Small Town...

I like that combination between creativity and the creative process and the organization needed to make a business like this successful. - Bernard Arnault.


My small town has tons of small businesses which continue to keep us thriving... we have our McDonalds and BPs of the world too. But when you want something to happen, when we need something for the town or schools, it's the small businesses coming together, raising the money, organizing the efforts and labor which make it happen here.

I'm anti-big box retailers for many reasons, some big picture and some long term and some personal (my family owns a small business). So I'm using this Small Town Snapshot Sunday to take be a little political and remind everyone to think about how their purchases affects the world around them. How a dollar spent here might be used again and again in the community whereas a dollar spent there might never be spent in the US again, much less in our state, much less in our town.

Quote of the Day

“For this to happen, absolutely everything had to break right. And for that we will someday owe sincere thanks to John McCain, and Sarah Palin, and George W. Bush. They not only screwed it up, they screwed it up just right.”

— Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone"Requiem for a Maverick"*






*I have refrained from political quotes for a while, especially since the outcome but this one spoke to me. So I had to have it.

Post Turtle

I received this email today from my friend, Jennie and it made me giggle...

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President. The old rancher said, "Well, ya know, Palin is a post turtle."
Not being familiar with the term,the doctor asked him what a post turtle was. The old rancher said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. "You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with."

Politics as usual...

I am a frequent reader of Dooce.com - I've mentioned that on here before. I think the whole world reads her so that's not impressive in and of itself. Last week she commented on the Republican VP Nomination and her reaction to the ticket. And it got a lot of her readers talking. It's the first time that I've read through the comments section of her site. People were throwing out opinions, statistics, criticisms, and articles. I'm providing those links here becuase I've enjoyed reading them and learning more about the candidate from Alaska. Plus it's always nice to have your thoughts summed up by someone else in a clear and concise way!

Hilary Rosen's Commentary: Sarah Palin, right and wrong is intelligently written and points out the differences in the standards McCain/Palin hold for themselves versus what they believe in acceptable for others in this country.

Maureen Dowd's (my favorite!) article in the NY Times Opinion Section, Vice in Go-Go Boots compares the Republican Ticket to an unrealistic chick flick. It hits a couple of points home and also hits upon the point of the insulting expectation that women will vote for McCain/Palin just to have a woman in the White House.

I am, of course, not as left as any of those listed above. I don't want entitlement programs, the government anywhere near healthcare, and I believe that if we all were responsible and contributing members of society (including corporations) then we wouldn't need widespread government programs becuase we'd all be taking care of our own.

But I can't forget being verbally attacked by a British Man while in New Zealand a couple of years ago after George W. won his second term... I'd very much like to travel abroad as an American and not be thought of as stupid, selfish, close minded and uncaring. We've got a long way to go in our foreign relations and I know McCain isn't the person for the job.

I am really enjoying the conversations and attention paid to this election - yes, it's historic for many reasons as whichever ticket wins will bring a first to the White House. And it's exciting to hear of people who haven't ever registered and/or voted say they are going to participate in our electorial process for the first time. The average age of the voting population will,hopefully, decrease. The amount of peopling voting will hopefully increase, making this election truly more representative of the country overall. It's a lot to take in and think about as the election nears and I know this won't be the last post but I promise not to let it take over my world either.

Anyways, all the above was thought provoking for me and I enjoy passing along intelligent and well-written opinions, so read, enjoy, argue, think and most importantly, VOTE!!!

Change.

As some of you know, I am a walking contradiction when it comes to my political stances and beliefs. Taking a firm stance on anything is a hard thing for me to do when it comes to the big picture of running our country, mainly because my values are in contradiction of one another. I describe myself as being in the middle...


I believe in fiscal responsibility while having a large amount of social compassion. I hate to watch others suffer and I believe children should not be neglected as a result of their parent's choices. Yet, I don't believe in picking up the tab for the rest of the world or continuing to reward people for being lazy or irresponsible with their lives.


I work for my family's business - for almost 30 years I have watched my parents work long hours and give up family days, holidays, and change their plans for the benefit of the business. It is the life they (and now, I) have chosen. Working for yourself has many advantages and I recognize those as well. It has always been a good business with solid financial rewards, yet it's hard to watch and hear them work hard to have a huge percentage of their earnings be taken by the government in the form of taxes on an annual basis.


