with the addition of a public option health care plan. I share in this fear, but I also know that some sort of check has to be put in place. I do not have a solution to offer...but I will reserve judgement until a final bill is presented. I can't speculate with limited information...

Two parties and no one is having fun...

This goes out to my friend Sherry B. - If you have read some of my past posts or comments on other sites, you know that I think the two-party system is hogwash. That is the nicest way I could put that. In my humble opinion, it has destroyed what the founding fathers originally intended and has made a mockery of our democracy. I could go on for another 12 paragraphs about this subject, but the main reason this exists is because of greed and money. You can't run a successful campaign in this country without bowing to the will of one political party or the other. I once toyed with the idea of being a Libertarian, but some of their platform is way to out there for me.

The need to fix this situation is greater to me than health care or any other issue, however, I doubt it will ever happen and I'm pretty sure it won't happen in my lifetime. Of course, I am hoping I am wrong about this, just as I didn't think America would actually elect a black president while I was still breathing. One can only hope...

So what are we to do, we who do not affiliate with either political party or those of us who are independent conservatives or independent liberals? Do we form our own party? Do we organize and present our own candidates? While on the surface, that sounds like a great idea...it can't happen.

For instance, I've always considered myself an independent. When I was younger (and not a tax payer), I was pretty liberal in my political thought. But as my income and responsibilities grew...I started paying a lot more attention to what the government was taking out of my checks and what they were doing with it. So it may surprise some of you (and others not so much) that I have grown into and independent with conservative tendencies. But that does not mean that I am a fan of "the conservative agenda". But when it comes to my money...I'm wary of anything that will mean more money going out of my pocket and into the pocket of any bureaucrat.

Contrast this with some who believe that the government should step in to make the lives of the people better. But with great power comes great responsibility...and the loss of some personal freedom. Sure, we are willing to say it is OK to tap the phone of a terrorist, but I don't want some government agent listening to me whisper sweet nothings over the phone to my wife. You can't have it both ways. And this is not the American tradition and is a slope towards a lack of democracy I am not willing to move towards. But this is just my opinion.

So again, what do we do? We independents have unprecedented power...we just have not fully realized it yet. We can be the deciding factor in most elections once the lemmings of either party have already voted their straight party ticket. We can make them change. We can do this. Yes we can! All we have to do is keep thinking for ourselves, ask the critical questions and vote based on the issues. We have unprecedented access to information in this day and age...there is no reason for any of us to be blinded by the dazzle of some candidate or be spoon fed information by the evening news. We can choose to take the blue pill and wake up in our beds and make up whatever lie we want to justify supporting the status quo, or we can take the red pill and see the rabbit hole for what it is...and do something about it. We keep doing that...along with advocating the removal of corporate sponsorship of political campaigns...and we might finally have change we can believe in. Not all this rhetoric.

BTW...can someone tell me when and where in the constitution it was decreed that only Democrats and Republicans could run for office?

The elephant in the room

Within the past few weeks, we have seen angry people shouting at politicians over the issue of health care and taxes and the government in general. We have had our president compared to Hitler, the anti-Christ and just about every communist and socialist dictator that has ever existed. "We want our country back!" and signs calling for the death of anyone who dares threaten our liberty, presumably and specifically Obama's. We have even seen and heard a pastor of a church say that he prays for Obama's death.

With the exception of one, maybe a couple of other rare instances...the face of these protesters has been the angry white male. In fairness, I cannot say that this is typical of the entire demographic, but it is prevalent enough to be of note. I have not seen every town hall meeting and as of yet I have not seen a demographic breakdown of those that attend these tea parties, but there does seem to be a severe lack of people of color participating in this way. This is not to say that people of color have not organized and protested before. We all know that to be the case. But this seems to be something new and we collectively don't really know how to deal with it.

I would agree that the race issue isn't a factor in all of this if it weren't for those, even in the upper reaches of our government, who still believe that Obama is not truly a citizen. "Birthers' as I have heard them called, are mostly of one race, as are the tea party folks and those who are vehemently opposed to health care reform. Add to this your Limbaugh/Glenn Beck/Joe Scarborough/Sean Hannity claims that are believed by their loyal minions...and the conclusion seems to be pretty clear. Race is playing a role in this debate.

While I truly believe that these are not the views of the majority of Americans, my fear is that there may be one in that number that will take it upon himself or herself to rectify the situation. The CIA and FBI recently reported that the number of threats against Obama has exponentially increased over the last several weeks and that the number of threats to his well being has reached unprecedented numbers for any American president since they have started tracking the statistic.

