Imitation of Life

From the BBC News Online:

US debt clock runs out of digits

Until last month, the clock had enough digits to measure US debt levels The US government's debts have ballooned so badly the National Debt Clock in New York has run out of digits to record the spiralling figure. The digital counter marks the national debt level, but when that passed the $10 trillion point last month, the sign could not display the full amount. The board was erected to highlight the $2.7 trillion level of debt in 1989. The clock's owners say two more zeros will be added, allowing the clock to record a quadrillion dollars of debt. Douglas Durst, son of the late Seymour Durst - the clock's inventor - hopes to replace the Manhattan clock with its lengthier replacement early next year. For the time being, the Times Square counter's electronic dollar sign has been replaced with the extra digit required. For its part, the digital dollar symbol has been supplanted by a cheaper version - perhaps a sign of the times for the American economy. Some economists believe the $700bn bail-out plan for ailing US financial institutions could send the national debt level to $11 trillion.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love the answer to this problem - just add another 0 - it's so American. 

Chicken Little was right, people. The sky is indeed falling and we should all be very, very scared.

This was in an email I got today . . .

Eight years ago George W. Bush, aka the All-American cowboy you could sit down and have a beer with, was elected  took office and today we're in an economic crisis the likes of which haven't been seen since the Great Depression, we're fighting a war in Iraq and Afghanistan while posturing with Iran, the gap between the upper and middle classes continues to widen at a phenomenal rate while middle class and low income families continue to struggle financially to meet day to day obligations, etc.

In less than six weeks we will be faced with the task of choosing who will replace the cowboy.  Our choices?  The guy who touts himself as "the maverick" with the "hockey mom" for a running mate or the guy who speaks eloquently of change and hope and a running mate with strong foreign policy experience (which we so desperately need at this time).

Personally, I'm done with cowboys and mavericks and the like - I'm voting for the candidate with the intelligence to come up with a plan to get us out of this BIG mess we're in.  Not just the economy or Iraq, but to change the very direction in which this country seems to be headed.  It's time to vote on policies (that will work) and real issues (not the ones like abortion and gay marriage which are moral issues not federal ones). 

While I'd love for some crazy progressive candidate to be in the running with REAL change as a platform, I'm happy to vote for the one touting moderate change at least.  I'm voting for the smart guy (and his highly intelligent wife) who I believe will surround himself with other smart people . . . Obama/Biden on November 4th.

I saw this clip today and although I'm not a proponent of celebrity by famous parentage - I just became a HUGE fan of Luke Russert's  :)

(The segment is a little long so if you're looking for the golden nugget of truth, fast forward to about the 2:30 mark)

If I may be so bold as to ask, When are people going to start taking this presidential election seriously? 

The world as Americans know it is crumbling around us - banks and (previously) time-honored financial institutions are going under, millions of Americans are struggling just to make ends meet with the rising costs of food, transportation and energy, while others can't even afford to pay the mortgage on their homes since the balloon payments have now begun - and (I hope) many are rethinking what is important.  At least I know I am and that is why I take this upcoming election very seriously.

While no candidate has all the answers I'd like to hear I'm going to vote for the candidate (read Obama) who I believe will bring some much needed relief to the struggling middle class along with some overdue reform of the way we do business in this country.  I also believe, although he seems to be a little more vague than I'd like, that Obama will end the war in Iraq sooner than later. (Although his recent comments about Afghanistan trouble me a bit.)

At any rate, these are troublesome times and the decision of who to elect to the office of President of the United States should not be taken lightly.  Just look what the wrong choice (read Dubyah) can do! And in only eight short years.

Yet I am discouraged as I watch both candidates make appearances on shows like The View and Access Hollywood and the one that put me over the edge was watching a clip of McCain on the Rachel Ray show. Seriously, I threw up in my mouth and then proceeded to say several profanities.  I mean, these guys are running for president not pimping for Emmy or Oscar votes! I don't care how many grills McCain can run! I care whether or not he has a real plan for getting healthcare to the millions that go without or a process by which we can pull this country out of potential financial ruin and debt.  I want to know when the last American soldier will be able to put down his gun in Iraq and come back home to his family so he/she can begin to put their lives back together.

Truly, I'm disgusted.  I can't believe we have sunk so low.  Afterall, we the people are just as much to blame as the candidates because they wouldn't be making these ridiculous appearances if they didn't think they could get a few votes. 

So let's get serious and demand some intelligent conversation about the REAL issues.  There is too much at stake this time around to vote for the "good guy" or the "tough guy" or "the guy you'd like to sit and have a beer with" or "the hockey mom" - I don't care if the President has the personality of a wet rag as long as he can lead me and my fellow citizens in turning things around.

OK. I'll get off my soapbox - for now.