It's hard to sit in our planning and business development "meetings" (a.k.a. the dinner table) and hear my father say time and time again, "If we can't make money while doing the right thing and treat our people well, then we shouldn't be doing this" - Only to wake the next day to another story about Wal-Mart's profits beside a different article about it's explotation of the public welfare/healthcare system. We provide all of our full-time employees with insurance and retirement. When we give bonuses, all employees (including part time) get a piece of the pie, based off of the hours they have worked for the past year. If we're able to do this and continue to operate, then shouldn't larger corporations with more resources and better operations also be able to make this happen?


So when I am asked the question, "Isn't it Wal-Mart's(insert any other public corporation as you will - I personally hate Wally-World) sole responsibility to answer solely to their shareholders and make the biggest profit possible?" My answer is a resounding NO.

We all share this world and we all have the responsibility to be good citizens. There are countless exampes of companies that operate in the black and make a strong profit without basing every decision on the bottom line. Off the top of my head Chick-fil-A, Google, Patagonia, Columbia, Cliff Bars come to mind... and I know there are more out there!

The Wal-Mart's of this world have the power and the influence to help make a positive change in our country... they can help enable the benefit of healthcare reaching the masses. Think of what would happen if they took on the insurance industry like they do their other vendors, insisting that they decrease their prices by 5% on an annual basis. Affordable healthcare wouldn't just be a dream.

Reading over proposals made by either of the candidates, I'm uncertain of what is actually doable. I don't agree 100% with either one on everything and I have issues which directly affect me and my career (Nationalized Health Care!?!? Oh, dear. PLEASE NO!) so it's hard to know which way to go for all of my concerns.

Inspiration and charisma are a huge part of the election process... and as I watched the Democratic National Convention fill the stadium in Denver last night. I saw a wide range of people... a mix of races, ages and experiences. I was caught up in the historical impact of the moment and I was moved by the voice of reason that spoke of compromise and understanding. The rational expectation for all of us to meet in a place of agreement so positive changes can happen in our country:

"We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. Passions fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers. This too is part of America's promise the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort." (Barack Obama's acceptance speech, 2008).

That was the moment in the speech (near the end) that sold me on him, the rational and logical step away from party idealism to a middle ground where most Americans feel comfortable.

So when I consider the last eight years of my life, the first eight years of my adult life... I have to admit that no decision of mine has ever been made solely on the bottom line. Life decisions are never just about one factor - they include emotions, logic, experience, cost, benefit, and alternatives. Following my own precident, I can't make the decision to vote solely with my pocketbook.

Therefore as the presidential election approaches and it comes time to vote, even though I favor lower taxes and a smaller federal government, I am going to place my ballot for Barack Obama and take a chance on hope and change.

Somewhere in the Middle

I’m always in the middle. I’m the middle child of three girls. For as long as I can remember, people have been telling me that I’m in the middle (the less tactful ones then also tell me how this will f&*k me up for life). My mom has a story of putting me to bed when she is about 6 months pregnant with my little sister and I sit straight up, crying “I don’t want to be in the middle”. I’ve got a card my mom gave me about 5 years ago about being special for being in the middle. Sometimes it’s the best place to be, other times, I hate it.

As this election looms before us, I’m feeling the pressures of having to choose when I’m in the middle of all of the candidates, some of whom repulse me and none of whom inspire me. Maybe it’s a part of getting older but this is the first election in which I’ve been able to see how the game of politics will limit the candidates and their agendas.

I was talking with my friend Lera last night about how 'in the middle' we are last night... joking about how the news will have Repbulican Political strategist and then one from the Democrats' side but what we really need is someone to explain how those of us who are in the middle needs to vote. A "middle of the road" strategist if you would.

Watching the results from the Iowa caucus fascinated me - I have several friends who say the same thing, they can't seem to stop watching it. Seeing Obama take the victory was somewhat surprising and heartening at the same time. I see him as someone who can make the country come together after the most polarizing presidency ever. Witnessing a state that is 95% white vote for a man of mixed race renewed my belief in people making choices based on something other than ignorance or fear.

I was talking with my dad last night and he told me he didn't care who I voted for as long as they had an (R) behind their name. Thanks Dad! That gives me lots of options.

I actually do like Mitt Romney which I think will surprise quite a few people. I worked for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Games as a PR intern and he was the CEO. He was well-liked, respected and a very strong presence - He also did a good job with the games during a very scary post-9/11 time. I know the state of Mass. has benefited from his role as governor. I think we might benefit from the government running like a business for a couple of years.

So as of right now, I am undecided and looking forward to seeing what is going to happen as the election ramps up over the next 11 months. I predict that it's going to get really ugly here soon folks.