It has always been a bit of an "inside joke" among blacks that the first black president (who clearly was not Clinton, BTW) would have to dodge bullets his entire presidency. However, the joke is no longer funny. While I intellectually have to support the freedom of speech, even for the Klan, I can't condone the reckless and irresponsible way that some in the media and even those I consider friends have thrown around this idea of threatening the president. What was unthinkable in the past several administrations is common place now. And it makes me fear for the man's safety and the future of our country. Is it any wonder that the man many believed to be the one mostly likely to be the first black president, Colin Powell, refused to even consider running for the office?

For the first time, I can look at a child of color and say with conviction "You can be anything you want to be..." without silently restraining myself to not say "...but be President of the United States." We face tremendous challenges today and in the future, and it will take all of us...no matter the color or gender...to work through this. If that means that somewhere there is a small Jewish girl who is learning lessons and growing up to become the President of the United States that leads the country out of war and poverty, creates sustainable economic growth and greater national security, I truly hope I am alive and sane enough to cast my vote for her. It is my hope that there are others out there who feel the same way and will help turn the direction of political discourse back to one of civility and reasonable and respectful opposition.

BONUS! Conspiracy theory special!

Is it me, or have we all been so caught up in this debate that we have kind of let the wars go unnoticed? I expected a huge uproar from people in this country about the deaths of Afghan civilians in the US-led NATO attack on some hijacked gas tankers. It is barely mentioned in the press. Of course, if you watch BBC or any other world news channel, you know that there is a LOT of coverage of it. Could this be a way to distract us from the fact that we haven't left Iraq just yet and the armed forces in Afghanistan (and to some extent Pakistan) have been stepped up. Kind of makes you wonder if we are being distracted on purpose, doesn't it?

Thanks for reading.

T

The debate (?) on Health Care Reform

Dear readers,

As always, I apologise for the long hiatus. The job search and my role as a domestic god and trophy husband has kept me pretty busy over the last several months. However, I feel the need to comment on the current debate.

For some of you that know me on my FB page, I made the following query:

"Here is a question for both sides on the health care issue: Say you undergo treatment for stage 4 cancer and actually survive. The price to keep you alive puts a strain on your finances where you almost lose your home not to mention the strain it puts on your personal relationships. You then lose your job and health coverage in the midst of your continuing treatment. What do you do?"

By way of full disclosure...this is pretty much autobiographical. So the issue is very close to home for me.

There are two sides to this thing...those for and those against. The passion is evident on both sides, however, the tactics and the strategies leave a bad taste in the mouth of this very proud and fiercely independent voter.

I will admit that I got pretty much whipped into a frenzy the other night while watching The Rachel Maddow Show as she exposed some of the so called "grassroots" organizations behind the recent "protests" at various congressional town halls across the country. My original post (yes, this is actually version #3) was a really long rant that pointed out the hypocrisy of these so called protests and their value to the debate. To be honest, it was more like a manifesto...and longer than it needed to be. However, it helped me get a lot of stuff off my chest and helped me calm down. With a cooler head, I type this now.

Those that know me well, and I do mean those of you who know and understand my political stance, know that I have a equal disdain for both political parties. I generally do not trust or believe much of what comes out of any politician's mouth...especially during a campaign year. But by way of trying to aide the dialogue, I humbly offer three and only three pieces of advice for each side and one for everyone:

For the Democrats/liberals/health care reformers:

1. You've done a really bad job of getting your message out. Your acting like a bunch of "smarter than anyone else in the room" school boys/girls and while you won "THE" election, all the other kids are starting to get pissed off at your attitude. Check that "...We know what's best for you..." stuff at the door and really start educating folks on your position. I'm currently available and I could help...for a fee of course.
2. Arm your supporters with information. This is basic Communications 101 here folks. There are a lot of folks out there willing to spread the word, but how can you expect them to explain it if even their local representative or senator has a tough time doing so?
3. Confront your critics. You have enough video footage and surveillance on these so called town hall protests to know what the "concerns" are. Clearly, and without the "attitude" mentioned above, state the facts. Answer each new "concern" and repeat. Over and over and over again. Stay on message. You know this stuff...you really don't need me to tell you, do you? And if you do, I am available for the right price.

For my Republican/conservative/anti-reform/Limbaugh minions:

