America the Great

Well, its that time again. We have an election impending. I LOOOVE election years. Its so exciting, you just never really know what is going to happen. Interesting conversations abound and once again, I get the chance to argue with Adam again over politics (which is'nt at ALL diminished by the phone, BTW.)

Now that the conventions have kicked off - its all ON now! I always watch the conventions-both of them. I love the hoopla, the optimism, the glimmer of hope; I also love listening to impassioned speeches by party leaders and candidates. I am a TOTAL sucker for democracy. I'm almost always struck at the conventions by the people who attend - talk about middle America. These folks are people so excited by a campaign, a cause, an ideology that they take 1/2 of their annual vacation to go sit in a conference center. WOW. But that's what makes this country great. Personally, I just want to go skiing or diving on my next vacation...

Another thing that makes this country great: this year, we have made world history. We have nominated a man of color to be candidate for President. NO OTHER WESTERNIZED COUNTRY HAS DONE THIS. Bill Clinton said it best tonight: "people have always been more impressed with the power of our example, than an example of our power." This is the kind of history you can be proud of. Whatever you think of the candidate, you have to say --its about damn time. I was so proud to be an American today.

I just hope there is a woman president in my lifetime.

I'll watch the Republican convention next week too. Wait until you see the hats that the Republican delegates wear! I am absolutely SURE that I will not see woman in an orange pantsuit walk across the stage. Kind'a makes you wonder how the Republicans can top it, doesn't it?!

See what I mean?! The suspense is killing me.

No matter what you think of one candidate or another - please, please, please vote. Never before has it been more important to vote. Our country is indeed at a crossroads, and if you believe we should turn right, then vote that way - if you think we should turn left, then vote that way....but VOTE. Contribute to what makes this country special: the fact the we VOTE. Even if you want to go skiing on your next vacation..its OK...you can still participate in democracy.

A New Election...A New America?

This is a really exciting time in the United States...its that time in the election cycle where the American voters are wooed...its like being young and single again..."OH! Who shall I choose?!" And just like those first few weeks of dating, we only see the good sides of the candidates. For the first time in my memory, there is a chance, that both the Republicans and the Democrats will go to the caucus without a forgone conclusion of the nominee.

And yet, there is something really different about this election. While the field is full of white men, I'm proud to be living in the time where there is a man of color and a woman running..there is also a Mormon and a former POW. I mean, what a fascinating group of people..do yourself a favor and WIKI your favorite candidate...all of these people have moved through life without a single moment's doubt that America is the place where their dreams can come true. One of the candidate's daughter is keeping a blog (mccainbloggette.com) and its exactly the blog you would expect from a 20 y/o (on her best behavior).

I have to say - THANK GOD. We're showing the world that we, as American's can at least entertain the thought of change. Every time I talk with people from another country (which is somewhat frequently) somewhere in the back of their minds...you know they are thinking: "is this one of the people who voted that idiot into office?". Perhaps in the near future, people will be meeting those of us from the States and SAYING "your President is amazing..."

Its going to be a fascinating year...and I hope an even more fascinating 4 years after that.

We can only hope.

ROCK the Vote

Hopefully you voted today...KNOCK ON WOOD that lots of people did. If you ever thought your vote didn't count, this election is the one where you will see your vote hard at work.

Virtually all the states had propositions ranging from Gay Marriage and Domestic Benefits, to legalization of Marijuna (while further criminalizing smoking, by the way) and because the Supreme Court voiced its opinion on eminent domain - lots of states had propositions on that issue....its truly an exciting time to be voting. Honest to GOD, I say that without a twinge of irony...this is the stuff of our day-to-day lives, people..it is why your vote counts...and making your vote count 20X over is why it is so important to vote your beliefs for House and Senate representatives. I hate to get on my soap box, but honest to god, when you wear your "I voted" sticker and people say "Oh?! Was there an election today?" It really makes you want to just poke yourself in the neck with an extremely sharp object.

