the next three fifty

As I was watching the news today I saw a playback of good ol' Hammerin' Hank Paulson's press conference from earlier in the day. When he was asked about the balance of the 350 billion bailout, er rescue package and when it might be tapped he said something about ...when we get the next three-fifty...blah, blah, blah. He really said three-fifty. Not three hundred and fifty BILLION, but just three fifty. Like me saying to my buddy Joe, 'hey can I have a five spot?'. It seemed really weird to me for him to talk about it like it was just three fifty. Crazy.

I was also amazed at the remarkable stupidity of the talking heads on the PBS news (don't ask me why I was watching it). Apparently, the 'experts' think all we need to do is get 'credit flowing', and 'confidence up' and 'people buying houses' again. If credit were accessible they said, surely people would be buying cars. What the hell? Maybe people aren't buying cars cuz they woke up to the fact that they don't need them. Perhaps the car they already have is just fine. Or maybe people are lacking confidence because they don't have jobs or fear losing their jobs? Perhaps people aren't buying houses because there are too many houses already. I have no idea who these people were- one was from something called the Brookings Institute- whatever that is. Maybe they should talk to people who actually know what's going on and don't expect that some politician is going to wave a magic wand and make it all better. Like you can just create demand and wealth out of thin air. Idiots.

Whatever...

Brian

Labels

Does it seem like virtually all discussion that takes place in this country is done through the prism of how we label one another?



"you're a big goverment liberal jerk"

"you're a right wing neo con evangelical pig"



...and so forth.



It's really interesting to discuss ideas without labels. Since I actually started reading and thinking (since I turned my TV off 8 months ago) I've lost interest in easy labels.



Why are we taught to use labels? How is this useful? Have they become a substitute to real discourse and discussion of logic behind beliefs? I believe they have.



I have identified myself with a certain party that is supposed to be about fiscal responsibility and limited government for my entire adult life. It was convenient to adopt labels and to cast labels on others. However, I may have been lulled into a false sense of confidence in what I stood for because I left the thinking to those who defined what the label 'conservative' or 'republican' meant. It's become apparent that the labels no longer fit.



I hope that the Revolution Tavern is a place where people will drop preconceived notions and labels and will engage in a discussion of what's best for our country.

Special election coverage!

what does it say about our country when NBC's "special coverage" of the presidential election is done as a parody by comedians? (the Saturday Night Live cast) i have to admit that the show will likely be humorous, however it's no laughing matter that this airtime will likely garner a higher rating than the presidential debates. we may not get what we expect from our elected officials, but we will get what we deserve.
-joe

The end of the FICO score?

i'm going to make the bold assumption that a significant number of credit scores will be damaged in the coming months. like most things in life institutions are forever attempting to rationalize human nature and reduce it to a perfectly logical math equation. an algorithm can not consistently nor accurately predict irrational human behavior, especially during times of crisis (just ask the guys on wall street). i wonder if lenders will change their underwriting standards to discount the value of the FICO score? how many people with 720 credit scores are going to have their homes and SUV's repossessed? the determining factor in the repayment of a loan is not how many credit card payments a person has payed on time, but their character. character compels a person to fulfill their obligations even in difficult times. character cannot be deciphered from a credit score; the only way to determine character is through a relationship. relationships cultivate accountability between people and form the basis for a successful transaction. unfortunately a relationship can not be quantified with math.
good luck to the lenders!
-joe

inaugural Address

To the people of America. For too long now we have allowed politicians and special interest groups to steer our country into oblivion. The time is at hand to wake up, take responsibility, and demand accountability from our elected officials.

At it's current rate our federal deficit will broach the TEN TRILLION dollar mark before the end of 2008.

What does this mean to you?

It means that if significant changes are not made immediately, the future of our nation is at risk.

In the Revolution Tavern there are no republicans or democrats...liberals or conservatives... only Americans. Citizens concerned with the direction of our country. This is no place for rhetoric or slogans, only intelligent debate.

Through education, dialogue, and discourse, members of the Revolution Tavern plan to alter the course of a nation. Just as our Founding Fathers convened to hatch the bold ideas that formed the foundation of our country, we take up the task of restoring the ideals that made us great.

So come, join us for a cold one and discuss the restoration of a government that is by the people and for the people.

In other words: complacency must die.

-Joe and Brian