Bailout

In order for me to condone financial support of Detroit, I require that they abandon their unimaginative business plan that addresses the buying habits of a 10-year old consumer environment, and focus on what consumers want to buy today. But that’s not possible.

It’s not possible because Detroit long ago ignored the value of innovation and creative solutions. U.S. automakers are currently unable to respond to a consumer market that prioritizes fuel-efficient transportation over wasteful SUVs and large trucks because they failed to anticipate and prepare. They allowed the business of new technology to become the domain of Japanese Automakers.

As I write this, the ink is not yet dry on the year-end bonus checks that the Wall Street elite recently wrote themselves. Even if my government learned nothing from bankrolling the financial instrument of Wall Street with few conditions, I have. I understand that people who are corrupt cannot be relied upon to use good judgment when the only virtue they use for guidance is avarice (if I'm being honest, I knew that before the bailout was implemented. I think that most people knew that). Due to the absence of firm restrictions and regulations, I opposed the Wall Street bailout.  

I emphatically object to financial support of the auto industry.

I object because doing so is a waste of money. U.S. automakers have only themselves to blame, and they are the architects of their own demise.

Detroit lobbyists have a long history in Washington. If financial support for Detroit is approved, it will signal only that our representation is as irresponsible as Detroit.

I sent this to my U.S. representation this morning. If this mirrors your attitude toward the bailout, please lift the whole thing, paraphrase, whatever. Just please, contact your legislators and inform them of your position on the bailout of Detroit.

How about that?

I turned off the television at around 9 o'clock last night. I didn't have it in me to watch the results go back and forth until it was decided.

Turner woke me a little after 2am to go out to the bathroom. After we were back inside the house, I flipped on the TV, and Jesse Jackson's tearful face filled the screen. Then, I watched as Barack & Michelle Obama walked offstage.  I thought, "So. That's that."

I kept the TV on a few minutes longer to learn the verdict of the local elections. Then I saw that I'd misunderstood. Barack Obama IS our new president.

I wanted Hillary. 

I thought that Obama degraded himself and Hillary in the primary. I didn't think that I would ever vote for him. Maybe he regretted his actions during the primary. He took the high road in the general election. It was nice to see. 

After thoroughly reading Obama's and McCain's plans, my mind was made up for Obama. Not because I'm a generous person, but because I know that if Obama is successful, then everyone in America wins; the quality of life for all Americans will improve while at the same time paying fewer taxes.

Under McCain, only the rich win. 

Everyone wins because better education equals less crime. That is a well documented fact. Law enforcement costs a boatload of money, and all of the money saved with the reduced investment in law enforcement and jails means more money for everything else. It also means that we are all safer. All of us.

Our present healthcare system is bankrupting America. When those who don't have insurance use the emergency room as their primary care physician (because they can't be turned away), our municipalities are stuck with the bill. People who do have insurance are still left with so many out-of-pocket costs that many are selling their homes to pay their bills. Even worse, people losing their homes to foreclosure due to healthcare costs monopolizing their finances. Thanks to our broken healthcare/insurance system, this country is going down in flames.

Bush's actions - such as invading and occupying soverign nations - have made America MORE vulunerable than ever in our history. Bush has taken this country down with this war. Bush, not the terrorists. 

Over the past seven years, fascism has infected our nation. No one can disagree with a complete moron without being labled unpatriotic or a terrorist. I am looking forward to once again becoming a nation where free speech is tolerated.

A woman once turned to me and said, "You would probably blow up a plane." I answered, "I don't believe in terrorism. I also do not condone the illegal activities my government is perpetrating in my name. Their actions jeopardize my life and the safety of all of us. The fact that you would associate me with a terrorist act, simply because I openly disagree with my government says more about you than it does about me." 

This country deserves better than a mediocre (at best) person sitting in the oval office. It came very close to electing another mediocre person. Now, we have Barack Obama. He is a brillant man.

I am not so carried away that I fail to recognize that America reaps what it sows in it's anemic public education system. We remain a nation of idiots. In the same way that many who voted for Bush the previous two elections did so for the wrong reasons, many of those who voted for Obama, did so for the wrong reasons. However, this time Obama is the right choice.

America is changing.

Done!

Early voting in Florida started last Monday. The idea was implemented several years ago to accommodate voters who wanted more flexibility than what one day offers, who also didn't want to go the absentee route.

It was reported on last night's 11 o'clock news that the governor mandated that starting today, all early voting locations would open at 7am, and remain open until 7pm. Steven and I agreed that Orlando is populated by morons, and that No One watches the news. We decided to take advantage of the mandate by getting to our polling place early, zipping in, zipping out, no fuss, no muss.

When we arrived, we discovered that at least 200 of our neighbors watch the news. It still took us nearly an hour to vote. But, we did our part.

Considering how long it took us to vote this morning, and considering that relatively speaking the line was short, I realize that people I saw yesterday waited in line to vote for HOURS. 

I commented to Steve that the joke is going to be on us. Come next Tuesday, because everyone has been voting early, they are going to be listening to the grass grow in the polling places. Also, for early voting, they offer one polling place for 10 precincts, so over ten thousand of us have converged on one building, whereas on election day, everything will again be divided.

Voting, or not

On the way to vote today, the first thing I saw when I neared the polling center was this.

Then I saw this...

and this...

and this.

The line continued for a block beyond the boundary of this picture. So, I turned around and went home. I hope to get the chance to vote later this week. I hope.

I admire these folks. They are waiting in line no less than an hour for their turn to vote. It is amazing what is happening this year.

I used to be friends with a girl with whom I went around and around about voting. She insisted that it didn't matter whether or not we voted. I passionately argued that it did. It wasn't until I witnessed the scores of black Americans lined up at the polls for early voting that the penny dropped. I'd never noticed many blacks voting. Then I wondered how, before this year, I ever thought my vote mattered.

Prior to this year, my only presidential choice has been old white guy, or the other old white guy. That's it. Old white guys. Rich old white guys. What does a wealthy old white guy know about being a poor white girl? Nothing. They don't know the first thing about being discriminated against.

I grew up listenting to my father pontificate about "reverse discrimination". As a professional who formerly worked in an EO office, I know for a fact that a reverse discrimination claim is the excuse that nearly all inept and useless white men use for their lack of professional success. I had a front-row seat to the workings of EEO/AA, and the fact is, the number one choice of hiring managers (remembering that over 90% of hiring managers are white male), is a white male. The ONLY way that a white male won't be hired is if he is a COMPLETE loser (partial losers are acceptable). 

Anyway, this is the first time in my life, that I have a chance to be represented in our highest governmental position. I don't know how to describe my feelings about this, but I am excited. I consider Senator Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope". That is how I feel - brave, brave enough to believe in a better America.

Yes, if it comes down to it, I will wait in a line for over an hour. I have to. Not just for the presidential election, but for all of the others. The religious crazies are at it again - trying to keep the absurdity of marriage to themselves. Share the stupidity people! Seriously! No on 2!

Then, there's the piddly county stuff. The members of the Orange County Commission are  devoid of ethics, and don't have the sense to say NO to kickbacks. So, there's a measure on the ballot, that (if it passes), will make it illegal for them to accept gifts. God, deliver me from these jackasses.