"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”

-George Washington

Throughout this past year I have reinvented myself, or should I simply say found myself.  Sheltered by the assumption that everyone else will watch out for me, I realized that we are our government, we are not the government's people.  When did the power of the people become solely the power of the government, and why has our great nation slowly allowed this to happen?  Possibly because I am not the only one that believed everyone else will watch out for me.

Initially I knew I was getting in way over my head.  Never could there be a better way to learn than by totally emersing myself in reality, and I promised myself on day one I will always be honest with  myself.  I will always ask when I don't know, and ask with  my head held high.  Everyone that has come to engage with me, including my fellow citizens, has encouraged me to explore truth, and I thank you all for the comfortable environment you have given  me to learn in.  

In discovering truth I uncovered my self realization, and I found personal responsibility.  I credit all of you.  A year ago I mentioned one of my greatest weaknesses, which I also assimilate to be one of my greatest strengths.  My friends are my good friends, my good friends are my best friends, and my best friends are my family.  I value each and every one of you, and cannot express my gratitude for the wonderful, thought provoking conversations.  I learned way more from you guys than I learned from any of those candidates who I thought held the keys to the world!  Ha!  That's funny, and so true.     

Never underestimate the great minds of great people.  Even if they might not think alike, they are great enough to empathize and grow. 

I am a changed wow-man.  Thank you for taking my borders down. 

Senator Kerry Spoke in Manchester, NH this past weekend, and his supporters were vibrant and excited, holding up signs reading "Hocky Mom's For Obama".  It turned into a beautiful day, and hearing politicians talk crap about their opposition is always better in the sunshine.  Kerry's speech began with negative rhetoric directed towards McCain.  And it continued.  And continued.  And continued.  I always find it funny when a politicians accusations are no better than their own actions.  He spent the entire speech highlighting how negative Senator McCain is, how all he does is attack, but Kerry got in plenty zingers of his own, but they were lame attempts at jokes, and generally mean.  (I wish I could recall some specifics). 

When he got off stage I had an opportunity to approach him and speak with him.  My main concern, which I don't know when this has turned into my main concern, is healthcare.  I'm confused.  How can we afford universal healthcare?  How can we ensure the quality of care won't decrease, and waits won't increase?  I figured I'd ask Kerry for some answers.

First, I asked him "where is the money going to come from to pay for universal healthcare?"  I should have known the answer.  I've heard it a million times, I just didn't realize that taxing people making over $250,000 was the solution to just the healthcare issue.  I thought that tax money was going to everything else on Obama's list, better schools, tax credits for students, money for alternative fuel research.... how much money is the government going to recieve from the upper class?  It sounds like as much money as its going to take to fuel these products everyone will end up in the middle class anyways.  What's the point in work?

After Kerry's response of wealth distribution, I asked whether we would see the care decrease and waits increase.  He informed me this would better the situation, becuase anyone who already had their healthcare can keep their same coverage.  But why should anyone already paying for their coverage have to pay for someone else's as well?  He said that since the healthy youth will be paying into this pool as well and won't be needing  this care, the money will go towards older people who do.

So let me get this right... universal healthcare is going to be paid for by the young and the rich.

Why is everyone calling Samuel Wurzelbacher "Joe"?  Did he give anyone permission to call him by his psuedo-first name?  Quite the assumption everyone made.  He may be a plumber, but that doesn't mean he isn't educated, and that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a title.  I never heard a ,"mind if I call ya Joe?"  Palin would have been all over this one!

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"Benefits and burdens are distributed justly when society allows every individual the freedom to do what he chooses to do for himself or for others, the freedom to keep what he makes for himself or what others choose to give him, and the freedom to keep what he has or give it to whomever he chooses."

-Nozick on "Justice in Classical Libralism"

When Palin entered the scene in this past month, critics and pundits were... well... confused? 

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I spent this past week in North Carolina, soaking up the rain and admiring the cotton and tobaccy fields.  I was fortunate enough to speak with running for Senate Dem. Kay Hagen, running against Liddy Dole, I spoke with economists and environmentalists about drilling off the outter banks, and I even had a chance to ask the donkeys themselves!  In Greensboro I got the chance to see Obama and Biden, the first time I've seen them on the same stage.  This was extremely exciting, it always is.  I enjoy the live rallies most of all.  My adreniline sky rockets and I say to myself, "I'm gonna get a question."  It's challenging, it can be painful, and either extremely rewarding or disappointing.

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So McCain has made the proposal to Obama to postpone the debate and help in Washington. 

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