I've been somewhat depressed lately. Considering all the bad economic news of the last two weeks I can't help but worry about my children's future.
We have a failing economy due to the excessive greed of a few. We are bogged down in two wars. We have an enormous and increasingly dire energy problem. We are the proud owners of an exponentially-balooning monster deficit.
Add to that the simple notion that if you are reading this you somehow miraculously managed to survive 8 straight years of near-apocalyptic mayhem (although according to the calendar on my wall he still has 116 days left to screw that up too).
What could possibly remain in which to be proud? I have four reasons and their last names are Obama, Pelosi, Dodd and Frank.
I saw this picture on Huff Post this afternoon and it changed my mood.
I don't know what is going to happen about this economic crisis.
Like most Americans the only economics I know is how to try and make sure that the combined wages of my wife and I don't exceed the total of our mortgage, utilities, student loans, insurance, auto costs, etc. in any given month.
But what I do know is that I am proud that the people in whom I have the most trust to guide us through this historic and monumental mess are Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. Say this with me now: an African-American, a woman, an Irish-Catholic man and an openly gay man.
Now, as a child of the 70s, that is the melting pot I was taught about and that is the America I know and love.
They've been the calm ones. They've been the firm ones. They are the ones trying to move us forward. They are the ones capable of steering us not only through our financial abyss, but through the tremendous damage wreaked by eight straight years left of Hurricane Cheney and Tropical Storm George (although I hesitate to give even that much credit to the puppet that is 43.)
These four people are the best we have to offer.
This is our moment and this is what America is all about.