relief

A friend said - and I agree - that she would like to index the number of Republicans who are adamant that Obama be voted out of office because he didn't magically heal the economy and all of our country's woes within 3.5 years, with the divorce rates of those voters.  It would clearly show which among them are only in something for the short term and have no sense of sticking to something and coming up with real, steady and viable solutions and then implementing those solutions and enduring the progress.

For my birthday (which was the best I've had in years), I got my best friends around me, a lot of laughs, a president I have faith in and a record number of women in policy-making positions.  One in five senate members is now a woman.  All in all, it's been a great last few days.  Sorry angry white dudes, your stranglehold is running out and your misogynist, racist, classist days are numbered. 

I will expound on this later, but guess what?  We actually DO need higher taxes.  Bush had a surplus, started two wars, squandered that surplus and then had no way to pay for anything.  Coupled with the fact that our financial system resisted the absolutely necessary oversight that only Blakeslee Born had the cajones to insist upon, and plunged millions of people, the world's economy and our precious, over-consumer-driven ways of life down the shitter, we are thrust back to an FDR-esque state where it will take time, patience and cooperation to rebuild. 

During your precious 1950's, the lower of the tax rates was upwards of sixty or seventy percent, with the highest rate being at ninety, and that was the most economically prosperous thirty year run our country has ever had.  So zip it, because no one is proposing going back to those rates, just getting us on our feet again.  Oh, remember Clinton and his "exhorbitant" tax rates?  Surplus, balanced budget.  Shut up. 

For now however, I am SUPER excited to live within walking distance of the White House and the national mall, so that I can go and watch my president be inaugurated, in person.  That is a really cool feeling and it was worth staying up until 2am to have it. 

Also, Obama's speech was amazing.  And that's all for Wednesday, folks.