Peace

After an surprising political win for Barack Obama, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I felt obligated to write something after a month of silence...
Here it is: PEACE mon'.
I am switching between Bob Marley and Xavier Rudd while I write this to help set the mood.

Every other prize they honor someone who has contributed substantially to society similar to the Peace prize. The only difference with the peace prize is that viewed in current year, while the others are subject to the unspoken decade rule. It's funny to think to can evaluate the years worth of history in October, but that's how they do it.

Hopefully this win will give Obama the political clout that most news people have been claiming that he is lacking. He has been given the extraordinary tasks of Health Care & Energy. I know I am leaving out the war, but the moat important in regards to $moolah$ are these. Congress is debating a Cap & Trade piece of legislation this week, in addition rumors of a health care bill to emerge with enough support in the immediate horizon. This win by Barack will help him out dramatically. It would be political suicide to fight tooth and nail over outlandish propaganda from the coal or health care industry. Millions are spent every year to put off the formation of a cap-n-trade market scheme. It simply corrects a market failure that uneducated people still believe that excess carbon in the atmosphere created by human industry is a hoax. Well, European society used to think the world was flat, once reaching the edge you would fall off the world into some form of an underworld. A frightful end to nice trip on a boat I say!

I shared a good article about how the next decade's # isn't 2010-2020, but 350 titled: A New Number For a New Era: From 9/11 to 350. 350 parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere that is. While we currently hover at 390, and wonder how far we can push it; other countries are attempting at taking the lead in a new world order. The order of the green sustainable revolution. I have 2 syllables for you So-Lar. Oh the all mighty bounty of solar radiation. I blame Regan and Bush 1, for us not needing coal to power our homes today. They put solar research into the dark ages until Clinton was elected. Heck, Regan tore down the wall and tore down the solar water heater on the white house at the same time. With the veil of individual freedoms for all, we pocketed a few extra for crony capitalist instead of mindset of sustainable economic development. Sustainable economic development in my humble opinion relies 100% on vast amounts of clean, cheap, and accessible energy.

So what is our government going to do? Vote for 'clean coal' or photovoltaic research? Natural gas extraction from Pennsylvania or wind/tidal capture research?

oh compromises....

Stem Cell Research & Morality

Large movements in the administration have occurred. This isn't your basic and overwhelming supported decision. This, I am sure, slices down the vein of morality. Whether or not you believe in the morality of the absence of restriction on stem cell research, one must agree that our scientific communities walls have been brought down. Freedom to investigate the human building blocks have be released. Whether or not the morality effects you, one must understand that only medical progression will come from the investigation of the unknown.

Morality- I understand the opposition, and in some regards I agree with it. But the greater meaning and point is that life will be given to people who are in need of this research. To opposite life, in thought to unborn life, I believe is wrong. Some choose to argue that what will can ruin our society. I say what will, will give the chance to thousands of people- life.

Will anyone else comment besides Garrett's intelligent additions to this conversation? If not, at least check out his blog, where he is documenting his trek through Appalachia HERE.

Another Bailout... It's the economy stupid

Well the skeptics and sinners have been thinking this week. Some hard nose republicans are touting after a few week in office that Obama is back to the democratic ticket of spending as usual. They claim their strength to fiscal conservativeness, yet the executive branch of California is faced with a how many billion dollar debt? 30? 40? more? BILLION dollars! Well, I believe the politics of old should and are ready to be thrown out the door. Whether it is republican or democrat, tax cuts or infrastructure spending, too much of either doesn't work. It takes a nice and balance combination of the two. Give cuts to those whom need it to encourage spending while having the government spend on infrastructure will grow the economy no matter what the situation.

Will Obama's Stimulus Package Work?

Well I hope so. I believe that 95% of the stimulus package will stimulate the economy for short and long term growth. Focusing on infrastructure, energy, and education you really can't go wrong. Each sector needs as much attention and money it can get. All focus on long term sustainable potential output for our economy. I challenge all who oppose to suggest something better that won't take years to implement.

So much for Bailouts. Let the companies whom managed their business fail so others can take their place. It is natural selection, thinning of the herd. The billions (outside of the financial system) spent on bailing out companies should have been added to the investment in the starving renewable energy sector. That is and will be the largest growth area in our economy, and has the potential to become the very core or our economic system. Much like oil has for the past years.

