Birthday Reflection
Before I begin, thanks to all my friends and family for wishing me a happy birthday. I am probably almost at the point where people try to conceal their true age. LOL. Anyway, it is my 32nd birthday, if you are dyslexic then I am 23. LOL. :-)
Another year, gone, just like that. Each birthday, I reflect upon the past year and determine what goals were accomplished this past year and what should be the goal next year.
At first, I was disappointed in myself on a variety of fronts. While it is easy to blame the economy on where I stand financially however, some of it, is my own fault. I admit that. However, I have always said that money is not the answer to all problems.
So, upon looking at other aspects of my life, I think I have done fairly well. However, there is still something missing in my equation. This missing piece, which will remain nameless at this time, will be the focus for my next year.
While I am happy about turning 32, there is still more left to do. It is this void that I wish to fill on the new year of me. After all, everyone’s time on this Earth is numbered. It is important that one tries to make the best of it.
Again, thanks to my friends and family for the many wonderful birthday wishes. I have the greatest set of friends and family in the entire universe. :-D
Libya has become liberated from Gadhafi and as Americans we should be very grateful for this. There was no question that Gadhafi had to go in some way.
However, America cannot continue to push for regime change if what we get in return is something much worse. Case in point, the article indicates that in the same breath of victory, they declare Sharia Law is in effect while thanking the United States, European Union, and NATO for helping them accomplish that. Excuse me? I thought we were pushing for democracy in Libya not the Iranian version of what a society is to be. In many ways, this President has failed to live up to our American interests in foreign policy. Obama, either knowingly or unknowingly, has further destabilized the Middle East and calls into question his motives. Meanwhile, Israel, our greatest friend, is now further in danger with this result in Libya. It does not matter what political ideology you are with, we cannot allow a destabilized Middle East. We must be on the side of freedom and democracy.
I don’t know about you, but I will be watching the planned Iraq withdrawal very closely to see what happens next in the political atmosphere there.
We should also look at Iran’s involvement as it seems very suspicious that the Libyan transitional council has made such a sweeping draconian decision instead of a democratic one.
We probably should have never supported the rebels in Libya in the first place. To me, the end result is much worse than a Gadhafi regime.
The Mexican media has presented clear evidence over the years that has indicated growing concerns that terrorists have been assembling in Mexico. Their goal being to infiltrate the U.S. border with ulterior motives (i.e. terrorist attacks and plots). While there are many statements Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has issued that I disagree with, there is a consistent one that I do agree with. Everyone should be vigilant of any and all suspicious activities and report such activities to the proper authorities.
This is a wake-up call to everyone, especially the Corpus Christi area, that this sort of thing can happen literally anywhere and at anytime.
Romney Vs. Religion: A Non-Issue
I was watching some of the news today about Romney and his religious persuasion. While I have disagreements with the Mormon faith, there is nothing wrong with someone who has convictions for that faith. It serves absolutely no purpose to question this. The only condition I have as a voter is their dedication to representing all people of differing points of view and faith.
In the end:
- Public policy in Washington can help our economy not a person’s faith
- Unemployment is an economic problem that affects all people from all faiths.
- Candidates win elections based on their political platform not their faith.
- Anyone can win public support.
So, in the final analysis, this whole issue is complete nonsense. Everyone should dismiss this as a distraction from the real issues facing our country and our economy.
Steve Jobs
The world lost an incredible technology leader. While I have disagreements with Apple, appropriate credit must be given.
Steve Jobs created revolutionary products that has literally changed the way we approach technology innovation. He definitely created entire new industries thanks to iPhone, iPad, and iTunes.
Steve Jobs will be missed immensely in the technology industry.
Take a look at this article. It is clear, we as a nation, have much more improvement needed for years to come.
Hurricane Irene - East Coast Likely in Path
As Hurricane Irene makes its way to the east coast of the United States, it is a very dangerous situation for anyone in its path. To my East Coast friends, I would like to reiterate the need to take all precautions and warnings very seriously. While our forecasting of these storms have improved, it is still very unpredictable and very dangerous. Please take a moment to review recommended items needed during an emergency at http://www.ready.gov
It is my hope that everyone in the affected areas are safe and free from harm.
S&P downgrades United States Debt
What came as a surprise to many individual Americans on Friday night, the Standard & Poor’s have downgraded the United States credit rating for the first time ever.
Today, Wall Street responded very harshly with rampant selloff on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The Dow Jones Industrial Average losing more than 600 points today alone with very heavy transaction volumes.
Earlier today, President Obama addressed the American people earlier today but again did not provide any real solutions. Instead, what the American people received was the same blame game and political posturing over who is to blame. In the final analysis, everyone is to blame. The important question is where do we go from here. So far, the only significant news received today was the supposed probe of Standard & Poor’s agency by the Senate Banking Committee. Honestly, the probe is another example of wasteful spending and frivolous government actions. Congress should concentrate their actions to how to get America out of this debt mess. So far, a probe of Standard & Poor’s will result in absolutely nothing to our credit rating.
So, in the end, we are in for additional hard times, economically speaking.
It is time to face the music and reform Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. More than half of the federal government’s budget is used to support these programs. I am not sure about you but the fact that almost 50% of all Americans do not pay any federal taxes is another example of the ineffectiveness of the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.).
Let’s eliminate the payroll tax, personal income tax returns, and the I.R.S., as we know it today. Let’s place a national sales tax based on the State Sales Tax models already in existence today. This way, everyone gets taxed only for what you buy (excluding “pure food” products).
I endorse the Fair Tax movement as it provides a good framework in which to implement real changes to our tax system.
Mr. President, tear down these walls of cynicism and rhetoric! Offer ALL Americans a sensible, substantial plan for future stability.
– Albert Enrriques, Jr.About me
A blog about a variety of things (politics, equality, personal stories, things that are important to me). The point of this blog is to shine a spotlight on a specific issue or cause. I also welcome discussion on all of my writings. After all, expression is a two way street. I just ask for people to be respectful and mature when joining the discussion. Happy reading, and most importantly, happy expressing.
