I heard today that the value of the dollar is improving overseas. This supposedly has lead to the cost of oil going down so one would assume that the cost of gas will begin to decline here in the states. This leads me to think about a couple of things having to do with economics and our country. First we have a huge trade deficit and I think that this means that we import more than we export. With the weak dollar this deficit was getting smaller because foreign buyers could get more for their money. If the dollar gets stronger than this trend could reverse.
Which leads me to the huge budget deficit which basically means we spend more than we earn or take in leaving the expenses exceeding our income. In a household budget, this would lead to belt tightening or borrowing. I think that this deficit worries me more than any other economic indicator. Jobs, social security, recession, inflation, mortgage crisis, etc.
Does anyone else realize that we are in the midst of a huge global power shift? China and India are on the ascent and the US is stagnating. We need to look ahead and plan on being true partners with the rest of the world. We can not stand alone as Iraq is proving. What a mistake that was. And South America will be coming into its own soon too I think. So we need to learn to play nice with others. I am so tired of all this saber rattling and ultimatum foreign policy. We have been working on a seige mentality since 9-11 and as a result we have become something that I find I do not like. I see personal freedoms and privacy disappearing and understand the reasons but still regret their loss. I hope that we can pull back to something more reasonable.
I also think that the age of information is transitioning to something else. What that is I don't know but there is a next big thing coming and it might be related to energy or the global warming problem. I just sense that there is something and I don't know if it is good or bad, but I think it is big.
The country's leaders do not seem to be able to agree on how to avoid burdening our future generations with huge debts and to come to some agreements. Our political parties are stalemated over how to proceed. As a result they get nothing done, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. This is frustrating to me to watch. Congress and the Senate have reached no resolution on any of the major problems that face this country. Our political partylines are getting in the way of good governance. Political debt and obligations to follow the leader just result in deadlock. Someone needs to break these ties that bind. The threat of a Presidential veto should not stop good decisions from being put forth. I understand that these issues are complex and that there are domino effects to every choice, but short of revolution, what choice do we have but to make some really significant changes in the way we do things. Something has got to give or we will have another 4 years of this unproductive environment.
I consider myself pretty middle of the road politically, no real extreme opinions but perhaps a little liberal leaning. I tend to agree with some of the ideas from both political parties and have always been an independent voter. My record is pretty bad, the guy I vote for does not usually get elected. But at least I vote. That is a pet peeve of mine, people who don't vote. So if you read this and don't vote, shame on you. Get out there and make your voice heard.
But I was really disappointed that Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic Party nominee. Besides the fact that I think this country needs a woman, I think that she and John Cain would really shake the status quo up. I like them both. I like Obama too but I really worry that he has a naive take on the presidency.
Even the Clinton's experienced problem's dealing with the established politicos when they came to Washington. It is really, really hard to change Washington politics. Let me go on record now as saying that I believe that Bill Clinton was a good president and I believe that George W. Bush for all his good intentions has not served this country well with his decisions or his advisors. I liked the first George Bush. So I really am apolitical in my likes and dislikes.
I am not sure what purpose blogs serve. Maybe they are merely a way for a frustrated average person to have their say. Or maybe it is merely belly button gazing for the challenged. So there you have it, today's point of view. I reserve the right to change my point of view, play devil's advocate and deny any responsibility for anything I say.... how is that for a fledgling disclaimer?