2009 Inauguration & Martin Luther King Jr.

There is so much to speak about today. This is a great day. The significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday to 41 years after he made the speech 'I Have a Dream' a African-American Man was sworn-in as president. Dr. King spoke of his vision that within 40 years he believed a African-American would be elected president (he also said his hope was 25 years though). He was pretty darn close in his estimate, and it shows the capacity of his vision. Heck, if he lived a little longer maybe it would have been 25 years.

My hope is that Barack Obama uses all the political power he has collected over the past few months to focus on core economic issues. If he does not lead us out of economic turmoil, every other initiative he wants to address will not happen.

He is calling for all of us to sacrifice for the greater good of society. No one, since FDR has had the political resources and momentum to call on so much from Americans. FDR called for the 'New Deal', and Obama is calling for his 'Deal' which will involve many of the strikingly similar concepts as FDR's plan in 1933. Click here to view more about FDR's 'New Deal'. Both involved a lot of government spending, and many argue the only reason we got out of The Great Depression was because we were building up to fight the Second Great War (WWII). It is my belief that what will pull us out of this 'depression' will be the need to conquer 'The First Great Energy Crisis'. It will be as, if not more significant than WWII was on its generation.

What are Americans willing to sacrifice?
So far it has been their jobs, houses, and savings (not that funny). I think it will be peoples time. Spending a couple of days a year doing community service of some sort to help those in need. For young adults a excellent resource to help connect you to a cause in your local community is Dosomething.org. They will take your cell number and within minutes text you the location of a place to volunteer your time in your local community.

I am willing to sacrifice the convenience of eating non-organic & non-local food. Every time you buy food, spend the extra pennies on food that is coming from your local community. It will allow you to contribute to your local community and allow you to feel good about what you are putting into your body. Again, you are what you eat- The age old slogan taught in kindergarten is true! How about extending this commitment to: Make a goal to recycle every can, bottle, jug, newspaper, & piece of cardboard (to start); it is very simple. While you might not see the entire effect of the effort, feel good that what you did will help the next generation. These two (volunteer) services are something little you can do. You know, the 'simple' things. If everybody did the simple things we would be better off.

Barack Obama & Thomas Friedman on 'This Week' with George Stephanopoulos

Wow. If you didn't get the chance to watch the show, it was worth the hour- (This Week). Barack Obama is becoming a real positive leader in this world. Not only does his charisma motivate one, his policies are right in line with correcting America's economy to get on a sustainable path. His first point and question was of course concerning the economy. He outlined his plan with a little more depth, but highlighted the so called 'green economy'. Clean energy, mass transit, energy efficiency, etc. is thoughtfully being laid out as pieces to the sustainable economy & sustainable growth puzzle for decades to come. He is building the foundation that directs human civilization away from greedy inefficiency. With energy demand increasing we need to become more efficient. He is proposing that 75%+ of ALL federal buildings will be given money to solely solve 1 problem, increase energy efficiency. Listening to him speak made me feel motivated, encouraged and prideful of my country, something that has not been felt for at least 8 years and possibly much more; in actuality since 1996 when the Kyoto protocol was initiated by the US (but never signed on to: errrrr....).

To top off the enjoyable 30+ of uninterrupted minutes of Obama, I was pleasantly surprised to see Thomas Friedman on the show to follow up on the round table. While he mostly spoke of the middle east troubles of Hamas and Israel (one section of his expertise), he didn't get to touch on a lot of topics which he wrote about in his most recent book. If he hasn't met Barack Obama in the past I bet he got his opportunity today. I am sure the topic of discussion was the ideas covered in Hot, Flat, and Crowded- Energy efficiency, clean energy, & sustainable development. That brings me another few ounces of confidence in the direction of the Obama administration. Obama has stayed true to his principals since voting for him. His commitment to reorganizing the government & economy based on clean efficiency for growth and sustainability. I salute to 4 years of leadership, change, & sustainability. Something that Al Gore might be passionate about, but never showed enough leadership in until he was out of office. That was harsh, I know. Al Gore didn't have the luxury (hard to call it that) of an economy in shambles to implement such altering policies. I don't hold it against him, if anything I hope it motivates him to advise Obama, because we all know it is where his life's work exists. So overall, for anyone who cares about the future, your confidence should have just increased.