I had the opportunity this weekend to travel to Washington, D.C. to return my son to school where he will be a Junior this fall. We took a similar trip just a few weeks ago to move my daughter into her first apartment. She is attending graduate school and thankfully they are only seperated by a few miles (more importantly 2 metro stops). I have never been in an area that has been gripped by the need for Change than the greater D.C. area is right now.
During this brief 2 day whirlwind tour we were approached no less than 2 dozen times for people looking for change. On the way to the metro, “Excuse me, do you have any change?”. Walking by the ballpark, “Got any change?”. People playing instruments hoping for change, people selling flowers hoping for change, people peddling local papers, hoping for change. More than anything else though, people doing nothing at all, just asking for change.
Presidents Clinton and Bush, with the help of Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke have managed to get the printing presses of this country operating at full speed. It will be the job of the next president to get the Mints up to maximum capacity however, because if Washington D.C. is at all representative of this country, we are definitely in need of some change.
Posted on August 18th 2008 in
Government,
Rants
Last night as I was headed into the local Wal-Mart for yet another load of groceries for my always hungry crew I grabbed a cart on the way in as I usually do. Next to me, a mother and her three kids were walking in and the eldest boy says to the mother “Mommy, should I get us a cart too?”.
Her answer left me a bit mad, but not at all surprised. “No no honey, they have people to do that” Click here to read more.. »
Posted on August 14th 2008 in
Helpful Habits,
Rants
Image courtesy Butler County Sheriffs Department
On my way out this morning I happened to notice a trailer parked underneath a bridge underpass as I was going down the highway. A quick glance was all I needed to see that this wasn’t a break down parked on the side of the road, no this was the “Butler County Sheriffs Department Chain Gang” trailer.
I wasn’t surprised to see the trailer. Butler County, Ohio is renowned for its jail labor programs and this particular road gets scoured by inmates about once a month. I’m certain we will discuss the merits, or lack thereof, of such programs in the future, but today my surprise was not in seeing the inmates there. My surprise was about the trash. Click here to read more.. »
Polls and Statistics, statistics and polls, I just can’t take it anymore! If I get one more phone call from someone “conducting a political survey” I think I am going to be sick. The bias intertwined within the questions themselves is enough to make any sane person wince, but the questions themselves seem to be even more self-fulfilling then ever. Talk about a lack of choice, I’m waiting for a call asking me whether I prefer toast, toast or toast from the american bakers council. Tada! 87% of people questioned prefer toast! (The remaining 13% couldn’t take it anymore and simply screamed uncontrollably into the phone) Click here to read more.. »
Posted on August 2nd 2008 in
Personal Growth,
Rants
