Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Last post will be this Friday

I will have written over 320 posts by this Friday. This blog has been part personal diary, part commentary on the news, with the occasional meandering into other subject matter of interest to me. Current events like the BP oil spill and the recession provided a lot of incentive to write, but I am not so certain that becoming consumed by these things is the best way to spend my free time.

Perspectives and circumstances change. If I would have written this blog five years ago, it would have reflected a slightly different mindset. If I were to return to this blog in a few years, I am certain I would question why I said this or that. I freely admit to the probability of being wrong about many things. One of the benefits of maturing is in gaining the security to admit to not knowing everything.


I thought of writing a post about a potential job that I worked very hard to secure recently but realized I had given my word to the employer to not reveal what worsening financial conditions existed at their company that at the 11th-hour prevented them from hiring me. The interview process spanned three months, a lot of probing and some travel. It was an important position at a firm that I felt comfortable with. And I believe they were comfortable with me. After 20 months of not being on a regular payroll, not getting this job was a disappointment and would have made a interesting post in terms of illustrating just how fragile the economy is and why we could be facing higher unemployment rates in the near future. My personal feelings about not landing this particular opportunity run fairly deep, almost as deeply as losing my 13-year position at USA TODAY at the start of the recession. However, life goes on. Eventually, when the right fit comes along, this latest disappointment will fade.

This blog will be suspended on Friday. That's the one-year anniversary of my first blog post. I don't want to use the word "end" because I have seen other bloggers do that, only to return to posting a few months later. I may also start another blog, so check back here occasionally for updates. I plan on keeping this blog up, so in a way, it doesn't end. You can still leave thoughtful comments, which are always appreciated. I hope this blog has at least been mildly entertaining and informative. I think it's important in a free society to have an open exchange of ideas. Whether it be through blogs, newspapers or other venues, presenting facts, opinions and analysis about important topics is what will keep this country strong.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Pondering what is next

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the pros and cons of blogging. I questioned the usefulness of continuing on here. As the first year of this blog draws to a close at the end of this month, and as my life has become considerably more complicated due to my struggles to conquer the unemployment bug, I think I have my answer.

December 2008. That's when my 29-year career in journalism shockingly halted on a Wednesday afternoon in McLean, Va., not because of job performance, but because I got caught in a perfect storm. I never would have imagined that in August of 2010, the alleged "summer of economic recovery," I would still be locked out of a business that employed me, my father and grandfather for nearly a century. Nor did I know how challenging it would be to transition into another industry, particularly industries that could use good editors, writers, designers, teachers and publication/communication managers -- businesses and positions requiring my exact or similar skill set.

Regardless of the economic data and statistics, unemployment is something that I modestly assumed I would beat, even at my age (that previously wasn't thought of as over the hill), and even in a field that has been particularly hard hit by the recession. My entire newspaper career was built on versatility, so I felt like I offered lots of attractive options to employers looking for proven people. I still believe that.

Like with so many suggestions and advice that I followed up on after I was laid off, this blog was created in order to add one more skill to my already-robust resume. I was comfortable with technology, but people said that I needed an online presence to help prove it. I did all of the things required by employers in their job ads to make myself more likely to be hired, including blogging, tweeting and adjusting my writing style for this platform.

It hasn't worked. At least not yet.

Losses have mounted as I have watched time slip away. The losses are ones you would expect (money, professional relationships, etc.) and some you might not associate with joblessness. Another fall is approaching. The skies are getting darker. Another birthday just around corner. Juggling dwindling bank accounts is like brushing my teeth. Second nature. Always waiting for the next e-mail, phone call or job lead, hoping it will come from a stable employer in a good quality-of-life area of the country. Following the news intensely, wishing some political leader will have the silver bullet to finally kill this damn recession.

But there is no silver bullet. It appears any economic recovery is going to be a slow process.

Until the cosmos realign in a more favorable manner, I doubt blogging, electronic jobs boards, networking, career fairs or past experience will be able to pry me or millions of others out of this perfect storm. Extricating myself from this recession has proven to be a task that will take more than just abilities, determination or acts of Congress.

I am confident that my skills and work ethics remain top shelf and am tiring of feeling like a victim for not having a "regular" job. When this storm passes, I hope to be stronger and wiser than ever. Until then, it's important for people, particularly baby boomers, to continue to fight the good fight, piecing together whatever kind of occupational endeavors they can muster. We are not over the hill. We embrace innovation and possess some of the strongest work ethics in America. I will come out of this stronger and become a significant asset to a company or organization that can look past stereotypes and fairly assess my credentials. When that day comes, I will be appreciative. I believe my best days are still ahead and look forward to making meaningful contributions in my next part or full-time regular job.

Many of us have reached the point where the right employment fit trumps seeking a big salary. Employers should not be afraid they can't afford us. As I have said in this blog many times, wise employers will take advantage of the deep pool of talented and experienced people available now. They will see the silver lining in the current job market and slowly but surely put America back to work. At least that's my hope.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Palin losing her luster in GOP?

Republicans might be wising up in at least one regard. It appears some people in the GOP have had enough of Sarah Palin. How the party of no has said yes to Palin for so long is baffling, but hopefully those days are coming to an end.

There is some evidence that Republicans are now thinking what many Americans have known since presidential candidate John McCain tragically went into the wilds of Alaska to dig up Palin as his running mate in 2008 -- Palin is simply an attention-seeking airhead with no genuine desire to promote anything but herself.

U.S. Congressman Jack Kingston recently said that Palin should mind her own business and stay out of Georgia's politics. The comments came after Palin decided to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel, who lost to Nathan Deal in the state's GOP primary on Tuesday.

Palin, the former governor of Alaska, quit on her state when the going got tough. It appears that she saw a more lucrative future in touring the country, making speeches and promoting her book. She wasn't getting enough attention staying at home. Now we are seeing how too much exposure might be backfiring on Palin and the GOP.

"I don't know why she feels compelled to get into primaries all over the country, but fortunately Georgia voters are doing their own thinking on things like this," said Kingston. Read more.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

No mosque near Ground Zero

There are certain issues in life where using intellect alone isn't enough to make a proper determination. I believe the debate over the building of a mosque at Ground Zero in New York is one of those issues.

My gut more than my mind or politics tells me that this is not the time to build a towering mosque just a couple hundred yards away from where the World Trade Center went down in a radical Islamic attack on America.

Sure, our country allows many freedoms. But it also has many commonsense restrictions. You can't build a strip joint or a casino in a residential neighborhood. Zoning laws prohibit it. You can't dig up historic cemeteries to build a 7-Eleven or place a YMCA in the middle of a Civil War battlefield. There are certain things that just aren't appropriate to people who would be prone to feel the most pain.

And so it is with a mosque in lower Manhattan.

Religious freedom doesn't mean rubbing salt into wounds (whether the salt is perceived or real) -- wounds that aren't healed, as a hole in the ground still has not been filled 10 years after the 9/11 attacks. New York is a big place. This mosque can be built elsewhere. It shouldn't be constructed before new towers and memorials are built at Ground Zero. It's just one of those things that doesn't feel right, despite logical arguments made by the mayor and others in support of the mosque. Read more.

This isn't just any old mo
sque. It's a proposed Islamic center -- an enormous, glowing facility that doesn't blend into the area but instead dominates it.

