stimulus

Well, several weeks into the Obama administration has come down to the question of what is proper stimulus? I have an answer...do nothing. To all of my free-market friends, here would be the best chance to see you pure market-forces at work. There are tons of jobs that need to be done in America and there's a demand for such to be done (even if contracted by the government). From falling bridges to the needed creation of a 'green' economy. Since the private sector always does things better than government and well, here's their chance to invest and making a killing in the future. They have the means, and should, have the incentive to do such.

There's a problem though, they do not want to risk the investment. They are holding their money, just as normal Americans are, in case the current economic problems get worse. This is the problem with this utopian, narrow-minded view of capitalism and the markets that make it up. The assumption that government is always the boggy man and that private industry is always the victim. The truth this time around, is more close to a role reversal. Since, private industry won't invest in things that people need and people want, the government in the name of stimulating the economy, has to do such investment.

What a dangerous precedent. That the government is going to do something that private industry won't dare touch (sarcasm). We should be fearful of the socialists and commis.

No wait, this happens all the time. Schools, scientific research, hospitals, etc. -- there are various things that have high demand for a service, but no business (at least in most cases) would dare invest in such a venture. There is a role for government, more overarching than just an over-blown military and the building of more Nucs. Sometimes the government has to help business, say in building sports stadiums, and some times government is the itself business, say in water treatment plants.

We don't live in a perfect world, no need believing we do. Sometimes they're exceptions to rules that indeed threaten the theories that underlie the greatest of this country. But when such exceptions are done to protect the America people, and in this case, the world...theories conceived in other more idealistic times should be a secondary thought.

If you want stimulus (according to the free markets experts of late) give incentives to banks to lend again to spur investment and people to spend again. Rationale: Our economy is not built on production anymore, but consumption and innovation. Problem: If both are stimulated, at least for the short run, we might have the ability to run 'this track' and if we are lucky sometime much later in the future be back in the same spot were in now (rather than facing that fate now). That time being when people run out of 'stimulating' money or the banks are not liquid anymore and again stop lending.

Instead, if we want to get out of this cycle for the foreseeable future, I say build up America (like Iraq and all the other nation building we have been doing lately) and develop the green economy. This will provide long lasting jobs, economic stimulation, and a better America paid and done by the government. What a terrible proposition, the government doing something that will benefit the people. Sometimes I think that my more conservatively minded friends want to see the government fail to more factually justify their philosophy.

As the story goes, you can give a man a fish and he eats for a day[crisis], but if you teach him how to fish...

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!

The Greatest Thing I Know

No words, favors, kisses, and/or cards could ever fully thank you for what you have done for me. For the times when you gave me your last [of something], or gave me something when you didn't have it to give. For the times when I struggled and faltered, you reassured me that if no one else in the world believes in me, you did. For the countless times you said, "I love you" and the countable things you did to reinforce that statement. For all the sacrifices, all the struggles, and pain that you have gone through to make it so that I could live a better life -- thank you.

Fully entering into adulthood, with college behind me and opportunities ahead (I pray), I can only really attribute all of my major and minor success to one person -- you. You have been at ever recital, graduation, meeting, practice, concert, and recognition ceremony cheering me along. And as I go and embark on new challenges, more difficult and pressured, I know that sincerely know that I have a person in my life that will continue to (uninhibitedly) cheer me on.

As I sit in a new place, making new friends, and learning new things -- I can't help but think out my old place and old friends, and those things that I KNEW. While high school friendships have faded and the places where I grew up have change, the most important thing in my past and has stayed present.

So as I get nervous about how'll I do on the next test, in this program, in this city -- in the future; I know that I have someone who has always been there and (the greatest thing I know) will always be.

Thanks, Mom!

Grateful Son

Are the fundamentals, fundamental?

I am so sick and tired of John McCain using the word [in different modifying ways], "fundamental", to describe everything that he has ever believed. "The fundamentals of the economy are sound", "I am fundamentally a deregulator", "there are fundamental differences between me and Senator Obama (nice grammar), "I fundamentally believe...

