The economy and its naysayers

First, we are facing slower growth as a result of the housing and credit crises. Second, we have, so far, done well to stave off any large negative effects--the Fed has lowered rates and thrown money at the problem. Third, unemployment has changed very little considering the huge importance of housing related jobs and the number lost.

However, our biggest problem may yet be upon us ... INFLATION. We are already seeing soaring food and commodity prices that are bound to affect how we behave, if they haven't already. Now, there is all this talk about the Fed lowering rates and the government offering a stimulus package, yet what consideration has been made to the consequences of said actions? If the Fed lowers rates any further, I fear we will see oil prices soar way above $100 per barrel, and food prices will climb just as well. And considering how dependent we are upon oil for every day items, boy we could be in trouble. What about the stimulus? Well, consider the horrendous fiscal condition we are in today. We spend billions on Iraq, Medicare, and Social Security, leading us to deficits every month. The US has financed its great success on the backs of foreign investors that have been all too eager to gobble up the debt. You have to think, though, that with the credit crisis and falling value of the dollar, there will be a shrinking appetite for US Treasury notes. So, who will finance our stimulus package?

Yeah, that's a tough one. But all of my rant is for naught, because this is an election year, and pandering is all about. Maybe we could use a "fireside" chat from those in the know so that Americans could begin to understand the predicament into which the younger generations, including myself, will have to dig out of in order to survive.

Check out this Fortune article. It certainly gives some credence to my statements about the Fed.

Do we need to lower interest rates? Do you like to pass the buck?

What we didn't hear tonight

We did not hear anything (except a one second mention, maybe) about the following topics:
-Healthcare
-Higher Education
-Domestic infrastructure
-Environment
-Social Security

Never mind the fact that there was little, if any, detailed plan offered for anything. How can I make a decision for whom to vote without substantive information about that person's presidency and the future?

Foreign Policy at the Debate

Thompson: Keep our absolute trust in Musharraff.
Romney: Same as Thompson.
Huckabee: Question Musharraff and the spending of US aid, but keep ultimate trust. Israel is our only ally and we cannot allow them to stand alone.
Paul: Maybe we could have avoided this and last Gulf War if we had left them alone - allow them to make their own decisions. If we want to defend Israel, why sell weapons to the Arab nations?
Giuliani: Pressure Musharraff, but keep trust. Certainly defend Israel to the fullest.


So, the only person to say we need to leave and let live is Ron Paul. And really should we trust Israel and other nations as much as we do (at least with the billions, if not trillions, of dollars sent in aid)? Look, if we are in danger, we would need to get involved. However, military action should not be the first thought. EVER.
Either way, let's FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS AT HOME NOW.

The Queen says "Wii!"

Ok, now, I think I need a little break from the whole ridiculous debate.

Apparently, Queen Elizabeth II got a hold of Prince William's Wii and began playing the Wii Bowling game. The Queen is reported to be pretty good.
Here's an excerpt from c|net:
"Prince William, meanwhile, 'was in fits of laughter,' but allegedly will have a tough time prying the console away from his grandmother. She is, The People notes, an unusually tech-savvy dame. She has reportedly had a cell phone since 2001, a BlackBerry since last year, and listens to an iPod regularly."

Loopy Mitt Romney

WTF? "I think Congressman Paul should not be reading as many of Ahmadinejad's press releases," said Mitt Romney. Come on now. We need to make sure that we do not take this too far so as to provoke an attack.

Debate update (9:30)

A couple of things:
1. Let's stop talking about Reagan and get to some DETAILED and SUBSTANTIVE topics and ideas.
2. John McCain is sounding good so far. And I'm really disappointed in the answer Ron Paul gave to his first question.

Oh, and Mitt Romney keeps dodging questions. Nothing new there, though.

More soon ...

Has the Reagan Revolution ended?

WTF?!? What kind of question is this? How does this help anyone decide for whom they should vote? Fox News, where are the real questions? Come on.

What is obsession with Reagan? Did he even follow his own credo?

More on the debate soon ...