No matter how you cut it or how politically correct one wants to sound, a bastardiz
ed version of Islam is at the core of our fight against terrorism. I say that hesitantly, not wanting to sound like a commentator for Fox News. This is a hot-button reality in a post-9/11 world. We're at war in two mostly Islamic nations, looking for terrorists with jihad on their minds. I don't agree with the wars because I believe there is a better, more cost-efficient way to fight terrorism than militarily occupying countries. Regardless, the fact remains that we're still at war with Islamic extremists.

Eliminating terrorism doesn't mean we're against Muslims or that they don't have the right to worship here. It simply
indicates that there is, at the very least, a strong emotional connection between the hateful fringes of that religion and some of the problems we are facing as a country. Some of those extreme fundamentalists will undoubtedly worship at the Ground Zero mosque. Government officials charged with determining the fate of the facility need to keep that in mind. If they don't, things could get uglier. It's not a good idea to congregate and/or provoke the more unstable people on either side of this issue (Muslims and non-Muslims) -- not when there are reasonable alternatives. The city has a responsibility to safeguard its citizens, whether they are Muslim, Jewish, Christian or of no faith. Building this mosque near Ground Zero is taking an unnecessary risk and jeopardizing everyone from worshipers to passersby.

A lot of people died in the attacks of 2001. Most of the deaths came at Ground Zero. We're still paying an economic price for those acts of terrorism. Many rescue workers are suffering from illnesses that were caused by breathing the dust of the burning towers. The point is, 9/11 still remains in the hearts and minds of many people, particularly New Yorkers.

There is a large, elaborate mosque a few miles from where I live. It is set off from the road and obscured by trees. It's accessible and right off a main road near Reston, Va., but not easy to see as you drive by. It appears to have been designed with privacy in mind. It is not a welcoming place to outsiders, as security cameras and locked iron gates surround it. There are also many store-front mosques in the area that are quite visible. Needless to say, Northern Virginia has a large Muslim population. However, I am unaware of any new towering mosques in the shadow of the Pentagon. Commonsense seems to have prevailed here.

The proposal for a mosque at Ground Zero has instigated a controversy that didn't need to be stirred. Frankly, if I was a sincere follower of that religion, I wouldn't want the attention that this debate has brought. Build the mosque elsewhere and let the people of lower Manhattan remember those who died on 9/11 in the manner and environment in which they choose.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Joblessness in N. Virginia could be more in line with rest of the country

"Virginia is more vulnerable to this kind of policy shift than any other state," said Stephen Fuller, director of the Center of Regional Analysis at George Mason University. "Defense spending was our strength during the downturn. It kept unemployment lower here than in most other states. It kept the economy from crashing as far as other states'. It's also our Achilles' heel."

- The Washington Post, August 9, 2010


The good times in Northern Virginia might take a significant hit if the business of defending the country goes the way of many other businesses in the last couple of years. The unemployment rate here is about half the national average. This is an area that employs hundreds of thousands of government workers and has numerous private-sector companies that do work for the Defense Department and related agencies. Many northern Virginians have simply been oblivious about the horrible job market outside of the area.

Of course, Northern Virginia hasn't been totally immune to the economic downturn. Even before the recession started, AOL (once the charm of the high-tech world) had several rounds of massive layoffs and relocated most of its remaining operations to New York. Gannett, a major newspaper and media company based in McLean, Va., laid off thousands (including me) throughout the entire company. Some restaurants have closed. Some offices remain vacant. But we have always had the government jobs. Those are good jobs that keep housing prices from crashing and continue to bring new and highly educated job-seekers to the area.

Defense and national security, in one way or another, drive most everything here -- from local coffee shops that cater to government employees to the technology corridor that does contract work for Uncle Sam. People who work for the government or related firms have been a fearless, confident group throughout the recession. But that is now in jeopardy here and down in the Norfolk region. The loss of a few thousand jobs might not send the state's economy crashing much further, but it won't help failing municipal budgets or the confidence of people already looking for jobs. Read more.

Have an oyster, everything is fine

American society suffers from attention deficit disorder. We get bored easily. We want to move on to the next big thing before the old big thing is resolved. We like to interpret facts in a way that suits our beliefs and we generally don't dig too deeply when forming opinions about anything. If a Google search can't provide the answer, well, it's probably not worth pursuing.

Furthermore, if you b
elieve that life on this planet is trending in a positive direction, then you're likely to believe that things like giant oil spills are nothing more than small speed bumps on the way to a better existence for all of mankind. Conversely, if you think that human beings will eventually do themselves in, there is plenty of evidence to back that opinion, too. Either opinion can be supported by data. Numbers, scientific polls, statistical trends can be interpreted however one sees fit.

It seems news consumers really don't want to dwell too long on any one major societal or environmental problem. It's like we have a collective overflow valve that shuts off and allows us to stick our heads in the sand whenever reality gets a tad too real or is contrary to our overall beliefs, causing us to kind of short circuit. Not dwelling on negative things could be a survival mechanism in human beings. It could also lead to our extinction. After all, we need to pay attention at times, even when it's not fun or doesn't suit our world view. Yes, worrying alone won't solve anything but nor will ignorance.

Yup, we either blow events out of proportion that have virtually no impact on society or the planet (see any Lindsay Lohan story) or embrace denial and/or unrealistic optimism when it comes to known, widespread problems like famine, genocide and unjust wars. A lot of innocent people and species perish because, well, we just didn't want to acknowledge our roles in their fate. Didn't want to accept any responsibility. Couldn't bother to watch 15 minutes of news a couple times a week in order to stay somewhat informed or vote once a year. It's easier to be entertained by things that don't really touch our lives, like Lohan's escapades. These distractions pull our collective attention away from the things that should matter more. They require no emotional or intellectual investment. Concern for oil-stained pelicans takes more humanity, the good kind, than obsessing about American Idol. It requires that we pay attention for more than 30 minutes and read something other than People.

So it is with the Gulf of Mexico and the BP oil spill disaster. As soon as the oil stopped flowing, it was like the spill never occurred in the eyes of many Americans, mostly those from outside the Gulf region, of course. Even while the oil was gushing, many people showed very little interest or concern. We are a society where if it doesn't happen in our backyard or impact our checking account, we're just not that interested. And if it drags on for too long we are certainly going to get bored and turn away. We are becoming a culture where sticking with something, seeing it through, just isn't fashionable.

Let's think positive thoughts about where all the missing oil went. Maybe an oil fairy flew down from the heavens and cleaned the sea. Heck, the president is telling people it's safe to eat seafood from the Gulf, even before the scientists have confirmed that. Do you think Mr. Obama will take responsibility for anyone who gets sick as a result of eating tainted fish now or five years from today? Why the rush to declare Gulf seafood as safe? Why rush, period? Everything except the things that are most important to our survival and evolution seem to take priority in our new, superficial culture. Stopping oil from gushing in the Gulf? No rush there. It took over three months to resolve. Getting people back to work? Nope. No urgency or sense of focus over that as bickering about nonsense now occupies most politicians' time. Yet, we keep electing childish leaders because voters aren't paying attention. We have a wealthy mayor in New York City who seemingly has forgotten about 9/11. That's another post for another day.