Can't he just believe, or think, or know, or whatever -- without it being fundamental? Does everything anyone believe have to be fundamental? The use of the word, or rather the abuse, has been to his detriment these pass few days.

If he wants an idea on how to slow the sliding in the polls, maybe he should "fundamentally" change his campaign. Stop doing so many stunts, suspensions of campaigns (stupid), and advertising that Obama was in favor of teaching small kids sex ed, over having his running mate talk about how she can see Russia from Alaska -- that makes me want to trust you with foreign policy. He needs to do what other politicans would/have done in pass in his position. Talk about the substantive differences between you and your opponent, and make the decision people will be making in a little over a month, a decision about "fundamental" policy differences -- and not you supposed fundamentals.

Sen. McCain the fundamentals of your campaign are sound. Familar?

Thanks, IU

Its been often said that you never know how good you have it, until you have it no more. True, most of the time. But since the beginning at IU, I knew my time there would be great, and that when I left, I would truly miss it. There wasn't real proof of this though, until I left last fall for graduate school in Chicago/Evanston. I wondered, mostly to myself, who would I meet there and where would this school, city and experience take me (in life)?

I have been surprised at the people I have met, the places I have seen, and the academics of whom I have learned and benefit from thus far (and its only the second quarter). I am happy here, at least now! But I do miss IU. The hper were I have played countless games of basketball, assembly hall were I remember the Duke game (classic) and all three different coaches that were their during my time there. I'll miss the 'greatest college weekend' lil 5 and all of its glory (although, I never went to a single race) or numbers of friends that I made in which, most likely, I won't ever see again!

Some of these things are normal of an undergraduate experience. You miss what you have had for a long time, just like high
school; but eventually you get over it. While I take that into consideration, my time at IU was more than just a normal 'rite of
passage' for an eighteen year old kid. I grew up there! When I came to IU I had no friends, and knew no one from my city, state, or high school that would be attending. I remember my mother leaving (not crying, but probably wanting to) and the heat from the day, and thinking 'here we go'. I gave her a big hug, shut the door and in some ways, said goodbye to home for first time. My new home being not in Ohio or Indiana, but IU.

I cannot recount all the good/bad experiences that I have had at IU, but I take them together as the best experience I have ever had! I owe a lot to my current and future success to the people who make (made) up IU. So thanks to you! Thanks to IU.

Back of the Bus Mentality

"Four score and seven[ral] years ago", approximately, America was different. Much different to be inexact. Discrimination was still codified into laws, if not explicitly they were present in the spirit of the laws implicitly. Then people started to organize, sat at the fronts of the bus, sat at restaurants is which they were forbade to enter; then they marched, and spoke out, not with hate or violence; but peacefully. They, however, weren't the only one's sitting. The US government sat by and watched a race of people get publicly beaten, admonished, and disgraced.

Today is a new day. Not just because B. Obama is president. That's only part of the reason. Today is a new day because, we [blacks] can choose to sit in the back of the bus (or wherever we choose). The irony of the situation is that we choose to sit exactly in the 'spot(s)' of which our foremothers/forefathers died to move from and not be held to. I dont know if it is homage to the past from the present or comfortability. No longer we cannot sit! Sitting was the means to which our ancestors wanted us to stand. And not to stand ambiguously for anything, but to stand for something and be heard!

I think, at least for me, that's the biggest message I take away from the plight of B. Obama. That I don't choose to sit and be inactive. I instead choose to lead, to make something of myself, to uplift my community and to unite those who are not immediately in it. Sitting in America today just won't cut it. Sitting in the back won't help!

But there's more than just the inaction that sitting in the back denotes, its the mentality that now we can rest. The rationale being, since overt discrimination is (for the most part) over and because we have a black president -- we can relax. If there ever were a time post-civil rights that we should move, its now! Now is the time to continue educational, entrepreneurial, political, etc. goals. Now is the time to not feel repressed, but to rather feel motivated to take the chance and live out whatever your dream(s) is/are.

I say to anyone reading, whatever race or identity you assume, today is not the day to sit in the back! Rather this time is about forward movement.