Alright, the primaries are over and we finally have a democratic nominee. It's time to get down to business. I'm going to be honest, I haven't been following this race very closely. Mostly because it bothers me when no one speaks about important issues. My biggest desire I want out of the next president is someone who can
do things. Not only talk about change, but enact change. I haven't heard any candidate speak about how they are going to make coalitions, bring our nation together and accomplish great things. Maybe that democratic agenda that was supposed to be enacted 2 years ago. I'm incredibly disappointed in our democrats for not actually
doing anything despite having a majority in congress. The next president needs to actually put words into actions, I hope Mr. Obama will not disappoint.
Here are some things I would love to have considered for the future:
- Alternative energy solutions - maybe change all subsidies for alternative energy from something specific (corn ethanol) to something general to promote new solutions
- End oil subsidies - to make oil companies accountable for the prices they charge and create fair competition for new fuels
- Getting out of perpetual wars - creating war does not create peace, I would like to see actions in the Middle East that encourage education and mutual understanding so that we may all understand each other.
- Putting money into education - I believe the most important part of any one's life is to be educated. Allowing college tuition to increase without a comparable increase in the quality of the education or utility of degree is deplorable and putting today's educated population deeply into debt without anything to show for it. Increasing the intellectual challenges of high schools or offering alternatives for students who seek a different place to learn.
Here is what I don't want to hear anymore about because they are issues not pertinent to an intelligent discussion of the future (in another list):
- Barak Obama's former pastor
- Whether Barak Obama stands/puts his hand on his heart during the pledge of allegiance
- Barak Obama being a Muslim - even if he was, what does it matter? Don't be a bigot.
- Hillary Clinton not dumping Bill Clinton after Monica - that's in the past and very personal, wouldn't you rather have a president who could love and forgive than one who was vengeful and spiteful?
- Women can't lead countries because other nations wouldn't respect them - this is just ridiculous because women lead other countries too.
Andy graduated! We're by the flowers in front of Northrup.
Aunt Jean in front of Rick's tree in Rockville.
Mark, Nancy, Mom and I at the Indy 500.
Top three: Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan on a yellow.
Our view of the pagoda during clean
Chip and I took a walk and this field hasn't been planted yet.
Probably the cutest picture of Chip ever taken.
Little Chip in a big wide world.