But there is good news. We can get a quick fix for our iPhone4's. We have EZ-Passes to get us through road tolls quickly. The prices on laptops are way down. There are energy drinks and blue pills that create all sorts of illusions to distract us from some core issues that deserve more attention. Unfortunately, none of those things will restore the Gulf of Mexico. That will take some awareness and a lengthy attention span that we no longer possess.

Meanwhile, impatient Chambers of Commerce are telling would-be tourists to come on down, the waters are fine, even as experts grapple with what impact the chemicals used to control the oil might have on the environment. Many objective scientists and scholars are saying it will be decades before it can be determined how the biggest oil spill in history has altered the Gulf. Yes, I said the biggest oil spill in history. You would think that alone would mean that folks would want to pay more a attention for a little bit longer. But no. It's on to the next big thing. The next special, self-serving interest.


Hey, the well is plugged. All is grand. While we're at it, why not call off the Congressional investigation and allow BP to get out of its agreement to pay $20 billion in claims to Gulf residents and businesses? Let's not fix anything or hold anyone accountable. Do you think the American public is really going to pay attention to a lengthy investigation of BP? Let's just get back to eating shrimp. Turn off CNN. Put down the newspaper. Those faraway wars will end, and even if they don't, who cares? Ninety percent of Americans are employed. Most people don't know a single soldier. That global warming thing is probably a silly hoax, too. So some ice melts and a few polar bears drown. Why all the worry? We'll probably have bigger waves to surf in the future. There's a positive to come out of global warming. No need to be grumpy. The economy will magically get better because...well, just because. Go on, have another Louisiana oyster.

Read another interesting opinion about where America is heading.

Friday, August 6, 2010

'Acceptable' number of casualties

No matter how you interpret the data, or whether you're a glass half-full or half-empty type of person, you have to admit one thing, today's job numbers aren't causing anyone to jump for joy.

At this rate, the economy will never fully recover -- well, at least not in most of our lifetimes, and that's all that really matters for people already on the edge. There probably is going to be a new economic norm that is somewhere below where it was in previous decades. Sure, some folks will land on their feet. Some businesses will flourish, maybe even exceed pre-recession revenues. But for millions of Americans, this slow trickle of so-called good news -- this one step forward, a half step back approach to economic recovery -- means their pain is going to get worse. A lot worse. We need about 10 steps forward to even begin to get back to where we were in normal times. And that doesn't appear likely.

As I ponder the whole situation it seems to me that like in war there is some acceptable number of casualties that society is willing to live with. Whenever we as a country emerge from this war, however that is defined, a lot of people will be left behind. Whether that number will be in the hundreds of thousands or millions remains to be seen. But it does seem obvious at this point that many folks who were previously in the middle class will not be returning to that status. As long as that number doesn't exceed a certain percentage, most Americans will go about their lives just fine, happy to see a trickle of good employment/economic news each month. Happy that they weren't the ones who got shut out from the recovery.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Rodriguez earning his pinstripes

Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th home run yesterday, an accomplishment only a handful of players have achieved. He did it in New York, on his home field at Yankee Stadium. Yet, the hoopla around the homer was fairly restrained, particularly considering this is the age of the media hyping everything, whether events warrant it or not.

I suspect that even though Rodriguez finally won a World Series last year and came through for the Yanks in the clutch in the playoffs, he probably still isn't considered a "real Yankee" by some fans. Add in the controversy surrounding his steroid use before joining the Yankees, and this milestone home run was bound to lose a bit of its luster, even in the Big Apple where sports stars are front-page news.

I enjoy watching A-Rod play. For a fairly big guy, he's graceful both at the plate and in the field. He's not a cartoon character like sluggers Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa were. In addition to hitting the ball over the fence, Rodriguez hits for average, catches the ball and has a good arm. He can even steal a base. This all makes him a candidate to be considered one of the all-time greats, more in line with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle than the less-complete Bonds or Sosa.

However, A-Rod may never be an absolute fan favorite in the Bronx. First, he is not a home-grown Yankee like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera or Jorge Posada. He hit most of his home runs while playing for Texas and Seattle. I won't deduct too many popularity points for that because Reggie Jackson, Greg Nettles, Catfish Hunter, Babe Ruth and other beloved stars also played elsewhere before coming to New York. But let's face it, players who came up through the farm system do have an edge in Yankee lore.

Rodriguez never got the personality thing right. He doesn't seem genuine. He seems more suited for Los Angeles. New Yorkers tend to like authenticity. His new strategy of only talking minimally to the media hasn't endeared him to the public but at least he hasn't shot himself in the foot lately. Look, Mantle was a creep. I met him and I wasn't impressed. Everyone knows the stories of Mantle's drinking problems. Thurman Munson was gruff and crude, according to my father who had encounters with him off the field. But those guys were also gritty, and New Yorkers appreciate guys who will get dirty, brawl on the field and shout at the opposing bench. No one did those things better than Lou Piniella and Billy Martin -- two of my favorite Yankees.

Alex stays clean and pretty. Other than a throw-down against the Red Sox a few years ago, A-Rod just plays ball. And that's fine, too. As long as he keeps hitting home runs and turning double plays, he'll move up in Yankee status. It's just going to take some more time.


I suspect Rodriquez will end up with a monument at Yankee Stadium. His number 13 may be retired. A generation who never saw Martin manage, Mantle with knee braces blasting towering homers or Ron Guidry blowing away batters might think more of A-Rod than fans my age do. That's OK. Every generation tends to think their stars shine the brightest. I will add, however, that being a true Yankee fan also means knowing at least something about the many fantastic players who roamed the outfield and ran the bases long before ESPN, free agency and color television. Being a true Yankee fan means passing down that knowledge of guys like Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford to the next generation. Take note of Jeter, Rodriguez and Rivera because one day you'll be telling your kids and grandchildren about them.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

A pause for a blog update

This is month 12 of Calvacca Blog. When I started the blog, it was something to do -- a way to pass time in between playing guitar, searching for work and taking walks to clear my mind. A way to stay connected to the news and maintain whatever writing skills that I might possess. I have learned some technical skills like how to embed video into posts and adjust the HTML coding to make them fit, created links and utilized counters that track the number of visitors to the website. I know the identity of most of my core readers. They are family and friends. Some, however, remain anonymous but are fairly loyal followers. Others just take a peek now and then or are one-time visitors who did a Google search on some particular topic that I happened to have written about. I don't know how many people from foreign countries have come to this blog, but I am guessing it's at least three dozen. My numbers are small compared with the big-time blogs, but drawing a huge audience has never been my intent.

I have hammered away on topics that are important to me. The unemployment situation hits particularly close to home, not just because of my own situation, but because of others in my life who are either out of work or afraid they are going to lose their jobs. I realize joblessness doesn't always make for compelling reading. In fact, I am almost certain people avoid this blog like the plague because they don't want to be reminded of certain realities in my life or in the economy as a whole that might eventually impact their lives. I don't curse. I don't write about celebrity nonsense or show sensational photos. Therefore, the odds of this blog ever going viral are pretty much zilch.

There are very few warm and fuzzy tales or literary moments of note on this blog. While some bloggers focus on one subject, I've tried to remain open to writing about various issues that come up in the news or in my own life. I have tried to write these commentaries in a straight-forward, narrative style.


