Long Run Solutions

The Beauty of Washington

I find the saying “You can’t see the forest for the trees” to be an accurate description of a common problem. Getting too close to a situation or problem may lead to an inability to find the right path forward.

Today, while going for a run around the Capital Mall in Washington DC I experienced the opposite of that saying. I realized that I normally hate the smell and the look and the feel of almost anything coming from Washington. Most especially, I really don’t want to hear from either political party anymore. And if I hear one more thing about “global warming”.

But today, I was right in the thick of the forest. Running down the National Mall and around and through the Jefferson Memorial was an awe inspiring start. Thomas Jefferson is such an inspiring founding father. His level of thought and big picture thinking is almost incomprehensible to me. Then, I ran around the lake to the Lincoln Memorial. Abraham Lincoln. Wow. This man of great faith and contemplation whom our nation was gifted with at such a critical moment. And then, I walked along the Vietnam Memorial and read the random names of heroes as I passed by.  These mostly very young men that God weaved into the fabric of heroes in American history. Some things are so hard to understand.

On I went to the memorial to the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I read all 56 names and noticed that one of the names was Matthew Thornton. I’ve read many pages of history during the 18^th and 19^th century, but had never noticed that particular name. A name shared by a friend of mine.

And I ran back toward the end of the Reflecting Pond as I approached the Washington Monument. George Washington sort of occupies that same space in my mind as Thomas Jefferson. I find myself in awe just passing by the monument. And Washington’s monument is just so ever present in Washington, DC.

Ultimately, in the final act of what felt like completing my mission, I ran around the US Capital building. This was the one spot where my mind wandered briefly to politics. I thought about how easy it would be to become drunk with power and self absorbed with one’s own importance. But I was saved by a young woman sitting in this odd red brick hexagon enclosure. She was sitting wondering the same thing I was wondering….that is “what is this place”. Neither of us knew (check it out here). She sat in wonderment. I ran on rediscovering my own wonderment.

And when it was time, after 7.25 glorious miles, I found my rental car right where I left it……at the corner of 7^th and Constitution. I’m left with thinking back to this run and savoring the hour or so I spent feeling like a kid again.

About the Tea Parties

First of all, I'm not really concerned about how many references CNN and CNBC make to "tea bagging". Of course it is ridiculously immature, but I kind of like the idea that they are at least calling themselves out and admitting to their biases.

Second, I find it pretty disingenuous that this is being portrayed as mainly a "beat up Barack Obama" crusade. These Tea Parties do not exist because Barack Obama was elected. And oh by the way, if I'm wrong and that is why Tea Parties exists, then I'm glad Obama was elected. In fact, if he manages to galvanize support for getting spending under control, then God Bless President Obama.

Third, at least from my point of view, I don't want Rush Limbaugh on the side of the Tea Parties. I'm happy to admit that I love Rush's sense of humor. He makes me laugh. However, Rush was just a voice for the Republican Party this last election when he should have been railing against their unchecked thirst for our tax dollars. The Republican Party divorced it's conservative members during the second term of George Bush the younger's presidency.

If the Republican Party was a person (a small person) I would pick them up by the throat and tell them to stick it. Tax cuts are great, but it is more important to control spending. I'm sorry, maybe you didn't hear me....tax cuts are great, but it is more important to control spending. What is wrong with all of these loser politicians? And I'm talking to all of you loser Democrats, too.

The Tea Parties are about out of control spending that will bankrupt this country. Just because the Republicans did it and didn't seem to care does not mean it's alright for the Democrats. Tea Parties are about people finding their voice and saying NO to out of control spending.  The spending binge started in the 1980's and it is now accelerating at an astonishing rate. We are truly spending our children's future.

I for one, am not OK with it.

Meet the new Mr. Goodwrench

President Barack "Mr. Goodwrench" Obama at your service. Apparently, you and I are now providing warranties on GM and Chrysler cars and trucks. I have one thing to say, give me a stinkin break!

Oh, and how exactly did this whole decision to fire the CEO of GM, Rick Wagoner, come about. Now our president is firing the heads of companies? And isn't one reaction to think, "well, if Rick Wagoner deserves to go, let's get rid of those Wall Street creeps who put us into this tailspin". Warning, that thinking is a trap! Under no circumstances do we want any branch of our government dictating who our private sector hires. Just think of how quickly out of control this could get. It would be just like the slippery slope of bailouts we are currently sliding on.

Many of these Wall Street guys disgust me, but that is no reason for the federal government to begin a command and control economic policy. I have absolutely no reason to believe that the government will pick corporate leaders better than the private sector. Seriously, are you kidding me?

The bottom line for me is that everyday that goes by without Ford taking bailout money makes me want to buy a new Ford. Go Ford go! The free market needs you to succeed.

Cool Presidents and Bong Hits

Today in a truly revealing statement Barack Obama said, "People think I'm cool". All I have to say to that is thank you Barack. Now we know what is important to you.

Oh so cool.

In other news, I learned that I have a misguided training program. This last week I ran 36 miles and worked out in the water for another hour and ten minutes. I thought that was good, but I'm going to have to step up and admit that I didn't do a single bong hit.

I can't wait until the"Michael Phelps Training Program" comes out. On another note, think of how big of a hit a guy with that kind of lung capacity could take.

I'm just going to stop there. Oh, but has anyone seen a good role model lately ?

Really?

Lately I'm feeling a little under the weather. I don't know exactly what it is. Could it be that it's winter time and there is just not enough sunlight? Maybe.

