Waxing on More Madness in The News

Monday's are very reflective for me as I look back on a weekend of ministry. I am very thankful to the Lord for His mercy that allows me to be in ministry as a full-time pastor. Today I was able to get some house cleaning done while Becky and Jordyn were in Richmond for Jordyn's weekly humanities class. I was also able to spend some quiet time reading and had a couple of uneventful phone conversations...so today was mostly serene....then I turned on the news.
Now I need to vent. I am sure that venting is the main purpose of my blog but if someone out there actually reads this and it helps you feel a little better (or worse) let me know. I would love to hear your comments. So what is it that made me so steamed?
Here's the rundown of what I see as another day of absolute insanity:
1. President Obama spoke to representatives of small-business owners today acknowledging that small businesses were the "heart and soul" of the ecnonomy providing at least half of all jobs. Seems like I remember hearing something about the importance of small business during the Presidential Campaign...from the other party...but anyway, that is history. The important thing is now the President has a plan to save small business jobs...you know that provide half of all employment in our nation.
Here are the two reasons I think the plan is insane:
a. More debt is never the answer.
b. If you actually think that debt is the answer (as Obama apparently does) and you actually believe that small business is the "heart and soul" of the economy, why then would you think that a paltry 15 billion dollars in loan guarantees would do anything to solve the problem when hundreds of billions of dollars have been given to single corporations.
AIG received 150 billion from the federal government and small businesses who are the "heart and soul" of our ecnonomy will receive 15 billion. Don't misunderstand me...again, I personally do not think that government loans or loan guarantees are the answer to any of our economic problems but how ridiculous is this whole thing? 150 billion to AIG!! And oh yeah, at his small business speech today, the President said he was going to get "his people" working on doing something about the 165 million in bonuses that AIG execs got from the bailout money! Yes, after AIG lost billions and the Bush Administration took our money and gave it to AIG, they had the audacity to pay there execs bonuses! Bonuses for what? Their extraordinary ability to lose money? I mean I know I am an uneducated kind of guy who learned most of his economics from working as a meat manager in the grocery business but even us simple-minded types knew that if we did not earn a profit we NEVER got a bonus! Here is another good piece from today's news:
2. Bernie Madoff's wife will probably get to keep her 11 million dollar Florida home...if she files for bankruptcy protection!! Yes, let's protect the stolen money!! Absolutely!
3. And speaking of protecting...while our Armed Forces are repositioned in extreme conditions in outposts in Afghanistan, with no electricity or running water...building protection fences with their bare hands...the International Red Cross released a report today of their serious concern for how the CIA treated suspected terroists leaders.
The admitted mastermind of the USS Cole bombing. The self-declared "architect" of the 911 attacks on our country and one of Osama Bin Laden's Chief Operatives were not treated "fairly" by the Bush Administration. They suffered extreme temperatures, sleep deprivation and "water-boarding." By the way, the awful act of waterboarding is credited for foiling the plot to blow up The Brooklyn Bridge. Investigators found explosives and detailed plans for the operation after the successful interrogations. Yeah, I know, not much news on that...the media would rather report on the horrors of CIA operations and mistreatment of people who include in their daily mantras, "Death to America."
So today's top stories include:
The President's plan to do little to nothing for the "heart and soul" of the ecnonomy.
AIG execs receiving millions in bonuses of our tax dollars for their great ability to lose billions.
Bernie Madoff's wife will get to keep (through bankruptcy protection) an 11 million dollar mansion in Florida, paid for by the worst swindler in US history.
The International Red Cross is still "concerned" that mass murderers and self-proclaimed master minds of terror and haters of America and Israel, bent on the destruction of both, were not treated "fairly" by the Bush Administration.
Maybe we should get a comment from Vice President Biden...uh-oh...better turn the microphone off first!
It would be funny if it were not so serious. My venting does feel good but my real peace remains in Christ. I am very interested in the news and I am very aware that corruption and ridiculous leadership is the "order of the day" but I do not fret as one with no hope. Let us remember, brothers and sisters that according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13).