Besides it being somewhat educational and helping to pass the time on some lonely days, blogging hasn't been all that I expected it to be. With that said, I am not certain what expectations I had 12 months ago. With millions of bloggers across the world, one isn't likely to be discovered here without a lot of marketing. Advertising and sales aren't my thing. One blogger isn't going to change the world, although collectively there is some evidence that blogging matters in shifting opinions and policy. So in that way, I do feel that I am minimally contributing to society. Of course, that doesn't pay the bills.

For the most part, though, bloggers are voices in the night. Some are nut jobs. Others provide a lot of food for thought not seen in the mainstream media. Most struggle to build a following. A lot of bloggers are former journalists, like me, who lost their jobs in the recession and can't find their way back into a newsroom for whatever reason.

I am not sure where this blog is going as the one-year anniversary approaches. Lately, I feel that I have said everything I can say about the economy, the state of politics, the world in general and the condition of my old profession. Until things change, what else can I rant about or applaud?

The blog could use a lot more reader participation, but I have had to tighten filters on the comments because of the typical Internet stream of lunatics that want to leave inappropriate remarks. I don't use foul language or make threats on this site, but apparently those who comment don't have those same values. Seeing how ugly and limited people can be has been one of the negatives of blogging. Doesn't inspire much confidence in my fellow human beings. But that aside, blogging has been a mostly positive experience in a rather negative year. I have no regrets.

Friday, July 30, 2010

A more patriotic approach needed to fix what ails America's economy

Everyone from Rush Limbaugh to some of my friends like to point out that it is not the role of businesses to provide jobs. In normal times, I would agree.

These are not normal times.

Look, during past wars, businesses refitted their production lines to serve the military. They stopped making goods for civilians in order to supply our soldiers with ammo and other items needed to successfully defend our country. Their missions changed from making profits via the private sector to helping to uphold our way of life. From housewives to Hollywood, everyone was behind the war efforts because losing was not an outcome that served any American's interest.

What I am about to say is the most important point I have made in over 300 posts. The economic crisis we're in might not feel entirely like a national emergency but it is. We should not wait until the enemy is deeply entrenched in every neighborhood across this land before fighting back with everything we have.

Businesses, particularly profitable ones, have a new responsibility and it includes creating jobs just as it involved making tanks instead of cars in World War II. It is no longer acceptable for anyone to say it's not the role of any entity to create jobs. It also isn't constructive to continue to lie about why so many workers were laid off in the first place. Too many corporations over reacted to the recession and exploited millions of their most vulnerable workers, making the recession far worse than it needed to be. That is a fact. It is time for corporations that went too far to make up for their part in bringing down the entire economy, not to mention the personal lives of many good people.

It's the responsibility of government, small and big businesses to work together to restore the American economy. Schools, vocational training centers and banks willing to make loans can also play a positive role. Everything and everyone should take responsibility in some manner, including bloggers and the media.

A true recovery can't happen until unemployment is reduced. We need to throw out the old playbook and figure out a way to get people back to work. That can't be done by businesses pointing the finger at government and government pointing back. It can't be done with the level of partisan politics we're experiencing or the continuing decline in education.


America needs some out-of-the-box thinking that doesn't rely on stereotypes about the role of businesses in a capitalistic society. We would be speaking German if that sort of thinking existed in the past. To say that employers are too afraid to hire because of the uncertainty about the economy is probably true but it's also a trap. It's a vortex that no one can escape. A circular argument that pushes us closer and closer to the edge. Businesses were not exempt in contributing to past war efforts. Why are they now washing their hands of any responsibility during one of the most profound emergencies we have ever faced?

Risk is involved in the operation of any business during up and down times. Those without the stomach for risk probably shouldn't start a company. The excuse that hiring is too risky now is just that -- an excuse. While it might be a justifiable excuse, it is nonetheless an unproductive claim. Profitable companies can't lean on that crutch until the good times return. There will be no good times without companies showing some confidence in America. Government can help lessen those risks, but can't eliminate them. It's going to take brave corporate leaders to chart a new course -- a course that navigates us to safer waters. The profits will return and the stockholders will get paid, but for now, we need a fresh, less selfish approach to doing business.

The fact remains that the private sector provides most jobs in most democracies. With that privilege comes the occasional responsibility to chip in, to do right by society, to give back. Companies hold fund-raising drives for the United Way and other charities, now they need to do a little more for the benefit of the entire country.


We have a domestic war going on. The further collapse of the economy will mean the eventual collapse of a nation. History has proven time and time again that countries without viable economies will implode. Ask anyone on the front lines of this war about the seriousness of our economic woes. They will describe scenarios that might seem unimaginable to most people at this stage of the war.

While I empathize with anyone trying to keep their business afloat with all of the current obstacles in their way, I must say that the time has come for the bigger, more profitable employers to show some faith and start becoming part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Others will follow. I believe in momentum. Businesses that become leaders in this cause will motivate others and stimulate the economy in ways the government can't.

Being frozen with fear while sitting on profits is no longer an option. This is an emergency. A war. All hands are needed on deck. A sense of patriotism that trumps greed needs to emerge, just as it did in past wars. We have to get away from this stuffing-cash-in-the-mattress mentality. Continuing to debate roles and responsibilities just prolongs the conflict and jeopardizes the very thing that most companies and individual citizens treasure -- freedom.

Read what others say about why corporations got rid of so many workers during the recession (far too many in the estimation of some) and why companies are refusing to hire despite bulging profits: "A Sin and a Shame"

Where will we hide the homeless?

There is a proposal in Hawaii to ship the state's growing homeless population to the mainland.

As the economy continues suffer and jobs remain scarce, homeless people are showing up in places usually reserved for tourists. Some state officials believe it would be more prudent to spend $300 on a one-way plane ticket for each homeless person than to pay $35,000 a year to shelter and feed them. Furthermore, the state has concerns that the sight of homeless people roaming plush beaches will hurt tourism, which overwhelmingly supports Hawaii's economy.

Welcome to the future of America, where homeless people are no longer confined to inner-city soup kitchens and out-of-sight trash dumpsters. The homeless will be everywhere and will include educated people who were living in 3-bedroom suburban homes for most of their lives. The new homeless will look different. They'll be your grandparents and former colleagues. They will be well spoken and mentally coherent. Many will be young adults who couldn't navigate their way into a failing job market despite possessing multiple college degrees. They won't be content to freeze in a back alley in a decaying Detroit neighborhood. They will migrate to places where they can survive in the elements.

Where will we ship these people?

As distasteful as it might be for some folks to picture the new homeless camped out in the parking lot of Whole Foods in suburbia, it's going to happen because of our inability to extricate ourselves from the economic mess we're in. Some people won't even acknowledge how severe the unemployment problem has become. The Rush Limbaughs of the world think there are plenty of good jobs for anyone willing to work.

While those who are still sailing along, bathing in a kind of blissful ignorance, tend to not think about these things, I am here to tell you that current and former middle class people can't continue to drain their savings forever without ending up on the streets. They need jobs. They need to restore their nest eggs.

Tourist areas, tidy suburbs and other places that are usually shielded from society's ills will be inundated by a new wave of homelessness in the next decade if the employment situation doesn't improve dramatically in the next year or two.

Read more about Hawaii's proposal.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Fences rarely provide solutions

Before there was an Arizona law on illegal immigration, there was a Manassas and Prince William County, Va., law that I have written about in a earlier post. In my opinion, and the opinion of a federal judge in Phoenix yesterday, there are aspects to these local laws that are unconstitutional. I might add, on a humanitarian level, there are also unfair elements to these types of laws born out of desperation to solve an undeniable problem that impacts many communities across the country.

