Congratulations President-elect Obama

It has been at least 6 years since I felt this emotion. I'm almost not sure what it is. I described it to a friend and she called it optimism. Who knew such a thing could penetrate my cynical heart.

I, like many of you, worked hard with the Obama campaign right down to the wire. I didn't finish canvassing on election day until 7:15, or 15 minutes before the polls closed for those of you wondering. For the first time in a long time I felt as if I could make a difference, and I guess I did.

But I don't think for a moment that the mere presence of hope can move this country forward. The real work now begins, not just for President-Elect Obama, but for us all. We will have to sacrifice and toil to dig ourselves out of the hole created by the Bush administration. If you believe America is worth anything, you will quit your whining and get on board!

My first step was to e-mail the Obama people and ask them, "What can I do to help?" I'm not being a smart ass or anything. I really want to know how I can help. I am hoping that the internet continues to be an instrument to inform the people of what the Obama administration is doing. But I also want it to continue to mobilize the people, to tell us what is expected and what we can do to make things better.

Please, People, do not think one man can do this alone. The true American dream (before it was corrupted to be that all Americans are entitled) was that with hard work and determination, anyone could achieve greatness. With any luck, we will return to the real spirit of this country.

Vroom

Should we bail out the big 3? Quid pro quo, says I. They want help? Well they can't have it if they continue to do what they have been. Did you know that car manufacturers actually lose money by making SUVs? Even when they are selling. So why do they make them? Their answer is that the American people want them; that the fuel-efficient cars they offered weren't selling. I say out of sight, out of mind. Don't offer them and no one will buy them. The government should help the auto industry by:

1. Not allowing auto makers to send their factories overseas. That closes down our factories and loses our jobs. This should just be obvious.
2. Offering help to those car companies which move from huge gas guzzlers to smaller, fuel-efficient cars. This will mean a new direction for factories---existing factories that will need to be refitted which will generate jobs. And since the rest of the world has higher admission standards than we do, we will actually be able to sell our cars in other countries.

It's a mere 2 steps to create jobs, help our economy and save the enviroment.

It's just common sense.