January 4, 2007

Do Pigs Fly?

With a roll of the calendar and a tick of the clock, 2007 has begun. What new, audacious events will occur in Washington, D.C. this year? How will the weather treat us? Will we begin to see improvements in our country and around the world, or will we just continue the downhill slide? Will we see a military draft established again? Will global warming slap us upside the head in some new way, or will we just forget all about it? Will this be the year we find a cure for cancer? Will we discover life on another planet? What will 2007 bring?

We all know that New Year resolutions are a joke - that few of us succeed with our lofty promises to ourselves. Even though the clean slate of a new calendar year does compell us to think that we can change behaviors or break long-standing habits, it's usually the same old, same old in the long run. But, we can always resolve to try.

I'd like to see a lot of changes in 2007. I'd like to see us get the heck out of harm's way in Iraq. That this war was a mistake from the start is just putting it mildly. Now, our frightful Commander-In-Chief wants a new "surge" of boys and girls to patriotically agree to the real possibility of giving up their young lives, just to perpetuate his stubborn refusal to admit obvious defeat. He is an island unto himself in this matter. I'm utterly amazed at the national apathy that is allowing his ridiculous agenda to continue. Perhaps, only a military draft would get our juices flowing again, and create a groundswell of real protest, even from the people who put him in office? (Good morning, Vietnam!")

I'd like to see the EPA enact more stringent restrictions on the burning of fossil fuels, and see them stop protecting big oil and big business. I do worry about the drowning polar bears and the starving penguins, but I'm more concerned about our planet's entire future.

I'd like to see the CEO's, who are fired and then still receive a $230 million-a-year pension, be required to give a percentage of that money to worthwhile charitable organizations. I'd like to see the minimum wage lifted to a reasonable amount - like $15.00 an hour - and then have it increase every year; enough to keep up with the cost of living.

I'd like to see a National health care plan put into effect that would insure all Americans. At the very least, I'd like to see the millions of dollars the drug companies are spending every day on television advertising put, instead, into medical research.

I'd like to see the whole ineffectual Department of Homeland Security disbanded and revamped with more capable leadership.

And, I'd like to see pigs fly.

Happy New Year!

Posted by Karen at January 4, 2007 11:57 AM