It’s official: just one day left until the political ads stop clogging up the airwaves! As the presidential candidates dart across several states arguing that victory is at hand it’s only hours “My friends”, until we return to the endless barrage of Elvis crooning Viva Viagra and the talking heads covering the O.J. story, or what Britney revealed or the hunt for Florida toddler Caylee or…anti-sagging-pants mandates and city ordinances!
It has been the longest and most expensive presidential contest ever – maybe the best and worst of times – but, no matter who you voted for the winner of the election will inherit (in no particular order):
- 46M uninsured Americans (15% of the U.S. population)
- Unfinished construction of the 700 mile, $49B U.S. – Mexico border fence
- Home foreclosure at an all time high and a 23 year high of late mortgage payments
- 140,000 troops serving in Iraq and 30,000 in Afghanistan
- 26 states with constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage and 2 (MA. and CA.) that don’t
- Oil consumption at 20.7M barrels per day – U.S. produces 8.5M barrels per day
- Customs and Border Protection processes over 1M passengers, 70K containers and 300K air, sea, and land vehicles per day
- TSA screens 2M passengers and nearly the same number of pieces of checked luggage per day
- Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts on average of 135K national security background checks per day
- NAFTA trade barriers which hurt Harley-Davidson
Frankly I’m feeling like a good neighbor. I got involved, got connected, took local action with others in the community and voted. I hope you do too.
Ok…..I read this blog because I love to identify with the motorcycle theme. Gosh, I read this post and I want to cut my own throat…..VOTE FOR STEVE!
@ Steve – All I will say is remove sharp objects from easy reach and get a good supply of tissues and chocolate… you will need them!
Tomorrow is when the real work starts! Voting is just the beginning, we have a lot of work to do to fix this country.
Check out whitehouse2.org, it’s where citizens are coming together to set the priorities for the President’s first 100 days in office. The top 3 right now are:
1. Stop the Iraq war
2. Enact universal, single-payer healthcare
3. Make the U.S. a leader in green jobs and innovation
Anyone can set their own priorities, and the site adds them all up and puts them on the homepage.