1. The protests caught them off guard. You've made your point. Now back off! You risk overkill if you do this too long...and with that will come backlash. While you have your traditional base all worked up, you are risking irritating the vast majority of independents (there are more of us than you realize) and frankly ticking off all the younger voters that brought about this so called "change we can believe in". Just by way of the "circle of life" and statistics...this is a numbers game you will lose.
2. My #2 from above is the same for you, with one notable change: Arm your supporters with information. This is basic Communications 101 here folks. There are a lot of folks out there willing to spread the word, but arm them with facts instead of fear and conjecture. Again, there are many in your base that will believe everything you tell them because you are their trusted source of information. But don't forget that they have relatives that are younger with more access to the Internet and other media sources. If your scary bedtime stories start to be shown as the paranoid fairy tales of a delusional movement...you are toast.
3. Get the lobbyists, special interests and big (pharmaceutical) business out of your so called "grassroots" movement. You did a much better job of this during the "contract with America" days. Now you are just plain sloppy. These guys with the used car salesman grins and flimsy denials that they are "normal, average Americans" although they are multi-millionaires and corporate PR pros are hurting your cause. It is the height of hubris to think they can go on with a hostile media personality who has done their homework and expect to do well by regurgitating the "company line". Same goes for those puppets you've trotted out as your "real Americans". At least get them a proper teleprompter and an ear piece so you can help them. They get flustered on camera and start reading from the notes you gave them like mindless droids. Geesh! Again, I am available to either side for the right price...to serve as a consultant or work hands on.

Lastly, I refer back to my question much earlier in this piece and ask BOTH SIDES to stop playing politics. The race (and mid-term elections) will be won by those that really try to give the appearance of working together for a compromise instead of this endless bickering. Get it done. Neither side will get EVERYTHING they want, but this is obviously important enough of an issue to garner this much energy. Get it done. All of us sometimes quiet independents voters that you now covet so much will judge you not by how much you didn't do, but what you did do. Get it done. Get it done. Get it done.

Thanks for reading....

T

Spell check is NOT your friend...

If you use e-mail to communicate with the world, you have probably had the unfortunate instance of hitting the "send" button before realizing that you omitted a crucial word or letter. I've done this a few times myself, most notably realizing too late that I left out the "f" in the word "shift" or greeting someone with "hello" and forgetting to hit the "o" key. In your heart and mind, you truly believe you hit that important key, but for some reason the finger that you depended on to make that important strike did not perform and the word is left to ruin the meaning and intent of your note.

Technology is a great thing, but when we get too dependent on it, we neglect to do the things that we should do in order to ensure meaning. So we click on the "spell check" button thinking that this alone will be the last defence to protect us from making a fool of our selves through the printed word. Unfortunately, spell check only checks for the correct spelling of a word, not your intent.

So, as a public service, I implore you to proof read your note before hitting the send button and after you run spell check. It could mean the difference between discussing bathroom activities or the location of a very hot place. :-)

Why don't I believe in luck?

• luck
  1 a: a force that brings good fortune or adversity b: the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual 2: favoring chance

As I continue my job search, I've had occasion for people to wish me "good luck" on my interview or my job search in general. Most times I let it pass and thank the person for their well wishes. Other times, I tell the person "I don't believe in luck...I believe in blessings." Of course, you have to be careful these days when you tell people something like that, as they may immediately write you off as some religious fanatic or take some offence to their friendly wish being somewhat rebuffed. However, I sometimes try to explain my view of the world and how it relates to luck.

To add to the definition above, I view luck as something that is purely random. With that said, I also do not think "luck" itself can be good or bad, nor do I believe that you can bestow it on someone by wishing it to them. It is just a way for us to conveniently explain and categorize things that we may not be able to explain any other way. Sort of like how some people view spirituality.

I am one of those that believes that everything happens for a reason. Even the smallest most mundane event is important in the shaping of the next and future events. I believe that we are all presented with a series of options that we constantly have to make decisions about. Sometimes we make the right decisions and have a positive outcome. Sometimes we make the wrong decision and get the opposite result.

I relate life to poker. You are dealt a certain set of cards and your success or failure depends on what you do with them. Your decision to raise, check or fold not only has an immediate effect, but also can shape the way the other players (or the rest of the world) reacts and interacts with you. I could write an entire dissertation on the subject, but I'm sure that would only bore you. To sum this metaphor up, while the order of cards and the way they are dealt may be random, it is what you decide to do with the cards you are dealt that has the greatest impact on the outcome. Luck has little to do with it.

So, the next time someone is about to embark on some important endeavor...send them positive vibes, tell them you are praying for them or tell them you know that they will make the right decisions. Because in the end, luck has little to do with it. :-)

The only thing we have to fear...

Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been busy trying to find gainful employment while realizing that I may not be cut out to be a househusband after all. I love my kids...really I do, but I really need to get away and do some corporate stuff...you know...involve myself in a change management project that does not involve Webkins...but enough about me!

I am a recovering news junkie. I mean to the point that I had every cable news channel speed dialed on my remote. I have an entire section of my "Favorites" on IE dedicated to just news. But over the last several weeks...I've not used them. It is mainly because the news...is depressing. It is downright suicidal inducing. Now, don't get me wrong or jump to any conclusions...because I am not in that kind of frame of mind. It is just not conducive to maintaining my positive outlook and attitude to watch the news anymore. They are preaching fear.

