Upcoming Election
11/02/2008

This last Halloween seemed especially scary to me. Perhaps that's because the election is just a few days away. I've tried so hard to make sense of it all. I've watched election coverage every night and tried to research all the candidates in the various elections the best I could. I can safely say I am way past ready for this all to be over so we can get to work to try and make this country as great as we all know it can be.

I am incredibly saddened however at the continued divisiveness that I see and hear on a daily basis. I heard a McCain supporter talking about how we have to make sure that if Obama wins the Republicans must do everything they can to ensure a majority in the senate so they can filibuster. I've also heard Obama supporters say the same type things.

I can't think of anything more divisive. It's sad. People are so engulfed in fear and meaningless rhetoric that they are missing the big picture. The problem is that this all comes down to power and control. Very few politicians really want to work to get anything done. Many of them care more about job security than they do about your well being.

I'll tell you what I'd like to see. I'd like to see every American, no matter what their view or party affiliation pledge to support whoever wins. Don't try to set the stage for the winning candidate to fail. Don't have a terrible divisive venemous attitude. That doesn't help anything or anyone. Maybe then something can really get done to change things. People disagree all the time yet are still able to work together after the fact. Why can't we do that when it comes to politics? One has to wonder what is really the motivation behind this kind of behavior?

Unfortunately, to answer that kind of question, most people have to be willing to deal with a part of themselves that they either don't want to see or just aren't capable of seeing. Fear just doesn't seem to like honesty.

Take Care,

Alan

To Be Wronged Is Wonderful
10/06/2008

I've never watched the news or paid more attention to matters of this country as much as I have lately. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it. It took me a minute to get over my initial sense of amazement at how things could be so screwed up. It's very easy to look at what's going on and wonder if our country is falling apart. I have a bit of a different view.

What's going on currently in this country, especially with the Wall Street craziness very well could be one of the greatest things to ever happen to this country. Yup. You just read that right. I swear I haven't lost my mind.

For the first time in my life and many other American's lives, people are actually really paying attention to what's going on. People are not only educating themselves on the issues facing this country but most importantly the political and legislative process. Pork barrel legislation is now a widely known idea amongst people who probably had heard the phrase before but never really knew what it meant. People are more than concerned and very pissed off. That's a great thing!

This country is undergoing what seems to be a much needed and massive correction on many levels. Maybe we need to collectively welcome all of these seemingly bizarre occurences with open arms and simply label them as part of a wake up call that is long long overdue. Such amazing positive change can come from all of this if we keep our eye on the ball.

Things always get worse before they get better. Cliche or not, that is often the way things appear to work. Perhaps we can put our anger, blame and fear aside for long enough to realize the magnitude of such a special opportunity. What a tremendous gift. To be wronged is wonderful.

Namaste,

Alan