Cable Channel Stimulus Doubters

For all the critics of the about to be signed stimulus package, please identify the magic dollar amount or program that will reverse the 500,000 a month job losses or mop up the billions of dollars in foreclosed homes clogging the financial system.  Absent that magic answer, please hold your fire because the road gets bumpier before it gets smoother and nobody likes whiners on road trips.

Judgemental Busy Bodies

The most recent stories about Michael Phelps (Olympic swimmer and photographed pot smoker) and Nadya Suleman (mother of six artificially-conceived children and recently a full set of octuplets) have me wondering if the news cycles from here on out are going to be consumed with 'shame on you' stories and moral exemplar tales (Sully the wonder pilot).  Some might say the press has always had this sort of focus but I am feeling generous.

The press is turning into that person you bump into at church that sees every problem or milestone that somebody in the community faces as a morality play.  This sort of tone enables busy bodies from one end of the country to the other to shake their heads in disgust at the decisions/behavior of others.  To what end?  If the stories must be covered, cover them once in a neutral tone and move on to more pressing matters.  We are blessed/cursed to live in a time with no shortage of news to be covered.  Stop focusing on stories that enable a portion of your readership (with little basis) to feel morally superior.  We are neither morally superior nor inferior to most of our neighbors, co-workers or fellow citizens, but a collection of human beings each trying to do their best, no more and no less.  Every story that reinforces that fundamental reality is true and real.  News stories that try to convince you otherwise are the mainstream media equivalent of 'link bait' and a disservice to the public as a whole.

A New Day

It has only been a few weeks since the Obama administration has taken the reigns of government but because of the historic nature of these times and the fact that in a
few years I would like to remember what perspective I had in these
early days, I thought I would type up some of my thoughts. 

I think we are being reminded of the way a democracy is supposed to work.  Obama has an agenda and he is pushing it but he is listening to opposing points of view and making changes.  This is messy and some are reading this as a sign of weakness.  It may eventually become a weakness, but after eight years of leadership that simply took a position and repeated it endlessly, I find the process comforting.

The same quiet confidence/inner steel that propelled him in the campaign seems well suited to the White House.  Particularly so during these times of economic turmoil.

The propossed stimulus is not a short-term prescription for recovery.  I think it shouldn't be sold as such.  It should be sold as a downpayment on the infrsatructure renewal, healthcare reform and eventual energy independence this country has been delaying since the mid 90's.  The fact that this package doesn't solve these issues or that it can't in one stroke of the pen lift the world from this downturn is obvious.

Finally, I continue to wonder what effect these political and economic shifts are going to have on our culture.  Will the high gloss sheen of recent pop culture morph into a gritty 70's era naturalism or (more likely) something else entirely?  We shall see.