The Party is Over? Maybe

Is it time to call it a day? What a bunch of babies! There is certainly a lot of blame to go around, but now is not the time for Congress to point fingers. The American people are disgusted enough with the lack of leadership concerning the Wall Street financial crisis; but the refusal of Congress to find an equitable solution to this problem is criminal. Do we really expect any more? It is just business as usual on Capital Hill.

As Wall Street continues to falter, life goes on...

No one wants to pay for this mess, but I hope we don't end up losing even more before a plan is hammered out. We have lost money, sure; but will we continue to lose the respect we have for our elected leaders.

I hope this bailout crisis will make everyone aware how important it is to vote in the upcoming election in November. Hopefully, people will stay interested in the 2008Presidential election. I fear apathy could take its place as we watch Congress fight among themselves rather than take a real interest in resolving the immediate crisis.

I believe I am feeling stressed and a little helpless myself. I don't like this feeling. I like being in control of my future. Obviously, someone else is in the position to dictate what can happen in my life and to my life savings. Greed is a hungry monster.

I hope Congressional grandstanding will become less important as the next few days go by, and I hope a plan can be agreed upon for the good of the American people as well as for the financial wellness of our banks and Wall Street.

I want it now

After my big rant yesterday about Wall Street and the financial bailout, I began to think more about how this financial situation could have been allowed to happen. I was blaming the "Big Guys" up in Washington, DC. But I really began to worry about how this mess was going to effect me personally. The operative word being "me." I have grown up in a "me, me, me" culture. I have contributed to this climate of greed and recklessness. I have been guilty of saying "I want it, and I want it now."

I have a job that pays decent money; however, I expect my bank or credit union to give me easy credit when I "need" it. We all have laughed at the number of credit cards and bank offers we receive. Maybe all this easy money comes at a price we have been willing to ignore. We all knew something was just not quite right about it.

Well...now it is time to pay the piper.

Wall Street Financial Crisis

Our leaders in Washington,DC have a crisis. The financial crisis didn't occur overnight and it can't be resolved overnight; but, we are being told that if we don't agree to throw lots of money to bail out Wall Street (no questions asked!!!) that our entire economy will collapse. Bull.

This sounds like the old sales pitch that goes: "The deal is only good for today! The price goes up at midnight!! We have to have your answer now!!!"

I can't believe President Bush went on TV and told the American people that MORE people would lose their homes, their pensions, their jobs unless we agree to this bailout...since when did he get concerned about this??? Yesterday??? Apparently while the American people were being tricked and duped, the leaders of our country sat back believing that unregulated greed could rule the day. Who has been looking out for the average citizen??? Not the CEO's or CFO's, not the banks or mortgage houses.

The free reign given to banks and credit companies on Wall Street during the 1990's needs to be brought under control. If they can't do honest and responsible business, they don't deserve to be in business.

Why do these irresponsible entities think the taxpayer should rescue them after they have run the well dry by reaping gigantic profits for themselves. Being irresponsible should not be rewarded.

I fully understand that my 401(k) has already decreased in value and will probably look even worse as the next few weeks and months go by; but, I do not care to see my hard earned money thrown out to fix a problem that should never been allowed to happen. Yes, it needs to be fixed. Yes, government oversight is needed. I don't have to like it. I don't want to see the same people who got us in this crisis in the first place to be rewarded. I am stressed out by the lack of leadership by our government. I want to see thoughtful, carefully planned out solutions. The knee-jerk reactions of DC have surprised me. Maybe I am naive. I believe all will eventually be straightened out, and hopefully we will become stronger. In the mean time, I hope real solutions will be found and implemented, and that measures will be taken to prevent this bailout mentality.

Accountability needs to return to business. Large profits can't be artificially produced and then Woops! disappear overnight. This shifting the blame and pretending not to know how on earth these things could have happened has got to stop. Theories of finance and how money markets work may need some tweaking. Are the experts that far off the track?

The Eagles concert

Saw the Eagles in concert last Thursday. Still conflicted about it. The sound and harmony was outstanding, I sang along with all my favorites, and also enjoyed all their new "Out of Eden" tour music. I had a great time with my friends and the evening was very, very nice. Joe Walsh is my new hero. He can play those guitars! However, the entire "show" was so, so organized and choreographed that I felt a little uncomfortable with their lack of enthusiasm; it was like the "Stepford Eagles" and I felt they were just doing their job, getting it done with efficiency, and then clocking out and going home. I know they are a laid back band, and I know we haven't gotten any younger; but the whole thing was just too rehearsed for my tastes. Maybe I'm just comparing the joy and energy put forth by Bruce Springsteen when I saw him in concert last month, and I was expecting the same "concert feeling." But whatever I was looking for...I left with a peaceful, but uneasy feeling about the concert.

Greta

My dear dog Greta has made her final trip around the yard. She always liked to "check her messages" by roaming the perimeter and making sure the place was safe for her and her family. I miss her more than I ever thought possible. The emergency vet talked to me about the quality of life issue and I agreed to what was best for her. The vet told me the obvious; "She's a dog who can no longer do the things dogs like to do." The end was very peaceful and I really appreciate the staff and their kindness. Here's to all those dogs out there! and to those who care for them...

9/11/2001

The attack on the people of the United States on 9/11 will always be in our minds as something unbelievable and unforgivable. It still seems unreal and we as Americans have a hard time realizing that someone could hate and want to destroy us in such a brutal and caustic manner.

We must acknowledge our role in the political realm of the world, realize how we appear to people of other nations, and make sure our government is sensitive to the ideas and beliefs of other peoples. We don't have to agree or try to appease everyone else, but we do need to at least listen to what they have to say and try to understand their position.

Everything the USA does will always be under scrutiny. We must live the life we expect others to live. We need to be true to the beliefs we hold and be sure our government upholds those beliefs. We must set the example and raise the bar for other nations. Honesty, truthfulness, and compassion will rule the day.

"Opening the Door"

T'ai Chi is an ancient routine of traditional movements, which when put together in the proper frame of mind, can be a wonderful exercise for the body and the soul. Many of us can remember the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics when large numbers of Chinese showed the world the beauty of the fluid exercises.

I bought a T'ai Chi beginners kit by Gaiam which included a CD instructional video, a booklet with excerpts by a well-known author and teacher, and the 1-pound Chi ball. I am in love. The movements and gentle exercises are perfect for someone like me. I like the idea of relaxing and quieting my mind while giving my body a good work-out with strength and control. I am just a beginner, but I do believe this can become a life long search of the balance in mental and physical health.

With exercise movements having descriptive names such as "Opening the Door," "Waving Hands Like Clouds," "Parting the Wild Horses Mane," and "Embracing the Moon," it is easy to see the image in your mind. As a T'ai Chi proverb says "Where the mind goes, the ch'i follows."