However, I've been in Manassas several times in recent weeks and there is no denying that an illegal-alien problem still exists there, maybe more so than most areas around the state. Some estimates claim that illegal immigration costs Virginia more than $1 billion a year. I imagine the state of Arizona is facing an even bigger bill. Small towns in particular, like Manassas, simply can't afford these kinds of expenses.

Something does have to be done to guard our borders. That's just commonsense. We are living in the worst economic times of our lives. Just from an economic standpoint, moderating the flow of people into this country, regardless of where they come from, seems fairly prudent. We must fight this recession on several fronts and reduce expenses where we can. War and illegal immigration are just two areas where we could save billions.

It is important to look at immigration (legal and illegal) as a economic issue and not a race or emotional debate. In better times, there were some economic benefits to having some illegal immigrants here, working for minimum wage and spending money in various communities. Those times have probably passed with the loss of jobs. Many of those immigrants are still here and are unemployed and not circulating money back into the economy.

The federal government is charged with protecting our borders, issuing work visas and should not be undermined by the states or municipalities. But the feds should also understand that we can't continue to give jobs away to whomever wants to come over here, whether they come legally or illegally, whether they work for minimum wage or hold white-collar jobs. There aren't enough jobs for everyone. We have to shut off the faucet and allow jobs to catch up with the population.

Leaders in Washington should act soon so that states that are already running huge deficits don't have to add to the red ink by providing services to folks who aren't here legally. Police need a clear set of rules to work under in addressing illegal aliens -- rules that don't endanger them or inflame the situation. Employers must also play by the rules when hiring workers. And we all need to bite the bullet and accept that our veggies and fruit might cost a bit more if we really want to solve the problem of illegal workers.

No fence along the Southwest border is going to solve all our problems. Immigration regulations in general need a major overhaul. We need laws that allow people in under a fair system while protecting the economic and security interests of America. Times change and smart legislation needs to reflect that. To do nothing is to ask for more trouble, more court battles, more bad laws and more expenses we can no longer absorb.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

All eyes in D.C. turn to the Redskins

The Washington Redskins will open training camp tomorrow in Ashburn, Va., just a few miles down the road from where I live.

Albert Haynesworth, the only Redskin player to not attend any of new head coach Mike Shanahan's "voluntary" practices and workouts, will be the focal point of the first few days. The all-pro defensive lineman is apparently in shape but still needs to pass a conditioning test before stepping on the field. Haynesworth was often injured and fatigued in his debut season with the 'Skins last year and has asked to be traded in the off-season. However, it appears the disgruntled 100-million-dollar man isn't going anywhere, at least for the time being.

Donovan McNabb, the old Eagle quarterback turned Redskin in the off season, will also get a fair amount of attention in camp. Some of his Philadelphia coaches said the QB still has a couple very good years left. If that is the case, I wonder why the Eagles traded McNabb to a division rival?

Running back Clinton Portis is looking for a bounce-back year and has plenty of competition motivating him. Shanahan has brought in a host of veteran backs. Portis has taken a beating behind a poor offensive line for the past couple of seasons. It seems unlikely that he will run with the same vigor that he showed while he played for Shanahan in Denver eight years ago.

Washington is a football town. You can't get away from it even if you wanted. It's actually kind of nice, especially when you consider that some NFL markets are having trouble filling their stadiums. Regardless of how bad the team has been in recent years, Washington always supports the Redskins. Football always brings a welcomed distraction from the world's problems.

Greed is to blame for lack of jobs

This Washington Post columnist, Harold Meyerson, explains how businesses are "defying gravity" while refusing to expand payrolls. More economists and commentators are beginning to see what is causing the economic bottleneck. Once again, it's our old nemesis, greed.

Everything is in place for the economy to grow. Bailout and stimulus packages have been provided by the government. Financial reform will create a more level playing field for businesses. Profits are up. The pool of talented people looking for work has never been more robust. Yet, employers still won't hire because they've learned to make a buck with fewer employees and have shipped many jobs overseas.

What these employers fail to understand is that by shutting the door on American job-seekers they are sealing their own fate. With no money circulating through the U.S. economy, consumers will buy less and eventually profits will go down. These businesses are also burning out their current employees and degrading the quality of whatever it is they are trying to sell. Additionally, many corporations are boosting the economies of places like China, which provides cheap, abundant labor, not to mention inferior products. Oh, and let's not forget that China isn't exactly our friend.

It seems more evident by the day where the blame lies for the lack of true economic recovery and the destruction of the American workforce. It's going to take a unified effort by the government and private sector to save this country. There is no more time to waste on politics and greed. Read more.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Billions more wasted on Afghanistan

"I am confident General Petraeus and the troops will succeed in Afghanistan, if given the time, space and resources they need," said Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (Calif.), as a $37 billion bill to fund the Afghan war passed on Tuesday.

Exactly how much time, Mr McKeon, is needed? This is already the longest war that America has ever fought. Can you even define realistic success, Mr. McKeon? And what resources are you talking about? We are fighting guys in robes with state-of-the-art weapons and still can't break the back of the Taliban. What resources aren't we providing, Mr. McKeon?

It seems to me that certain politicians either like being at war or don't want to admit that their party's president started a conflict that can't be won. Yes, McKeon is a Republican. This is the same party that claims to stand for fiscal conservatism and reducing the deficit -- a party that seems to think, as a friend of mine says, that "blowing up rocks" in a third-world country is good use of money we don't have.

No foreign military, dating back centuries, has ever succeeded in Afghanistan. What makes American politicians think we can endlessly fund a losing cause during one of the worst economic junctures in our history? What does our Democratic president, who inexplicably backs the funding for the war, know that we don't? How can we continue losing lives in a primitive country that has through the ages refused to help itself? The Taliban thrive because there is a lack internal resistance. Is that our problem?

If we left Afghanistan tomorrow, would the Taliban attack America? It seems unclear what the threat is that requires such a massive occupying army that never leaves and rarely makes much progress. Yes, we know the Taliban are bad guys. If they harbor terrorists who plot against America, we can deal with that in a more targeted, less expensive manner. But to have a massive military presence in a backwards, corrupt nation that has nothing but hatred for us is simply incomprehensible to anyone paying attention.

The fact that this bill passed is more evidence that Americans are asleep.

Hey, where's my Obama postcard?

I wrote to President Obama a couple weeks ago to thank him and the Democrats for pursuing an extension on unemployment benefits. In the note, which was sent through the White House website, I briefly described my struggles finding work in journalism, a field I was employed in for 29 years.

You never know what you're going to get when you write a politician. When I wrote to President Reagan in the early 1980s, I received a handsome presidential postcard in the mail thanking me for my note. I recently wrote Rep. Frank Wolf (R) of Virginia and got what appeared to be two hand-written letters, one replying to my note and the other in response to a blog post. I have written to other politicians, including Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, and received no replies.

I must say, getting the following reply from President Obama (obviously his support staff or some automated e-mail system generated it) was disappointing and sadly ironic. I took the time to write an e-mail, describing some of the financial hardships in my life as a result of the recession, and I got hit up for a donation in return? I didn't expect a personal note from the president, but I wasn't prepared to get on an electronic solicitation list either. The whole point of my note was that unemployment benefits were needed because every dollar counts for people hanging on by a thread. Asking me for money for the Organizing for America campaign is almost funny. Almost. Needless to say, I won't be donating. While the Democratic cause might be worthy, this whole episode has soured me even further on the lack of sincerity and state of affairs within our political system.