I wonder if the media even gets that their fear-mongering is perpetuating the problems in the economy. I'm no Warren Buffet, but if you tune in and hear "The economy is tanking! Save what you can! We all are going to lose are 401Ks!", wouldn't you start to cut back on your spending? Wouldn't you rethink brand name and generic? We've created a self-perpetuating prophesy and we can't get out of the circle.

I don't operate from a place of fear. Yes, I occasionally fall into it "Oh honey, we just don't have the money to go to McDonald's." But then I catch myself and go have a double quarter-pounder with cheese and a medium coke and get two Happy Meals and watch my son go in an endless loop on the indoor play area. Why? Because I think spending my hard earned severance package money from when I got laid off is one of the most patriotic things I can do. I am going to help this economy get back on its feet by continuing to buy the things we need and some of the things we want. Because in the end...it is not Obama or the congress or those (expletive deleted) guys on Wall St. that will pull us out of this mess. It is you, me and every other average Joe and Jane that has the guts to go to Walmart and ring up a $200 grocery bill. Let those guys in DC do what they are going to do. WE have to take control of our destiny.

Do not live in fear. Use CASH instead of credit and be sensible and we will all be OK. We're in this together...and together, we will survive it.

Thanks for reading!

Change gonna come...but can we deal with it?

For the past few days, we've been listening to the reports about the "stimulus" and the "housing recovery" plans, and it strikes me that for as well as the current administration took advantage of new media during the campaign...they have failed to realize the impact it will continue to have throughout the new President's term and from now on. The White House press corps is no longer the gateway to the American ear. There are literally thousands, if not millions of "reporters" and "pundits" across the globe right now doing the same thing I am doing...putting their thoughts and opinions about what is going on out to the universe.

You can start to see the gradual shift of the information flow going back to more traditional mediums. Unfortunately, the landscape has changed. If the present administration continues to slip into the business as usual, same ol' same ol' way of getting their message out...the "change" everyone was expecting will start to seem hollow. The super powers we thought Obama had will start to seem like fiction, and we will all feel the same sense of disappointment that the power of change cannot stand up against the power of Old School DC.

I'm no mathematician...but just take a simple man's look at the numbers. The stimulus bill will save or create 3 million jobs. The unemployment rate today is 5 million. The housing bill will potentially help 8-9 million. The number of homes that are in or close to foreclosure is 27 million. My daughter is pretty good at math...and she knows that these numbers don't add up.

The administration needs to get back to its new media roots and keep people engaged, informed and educated. They are leaving this up to the masses of mass media out there, and people are starting to realize that these guys are only human. This would be OK if they presented themselves as humans up front. The hype was worn like a cape, the speeches and the cute phrasing the mask of the hero. But they are starting to learn the lesson of many a super hero in the pages of Marvel and DC...the hero is only as loved as their last rescue.

Why is it that politicians can't KISS?

Keep it simple, stupid!

Until someone offers to pay me for doing it...I don't plan to try and read through the entire stimulus bill. I am sure there is some really important information in there, but why is it that these people we elected to represent us can't just make a document that every Tom, Teresa, Dick, Darlene, Harry and Harriet can understand? Did we really need 1700+ pages for this thing?

Not to mention, not even President Articulate-one can adequately explain some of the "non-stimulus" stuff in the bill. He sort of throws a lot of words at us in a very passionate and well meaning way, and we are supposed to be appeased by that. Can he really keep hope alive?

I agree with my wife, use the money to pay-off or pay down people's mortgages...using some criterion of course. I don't think we should pardon the stupid, just as we should not reward the crooked. But there are people (like myself) who really are in bad situations by circumstance and no fault of their own. I mean, I only wanted to stay alive after being diagnosed with cancer, is that so wrong? Who knew it would suck all of our resources...even with two insurances?

Then that takes us to health care...and an entire alternate debate.

So I've been given the opportunity to explore other employment options...

...Which basically means I was laid off. the one thing I counted on when I began working for the company is the stability. I worked at a telecom/Internet company back in the late 90's and early 2000's and did the job/company/merger shuffle during the industry hey day. Then I had misfortune to end up at WorldCom. I was going down with the ship until...Texas instruments threw me a life preserver. I was happy, since it seemed like most people die or retire from there. I was happy to do my thing there and slowly creep up the ladder (note the reference to death and retirement...advancement can be slow). But then...the recession came. And after six years, three kids, one successful fight with cancer and a couple of close calls with foreclosure...I am now looking for a new gig.

But hey! This could be the greatest thing that ever happened to me, right?

So, while I have some extra time on my hands...I figured i would start to blog.

My focus will be on subjects concerning how we communicate with each other...and how we shouldn't. I may occasionally drift into politics, religion and other controversial topics.

I can also get a little philosophical on occasion. I try not to preach...but I can go on my rants.

So, for now...that is my first post. We'll see how popular this gets.