Whose Responsible for the Economy?

(This is what I would say if I were running for president.)

My friends, I know we are all worried about the economy right now, but fear not. Yes, we are experiencing one of the hardest economic times in recent memory, but things are still good. We still have food to eat and are coming together to make sure we all have a roof over our heads. It could be worse. Remember this.

Now I won't stand here and say that the economy is hunky-dory and we are doing just fine. Everyone from the investors on Wall Street to the corn growers in Iowa know that we are being effected by the bad decisions of a few institutions.

I will tell you this, however it is going to get better very soon. America cannot be kept down. We will bound back and be even stronger than ever.

Now in order to do this we much all stand strong and stand together.

As president, I will do my part to make sure that the government is watching out for its citizens. I will make sure that our workers, with every color collar, do not go without the basic things we need in life. To ensure a healthy democracy we need healthy people out there doing what needs to be done.

That said, I want you to know that the huge businesses that helped cause this mess will likely not be around much longer. The government will help the people. That's its job. But we will not provide a free pass to those who cannot create a stable marketplace for our investments.

This is what I will do. While we are concerned about specifics right now, I promise that this spirit will be in whatever economic plans I support.

Now this isn't enough however. I need, We need, America needs you all to be patient. It is hard right now to sit back and watch the news and the rest of the media sound like Nostradamus soothsaying or investments away. There is the temptation to pull your money out of the economy. Don't do this.

Your savings in your bank accounts are insured. The government will pick up the slack if it came to that, but that is not an issue thanks to FDIC. The reason we insure your accounts is so that you can keep your money in the bank. This keeps the banks strong. If you were to take back your money and put it in a hole in the ground then the banks would have no way to play their parts in the economy.

Along with staying calm I ask for us all to spend the next few months living frugally. This doesn't necessarily mean tightening our belts, but it does mean simply paying attention to what we are spending our money on. If you want to make sure that your money is safe start with looking at how most of us loose most of our money, living beyond our means.

If we simply spend wisely and save over the coming times we will soon be able to bring our economy back to where it was not too long ago.

You do that and I will keep of my end of the deal.

You probably already heard this...

Here is a great interview with Slavoj Zizek. I love listening to this guy.

Birthday Thoughts

I recently turned 22 and have a lot to think about in terms of what I want to do in life. But here are a few things that I would love to do:

Join the Peace Corps - I would love to be able to be some place new and exciting while doing good work. To me this really does seem like the best way to do just that. I am not sure if I have the moxie to do that or the ability to leave the ones I love for two years though.

Teach my way through grad school - If I could spend my time doing research with some interesting professor while doing my own studies and teaching in some capacity I would be happy. It is all a lot of work. More than I have ever had before, but I think I could do a good job of this and maybe give up a bit of the leisure time I actually have so much of now a days. I just need to find a place where I could do this.

Write a book - If I starting really doing research and writing more full time I could very quickly produce a book that would change the world. My ideas and the things I am looking at go so deeply into the way most of us (here in the West) interact with the world. All I need is to put my mind to it.

Have the confidence to be happy - There are times when I go to bed or wake up with the feeling that I am not doing anything in my life that is meaningful or that will make me happy in the long run. While the majority of the day assuages these feelings, I still worry sometimes. To find the confidence I need I just need to be willing to set my mind directly on the path in life I am walking and accept that no matter which direction I go everything will be wonderful.

Sarah Palin and the McCain Campaign

These people just make me feel dirty.