(As a side note, I also received an e-mail allegedly from Michelle Obama as I was writing this post. It asked if I would sign her husband's 49th birthday card and it provided a link to the card site. No doubt another ploy to get on another donor list. God, the Internet is such an insincere, intrusive and manipulative tool at times.)

Here is the e-mail, pretending to be personalized just for me, but with no acknowledgment of anything I wrote in my note:


Mick --

When you and I set out on this journey three years ago, we knew that ours would be a lengthy struggle to build a new foundation for this country -- one that would require squaring off against the special interests who had spent decades stacking the deck in their favor.

Today, it is clear that you have shifted the odds.

This morning, I signed into law a bill that represents the most sweeping reforms of Wall Street since the Great Depression, and the toughest consumer financial protections this nation has ever seen. I know that I am able to do so only because the tens of thousands of volunteers who make up the backbone of this movement overcame the most potent attack ads and the most powerful lobbying the special interests could put forward.

Our special-interest opponents and their Republican allies have now set their sights on the elections in November as their best chance to overturn the historic progress we've made together.

Organizing for America counts entirely on supporters like you to fight back -- no special interests, no corporate PACs. To keep making change and to defend the change we have already won, we need you -- and at least 14 other people in your area -- to contribute so we have the resources necessary going into the election.

Please donate $5 today and help Organizing for America lay the groundwork for the fights ahead.

Because of Wall Street reform, we will ensure that Americans applying for a credit card, a mortgage, or a student loan will never again be asked to sign their name under pages of confusing fine print. We will crack down on abusive lending practices and make sure that lenders don't cheat the system -- and create a new watchdog to enforce these consumer protections.

And we will put an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts, giving us the ability to wind down any large financial institution if it should ever fail.

The passage of Wall Street reform is at the forefront of the change we seek, and it will provide a foundation for a stronger and safer economy.

It is a foundation built upon the progress of the Recovery Act, which has turned 22 months of job losses into six consecutive months of private-sector job growth. And it is a foundation reinforced by the historic health reform we passed this spring, which is already giving new benefits to more than 100 million Americans, ushering another 1 million Americans into coverage by next year.

But today's victory is not where our fight ends.

Organizing for America and I will move forward in the months ahead on the tough fights we have yet to finish -- even if cynics say we should wait until after the fall elections. This movement has never catered to the conventional wisdom of Washington. And we have fought to ensure that our progress is never held hostage by our politics.

You and I did not build this movement to win one election. We did not come together to pass one single piece of legislation. We are fighting for nothing less than a new foundation for our country -- and that work is not complete. As we face the challenges ahead, I am relying on you to stand with me.

Please donate $5 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/WallStreetReformed

Thank you for helping us get here,

President Barack Obama

It's already too late for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs

In a recent column, Bob Herbert, a New York Times writer, portrays what I and others have been saying for many months. Average Americans are facing economic devastation that policymakers have yet to fully grasp. Millions of people who were firmly entrenched in the middle class now find their savings gone and futures looking more dismal by the day. Even if they return to work, it's unlikely many will be able to recover to the point where they can avoid living on the streets in old age. The damage has already been done and returning to work is becoming a near impossibility as employers continue to sit on profits.

This is a national emergency on a scale that we've never seen because there is no light at the end of this tunnel, no confidence that government and business will unite to pull us out of this. Quite the contrary. Sadly, we are approaching these problems like we have in the past, not realizing the uniquely catastrophic circumstances of this particular recession that has targeted the middle class while those on the top have quickly recovered via bailouts and other perks or privilege. America will soon be the ultimate have and have-not country.

With the exception of commentators like Herbert, the news media doesn't seem to understand the depth of the emergency. Elected officials are using the collapse of the middle class to score political points instead of finding solutions. With each savings account that is drained goes the hopes of many Americans. Hundreds of thousands are already struggling to simply clothed and feed themselves. These are people who three years ago had homes, nest eggs and college accounts for their kids. They are victims of what was probably an overzealous reaction by many employers to cut payroll to the bone. Meanwhile, the media barely scratches the surface of the most profound story since World War II.

Some who were in the middle class are losing the will to go on. This class of people did everything right, or so they thought. They educated themselves. Worked hard. And now they can't pay the electric bill. That changes people, particularly people who once prided themselves on being self-reliant. It changes the fabric of a society. We can fund wars but we can't pay to create jobs? We can export entire professions and grant millions of work visas, but can't provide employment for our middle class? It's tragic.

This recession is a silent killer. But it's only silent because people in power have their hands over their ears. In fact, the term "recession" doesn't quite explain the depth or complexities of what is really happening at the core of our society, in the smallest towns and biggest cities.

It appears survival of the fittest is the new American norm. Those who have jobs are choosing to not think about those without paychecks. Those in a position to hire aren't doing so in order to fortify their security. People in government make job-creation policies that have no teeth so that they can survive another election season without making too many waves. The millions of people impacted the most by the economic collapse will perish soon enough, long before their time, leaving the country to those who protected their riches and turned their backs on former colleagues, neighbors and friends who weren't quite as fortunate.

Read the Herbert column.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Hayward: A story more fit for page 3

No wonder newspaper circulation is hurting and television news ratings are declining. For the second week in a row, the media has latched onto a story that in the grand scheme of things is fairly meaningless to most Americans, particularly citizens who are struggling financially, have sons and daughters fighting in hopeless wars or simply had plans to vacation along the Gulf of Mexico this summer.

Media outlets are playing up the possibility of Tony Hayward, British Petroleum's CEO, stepping down. Last week we were up to our ears in the Shirley Sherrod nonsense (see previous post). I think a potential Hayward resignation is news, just not above-the-fold, page-one news on consecutive days. News companies have lost a lot of resources in the recession, so pouring time into stories like this is an even bigger waste of newsprint and airtime. The story impacts virtually no one other than the Hayward family. It's not like there is a shortage of other more significant news and topics that deserve reporting and objective analysis. Where has investigative journalism gone? The kind that altered lives and even the planet as a whole? Why are we so immersed in the tale of one filthy-rich guy whose job will be filled by another soulless suit with better public relations skills?

No one cares about Tony Hayward. No one I know, anyway. When super-wealthy guys get fired or are forced to resign, the public sympathy/interest rating reads about a minus five on a 1-to-10 scale. Look, we're happy to not see Hayward very often anymore. We are generally pleased not to see any CEOs on television or on the front pages of newspapers. Playing musical chairs at the top of these corporations is mostly a game of appearances with no ramifications for the public. It's insider stuff that really makes little difference in how the world spins.

I am tired of perceptions, celebrities and politics guiding everything from media coverage to government policies. It's all rather distracting at a time when we need laser-like focus. We should start uniting and educating in order to fix some very real and serious problems. The media can play a role in this if it can find a way to make the news relevant to people's lives.

Unlike the millions laid off in this recession, Hayward is going to be fine -- probably better than ever because that's the way the game is played at the top. BP is going to continue being BP. CEOs will come and go, and when they go, it's always with a golden parachute. The real task at hand for BP is not in replacing Hayward, it's in cleaning up the damn Gulf. The work of the government is to find out what went wrong in this catastrophe. Replacing Hayward is mere window dressing that the media should not get too distracted by while covering the bigger story.

