Inauguration 2009: Be Heard

With five days and counting, President-elect Obama is providing Americans with an opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions with the incoming administration. Worried about the economy? Think health insurance needs immediate attention? Do you want the new president to focus first on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Here’s your chance to have a say.

Share your ideas on any issue facing the new administration, then rate or comment on other ideas. The best rated ideas will rise to the top — and be gathered into a Citizen’s Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama after he is sworn in.”

Filed under: Around Town, featured, Inauguration 2009, inspiration point, dialogue, public opinion, take action

Feelings run deep

McCain is teasing that he’s going to give Obama a butt-whipping during tonight’s debate. My 401K is half, literally HALF, of what it was 2 months ago and the republican candidate is more interested in name calling and fighting than in explaining to me how he plans to give me my money back.

Then there’s the screaming mob that shows up outside every McCain/Palin event. I haven’t seen any footage of these crazy people showing up at Obama events in protest. I think it’s telling that this frenzy only appears with McCain.

Filed under: campaign 2008, featured, freedom of speech, bipartisan?, hate, outrage

An American Life – past and present

Times sure have changed.

In 1999 a 2-bedroom with 2-bath condo in Dupont Circle sold for $150,000, gas cost $1.25 per gallon, a round-trip flight landing in Amsterdam and returning from Paris sold for $375, and $1US pretty much equaled €1 EUR.

In 1999 I made half my salary today. And that salary paid for rent, student loans, trips to Europe, and classes at local universities. Let me tell you, I had no complaints.

Today the property that sold for $150,000 costs $575,000, gas rose from $1.25 to $3.60, a nonstop round-trip ticket from DC to Amsterdam in April increased from $375 to $1014, and the $1US converts to €.70 EUR.

I look at my standard of living today after these last eight years, and remember how far my dollar stretched in 1999, and let me tell you… I’m pissed.

Filed under: eye opener, featured, freedom of speech, money, politics, questions