From You
America the Greedy
originally published October 1, 2008
Pete’s editorial “Slim Chance” [Sept. 24] scratched the surface of the other issue at play in our current economic free fall, but as it was one of the first printed media articles I have read that did, it deserves applause. In a nutshell - America, we did this to ourselves! Yes, the government and the Bush Administration provided the tools, but we provided the demand, which came from nothing other than pure greed!
When did 3,000 square foot houses become small? When did $100 women’s shoes become a bargain find? When did it become commonplace for a home to have more bathrooms and televisions and even computers than residents?
Americans wanted their lives super-sized, and now we are all paying the price. Admittedly, I too played the game… for a while. But having seen the light (thankfully before this current economic crash) I drive a 10-year-old car, I refuse to spend more than $30 for practically any item of clothing, and recently moved into a 1,100 square foot two-bedroom condo that is sized “just right” for two people. (Not to mention… a lot easier to keep clean and maintain.)
Government can bail out corporate America (although I wish they would not), and government can restructure all of the sub-prime loans, but what lesson will we all have learned?
Corporate America - you can keep your gated communities, anything with a V8, and most importantly, your offers of same-as-cash… I will buy what I can pay for today, I will let banks and credit cards PAY ME to use them, and I will sleep at night. Pete was right, we got what we demanded, and they got their tax cuts and the heart of our country (good healthcare and education) - what a price to pay. America, it is time we owned our lives ourselves. Things do not bring happiness and things cost money. Think twice before you buy, you might just realize you too can be happier without than with!
UGA Budget Cuts
originally published October 1, 2008
The decision to consider a reduction in library journal subscriptions as a cost-cutting measure signals a decision on the part of the University of Georgia administration to lapse further into a state of denial about the relative importance of the disparate categories of expenditure. Nothing, with the possible exception of the annual fall gameday campus closures, could demonstrate more indifference to the importance of the research activities at this university. The ratio of expenditure that goes to activities directly involved in education and research versus those in some supposed support role, e.g., exorbitant administrator salaries and retirement packages, the so-called tooth-to-tail ratio, is such that any outside auditor could easily find six percent to trim without affecting this university’s important central mission. I strongly urge the administration to look elsewhere in a less shortsighted fashion to find ways to cut costs in a way that is consistent with their role as stewards.
A House Divided
originally published October 1, 2008
Surely my fiancée and I aren’t the only couple in this town whose political preferences or beliefs differ. We started dating during this current administration, and there’s not a lot to disagree about in terms of our feelings toward Bush. However, if we don’t learn to deal with our differences of opinions about the upcoming presidential election amicably, it might just well bring us to the point of saying to hell with it. I don’t really mean that, but frankly, this is the most heated our relationship has ever been and I don’t mean that amorously.
One of us can’t understand how the other can support this old fart John McCain and what some believe will be more of the same. Hell, former Democratic vice president hopeful Joe Lieberman is supporting him.
And one of us can’t understand how the other can support Obama… well, he is a heck of a speaker.
Turn on the computer… ”McCain might kick the bucket and leave us in the hands of a hockey mom from Alaska whose teenage daughter is pregnant.”
Push the button on the TV remote… ”Oprah is supporting Obama.” Holy Shit!
Crank up the car and on the radio… ”Michelle Obama says don’t vote for a candidate just because they’re cute” or “Palin’s husband charged with DWI over two decades ago.”
Stop at the traffic light and on the back of someone’s car… yep, “Change we can believe in.” Do you feel faint?
Meanwhile, Joe Biden is all but hidden away somewhere unscathed, probably watching college football and drinking beer. Am I the only one that thinks he looks like an older Val Kilmer with a bad facelift?
To make things more complicated, most of our friends support Obama. No matter how we try to avoid conversations about politics (and religion) it seems we can’t get through a nice dinner party or night out on the town without somebody bringing up the election. Add a little booze and everybody’s fighting! My fiancée and I generally leave it there at the end of the brawl but the feelings still linger as we make our way home and into bed. Nothing divides people more than politics and “organized” religion.
Are there any relationship counselors out there? Is anyone else going through the same thing with their partner? How do you keep your cool and not kill each other? I look forward to reading the trashy comments and advice.
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