Help Wanted...

It’s a beautiful Sunday morning and I’m updating my resume…not because I want to but because I have to given the current environment. The following article is the “writing on the wall” warning the worst is yet to come and no one is safe:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/07/news/economy/jobs_october/index.htm?cnn=yes

I was a casualty of the tech boom so I’ve become very in tune with the warning signs of impending doom. Being employed in the financial sector, I see a great deal of the same indicators yet none of my co-workers share my concern…most feel I’m being paranoid. Maybe…but history is a good teacher if you pay attention to the lesson. It seems most Americans are also oblivious to the further declines and how weakness in several sectors will ripple through the entire economy resulting in job loss.



This time the game has changed because of the tightened credit market. Back in 2002 when I got laid-off, credit was freely available and many simply ran up credit cards balances to carry them through until they found new jobs. That’s not the case now so it puts everyone in peril if job loss is wide spread and sustained. Think about your property values if foreclosures were to surge in your neighborhood?

There will be no safe sectors this time around…even government jobs will be impacted. My friend is always searching for a government job because he believes it’s “lifetime” employment with a pension and no worries. I hate to burst his bubble but there are NO perfect jobs out there and no job is guaranteed forever. In some respects, I’d like to have the security of jobs back in the 50’s when you punched the clock, did your job and went home only to get up and do it again tomorrow. I think everyone wants that type of stability in life but it’s never going to happen again. Maybe one of my next posts will be on the impacts of globalization and how it set us on a path to lower standard of living in the US.

My father is fond of saying “the only thing that remains constant is change” and that’s absolutely true (and not always a bad thing). Change keeps us from becoming complacent and often leads to something much better on the other side…but the change itself can still be painful. No matter how much you like your job, cherish a possession or love someone you’ve got to be prepared to let it go because it will happen whether you like it or not. If the change is for the better, enjoy the moment. If it isn’t, cut it away and know that nothing lasts forever…not matter how much you want it to.

Moment in History...

Last night's election ushered in a new chapter of American history at a time when people are clamoring for positive change and new direction. This need for change wasn't limited to just the highest office as we witnessed a historic transformation in my home state (NC) as Democrats won handily in almost all races. Elizabeth Dole was defeated by Kay Hagan as well as Pat McCrory being defeated by Bev Perdue. These are two notable races as one represents the lowest point in NC politics (Elizabeth Dole's ad declaring that Kay Hagan doesn't believe in God) and a new first with Bev Purdue becoming the first female governor of NC. The change was also felt at the local level as numerous offices once dominated by Republicans shifted to Democrats. It was a historic evening but now the real work begins...rebuilding public trust in our system, fixing our economy, fixing our immigration system, etc. These items have to be addressed and resolved or the promise of change becomes the promise of same.

One almost certain aspect of NC is a Republican win for President by popular (and Electoral) vote. This election has NC as the ONLY non-declared state due to the closeness of popular vote. This would have been unheard of just four years ago! Although it makes no difference how the state goes in Electoral votes, it may prove to be another important moment in history!


Now that the election has been decided, it's time for everyone to come together and start getting things done!

You've been warned...

As part of my work, I receive various security bulletins usually dealing with threat assessments, natural disasters and other assorted disruptions to daily life. Today's notice was particularly striking for it's depth of insight (hmmmm...) and also it's subtle undercurrent that large crowds of Obama supporters might be prone to violence in the Chicago area. Read the bulletin for yourself:

United States - U.S. to Hold Presidential Elections:

Today, Nov. 4, the U.S. is holding nationwide elections. Due to the historic and emotionally charged nature of the vote, authorities are preparing for possible localized security disturbances across the country in conjunction with potential post-election celebrations or protests. Serious violence appears unlikely but local and federal law enforcement agencies are tightening security in potential trouble spots as a precaution. These sites include several large metropolitan areas that have experienced unruly behavior and security problems in association with past sporting events, political rallies, court rulings and other tense events.

Rally in Chicago Tonight - Grant Park in downtown Chicago will host a large rally this evening. Authorities expect more than 70,000 people to gather in Hutchinson Field at the south end of the park for a ticketed event, while they anticipate that thousands of other participants will gather around the park. As many as 1 million people could attend the event. Security will be extremely tight, and police will block entry to the Hutchinson Field and Buckingham Fountain areas to anyone without a ticket. Expect severe travel disruptions in downtown Chicago. Heightened security measures are expected to be in place around the venue. As the rally has the potential to turn violent, particularly if Obama does not win, it is best to avoid all demonstration areas.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but the most anger I've seen this election has been at Republican rallies! The Obama rallies have been about coming together and making a positive change with no mention or threat of anarchy and violence if he isn't elected. This bulletin makes inferences that sound stereotypical and potentially racist. Is the message that a "diverse" crowd is more likely to riot if they don't get their way as opposed to the predominantly white Republican audience? Maybe I'm making something out of nothing but the glaring lack of reference to the Republican rally raises my suspicions.