Arizona had some highlights: we voted on a proposition that would entitle all people who vote to participate in a 1Million Dollar Lottery. Its an effort to get people to the polls. I don't really think it will increase voter participation...after all, voting really isn't any harder than buying a lottery ticket, and people STILL don't. In Arizona, we can vote early, by mail-in ballot and we register when we renew our car registration...and people STILL don't vote. Consequently, since I vote for every election in which I am eligible, I voted for it - I'm thinking I might just be a millionaire in my life yet. My odds are WAY better there than at my local convienence store. As for the argument....I know...stupid voters do none of us any good...but I'm still betting that uneducated voters are too lazy to vote. Keep your fingers crossed for me and my million bucks...my next investment step is to go on "Deal or No Deal"...

We also elected a Democrat Governor again. I mean after a couple of Republican crooks, a governor more concerned with balancing her hair-do than the budgte and one who was actually IMPEACHED, we decided to stick once again with this lady-who looks like she might be able to beat the Cardinals at their own game - who balanced our budget and made education a priority (AZ is right up there with Alabama in terms of education), our leader for 4 more years...it didn't make the news where you live because we all knew that even if she got hit by a bus she STILL would have beat "Len "What's His Name" Munsil".

The most disapointing thing about election in AZ this year was two things: the particularly nasty nature of some of the propositions (hateful and anti-choice), and the especially nasty campaigning (thanks to our incumbents in the Senate (Kyl) and the House (Hayworth) who were apparently feeling the heat. I was also personally disappointed the Senator McCain, who I have greatly admired, bowed to right-wing nuts and endorsed the prop against Domestic Benefits. I can forgive him for endorsing Kyl - I mean, after all, he is considered the front runner for the Republican nominee in '08 - and really, he has to stroke the Republicans until then...but a local prop and a hateful, short-sited one at that...I was personally exceptionally disappointed. I'm a little bummed at how much he is bending under the pressure of right-wingers to get the nomination...I mean, we loved him because he was a MAVERICK. A HERO (military and political). Can we get that McCain back for the next couple of years?

Anyway - Thank local Arizonan Steve Benson's commentary on voting for today's entertaining cartoon. I don't always agree with our local Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist, but I agree with him here.

Number of Millionaires Increases...

So.......today's news features two pieces that are sure to be related.

The first...the number of Millionaires in this country grew to 8.3 million households..up 800,000 families..this calculation is based on NET WORTH and not including the primary residence. WHAT?! Whose stock market is kicking THAT kind of booty...damn IT! Actually, according to the article international investments and "alternative" investments are to be credited with the increase in the rich.

I have another theory: the second "unrelated" piece is sure to tell some of the story...Gas Prices hit $3/gallon..AGAIN. So - for those of you foolish enough (ME) not to by stock in Exxon and the rest...well...congratulations...your moral investing just bought you alot of extra time in the workforce and has once again excluded you from the now not-so-exclusive club of being a millionaire.

Thank you George Bush for making it so attractive for the "rich to get richer" on oil, while reinvesting those funds internationally. Meanwhile refusing to acknowlege global warming (do you know there was a tax deduction for SUV's last year?!) while padding the pockets of Cheney et.al (aka - your chums). Thank you, thank you Mr. Bush..oops - I mean, THANKS A MILLION!!

Bra Burner

Roe v. Wade is 33 today. That means I was only a couple of months old when the Supreme Court finally recognized the the right to privacy included a woman's body..novel concept huh? I find it fascinating to have grown up as a woman during this backdrop and the fight that has ensued ever since. Most of you know that I am supporter of the Supreme Court's decision 33 years ago. And today, while a majority of Americans believe in the right to choose, for some reason, the more impassioned and vocal are the activists looking to overturn it.

Why is it that as Americans when we get a right, we forget that it still needs fighting for? Do we need our rights to go away before we understand their importance? Over the last several years, we as a country have seen our rights slowly eroded in the name of protection (Patriot Act), economy (Eminent Domain) and morality (Stem Cell Research and Abortion). Somewhere along the way, the government decided it could make better decisions than we could. Please, sometime this month, in honor of R v. W, take the time to make your feelings heard about your rights and especially about this important, landmark decision. Write your Senators and Representatives. The Supreme Court's dynamics have changed and we need to continually remind them that we, as Americans ARE watching them and we DO want a voice.

Democracy should take work. All things important take work. This is no exception.