shampa1n wrote: 
That need not be the case.  The only sure way to get poorer is to keep spending money that you don't have, or can't afford to spend.  Anyone can stop that at any time!

The act of paying back debt is a completely different matter than the act of borrowing to create those debts in the first place.  Those who are now saddled with a lot of debt to pay off have already made themselves poor.  Paying those debts is the road to recovery, not to poverty!  Don't blame your debts when you are their creator.  Likewise, if you racked up mounting debt believing that you could weasel your way out of the obligation and now find that you can't, you only have yourself to blame.

  I'm speaking rhetorically, of course.  I have no idea what your personal financial situation is.  But my point stands.

 shampa1n wrote: 
Absolutely.

 Servo wrote: 
with the financial crisis it's going to be very hard to make any headway. no matter what he does people are going to get poorer for quite a few years (look at japan property bubble). if he has to resort to keynsian economics, he should push new industries , solar wind, geothermal, that will create local jobs and decrease dependance  on oil, and not war like previous presidents.

I must admit that I woke up this morning in fear, afraid that somehow the great hope and joy of last night might have been snatched away as in 2000.  But it's for real this time!  Thank God!!!

Now it's time for President-elect Obama to start forming a cabinet, to prepare to hit the ground running on January 20, 2009 and maintain that momentum long after the honeymoon is over.  I feel that today, more so that any day ever, truly is the first day of the rest of our lives.  I'm reminded of countless commencement addresses where someone always mentions that the word "commencement" beans a beginning, not an end.  Today, November the Fifth 2008, is the first day of the countdown to Inauguration Day 2009, a commencement day for President Barack Obama, and for the People of the United States of America above all.

Now is the time to wake up from our dreams of change, and to roll up our sleeves and to finally do it!  Let's discuss what this realized change will be made up of:

• The Transition Team
• The Presidential Cabinet
• The First One Hundred Days
• The Economy
• A New Pax Americana
• Restoring Us to Excellence
• (Your Ideas Here)

Speaking of events past, I've expressed my concerns about the very real possibility of history repeating itself again (with a lot of GOP pushing, that is!) in many areas.  Back in 1994, the very same "bums" (as in "throw the bums out") that were ousted during the Mandate of 1992 managed to waltz right back into power in 1994.  And they did so using the very same "throw the bums out" rhetoric that led to their ouster only two years prior!  We cannot, must not permit this travesty of voter incompetence to recur.  Like it or not, we must begin the 2010 midterm campaign, to keep our eyes on the sparrow.  And yes, even look towards 2012.

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Let's get started:

This morning, 5 November, 2008, I have two pieces of news regarding President Obama's Cabinet.

The first is the likely appointment of Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D, IL) as White House Chief of Staff.  This has been talked about before, so it comes as no surprise to Chicagoans.  And as a Chicagoan I have followed the distinguished public life of Rahm Emanuel as I have followed that of Barack Obama.  IMHO Rahm Emanuel is an excellent compliment to Barack Obama.  Like Obama, Emanuel was born to an immigrant father and native-born mother.  As his name suggests, his Palestinian-born father is a Zionist Jew.  Although Rahm Emanuel was exposed to extremist Zionist philosophies, and in fact worked as a civilian volunteer in Israel during Gulf War I, his own views are surprisingly moderate and fair.  Emanuel just won re-election to Congress by a landslide last night, but also has a lengthy resume in support roles for other politicians.  He worked for beloved Senator Paul Simon, and served as a senior advisor to Bill Clinton for five years.

The second is news that President Obama will keep on Robert Gates as Secretary of War for at least six months.  This apparent decision is being hailed as being a wise move during wartime, and another sign of bipartisanship.  This is probably true, but I for one look forward to a time when we can rightly call that Cabinet position "Secretary of Defense".

Speak amongst yourselves.