I’m Voting for Barack Obama

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I’m voting for Barack Obama.

With election day less than a month away, I eagerly await the opportunity to vote for the Obama/Biden ticket.

Senator Obama is the leader we need at this time in our nation’s history.

A troubled national economy, a weakened global economy and changing world require the kind of insightful, thoughtful, deliberative leadership of Barack Obama.

Senator McCain does not have the temperment, strength or vision to lead the United States. His philosophy is dated, his approach is derisive and his vision is coarse.

I’m voting for Barack Obama and I hope you to do.

Onward to January 2009 and a new president for a new era.

Oct

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85 Days Late: The 2008 Budget Impasse

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The 2008-2009 budget was signed last week. After nearly 90 days, the schools, clinics and workers who rely on state funding to teach kids, treat patients and make a living were paid.

The uncertainty the budget impasse created caused a lot of stress across the state. If you were reading articles and watching reports over the 85 days, then you gathered the increasing anxiety folks were experiencing.

Personally, I was strapped for cash. I figured the impasse would last 30 days at the latest, so I didn’t take out a loan from the bank; “I can weather the storm,” I said to myself. Once 45 days passed, I became increasingly frustrated. Bills were overdue, my gas tank was near “E” most of the time and the overall feeling generated from not knowing how I was going to pay for things came over me. (Note my string of “Doodles” on the impasse.)

In retrospect, the whole situation is utterly ridiculous and the principle cause is the lack of communication between legislators, party leadership, and the governor. Without sufficient communication, the necessary information to achieve an agreement is not exchanged and therefore an agreement is never attained. Moreover, the resulting “information vacuum” that is created becomes filled with rumors, hearsay, B.S., what have you, that leads to a weakened environment for sufficient communication to occur.

In other words, people don’t talk to each because they don’t want to or feel like they can.

I commented to a friend, if I were in the state legislature and a state budget wasn’t passed by July 1st, then I’d setup camp on the floor, order pizza and soda, call colleagues, write letters to my family and friends, and blog about the entire experience.