I’ve obviously been spending a lot of time learning about what’s going on with the financial markets, the economy, etc. I am certainly no expert, but far more informed then I was a few months ago. I have yet to take the same strong interest in politics…

Flashback to 2002, when I quit my job at InsynQ as a beautiful love interest (Eriko) forced me to realize that it was going nowhere. In doing so, I spent several months unemployed and it has completely impacted and changed my spending habits. Before the unemployment, I spent money like I would always have money - not necessarily in debt, but very little savings.

This can’t be good for home owners:

Certainly isn't good for my prospects of purchasing a home.

National Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits

We should all be dissapointed that we’ve allowed our government to run up a 10 trillion dollar debt. That’s roughly $33k for each US citizen.

Boy, Jerry can’t afford that. On closer thought, neither can I…

I’ll just say “I told you so” in advance. Here’s another opinion.

That said, maybe I can move onto something else less controversial… like politics!

I’m slowing coming to accept that politics is really a popularity contest. Democracy (at least in the US) is an extension of playground rules - say whatever you want, make as many promises as you can, because when the popularity vote happens the winner will get his/her day in the sun. It doesn’t matter how far you stretch the truth, or how much you sell your soul to get those votes - the only potential accountability is that you won’t win the contest again.

Today, I faxed the House Republicans who originally voted NO, urging them to stand their ground. Sadly, the Senate bill includes pathetic amounts of pork targeted specifically at those representatives….

I’ve also begun faxing the Blue Dog Coalition. Mish lined up the fax numbers in a nice easy format for my faxing program, but coincidentally I discovered the Blue Dogs yesterday before his post (how about them apples?)

I hope that Congress will put this awful Paulson bill behind them and focus on creating a better plan. By this time, there have been many alternatives created and there are many other models to follow.

I’d like to get back to regular blogging about Jerry, my lack of discipline, … but until we have a reasonable way forward, I’ve got to stay diligent!

More faxes going out tonight. A thank you note to the 228 house members who voted against the bill and more opposition to the 205 who didn’t, along with the Senate.