Friday, July 23, 2010

The bigger story beyond Sherrod

A couple of folks have asked me what I think of the Shirley Sherrod situation. The former USDA employee was fired for making what seemed to be racist statements in an old speech captured on videotape. As it turned out, the comments appear to have been taken out of context and Sherrod has since received apologies from almost everyone involved in the rush-to-judgment, including President Obama. The USDA is even offering to rehire Sherrod.

A lot of things about this story don't surprise me, which is part of the reason why I haven't felt compelled to comment on it until now. Journalistic standards, which played a role in this debacle, have been declining for years and are currently hitting what I hope is rock bottom. Misinterpreting comments/data is one of the pitfalls of today's reporting. As the online rush and economic climate have created less experienced newsrooms, quality control has nosedived. The gatekeepers in many newsrooms have gone extinct. It is also obvious that certain media outlets have an agenda and have lost the ability to be objective and thorough, particularly when it concerns race and politics. I haven't heard any apologies from Fox News regarding how some of their commentators prematurely spun the condensed Sherrod video.

Beyond the media's role in fueling the fire in this case, there is another problem. It has become so common for employees to be unfairly fired or laid off that I am not sure what all the hoopla is about in the Sherrod incident, especially considering all the other important news that should take precedence over this story. To my way of thinking, the bigger story goes beyond Sherrod. The story should be about the American workplace and the relationships between employers and employees, covering the full spectrum of why and how so many people were laid off in the recession, why jobs aren't coming back and the trends that are eroding basic trust and productivity.

Employees have been fired and laid off for unjust reasons for a long time. Some can't even find work or get promoted for reasons such as race or age discrimination. Depending on where you work or want to work, you can either be too young, too old, too white or too black. The recession has led some companies to get rid of workers based on "last hired, first fired" or other seemingly random criteria or false perceptions. From all the media coverage over this one unfair workplace dismal, you would think the Sherrod firing is a new phenomenon.


So the Sherrod story in and of itself doesn't motivate me that much to watch 24-hour coverage of it on CNN, MSNBC or Fox. If it shines light on what should be obvious to everyone by now, then fine.

The only unusual aspect of the Sherrod case is that she was actually offered an apology and a new job. Most people who are let go from jobs because they were misunderstood, didn't smile enough, or simply spoke their minds too often aren't given apologies, let alone hired back. Sherrod will prosper from being victimized. She will land on her feet in better shape, which is more than can be said for others who have faced similar situations but received no media coverage.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Protesting the lack of protests



I am starting off today's post with a video from Woodstock. This performance of Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane raises two questions in my mind.

First, what happened to being cool? I don't mean pretending to be cool by buying pre-torn jeans at the mall or obsessing over a costly hairstyle that is meant to look messy but really isn't. I mean making due with what you have to form your own individual style. Everything, including music, is so packaged and overproduced these days that nothing feels authentic or original.

Of course, if you didn't live in non-conformist times, you probably don't realize what is missing in today's culture. Heck, even many of the people who are now in their 50s and 60s have forgotten what it means to be cool, to not accept certain societal norms, to speak up when blatant wrongs arise. Maybe that's just a result of getting older. One gets tired fighting the man. Conformity and acceptance become the easier path, I suppose.


Additionally, where have all the protest songs gone? If there was ever a time for musicians to rally around big causes, it's now. We have two wars that have lasted longer and cost more than any war in our history. Even proponents of the war can't define victory.

So why aren't today's musicians writing songs that address wars, oil spills, corporate greed, political corruption and so forth? I don't have an answer, I just know that creative people jumped all over stuff like this in the 1960s and 70s, and it led to some of the best songs ever written. Songs with something important to say that changed America for the better.

Maybe the Vietnam War hit closer to home because we had a military draft. Perhaps if kids today were forced to fight in ill-conceived wars more people would pay attention to what is going on in the news. Maybe a draft, in an odd sense, was a good thing. As the war in southeast Asia dragged on, parents of sons reaching draft age began to question why we were in Vietnam. I can recall my father suggesting that I bolt for Canada if I was drafted. My father was not a liberal-minded person, so this was an interesting stance for him to take. Luckily, the war ended long before I turned 18.

Yes, groups like Jefferson Airplane probably did too many drugs and Woodstock wasn't quite as peaceful or productive as some like to remember. I am not glorifying everything from that era. But at least there was some awareness of issues like pollution, war and discrimination that felt more embedded into the culture than they do now. It was as if everyone had a stake in what was happening in the world, not just in their little corner of it, but across the country and even the globe. Sometimes that led to conflicts and rioting, but it also meant people were engaged. They read newspapers and watched the evening news. They were armed with righteous opinions and music that backed them up. Politicians in Washington had to respect that. Eventually, that cultural movement ended a war.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Goodwin's first vote a big winner

It took the newest and youngest member of the U.S. Senate to tip the scales in favor of sanity and compassion in Washington today.

Sen. Carte Goodwin (D) of West Virginia cast a key vote in favor of unemployment-extension funding within minutes of being sworn in. The 36-year-old succeeded the late Sen. Robert Byrd. His vote was met with applause.

While the state will hold a special election in November to fill the Byrd spot, Goodwin's interim appointment by the governor of West Virginia means that millions of Americans who are still looking for work will receive some financial assistance from a benefit program they helped fund while they were employed. As a result, the economy should see modest improvements. I should add that contrary to Republican propaganda, one actually has to be able to prove they are seeking work to qualify for benefits. They have to do so on a weekly basis. This is not welfare. It is a benefit acquired while working. Extensions have been routinely funded by both parties in hard times until current Republicans began suspiciously blocking the latest measure several weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh went on the radio today once again misrepresenting the unemployment debate. He called the extension another "welfare" program and failed to recognize that well-intentioned Americans are facing unprecedented obstacles in finding work.

I predict that the more Limbaugh portrays unemployed Americans as enemies of the state, the more backlash the GOP will feel in November. He may even lose some of his audience. Too many people are out of work or know people who lost their jobs for voters not to realize that Limbaugh and the right wing are on the absolute wrong side of this issue. They want the economy to fail in order to win seats in Congress in November. And if that means more jobless Americans on the street, that seems to be fine with the Grand Old Party for now, particularly if it creates more voter discontent.

Of course, it's hard for people like Limbaugh, broadcasting from his waterfront mansion/compound in Florida, to relate to the hardships that have fallen upon average Americans. People who are learning the facts tend to believe that the Republicans tried to the block the unemployment extension for their own gain. This was a cold and calculated political stance. A selfish, manipulative position that had little to do with the deficit.

Democrats need to remind voters in the fall who stood for average Americans down on their luck and who tried to halt unemployment benefits while continuing to be advocate spending billions on wars that can't be won and tax cuts for the wealthy -- wealthy like Limbaugh.

It's time to keep U.S. dollars at home

During his monologue last night, Tonight Show host Jay Leno joked that jobless Americans should move to Pakistan, where the U.S. just pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid.

