All of a Sudden, Life is very Real

Posted: September 25th, 2008 | Filed under: Community, Culture, Politics, Ruminations | No Comments »

The question facing the republic at this critical juncture in history is this: Are we willing to elect someone who might actually right the good but sinking ship America, even if that person can’t field dress a moose?

This sadly is what it has come to.

Spin.

P.R.

Media-infused madness.

May the Lord have mercy on our souls.

The country is in — not facing — a real financial crisis. There are many reasons for it, not the least of which is an administration that winked at Wall Street’s profligate shenanigans. The country is also in the midst of presidential election campaign, one that offers a real choice between a chance for new thinking and an old fart with the temperance of a raging alcoholic.

And all anybody has up to now seemed to want to do is run to GlassWear World and get a pair exactly like the GOP’s veep nominee wears. Where is the diversion we know as Paris Hilton now that we really need her?

Well, kids, the upshot of worry over our financial stability and future is this: The public may actually start paying attention to what really matters. Things have gotten very real all of a sudden. This ain’t no American Idol no more.

The president in his infinite stupidity is trying to ram a “solution” down the nation’s throat, one that neither he nor real thinkers know will have even a scintilla of a chance of working. John McCain, his campaign floundering despite the Adoration of Palin, has jumped on board. Barack Obama is a bit more circumspect. Let’s carry on, consider the exigencies with reasonable circumspection and come up with a plan that makes sense for all.

Apparently the populace is actually taking note. McCain wants to put the country on hold until the “emergency” is resolved. And let’s see that it’s done by dinner time. But his constituency is saying hold your horses. People actually seem mad as hell and not willing to take it anymore. Voters are calling and emailing and pestering their elected representatives with this admonition: Think it through. Be wise before you spend my money so some financial fatcats can build another 25,000 square foot house in the Hamptons.

I have no idea what we need to do. I know the Mrs. and I are meeting this very day with our financial guy. Do we pay off the little mortgage we have left? Do we convert to cash?  Do we find a hiding place for the cash in the cellar? Do we hold tight? Do we invest?
I know this. I’m waiting to hear from people with some knowledge and perspective, not a president who with every move confirms he would have made a great commissioner of baseball. Not a candidate who chose a running mate with no experience whom he’d met only once.

As a country we are standing at the edge of a precipice. Do we jump? Do we sip the Kool Aid the president is trying to hand us? Do we take a deep breath and try to figure out a reasonable next move in a calm bipartisan manner?

What I know is that this is all too real. Let’s pray that soup lines aren’t the future.

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