Up, Down and Around Our Town

In the midst of two of the most beautiful fall weekends we have had in years, there is still a sense of a big dark cloud that goes from coast to coast. And, as we found out later in the week, it extends to every continent. Imagine that, the greed of Wall Street affecting seemingly everything on the planet. Enjoy those bonuses, boys!

Meanwhile, the campaign has about three weeks to go. The sad part is that neither of these guys is listening. Yes, we had that sham of a debate last week - it was downright boring and it just dawned on my as why such is occuring. Neither candidate has any answers and is afraid to formualte some solutions for fear that the hate mongers will leverage their thoughts against them. So - there it is - it's a listening problem. They just can't hear.

Seriously, Sen. McCain, you are a decorated war hero who underwent punishment that we just cannot imagine. Nor should we. You have recovered, but seemingly are stuck in 1968 again. Not a good year to visit. Your one comment is that the "surge" is working. Really? Has peace been declared? Is the Iraq government now a mirror of democracy? Hardly and the costs in lives and dollars (always in that order) continues to rise. Do we really think that by occupying Iraq that we can settle the world down? Hardly. And yet, that is his entire campaign.

And Mr. Obama, get with the program. While we admire your smooth delivery and the air of being in control, start to elongate on what exactly you and Joe Biden will actually do. The racists are starting to come to the surface and even the media (especially the Today Show) is acting as a de facto campaign extension. Show some leadership - the time for talk is over.

And Wall Street. Shame on Wall Street. I spent several hours last week presenting a program for both faculty and a local service club. The response? What happens next. That is the real answer that no one seems to be able to wrap their arms around. Certainly what faith there is in government is hardly surfacing. W is sitting in the White House looking worried. As he should. Mr. Paullson keeps telling us that once we inject all of this $800 billion into the market that things will be better. He thinks.

Meanwhile, retirements have dried up. Small business is closing its doors. Retailers are adjusting down their projections even for the coming holiday season. Cars aren't moving, credit is frozen, loans are impossible and some are just wondering what will happen next. The collective roosting birds have all come home at once. And we don't have any answers....and this ain't no Reality TV Show.

Hearken back to September 11, 2001. A dastardly act done on ours by people who hate us. We thought it was a military strike. We reacted in our usual John Wayne/Rambo way and decided to engage. The only problem was where? We chose Iraq. We chose wrong.

In hindsight, the 9-11 attacks were economic. As a result, we spent billions on a war we should be fighting, more billions securing our borders knowing fully well that we couldn't encase this country in wire and fence. We gave away money to those we knew couldn't pay and by the time the bills were due, the house of cards on Wall Street had all but collapsed. In other words, the 9-11 attack worked. For those whose intent it was to cripple us. All of our cellphones and computers couldn't stop this from happening. These are the campaign issues.

So is the price of energy. Yes, the price of gas has dropped about one dollar. We're so hooked that we think that less than $3 a gallon is cheap. What about fuel oil? Where is the natural gas? What can Ameren do to extract a few more dollars from our coffers. How much will food prices rise in the next six months due to the lack of direction from an energy formula?

Healthcare? You better have it. Pay for it.

Yes, Senators McCain and Obama, one of you will lead this country in 2009. And your honeymoon will be ever so brief. And, by the way, Mrs. Polosi - earn your money. Get off your dead butt and start the reformation of this country. From those who have been elected to do so. Not for your country club memberships or your house at Lake Tahoe, but for those whose Congressional leadership is needed.

You think that Gustav and Ike damaged this country? Let's take the financial backbone out of this system and see where we may be if we start over. The crisis isn't financial - it is visual. Start listening and seeing. And the candidate who can paint that picture will get elected.

Reaganomics is over. Dead. Lee Atwater is dead. Karl Rove is on TV. For that matter, where's Tim Russart when we really need him the most? The need for regulation is staring us in the face. Answer the door. Our futures are in the balance.

It's more than losing money in the stock market. It is losing the potential to think about a planned future. This is where we used to excel. I would like to think that we still can.

I have a special hero to tell the story to very soon. I want an ending that can sustain her beyond me. It's just the way I think.

Three weeks to go. Here's hoping the weather holds and the crisis of confidence doesn't. Till next week and as always, I remain.....