I think it was just this last Monday that 71,000 people were laid off. It must be really difficult to be in that position. I'm too young to have been through a real recession and it is scary. When will the economy come back around? A month? A year? Ever?

There are a lot of numbers being thrown around regarding "stimulus" packages and tax cuts and TARP 1 and now TARP 2. I'm uncomfortable with the size of these numbers and I think it's for good reason. In the past I have been convinced that deficits like $100 billion or $300 billion were a big deal. I may remember wrong, but it seems like politicians on both sides of the isle have been saying that we cannot sustain these kinds of deficits. Too, I don't even understand the numbers or what they mean. I don't really have any idea what we can or cannot sustain, but if $300 billion was bad, what is $3 trillion?

It makes some sense to me, at least it seems like common sense, that we cannot always spend more than we are making. I know there is a big difference between making money and cash flowing. And as long as you can cash flow, you can get away with a lot of not making money. But, where is the line from a governmental standpoint between smart cash flow strategy and complete fiscal irresponsibility?

I mean really, there is a point where this doesn't work any more, right? Or, can we just go on like this and avoid pain by having the federal government spend more money?

Now that I mention it, that reminds me that this is all George Bush's fault, right? And with that said, it means that any solution and any amount of money is OK because its George Bush's fault. And there is no getting out of this without more government spending. And a lot of government spending, right? After all, none of us are really anything without the government. We really cannot do anything or make any money with out the all powerful government helping us out.  A hand up.....

Many years ago our founding fathers wrote a document that started "We the people of the United States of America,..... understand that we are completely incompetent and unable to make money without the federal government telling us what to do and how to do it".

I think that is what it said anyway. Well, in the mean time I'm just going to sit tight and wait for the magical government money to roll in. If you need me, I'll be in the bathroom purging myself.

Thanksgiving 2008 - Thanksgiving 1863

I am writing and in some cases copying this message from a friend of mine, Kurt Ebert. He recently wrote an article which prominantly featured Abraham Lincoln's role in establishing thanksgiving, among other things.

Lincoln wrote:

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They   are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People."

Lincoln, the great leader who guided our beloved country through civil war, spoke openely and powerfully about the "Most High God" and "sins" and "mercy". As my friend Kurt pointed out in his article:

"It seems to me that Lincoln understood the point St. Paul made when he wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)."

 

 

Amen Kurt. Let us give thanks!

 

 

Four dollar a gallon blessing?

No one I know actually likes paying $4 a gallon for gasoline. For many, it is a true hardship. For others, they modify their lifestyle so the gas prices are not too much of a hardship.

The silver lining in these ridiculously high prices is that there is real money being poured into alternative energy sources and hybrid vehicles. We all know about the Toyota Prius. A friend tells me she gets 48 miles a gallon. And then there is E85.....oh please stop with the E85. I love farmers too, but on principle I think we should grow corn to eat. Maybe I'm just a bleeding heart liberal, but does anyone else have a problem with people starving in third world countries while we burn "food" in our cars and trucks. But, I digress.

Here is what is cool about $4 gasoline.

We have a company that has legitimate technology to run cars and trucks on compressed air. What? Yes it's true and it could be available as soon as 2010! That is exciting.

Second, we have a company with legitimate technology to retrofit cars with electric assist motors. For the first time, we are looking at a concept that appears like it may be easy to install in any car for under $4000 and boost gasoline mileage significantly. Both of these articles are worth checking out, so click on the links above.

Neither of these alternatives is going to put a dime in your pocket tomorrow. But, either or both of these technologies could make a big difference in how we build cars and what we pay for gasoline in the future. If we find ways to burn significantly less gas, prices will plummet. Oooo, that sounds good. 

Hold on there Sweetie

I would like to begin by thanking my friends Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain. The last thing I want to do is be politically incorrect, but would anyone mind if in the future I referred to these three as the black guy , the woman, and the old fart? What? Did you say that was pretty far down the politically incorrect highway already? Is it just me or has this political season morphed into a cartoon that just keeps getting odder everyday.

Maybe I could start by saying I have never been more keenly aware of the minority status of anyone than I am all three of these bozos (how do you spell bozo?). Is that because I am a 40 year old white guy and these three are just not like me? Well look, even if that were true, or maybe I mean even if that weren't true, the media is all about the labels I used above. I hear that Barack would be winning easy except that those pesky white people are racist. What? And then I hear that Hillary just can't win with younger, male sexist voters. What? Oh, and I'm not hearing much at all about the old guy except that if anyone is dumb enough to vote for him he will be 93 or something like that at the end of his first term. Somebody send him the link to the Depends website. But I digress....

Just today, it was Barack, who has been the most fun lately, who made me giggle. You gotta love this guy. Does anyone else think of Eddie Haskel of the old TV show "Leave it to Beaver" when you see Barack Obama. I mean this guy can get away with almost anything and you get the feeling that, by accident, arrogance, or stupidity; he's going to push that "anything" limit as far as he can. Check out Eddie Haskel's latest shout out to all females with a TV. Isn't that a gas? I wonder if Hillary would be OK with Eddie Obama calling her "sweetie" from now on? After all, its just a term of endearment, right?

In the land of political correctness, when we have played most of the hand out and we are down to the last three cards, which one do you want? The minority card, the gender card, or the old fart card? As for me, I don't really care. I can only hope they keep me laughing along the way.