GOP

While the economy continues to fall (with some fluctuation), the car manufacturers threaten bankruptcy, nearly every good up in price, while the dollar and mean family income continue to fall; the republicans continue to make theoretical arguments. The party that, since Reagan, owned economic debates in this country, continues to make those same points of free markets. But how many bailouts, corrections, reductions in interest rates, stimulus packages do we have to have to iterate the end of absolute free markets? The most problematic thing for the GOP though is that these principles, of the Reagan years, are outdated (maybe not completely wrong); and more shockingly, GOPers are more interested in arguing those points than dealing with the current realities.

While you argue about market forces and good companies surviving and bad companies not, a single mother of two loses her job and is forced to collect unemployment. While you talk about Fannie & Freddie problems, people continue to go into foreclosure on their houses, if they aren't already upside down on their mortgages. As you talk about health care tax credits and student loan relief, everyday people cannot afford the medicine or care that they need to do their jobs efficiently or get the loans necessary for an invest in college education. And while the country has been facing difficult decisions about future answers for problems, republicans or those of that ilk, have been arguing unrealistic answers from outdated economic theory.

This is a time for answers, like helping our car industry transition into the 21st century. Aiding every student that has the qualifications fund their college education and then repay that investment through some type of service. Rebuild our infrastructure, remodel our public education system, stop our military adventurism, and figure out a sound plan to fade out our need on [foreign] oil.

This is not a normal situation. This is not a time to make arguments just for the sake of arguing or being 'principled'. This is a time to look at every situation individually and carefully, and weigh consequences of inaction with the potential breach of some so-called principles. Time to stop talking, campaigning, and maneuvering and start coming up with plans that will produce actions to get our country back ecomomically, educationally, and internationally to the ideals that we all have of what I country should be.

Time to leave our 'grand ole' ideals and join a new party.

What A Night!

So as I set in my electrophysiology study session, I couldn't help but be distracted by the events of the night. The dawning of a new day in America, the possibility of the first black president. I was one of the non-believers, never thinking that America could elect someone like Barack Obama -- hoping to be wrong. Well, my hopes were affirmed.

I usually do not talk in such platitudes or hyperbole, but what a night. My mother called me and told me how proud she was of me; how grateful she was to see this day. My father called me and said that this moment is all that he's worked for. He even mentioned, that [Obama] could be me on stage. But he mentioned, tearfully, that it was not about being on stage politically. But having a dream and a passion, and being given the opportunity to go for it. He was proud that I was doing such.

What struck me most about the night wasn't the speeches, the pundits' comments, etc. were the powerful images. Not so much about Obama's race and ethnicity, but the race, political affiliation, nationality, and ethnicity of those who were in the crowds in downtown Chicago. The identity of those who crossed party, philosophical, or other lines to vote for true change. That's what is so great about this moment, about this night. That Barack Obama represents something more than the existence of Barack Obama as president -- although the substance he brings is important. Rather he represents that we all share the same worries (about the same problems), are afflicted by the same diseases, and lifted by the same praises. We are all one! We should set aside racial differences, whether they be in who we marry, where we [would] live, who we would befriend, etc. and realize that the strength of the future america is in our unity and togetherness.

I am tonight, glad to have lived, to see my parents see an African-American nominated and elected to the presidency. The trials and pain that the had to endure during their youth and early adulthood for my future, hopefully today, is vindicated. I sincerely hope that this is an stentorian announcement for my generation: if we work hard, stand up and (most importatnly) stand together "impossible is nothing".

(deep breath)...what a night!