Fighting Over the Squandered Decade, By E.J. Dionne

Here’s a snip from a really well-thought-out column by E. J. Dionne. You’ll probably go in and read the whole thing:

clipped from www.truthdig.com Certain decades shape the country’s political life for generations by leaving behind an era to embrace or, at least as often, to scorn. I’m afraid that the past 10 years will be seen as a time when the United States badly lost its way by using our military power carelessly, misunderstanding the real challenges to our long-term security, and pursuing domestic policies that constrained our options for the future while needlessly threatening our prosperity. I am aware that the previous paragraph is thoroughly controversial, and that befits any description of a politically consequential decade. Much of the contention surrounding Barack Obama’s presidency is simply a continuation of our argument over the effects of George W. Bush’s time in office. That is why Obama, despite his fervent wishes, has been unable to usher in a new period of consensus. So the Bush camp—Karl Rove’s regular contributions to The Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages are emblematic—must stay on the attack.

New Year’s Eve… Elly and Bill at Home

Yup. No parties, no restaurants, no fireworks… we’ll stay up to see the year turn into 2010 and then go to bed and sleep our way into the next cycle.

I’m cooking a new Vegan Macaroni and Daiya Cheese with Mushrooms casserole and some steamed organic carrots as the evening’s treat. Sounds very simple, but smells and looks (and hopefully tastes) pretty good.

We’ve been keeping a pretty tight budget while I’m out of work… all things being equal. Where we used to do at least a movie a week, we’re doing one every two weeks or longer (saw UP IN THE AIR yesterday when we went on the Wednesday discount food shop at Common Market in Frederick… great film. Loved George Clooney.)

So we’re sitting around watching food competitions on TV (on Food Network) after spending much of the afternoon filling in on-line job applications while watching a Burn Notice Marathon on USA Network. The snow we had this morning got iced over by some rain and I guess the roads around Shepherdstown are a mess anyway.

Not a bad New Year’s Eve at all.

Join a Community Bank… let’s have a new economy!

I’d like to lend my support to the “Move Your Money” campaign. It’s time we take back control of our economy.

OK… if you are convinced after the video, go HERE for a listing of Community Banks to move to. The you can be like Stephanie Frost, who ditched Bank of America after reviewing the “Move Your Bank” material: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/31/woman-documents-closing-h_n_407905.html

The Last Day of the Year…

…and I will be more than happy to see 2009 disappear into the mist. It was a difficult year with, as a review the blog postings here and at other sites, more in the negative than in the positive to define it. For me, personally, it was pretty dismal, even though a few highlights kept me going.

But tomorrow is 2010… I have a job interview in Frederick, MD, on Tuesday… second interview, actually, having done a phone meeting before Christmas… for a job I feel qualified for. Plus it appears they are hiring at Frederick Community College, so I am putting an application together today to send off.

I start rehearsing Hunting of the Snark on Monday Night, and that is part of making the year start on at least a more creative note (still short 1 minor male role… will tackle that today as well).

Of course, we are kicking it all off with a new snow outside… if I see any more snow this winter it will be too much.