Thanksgiving

As we celebrate the American holiday of thanksgiving, I am mindful of the people who have made my life so complete. They include not only my loving spouse, and children, but the people with whom we have shared this day throughout the years: family members, college friends, friends from our children's colleges, their parents and siblings, fellow workers. There is always one above all, and that would be my parents who taught us how to celebrate these times at their magnificent dining room table, that seemed to extend forever from room to room. There was bounty, welcoming, laughter, and stories from everyday life.

There were five of us children who grew up together. Invitations to another person's table were rare. So we had our feast, and Dad would invite his co-workers from Montgomery Ward to share our good time. It was fun, special and inspiring. Sometimes, it was Mom's relatives, or Dad's siblings.

The common thread was the love, the laughter, and the bounty, all for which we gave, and continue to give thanks.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Bail out the consumer

The Federal government is taking its time producing an impact on the world economy, so I offer some "what ifs" for those in charge.

If it is important to help homeowners stay in their home, why not require banks to sit down with people who are in danger of being foreclosed upon, and renegotiate the loan so that it is affordable to them, by lowering the interest rate and extending the term. If the house is still unaffordable, then reality may require either steps to make it affordable, maybe an additional low interest loan from the feds would be in order; and maybe it will continue to be unaffordable, at which time the bank might become the property owner, and and contract with the owner to become the renter in a rent to buy arrangement.

The other banking crimes that should be addressed are interest rates and penalties on credit cards. There are some who buy things on credit that they cannot and need not afford. Maybe a penalty is in order, but not necessarily an interest rate hike. The whole point of credit cards is to keep people buying, not to drive them into the poor house which is counterproductive.

Credit card interest should be capped at between 12 and 15 percent (my arbitrary numbers, so I don't sound like I am too anti-bank). The interest should be able to be calculated easily over a period of time, and statements from the credit card companies should reflect not just the minimum payment due, but the advantage of paying off completely or in larger installments. Same as cash options should become a rule rather than an exception.

So these are my two "what ifs" for the feds to consider. Neither would cost much to them. People would be happy and the economy would have the cash needed to carry on.

• Keep people in their homes by renegotiating mortgages.

• Cut interest rates and penalties on credit cards.

The country would be a better place.

What if Osama bin Laden is dead!

Osama bin Laden is probably the most hated man in America's eyes. He is to be pursued unto death. Yet, no one has heard from him since 2001. There was a report on CNN today that said, if you talk to the intelligence community, about half of those in the know think he is alive, and the other half think he is dead.

What if our policies reflected the opinion of the half that think he is dead. What if we declared him dead, "mission accomplished", and with a wary eye to the alternative possibility, went about a different agenda for America.

Perhaps we could focus on the Taliban, and its influence in Afghanistan, and other Muslim countries. Probably we could stop dropping missiles into the huts on the hillsides of our allies, and prevent loss of more innocent life. Maybe we could build positive relationships with the nearly one-third of the world which calls itself Muslim, and assist those people as they try to move forward into a modern society. Surely our resources would not be so strained and wasted as we pursue an illusive, if alive, foe. And there is a possibility that the world's most wanted would venture out of his cave when the heat is off, and suffer the consequences of his folly.

I don't know the answer, but perhaps declaring victory, and remaining vigilant would free us from the demons of hate which have possessed and consumed us for so long.

The Constitution

I have posted a link to the United States Constitution on this Blog. As I realized the number of propositions which were on the ballots of states across the country, I was curious about the actual safeguards for all people in the constitution. Somewhere I had read that "the rights of individual citizens shall not be abridged. " And there it was, article 14 which reads: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

This is and amazing concept, which has huge ramifications for all of us, and which will always be the subject of debate. This is part of what men and women have fought and died for, and what is missing in those parts of the world where there is no democracy. It applies to all people in the United States and subject to the laws of the U.S. "Equal protection" is what makes America great. Some of the propositions which were voted on will be overturned because of the 14th amendment. The propositions "abridge rights".

It's also rather good to know that the propositions were on the ballots because of the constitution.

Amendment 2: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

What a great country!

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Election Look

As I thought about the elation I feel about the election of Barack Obama, I have no illusions about the road ahead. I realize that a large part of my good feelings come because we probably have already been through one of the roughest periods in American history since the great depression, namely the two terms of George W. Bush. This election has been more about that than any one or any thing else. I do think that the promise and unifying message of Barack Obama has uplifted the dialogue and will set us on a path to recovery. If his candidacy was an uphill climb, the road ahead for America is also steep.

Election Day- Hope returns

Since Robert Kennedy was campaining for president in 1968, I have not been filled with the hope that I have today as America stands on the verge of electing Barack Obama. He will not handle everything. He is not a miracle worker. But I think he will try to solve problems instead of just managing them. I think he will be a great president.