...before President-elect Obama's current title loses the "elect" suffix.
While I cringe at having an ardent Leftist whose understanding of the Constitution and the role of government in Americans' lives are diametrically opposed to mine, I'm proud to see my country lead the away (again) in proving that the United States of America is as much an idea as a place. A black man is being sworn in as President and, for all the clucking around the world about the American bumpkin, show me a country that can match our ability to break down social, political, economic, and racial barriers with the speed, sacrifice and commitment that we have as a nation in our mere 233 years of existence.
Barry will have a lot on his plate and frankly I think he and his staff are not-so-secretly delighted that the current economic mess will give his team an unprecedented opportunity to redefine the American capitalist model.
Personally, I think their optimism is misplaced a little, if only because the nation as a whole is, or will be, much more aware of the pros and cons of government intervention in the economy, thanks to a freer, faster and more informed exchange of ideas--and here I'm talking about the Web and the huge source of data, discussion and argument it brings to the public square. All they had in 1933 was the radio, general panic, utter cluelessness in business, government and among individual citizens on how to reverse a major credit crisis, massive unemployment, and a skilled propagandist in the White House who was in love with central planning. Hello, Great Depression.
However, some good did come out of the opening days of the crisis:
So, allow me to offer a suggestion...
President Obama says he plans to "invest" in the American economy by revitalizing our infrastructure. I say an excellent project would be to rebuild the World Trade Center, bigger, better and badder than ever, by sweeping away the obstacles to its design and construction with the political and emotional wind at his back. Not only would it generate jobs, it would serve as a testament to the spirit of America--"We may have been kicked in the nuts by evil men, we may be undergoing a very challenging economic period in our history, times may be bad...but we're Americans and we respond to those challenges in ways that illustrate how a free people, when unleashed, can not only survive but prevail!"
Just a thought...-Attila
While I cringe at having an ardent Leftist whose understanding of the Constitution and the role of government in Americans' lives are diametrically opposed to mine, I'm proud to see my country lead the away (again) in proving that the United States of America is as much an idea as a place. A black man is being sworn in as President and, for all the clucking around the world about the American bumpkin, show me a country that can match our ability to break down social, political, economic, and racial barriers with the speed, sacrifice and commitment that we have as a nation in our mere 233 years of existence.
Barry will have a lot on his plate and frankly I think he and his staff are not-so-secretly delighted that the current economic mess will give his team an unprecedented opportunity to redefine the American capitalist model.
Personally, I think their optimism is misplaced a little, if only because the nation as a whole is, or will be, much more aware of the pros and cons of government intervention in the economy, thanks to a freer, faster and more informed exchange of ideas--and here I'm talking about the Web and the huge source of data, discussion and argument it brings to the public square. All they had in 1933 was the radio, general panic, utter cluelessness in business, government and among individual citizens on how to reverse a major credit crisis, massive unemployment, and a skilled propagandist in the White House who was in love with central planning. Hello, Great Depression.
However, some good did come out of the opening days of the crisis:
On Friday, 1 May 1931, the Empire State Building was officially opened...Construction had begun on 17 March--St Patrick's Day--in 1930 and the 3,400-strong workforce completed the 102-story building in only 14 months...It remained the tallest skyscraper in New York for 40 years until the construction of the World Trade Center in 1971.Andrew Roberts, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900
So, allow me to offer a suggestion...
President Obama says he plans to "invest" in the American economy by revitalizing our infrastructure. I say an excellent project would be to rebuild the World Trade Center, bigger, better and badder than ever, by sweeping away the obstacles to its design and construction with the political and emotional wind at his back. Not only would it generate jobs, it would serve as a testament to the spirit of America--"We may have been kicked in the nuts by evil men, we may be undergoing a very challenging economic period in our history, times may be bad...but we're Americans and we respond to those challenges in ways that illustrate how a free people, when unleashed, can not only survive but prevail!"
Just a thought...-Attila
Recently had a total computer crash, don't ask, and my address book was irretrievable so I've lost your A10 pilot email address. Got several items of interest to send you so if you would be kind enough to respond to this public address would appreciate.
BTW, I also lost the Armorer's email ,and you guys no longer post your emails onsite.
Help!
Mike Daley