I will be the first to admit that my global perspectives are limited at best. I wouldn't make a good replacement for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

With that said, how is it that the U.S. is giving financial aid to any country? Aren't we presently arguing over providing assistance to our own people, like those who are unemployed? Aren't schools cutting teachers right here in America because of the bad economy? What about that biggest deficit in our country's history? Is that even a consideration when funding foreign governments? American cities are crumbling. Homes are in foreclosure at record rates. Businesses are struggling. And we're sending cash overseas?

Hillary came to Pakistan yesterday with an olive branch. Attached to it was $500 million. It is not clear to me why this was necessary or how a country with massive debt can give that kind of money to other countries. But what is crystal clear is that we have no interest in altering how we do business globally. This is not some Leno joke.

It looks like we are going to continue funding foreign countries indefinitely through writing checks and providing military assistance despite our overwhelming economic woes at home. In the current economic climate, where millions of Americans are suffering and there is no end in sight, it was frustrating to see Hillary Clinton handing over cash to Pakistan just so that people there will hate us a little less.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Real faces of unemployment

Do the three people flanking President Obama in this photograph look like bums, hobos or drug addicts? Those are some of the labels attached to jobless Americans by some Republicans in recent months.

Certain politicians have no clue as to how difficult it is to find work in America in 2010. Talk about an out-of-touch political party. Whether you're 55 and looking to resume your career, or 25 and hoping to get a foot in the door with a good company, your odds are far worse than they have ever been in most of our lifetimes. It doesn't matter how many college degrees you have or how skilled you might be. There simply aren't enough jobs to go around. That is a fact.

As a result, the economy continues to stumble. Therefore, unemployment benefits must be extended for the people like the folks in this picture who have been trying to find work and who don't use unemployment benefits for illegal drugs. Instead, they use the money to feed the economy, to keep their homes, to pay their bills. That is all good for all of America -- those who are searching for jobs and those who are employed. Cutting the jobless off will only slow down the recovery, cause home values to crash even further and lead to a new class of homeless people. What's the Republican plan to deal with that?

Instead of longing for a 1950s world where everything and everyone was easily categorized, modern-day Republicans need to face some facts about the current economy and the people who are suffering the most. I believe if they continue to take out their frustrations on honest citizens looking for work, they will lose whatever momentum they had prior to their attacks on the unemployed. We all know the unemployed. They are our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. They aren't shadowy people standing on sketchy street corners. It is bad political policy to paint them as such.


I was glad to see Obama speaking on behalf of the unemployed and calling out those who want to halt benefits to the jobless while decreasing taxes on the wealthy. His speech in the Rose Garden today helped renew my faith that he hasn't forgotten about millions of honest, hard-working Americans who were cast out of the workplace during the recession and can't find their way back into suitable jobs, or the college graduates who are losing hope by the day that they will be able to put their education to good use.

Republicans in 2010 have a tendency to not acknowledge people who aren't doing well. They bend over backwards for those still on the top but rarely form policies to assist people who don't have a pipeline to the corner offices. They put up fences along the Mexican border without regard for how that may impact wildlife that needs to migrate in order to survive. They say "drill baby drill" even as the oil in the Gulf of Mexico is ruining life in that part of the country. We have a governor in Virginia who still thinks it's a good idea to set up hundreds of rigs off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Their arrogance is now off the charts with thinking that they can save a nickel on the backs of the unemployed. This is a party in need of a makeover, a soul. They can't just keep appealing to people's lowest instincts and fears and continue to win elections that way. Americans are getting smarter as more news and opinions are available. Facts can be easily checked. We don't have to accept anything that any politician claims as true anymore.

Despite the rhetoric coming from Republicans, most Americans still believe that those folks who are having trouble finding work should not have their benefits cut off. Most Americans know that the trouble that is facing some of their friends and neighbors could easily happen to them in this shaky economy. And if it does, they wouldn't want to be without benefits that they helped pay into while working for their entire adult lives.

As I have said many times, the GOP argument against extending benefits doesn't hold water in any regard. I never stopped looking for work while I was collecting. Never lost motivation to find a job just because I was getting a small sum deposited in my checking account. Getting an unemployment check for most people is just a way to buy some time until they can land a job. A way to save their homes and feed themselves. I have no love for those who use their unemployment checks to take a vacation or to lounge around, not looking for work. But that isn't the majority of people. Not anymore. Not in this economy. So Republicans stereotyping the unemployed is not only rubbing salt into some serious wounds, but it is also an indication of how they don't even know what the problem is. How can they fix something they fail to even acknowledge?

Fortunately, it appears the U.S. Senate might now be able to approve funding for an overdue unemployment benefits package. As West Virginia's Carte Goodwin is sworn into office this week, it looks like the Democrats will have the votes to overcome Republican hardliners who still think it's a good fiscal policy to screw average people. Their masking their hatred of Obama (and thereby, unemployed folks) by pretending to be concerned about the deficit is a joke.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Sen. Vitter symbolic of the new GOP

I really want to like or at least respect Republicans. I once voted for certain Republicans. Unfortunately, when they aren't casting stones at the unemployed or Mexicans simply trying to earn a living, they are making derogatory comments about how people look. Makes it difficult to feel warm and fuzzy about the GOP.

Republican Sen. David Vitter felt compelled to make a wise crack about MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on a right-wing radio talk show today. He implied that she looks like a man. Link to story and audio.

Normally, this might not be a big deal. But during these troubled times, when we are looking for leaders to lead, this stuff is just plain stupid. I realize that Republicans tend to not like anyone who doesn't look or think like they do (not they they are the most attractive group). However, stooping to parochial insults about a political commentator who happens to intelligently expose GOP ignorance on a nightly basis is just beneath a U.S. senator, particularly one who represents a Gulf Coast state with much bigger problems than Rachel Maddow.

Senator Vitter's attack on Maddow is just another indication of how the GOP has fallen. Republicans like to trumpet Ronald Reagan, but Reagan didn't stoop to juvenile yucks on talk radio shows. Yes, Reagan cut taxes. We all know that. Make of that what you will. He took on the Soviet Union and should be credited with many positive things. But modern-day Republicans conveniently forget that there was a certain elegance to Reagan. He was a statesman, not a clown. It was Reagan who first suggested that we and the Soviets reduce our nuclear arsenals to zero. You would think from listening to conservative talk radio that this is an Obama exclusive.

Today's Republicans yell out "you lie" during presidential addresses and giggle and name call on the radio. They apologize to BP and suck up to the Tea Party. They worship Sarah Palin. It's getting more difficult by the day to respect a single member of this political party. Democrats aren't much better, but do seem to have some sense of decorum and connection to reality.

We need at least two viable political parties in this country. Actually, I'd like to see everyone run as independents, but that will never happen. Ideally, I'd like to hear ideas from individual candidates, not political groups. In lieu of that, Republicans need to offer up something that will appeal to voters who aren't thrilled by idiotic, divisive comments and pure political grandstanding. Republicans need better men than David Vitter and Sen. Jim Bunning. They need to elevate the conversation, not by tearing down people who have fallen on hard times or who look a little different but by being more inclusive. This is something that has alluded Republicans for years. When they get in trouble, they rally around their own kind. Well, it's time for Republicans to do what Democrats did in 2008. Open up the tent. Extend a hand. Lead with strength and compassion. Stop stereotyping everything and everyone. Walk in the shoes of those looking for work or who face daily discrimination based on sex, age, race or religion. Then see if you want to giggle about someone's appearance or assume that jobless people are drug addicts.