11/5/2008 Update: No scenes of violence amid the ocean of people gathered at Grant Park...black, white, hispanic, young, old...just people peacefully embracing a moment in American history. Last night's gathering was very different than the violent protests in Grant Park in 1968 but times, attitudes and opinions have truly changed in some respects...but, unfortunately, we are still short of the goal.

Sarah...It's for you again

Hot off the presses...the FULL prank call of Palin:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=CcEiR01QK7o

Wow...let's hope that finger is never on the shiny red button that actually launches anything! Enjoy!

"You can't handle the truth...."

This election season has been filled with half-truths and outright lies by both candidates in their attempts to capture the highest office. Here's an interesting article to help set the record straight:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081103/ap_on_el_pr/fact_check_campaign_s_most_wanted

Wouldn't it be nice to have a camapign where the candidates told the truth and were only allowed to discuss what they would do if elected? The negative ads can influence those who are less informed or pre-disposed to hearing that type of message and it seems that many Americans will cast their vote based on faulty and downright incorrect information.

Maybe Americans are finally ready to put aside petty differences and hatred to hold a civilized campaign and election? Who am I kidding? It's not that we can't handle the truth....it's that most people don't care to hear or even believe it.

Sarah, it's for you...

Just when you think Sister Sarah couldn’t provide any more interesting material than her appearance on SNL, her handlers let a prank call through and she goes unscripted:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27489929

The really funny thing here is that the caller “speaks in an exaggerated French accent and drops ample hints that the conversation is a joke. But Palin seemingly does not pick up on them”. The call is totally absurd and anyone with even a glimmer of intelligence would’ve either called them out or known it was a fake call. Maybe Palin believes that Sarkozy is as clueless as she is?

Here’s one of my favorite pieces of the article:

When Audette refers to Canadian singer Steph Carse as Canada's prime minister, Palin replies: "Well, he's doing fine and yeah, when you come into a position underestimated it gives you an opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong. You work that much harder." Canada's prime minister is Stephen Harper.

I know most American’s know very little about Canadian politics but even yours truly knows that Stephen Harper is the PM. Maybe Palin missed that little fact but find that hard to believe since she responded once that she “reads them all” when asked what newspapers and magazines she reads on a regular basis. I’m surprised that she doesn’t know much about Canadian politics since you can see Canada from Alaska!

The one positive thing if McCain is elected on Tuesday is that comedians everywhere will have at least four solid years of material! Unfortunately, I’m note sure the rest of us can survive those four years…

Get off the fence…then get out of my yard!

The unthinkable has happened…I've left my “neutral” status in the political race and cast my vote! After a mile and a half walk to the polling station and a two hour wait, I registered and voted my conscious. I’d tried to vote twice earlier in the week but the lines were so long and I (mistakenly) thought they would be shorter on Halloween only to discover the lines were constant no matter the time or day. This election has brought out many new voters and the previously apathetic (myself included) because the stakes are so high and the future of our country depends on the outcome.

This election is about more than the presidency…it is about shaping the future of the Supreme Court which will have greater impact long-term than the next President. Essentially, the balance of power will shift through the next appointments to the courts so America is deciding now if they want greater or less restrictions on personal freedom. The sides are clearly defined and each has their own agenda which leaves those of us in the middle with an interesting dilemma…which of my rights am I willing to sacrifice to ensure that other rights are retained? It’s a serious choice but it’s also indicative of the lack of true choices in our current political theater.

One of my major complaints about the current two party system is it doesn’t offer enough alternatives for the moderates. The Democratic Party has moved to the extreme left while the Republican Party has been hi-jacked by the ultra-conservative, religious wing nuts leaving no middle ground for the moderate, common sense American. It’s this extreme division that opens the door to a third party I’d like to call the “Common Sense” party…a place where all the moderates could go and elect other moderates who are strong enough to vote their conscious and not purely down political lines.

A great example of a once possible Common Sense Party candidate is John McCain…he was NOT a favorite of the conservatives and many outright refused to endorse him because he dared to employ common sense in some of his views. In order to secure a base, he abandoned his views and adopted the ultra-right wing views to secure the nomination. He also chose Palin as an obvious attempt to placate this group and garner their support knowing full well she was a ridiculous choice and totally unqualified for the role. He sacrificed his credibility, integrity and ultimately his chance to become President because he chose the extreme side of his party’s politics.

I’m also aware that Barack represents the extreme left view of the Democratic Party so not giving him a free pass. He will, however, be much more likely to strike a compromising position than McCain would if elected as the Democratic Party has a large base that is moderate. The Republican Party has less room for moderates and this idea is reinforced with the talk that Palin is the perfect choice for 2012 if McCain fails to win on Tuesday.

Regardless of which candidate you support for office, it’s critical to get out and vote in this election as much more than the highest office is at stake. If the lines are long, don’t complain as two hours in line every four years is a small price to pay for the freedoms you and I every single day. So get off the fence and vote your conscious!