PARADOX

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
F. Scott Fitzgerald

I have a confession to make – actually a few of them. I’m a free market guy until said markets spin so completely out of control that the situation calls for government intervention. I have faith that the insurance companies are not inherently evil but need to be regulated when they’re getting away with - for lack of a better term and to keep this discourse civil – highway robbery. I believed Saddam Hussein needed to be removed from power and that U.S military efforts could make Iraq a better place for Iraqis and make for a safer world. I believe it’s worth the effort to bring the 30,000 villages in Afghanistan into the 21st Century or at the very least the 19th. I firmly believe Osama Bin Hidin’ needs to be dead. I also believe we need to get our young men and woman serving in those two countries out of harm’s way and back home as soon as possible.

This twisted logic may make me a genius in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book but I think it just makes me a current day American citizen.

You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.
Rahm Emanuel

As jaded and cynical as it sounds I agree with Obama’s Chief of Staff. It’s been a year since Lehman failed and the mortgage market imploded. A little less than that since AIG became the black hole of Wall Street. Citibank and other banks “too big to fail” asked for and received billions of Federal funds. The Detroit auto makers soon followed. Things look better today, maybe not for jobs, but the stock market continues to rise and Fed Chairman Bernanke said the worst is over - But have we fixed anything?  Did we waste our crisis?

Economist Paul Krugman believes we’ve taken a great first step but there’s still much more to do and a lot more federal funds to be doled out. Free marketers yell, “Enough already! Let the markets decide!”  Detroit is gasping but alive and there are great deals if you’re looking to buy an American car. But does any sane person believe that if the government pulled the financial plug tomorrow nothing would happen? In fact the majority of the people I know and talk with believe we’d be right back in the toilet with the Tidy Bowl Man bailing water to save our lives.

This summer’s Health Care reform theatrics have led to the Baucus Bill - of which only Rube Goldberg would be proud. Congressman Eric Cantor’s recent town hall response to a woman who is literally in a life or death situation – Sell everything she owns and if that doesn’t work, try charity – may be the dumbest and most cold hearted response I’ve heard but it is indicative of the mindset in Washington. Does Congress get it? I’ve yet to see any of them step up to the plate and volunteer to give up their Health Care Plan and join us common folk. And my guess is I won’t anytime soon.

The war in Afghanistan is making its way back onto our radar screen. General McCrystal has requested more troops to get the job done. No argument there, that’s what soldiers and generals should do. And we should listen to him. He is the expert. Just ask General Shinseki - when he asked for more troops to invade Iraq, Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld fired him and we all now how well that went. So don’t question the soldier, rather let’s analyze the goals. Maybe we need to adjust our expectations starting with the fact Karzai’s government couldn’t empty a bucket of water if instructions for doing so were printed on the bottom of it

If you were hoping that the international scene was turning the corner all you needed to do was tune in the UN summit last week to dissuade you of that notion. The keynote speakers included Qaddafi, Ahmadinejad and Chavez – talk about the Moe, Larry and Curly of world leaders, all that was missing were the pies. I’m all for an open mike but how about a stopwatch for some of these guys or at least a Chuck Barris gong. These three made Oscar winners sound pithy. Is it any wonder that most Americans don’t take the United Nations seriously?

This ain’t no party. This ain’t no disco. This ain’t no foolin’ around. – Talking Heads

I know it’s easy to tune much of this out and that it’s much more fun to partake in the office pool betting on when Glen Beck will have his nervous breakdown and set his hair on fire or to watch Tom DeLay shake his groove thing on Dancing with the Stars.  But as a coach of mine was fond of saying, “It’s time to bust some balls.” It doesn’t matter what you do - Write a letter, volunteer, call your congressman, or if you’re daring, visit a town hall meeting – just do something. Too many folks in government and big business are taking advantage of our apathy right now and we need to set them straight and give them a swift kick in the pants.